Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 14/11/23...

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Fulham player ratings from 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa – Calvin Bassey impresses again but midfield struggle to get to grips with John McGinn
Fulham stretched their winless run to four Premier League games as they were beaten 3-1 by Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday.

An Antonee Robinson own goal and a John McGinn strike put Villa in control before Ollie Watkins added a third goal in the second half.

Raul Jimenez hit back with his first Premier League goal since January 2022, but the defeat leaves Fulham just six points above the relegation zone.

Here are Dan Evans' player ratings from Villa Park.

Bernd Leno – 6

Should have done better with the cross that led to Robinson's own goal as he wasn't brave enough with Diaby baring down on him. Made a good save from the attacker early on, and there wasn't much he could do about either the McGinn strike or Watkins' second-half tap-in.

Timothy Castagne – 6

One of several players who did fairly well going forward but struggled defensively. Perhaps slightly fortunate that an early penalty against him for handball was overturned as the ball hit him in the face with his arm outstretched. Ended up making four tackles and was not given enough protection as Youri Tielemans regularly broke down the Villa left.

Calvin Bassey – 7

Another solid showing from Bassey to build on his display against Man United last week. Was aggressive in his defending against Watkins and ended up winning four of his five ground duels.

Tim Ream – 6

Gave the ball away cheaply on two occasions in the first half which led to Fulham becoming unnecessarily panicked. Allowed Bassey to do most of the dirty work while he mopped up behind.

Antonee Robinson – 6

 Perhaps the most up-and-down performance of the Fulham players as he did brilliantly to set up Jimenez's goal with a well-timed run but also scored an unfortunate own goal and was caught out defensively a couple of times.

Alex Iwobi – 6

Hard to know what to make of Iwobi's performance as he was one of Fulham's main attacking threats in the second half, but he failed to track the runs of Tielemans on more than one occasion and left his defence exposed. One such run led to Robinson's own goal.

Joao Palhinha – 6

Not one of the midfielder's best showings as he struggled to get to grips with McGinn. Was sold a dummy by the Scottish international in the build-up to the second goal to underline the point. A harsh booking for a challenge on McGinn was his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning he will miss the game against Wolves after the international break.

Andreas Pereira – 6

Barely involved in the first half but livened up after the break. Played a nice pass to pick out Willian on the counterattack in one of Fuham's better moves. Does at times feel as though the midfield becomes too open when both he and Iwobi are selected to play alongside Palhinha. Replaced by Tom Cairney late on.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid – 5

Struggled to make the most of rare opportunities to counterattack and didn't offer enough protection to Castagne as Tielemans rampaged down that side. Taken off at half-time for Harry Wilson.

Raul Jimenez – 7

A first goal in 33 Premier League appearances will be a massive weight off the shoulders of the Mexican, and it was a relief to see him keep his cool to tap home Robinson's pass. Could have ended his drought earlier with a great strike that came back off the post and he was typically determined with his work off the ball. Replaced by Carlos Vinicius with 15 minutes to play.

Willian – 6

One of the Brazilian's quieter games and he failed to make the most of a couple of opportunities that fell his way in the second half. Was well marshalled by Matty Cash for the most part.

Subs:

Harry Wilson – 7

Added creativity and attacking threat from the bench, including the pass to Robinson for Jimenez's goal. Was far more involved than any of the Fulham attacking players who started the game.

Tom Cairney – 6

 A few nice touches in midfield as is to be expected but unable to inspire a genuine comeback.

Carlos Vinicius – 5

Had little impact on the game aside from a disallowed goal as he started his run well offside. Surely behind Jimenez in the pecking order following the Mexican's goal.

Harrison Reed – NA

Adama Traore – NA



https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/fulham-player-ratings-from-3-1-defeat-to-aston-villa-calvin-bassey-impresses-again-but-midfield-struggle-to-get-to-grips-with-john-mcginn/

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Marco Silva says £5.5m Fulham player's display gave him plenty of confidence vs Aston Villa
Fulham manager Marco Silva has singled out striker Raul Jimenez for praise after another disappointing defeat against Aston Villa yesterday.

Silva was speaking to the club's official website off the back of a 3-1 loss at Villa Park yesterday.

It was another case of individual errors costing Fulham as they continued to slip towards the relegation zone.

Antonee Robinson turned the ball into his own net to give the hosts the lead before John McGinn doubled their advantage.

Ollie Watkins ended the game as a contest in the second half and should have easily scored more than once yesterday.

There was a silver lining for Fulham though as did improve in the second half and gave themselves a lifeline in the final 20 minutes.

Raul Jimenez finally broke his duck in front of goal against Aston Villa and Marco Silva believes this will take plenty of pressure off the Mexican.

The £5.5m forward might not have been signed as a direct Aleksandar Mitrovic replacement but that's what he's ended up being.

That's despite his poor recent record in front of goal as it had been 33 league matches since he had last found the back of the net.

Fulham fans will be desperate for this to be the start of Jimenez showing the form that made him such a lethal striker during his time at Wolves.

Silva praises Jimenez after Villa goal
Speaking about the 32-year-old forward, Silva said: "For sure it's going to be not so heavy the next time that he's going to be on the pitch.

"It's a tough one to go such a long time without scoring in Premier League.

"Unfortunately for us, it didn't give the chance for us to add points with his goal.

"But I'm sure if he keeps working like he's doing, if he keeps doing his best, and we keep delivering for him as well, in the future he's going to score goals that can count towards those points for us."

Despite Jimenez's goal against Aston Villa, Silva might still be keen on bringing in a new striker in January.

They've been linked with his namesake, Santiago Gimenez, but it might not be an easy deal to negotiate considering he's playing in the Champions League right now.

Stylistically, Jimenez is similar to Mitrovic but hasn't reached the same levels as the Serbian yet.

He'll be kept in check by Carlos Vinicius and Rodrigo Muniz when he's fit again but neither player is a consistent top-flight goal scorer.

Jimenez at least has that potential and needs to show it after the international break.



https://www.fulham.news/2023/11/13/marco-silva-says-5-5m-fulham-players-display-gave-him-plenty-of-confidence-vs-aston-villa/

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The Boot Now Fits For Harry Wilson And Wales
Harry Wilson is filling the biggest boots in Welsh football – those once worn by Gareth Bale.

It's a huge claim to make, but Wales manager Rob Page is better-placed than most to gauge the influence of Wilson on his team since Bale opted mainly for the footwear of the fairways.

Bale twice scored against Croatia in tournament qualifiers, but not two in one game as Fulham star Wilson, 26, managed against them last month.

That 2-1 victory means if Wales win in Armenia next Saturday and then beat Turkey at home they will qualify for the finals of Euro 2024 – their fourth major tournament finals in five.

