Friday Fulham Stuff - 20/10/23...

WhiteJC · October 19, 2023, 11:35:32 PM

Tottenham to assess star defender's injury before Fulham clash
Tottenham to assess Argentina star Cristian Romero's injury before Fulham clash

Cristian Romero is apparently a doubt for Tottenham Hotspur's clash against Fulham after the international break.

The Argentina international unsurprisingly started for his nation when they faced Peru on 18 October in Lima. He was at the end of a rash challenge from Peru's Paolo Guerrero.

But he played on. He was, however, substituted shortly after the start of the second half. He was evidently in discomfort and there is no certain update on the nature and extent of the injury but it seems to be an issue with his right ankle.

According to Football.London, Spurs will assess the 25-year-old's injury before the game against Fulham. Thankfully, the former Juventus star will have more recovery time with the game taking place on Monday night.

Romero out vs Fulham?
Romero is arguably one of our most important players. He is as important to our team as James Maddison or Son Heung-min because of the quality he brings to the backline.

Micky van de Ven had a pretty good international break, meanwhile, and should be in contention to start once again. The 22-year-old has taken a lot of burden away from Romero.

Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez are available as backup options but no Spurs fan needs a reminder that the duo are evidently out of favour under Ange Postecoglou. Hopefully, Romero is fit enough to play against Fulham.

If not, it is best not to risk him. No Premier League match is easy but Fulham are one team fans will expect Spurs to win against, with or without their 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning centre-back.

If we match or better Arsenal's result, we will be top of the table for one more gameweek... One step at a time!

https://tothelaneandback.com/2023/10/19/tottenham-to-assess-star-defenders-injury-before-fulham-clash-cristian-romero-argentina-peru/

WhiteJC · October 19, 2023, 11:37:08 PM

Injury News: Tottenham midfielder resumes training before Fulham showdown
Injury News: Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr resumes training before Fulham showdown

There were considerable doubts about Pape Matar Sarr after he was pictured with an ice pack on his foot during his national duty with Senegal during the October international break.

Sarr has been one of the revelations of the season under Ange Postecoglou, playing nine games across competitions. And he has been getting regular playing time.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg falling out of favour has done the Senegal international a lot of good. Hence, Sarr's potential injury problem on international duty would have come as a scare for those in N17.

But according to the Evening Standard, the 21-year-old midfielder returned to training on Wednesday (18 October). And that can only be good news.

Sarr could feature vs Fulham
The Premier League game against Fulham is on Monday, which ensures more recovery time for our players coming back from international break. The game is also at home against a side we are expected to beat — at least that is what the fans will want to think.

Hence, there is no need to take needless risks here anyway. Cristian Romero and Son Heung-min are also apparently expected to feature against the Cottagers.

All in all, the international break doesn't seem to have caused us much damage, if any. It did come at an annoying time, as James Maddison said, but at least it has ended without any major losses for us.

Once Rodrigo Bentancur returns from his long-term knee injury suffered last season, our midfield will be very, very strong. As for Sarr, it seems like his time at Tottenham will only get better.

He is young, learning, and getting ample playing time under the Australian-Greek manager. He is also a fixed starter for Senegal now, starting their 1-0 loss against Algeria and 1-0 win against Cameroon this month.

https://tothelaneandback.com/2023/10/19/injury-news-tottenham-midfielder-resumes-training-fulham-showdown-pape-matar-sarr/

WhiteJC · October 19, 2023, 11:39:06 PM

Premier League table: How have teams really started?

With eight games played, the Premier League table is finally beginning to take shape, but it doesn't tell the whole story about how teams have started.

While obviously results are what matter most, form is temporary in football, so taking a look at teams' expected goals numbers can help us see how much permanent class they've shown so far and get an idea of how the rest of their season could pan out.

Expected goals is a metric that measures the quality of the chances teams create and give up by calculating the likelihood that they will be scored, using information from similar shots in the past.

By comparing teams' actual goal difference with their expected one below, we can see whose foundations for the season are built on stone and whose are built only on sand.

It's not surprising that Manchester City have been the best team in the Premier League so far, but what might raise a few eyebrows is that Newcastle and Arsenal are right up there with them.

While the Magpies' 8-0 win over Sheffield United obviously boosts their numbers, they've been the better side in the majority of their games this season.

Tottenham and Liverpool have also had strong starts, although they've not been as dominant and are enjoying a run of hot form early on.

There's room for improvement, but if Liverpool can avoid adding to their four red cards and Spurs can keep one of the league's best finishers in Son Heung-min fit, the season looks promising.

'Crisis clubs' Chelsea and Manchester United might be separated by just a point in mid-table and both bemoaning their luck in front of goal, but Mauricio Pochettino's side are actually playing well in terms of creating and restricting chances, whereas Erik Ten Hag's team are way off the pace of the other top sides.

Despite having just seven points on the board, managers Thomas Frank and Sean Dyche are justified in saying that Brentford and Everton have been better than results suggest, with a relieved Dyche mentioning on the most recent Match Of The Day that "at last the xG paid us back" in the Toffees' win against Bournemouth.

Early-season enthusiasm around West Ham might've been a bit premature, with the Hammers overperforming their expected goals more than any other side.

While they did pull off a masterclass against Brighton and won comfortably against Sheffield United, overall performances so far suggest a top-half finish at best.

