Monday Fulham Stuff - 05/02/24...

[WhiteJC]

Results

Sunday 4/02
Bournemouth	1-1	Forest
Chelsea	2-4	Wolves
Man Utd	3-0	West Ham
Arsenal	3-1	Liverpool

[WhiteJC]

Scott Parker snubs Aberdeen interest and will not replace Barry Robson at Pittodrie - with the Dons' high turnover of managers likely to been a key factor in his decision

    Aberdeen have had a high turnover of managers - three in just under two years
    A number of Championship clubs have been linked with ex-Fulham boss Parker

Scott Parker has turned down an opportunity to discuss the vacant head coach position at Aberdeen.

The Scottish Premiership side are huge admirers of Parker and have been keen to discuss the vacancy with the former England international.

The ex-Fulham boss is aware of Aberdeen's interest but is not interested in the role.

Aberdeen sacked Barry Robson after just eight months in charge last week - their third manager in under two years.

And the high turnover of managers is likely to have been a key reservation for factor in his decision.

Parker has been out of work since leaving Club Brugges last year and is looking for a route back into management.

He has already been linked with a host of Championship jobs.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13043405/Scott-Parker-snubs-Aberdeen-wont-talk-managerial-vacancy-Barry-Robsons-sacking-Thursday-ex-Fulham-boss-linked-multiple-Championship-clubs.html

[WhiteJC]

Fulham to revive Cherki interest in the summer
Fulham will try and land Olympique Lyonnais' starlet Rayan Cherki in the summer having failed with a late bid for the French youth international on deadline day, according to Alan Nixon.

The Whites made a concerted effort to sign the 20 year-old attacking midfielder, who can also play on the wings, but were frustrated initially by Lyon's asking price and then the fact that the hold-up over Said Benrahma's loan switch from West Ham United meant the Ligue 1 strugglers were unwilling to let Chekri leave even on loan. Fulham have watched the talented youngster regularly over the last couple of seasons, like a host of English and European clubs, and will look to sign him again in the close season.

Marco Silva is already planning a significant rebuild of his ageing squad over the summer having been frustrated in his attempts to add new signings in January due to worries over Fulham's financial fair play position.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/02/fulham-to-revive-cherki-interest-in-the-summer/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham Wouldn't Meet Club's Demand For Immediate Fee For Target
Fulham were told to pay an immediate €20m to Stuttgart for winger Silas on transfer deadline day, something which killed the deal.

The Cottagers were working hard on signings before the transfer window closed and wanted to snap up Stuttgart's Silas.

Fulham proposed a loan with an obligation to buy set at €20m if Silas played in a set number of games for the rest of the season.

However, according to Sky Deutschland, Stuttgart told Fulham they would have to pay an immediate €20m in order to sign the winger.

Those were terms which Fulham did not want to agree to.

They remain keen on signing the winger though and are pushing to try to get a deal in place with Stuttgart for the summer.

Silas has made 16 appearances in the Bundesliga for Stuttgart so far this season, finding the back of the net on three occasions and providing two assists.

Stuttgart have the Congo international under contract until the summer of 2026.



https://insidefutbol.com/2024/02/04/fulham-wouldnt-meet-clubs-demand-for-immediate-fee-for-target/635620/

[WhiteJC]

Man Of The Match Result: Burnley
Rodrigo Muniz has been named Man of the Match after netting his first Premier League goal in Fulham's 2-2 draw with Burnley.

The striker latched onto a ball over the top from Antonee Robinson and lobbed the Clarets 'keeper to double his side's lead in the first-half.

Aside from his goal, the Brazilian proved to be a handful throughout the game, winning the second-highest amount of aerial duels (6) of any player on the pitch.

