Sunday Fulham Stuff - 29/10/23...

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Results

Saturday 28/10
Chelsea	0-2	Brentford
Arsenal	5-0	Sheff Utd
Bournemouth	2-1	Burnley
Wolves	2-2	Newcastle

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Sources: Tottenham and Fulham race to sign striker more prolific than Harry Kane
Tottenham and Fulham are set to battle for the signature of Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy in the January window, sources have told Football Insider.

Football Insider revealed on Friday (27 October) that a striker is the top priority for Fulham with Marco Silva expected to be given funds to spend in the winter window.

Fulham are among the lowest scorers in the Premier League and are yet to replace talisman Aleksandar Mitrović after his summer move to Al-Hilal.



However, Tottenham are also keeping tabs on red-hot striker Guirassy.

The Guinea international, who is currently out injured with a hamstring problem, has a release clause of around £15million in his Stuttgart contract.

He has been more prolific than Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane in the Bundesliga this season.

Guirassy has managed 14 goals and one assist across eight games in the German top-flight, while the ex-Tottenham man has hit nine goals and contributed four assists.

He only joined Stuttgart permanently this summer after a successful loan spell at the German outfit last season.

The 27-year-old, who was coveted by Premier League sides during his time in France, signed a contract running until June 2026.

Guirassy, who has scored twice in eight appearances for Guinea, is expected to go to the African Cup of Nations with his country in the new year.

Fulham sit 13th in the Premier League and are not currently in relegation danger despite their dismal scoring record.

Meanwhile, Tottenham sit top of the English top-flight after nine games – leading second-place Man City by two points.

In other news, major update on Newcastle United potentially signing Fulham star.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-tottenham-and-fulham-race-to-sign-striker-more-prolific-than-harry-kane/

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Pre Match report for the Fulham game - Sunday, 29th October 2023
PREMIER LEAGUE 23/24: Brighton V Fulham - 28/10/23 P10

Fulham manager: Marco Silva (2021) . P94 W = 50.0% @ July '23
MS did an ok job last term when consolidating in mid table and restoring their profile beyond bottom-six fodder.

PL Summer Series in USA: Brentford W 3-1, Villa L 2-0, Chelsea L 2-0
pre-season friendly: Hoffenheim 2-1 (H)

23/24 W3 D2 L4 . F8 A15 GD-7 . Pt11 Po13 = 1.22pt/gm . W = 33.3% L = 44.4%
latest six: lwd lwl

start: Everton 0-1 (A), Brentford 0-3 (H), Arsenal 2-2 (A), Man City 5-1 (A), Luton 1-0 (H),
Palace 0-0 (A), Chelsea 0-2 (H), Sheff Utd 3-1 (H), Spurs 2-0 (A), Brighton (A)


Cottage fans expectations: improvement on previous finishes with further development of their squad.
odds at start: top six 20/1, top half 7-2, bottom half 1-7 . sack MS 8/1
prospects: depended on their start, which at the moment consigns them to mid div.

INS: F Ballo-Toure (AC Milan loan), A Iwobi (Everton 22m),
S Benda (Swansea), T Castagne (Leicester), A Traore (Wolves),
C Bassey (Ajax), R Jiminez (Wolves 5m), C Donnell (Perth)


mid season: Man Utd (H), Villa (A), Wolves (H), Liverpool (A),
Forest (H), West Ham (H), Newcastle (A), Burnley (H), Bmouth (A).


EFL Cup: Ipswich (A) R4, Norwich 2-1 (H) R3, Spurs 5pen3 1-1 (H) R2

* * * * *

Fulham away: versus Albion - 2-2 0-0 0-1 . . . W = 1 D = 2 L = 0 . F3 A2

23/24 W1 D2 L2 . F4 A9 GD-5 = 1.00pt/gm or 45.4% of total points.
next 6 away: Brighton, Villa, Liverpool, Newcastle, Bmouth, Chelsea.

reverse sequence: ld ldw - points gained = 33.3% lost = 66.6%

versus result: (h-t) . goals . possession % . targets . corners . fouls . yellows . red . subs . shape
Spurs 2-0: (1-0) 36,54 56%-44% on 5-3, off 10-7, c 3-5, f 10-14, y 2-0, s 5-5 4231-4231
Palace 0-0: (0-0) 0 51%-49% on 3-5, off 4-5, c 3-2, f 10-15, y 3-2, s 2-3 4231-433
Man C 5-1: (2-1) 31<95-33 68%-32% on 5-4, off 2-2, c 4-5, f 12-12, y 2-4, s 5-5 4231-433

Arsenal 2-2 (0-1) 70,72-1,87 71%-29% on 11-3, off 8-5, c 8-3, f 6-5, y 0-3, r 0-1 s 5-4 433-433
Everton 0-1 (0-0) 73 41%-59% on 9-2, off 10-7, c 10-4, f 12-6, y 0-2, s 2-3 4411-433

* * * * *

Fulham from 11/12: 9, 12, 19 P, 17, 20, 6, 3 C, 19 P, 4 C, 18 P, 1 C, 10, 13 @ 27/10/23
relegation '14, '19, '21

Prem points: 52 43 32 - - - - 26 - 28 - 52 11

recent managers: Scott Parker (19-21), Claudio Ranieri (18-19), Slavisa Jokanovic (16-18),
Kit Symons (14-15), Felix Magath (2014), Martin Jol (11-14).

FS



http://www.brightonfans.com/NewsNow/reports_page.php?id=236&pre=yes

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Brighton & Hove Albion vs Fulham Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats
Brighton & Hove Albion, winless in three Premier League games, will look to bring balance to their domestic season when they take on Fulham.

Roberto De Zerbi would have heaved a sigh of relief after watching his team manage to win a football match in midweek. With their victory over Ajax at the Amex, Brighton opened their account in the Europa League after going winless in their opening two games ahead of their clash with Fulham.