At the bottom, Luton have not been quite as awful as people initially suggested, while Burnley, Bournemouth and Sheffield United deservedly make up the bottom three at the moment, with the situation looking particularly bleak for the Blades even in these early days.

The graphic below takes a more detailed look at teams' expected goals numbers by showing whether it's in attack or defence where teams have been impressing or struggling this season.

While Manchester City and Arsenal have been the best defensively, four sides have been better in attack so far, with the absence of Kevin de Bruyne and - perhaps surprisingly - Rodri hampering the champions.

However, Arsenal's attack is a bit more concerning as their numbers are boosted by taking a league-high five penalties in their eight games, so it's clear that the Gunners aren't firing on all cylinders just yet.

From Newcastle to Brentford, 10 teams have been strong going forward this season, but it's in defence where teams vary.

Tottenham and Liverpool have not been as solid at the back as other top-four contenders, while Aston Villa and Brighton's amazing attacking play is currently being undermined by defensive frailties.

Manchester United have been mid-table in both attack and defence, while we shouldn't be too surprised that the recent game between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest finished goalless, with both sides fairly solid at the back and timid going forward.

For the teams in the bottom three, Burnley primarily need to improve their attack and Bournemouth their defence if they're to stand a chance of staying up, while the Blades almost need to be re-forged entirely if they're to survive.

Finally, with only eight games played, it's important to take into account the difficulty of each team's opening fixtures.

By looking at where their opponents finished last season - with the promoted sides replacing the relegated ones - we get an even better understanding of how teams have started.

As mentioned before, Chelsea have been playing well this season despite not having the results to show for it, but they've also had the easiest run of fixtures, so it's hard to truly pin down how good they are this early on.

Everton are in a similarly bittersweet situation as while they can take heart from how they dominated a run of winnable home games, they'll be kicking themselves that they didn't manage to get more points on the board.

Although Luton are currently outside the bottom three, they've had one of the easiest set of opening fixtures, whereas both Burnley and Bournemouth below them have had two of the most difficult, suggesting things might improve for those two sides as their fixture lists become easier.

While they've not been great overall, Wolves haven't started too badly given the circumstances, as not only did Gary O'Neil take charge just before the season began, but they've also had the toughest run of games so far, facing five of last season's top seven in their opening eight games.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67144491

WhiteJC · October 19, 2023, 11:40:37 PM

Ange could now finally unleash 22-year-old Tottenham 'superstar' against Fulham
With the international break finally out of the way, Tottenham Hotspur can get back to business.

Ange Postecoglou's Spurs currently top the Premier League table and will hope to continue on the right track.

First up for Tottenham after the break is a home game against fellow London side Fulham on Monday night.

In terms of preliminary team news, things look fairly good for Spurs.

As per the Evening Standard, Tottenham don't seem too concerned over the fitness of Cristian Romero and Son Heung-min, who picked up knocks on international duty.

In addition, Pape Matar Sarr – who was pictured with an ice pack on his foot while on Senegal duty – reportedly trained for Spurs on Wednesday.

Then we have two Tottenham players who have been out of contention but returned prior to the international break and will be raring to go now.

Bryan Gil and Giovani Lo Celso both made the bench for Spurs against Luton, but neither got on the pitch.

Tottenham fans will no doubt be especially eager to see Gil in action under Postecoglou.

The 22-year-old is an exciting player, and we've all seen glimpses of his quality. For instance, Graham Roberts previously called him a "little superstar".

However, Gil hasn't quite got going at Spurs just yet.

He was hoping to impress Postecoglou in pre-season, but sadly an injury put him on the sidelines in the early stages of the campaign.

Now fully fit, the Spaniard will be eager to make up for lost time and show both his manager and the Tottenham fanbase what he can truly do.

Postecoglou has got his Spurs players firing on all cylinders, including some who didn't do well last season, such as Yves Bissouma. Let's see whether the Midas touch will work for Gil too.

https://tbrfootball.com/ange-could-now-finally-unleash-22-year-old-tottenham-superstar-against-fulham/

WhiteJC · October 19, 2023, 11:41:33 PM

Cristian Romero fitness update as Tottenham prepare for Fulham clash
Tottenham Hotspur appear to have been handed another fitness boost ahead of their Premier League meeting with Fulham on Monday.

According to the Evening Standard, there is "no serious concern" from Spurs over the fitness of both Cristian Romero and Son Heung-min.

Romero started for Argentina against Peru on Tuesday night, but didn't come out for the second half.

The Spurs ace had discomfort in his right ankle and, in quotes published on Argentine outlet La Voz, he admitted he asked to be withdrawn.

Romero revealed that 'his right ankle had swollen too much'. However, he didn't appear overly concerned.

Now, the Evening Standard has claimed that the Spurs man 'is confident of being available to face Fulham on Monday'.

As for Son's fitness, both the player and his international manager – South Korea boss Jurgen Klinsmann – didn't seem overly concerned either.

Our view
It looks as though Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou will be able to call upon most of his top players against Fulham.

Romero is a key player, previously backed by Jamie Redknapp to become "one of the best central defenders in the world".

More recently, Lionel Messi went further, saying the Spurs and Argentina star is in fact "the best defender in the world right now".

Tottenham's defence has improved massively this season, with Romero now being partnered at the back by Micky van de Ven and also having Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro on the flanks.