Rodrigo picked up more than 40% of the vote, ahead of fellow goalscorer João Palhinha who came in second with 22%, and Robinson who took 15%.




https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/february/04/man-of-the-match-result-burnley/

[WhiteJC]

Mary Southgate: 150 not out
There's nothing that excites a fanbase as much as watching one of their own succeed for the club they love. It's why the growth of the Fulham academy over the past two decades has the potential to be such a boon for the Whites. For writers like me, when you watch someone come all the way through the age group sides into the first team, it is hard not to be overcome with emotion. You want the likes of Ryan Sessegnon, Marcus Bettinelli, Fabio Carvalho, Luke Harris and Luc de Fougerolles to do well because you have an appreciation of the sacrifices that they've made as they have blossomed from promising schoolboys into terrific talent.

This afternoon, in a crunch League Cup quarter final against Dulwich Hamlet, a lifelong Fulham fan will reach a massive milestone. Mary Southgate is so matter of fact and modest, she'll eschew any fanfare, praise or celebrations and even downplay the fact that she has racked up 150 appearances for the club she first came to watch as a young girl. As captain of a women's side that is seeking to do more than just win matches, but grow the game for women and young girls and take Fulham Women eventually back to the top tier they bestrode when bankrolled by Mohamed Al-Fayed's millions, Southgate has always sought to put the collective first – just as she does in her day job as head of physical education at a London secondary school.

Southgate's story is inspiring but to tell it fully this correspondent has to declare a significant interest. I first met Mary when she was very young and attending games with her family in the Hammersmith End as she still does today. Her compassionate shone through even then when she helped me to my seat without missing a beat after I had fallen down and injured myself on the concourse behind the stand. Inspired by seeing Rachel Yankey star as Britain's first professional footballer with Fulham's full-time Ladies side, Southgate joined Fulham's centre of excellence at the age of seven.

She worked hard on her skills and was one of those infuriating sportswomen – good at absolutely everything, including cricket, boxing and tennis – playing for her university and rejoining Fulham after stints with Brighton, Horsham Sparrows and Crawley Wasps. A commanding, and yet cultured centre half, Southgate threw herself into a coaching role with Fulham's Foundation and continues to make a massive difference in education, both as a popular teacher, and inspiring the next generation as easily the most recognisable of the Fulham Women first-team squad. Southgate's commitment is replicated by a remarkable set of team-mates who have kicked on since the club's academy reabsorbed the women's side from the foundation and are pushing for promotion from the London and South East Regional Premier Division.

Her passion for Fulham and female empowerment shines through consistently. A vocal leader on and off the field, she's become one of the most consistent centre backs in the division, comfortable on the ball, and comparable to the likes of Tim Ream and Tom Cairney, whose contributions to a players' fund have helped the Women's set-up grow substantially in recent years – with developments including specially-designed kit, an increase in the regularity of training sessions at Motspur Park, the appointment of a full-time head coach and – most notably – the staging of the first women's fixtures back at Craven Cottage since Yankey and her professional team-mates played there more than two decades ago. An indication of how highly regarded Southgate is at the club is that her shirt takes pride of place in the home dressing room during the official tours of Fulham's historic home.

It isn't just window dressing. The Whites have an illustrious history in the women's game, dating back beyond Al-Fayed's audacious bid to fund a professional side after he watched the 1999 Women's World Cup in the United States to the unlikely success of the Friends of Fulham in the FA Cup. Southgate's dedication matches the motivation of those pioneers in Fulham's story and the sacrifices she makes to ensure she's at the top of her game are far more significant than those endured by the male academy players I mentioned earlier given that, like every other female player, she battles to find the time for football alongside job and family commitments.

Female footballers, coaches and pundits do still sadly also have to sidestep sexism on social media but Southgate has always seen her platform as a positive: embracing the chance to be a role model by interacting with the fans, young and old, who have flocked to follow Fulham's women since matches were reopened to supporters following the end of the coronavirus pandemic. Fulham's fabulous women's team couldn't have a better leader than Southgate, who will take this landmark in his stride – focused as she is on stopping a former team-mate in Summer Roberts and a dangerous Dulwich side this afternoon. Her longevity is well worth celebrating, however, as characters like Maz are exactly what makes Fulham such a special club.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/02/mary-southgate-150-not-out/

[WhiteJC]

Positives and negatives: Burnley 2-2 Fulham

The Turf Moor curse of 1951 lives on to haunt Fulham's failed victory parade. This is a draw that feels exactly like a loss and Cam, almost begrudgingly, wants to get to the nub of the matter in his own way.