In the Premier League, they have endured a more difficult period, as De Zerbi will look to end a three-game winless run that included a 6-1 mauling at the hands of Aston Villa. Last weekend, the Brighton boss will rue his team's efficiency against Manchester City as they went very close to snatching a draw.

After a good start to the season that put Brighton on the pace to make a challenge for a top-four place, they have dropped down in the standings. Another bad result could see others threaten to overtake them on the table, something De Zerbi would want to avoid.

Marco Silva, on the other hand, will want his team to respond in this game after a disappointing result against Tottenham last Monday. The Premier League leaders proved their clinical worth and put the Cottagers to the sword while holding a firm defence, never to let their attackers have a sniff at the goal.

Three wins in their last six games across all competitions show how consistently inconsistent Fulham's form has been. They have managed only two wins in the Premier League since their 2-2 draw away at Arsenal, with no signs yet to show they are ready to mount a significant challenge to achieve something this season.

The unseen danger comes from their position on the table, as they are only four points away from the relegation zone. Further losses in the league and positive results of other teams at the bottom could pull Fulham near the danger zone, which is something Silva would want to avoid.

Team News & Tactics
Brighton & Hove Albion
Roberto De Zerbi has done major tinkering with his selections since the season began, and now it is time to recognise those players in good form and who can continue on the side. There are no fresh injury concerns for the Italian manager.

On a positive note, there is a chance for Tariq Lamptey and Pervis Estupinan to return to the first team. But De Zerbi is unlikely to take a risk so soon. There is no news on the return of other injured stars. However, sticking with the subject of consistent selections, the manager must recognise players like Joao Pedro and Ansu Fati ahead of the Fulham game.

While De Zerbi would likely start Pedro in the attack, he might stick to Fati being a bench option. Carlos Baleba could return to central midfield and partner alongside Pascal Gross, who, if selected, will make his 200th appearance for the Seagulls.

The backline will also remain the same, with Joel Veltman likely to keep his spot at left-back until the other regulars return from their injuries. Evan Ferguson could lead the line for Brighton, with Simon Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma handling the wide attacking areas.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Steele; Milner, Van Hecke, Dunk, Veltman; Gross, Baleba; Adingra, Pedro, Mitoma; Ferguson

Fulham
Marco Silva still has key defensive players missing from action, with Tosin Adarabioyo, Issa Diop, and Kenny Tete still out with injuries. Adama Traore also remains out for this game. Calvin Bassey should continue in central defence alongside the experienced Tim Ream.

Silva could also make a change in central midfield, with Harrison Reed likely to come in place of Sasa Lukic and join Joao Palhinha there. Similarly, in the attacking third, Harry Wilson could replace Bobby De Cordova-Reed, and the rest should remain the same.

At the back, Timothy Castagne and Antonee Robinson should keep their places in the full-back positions. Similarly, Willian and Andreas Pereira will also feature in the attacking third in the left wing and attacking midfield roles, respectively.

Carlos Vinicius should have no qualms about leading the line as he remains ahead of Raul Jimenez. With Traore injured, Silva's options from the bench are rather limited and have not been effective during recent outings.

Propbable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Bassey, Ream, Robinson; Reed, Palhinha; Wilson, Pereira, Willian; Vinicius

Key Stats

    There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Brighton's last 10 games in the Premier League.
    Brighton have conceded at least two goals in their last three matches in the Premier League.
    Brighton & Hove Albion are winless in their last three Premier League games.
    Fulham are undefeated in their last seven matches against Brighton in all competitions.
    Fulham secured a 1-0 win in this fixture back in February.

Player to Watch
Joao Pedro
Three goals in his last four games in the UEFA Europa League games have helped Pedro keep up his levels in that competition. But he must improve his form in the Premier League. With Brighton struggling for relevance after going winless in their last three games here, they need big performances from their players, especially the Brazilian.

There is a feeling that after the win over Ajax, Roberto De Zerbi will retain his faith in Pedro and let him start against Fulham. But it should be the game where the Brazilian must shine. There is a dire need to stitch the attacking setup together, which has looked wayward in the last few games, in which the forward will have to play a big part.

Prediction
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Fulham
Fulham have somewhat struggled away from home, and that trend may continue when they travel to Brighton & Hove Albion. The Cottagers might continue to keep losing games as there is a real danger of them dropping very close to the relegation battle.

Brighton, fresh from their Europa League triumph at the Amex, will look for continuation, and only a victory would please Roberto De Zerbi. The Seagulls have come under pressure to start contesting for a top-four place, and this game against Fulham should mark the start of this journey.



https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2023/10/28/brighton-hove-albion-vs-fulham-preview-probable-lineups-prediction-tactics-team-news-key-stats-2/

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Sources: Major update on Newcastle United potentially signing Palhinha, McTominay and Onana
Newcastle United are unlikely to spend big on a replacement for banned midfielder Sandro Tonali in January, sources have told Football.

Tonali, 23, has been banned from football for 10 months after breaching betting rules during his time in Italy.

It is believed Newcastle will be in the market for a new midfield option in the winter window, which opens on 1 January.

The likes of Fulham star Joao Palhinha, Everton's Amadou Onana and Man United ace Scott McTominay have all been widely linked with St James' Park switches in recent days.

However, a well-placed source has told Football Insider that those names are simply not realistic – with the transfer budget not likely to stretch that far in January.

Newcastle remain in a delicate situation after running into Financial Fair Play problems during the summer.

Football Insider revealed on Thursday (26 October) that Eddie Howe's side were forced to pull the plug on deals for a new centre-back and attacker due to FFP restrictions.

Palhinha has only recently signed a new contract at Fulham after seeing a deadline-day move to Bayern Munich collapse.

Onana is valued highly at Everton – who are looking to avoid relegation to the Championship once again in the 2023-24 campaign.

Finally, McTominay is working his way back into Erik ten Hag's plans at Old Trafford after being widely linked with a move to West Ham in the summer window.