If injuries start occuring at the back, then it's a worry. Luckily, it looks as though that won't be the case ahead of the Fulham clash.

https://tbrfootball.com/cristian-romero-fitness-update-as-tottenham-prepare-for-fulham-clash/

WhiteJC · October 19, 2023, 11:42:27 PM

Transfer Update: Potential roadblocks for Bayern Munich's João Palhinha transfer
Bayern narrowly missed out on the Portuguese CDM in the summer, but will they even be able to make a move this winter?

Bayern Munich just narrowly missed out on signing Fulham FC midfielder João Palhinha in the final hours of the German summer transfer window in what was one of the more disappointing transfer sagas of recent memory for the Rekordmeister. He was right there in Bayern's grasp, but Fulham was unable to secure an ample replacement midfielder on time and have since given the Portuguese international a contract extension, which could make it even more difficult for Bayern to try to make a move for him in this January's transfer window. His deal at Fulham now runs through June 2028.

For Bayern, there could even be more roadblocks standing in the way of Thomas Tuchel trying to sign the defensive midfielder this winter. He has already made it clear that a defensive midfielder is what he wants in addition to another right back to make Bayern's squad more complete, but he might have to look elsewhere for his No. 6 midfielder.

Per information from Sport Bild's Tobi Altschäffl and Christian Falk (via @iMiaSanMia), former Bayern club president and supervisory board member Uli Hoeneß has said that there will be no "major transfer offensive" in the January window. He has said this despite club CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen and sporting director Christoph Freund agreeing with Tuchel that the club needs to try to sign a defensive midfielder. Dreesen was very much a part of the club's efforts in trying to complete the signing of Palhinha at the end of the summer window as one of several members of the club's self-proclaimed 'transfer committee.'

Max Eberl could even be in the picture for Bayern as a board member of sport on the club's executive board by the time the January transfer window roles around, so he could, in theory, play a vital role in that transfer window. There has been no official offer from Bayern to the former RB Leipzig director of sport, but Bayern is still interested in bringing him in; they are just waiting to see how Freund handles contract negotiations with a few key players in the squad first.

To back track just a bit, Hoeneß did not appreciate Tuchel's public demands for Bayern to sign a defensive midfielder and the honorary president does not exactly see eye to eye with Tuchel and the rest of the club's front office on the matter. He feels that Bayern really does not need to sign a #6, which is part of the reason he took so much issue with Tuchel's public demands to the press. It is clear, though, that Tuchel does have the backing of most of the front office, so while it might not be Palhinha, it is hard to see Bayern not signing a No. 6 in January, or at least making a strong push to do so.

https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/10/19/23922248/bayern-munich-fulham-joao-palhinha-transfer-update-thomas-tuchel-uli-hoeness-january-window-eberl

WhiteJC · October 19, 2023, 11:48:45 PM

6 reasons football clubs are changing their logos
Football club logos are undergoing an evolution – here's why...

(Image credit: Leeds United/Juventus/Bristol City/Manchester City)
Football has undergone many changes in recent years, but one that may slip under the radar for the casual follower is the evolution of football clubs' logos.

Many of the most iconic, recognisable badges have had facelifts over the last few years, with both British clubs and those around the world making changes. From giant clubs with international reputations like Manchester City and Juventus to smaller sides like Stevenage and Spanish team Alavés, many are at it.

It's something that divides fans, too. For some, it's an example of football 'losing its soul' or losing touch with loyal supporters. But for others, it's simply something that makes sense from a business perspective – after all, football clubs are huge corporations.

From signifying a new era to appealing to a global market or keeping up with design trends, there are a number of reasons why many teams are changing their logos, with the results having varying degrees of success (though most aren't up there with the best sports logos around). To find out more about the reasons behind changing logos in football, just keep reading.

01. To appeal to a growing international fanbase

(Image credit: Manchester City FC)
Football is a global sport, and many clubs have supporters all across the world – not just from the city they're based in.

As a result, some clubs have switched to simpler logos which can be instantly recognisable everywhere, and have widespread appeal. After being taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, Man City have become one of the world's biggest, most successful, and most well-known clubs. Eight years later, they changed their logo to a simple emblem, with a circular design and the team name written clearly and simply.

Clubs may get rid of crests or icons that have a strong regional tie, with a greater proportion of their fans now not coming from the local area.

Clubs also need to bear in mind that different symbols and colours have different associations across the world, so having simpler logos potentially leads to less confusion or offence.

02. They have a greater digital presence

(Image credit: Leeds United FC)
Football clubs now have a huge presence on social media, with some of the biggest clubs boasting over 100 million followers on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. As a result, many have switched to logos which are more simple, and more easily recognisable on a smartphone screen, for example.

Simpler logo designs can be scaled and altered to suit a number of different settings, whether they're icons on a small screen, on a football kit, or on the side of a stadium.

One controversial (and short-lived) logo change was that of Leeds United in 2018. Gone was the famous crest, featuring the iconic White Rose of York – a symbol of Yorkshire – and in its place was a badge inspired by the 'Leeds salute'. While it was a simpler design, with even the script-like typography swapped out for a sans serif font, it was wildly unpopular with fans, with tens of thousands signing a petition to revert back to the old logo.

03. To keep up with wider design trends

(Image credit: Bristol City FC)
Something that began a few years before football club logos really began changing was the move from skeuomorphism to flat design in user interfaces. Skeuomorphic design – which mimics things from the real world – was phased out by the likes of Apple in the early-to-mid-2010s, in favour of flat design – which uses simple 2D icons and shapes.