Positives

Muniz's emotional moment

For Rodrigo Muniz, becoming a Premier League goal scorer is quite the honour. Extending Fulham's lead was an emotional moment for the Brazilian and while it won't change my underlying opinion of him, I couldn't be happier for him and his level of performance on Saturday afternoon. Throughout the game until he was replaced by Armando Broja in the 74th minute, Muniz was a handful in the final third and he caused genuine issues.

Hjalmar Ekdal and his defensive teammates couldn't subdue him, his activity was constant, he initiated a high press and his hold-up play, both on the move and static, enabled the Whites to distribute possession convincingly across the park. It was undoubtedly Rodrigo's finest outing in Fulham colours in the top-flight, he didn't let Burnley's defensive line rest and his goal was opportune, as well as inventive.

He prayed upon poor defending as Antonee Robinson hoofed it sky bound, James Trafford was vulnerable and Muniz took his chance with complete confidence. Trafford pawed at the 22-year-old's delicate lob, his fingertips brushed off the underside of the ball but it only aided the ball's trajectory and as it skipped into a vacant goalmouth, Rodrigo basked in the glory and he was visibly moved by what he'd just achieved.

Holding back the tears, only just, Muniz soaked up his moment to savour and while he isn't a consistent performer or the most gifted of strikers in the first place, he always gives his all whenever he's fielded and that I cannot refute. Now Carlos Vinicius is out of the picture, and as Broja's got to acclimatise to Silva's system, Muniz will not have a better opportunity to stamp his claim in the Premier League and now he's finally off the mark, I sincerely hope he kicks. Netting in the promised land will prove to be a seismic weight off his young shoulders and good on him. He was my Man of the Match and it is fully merited, too.

Negatives

Costly individual errors

Two goals to the good at the break, in the ascendency with very little reason to be cautious, the Whites should've been three goals up as the second half got underway but as soon as time surpassed seventy minutes, momentum shifted and individual errors ultimately cost us. The fact the game-changing faults came from two massively dependable squad members is also nauseating.

For Burnley's and David Datro Fofana's first, the Clarets broke along the left at pace as we tried to regroup. Timothy Castagne was out of position and it was left to Harrison Reed to close them down on the retreat, but that isn't specifically where we were punished. Lorenz Assignon, a Deadline Day acquisition for the hosts, scooped a cross into the penalty area, it could've been dealt with without the need for Bernd Leno to leave his six-yard box but the German stopper's misjudgement worked to Fofana's benefit perfectly.

Leno was clearly caught in two minds, his hesitation offset our defensive positioning, as those at the back expected his to claim the ball, but as he suddenly realised he was nowhere near the flight of the cross, Burnley's Chelsea loanee had an empty net to nod into and from there, Burnley tails were bolt upright. Heading into extra time, the hosts piled on the pressure, they'd established a foothold and they were hellbent on snatching a late equaliser and they did, by way of Kenny Tete's miscalculated swipe at thin air.

He's known as Kung fu Kenny for his combativeness but that probably couldn't have been further from the truth in the 91st minute. A lofted ball was fed along the left and all Tete needed to do was cut it out and blast it into the stratosphere. Block it with an arse cheek, an elbow, just don't make a meal out of it. Oh dear. As Burnley rounded Kenny with minimal effort, because he'd done all the hard work for them, they'd nothing more to do than load the penalty area with a semi-decent cross and that's what Wilson Odobert did. Fofana, again, was on-hand to divert the leveller and it's obvious that both goals were definitely preventable.

Communication and timing went for a walk, perhaps we were exposed at the back due to bodies being out of position but Burnley barely tested the target before the closing twenty minutes, and all that was needed for them to get themselves back into the game was two direct breakaways. On both occasions our discipline and concentration, collectively and indeed individually, evaporated within an instance.