Howe's side sit sixth in the Premier League on 16 points despite recent injuries to the likes of Sven Botman and Harvey Barnes – which will now be compounded by Tonali's suspension.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-big-update-on-newcastle-united-potentially-signing-palhinha-mctominay-and-onana/

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West Ham and Fulham back in for January target but star's value rises by £5m
Premier League rivals West Ham United and Fulham are still in the mix for Paulo Maia but Sao Paulo have increased the midfielder's market value by £5 million in recent months.

That is according to Jorge Nicola, one of the most reliable and knowledgeable reporters in Brazilian football.

Nicola was the source of much information regarding West Ham United's pursuit of Pablo Maia's former Sao Paulo team-mate Luizao, so his word certainly carries plenty of weight as the Hammers cast their eyes over another Tricolor talent.

West Ham face Fulham battle for Pablo Maia
"Pablo Maia is wanted by two Premier League clubs; West Ham United and Fulham," Nicola explains via his YouTube channel.

21-year-old Maia is one of the finest deep-lying midfielders in Brazil. An excellent ball-winner but a fine passer too. This is not the first time West Ham or Fulham have shown an interest either. Both clubs reportedly submitted bids around the turn of the year, West Ham trying and failing to sign Maia on loan after Fulham had seen a £6 million bid rejected.

Recent reports from Spain have indicated that Sao Paulo would now be willing to accept a knock-down fee, but Nicola insists that could not be further from the truth.

"I can tell you that, at (a reported) seven million euros, there is no chance of the Tricolor negotiating Maia's sale. He is experiencing a period of good form after becoming a starter (at Sao Paulo). He's a super important piece in protecting the defence but also in the build-up," Nicola adds.

"At a certain point earlier in the year, president Julio Casares was willing to sell Maia for 10 million euros. But no more. Sao Paulo now asks for something in the region of 15 million euros, in the knowledge that Maia has the potential to shine in European football."

Now worth £13 million
Maia has already admitted that his 'dream is to play in Europe'. He could potentially be a long-term replacement for the much-coveted Joao Palhinha at Fulham, or perhaps the man to provide a link between Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse in a new-look West Ham midfield.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/10/28/west-ham-and-fulham-back-in-for-january-target-but-stars-value-rises-by-5m/

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Tosin Adarabioyo set for new Fulham contract?
Fulham are reportedly set to restart contract talks with defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

The centre-back was expected to move away in the summer transfer window after he rejected the chance to sign a new deal with the club.

Ligue 1 club Monaco were heavily linked with the Adarabioyo, and they reportedly had an £8.5m bid turned down by the Cottagers.

Tottenham were also believed to be among the player's admirers, but his summer departure ultimately failed to materialise.

Despite remaining at Craven Cottage, Adarabioyo's long-term future is far from certain due to his contract situation.

With his current deal set to expire in June 2024, Adarabioyo will be allowed to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season,

As it stands, the defender will also be able to speak to foreign clubs from January about signing a pre-contract agreement.

However, according to The Standard, Adarabioyo has made a U-turn on his Fulham future and is now open to extending his stay.

Adarabioyo is seemingly keen to follow in the footsteps of his manager Marco Silva, who recently extended his contract until June 2026.

The report claims that Fulham are also willing to revisit negotiations over a new contract, opening the door for Adarabioyo to remain with the club.

The 26-year-old has spent the last three years with the Cottagers after joining from Manchester City, where he rose through the youth ranks.

During his time with the West London club, he has featured in 108 competitive games and chipped in with three goals.

Adarabioyo has been restricted to just one appearance this term, as he continues to work his way back to full fitness following groin surgery.

Fulham, who occupy 14th place in the Premier League table, will be in action on Sunday when they make the trip to the South Coast to face Brighton & Hove Albion.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/transfer-talk/news/tosin-adarabioyo-set-for-new-fulham-contract_527656.html?newsnow

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Is Raul Jimenez being unfairly scapegoated?

In his debut article, Josh Hallmark wonders if our Mexican striker is being unfairly blamed for our scoring woes.

With the loss of Alexander Mitrovic to Saudi Arabia, Marco Silva is left with the tough decision of who is going to replace our number nine. Raul Jimenez increasingly looks like he was signed this in hopes that he would be the one to do so.

Our striking options of Jimenez, Carlos Vinicius and Rodrigo Muniz have big boots to fill. Mitro's 111 goals in 206 appearances will live long in the memory.

Raul's performances haven't gone down well with a lot of fans. He's yet to score for the Whites with the exception of his opening goal in a pre-season friendly against Hoffenheim. During his time at Wolves, he scored 57 goals in 166 appearances. While his goal to game ratio isn't as good as Mitro's, we still know he is capable of more. However, since clashing heads with David Luiz against Arsenal on three seasons ago, he has only scored nine goals in 56 appearances, which implies a lack of confidence.

Scoring struggles

In the Premier League, Fulham have scored only eight goals nine games so far this term, which shows how much we are suffering without Mitrovic. We seem less creative and it is almost like we are lost for a plan now that he's gone as fewer chances are being created. When goals haven't been going in, in the same fashion as last season, it's easy to point fingers towards our strikers. Vinicius's energetic performances and the fact that he is already off the mark has meant that, Raul has become a bit of a scapegoat for the lack of goals.

Iwobi the difference?

When Vinicius is on the pitch, it always appears that he has more chances to score, giving the impression that he is the more threatening player. An important factor which is often overlooked, is Alexander Iwobi's presence alongside each striker. Iwobi has taken the spotlight in terms of this season's signings due to his calmness on the ball and work rate off the ball. In all competitions, he has started twice and come off the bench three times. When he's brought on, he noticeably makes a difference and gives us more hope in the second half.