Page says: "Harry has been around for a long time.

"Because of the players we have had available to us before – in Gareth, Joe Allen and Jonny Williams – perhaps he looked at it, he was turning up and felt he was a squad player.

"We had a chat with him in the summer and said, 'You are no longer that person or player. You are a big player for us.'"

"Look at what you are doing at club level.

"He has stepped up to the plate. I'm so pleased for him because he's not just a good player, he's an absolute diamond of a kid."

It has taken Wilson a decade to step out of the shadow of Bale after making his international debut as a 16-year-old.

https:/twitter.com/FootballKentron/status/1723765060730831135?s=20

But Page insists it is more than just goals where the gaps are being filled.

"He's the nicest fella you will ever meet off the pitch, he relaxes in his down time and his banter is great," adds Page.

"But when he crosses that line, he's a model example of what you would want a modern footballer to look like.

"I say to the kids – watch him. Everything he does to the nth degree.

"I'm really pleased for him. He has stepped up."

If Wales gain revenge for their shock home defeat to the Armenians in June, they will set up a massive home clash against the Turks on November 21.



https://www.dai-sport.com/the-boot-now-fits-for-harry-wilson-and-wales/

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Villa sweep past flat Fulham
Aston Villa eased to a thirteenth consecutive home league win over Fulham – with their club-record equalling 3-1 win leaving Marco Silva's side just two places above the relegation zone. The Whites had it all to do after conceding two goals in a first half where they were slow to get going and, although they were much improved after the interval, the concession of a sloppy third goal whilst they looked to be in ascendancy encapsulated a poor performance. The only ray of light on a dismal day for Marco Silva was Raul jimenez ending his barren run in front of goal: but Fulham will have to be far better than this against the Mexican's former employers, Wolves, after the international break.

Fulham have now gone six league games without a win at Craven Cottage in the same season for the first time in six years. They were left manning the barricades from the outset in B6 having failed to match the intensity of Unai Emery's outfit from the first whistle. Bernd Leno was forced into an early save when Moussa Diaby propelled a cross from Lucas Digne goalwards and Villa were denied a penalty on the instructions of the video assistant referee, who instructed Simon Hooper to take another look after he penalised Timothy Castagne for handball, when Ollie Watkins' cross had hit the Belgian full in the face.

Fulham threatened sporadically on the counter with Jimenez only prevented from reaching Bobby De Cordova-Reid's cross by a timely intervention from the sliding Erzi Konsa, but the home side were in the ascendancy. Silva will feel that their opening goal was more than preventable. Alex Iwobi, preferred to Harrison Reed in central midfield, failed to track the run of Youri Tielemans, which drew Calvin Bassey out from the centre. Leno looked favourite to gather the low ball in, having come out to collect it, only for Antonee Robinson – perhaps panicked by the presence of Watkins and Diaby in the area – to bundle home his second own goal of the season.

Leno did kept out a shot from Matty Cash after the Polish international had motored forward from full back before the former Nottingham Forest defender produced the perfect sliding challenge to prevent Willian from racing through on goal. Villa kept possession and when Robinson failed headed a high ball from Digne only as far as John McGinn, the Scottish midfielder darted beyond Palhinha before finding the far corner from twenty yards with a lovely left-footed finish.

Fulham fashioned chances for Jimenez and Willian in stoppage time, but the need for extra invention was indicated by Silva's swapping of De Cordova-Reid for Harry Wilson at the start of the second half. The Cottagers responded with Iwobi driving through the Villa midfield and finding Jimenez, whose low shot was somehow palmed onto the post by Emi Martinez, before Willian blazed the follow-up over the bar. Jimenez then set up Iwobi, who should have done better than scuff a shot wide, before a crisp counter saw Jimenez and Pereira spread the play for Wilson. The Welshman's cross found Willian at the far post, but the Brazilian veteran couldn't find the target.

With the Whites on top, they contrived to shoot themselves in the foot – or more accurately fall flat on their face. There was no apparent danger after Villa had a cleared a corner until Robinson stumbled, allowing Leon Bailey to sprint clear and, after working a one-two with McGinn, cross for Watkins to score his eleventh goal of the season. Fulham could have caved in there and then but then continued to play and earned some consolation when Jimenez found the net following a 33-game Premier League drought.

The Mexican international's first league goal in 20 months was a simple finish after Wilson lofted a lovely ball over the Villa defence for Robinson to pick out the centre forward. Silva's side went in search of a second that would have set up a grandstand finale. Iwobi drilled a drive straight at Martinez before substitute Carlos Vinicius saw a goal disallowed for offside. Villa had dipped below Emery's high standards but threatened a fourth at the death. Watkins hid his head in his shirt after heading wide from four yards out after McGinn's cross had been turned against the bar by a desperate Palhinha – but the home side's electric start rendered that miss merely academic.

ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Martinez; Cash, Digne, Konsa, Torres; McGinn, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, Tielemans; Diaby (Bailey 62), Watkins. Subs (bot used): Olsen, Chambers, Moreno, Lenglet, Dendoncker, Zaniolo, B. Traore, Duran.

BOOKED: Watkins, Konsa.

GOALS: A. Robinson (o.g. 27), McGinn (42), Watkins (64).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Bassey, Ream; Palhinha, Iwobi (Reed 82); De Cordova-Reid (Wilson 45), Willian (A. Traore 82), Pereira; Jimenez (Vinicius 74). Subs (not used): Rodak, Tete, Ballo-Toure, Lukic, Cairney.

BOOKED: Palhinha, A. Robinson, Iwobi, Vinicius, Reed.

GOAL: Jimenez (70).

REFEREE: Simon Hooper

ATTENDANCE: 41,046



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/11/villa-sweep-past-flat-fulham/

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Silva: Fulham 'didn't deserve anything'
Marco Silva admitted Aston Villa thoroughly deserved the three points after his Fulham side fell to a 3-1 defeat in the Villa Park drizzle.

The Fulham head coach rued what he described as a lack of calmness from his side as the Whites were well beaten by Unai Emery's in-form outfit. Silva told his post-match press conference:

"It was a frustrating afternoon for us. I have to say that Villa deserved the three points. A football match is much more than just playing the first half or second half, you have to be consistent from the first minute. The frustration for us is the way we conceded the goals this afternoon. A second own goal this season so far in 12 games, the number is too big.

We have to be much more relaxed. We know the quality of the teams that we are playing against and we have to be much more calm, much more relaxed in some moments when the ball is around our box. The second goal, again the way two players clashed with each other in one moment when we had that moment under control – easy to solve that problem there. And after they clashed, from that moment they built the second goal and made things much more difficult for us.