The simplification of football club logos mimics this trend, in a way. In general, logos are becoming simpler. Take Bristol City. Their logo used to feature Bristol's coat of arms and a banner with the team's name underneath, very much a classic British football club logo.

However, in 2019 they switched to a new roundel logo. Gone is the coat of arms, and in its place is a robin, alluding to the team's nickname of 'The Robins'. Roundels in particular appear popular at the moment, for reasons including their adaptability to different colour backgrounds, the ease which which you can make outlines, and the way they lend themselves to social media.

04. To signal a new era

(Image credit: Cardiff City FC)
Sometimes, football clubs will change their logo to signify a new era, or a break from the past. For example, in 2012 the owner of Cardiff City, Vincent Tan, changed the club's logo and branding from blue to red in a major alteration, two years after he took over the club as part of a Malaysian consortium.

However, this was an occasion on which the change in logo was negatively received. In 2015, the logo changed again back to the club's traditional blue, and the bluebird – long associated with the club – rose in prominence on the logo again.

05. To look more fashionable on clothing

(Image credit: Juventus FC)
Today, the biggest football clubs are not just football clubs but fashion brands, too. So, they may change their logos to something that looks less like a traditional football logo.

Take Juventus. The Italian giants had one of the most iconic badges in the game, but changed their logo in 2017. One of the most controversial changes, they swapped out their famous oval logo with the black and white stripes to one with an upper-case 'J' and a lower-case 'j'.

The owners' aim was to take Juventus from simply a successful football team to a huge lifestyle, fashion, and entertainment brand. Part of this was the make the logo something more modern and abstract, in line with the logos of modern athleisure brands rather than other football clubs.

06. To pay tribute to previous designs

(Image credit: Girondins de Bordeaux)
This might seem counter to some of the other reasons, but sometimes a club will change the badge to hark back to a previous design. This might be to honour an anniversary or a successful period in the club's history, or to curry favour with older, more traditional, supporters.

This is something that French team Girondins de Bordeaux did in 2021 when a new owner took over the club. They'd previously changed the popular logo they'd had since 1993 to one that looked more modern, but changed it back to the old design after the change proved unpopular among fans.

Among all of the new club logos, there are certain recurring themes. They include roundels, sans serif typography, flat design and flat colours, and a lack of decoration for a more minimalist approach.

It remains to be seen whether the current trends will continue. We can look at the rise in neumorphism – which fits somewhere between skeuomorphism and flat design – over the last two or three years. Could there be a happy medium between the traditional, often almost grandiose old logos and the minimalist new ones? The next few years will give us a good indicator. To find out more about what we should expect, see this year's hottest graphic design trends.

https://www.creativebloq.com/features/why-football-logos-changing?utm_term=D3896D7B-DF2D-4E32-A8F7-33543A4E787C&lrh=deac36c2ee72697239aca338fcaa2233c34366a8192d54a3c8613114bc75e9fe&utm_campaign=29AB9353-E0D2-4259-A859-536C461C4DBB&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2A34F6CA-5188-44BC-AE94-0C259918D7A1&utm_source=SmartBrief

WhiteJC · October 19, 2023, 11:49:58 PM

Report: London club enter race to sign centre-back watched by Spurs
According to a report from Takvim, Fulham are now ready to make a move for Galatasaray centre-back, Victor Nelsson, who has been linked with a move to Tottenham.

Reports from Turkey have continued to indicate that Nelsson remains on Spurs' radar, with Aksam reporting at the start of the month that the Lilywhites are keeping close tabs on the centre-back, who is valued at €30m (£26m).

Last week, FotoSpor also suggested that the North London club plan on sending scouts to watch the Dane in action in the Champions League later this month.

Meanwhile, a couple of days ago, Haber7 explained that the defender has refused to sign a new contract and that the Istanbul club regret their decision to reject offers from Spurs and Sevilla for the player in the summer transfer window.

Fulham are now in the mix for Victor Nelsson
If Takvim's latest update is to be believed, Spurs could now face competition from the Cottagers for Nelsson's signature in January.

The report states that Fulham's interest in the 25-year-old is moving quickly and that the West London club are already making plans to submit a proposal for the player.

The outlet adds that Marco Silva's side may find a deal for Nelsson relatively straight-forward to complete as Galatasaray do not want to hang on to an unhappy player who is hurting dressing room morale.

Spurs Web Opinion
While Tottenham might have scouted Nelsson, there is nothing to indicate that the club have shown a concrete interest in the centre-back.

All the speculation from the start of the summer has come from Turkish sources, with none of the British outlets or journalists suggesting that the Dane is anywhere near the top of Spurs' wishlist.

https://www.spurs-web.com/spurs-news/report-london-club-enter-race-to-sign-centre-back-watched-by-spurs/

WhiteJC · October 19, 2023, 11:51:00 PM

Chris Basham: Sheffield United defender's injury not career ending says Paul Heckingbottom

Chris Basham has featured in all eight of Sheffield United's Premier League games this season

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom has said Chris Basham's lower-leg injury will not be career-ending.

Basham, 35, injured his standing leg as he attempted to make a cross in a match against Fulham earlier this month.

He was carried off the pitch on a stretcher and has since confirmed he has had two operations on his leg.

"He will come back fit as a fiddle, that won't take long." said Heckingbottom.