Vinicius has played alongside Iwobi five times this season and scored both his goals in this time – one against Luton after both being substituted on at half time and the other against Norwich in the Carabao Cup. Contrastingly, Jimenez has only played with Iwobi one time, which was against Spurs. While Jimenez missed a few opportunities, we looked more positive going forward when either of them came on as Iwobi allowed the transition for defence to attack which we lacked throughout the game.

One of Mitrovic's best qualities was his hold up play due to his strong presence. Last season, it was frustrating when Vini came on as he just couldn't do it to the same effect and possession was given away much more easily. This season, it has improved slightly, especially when the ball is played to his feet rather than in the air, but Jimenez seems more comfortable when receiving these kinds of passes and retaining possession. I think his ability to do so goes under the radar and is often forgotten when people are quick to criticise him.

Analysing chances

Jimenez has been provided with the opportunity to stick the ball in the back of the net on some occasions, such as Palace and Spurs, but has also been quite unlucky. The first chance in the Palace game saw him bring down Pereira's pass well and almost beat Johnston with a powerful effort. The second chance was what caused him to receive criticism, as he was given the chance to shoot or square it to Pereira to which he went for the latter.

Reviewing it back, Raul was on a hiding to nothing. While it didn't end up in a goal, it could be argued that he made the correct decision due to a tight angle and the lack of anticipation from Andreas to find that space and receive the pass. Had he missed the shot, people would have said to pass it, therefore, not matter what he does, if it doesn't end up in the back of the net, he is going to be criticised.

However, his opportunity against Spurs is less forgiving. Late on in the game, he was put through on goal by Wilson, splitting their defence where he shot towards the far-left post but was saved as it could be considered a good height for the 'keeper and he should have perhaps shot along the ground.

Lacking in attributes

Both Jimenez and Vinicius don't have as good positioning as Mitro, which can get tiring when good crosses are put into the box and no one gets on the end of them. The ball seemed to be a magnet to Mitro's head, whereas Raul and Vini don't have that same aerial dominance. The team is struggling to adapt to the new playing style where we can't rely on Mitro to head in every cross, so more awareness is required to get more efforts on goal.

Furthermore, there were a few situations against Spurs where a ball was played through to either Carlos or Raul with them being ahead of the defender yet were still beaten to it. This is essential as, against bigger teams, such as Spurs, where we're on the back foot for a lot of the game, we require pace from our strikers to punish them on the counterattack which we have attempted more recently but with little success. We cannot rely on our wingers to provide the pace especially when players, like Willian, provide balls to run on to.

Raul's loss of confidence from his injury may not be an entirely accurate assessment, as he still tries flick on passes or even a "rabona" in a painful game against Brentford. It's worth noting that Jimenez was in all probability brought in as a back up to Mitro, rather than a replacement, before he was set on leaving so we cannot have the same expectations of our attackers. Having not found a replacement, he has the expectations of one putting more pressure on him to deliver.

The future

The criticism that Jimenez has received is understandable, but somewhat harsh. People on social media are outraged based on one chance in a game when his whole performance must be looked at. Possibly, with the return of Adama Traore from his hamstring injury, we may see better link up play based on their time together at Wolves.

It is up to Marco to pick a more creative team by potentially opting for Iwobi, or Adama when he is fit, to provide more chances for Raul and to give an honest assessment on his quality. Jimenez has showed positive signs throughout his performances with solid hold up play and a few chances here and there with luck not being on his side. He must not rely on luck however, as goals must go in if he wants to earn his spot back in the starting XI.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-10-28-is-raul-jimenez-being-unfairly-scapegoated/

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Swept aside by the The Saints but Stansfield proves point again
Wayne Rooney's start as Birmingham City manager worsened after a limp defeat at the hands of Southampton.

Rooney's men had no answers to a pretty creative and clever Saints side who tired Blues through their build up and good use of possession. This what Russell Martin's side are known for, the ability to play good football and navigate from the defensive line quite swiftly.

And what makes them good to watch is their use of fullbacks and overloads to create width. Walker-Peters and Bree were effective in creative these overloads and Drameh and Longelo simply had no answers. Walker-Peters was the greater threat and his opponent Longelo will be happy to see the back of him.

Rooney's side needed to make good use of possession when they had it, because Southampton are a superior team in terms of quality and proved to suffocate most of our troops with their quick passing. Rooney is hellbent on the use of good possession but our fullbacks and midfield were especially to blame for the lack of consistent build up as they were buckling under the pressure from the hosts.

We have seen this season that Southampton are a beatable side. We saw Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day able to create chances through the transition and even though they lost, it was clear there were ways to get at Southampton, by hitting them on the counter and pressing them high and wide. We saw a better example of this in the form of Leicester City who only had to press the Saints high. This caused their backline to lose the ball and be out of shape, leading to concessions.

I feel that the boss adopted the wrong approach. We needed a lot of energy and high tempo off the ball, because it's not like Martin's men have been exactly firing on all fronts this season. Rooney won't be able to play this brave, possession based style in every game, and I think that he will have to adapt tactically in every game.

Once you go toe to toe with Southampton in terms of possession, you will on most occasions lose. But also, it depends on the quality of the player. In the opening three games of Rooney's reign, we've seen improvements, but it's clear that the team is not yet fully engrained in the set up. Also, not all of our players can be trusted with the ball, as we saw too many careless giveaway at lunch time.

Jay Stansfield came on to prove a point and hit another brilliant strike. In games like these where you aren't going to be great on the ball due to the quality of the opposition, you need players with really good ball striking technique and you need to get them into areas where they will be able to get shots off in good positions. Stansfield proved to be the man in this moment and was the lead guy in the brief period of resurgence. A start beckons for the young man who has barely done anything wrong this season.

Stansfield's energy, quality and pressure off the ball would've been so useful in this match. I feel that the team couldn't get close to Lukas Jutkiewicz when he was trying to secure the ball and this meant that our play in the attacking third was pretty much minimal. Dembele especially was not impactful and couldn't create anything. I feel that Stansfield would've fitted better in the set up and there would've been more structure to the forward line press, possibly cutting off the passing lanes from the hosts.