To be honest, what frustrates me more from the first half was the way we played on the ball. We had one or two moments, one good moment on our right side when probably we should have created the clear chance to score. We planned to attack them in behind, we tried to do it, but first half was poor on the ball. We didn't express ourselves on the ball.

We spoke at half-time, from a tactical point of view we didn't change many, many things, we just had to adjust and give the players the belief, and show them that we have to do much better on the ball, to start to express ourselves, and to be Fulham Football Club on the pitch that didn't exist first half. Second half, we did it from the first minute. I felt Villa dropped off the pitch, waited much more for us, didn't try to press so high to try to punish us on the counter attack, but from the first minute I felt that we were there.

We were trying to score [to make it] 2-1, to get into the game again. We were commanding the game, and we cannot give another goal like we gave. We gave the third goal to them, after an offensive corner for us. We had the moment again to be calm, to be relaxed, to build the attack again, and we gave the ball away and we were sloppy. And they scored 3-0. When you make this many mistakes, we don't deserve nothing from the game.

In the second half, from the first minute until the last, we tried. We scored a good goal with the way we planned to punish Villa, and we had one or two more moments on the right-hand side with Timothy to square the ball to Vini in a way we planned. With better finishing in that moment, we should have scored to at least make it 3-2, and after we can go for the game again. The players fought until the end. The second half was much, much better than the first, but the football match is not just one half. It's 95, 100 minutes. We have to start from the first minute in the way we did second half."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/11/silva-fulham-didnt-deserve-anything/

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Information and Point Drops: Fulham (H)
Ticket information for our Boxing Day fixture against Fulham has been announced.

he Cherries welcome Marco Silva's side for a 3pm kick-off on Tuesday 26thDecember, with tickets set to go on sale from Tuesday 14th November at 10am.

Ticket point drops for the fixture will take place in the below order and always begin at 10am:
Tuesday 14th November     26+ home points
Thursday 16th November     20+ home points
Sunday 19th November     14+ home points
Tuesday 21st November     1+ home point
Thursday 23rd November     General sale

Tickets will be available to purchase online here, in person at the club's ticket office located in the club Superstore or over the phone at 01202 726300 (option one).

Kings Plaza

Specific Ted MacDougall South Stand seats will be offered online with Kings Plaza hospitality at £87 per ticket. Supporters will receive 1.5 hours all-inclusive food, beer, wine & spirits, starting at 1pm and concluding at 2.30pm, ahead of the 3pm kick-off. Please note, visiting fans are not permitted to secure Kings Plaza hospitality and seating. Visiting supporters will be denied entry on matchday.

Season ticket holders interested in adding on Kings Plaza hospitality to their existing seat for this fixture can do so for £50 per ticket. These supporters can contact the ticketing team at 01202 726300 or [email protected] to upgrade now. 

Ticket sales

On the Tuesday after a home match has reached the 'all tickets issued' stage, fans with 1+ home point will have an opportunity to purchase seats online as part of Cherry Tuesdays. A limited number of tickets that were held during the initial point drops will be released, giving supporters more chance to be part of our matchday at Vitality Stadium.

Please note, in order to obtain a refund, home match tickets must now be returned to the club's ticket office no later than 48 hours before kick-off. To view the full set of terms and conditions for the 2023/24 season, please click here.

Once tickets are sold out, supporters are encouraged to regularly check the re-sale platform here  for any seats that become available. Those that do will be available to fans with 1+ home point.

 

Please note that supporters who are 14 years of age or older are allowed to sit on their own during home fixtures. If you are purchasing a ticket for a supporter under the age of 14, the junior must be seated with a responsible adult over the age of 18.

Accessible Seating

We are once again pleased to offer wheelchair users the opportunity to use the elevated platform facilities around Vitality Stadium. All applicants must have a season ticket or a home match ticket before applying.

Supporters should contact [email protected] to book a place on the elevated viewing platforms. Where possible, bookings should be submitted two weeks in advance of the match and places will be allocated and confirmed a minimum of a week prior to the match, ensuring that use of the platform is fairly distributed across supporters.

The club also now offers specific accessible seating in Block 28 of the Ted MacDougall Stand. Please email [email protected] for more information on how to purchase tickets. Supporters can read our accessibility statement here.



https://www.afcb.co.uk/news/tickets/information-and-point-drops-fulham-h/

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Christmas at the Cottage 2023

CHRISTMAS AT THE COTTAGE RETURNS FOR 2023!
Fulham fans of all ages are invited to join us for our family event on Wednesday 13th December to enjoy an evening of festive fun.

Beginning from 5:30pm, supporters will experience festive-themed activities, food and drink as well as the chance to meet Father Christmas in his Grotto.

Our festive brass band will be on hand to perform some Christmas classics, and if that's not enough, fans will have the opportunity to meet with players from across the Men's and Women's First Team squads!

ALL-TICKET EVENT

Beginning from the Stadium Store and ending in the home dressing room, doors will open at 5:30pm with festivities lasting until 8pm.

To improve the supporter experience, access to the event this year has been split into two entry timeslots: 5:30pm and 6:30pm.

Supporters who secure tickets for the 6:30pm timeslot will be unable to gain entry until that time.

In line with previous years, Christmas at the Cottage is an all-ticket event, priced at £5 per person, with all funds from sales donated to Fulham FC Foundation.

Supporters must bring their tickets with them in order to gain entry and all tickets come with complimentary mince pies and mulled wine*.
SECURE YOUR PLACE!

Supporters will be able to redeem up to two tickets per person for this event (of which one must be a junior) on a first come, first served basis, initially available to 2023/24 Season Ticket Holders from 10am on Wednesday 15th November.

A limited number of tickets will then go on sale to 2023/24 Members from 10am on Thursday 16th November.

Fans will be able to secure tickets online at tickets.fulhamfc.com or by calling the Ticket Office on 0203 871 0810 (option 2).

BUY ONLINE FROM WEDNESDAY

Players in attendance to be confirmed prior to the event.
Supporters must attend with a junior to be able to attend the event.
*Subject to availability, available on a first-come-first-served basis.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/november/13/christmas-at-the-cottage-2023/

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International Call-Ups
DETAILS OF THE FULHAM PLAYERS WHO WILL BE REPRESENTING THEIR NATIONS OVER THE UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL PERIOD.

