Saturday Fulham Stuff - 10/02/24...

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Why Armando Broja's Fulham loan is win-win for both... and great for Chelsea
Fulham could end up paying nothing for the loan move but the Blues hope to benefit hugely in the long run

Armando Broja's loan move across west London from Chelsea to Fulham could prove a winner for everyone involved.

The striker is keen to reignite his career after recovering from a serious knee injury and he could be just what is needed at Fulham, who have not properly replaced Aleksandar Mitrovic since he left last summer.

"I had multiple conversations with my family and agent, and I just felt Fulham was the best club that suited me", the 22-year-old said.

It's easy to see why. Fulham have not properly replaced Aleksandar Mitrovic since their former talisman made his £46million move to Al-Hilal in August.

There is space in Marco Silva's team for Broja, who would often get dragged out wide for Chelsea but at Fulham will take up the more central position where he thrived on loan at Southampton in 2021-22.

Broja will stretch defences and is expected to link up well with Willian or Andreas Pereira.


Armando Broja made his debut last week
For Fulham, whose loan fee will become zero should he play 10 games, his arrival is surely a low-risk gamble worth taking.

They have signed a young player hungry to prove that his level has not dropped despite a serious injury. "All the biggest strikers need time, but I believe he has the potential to be an amazing striker", Pochettino said last week.

Broja made his debut last week and has spent his time studying his new team. No Premier League side have failed to score in more matches this season than Fulham.

For Chelsea, who plan to sell Broja in the summer, the move could boost his value if he scores goals in the second half of the season.

Broja, set to make his first Fulham start against Bournemouth on Saturday, also wants to prove his form and fitness ahead of Euro 2024 with Albania, so the move might prove beneficial for all three parties.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/armando-broja-chelsea-fc-fulham-loan-b1138084.html

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Club to face competition from Newcastle and Fulham for signing – Player's future decision in coming weeks
Earlier this week, Bild reported Newcastle United and Fulham are chasing 1. FC Nürnberg star Can Uzun.

The Premier League duo's interest in the forward is backed up by Ruhr Nachrichten, when explaining Borussia Dortmund's desire to sign him.

It's claimed BVB will face 'competition from England', where both Newcastle and Fulham are named as interested parties.

The Bundesliga side are 'hot' in the chase and have already held talks with both parties, meaning Uzun and Nürnberg. In addition to the Magpies, Marco Silva's side and BVB, Eintracht Frankfurt are in the mix and even Inter Milan could also intervene.

Uzun has 13 goals and three assists from 20 games this season. His deal lasts until 2027 and the report says he's currently valued at €8m.

The Turkey U18 international is considered as a striker with a 'goal threat' while can also operate as a No.10 and as an 'attacking eight'.

Ruhr Nachrichten say Uzun sees himself playing there in the future, and will join a club who'll offer him opportunities in all these positions. The key will be the 'prospect of the most playing time' and a club that's willing to meet his asking price.

The versatile player is expected to make a decision on his future in March or at the start of April 'at the latest'. He currently prefers a move to the Bundesliga, meaning Newcastle and Fulham have to convince Uzun, if they wish to bring him to England in the summer.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-to-face-competition-from-newcastle-and-fulham-for-signing-players-future-decision-in-coming-weeks/

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Can Bournemouth make it nine unbeaten at Fulham?
Cherries Unbeaten In Last Eight Visits To Craven Cottage

After a forgettable afternoon of football last Sunday against Nottingham Forest at Dean Court, where the game was continually stopping and starting with the referee blowing up for fouls, the game finished in a 1-1 draw. The Cherries are next on their travels which includes two away games.

First of those is a trip to London and Craven Cottage the home to Fulham since 1896, it's the oldest football stadium in London. The game is on Saturday at 3 pm. Fulham are in 13th position in the table, one place and one point behind AFCB, with the Cottagers having played one game more. The Cherries are unbeaten in their last eight visits to Craven Cottage.