It's three losses in a row and Rooney needs more time on the training pitch to get his side going.



https://bluesfocus.co.uk/2023/10/28/swept-aside-by-the-the-saints-but-stansfield-proves-point-again/

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Brighton and Hove Albion vs Fulham: Premier League preview, Gameweek 10, 2023
Brighton and Hove Albion welcome Marco Silva's Fulham to the American Express Community Stadium on Sunday afternoon, looking to pick up their first league victory since September 24th.

Roberto De Zerbi will be hoping to get the better of his counterpart Marco Silva for the first time in his managerial career, when the pair go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon at the AMEX.

The Italian will be looking to out behind his side's three-game winless run in the league - their last win coming on September 24th as they beat Bournemouth 3-1. The Seagulls sit in seventh place after a mixed start to their season, where they've found it hard to juggle participation in the Carabao Cup and UEFA Europa League alongside their numerous injury issues.

The Cottagers have also had a rather shaky start to their Premier League campaign. They come into this fixture off the back of a 2-0 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night, whilst Albion will be full of confidence after they dispatched Dutch giants Ajax on Thursday night in Europe.

The concern for Marco Silva comes at both ends of the pitch. They've leaked goals, conceding seventeen so far, and have also failed to replace the heights hit by Aleksander Mitrovic, who departed for Saudi Arabia in the summer. In the opening nine games of this season, Fulham have only found the back of the net on six occasions.

This could set us up for an entertaining battle on Sunday, as Brighton, who are still missing key defensive options have conceded ten goals in their last three league matches.

    Team news
Brighton and Hove Albion
he Seagulls came through their 2-0 victory on Thursday unscathed, and will have not fresh injury concerns coming into this tie.

Solly March, who was stretchered off with a knee injury during last week's lost against Manchester City, will, according to Roberto De Zerbi, be missing in action for a "long time." As will Danny Welbeck, he was also substitued early in that game with a muscle issue.

Pervis Estupinan (thigh) has been back out on the grass at the training ground this week but this fixture will come too soon for both him and Tariq Lamptey (muscle).

Jakub Moder and Julio Enciso (both knee) remain sidelined.

Fulham
The visitors will again be without defensive duo Tosin Adarabioyo (groin) and Issa Diop (thigh), meaning that Calvin Bassey will be given a chance to make amends for his mistakes on Monday night alongside Tim Ream at centre back.

Kenny Tete is still in the treatment room with a groin injury, as is Adama Traore with a muscle issue.

    Likely lineups

Brighton and Hove Albion: Steele (GK); Veltman, Dunk, Webster, Igor Julio; Gross, Gilmour; Ansu Fati, Joao Pedro, Mitoma; Ferguson.

Fulham: Leno (GK); Castagne, Bassey, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Lukic; Wilson, Iwobi, Willian; Jimenez.

    Key players
Brighton and Hove Albion: Joao Pedro
Off the back of a goal in the UEFA Europa League in midweek, Joao Pedro will be crucial if Albion are to pick up their first victory in the league in over a month.

Despite scoring four times in three games on the European stage, the Brazilian has only hit the back of the net twice and recorded one assist in 480 minutes of Premier League action since his move from Watford in the summer.

De Zerbi will be looking to his £30m man to provide creativity and a goal threat If he is selected to start in the role behind Evan Ferguson when the team sheet are handed in on Sunday.

Fulham: Willian
Yet another Brazilian to look out for on the pitch when these two sides clash. Willian has two goals and two assists from five previous starts against The Seagulls.

He was a bright attacking spark and Fulham's most dangerous forward in a discouraging performance when they were defeated by Tottenham Hotspur on Monday; recording 0.15 expected assists (xA), winning four fouls and making three key passes.

If Willian is on his game again on Sunday, he could get some luck down the left-hand side for Marco Silva's men a he looks set for an exciting battle Joel Veltman. The former Chelsea and Arsenal winger will also have to be prepared to get back and help out defensively, as the Dutchman will look to join in with Brighton's attacking play at every possible opportunity.

    Match details

Where is the game being played?
The game is being played at Brighton's American Express Community Stadium

What time is the game kicking off?
The game will be kicking off at 14:00 GMT.

How can I watch the game?
The game has not been selected for live television broadcast in the United Kingdom. Highlights will be available later in the day, on the BBC'S Match of the Day 2 programme.



https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/10/28/premier-league/1160901-brighton-and-hove-albion-vs-fulham-premier-league-preview-gameweek-10-2023.html

[WhiteJC]

Up next: Brighton and Hove Albion (a)
Marco Silva's surprise signing of a three-year contract at Craven Cottage meant the flat feeling that followed a miserable night at Tottenham lasted less than 24 hours. The head coach, who had been tipped to take a job in Saudi Arabia and courted by several other leading sides in England and the continent, committed his future to the club who gave him another opportunity to prove his English detractors wrong – even after losing his most potent goal threat and coming close to saying goodbye to Fulham's most important player in the same summer transfer window. When people say there isn't any loyalty in elite sport these days, they could consider Silva remaining in SW6 to continue to revive Fulham's fortunes.

During his press conference ahead of this afternoon's trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, the head coach confirmed that he had been given assurances that the financial backing to meet his ambitions would follow. The most pressing concern will be making the Whites more of a goal threat given that they only scored eight times in nine league fixtures this season and look power puff without Aleksandar Mitrovic. The most galling element of the defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was not that the league leaders were gifted their goals by Calvin Bassey, but the fact that Fulham missed a whole host of presentable chances to get back into the contest. That one of the best of them fell to Raul Jimenez only served to underline why the Mexican, who is struggling in front of goal, isn't in the starting line-up now.