🇸🇳 Fodé Ballo-Touré (Senegal) - World Cup Qualifiers

🇳🇬 Calvin Bassey (Nigeria) - World Cup Qualifiers

🇧🇪 Timothy Castagne (Belgium) - Friendly & European Championship Qualifier

🇯🇲 Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Jamaica) - Nations League

🇳🇬 Alex Iwobi (Nigeria) - World Cup Qualifiers

🇲🇽 Raúl Jiménez (Mexico) - Nations League

🇷🇸 Saša Lukić (Serbia) - Friendly & European Championship Qualifier

🇵🇹 João Palhinha (Portugal) - European Championship Qualifiers

🇺🇸 Tim Ream (United States) - Nations League

🇺🇸 Antonee Robinson (United States) - Nations League

🇸🇰 Marek Rodák (Slovakia) - European Championship Qualifiers

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Harry Wilson (Wales) - Friendly & European Championship Qualifier



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/november/13/international-call-ups/

[WhiteJC]

Positives and negatives: Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham

The November international break is absolutely needed. Cam doesn't like writing about losses but here we are. Dust down and press on, that's all we can do.

We're not quite at panic stations just yet, a defeat at the home of an excelling Aston Villa side on Remembrance Sunday isn't a major cause for concern because nobody triumphs there, but we have to wake up, pronto. With each fixture that passes us by, as "weaker" teams around us pick up vital points, we are going to be dragged into a dogfight and at this stage of the season, having scored a measly 10 goals, we are rightly flirting with jeopardy.

Unai Emery's claret and blues are a well-oiled machine. Villa Park is a fortress where the hosts always score three or more and if we allowed them to run the rule, they would decimate. We were much better in the second half but our ineptitude in each department heading into the interval was our undoing. Blame it on Marco Silva's starting selection or individual blunders, as a collective, we didn't offer enough whatsoever and in defeat, we will see just how unified this squad of ours actually is.

Silva said that Fulham deserved nothing after the final whistle, a mini revolt after half-time doesn't change the cold reality that we weren't prepared for a 90 gruelling minutes and if we're going to clamber to safer rungs on the ladder, we have to get mean. Really mean. We were easily taken advantage of, prone to errors and now we've a fortnight to regroup, redemption when Wolves come to town is essential. Three points, a clean sheet, nothing else will do.

Positives

Raul off the mark

Some 18 long, arduous months in the making and Raul Jimenez, the forgotten marksman of a bygone era, broke his duck to score his first Premier League goal and in all fairness, his overall performance was probably his best in the same barren timeframe. He rifled a low sizzler off the foot of the post before he ended his forbidding goal drought in the 70th minute, it was actually a by-product of a smart Emiliano Martinez save but it was the closest he'd come to opening his Fulham account. It wasn't to be his one and only chance, though, another sighter to add to a sorry string of misses that had gone before. Not this time.

A summer signing of Silva's, Jimenez was purchased as a low-risk squad member, or so it should've been. As we didn't replace Aleksandar Mitrovic at all, it transpired that until January at the very least, the Mexican would be our first-choice number nine. He isn't the trigger-happy executioner that ripped it up for Wolves all those years ago, but there was still hope that a fresh start would reinvigorate his disrupted career and truthfully, he's been more of a hindrance than cost-effective asset.

His confidence had been affected by his horrific injury. He'd shift into prime scoring areas, goal at his mercy and he'd choke. It's not as though he was starved up top, he just couldn't finish his dinner and while we were patient with him, tolerances were running thin. We'd named Rodrigo Muniz ahead of him, that is a gruesome indictment of his importance in Silva's set-up but nobody wanted him to fail. He has to change things for the better because he's had more than enough time to adapt. One goal, that's all it takes for a striker to reawaken themselves and as Antonee Robinson squared it in the penalty area, the relief felt across the club will be liberating to all, not only to Raul himself.

A weird, unfamiliar feeling of disbelief washed across the timelines as the 32-year-old's name was accompanied by the word 'goal'. He still has so much to prove in a Fulham shirt, one goal doesn't discount the fact he's been well below par for us since joining in the summer but I genuinely hope he can kick on and rediscover his appetite for bulging nets across the country. This goal has to be significant, a striker of his age shouldn't be over the hill just yet and now, he has to demand even more from himself.

Wilson's energetic input

Along the right before half-time, Bobby De Cordova-Reid couldn't influence things whatsoever and at the interval, he was swapped for Harry Wilson and what a difference the Welshman made. De Cordova-Reid could barely roll a simple pass into feet and he was robbed of possession far too easily and this just wasn't the case for Wilson, who was energised from the moment he burst into action.

Wilson's insistence disturbed Villa's fullbacks. Both Matty Cash and Lucas Digne were unfazed before Harry was introduced but they were both put to work immediately after the break. Wilson carried possession aggressively, he wasn't perturbed by the thought of being clamped and his fearlessness constrained Villa out wide, because they had to be mindful of Wilson's problematic ambition.

Consistency hasn't been, well, a consistency of Wilson's game of late but when his tail's up, he is exceedingly difficult to pin down and he will manufacture promising opportunities. We really need players like Wilson to step up as the festive season nears, the schedule's going to thicken up in a flash and there's no time like the present for a goal-laden purple patch. We'll have to wait a few weeks, seeing as we've another international break to endure, but I fully expect him to start against Wolves. Given his contributions on Sunday, it's a no-brainer.

Traore's welcome return

Fetch the baby oil! Adama Traore was back in the matchday squad for the first time since the end of September and while we only caught a 10-minute glimpse of the Spanish man mountain, we're buzzed for him. Our attack is in need of intensity, especially in the closing stages of games and that is precisely where Traore comes to life. Lobbing him into the mix against tiring fullbacks is going to be a gigantic release for us and the former Villa winger's return was welcomed by the travelling masses at his old stomping ground.

I've always said that you'd much rather have Adama in your team that not and we're yet to witness what he can really offer us on the counter. He sat William Saliba down at the Emirates (even if certain outlets are informed otherwise) and he is capable of humiliating any foolish defender that dares to stand in his way. Digne was understandably guarded, once Traore opened his stride there wasn't any stopping him and he actually chucked a few decent balls into the box as well. Keep him fit, wind him up and watch him cause mayhem.

Negatives

John got to Joao

A titanic duel between Joao Palhinha and John McGinn was evident throughout and it was compelling. Two versed shithouses going toe-to-toe for the heavyweight belt, elbows primed for a tussle of the ages and as our Portuguese antagonist found out the hard way, Villa's Scottish piss boiler edged the judges' cards. Palhinha was suckered in by McGinn, they were entangled almost every single time they got within five meters of one another and after picking up his fifth caution of the season, Joao will subsequently miss our next outing against Wolves and that will prove to be a massive, massive blow.

Being the visiting gladiator, one with a world-renowned reputation, Palhinha was the pantomime baddy and McGinn, buoyed on by a baying crowd, benefitted greatly when they got a little too close for comfort. Joao trod a tightrope, McGinn sensed altercations and collisions coming a mile off and he was braced to win fouls by hook or crook.