We last played Marco Silva's side at Dean Court on Boxing Day, the game finished 3-0 in the Cherries favour and included AFCB's first penalty for 609 days. It was Fulham's third defeat in a row. At home and the next game after they lost at Dean Court, Fulham beat another London club, Arsenal 2-1. They drew 1-1 with Everton. Away they lost 1-0 at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea and in their last game they drew 2-2 with Burnley after being two goals up.

Our last meeting at Craven Cottage was in October 2022. Dominic Solanke scored in the opening minutes, only for Issa Diop to equalise twenty minutes later. Jefferson Lerma restored the Cherries lead seven minutes later, AFCB leading 1-2 at half-time. A second-half penalty taken by Aleksandar Mitrovic after a foul by Lerma made it 2-2 and that was the final score.

In all our league games away against Fulham, AFCB have W 5, D 7, L 4.
In all competitions, AFCB have W 15, D 12, L 11.

Fulham Team News
On the injury list, leading scorer Raul Jiminez (missed the game at Dean Court through suspension). Harry Wilson, Issa Diop and Adama Traore have also been out injured. Two missing for international duty playing for Nigeria, Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi.

Fulham Player To Watch
Joao Palhinha is an important player for Fulham in midfield. Young striker Rodrigo Muniz scored his first Premier League goal against Burnley and was MOM.

AFCB Team News
Philip Billing is suspended. Ryan Christie hopefully will have recovered from a dead leg.

AFCB Player To Watch
We could probably see our new striker Enes Ünal at some point on Saturday. Interesting to see if he is teamed up with Dominic Solanke and how they could complement each other. Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook will be important in our midfield. Romain Faivre might get a start, to give someone a rest after the recent run of games.

The Referee
Darren England is in charge of this game. He took our game in the FA Cup recently against Swansea City.



https://bournemouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/can-bournemouth-make-it-nine-unbeaten-at-fulham/

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Hammersmith Bridge to Temporarily Reopen for Cyclists
Hammersmith Bridge will temporarily re-open to cyclists from next Tuesday (13 February) for a period of around 10 weeks. The council has installed a new two-way cycle lane on the Grade-II* listed structure, enabling those on bikes to cross without having to dismount. Cargo bikes and e-scooters will also be permitted access, though motorbikes and mopeds must continue using alternative routes.

The temporary cycle lane is being installed after a boat ferrying West Ham football fans towards Fulham FC's Craven Cottage stadium damaged the gantry used by workers on the stabilisation project in December. The council said that stabilisation works had to be paused as a result, and so while it is carrying out repairs, it is taking the opportunity to roll out the cycle lane.

The gantry is now being repaired and the new steel plates being fabricated and when these are installed the council will review e-mobility options to shuttle residents across the bridge subject to a 1.5-tonne weight limit imposed by safety experts.

Motor vehicles have been unable to use the bridge since 2019, after micro-fractures were identified in its pedestals. It was partially reopened to pedestrians and cyclists in 2021, though since then, repairs have stalled due to disputes over the funding. The Department for Transport (DfT) wants the council and Transport for London (TfL) to pay a third of the bill each, now estimated at £250 million, with the Government to pick up the rest.

Hammersmith and Fulham submitted a business case with the Government last year, which is yet to be approved. The council said it had expected this to be agreed before Christmas, though the DfT said it is still reviewing it to "ensure it is viable and offers value for money for taxpayers".

Cllr Sharon Holder, Hammersmith and Fulham Cabinet Member for the Public Realm, said, "Hammersmith Bridge is a major regional transport asset that will cost a massive £250m to repair. This is a national and a London issue with most users of the bridge coming from south London and the A3 corridor. Fixing this historic bridge requires the support of both national and regional Government.

