Saturday Fulham Stuff - 09/12/23...

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Silva wary of West Ham's 'quality'
Marco Silva has warned his Fulham side they will need to be at their very best to resist West Ham United's 'quality' in Sunday's London derby at Craven Cottage.

The Hammers will head across the capital in great heart after James Ward-Prowse's late winner last night completed a turnaround against Tottenham at the London Stadium. Silva waxed lyrical about the attacking resources at David Moyes' disposal during his pre-match press conference at Motspur Park:

"They have quality as a team. They don't need to really perform great, great, great, but if you are not on it every single moment of the game, they can punish you because they have the quality, they have a really experienced manager as well. They have the quality with Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, and all those players, the quality of Paqueta and Ward-Prowse behind them. They are always a threat."

Silva knows Fulham will need to make the most of possession in order to record a first win over West Ham since New Year's Day 2014.

"We are going to have the ball, and moments that we have the ball probably are the most dangerous moments for us, because we have to be really assertive, to be always in a good balance, because they are really a threat in that type of situation. They are solid enough, good set-pieces as well, with a great taker like Ward-Prowse. They are always a threat, but they know as well that it's going to be tough for them to come to Craven Cottage to play with us in the moment that we are in right now.

I really believe that it's going to be a good game. Both teams trying to win the game. Let's hope we can be stronger than them."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/12/silva-wary-of-west-hams-quality/

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READ | MILLERS SET FOR FRIDAY NIGHT EMIRATES FA CUP ACTION AT FULHAM



Rotherham United's Emirates FA Cup Third Round tie with Fulham has been booked into the diary to take place on Friday 5th January 2024.

The Millers will make the trip to Craven Cottage on the Friday for a 7:30pm kick off as a result of the volume of home ties produced for London clubs in the Third Round across that weekend.

Ticket details will be confirmed on www.themillers.co.uk in due course now that a date and time for the clash has been set in stone.

In the event that the clash with the Cottagers ends in a tie after 90 minutes, a replay will take place at AESSEAL New York Stadium in the week commencing Monday 15th January 2024.

The details for the draw in full are as follows:




https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2023/december/read--fulham-fa-cup-clash-set-for-friday-night/

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Fulham plotting January move for Papa Gueye
Fulham are plotting a January raid for Marseille midfielder Papa Gueye, as Marco Silva could seek an immediate Joao Palhinha replacement.

According to Football Insider, Fulham have set sights on Marseille star Pap Gueye as a potential replacement for Joao Palhinha. The 24-year-old midfielder could become available despite the French side extending his deal.

Fulham could enter the January window looking for a midfielder as Portuguese star Joao Palhinha's future has come in for some doubts. The 28-year-old came close to leaving Craven Cottage in the summer. Despite signing a new deal, he could depart the club amid interest from elsewhere.

Arsenal are the latest to enter the race for Palhinha, with Bayern Munich also considering rekindling their interest. Liverpool are also known admirers, while others might become a part of the conversation once Fulham names their asking price.

Selling Palhinha does leave Marco Silva with problems ahead of the second part of the season. The Portuguese international remains an integral part of Fulham. The manager would like to keep him; things are outside his hands.

Fulham have considered some options in the market as they retain an interest in Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Scott McTominay. The chances of signing either are slim in January. Their sides, Tottenham and Manchester United will look to keep those midfielders.

Brazilian star Andre remains a target, and Fulham is now considered a favourite to land him from Palmeiras. Marseille's Papa Gueye became the latest name to emerge on their shortlist. The French giants recently signalled their intent to sell him in January.

Gueye represents a good player who received a ban following a transfer saga. The 24-year-old midfield powerhouse has since returned and continues to perform reasonably. He also has vast experience in the game, having played over 100 games for Marseille.

Marseille did trigger a contract option to extend his stay until 2025. They have given FIFA agent Willie McKay the mandate to sell the midfielder. Transfermarkt values him at €10 million, but Marseille would want more than that in the current market.

They are keen on raising funds to strengthen their squad and view the 24-year-old midfielder as a dispensable asset. Fulham will have their attention, with the Cottagers only likely to move if Palhinha departs.