Only Fulham could fumble a two-goal lead because of self-inflicted mistakes. Burnley upped the intensity, there's no denying that, but they weren't deserving of a point and the only reason they found reward was because we poo the bed and that is becoming a more than frequent occurrence. Whenever we drop points, it's usually because we're the masters of our own downfall and on this occasion, it stings even more because Bernd and Kenny are culpable and they have to own their personal blunderings.

Limping out of action

Our squad list is already paper thin and the last thing we need is more casualties. Two players of ours limped into the latter stages and according to Marco Silva, they're going to be assessed in the coming days to gauge the extent of their knocks. Tosin Adarabioyo and debutant Broja were hobbling as Burnley stepped things up, their lessened mobility didn't necessarily help our attempts to shut them out but I'm only concerned about their fitness, because we need all available hands on deck for the remainder of the season.

I'm not saying their respective bumps are going to be season ending, because they won't be, of course, they appeared to be relatively innocuous but even if either of them are out for a week, maybe two, it disrupts Silva's selection dilemma even further and it's crucial that they return to matchday matters as soon as physically possible.

Having said all this, there's probably absolutely nothing wrong with them, 'tis nothing more than a scratch and all that, but fearing extra setbacks is something I'm naturally worried about, it's not an irrational reaction, and I wish the both of them a swift recovery, if they even actually need medical assistance or lighter midweek duties.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2024-02-04-positives-and-negatives-burnley-2-2-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

Report: Fulham Plan Big Summer Transfer Move

Fulham's Ongoing Pursuit of Rayan Cherki: Summer Transfer Plans Revealed
In a recent development that has captured the attention of football enthusiasts and followers of the English Premier League, Fulham's interest in Olympique Lyonnais' prodigy, Rayan Cherki, has been reignited. As detailed by Zoe Wilkinson in the HammyEnd, the London club is setting its sights on a summer move for the French youth international after an unsuccessful attempt during the last transfer window. This news underscores Fulham's strategic planning and ambition to enhance their squad with young, dynamic talent.

Failed Winter Bid Highlights Transfer Strategy
Fulham's determination to secure Cherki was evident from their active engagement in negotiations on deadline day. Despite their efforts, a combination of factors, including Lyon's valuation of the player and logistical complications arising from Said Benrahma's loan move, thwarted their plans. The 20-year-old Cherki, known for his versatility across the attacking midfield and wing positions, remains a target for Marco Silva's team, highlighting the club's commitment to long-term squad development.

Summer Rebuild on the Horizon
Marco Silva, Fulham's manager, is already laying the groundwork for a substantial overhaul of the squad in preparation for the upcoming season. The need for rejuvenation is clear, with Silva keen to infuse youthful energy into an ageing team. This strategy not only reflects Silva's vision for the club's future but also aligns with Fulham's compliance with financial fair play regulations, which have influenced their transfer activities.

The Cherki Attraction
Cherki's appeal to a club like Fulham is multifaceted. His technical skills, coupled with a knack for creativity on the field, make him an ideal candidate for Silva's team. The pursuit of such a talent signifies Fulham's intent to compete at a higher level and their recognition of the need for investment in promising young players to achieve sustained success.

Navigating Financial Fair Play
Fulham's adherence to financial fair play guidelines is a critical aspect of their transfer strategy. The club's cautious approach in the January window, highlighted by their interest in Cherki, underscores the balancing act between ambition and financial prudence. As they prepare for a summer of significant activity, the management's ability to navigate these regulations will be crucial in realising their vision for the team.



https://eplindex.com/103987/report-fulham-plan-big-summer-transfer-move.html

[WhiteJC]

U18s out of FA Youth Cup after Liverpool loss
Fulham's under 18s exited the FA Youth Cup this afternoon after a 3-0 defeat at Liverpool, despite having the better of the first half.