"We are committed to the full re-opening of Hammersmith Bridge to motor vehicles including buses, and we are doing all in our powers to deliver on that commitment. But we are a small local authority, and we must have the financial support of the DfT and Transport for London, as well as an agreement to fund our share via a toll."

On the suggestion it is holding up proceedings due to having not approved the council's business case, a DfT spokesperson said, "This claim is simply not true, we have already given nearly £10m to help restore the bridge and are reviewing the business case to ensure it is viable and offers value for money for taxpayers."

A TfL spokesperson said, "We are supporting the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in plans to fully reopen Hammersmith Bridge to traffic. The bridge is an important transport link and we continue to raise the reinstatement of bus links across the river in discussions with the Department for Transport and the borough. The borough's business case is currently with the DfT for approval and we will support the borough in progressing their next steps."

Jakub Mamczak, Senior Campaigns Officer at London Cycling Campaign, said: "We massively welcome the new cycle lane across Hammersmith Bridge. This will connect communities on both sides of the bridge. Walking with a cycle isn't possible for some who use their cycle as a mobility aid and can be difficult with cargo cycles. This should be part of a long term solution for the bridge, along with ideas such as using light vehicles to replace buses, rather than opening the bridge to private motor vehicles."

The council has said the last stage of the stabilisation works involve jacking up the four corner pedestals. Following that, it will review e-mobility options for the bridge, such as for transporting the elderly or disabled, subject to a 1.5-tonne weight limit.

Ben Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter



http://neighbournet.com/server/common/ldrshambridge043.htm

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Fulham v AFC Bournemouth

TEAM NEWS
Fulham are without injured trio Raul Jimenez, Issa Diop and Kenny Tete, while Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi remain with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.

But both Harry Wilson and Adama Traore are back in contention after recovering from injuries.

On-loan Chelsea striker Armando Broja is available to make his home debut.

Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing begins a three-game ban following his red card last weekend.

Turkey striker Enes Unal could make his first appearance after joining on loan from Getafe.

Tyler Adams, James Hill, Ryan Fredericks and Max Aarons are still sidelined.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

    Fulham's only victory in the past 13 league meetings was by 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium in April 2019.
    Bournemouth are unbeaten in eight league matches away to the Cottagers (W4, D4) since losing 2-0 in the third tier in April 1992, when Gary Brazil and Sean Farrell both scored.

Fulham

    Fulham won 5-0 in back-to-back games in early December but have earned just one victory in their subsequent seven league fixtures, failing to score five times.
    The Cottagers haven't scored in 10 Premier League matches this season, more than any other side.
    However, they have netted at least twice in each of the last six top-flight games in which they did score, with an overall total of 20 goals.
    Marco Silva is unbeaten in all four of his home league matches as a manager against Bournemouth (W2, D2).
    Armando Broja's only goal in 14 league appearances this season came in Chelsea's 2-0 win at Craven Cottage on 2 October.

Bournemouth

    The Cherries are winless in four league games since beating Fulham 3-0 on Boxing Day (D2, L2).
    They have netted in 10 of their 11 away league matches this season, only failing to score in October's 3-0 loss at Everton.
    Andoni Iraola's team have conceded nine top-flight goals from set-pieces this season (excluding penalties), a figure exceeded by only Burnley and Nottingham Forest.
    Bournemouth have scored seven goals in the opening five minutes of Premier League games since the start of last season, more than any other side.
    Dominic Solanke has scored in each of his last five league appearances against Fulham. The only team he has netted against more often is Huddersfield, with six goals.
    Solanke has 13 Premier League goals this season, a total exceeded by only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68190260

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Enes Unal could make AFC Bournemouth debut at Fulham
NEW signing Enes Unal will be part of Cherries' squad away at Fulham this weekend, boss Andoni Iraola confirmed.

 The striker arrived at the club on Wednesday to train with his new teammates, having been signed on deadline day from Getafe last week.

The Turkey international was unable to join the team before that, as he awaited his visa to be processed.