"The surgeons are really happy with the work they have done, so there is no reason whatsoever [to believe Basham won't return to action]."

Last Thursday, Basham posted on Instagram

to say he was "trying to stay positive" and was "overwhelmed by the support" he had received.

Basham, who has also had spells at Blackpool and Bolton, was making his 394th appearance for United in the match against Fulham having joined the Blades in 2014.

"Everything has gone as well as it can," added Heckingbottom.

"With an injury of that nature, everyone thinks of it because of how freakish it was and how horrible it looks, but you still get surgery and treated the same way."

Sheffield United, who face Manchester United in their next match, will also be without John Egan and Tom Davies for Saturday's fixture.

Egan suffered an Achilles injury at Craven Cottage, while Davies injured his thigh in training.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67161668

WhiteJC · October 19, 2023, 11:52:52 PM

Villa (A) Tickets

Tickets for Fulham's away fixture against Aston Villa will go on sale from Wednesday 25th October, 10am.

Fulham travel to Villa Park to take on Unai Emery's side in the Premier League on Sunday 12th November, kick-off 2pm.

Tickets for this fixture will be released to 2023/24 Season Ticket Holders (four tickets per person) from Wednesday 25th October, 10am. Before going on sale to 2023/24 Members (four tickets per person) on Friday 27th October, 10am and then to Supporters with Previous Booking History (four tickets per person) on Monday 30th October, 10am.

Adult tickets for this match are priced at £30, with Over 65's and Under 21's tickets priced at £29.50, Under 18's priced at £23 and Under 14's priced at £16.50.

BUY TICKETS FROM WEDNESDAY

Supporters will be able to secure their seats online at tickets.fulhamfc.com or by calling the Fulham FC Ticket Office on 0203 871 0810, or by visiting the Ticket Office in person.

Please note, supporters will need to ensure they are logged in to their OneFulham Account and have linked their ticketing account in order to purchase online. For more information on the OneFulham Account, please click here.

More information about this fixture can be found here.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/october/19/villa-a-tickets/

WhiteJC · October 19, 2023, 11:54:16 PM

Jimenez: Family support helped me become great

Fulham striker says solid upbringing was key to his journey from streets of Mexico to the Premier League

Playing football as a young boy on the streets of Tepeji del Rio de Ocampo, Mexico, helped shape Raul Jimenez's development as a player and person.

Fulham forward Jimenez is one of 64 different nationalities currently represented in the Premier League, which is celebrating its diversity through the theme of "Greatness comes from everywhere" as part of the No Room For Racism initiative.

"I lived for a spell in the place I was born, in Tepeji del Rio," says former Wolverhampton Wanderers star Jimenez of his childhood.

"There wasn't really a pitch, just the street outside my house where all my neighbours would get together. That's where we played.

"We used stones for goalposts. We only stopped when cars passed by!"

While Jimenez was busy honing his football skills, he says that it was the love and support of his family that provided the basis from which he was able to go on build a successful playing career.

"It [ greatness] comes from the upbringing my parents gave me," says Jimenez. "From this moment, from being so well brought up, I was able to become great."

Jimenez's strong family ties also helped see him through his darkest days after fracturing his skull in an accidental clash of heads with Arsenal's David Luiz in November 2020, a life-threatening injury that required emergency surgery.

"You could definitely say it was the hardest thing I had to face," adds Jimenez, who made a full recovery and returned to Premier League action nine months later.

"There were other things not as serious as this. I think this episode in my career was my hardest and biggest challenge.

"Despite this, I was able to move on with the support of my family, wife and kids. They were always by my side - their support was relentless."

https://www.premierleague.com/news/3742176

WhiteJC · October 19, 2023, 11:55:32 PM

"From what I'm hearing" Paul O Keefe names the player who will replace Bissouma against Fulham
Paul O Keefe has shared the latest team news ahead of Tottenham's match against Fulham.

Several Tottenham players picked up knocks during the international break causing concern for Spurs fans.

Earlier it was reported that summer signing Brennan Johnson who picked up a slight hamstring problem against Arsenal was back in training for Spurs with the club hoping that he would be fit to play against Fulham.

As per O Keefe, the former Nottingham Forest man should be available for selection.

O Keefe who is an FA intermediary also shared that skipper Heung-min Son and centre-back Cristian Romero are also expected to be okay for the Fulham game.

This will come as a huge boost for Tottenham as both the players have been key players for the Ange so far.

Romero has been nothing but a beast at the back forming a solid partnership with Micky van de Ven at the back.

Meanwhile Son has been on fine goalscoring form and is perhaps the only reliable source of goal from the attack for Ange.

Paul O Keefe also confirmed that Yves Bissouma should be fine however he will not be playing due to the red card he picked up in their last game.

He posted on X:
From what I'm hearing currently on the injury front – Son, Romero at the mo expected to be ok and Bissouma too should be fine but banned anyway for Monday. Johnson should be available for selection for Monday.

Furthermore, O Keefe, in response to a fan's question, claimed that he believes Pape Matar Sarr will be starting alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg who will come in to replace the suspended Yves Bissouma.

https://theboyhotspur.com/from-what-im-hearing-paul-o-keefe-names-the-player-who-will-replace-bissouma-against-fulham/

WhiteJC · October 19, 2023, 11:58:13 PM

'Worried': Chris Sutton predicts who'll win out of Tottenham and Fulham
Tottenham Hotspur have a bit of a wait before they return to Premier League action as they host Fulham on Monday night.