Ali Melloul's youngsters dominated possession and created the clearer chances in the first 45 minutes but failed to take their opportunities and were punished by a ruthless Liverpool outfit after the interval. A lovely header from Lewis Koumas put the home side in front before a long-range strike by Kieran Morrison moments later gave the Londoners a mountain to climb. With Fulham having to chase the game, Jayden Danns added a third from distance to set up a quarter final meeting at either Sheffield United or Leeds United.

But the Reds had to weather a real storm to ensure they were level pegging at the break. Fulham pressed the home side ferociously from the outset and forced an error inside the first three minutes when Lemar Gordon latched onto a poor pass from Michael Laffey only to see his snapshot deflected wide. Aaron Loupalo-Bi showed plenty of confidence to dribble past three red shirts only to skew his finish from 20 yards off target before rounding the goalkeeper to fashion another sight of goal only for his scuffed shot to be blocked.

Fulham continued to pose a real threat with Ollie Gofford heading over from a brilliant cross by Jon Esenga and the midfielder was then denied from a one-on-one by a brilliant save from Kornel Misciur after being played in behind the Liverpool defence by a clever Gofford pass.

It was inevitable that the hosts would present more of a challenge after a half-time team talk from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and so it proved. Trey Nyoni saw a shot bravely blocked by Luc de Fougerolles but the Reds turned the tie decisively in their favour shortly afterwards. Morrison produced a peach of a delivery from the right flank that was matched by a great header from Koumas, which gave Marco Underwood little chance.

The Fulham goalkeeper was quickly picking the ball out of his net again only seconds later when Morrison found the top corner with an unstoppable strike from twenty yards out. Danns then lofted in a third from 25 yards out, chipping the stranded Fulham goalkeeper, to put an unrealistic slant on the scoreline as Fulham faded late on.

LIVERPOOL UNDER 18s: Misciur, Davidson, Pinnington, Pitt, Nallo, Laffey (K. Kelly, 78), Kone-Doherty, Morrison, Danns (Pennington, 90+1), Nyoni, Koumas. Subs (not used): Morana, Enahoro-Marcus, Giblin, Gyimah, Figueroa.

GOALS: Koumas (56), Morrison (57), Danns (73).

FULHAM UNDER 18s: Underwood, De Jesus, Amissah, De Fougerolles, Esenga; Nwoko, King, Osmand; Gofford, Loupalo-Bi, Gordon. Subs (not used): Kaiser, Nsasi, Slade, Tabares, Quashie, Ali-Wahid, Olyott.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/02/u18s-out-of-fa-youth-cup-after-liverpool-loss/

[WhiteJC]

Roberts returns to haunt Fulham Women
Summer Roberts returned to Motspur Park with Dulwich Hamlet and headed the only goal of the game as the visitors knocked Fulham Women out of the League Cup at the quarter-final stage this afternoon.

Roberts, released by Fulham at the end of last season, looped home her twentieth goal in as many appearances over Ellie Parker and into the top corner from Rhea Gall's free-kick to settle a London derby between two of the promotion contenders from the London and South East Regional Premier Division. The Hamlet had dominated the first period, with the hosts arguably paying their visitors – roared on by the Pepper Army – too much respect in the first half, although Fulham did lay siege to their goal late on, with Georgia Heasman spurning a good opportunity to equalise.

The visitors found space along either flank with the impressive Asia Harbour-Brown drilling over from outside the box in the eight minute before the lively Shakira Kafero-Roberts teed up Summer Roberts, with the latter unable to direct her strike on goal. The rapid Angel Reid posed real problems for Megalie Mendes down the right flank and Phoebe Read went close with a couple of shots from distance. Lily Price lashed a free-kick over from a central position before Harbour Brown's composure deserted her just before half-time when she strode onto a clever flick from Roberts.

Fulham had offered little in the way of a goal threat, having concentrated on defensive organisation, and trying to keep the visitors in check. Ella Tagliavini, playing as a holding midfielder this weekend, had their best chance when she wriggled free to head Mendes' free-kick towards goal, but her effort was easily held by Saskia Reeves-Priestley. Steve Jaye's side were forced to take the game to their opponents once Roberts had shaken off the attentions of Cat Beaver to give Dulwich the lead – and it made for a far more watchable contest.