For now, other English clubs are also in the mix, as Silva would want a quick resolution on his Portuguese star's future and then plan to find a replacement.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/12/09/fulham-plotting-january-move-for-papa-gueye/

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David Moyes fan Chris Sutton predicts West Ham United vs Fulham result for BBC Sport after Tottenham 'surprise'
West Ham are set to come back down to earth with defeat to Fulham at the weekend despite their "surprise" victory over Tottenham in midweek, believes Chris Sutton.

The pundit claimed in his BBC Sport predictions column (8 December) that the Hammers had required a pair of "lucky" goals to inflict defeat on Ange Postecoglou's side on Thursday night, and with Marco Silva's side scoring freely he has tipped them to win on Sunday (10 December).

Sutton has gone for a 2-1 win at Craven Cottage as despite being a "big fan" of David Moyes he has backed the "flying" West London rivals thanks to their recent scoring form.

Sutton said: "The goals are flooding in for Fulham now, and they have scored 11 in their past three games. I really wasn't expecting that from Marco Silva's side, who had managed only 10 in their previous 12 league matches this season.

"West Ham surprised me too with their win at Tottenham on Thursday. The Hammers played well in the second half, although they did get a couple of lucky goals to turn things around.

"This feels like it is going to be close. I am a big fan of what David Moyes has done at West Ham, but Fulham are flying at the moment so I am backing them to follow up their impressive victory over Nottingham Forest."

Up and down
West Ham under Moyes seem to be at their most dangerous when they aren't expected to get anything and questions are building up over the manager.

An uninspiring draw with Crystal Palace last weekend sent the club to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without much backing and they turned around a deficit to record their third win in four Premier League games.

On that run it seems harsh for them to be tipped to lose their third straight game against a local rival, especially when Fulham have only won two of their past seven in the top flight, but the inconsistency can't be ignored.

On paper Moyes' players should be going across the capital with a lot of confidence to extend their run, but that is too often the exact time they then come up short.

West Ham have proven plenty of times they have more than enough to take all three points from this fixture, despite injury issues in attack, but whether they will turn up to do so will remain unclear until the day.

Despite a relative lack of hype around the team this season Moyes currently has his side only two wins from Manchester City in the Champions League spots, so there is no reason why he can't keep proving doubters wrong this weekend.

Fulham may have scored plenty but they've also conceded a lot, nine times in three games prior to their 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest, so Jarrod Bowen and company should be confident.



https://www.westhamzone.com/matchday/david-moyes-fan-chris-sutton-predicts-west-ham-united-vs-fulham-result-for-bbc-sport-after-tottenham-surprise/

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Fulham U21s 1 Brentford B 1
Brentford B claimed a point in the Premier League Cup following a 1-1 draw with Fulham Under-21s at Motspur Park on Friday night

Our young Bees shared the spoils away from home against Fulham Under-21s as Iwan Morgan's fantastic strike was cancelled out by George Okkas' second-half goal.

Brentford secured a crucial point in their Group G clash against Fulham at Motspur Park this evening, as they drew 1-1.

After starting the game on the front-foot, our boys scored early through Iwan Morgan who latched onto Val Adedokun's pass and smashed into the roof of the net to give us the lead.

Vincent Angelini was in inspired form, as he had to make numerous saves throughout the contest to prevent a Fulham leveller.

The home side did get a goal back though, as George Okkas cushioned a shot into the net. Neither side could find the winner as we scuppered the young Cottagers' 100% to Group E.

Our young Bees were in search of victory away from home as they took on Fulham in the Premier League Cup.

From the last Premier League Cup game which was a 1-0 win against Leicester City, head coach Neil MacFarlane made five changes to the starting line-up. Erion Zabeli, Conor McManus, Ashley Hay, Iwan Morgan and Max Dickov all came into the team for tonight's game.

Our boys settled quickly into the contest, looking assured on the ball as we probed in the Fulham half.

Our press was proving to be effective, and the first goal came from a forced error, Adedokun picked up the loose ball and fed Morgan who rifled into the top corner of the net. This was Morgan's second goal this week, after he scored for the Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup game against Tottenham on Tuesday.