Spurs went into the international break top of the Premier League table and will be hoping to maintain the momentum now that the action resumes.

Ange Postecoglou's charges will host their fellow London side – who currently sit 12th in the table – at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has predicted who he feels will win out of Tottenham and Fulham.

Writing on the BBC Sport website, he began by alluding to the so-called manager of the month curse.

Postecoglou has won both of the MOTM awards in the English top flight this season so far.

In addition, the Cottagers are the only team that has beaten Tottenham in competitive action this season.

'So much confidence'
However, Sutton is still confident Spurs will prevail, predicting a 3-1 win for the hosts in North London.

"I should maybe be a bit worried about this game for Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou because he has won two manager of the month awards now," he began.

"And we all know what usually happens when someone wins one – they lose their next game!

"Fulham have already knocked Spurs out of the Carabao Cup on penalties this season too, but that was at Craven Cottage and I am pretty confident that Spurs will win this one at home.

"What I like about Spurs so far this season is that things have not always gone their way in games, but they have still found a way to win.

"They did that against Luton last time out, missing a lot of early chances then going down to 10 men. I was thinking they were up against it, but they still got three points.

"Spurs will still have bumps in the road this season, and I don't know how much longer their unbeaten start in the league will last, but I am not expecting it to end this weekend.

"They are playing with so much confidence and Fulham won't be able to keep them out."

Our view
Tottenham have enjoyed a superb start to the Premier League season.

Ange Postecoglou has turned things around very quickly, considering the position Spurs were in at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

It's still early in the season, but Tottenham have certainly laid the foundations upon which they can keep building.

In terms of this game, I feel Spurs will have enough to get the better of Fulham. They're a good team but the hosts have more quality overall and should be able to win.

Let's go with Tottenham 2-0 Fulham.

https://tbrfootball.com/worried-chris-sutton-predicts-wholl-win-out-of-tottenham-and-fulham/

filham · October 20, 2023, 11:32:05 AM

A lot of talk about injuries at Spurs but I wonder how things stand at the Cottage.
All players should now have completed a daybeen assesed's training at Motspur park and any injuries picked up while on international duty assessed.
Tete was injured for our last game but if that has now cleared it is just possible that Silva may have a fully fit squad availabe for the Spurs match.

Stevieboy · October 20, 2023, 11:48:07 AM

Quote from: WhiteJC on October 19, 2023, 11:39:06 PMPremier League table: How have teams really started?

With eight games played, the Premier League table is finally beginning to take shape, but it doesn't tell the whole story about how teams have started.

While obviously results are what matter most, form is temporary in football, so taking a look at teams' expected goals numbers can help us see how much permanent class they've shown so far and get an idea of how the rest of their season could pan out.

Expected goals is a metric that measures the quality of the chances teams create and give up by calculating the likelihood that they will be scored, using information from similar shots in the past.

By comparing teams' actual goal difference with their expected one below, we can see whose foundations for the season are built on stone and whose are built only on sand.

It's not surprising that Manchester City have been the best team in the Premier League so far, but what might raise a few eyebrows is that Newcastle and Arsenal are right up there with them.

While the Magpies' 8-0 win over Sheffield United obviously boosts their numbers, they've been the better side in the majority of their games this season.

Tottenham and Liverpool have also had strong starts, although they've not been as dominant and are enjoying a run of hot form early on.

There's room for improvement, but if Liverpool can avoid adding to their four red cards and Spurs can keep one of the league's best finishers in Son Heung-min fit, the season looks promising.

'Crisis clubs' Chelsea and Manchester United might be separated by just a point in mid-table and both bemoaning their luck in front of goal, but Mauricio Pochettino's side are actually playing well in terms of creating and restricting chances, whereas Erik Ten Hag's team are way off the pace of the other top sides.

Despite having just seven points on the board, managers Thomas Frank and Sean Dyche are justified in saying that Brentford and Everton have been better than results suggest, with a relieved Dyche mentioning on the most recent Match Of The Day that "at last the xG paid us back" in the Toffees' win against Bournemouth.

Early-season enthusiasm around West Ham might've been a bit premature, with the Hammers overperforming their expected goals more than any other side.

While they did pull off a masterclass against Brighton and won comfortably against Sheffield United, overall performances so far suggest a top-half finish at best.

At the bottom, Luton have not been quite as awful as people initially suggested, while Burnley, Bournemouth and Sheffield United deservedly make up the bottom three at the moment, with the situation looking particularly bleak for the Blades even in these early days.

The graphic below takes a more detailed look at teams' expected goals numbers by showing whether it's in attack or defence where teams have been impressing or struggling this season.

While Manchester City and Arsenal have been the best defensively, four sides have been better in attack so far, with the absence of Kevin de Bruyne and - perhaps surprisingly - Rodri hampering the champions.

However, Arsenal's attack is a bit more concerning as their numbers are boosted by taking a league-high five penalties in their eight games, so it's clear that the Gunners aren't firing on all cylinders just yet.

From Newcastle to Brentford, 10 teams have been strong going forward this season, but it's in defence where teams vary.

Tottenham and Liverpool have not been as solid at the back as other top-four contenders, while Aston Villa and Brighton's amazing attacking play is currently being undermined by defensive frailties.