The hosts' best move of the match almost provided an equaliser on the hour mark. Skipper Mary Southgate, making her 150th appearance for the club, surged along the left flank, linking up with Sophie Manzi, and whipped a lovely ball over the square Hamlet defence to find Heasman at the back post. The winger – usually so reliable in the penalty area – shot a couple of yards wide with only Reeves-Priestley to beat.

Parker then redeemed herself by smothering a shot from Lucy Monkman after she presented the Dulwich substitute with a chance to double the lead before making a brilliant save to keep out a header from Britt Saylor. Fulham poured forward looking for a late leveller with substitute Ede Buchele seeing a shot deflected wide and, despite forcing a succession of corners, the Whites couldn't breach a disciplined Dulwich defence. Mendes drove a free-kick over the bar with three minutes left, whilst Heasman's flick through a crowded penalty area was well gathered by Reeves-Priestley as time ticked away.

The visitors could have made sure of progression in stoppage time but Saylor smacked a shot against the crossbar after excellent play from Kafero-Roberts. That miss proved academic as Hamlet held on to reach the last four to the delight of their travelling fans.

FULHAM WOMEN (3-4-3): Parker; Southgate, Beaver, Dale; Bird, Mendes, Tagliavini (Barron-Clark 45), Christison-McNee; Heasman, Adamson, Manzi (Buchele 70). Subs (not used): Gibbs, Allen, Murtagh.

BOOKED: Tagliavini.

REFEREE: Ian Bryant.

DULWICH HAMLET WOMEN (4-3-3): Reeves-Priestley; Lodge, Harbour Brown (Crutwell 76), Corrigan, M. Searle (Gall 23); Saylor, Reed, Price; Kafero-Roberts, Reid, Roberts (Monkman 76). Subs (not used): Hickman, Craven.

GOAL: Roberts (49).

REFEREE: Ian Bryant.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/02/roberts-returns-to-haunt-fulham-women/

[WhiteJC]

João Palhinha (Exclusive): "Fulham miss Mitrovic. If I am the best midfielder in Prem? No, Rodri is."
After the 2-2 draw at Turf Moor, Capital Football spoke exclusively to João Palhinha. Find below the Portuguese's words.

On why Burnley were allowed to cancel out a two-goal deficit: "I think we started to give them some step to try to take something from the game. After the first goal that we conceded Burnley started to believe. We could kill the game more earlier in the second-half but it didn't happen unfortunately. It's really tough for us to return at home with this result after what we did. In my opinion Fulham played really well but the victory didn't happen. But if we keep with the same focus and start taking the emotional control of the 90 minutes, we can soon get the victory that we want."

On whether Fulham were complacent after taking a 2-0 lead: "No, [we were not].  We had the control of the game even at the start of the second-half. It's really frustrating and disappointing [to draw] after what happened in the game. We need to put the head up and focus on the next game against Bournemouth in our home."

Chelsea loanee Armando Broja can certainly give Fulham a lift: "It's one more player to help us to meet our objectives, you know. I think he's a great reinforcement for us and I think he'll adapt quickly."

Replacing Mitrovic has been tough: "You know what Mitro did here. He's a player that all the teams, not just us, if every team had a player like him for sure they'd miss [if he left]. It's not easy to replace a player like Mitro because he built a big history here. We're missing him but the football is like that. We need to think of the players that we have and that's it."

Despite being flattered by all the accolades coming his way, Man City star Rodri remains the benchmark in Palhinha's position: "Rodri is a step higher than the other players in my opinion. But it's good that people like and respect me [because] it shows that my job here has been good. I just focus on the job inside the pitch to try to get wins for my team, hopefully starting with Bournemouth."



https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/jo%C3%A3o-palhinha-exclusive-fulham-miss-mitrovic-if-i-am-the-best-midfielder-in-prem-no-rodri-is

[WhiteJC]

Fulham 'still pushing' for signing – Marco Silva's side already made offer, player was keen on January move
On deadline day of the winter market, Fulham failed in their efforts to sign VfB Stuttgart's Silas Katompa Mvumpa.