Getting Fulham's form back on track at the AMEX won't be easier. Brighton's high-pressing, possession heavy and inventive approach under Roberto de Zerbi hasn't shone as brightly as in the Italian's first few months after replacing Graham Potter but Albion did record a first clean sheet of the season in registering their first European win over Ajax and only West Ham have beaten them on their own patch this season. The Seagulls have not failed to score in a league game since Manor Solomon's late strike secured something of a smash and grab win last October and, although the loss of Solly March is a serious blow, Fulham will have to shackle the irrepressible talents of Kaoru Mitoma, João Pedro, Evan Ferguson and now even Ansu Fati to emerge with anything at all.

It was intriguing to hear de Zerbi, whose achievements at Sassuolo seem to have slipped under the radar somewhat in this country since Serie A is now only on pay-TV, insist during his own press conference that Fati and João Pedro are only performing at around 60 per cent of their potential at present. When they get up to speed, Albion – already an exciting side – would be a formidable proposition. The Whites will also have to find a way to quieten the influential Pascal Gross, who is poised to play his 200th Premier League for Brighton – becoming just the second Seagull after skipper Lewis Dunk to reach that milestone. Albion are a well-oiled, technically proficient side who marry consistency with creativity and will represent a serious test of whether Silva's side are able to match the stellar achievements of last season.

Given how well Albion finished the campaign, one of the highlights was completing the double over the south-coast side. Brighton have yet to beat Fulham in six Premier League outings, but completing a third consecutive league win over the Seagulls for the first time since 1986 will require a serious improvement. I felt Silva got his selection wrong at Spurs, with that game calling out for the dynamism of Alex Iwobi in midfield to match the intensity demanded by Ange Postecoglou. Fulham carried far more threat when Tom Cairney joined proceedings in the second half and there has to be a case for dropping Andreas Pereira, who was utterly anonymous in the 45 minutes he was given at N17.

The vexed issue of playing two left-footers at the heart of the back four will rear its head again this afternoon as Silva remains without the services of Tosin Adarabioyo and Issa Diop. Both Bassey and Ream's distribution is vital to implementing the head coach's playing philosophy, but each of them will need to recognise when those passes out from the back are on. Too often this season Fulham have played themselves into trouble (think of Brighton and Chelsea at home as well as the most recent examples) and that's why Dimitar Berbatov's words on Friday resonated so strongly. Whilst the Whites don't have a focal point up front like Mitrovic any more, balls out to the flanks unlikely to put the defence in such a vulnerable position immediately. Football, however, is an easy game when you are typing on your laptop.

If this preview appears gloomy, it is because the task ahead is particularly challenging, especially with Kenny Tete and Adama Traore, two important assets at either end of the pitch, also sidelined. Glimmers of hope come from the fact that Fulham have matched their results from last season (with three victories, two draws and four defeats from their first nine games) and that they shown they can cope on their travels against sides who keep the ball in adversity: think Arsenal away where they were in control for an hour and came away with a point even after being reduced to ten men thanks to João Palhinha's late leveller. Here's hoping for another astonishing afternoon on the south coast.

MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Ream, Bassey; Palhinha, Lukic; De Cordova-Reid, Willian, Iwobi; Vincius. Subs: Rodak, Ballo-Toure, de Fougerolles, Reed, Cairney, Wilson, Harris, Muniz, Jimenez.




https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/10/up-next-brighton-and-hove-albion-a-4/

[WhiteJC]

Sources: Fulham set to sign defender in January with ex-Man City star Adarabioyo set to leave
Fulham will be in the market for a right-sided centre-back in the January window with Tosin Adarabioyo expected to leave the club, sources have told Football Insider.

Adarabioyo, 26, is out of contract at the end of the 2023-24 campaign and is set to be the subject of offers when the mid-season window opens on 1 January.

And Fulham are ready to spend big in the new year after promising Marco Silva much-needed funds.

Football Insider revealed on Friday (27 October) that Silva has been given assurances about spending big in the January window and beyond after he signed a new contract at Craven Cottage.

It is believed a striker is the main priority with Fulham among the lowest-scoring sides in the Premier League following Aleksandar Mitrović's summer move to Al-Hilal.

But a right-sided centre-back has also been identified as a key area for improvement in January.

A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Silva's side are expected to be "one of the busiest clubs" in the winter window.

Adarabioyo has played just one minute of action for Fulham this season, with injury limiting his involvement.

Tottenham and Monaco were among the sides chasing his signature in the summer window, but a move failed to materialise.

The ex-Man City star made 29 appearances across all competitions last season, scoring once.

Fulham have won three of their opening nine Premier League games this term and claimed a 2-2 draw against Arsenal in August.

They are next in action against Brighton on Sunday (29 October).



https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-fulham-set-to-sign-defender-in-january-with-ex-man-city-star-adarabioyo-set-to-leave/

[WhiteJC]

Jay Stansfield makes his point as Wayne Rooney reveals Birmingham City threat
Alex Dicken lists his talking points from Birmingham City's 3-1 defeat to Southampton

An improved Birmingham City slipped to a third straight defeat under new manager Wayne Rooney against Southampton yesterday.

After two disheartening defeats to Middlesbrough and Hull City began Rooney's reign, a more gutsy display at St Mary's offered the vociferus Blues away following some hope. Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Carlos Alcaraz and Adam Armstrong cancelled out Jay Stansfield's strike to ensure it is hope rather than points Blues are dealing in at the moment.

There were two refereeing calls which went against Blues in the first half to add to Rooney's pain. Harwood-Bellis' ninth minute opener had a suspicion of offside about it and Blues should have been awarded a penalty for Gavin Bazunu's takedown of Oliver Burke.

Nobody will deny Southampton were worthy victors - even Rooney conceded that - but the game might have panned out differently with a more eagle-eyed referee than David Webb. Here are our talking points from St Mary's...

It was an improvement
Blues seemed more organised and cohesive at St Mary's, which is a marked improvement on Rooney's first two games. Players knew their roles and responsiblities, and most importantly they seemed comfortable with what Rooney had asked them to do.