Manchester United have been mid-table in both attack and defence, while we shouldn't be too surprised that the recent game between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest finished goalless, with both sides fairly solid at the back and timid going forward.

For the teams in the bottom three, Burnley primarily need to improve their attack and Bournemouth their defence if they're to stand a chance of staying up, while the Blades almost need to be re-forged entirely if they're to survive.

Finally, with only eight games played, it's important to take into account the difficulty of each team's opening fixtures.

By looking at where their opponents finished last season - with the promoted sides replacing the relegated ones - we get an even better understanding of how teams have started.

As mentioned before, Chelsea have been playing well this season despite not having the results to show for it, but they've also had the easiest run of fixtures, so it's hard to truly pin down how good they are this early on.

Everton are in a similarly bittersweet situation as while they can take heart from how they dominated a run of winnable home games, they'll be kicking themselves that they didn't manage to get more points on the board.

Although Luton are currently outside the bottom three, they've had one of the easiest set of opening fixtures, whereas both Burnley and Bournemouth below them have had two of the most difficult, suggesting things might improve for those two sides as their fixture lists become easier.

While they've not been great overall, Wolves haven't started too badly given the circumstances, as not only did Gary O'Neil take charge just before the season began, but they've also had the toughest run of games so far, facing five of last season's top seven in their opening eight games.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67144491

I never see the point in these tables, I just look at the current table which is all that matters.
As an aside nice to see the BBC continuing to ignore little old Fulham,not one reference in text at all!!

hovewhite · October 20, 2023, 12:28:07 PM

Quote from: Stevieboy on October 20, 2023, 11:48:07 AM
Quote from: WhiteJC on October 19, 2023, 11:39:06 PMPremier League table: How have teams really started?

With eight games played, the Premier League table is finally beginning to take shape, but it doesn't tell the whole story about how teams have started.

While obviously results are what matter most, form is temporary in football, so taking a look at teams' expected goals numbers can help us see how much permanent class they've shown so far and get an idea of how the rest of their season could pan out.

Expected goals is a metric that measures the quality of the chances teams create and give up by calculating the likelihood that they will be scored, using information from similar shots in the past.

By comparing teams' actual goal difference with their expected one below, we can see whose foundations for the season are built on stone and whose are built only on sand.

It's not surprising that Manchester City have been the best team in the Premier League so far, but what might raise a few eyebrows is that Newcastle and Arsenal are right up there with them.

While the Magpies' 8-0 win over Sheffield United obviously boosts their numbers, they've been the better side in the majority of their games this season.

Tottenham and Liverpool have also had strong starts, although they've not been as dominant and are enjoying a run of hot form early on.

There's room for improvement, but if Liverpool can avoid adding to their four red cards and Spurs can keep one of the league's best finishers in Son Heung-min fit, the season looks promising.

'Crisis clubs' Chelsea and Manchester United might be separated by just a point in mid-table and both bemoaning their luck in front of goal, but Mauricio Pochettino's side are actually playing well in terms of creating and restricting chances, whereas Erik Ten Hag's team are way off the pace of the other top sides.

Despite having just seven points on the board, managers Thomas Frank and Sean Dyche are justified in saying that Brentford and Everton have been better than results suggest, with a relieved Dyche mentioning on the most recent Match Of The Day that "at last the xG paid us back" in the Toffees' win against Bournemouth.

Early-season enthusiasm around West Ham might've been a bit premature, with the Hammers overperforming their expected goals more than any other side.

While they did pull off a masterclass against Brighton and won comfortably against Sheffield United, overall performances so far suggest a top-half finish at best.

At the bottom, Luton have not been quite as awful as people initially suggested, while Burnley, Bournemouth and Sheffield United deservedly make up the bottom three at the moment, with the situation looking particularly bleak for the Blades even in these early days.

The graphic below takes a more detailed look at teams' expected goals numbers by showing whether it's in attack or defence where teams have been impressing or struggling this season.

While Manchester City and Arsenal have been the best defensively, four sides have been better in attack so far, with the absence of Kevin de Bruyne and - perhaps surprisingly - Rodri hampering the champions.

However, Arsenal's attack is a bit more concerning as their numbers are boosted by taking a league-high five penalties in their eight games, so it's clear that the Gunners aren't firing on all cylinders just yet.

From Newcastle to Brentford, 10 teams have been strong going forward this season, but it's in defence where teams vary.

Tottenham and Liverpool have not been as solid at the back as other top-four contenders, while Aston Villa and Brighton's amazing attacking play is currently being undermined by defensive frailties.

Manchester United have been mid-table in both attack and defence, while we shouldn't be too surprised that the recent game between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest finished goalless, with both sides fairly solid at the back and timid going forward.

For the teams in the bottom three, Burnley primarily need to improve their attack and Bournemouth their defence if they're to stand a chance of staying up, while the Blades almost need to be re-forged entirely if they're to survive.

Finally, with only eight games played, it's important to take into account the difficulty of each team's opening fixtures.

By looking at where their opponents finished last season - with the promoted sides replacing the relegated ones - we get an even better understanding of how teams have started.

As mentioned before, Chelsea have been playing well this season despite not having the results to show for it, but they've also had the easiest run of fixtures, so it's hard to truly pin down how good they are this early on.

Everton are in a similarly bittersweet situation as while they can take heart from how they dominated a run of winnable home games, they'll be kicking themselves that they didn't manage to get more points on the board.