Palhinha was powerless to stunt the Villa skipper's black magic, he obviously wasn't aware of his opposite number's dirty tricks and he charged blindly into traps time and time again. Yeah, it's safe to say Joao was played like a good'n by Villa smirking midfield bandit, John got a tune out of Joao and even if our man's perceived to be the of the division's finest, lessons will be learned and pointers will duly noted because McGinn's also a master of his confrontational craft.

Avoidable Villa goals

No matter how you want to spin it or dress it up, all of Villa's goals were avoidable. If we were sturdier as a unit, we would've lessened the hosts' joy in front of the target but Emery's men ultimately punished us because we made poor decisions in crucial periods of the game. There's absolutely no reason why Bernd Leno couldn't have fielded the cross better for the opener. Robinson was thrust into an awkward position because the German 'keeper misread the flight of the ball and for a stopper that rarely puts a glove out of place, it smacks of indecisiveness and miscommunication which is wildly out of character.

Their second came about because we struggled to clear our lines and the slightest of feigns from McGinn was enough to offset an entire defensive line which didn't regroup swiftly enough. That on top of the fact Palhinha was sent to the offy for a couple of lukewarm cans, too. Tetchiness, disorganisation, desperate headers that would have you believe the ball was actually a 100kg anvil, it could've been prevented but punting the sodding thing as far as possible just isn't the Fulham way.

The winning goal was a gift, frankly. With more or less the entire squad in Villa's 18 for a corner, which was cleared, the ball was collected by Robinson and as the USMNT international's right foot is non-existent, possession was quite literally passed to Villa and they countered, devastatingly. We were the architects of our own downfall, we always seem to contribute towards losses in one way or another but three times at Villa Park? A ground which is already ridiculously unforgiving? We knew we were going to be put right up against it but our defending was naïve, gullible and we paid a hefty price.

Just couldn't capitalise

The second half was far more convincing than the first and there was a 15-minute spell just after the break where the Whites were on top. We were very much in the ascendency, chances were carved out as a result of Villa's high line and while we eventually bit back, it was after we'd spurned multiple opportunities to impose ourselves on the score line, earlier in the second 45.

We were revitalised once play resumed, Villa were camped in as Fulham's stranglehold of possession strengthened but we simply couldn't capitalise on our newfound momentum and impetus. If we'd have pegged Villa back before they registered their third, with a one-goal deficit to relinquish, we would've pulled level. We turned the screw, we counteracted Villa's offside trap to an extent but we still had a goal scrubbed off, we still scuffed at strikes which bobbled wide of the mark and we were regularly half a yard behind low crosses which flashed across the penalty area.

Five shots on target were registered, four of which were without venom and conviction and when we worked ourselves into decent areas, we just didn't make the most of the chances that could've potentially emerged and that, purely, was the difference between us and Villa. They stuck their key opportunities away with lethal intent, whereas we required visit after visit to finally alter proceedings and by then, it was all too late.
Ezoic

Robinson's incriminating faults

This is a game Robinson will want to forget about very, very quickly indeed, even with an assist to his credit. With Fode Ballo-Toure breathing heavily down his neck, Robinson will know that he cannot conduct himself in the manner in which he did at Villa Park and though he hasn't been a weak link for quite some time, he was completely out of sorts on Sunday afternoon and his mistakes were damaging. Loose passes, burnt at virtually every opportunity by Moussa Diaby, his vulnerabilities were pinpointed and he didn't do himself any favours either.

He now has two own goals for the campaign, in a parallel universe that makes him our joint top scorer and for Villa's opener, while it's harsh to blame him entirely, of course, he still diverted into his own net and it's becoming a highly undesirable trait of his. It wasn't a kind circumstance for Jedi, I can sympathise with that, but he does have a habit of getting himself on the wrong side of defensive scenarios and if netting an OG wasn't unflattering enough, he was solely culpable for Villa's third of the afternoon and that cannot be pardoned.

It's inexcusable, Antonee gave possession away cheaply and within seconds, from one end of the pitch to the other, Villa pulled even further ahead. Vintage Robbo sloppiness. You could argue he also played an incriminating part in Villa's second of the afternoon, too, so from a defensive standpoint, his performance was riddled with faults. Glaring ones. Defects in Robinson's game occur far less frequently than they used to but when they do crop up, they carry embarrassing trademarks.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-11-13-positives-and-negatives-aston-villa-3-1-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

"Of course" – Club director admits they are still after Fulham star, planning January transfer window
On transfer deadline day, everything pointed to Joao Palhinha leaving Fulham and ending up at Bayern Munich, only for the deal to collapse at the final minute.

This meant the midfielder stayed at Craven Cottage, where he then extended his contract, but that didn't stop the rumours of a move to Bavaria from reappearing.

In fact, in an interview with Sport Bild on Sunday, Christoph Freund, Bayern Munich's sporting director, made it clear that the Fulham star was still very much on their agenda.

The need for the Bundesliga side to sign a new defensive midfielder has been made very clear by the choices Thomas Tuchel has had to make, and Palhinha remains high on the wish list.

Freund said: "Of course he is still on our radar. The club worked intensively with Palhinha in the summer. I was there for the bit on the last, strange day of the transfer window, but you can't say yet what will happen. We are generally exploring the market."

The fact that such a prominent member of the Bayern Munich hierarchy is openly discussing the interest in Palhinha means there is a high chance something will be attempted in the next transfer window.

It's no secret that Tuchel really likes the Portuguese, and with his side needing extra help to try and dethrone Xabi Alonso's relentless Bayer Leverkusen from the top of the Bundesliga, more security in midfield could go a long way.




http://sportwitness.co.uk/course-club-director-admits-still-fulham-star-planning-january-transfer-window/

[WhiteJC]

Pompey overpower Fulham Women
A ruthless Portsmouth side eased into the second round of the FA Cup by beating Fulham Women 9-1 at Motspur Park yesterday afternoon.

Beth Lumsden claimed the matchball with a predatory hat-trick as Sophie Quirk and Emma Jones bagged braces with Ava Rowbotham and Ella Humphrey completing a comprehensive victory for the south coast side. Megalie Mendes squeezed in a clever free-kick to score a consolation for the Whites, who battled bravely to the end despite the obvious gulf in class and Steve Jaye's side will now turn their attention to their Capital Cup tie against Arsenal's academy at Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts nearly took a shock lead when Madi Parsonson's in-swinging corner glanced the top of the crossbar, but it didn't take long for the visitors to demonstrate their firepower in the final third. Georgie Freeland saw a shot saved by Ellie Parker after she pounced on some defensive hesitation and Pompey went in front in the tenth minute. Fulham failed to clear their lines allowing the lively Jones to feed Quirk, who curled over Parker from the edge of the box, having moved into a pocket of space.