The young Cottagers created their first opportunity of the game and it required a good stop from goalkeeper Angelini, who parried Chris Donnell's header away from danger.

Angelini was called into action again, making a great stop from Lemar Gordon. Since the opener, the tide turned in favour of Fulham who were finding themselves in good positions. The home side continued to stay on top and two saves in quick succession from Angelini underlined this.

The B team shot-stopper first pushed away George Okkas' shot on the edge of the box. The rebound fell to Luke Harris and diving in the wrong direction, Angelini managed to save with his feet. Max Dickov went extremely close to a brilliant goal, volleying from distance but a great save from Alex Borto in the Fulham net prevented us from extending our lead. The young Cottagers goalkeeper could do nothing to stop a strong header from Conor McManus, but the midfielder's effort cannoned off the crossbar. Harris did have an opportunity just before half time but he failed to hit the target with his headed attempt.

The second half saw us start in similar fashion to the first, and Dickov again tested Borto from distance, but the goalkeeper did well to push over the bar.

Despite this, the home side drew level as Donnell's wicked delivery found Okkas in acres of space to pick his spot and equalise.

We should have gone back ahead, as a ball over the top saw Morgan through on goal, but he made the decision to head the ball and that ultimately allowed the keeper to collect easily.

Second-half substitute Oliver O'Neil missed a gilt-edged chance later in the half, putting the ball wide with only the keeper to beat.

O'Neill was in the thick of the action again, striking from distance, and after taking a number of wicked deflections the ball crashed off the crossbar.

Fulham were ramping up the pressure and a cross into the box found the head of Callum Osmand but he mis-timed his effort as it trickled wide.

Harris had a late chance to win it for the home side, but the resulting shot flew well over the bar.

That was how the game would end as our young Bees secured a crucial point away from home in the PL Cup.

The draw means that in the meantime, we stay in second place with five points, as we look ahead to a test against Burnley in the new year.

Brentford B: Angelini, Farr, Adedokun, Zabeli, Kim, McManus, Hay, Owen (Waruih 82'), Morgan (Holland 76'), Dickov (Brierely 82'), Yogane

Subs not used: Booth, Laidlaw

Fulham U21: Borto, Donnell, Araujo (O'Neill 62'), Odutayo, Williams, King (Nsasi 85'), Sekularac, Okkas, Loupalo-Bi (Osmand 71'), Harris, Gordon (Lanquedoc 63')

Subs not used: McNally



https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/brentford-b-team-fulham-u21s-1-brentford-b-1

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Transfer musing: João Palhinha has "concrete chance" to leave Fulham, Bayern Munich won't overspend
João Palhinha could still yet leave Fulham, but would Bayern get priced out by Fulham?

It very well might be Bayern Munich's most recent proverbial broken record, but not all hope is lost just yet for Fulham's Portuguese midfielder João Palhinha. Bayern just narrowly missed out on signing him at the end of the summer transfer window and then not long after the start of the Premier League season, Fulham got him to sign a contract extension. His current deal at Craven Cottage runs through the end of June 2028, but there is reportedly still a chance he could leave Fulham during the January transfer window.

Per an update from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano (via @iMiaSanMia), there is still a likely chance that the Portuguese international could leave Fulham during the winter transfer window. The player himself had made his frustrations clear when the move to Bayern fell through in the final hours of the summer transfer window, which makes whatever diplomatic comments he makes to the press now seem pale in comparison to his demeanor just four months ago.

For Bayern, Palhinha is still very much a desired player internally, and it is clear that the player would love to play in Munich. However, Bayern is entering into a tricky situation as the winter transfer window approaches, as they are in need of bringing in defensive reinforcements, as Thomas Tuchel has recently emphasized. Bouna Sarr's ACL tear just compounded what has already been a season hampered by injuries to Tuchel's back line and despite Tuchel's desire to bring in a midfielder like Palhinha, the club needs to emphasize defenders in January.



https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/12/9/23992882/bayern-munich-fulham-joao-palhinha-premier-league-bundesliga-thomas-tuchel-transfer-rumor-winter-ucl