Although Luton are currently outside the bottom three, they've had one of the easiest set of opening fixtures, whereas both Burnley and Bournemouth below them have had two of the most difficult, suggesting things might improve for those two sides as their fixture lists become easier.

While they've not been great overall, Wolves haven't started too badly given the circumstances, as not only did Gary O'Neil take charge just before the season began, but they've also had the toughest run of games so far, facing five of last season's top seven in their opening eight games.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67144491
Quote from: WhiteJC on October 19, 2023, 11:39:06 PMPremier League table: How have teams really started?

With eight games played, the Premier League table is finally beginning to take shape, but it doesn't tell the whole story about how teams have started.

While obviously results are what matter most, form is temporary in football, so taking a look at teams' expected goals numbers can help us see how much permanent class they've shown so far and get an idea of how the rest of their season could pan out.

Expected goals is a metric that measures the quality of the chances teams create and give up by calculating the likelihood that they will be scored, using information from similar shots in the past.

By comparing teams' actual goal difference with their expected one below, we can see whose foundations for the season are built on stone and whose are built only on sand.

It's not surprising that Manchester City have been the best team in the Premier League so far, but what might raise a few eyebrows is that Newcastle and Arsenal are right up there with them.

While the Magpies' 8-0 win over Sheffield United obviously boosts their numbers, they've been the better side in the majority of their games this season.

Tottenham and Liverpool have also had strong starts, although they've not been as dominant and are enjoying a run of hot form early on.

There's room for improvement, but if Liverpool can avoid adding to their four red cards and Spurs can keep one of the league's best finishers in Son Heung-min fit, the season looks promising.

'Crisis clubs' Chelsea and Manchester United might be separated by just a point in mid-table and both bemoaning their luck in front of goal, but Mauricio Pochettino's side are actually playing well in terms of creating and restricting chances, whereas Erik Ten Hag's team are way off the pace of the other top sides.

Despite having just seven points on the board, managers Thomas Frank and Sean Dyche are justified in saying that Brentford and Everton have been better than results suggest, with a relieved Dyche mentioning on the most recent Match Of The Day that "at last the xG paid us back" in the Toffees' win against Bournemouth.

Early-season enthusiasm around West Ham might've been a bit premature, with the Hammers overperforming their expected goals more than any other side.

While they did pull off a masterclass against Brighton and won comfortably against Sheffield United, overall performances so far suggest a top-half finish at best.

At the bottom, Luton have not been quite as awful as people initially suggested, while Burnley, Bournemouth and Sheffield United deservedly make up the bottom three at the moment, with the situation looking particularly bleak for the Blades even in these early days.

The graphic below takes a more detailed look at teams' expected goals numbers by showing whether it's in attack or defence where teams have been impressing or struggling this season.

While Manchester City and Arsenal have been the best defensively, four sides have been better in attack so far, with the absence of Kevin de Bruyne and - perhaps surprisingly - Rodri hampering the champions.

However, Arsenal's attack is a bit more concerning as their numbers are boosted by taking a league-high five penalties in their eight games, so it's clear that the Gunners aren't firing on all cylinders just yet.

From Newcastle to Brentford, 10 teams have been strong going forward this season, but it's in defence where teams vary.

Tottenham and Liverpool have not been as solid at the back as other top-four contenders, while Aston Villa and Brighton's amazing attacking play is currently being undermined by defensive frailties.

Manchester United have been mid-table in both attack and defence, while we shouldn't be too surprised that the recent game between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest finished goalless, with both sides fairly solid at the back and timid going forward.

For the teams in the bottom three, Burnley primarily need to improve their attack and Bournemouth their defence if they're to stand a chance of staying up, while the Blades almost need to be re-forged entirely if they're to survive.

Finally, with only eight games played, it's important to take into account the difficulty of each team's opening fixtures.

By looking at where their opponents finished last season - with the promoted sides replacing the relegated ones - we get an even better understanding of how teams have started.

As mentioned before, Chelsea have been playing well this season despite not having the results to show for it, but they've also had the easiest run of fixtures, so it's hard to truly pin down how good they are this early on.

Everton are in a similarly bittersweet situation as while they can take heart from how they dominated a run of winnable home games, they'll be kicking themselves that they didn't manage to get more points on the board.

Although Luton are currently outside the bottom three, they've had one of the easiest set of opening fixtures, whereas both Burnley and Bournemouth below them have had two of the most difficult, suggesting things might improve for those two sides as their fixture lists become easier.

While they've not been great overall, Wolves haven't started too badly given the circumstances, as not only did Gary O'Neil take charge just before the season began, but they've also had the toughest run of games so far, facing five of last season's top seven in their opening eight games.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67144491

I never see the point in these tables, I just look at the current table which is all that matters.
As an aside nice to see the BBC continuing to ignore little old Fulham,not one reference in text at all!!

this sort of stuff column filler full of a load of tosh.

Cobh Fulham Fan · October 20, 2023, 04:45:59 PM

Beat or draw with Spurs on Monday, then the BBC will find it hard to ignore little old Fulham.

WhiteJC · October 20, 2023, 05:42:04 PM

Quote from: Cobh Fulham Fan on October 20, 2023, 04:45:59 PMBeat or draw with Spurs on Monday, then the BBC will find it hard to ignore little old Fulham.

unfortunately if that happens it'll all be about how unlucky Spurs were, we won't get mentioned