Jones doubled the lead when she bent a free-kick around the wall and past Parker at the near post after an Ella Tagliavini foul twenty yards out. Pompey enjoyed the lion's share of possession and restricted Fulham to the odd long-range effort, such as an audacious strike from Rebecca Barron-Clark, but only extended their advantage just before half-time. Quirk outpaced Olivia Dale and cut the ball back for Jones, who thumped a finish high into the net from eleven yards out.

Portsmouth continued where they had left off after the interval with Rowbotham rifling narrowly over the crossbar after latching onto a lovely ball from Quirk but Fulham were enjoying opportunities on the counter. Sasha Adamson forced Hannah Haughton into a save and then fired fractionally wide, but the Whites conceded from Portsmouth's next attack when Jones' effort broke kindly for Lumsden to drill clinically into the corner.

Quirk made it five almost immediately after the restart having accelerated away from the Fulham defence and Lumsden grabbed her second of the afternoon from close range after substitute Mary Southgate had been stripped of possession in her own penalty area. Rowbotham then lobbed Parker from halfway after Pompey pinched the ball back and Fulham gifted Lumsden a third when Parker presented her with possession in attempt to play her way out of trouble.

The Whites offered more of an attacking threat when substitutes Ede Buchele and Alex Hayman began to link up down the left flank. With twenty minutes left, Mendes threaded a set-piece between Haughton and her near post to give the hosts something to show for their commendable commitment to attack. Portsmouth's potency in the final third always threatened further goals and a ninth arrived when Fulham were picked off from their own corner as Humphrey sprinted half the length of the pitch to complete the scoring with a powerful finish.

Fulham continued to commit numbers forward in the closing stages and could easily have had the final word themselves. Buchele, who had been blatantly taken out in the box moments earlier, shot wide after Hayman unselfishly opted to tee up the striker rather than go for goal herself. Both sides will be seeking promotion when the league campaigns resume next month, with Fulham head coach Jaye acknowledging afterwards that there was plenty reflect upon after their Cup campaign came to an end against the clinical National League side.

FULHAM FC WOMEN: Parker; Tagliavini (Southgate 56), Stormer, Dale; Parsonson, Mendes, Barron-Clark (Hayman 61), Lambird; Heasman, Adamson (Buchele 59), Panting. Subs (not used): Stratton, Bird, Lewis, Huntrods.

GOAL: Mendes (70).

PORTSMOUTH FC WOMEN (4-3-3): Haughton; Gane, Younger, Casley (Barrett 66), Wild; Freeland, Rowbotham (Walker 88), Hall; Lumsden (Humphrey 68), Jones, Quirk. Subs (not used): Bowers, Collins, Lane, Pitman.

GOALS: Quirk (10, 56), Jones (25, 44), Lumsden (55, 58, 65), Rowbotham (61), Humphrey (78).

ATTENDANCE: 147.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/11/pompey-overpower-fulham-women/

[WhiteJC]

Bayern Munich confirm Joao Palhinha stance ahead of January transfer window
Portugal international saw move to Bavaria break down and has since signed new contract

Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has confirmed Fulham's Joao Palhinha remains on their radar ahead of the January transfer window.

The Portugal international saw a move worth around £65m break down on deadline day as the German giants were thwarted in their attempts to bring the midfielder to the Allianz Arena.

Palhinha was keen to join Bayern after a stunning first season at Craven Cottage following a move from Sporting Lisbon but the two clubs could not agree a final fee before the transfer window closed in Germany.

Fulham were also struggling to sign a late replacement for their star turn, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Scott McTominay reluctant to leave Tottenham and Manchester United respectively.

The midfielder has since signed a new contract in west London running until the summer of 2028 with an option for a further year but that has done little to deter Bayern's interest.

Upon signing the deal, Palhinha said: "I can't lie, in football, we all have dreams and those are to play in the Champions League and for the best clubs in the world.

"People need to see and understand that as well but I also want to say I have all respect and I am really happy to be here as well.

"The move didn't happen and now I am just focused on Fulham again. I will focus on my work and give everything I can like I have done in the past. If I am honest, I got this opportunity [to move to Bayern] because of my teammates, without them it might not have happened."

Freund admits Bayern could revisit their interest in the 28-year-old, telling Sport Bild: "Of course he is still on our radar.

"The club worked intensively with Palhinha in the summer. I was there for the bit on the last, strange day of the transfer window, but you can't say yet what will happen. We are generally exploring the market."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/joao-palhinha-transfer-news-bayern-munich-fulham-fc-2023-b1120050.html

[WhiteJC]

£13.5m Fulham player starred despite Aston Villa defeat yesterday
Fulham once again came away from Villa Park with a defeat but defender Timothy Castagne was one of the few players to come away from the game with any credit.

Signed from relegated Leicester City for £13.5m in the summer, the Belgian international has deputised excellently for Kenny Tete while he's been unavailable due to injury.

Fulham's last five trips to Aston Villa have now all ended in defeat.

Their last victory came back in 2014 when goals from Kieran Richardson and Hugo Rodallega gave Felix Magath's side some brief hope that they wouldn't be relegated.

That victory inspired a 1-0 win against Norwich the following weekend, but relegation was confirmed just a few weeks later away to Stoke City.

Since then, Fulham's fortunes have been inversely proportional to the results gained at Villa Park which might be the only way to put a positive spin on Sunday's result.

However, Timothy Castagne is one of the only Fulham players who came away from yesterday's defeat to high-flying Villa with some positives to take going into the international break.

The full-back didn't have a winger to directly deal with but instead was tasked with stopping Ollie Watkins when he drifted out wide and an overlapping Lucas Digne.

He fared very well but whether he keeps his place in the side against Wolves in two weeks is another matter.

Marco Silva will hope to have the likes of Tete back available again and mixing up the team might be just what Fulham need to turn their fortunes around.

Castagne was one bright spark for Fulham vs. Aston Villa
According to stats provider Sofascore, Castagne recorded two clearances, four tackles and four interceptions yesterday.

He also won six out of his seven duels and completed 41 of his 51 attempted passes.

The main criticism of Castagne compared to Tete is his ability to deal with wingers in one-on-one situations.

However, because Villa didn't play with a traditional wide attacker, Castagne was instead tasked with supporting Calvin Bassey centrally at times.

Silva will be lamenting the individual errors his side made once again yesterday alongside the chances they failed to convert.

He'll be pleased that Raul Jimenez finally got off the mark but it was too little too late against a side just two points off the top of the table.

Unai Emery's side looks completely different to the one Steven Gerrard brought to Craven Cottage a year ago, despite the line-up looking very similar.