Rooney promised he would adapt after a frank debrief with his players following the defeat to Hull and his team selection was evidence of that. The manager set his team up to be more defensively sound than he did in the first two matches. It worked to an extent, although by his own admission the goals Blues conceded were poor ones.

We must remember that the vast majority of those Southampton players wouldn't look out of place in the Premier League. Their quality down the flanks was particularly evident. Kamaldeen Sulemana and Kyle Walker-Peters will be giving Cody Drameh and Manny Longelo nightmares for the next week.

Pragmatism for points
The law of averages suggests Blues - who have now lost four away games in a row for the first time since 2018 - might have lost to a classy Southampton side before Rooney pitched up. He did at least keep his pledge to adapt his playing style at Southampton.

Blues were more direct going forward with the powerful presence of Lukas Jutkiewicz and the pacey Burke. Full-backs Drameh and Longelo were largely asked to stick to their defensive tasks instead of drifting into midfield or attack.

And the returning Ivan Sunjic wasn't asked to do too much outside of his comfort zone. Although Rooney did look completely enraged when Sunjic gave the ball away twice in the space of 10 seconds in the second half.

Blues need to be more solid defensively than they were at St Mary's, but they won't face that calibre of player every week in the Championship. The main positive we can take from Rooney's third defeat is that he learnt from his first two.

Stansfield has to start
Stansfield didn't even require a minute to make his point to Rooney after coming on as a substitute. The club's top scorer registered his fourth goal of the season with a superb finish after he dispossessed a Southampton defender on the edge of their box.

Explaining the thinking behind Stansfield's omission from the XI, Rooney said: "That was part of the plan with Jay, Scott and Miyoshi. I felt that if we could stay in the game we could use their energy at the end of the game to try and get us a win or get us back in the game. It was a really good finish from him.

"I always speak to the players about the squad, not just the team. It could be a different starting XI. That's me trying to figure out what players can do different things. I think I've almost used every player now."

Stansfield has surely played his way back into Rooney's affections. Blues are a better team with the 20-year-old in it.

Long could well be Rooney's first victim
There will be casualties along the way now that Blues have changed manager. Players who were appreciated by John Eustace might not be to Rooney's liking, and vice versa.

Kevin Long was most definitely appreciated by Eustace. The Irish defender played every minute in the Championship under Eustace, but Rooney has ended his ever-presence.

Summer signing Emanuel Aiwu made his first start against Southampton at Long's expense. Even when Aiwu needed to be replaced after suffering from cramp, Rooney opted for Marc Roberts over Long. Maybe that is Rooney taking a look at all of his options. But maybe it is something more concerning for Long.

In another meeting with his players at the training ground on Friday, Rooney didn't mince his words. He told BBC WM: "I challenged the players because of what happened in the last 10 minutes of the last (Hull) game. I told the players yesterday that if that happens again I will get rid of players. I can't accept that from my team. I can accept mistakes if that happens, but I'm not accepting not working."



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/southampton-birmingham-highlights-stansfield-rooney-28003394

[WhiteJC]

Report claims Fulham will be in the market for a right-sided CB in case Tottenham, Monaco target Tosin leaves
Fulham will reportedly consider signing a right-sided central defender in the January transfer window in case Tosin Adarabioyo leaves Craven Cottage.

Tosin will enter the last six months of his contract with Fulham at the start of January and was heavily linked with potential moves to Tottenham Hotspur and French Ligue 1 outfit Monaco in the summer transfer window.

The Manchester City academy product was angling for a move away from Fulham in the days leading up to the close of the summer transfer window but the Cottagers blocked his transfer because they couldn't sign a replacement.

Football Insider claims Fulham will be in the market for a right-sided centre-back in the January window with Tosin Adarabioyo expected to leave the club.

Fulham are short on options in the right-sided centre-back position with Issa Diop and Tosin sidelined by injuries.

Against Tottenham Hotspur six days ago, left-footed Super Eagles central defender Calvin Bassey was deployed on the right side of central defence but was exposed as his errors led to the two goals conceded by Fulham.

Tosin's game time has been limited this season due to a groin injury that required surgery.

However, the 26-year-old has started partial training and should be available for selection after the international break in November.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=49275

[WhiteJC]

Brighton vs Fulham: Premier League Preview, Gameweek 10, 2023
Brighton welcome Marco Silva's Fulham to the American Express Stadium on Sunday afternoon, looking to pick up their first league victory since September 24th.

Roberto De Zerbi will be hoping to get the better of his counterpart Marco Silva for the first time in his managerial career, when the two go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon.

The Italian will be looking to out behind his side's three-game winless run in the league, their last win coming on September 24th as they beat Bournemouth 3-1. The Seagulls sit in seventh place after a mixed start to their season, where they've found it hard to juggle participation in the Carabao Cup and UEFA Europa League, alongside their numerous injury issues.

The Cottagers have also had a rather shaky start to their Premier League campaign. They come into this fixture off the back of a 2-0 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night, whilst Albion will be full of confidence after they dispatched Dutch giants Ajax on Thursday night in Europe.

The concern for Marco Silva comes at both ends of the pitch. They've leaked goals, conceding 17 so far, and have also failed to replace the heights hit by Aleksander Mitrovic, who departed for Saudi Arabia in the summer. In the opening nine games of this season, Fulham have only found the back of the net on six occasions.

This could set us up for an entertaining battle on Sunday, as Brighton, who are still missing key defensive options, have conceded ten goals in their last three league matches.

    Team News

Brighton and Hove Albion
The Seagulls came through their 2-0 victory on Thursday unscathed, and will have not fresh injury concerns coming into this tie.

Solly March, who was stretchered off with a knee injury during last week's lost against Manchester City, will, according to Roberto De Zerbi, be missing in action for a "long time." As will Danny Welbeck, he was also substituted early in that game with a muscle issue.