Last week, we relayed news from Germany that Marco Silva's side had submitted an offer and the winger's agent was in talks with them over a potential deal. It was also stated he was keen on joining Fulham, but a deal didn't take shape.

Fulham haven't yet given up on the 25-year-old, according to Sky Deutschland journalist Florian Plettenberg.

He took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to state that the Premier League side failed to sign Silas Katompa Mvumpa late in the last window because they offered a loan deal with an obligation to buy set at a €20m. However, the German club wanted €20m immediately.

Plettenberg adds Marco Silva's side are 'still pushing' to sign the DR Congo international in the summer.

The attacker's deal lasts until 2026 and he's made 19 appearances this season, with five goals and four assists to his name. It remains to be seen whether €20m would be enough to sign Silas in the next window.

Fulham bolstered their attack by signing Armando Broja from Chelsea on deadline day, while they allowed Carlos Vinícius to join Galatasaray on a loan deal.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-still-pushing-signing-marco-silvas-side-already-made-offer-player-keen-january-move/

[WhiteJC]

Palhinha: 'I'm not the best midfielder in the top flight'
A modest Joao Palhinha insisted he was not the Premier League's best midfielder – naming Manchester City's Rodri as 'a step higher' – after Fulham's 2-2 draw at Burnley on Saturday.

The Portuguese international told Capital Football:

"Rodri is a step higher than the other players in my opinion. But it's good that people like and respect me [because] it shows that my job here has been good. I just focus on the job inside the pitch to try to get wins for my team, hopefully starting with Bournemouth."

He admitted that Fulham sorely miss Aleskandar Mitrovic.

"You know what Mitro did here. He's a player that all the teams, not just us, if every team had a player like him for sure they'd miss [if he left]. It's not easy to replace a player like Mitro because he built a big history here. We're missing him but the football is like that. We need to think of the players that we have and that's it."

Palhinha was bitterly disappointed that the Whites led a two-goal lead slip at Turf Moor.

"I think we started to give them some step to try to take something from the game. After the first goal that we conceded Burnley started to believe. We could kill the game more earlier in the second-half but it didn't happen unfortunately. It's really tough for us to return at home with this result after what we did. In my opinion Fulham played really well but the victory didn't happen. But if we keep with the same focus and start taking the emotional control of the 90 minutes, we can soon get the victory that we want.

We had the control of the game even at the start of the second-half. It's really frustrating and disappointing [to draw] after what happened in the game. We need to put the head up and focus on the next game against Bournemouth in our home."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/02/palhinha-im-not-the-best-midfielder-in-the-top-flight/

[Thailand Mick]

I saw a quote

Fulham Wouldn't Meet Club's Demand For Immediate Fee For Target
Fulham were told to pay an immediate €20m to Stuttgart for winger Silas on transfer deadline day, something which killed the deal.

The Cottagers were working hard on signings before the transfer window closed and wanted to snap up Stuttgart's Silas.

Fulham proposed a loan with an obligation to buy set at €20m if Silas played in a set number of games for the rest of the season.

However, according to Sky Deutschland, Stuttgart told Fulham they would have to pay an immediate €20m in order to sign the winger.

Those were terms which Fulham did not want to agree to.

They remain keen on signing the winger though and are pushing to try to get a deal in place with Stuttgart for the summer.

Silas has made 16 appearances in the Bundesliga for Stuttgart so far this season, finding the back of the net on three occasions and providing two assists.

Stuttgart have the Congo international under contract until the summer of 2026.



https://insidefutbol.com/2024/02/04/fulham-wouldnt-meet-clubs-demand-for-immediate-fee-for-target/635620/

I saw a quote from someone who was sitting in the office with the stuttgart CEO when this story broke in Germany and they just laughed.It was total BS and they had not received any offers from us.