Silva now has two weeks to decide how he's going to get Fulham out of their current slump and which combination of full-backs will be tasked with facing Wolves.



https://www.fulham.news/2023/11/13/13-5m-fulham-player-starred-despite-aston-villa-defeat-yesterday/

[WhiteJC]

"I know I can go higher" – Fulham star uncertain about his future at the club
As Fulham star João Palhinha today held a press conference at the national team camp, Portuguese journalists brought back a subject from the summer.

That's obviously the failed transfer to Bayern Munich, with the local press asking whether that affected him, and if that was postponed for the upcoming windows.

Palhinha didn't mind talking about it, and gave quite a long answer about his stay at Fulham. The quotes come from O Jogo.

"I don't know what will happen in the future. Obviously it's really affected me and my family, but that's all in the past, I don't want to think about it too much. It's a great source of pride, you know what happened. In my life everything that has happened has been for a reason, I like to think of it like that," said Palhinha, insisting there's still a lot of time for him to shine.

"The future will tell me whether what happened was really what had to happen or not, but only the future will show me that. I want to keep going the way I've been going, nobody has given me anything throughout my career, everything I've achieved is down to my worth, my work. I hope it stays that way. I'm 28, but I know I can go higher and I'm looking to the future with that ambition."

Portugal are already qualified for the Euros, and that's why the local media isn't putting any pressure on the national team during press conferences. In the current international break, they'll play Liechtenstein and Iceland in the final two rounds of the qualifiers.

Palhinha ended up renewing his contract with Fulham following the failed move to Bayern Munich, and is now committed to the Whites until 2028, with an option for a further year. His market price on Transfermarkt has only been going up, as the website now has it at €55m.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/i-know-i-can-go-higher-fulham-star-uncertain-future-club/

[WhiteJC]

Deal back on? Joao Palhinha discusses possibility of Bayern Munich transfer despite signing new contract at Fulham

The summer transfer window saw a late, late move for Fulham's Joao Palhinha to Bayern collapse, and the midfielder has now spoken on his future.

    Palhinha move to Bayern failed in summer
    Asked if he would consider move again
    Bayern would be ready to approach player again

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Portuguese had already travelled to Munich and started taking pictures with the Bayern jersey before the deal was called off by Fulham due to their inability to sign a replacement. The German champions have been asked multiple times afterwards if they would still be interested in signing the 28-year-old, and they have always hinted that he remains a target.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

After his attempt to join Bayern Munich failed, Palhinha ended up signing a new deal with Fulham, where he will remain until 2028 with a one-year option. If Bayern do end up trying to sign the Portuguese again, they will definitely have to shell out some extra cash for the midfielder, thanks to the contract extension.

WHAT PALHINHA SAID

When asked about a potential future move to Bayern ahead of Portugal's Euro qualifiers against Liechtenstein, Palhinha told O Jogo: "I don't know what will happen in the future. Obviously, it's really affected me and my family, but that's all in the past, I don't want to think about it too much. It's a great source of pride, you know what happened. In my life everything that has happened has been for a reason, I like to think of it like that," said Palhinha, insisting there's still a lot of time for him to shine."

He added: "The future will tell me whether what happened was really what had to happen or not, but only the future will show me that. I want to keep going the way I've been going, nobody has given me anything throughout my career, and everything I've achieved is down to my worth, my work. I hope it stays that way. I'm 28, but I know I can go higher and I'm looking to the future with that ambition."

WHAT NEXT FOR PALHINHA?

While it seems unlikely that a move in the winter is possible for Palhinha, it could be very possible that Bayern may approach Fulham once again in the summer of 2024, with a renewed hope of signing the midfielder.



https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/joao-palhinha-discusses-possibility-bayern-munich-transfer-despite-new-contract-fulham/bltc70e74bf3ffa9531#cs53a9e51f96f66a7e

[WhiteJC]

Bayern Munich chief confirms ongoing interest in Fulham's Joao Palhinha
Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has admitted the German club remain interested in Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.

The Bavarians identified Palhinha as a target for the summer transfer window after he made a significant impact in his first season with the Cottagers.

Palhinha, who arrived from Sporting Lisbon in 2022, started 35 out of Fulham's 38 Premier League games last term, helping the club achieve a top-half finish.

The 28-year-old looked set to join Bayern on the final day of the summer window, and he even travelled to Germany with a transfer expected to be completed.

However, the transfer ultimately broke down as the German transfer window slammed shut before the two clubs could finalise a deal.

The two clubs reportedly failed to reach a final agreement over a fee, while Fulham were also reluctant to allow Palhinha to leave without signing a replacement.

Although the transfer failed to materialise in the summer, Freund has indicated that Bayern could renew their interest in January.

Speaking to Bild, Freund said: "Of course, he is still on our radar. The club worked intensively with Palhinha in the summer.

"I was there for the bit on the last, strange day of the transfer window, but you can't say yet what will happen. We are generally exploring the market."

Bayern are still open to pursuing a deal despite the fact that Palhinha signed a new long-term contract with Fulham after his deadline-day move fell through.

The midfielder agreed to extend his contract with the Cottagers until the summer of 2028 with an option for a further year.

Palhinha has continued to feature regularly for Marco Silva's side this term, having started nine of his 10 Premier League appearances.

After playing the duration of Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Fulham, Palhinha has joined up with the Portugal squad ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifiers against Slovakia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/bayern-munich/transfer-talk/news/bayern-chief-confirms-ongoing-interest-in-fulhams-palhinha_528953.html?newsnow

[WhiteJC]

Fulham will pay the price for alienating loyal fans if poor form spirals
Charging £160 for a match ticket in the Premier League could soon backfire if Fulham find themselves back in the Championship

There is no panic yet, nor would it be merited, more a lingering fog of disillusionment that could mature into resentment if things continue to get worse.

Fulham have won two league matches since the opening day, at home to Luton Town and Sheffield United. They have lost two home west London derbies, fixtures that they won last season.

Fulham head into the final international break of the year in 16th place. It is their lowest position since promotion.

No panic because nothing is irrevocably broken. Beating teams in the bottom three might be enough to stay up this season. Fulham are on course for 38 points and that almost certainly will be. Marco Silva has signed a new contract after rumours of an engineered exit last summer. Joao Palhinha has done the same, which may at least keep him in Fulham white until summer 2024.

Still, gradual decline doesn't feel much better than collapse when you're living it. Andreas Pereira is not quite at it. Antonee Robinson has scored two unfortunate own goals. Willian is nowhere near his 2022-23 boon. Adama Traore has suffered niggling injuries. The loss of Aleksandar Mitrovic is monstrous, for both his goals and his often cartoonish fighting spirit.