Pervis Estupinan (thigh) has been back out on the grass at the training ground this week but this fixture will come too soon for both him and Tariq Lamptey (muscle).

Jakub Moder and Julio Enciso (both knee) remain sidelined.

Fulham
The visitors will again be without defensive duo Tosin Adarabioyo (groin) and Issa Diop (thigh), meaning that Calvin Bassey will be given a chance to make amends for his mistakes on Monday night alongside Tim Ream at centre back.

Kenny Tete is still in the treatment room with a groin injury, as is Adama Traore with a muscle issue.

    Likely lineups
Brighton and Hove Albion
Steele; Veltman, Dunk, Webster, Igor; Gross, Gilmour; Fati, Pedro, Mitoma; Ferguson.

Fulham
Leno; Castagne, Bassey, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Lukic; Wilson, Iwobi, Willian; Jimenez.

    Key players

Brighton and Hove Albion: Joao Pedro
Off the back of a goal in the UEFA Europa League in midweek, Joao Pedro will be crucial if Albion are to pick up their first victory in the league in over a month.

Despite scoring four times in three games on the European stage, the Brazilian has only hit the back of the net twice and recorded one assist in 480 minutes of Premier League action since his move from Watford in the summer.

De Zerbi will be looking to his £30m man to provide creativity and a goal threat if he is selected to start in the role behind Evan Ferguson when the team sheet are handed in on Sunday.

Fulham: Willian
Yet another Brazilian to look out for on the pitch when these two sides clash. Willian has two goals and two assists from five previous starts against the Seagulls.

He was a bright attacking spark and Fulham's most dangerous forward in a discouraging performance when they were defeated by Tottenham Hotspur on Monday; recording 0.15 expected assists (xA), winning four fouls and making three key passes.

If Willian is on his game again on Sunday, he could get some luck down the left-hand side for Marco Silva's men a he looks set for an exciting battle Joel Veltman.

The former Chelsea and Arsenal winger will also have to be prepared to get back and help out defensively, as the Dutchman will look to join in with Brighton's attacking play at every possible opportunity.


    Match Details

Where is the game being played?
The game is being played at Brighton's American Express Stadium

What time is kick-off?
The game will be kicking off at 14:00 GMT.

How can I watch?
The game has not been selected for live television broadcast in the United Kingdom. Highlights will be available later in the day, on the BBC'S Match of the Day 2 programme.



https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/10/28/premier-league/1160901-brighton-vs-fulham-premier-league-preview-gameweek-10-2023.html

[Bill2]

Find it hard to believe that Jay Stanfield is on the bench at Brum and he is their leading goal scorer!!!!

[WhiteJC]

Tottenham gifted second chance to raid London rival with star man 'set to leave' in January
A Fulham star Tottenham attempted to sign in the summer is 'set to leave' the Cottagers in January, and manager Marco Silva is set to be given funds to make two statement signings, per reports.

Spurs were in the market for several additions in the centre-back position in the off-season. Micky van de Ven was successfully lured from Wolfsburg to the tune of £43m (including add-ons). However, with fellow new signing Ashley Phillips viewed as a long-term project, an established second signing at the heart of defence eluded Ange Postecoglou.

The transfer miss hasn't affected Spurs thus far, with Cristian Romero and Van de Ven quickly forming a fine pairing.

However, with Davinson Sanchez sold to Galatasaray, reliable depth is in worryingly short supply. Eric Dier remained, though doesn't appear to be fancied by Postecoglou.

As such, Tottenham have been tipped to go back in for a player they attempted to sign in the summer – Tosin Adarabioyo.

The 26-year-old was Fulham's standout centre-half last term, though angled for a move away in the off-season.

Spurs and French side Monaco both showed interest, though a move did not come to pass.

Tosin is currently sidelined while recovering from groin surgery. However, according to Football Insider, he's in line to be sold in the winter window when fully recovered.

FI state Tosin is 'set to leave' Craven Cottage in January and Fulham fully expect to receive significant bids.

Tosin is out of contract at season's end and as such, the January window represents Fulham's final chance to secure a fee.

The Evening Standard recently suggested Tosin could sign a new contract with Fulham, though FI don't share that view.

Instead, an exit is reportedly expected and Tottenham will have a second shot at signing a Premier League-proven option to reinforce their defensive line.

How much Tosin might cost wasn't speculated at in the piece. But given the player's contract is running down, Fulham's bargaining power is severely weakened.

Fulham eyeing two major signings
Any funds generated from Tosin's sale will be put towards a pair of headline-grabbing additions, added the report.

A direct replacement for Tosin is wanted, while a more suitable to successor to Aleksandar Mitrovic will also be pursued.

Raul Jimenez and Carlos Vinicius have failed to replace the goals provided by Mitrovic. The Serbain left for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal and his exit has hit Fulham's forward line hard.

Marco Silva's side have scored just eight goals in nine matches prior to today's clash with Brighton. Realising the desperate need for firepower, FI state Fulham chiefs will back Silva in January and 'spend big'.

One free-scoring frontman in Fulham's sights is Stuttgart ace, Serhou Guirassy.

Guirassy, 27, has remarkably scored 14 goals in eight Bundesliga matches this term. A release clause of just £15m means Stuttgart are powerless to prevent an exit and will be reliant on player loyalty thwarting any bidders.

TEAMtalk exclusively learned Fulham have been the most proactive side in courting Guurassy ahead of the January window. Rival interest will come from Tottenham and Aston Villa, to name just two.



https://www.teamtalk.com/tottenham-hotspur/spurs-gifted-second-chance-complete-fulham-signing-star-man-set-leave-january

[hovewhite]

Find it hard to believe that Jay Stanfield is on the bench at Brum and he is their leading goal scorer!!!!

that's Rooney for ya.

[WhiteJC]

A splash of pink! 🩷#BHAFUL pic.twitter.com/sPIyDgGhgF

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) October 29, 2023

[WhiteJC]