Don't overlook the second aspect: Fulham have taken two points from the eight matches they have trailed this season, roughly half as many per game as in 2022-23.

The goals are the headline. The regret is not that Mitrovic left per se, because he was so publicly insistent that he was going, but that a better succession plan hadn't been arranged given the, shall we say, unpredictable nature of Mitrovic's personality.

The replacement for the 57 goals in 69 games over Mitrovic's last two league seasons was Raul Jimenez, a man without a Premier League goal since March 2022. He did at least break that duck against Aston Villa on Sunday.

"There's also the age issue," says Jack Collins of the Fulhamish podcast – at 28.6 Fulham have the oldest average starting lineup in the Premier League by almost half a year. "There was a lot made about ensuring Willian's new contract was signed, but he has struggled to get going at all.

"With the age profile of the squad the most skewed towards older players across the whole division, Fulham feel like they're lacking a bit of youthful spark, and perhaps seeing the slow decline of some of the older members of the squad too."

Roughly, two distinct things are happening here. The first is that Fulham are inevitably regressing to the mean. Last season, they were the Premier League's data kings, the statistical anomalies. Fulham overperformed their expected goals for total last season by 5.8 (thank you, Mitro) and overperformed their expected goals against total by 12.8 (thank you, Bernd Leno). Now they are underperforming their xG for and... okay, Leno is still making lots of saves.

The other, slightly less tangible, effect is that Fulham are drifting a little. Mitrovic's departure – and its nature – hit the club hard because they felt helpless to stop the rampant force of player and agent power and the state ownership of Saudi Pro League clubs.

The proceeds were reinvested, but new signings are still acclimatising. Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi, the two most expensive, have started nine league games between them. Timothy Castagne and Jimenez are "effort" players, who give their all but don't necessarily make the mind dance.

This is all entirely normal. Teams drop off. Teams suffer when a key player leaves and their manager is the subject of serious interest. Teams with new players take time to gel. Teams who stay up in their first season occasionally find life more tough thereafter.

The current Premier League table sees the current promoted clubs in the bottom three positions and then last year's promoted clubs in the next three places up. Lesson: the Premier League is a difficult beast to wrestle with as a newbie and you are never totally safe.

In those circumstances, a club must look within for solace. It must re-engage and re-energise its supporter base and its community so that when it needs to lean on them for reciprocal love, it finds only open arms. The clubs that punch above their weight are the ones where everyone pulls in the right direction; ignore the fanbase's strength at your peril.

Which is exactly what Fulham have done. Last weekend, the Fulham Supporters Trust and Fulham Lillies organised a protest against what they consider to be extortionate ticket prices at Craven Cottage. And if you don't think that paying £160 for a match ticket or £3,000 for a season ticket represents ludicrous overcharging because of "supply and demand", then I'm afraid you're more a part of the problem than the solution.

"It's not just the existing fans," says Collins. "A large part of the outcry about ticket prices was the fact that the club are risking alienating a whole generation of new local fans, who would have been tempted to come to the Cottage (instead of Chelsea or Brentford) by sensible pricing strategies.

"It's all well and good bringing tourists and day-trippers in, but if Fulham were to end up back in the Championship, that becomes a less viable income stream than someone who lives in Hammersmith."

This isn't just about fleecing supporters who can just about afford to pay the ticket prices through gritted teeth or freezing out those who can't, although that is a gross treachery of what a football club should stand for.

It is that these misguided strategies actively erode the identity of Fulham's support. The money struggles of the past, the campaigning against the merger with QPR, the loyalty when they had to leave the Cottage; all of this is risked for nothing other than avarice.

There is a misaccusation that Fulham is a club followed exclusively by the wealthy, those viral images of cheese and red wine on away trips. It isn't, or at least not amongst the core support. It's about families, parents and children, the elderly and groups of mates, who support Fulham because they were born into supporting Fulham and are being pushed from centre stage because their club seems to think that it doesn't matter who sits in their seat.

In doing so, Fulham have risked that they will not need to rely upon the faith that only long-term loyalty and experience can guarantee. If this team continues not to score goals, the day-trippers will go elsewhere. If Marco Silva needs a crowd to get behind his team, he might wonder why it seems a little quieter than usual.

There is no panic yet, nor would it be merited. But that fog of disillusionment is aptly placed over Craven Cottage and it won't shift until results improve drastically or Fulham choose to appreciate that their supporters are hurting. Football clubs don't always need supporters as much as we need them, but they always will eventually. This is not the time for everything else to drift too.



https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-price-alienating-loyal-fans-poor-form-2751630?ITO=newsnow

[WhiteJC]

Birmingham City could still face Jay Stansfield issue after Wayne Rooney message
Latest Birmingham City news from BirminghamLive includes the disciplinary situation at the club

Jay Stansfield is the latest Birmingham City player walking the disciplinary tightrope.

Juninho Bacuna served a one-match ban against Southampton two weeks ago for accumulating five yellow cards, and Krystian Bielik missed the match at Sunderland. And star striker Stansfield - who is Blues' top scorer with five goals - is now in danger of suspension.

The 20-year-old has tallied four yellow cards to date in matches with Watford, QPR, Huddersfield and Southampton. Stansfield avoided a booking in Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Sunderland, meaning he is available for the clash against Sheffield Wednesday after the international break.

Blues manager Wayne Rooney will be hoping Stansfield can avoid another booking until after the amnesty on December 2. The first yellow card amnesty of the season, which means players will no longer receive a ban for five bookings, comes into force after the 19th game.

Blues still have to play Wednesday, Blackburn Rovers and Rotherham before it kicks in. In order to avoid a ban, Stansfield must not receive a yellow card in any of those matches.

"You can't go into a game worrying about what happens if you get a yellow card," said Rooney. "You have to give everything on the pitch and sometimes that means you get yellow cards. If a player gets suspended you miss them for that game, or three games, but I won't be asking them to not go in for tackles. If he gets a booking he gets a booking. We have got players who are more than capable of coming in."

There are other Blues players who are in danger of incurring a suspension. Croatian midfielder Ivan Sunjic, who has started four of Rooney's five games in charge, is currently on three bookings. Kevin Long and Manny Longelo have also been booked three times.

Blues' yellow cards

Krystian Bielik - 5

Juninho Bacuna - 5

Jay Stansfield - 4

Ivan Sunjic - 3

Manny Longelo - 3

Kevin Long - 3

Lee Buchanan - 3

Emanuel Aiwu - 2

Cody Drameh - 2

John Ruddy - 2

Dion Sanderson - 2

Jordan James - 2

Gary Gardner - 1

Tyler Roberts - 1

Koji Miyoshi - 1

Ethan Laird - 1



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-jay-stansfield-suspension-28060442