But Unal could now make his debut at Craven Cottage.

 Iraola said: "For sure there have been difficult days for him (waiting), because he was looking forward to coming here to start training with the team.

"But he has been training with us for the last two or three days.

"I think he is doing well. He will be part of the squad and he is ready to help the team straightway.

"Obviously, like with Romain (Faivre), we will have to spend some time now giving him info, the things we want from each player.

 "But also he speaks two or three languages, so it has been really easy for him.

"I hope this process of adaptation is quite fast and goes well."

Cherries are without Max Aarons, Ryan Fredericks, Tyler Adams and James Hill due to injury, while Philip Billing serves the first of a three-match ban.



https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/24109541.enes-unal-make-afc-bournemouth-debut-fulham/

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Marco Silva now rules important Fulham duo out of Bournemouth clash
Fulham host Bournemouth in the Premier League tomorrow afternoon. But Marco Silva will be without two key players.

Fulham return to Craven Cottage tomorrow where they welcome 12th place Bournemouth; the Whites sit in 13th as things stand, but a win could see them leapfrog the Cherries and potentially go two points behind Chelsea in 11th.

Silva's side are now winless in their last six in all competitions, drawing three and losing three as well.

Last time out saw Fulham draw 2-2 away at Burnley with Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Muniz scoring first half goals, only for the Clarets to claw two back in the second half.

Bournemouth will be another stern test tomorrow, and Fulham will have to face the Cherries without Raul Jimenez and Kenny Tete.

Raul Jimenez and Kenny Tete out of Bournemouth clash
Jimenez missed the last outing vs Burnley after coming off at half-time in the game vs Everton beforehand.

Tete meanwhile played six minutes of the last game vs Burnley after coming off the bench late on, but he's now set to miss the Bournemouth clash.

Silva says that the Dutchman's injury is not serious, but Jimenez on the other hand faces at least a couple of weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Jimenez absence could mean timely Fulham chance for Armando Broja
Jimenez is Silva's no.1 striker when available. But with him now set to miss the next couple of weeks it gives January arrival Armando Broja a chance to stake his claim for the starting spot at Fulham.

He made a substitute appearance last time out vs Burnley with Rodrigo Muniz starting and scoring; Muniz may also be eyeing up a regular starting spot with Jimenez out.

And after scoring against Burnley, Muniz may well keep the starting spot, but Chelsea man Broja will surely fancy his chances of displacing Muniz in the XI and maybe even keeping Jimenez out of the side upon his eventual return.

Broja has a big chance with Fulham to prove some of his Chelsea doubters wrong, and if he can score some goals in the coming months and help Fulham achieve another steady Premier League finish, he'll go down as a well-liked loan player among fans.

Bournemouth though have been solid over the past few weeks' they've lost just one of their last five in all competitions, drawing their last two in the Premier League against West Ham and Nottingham Forest respectively.

Tomorrow's game kicks off at 3pm.



https://www.fulham.news/2024/02/09/marco-silva-now-rules-important-fulham-duo-out-of-bournemouth-clash/

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Team News: Adama Set For Squad List
Marco Silva has revealed all-important team news ahead of tomorrow's clash with Bournemouth.

Long-term absentee Adama Traoré is set for his first appearance on the squad list since early November.

Harry Wilson will be available after recovering from the injury that forced him off during the FA Cup tie with Newcastle.

And Armando Broja is also fit for selection, despite taking a kick to the ankle during his debut in Burnley last week.

There was less positive news for Raúl Jiménez, who will be absent for "more than one month for sure" according to the gaffer.

Finally, Kenny Tete will also miss out with an achilles injury, although this was described as "nothing really serious" by Marco.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/february/09/team-news-adama-set-for-squad-list/

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Marco's Bournemouth Preview

Marco Silva previews our Saturday afternoon clash with Bournemouth at Craven Cottage.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/february/09/marco-s-bournemouth-preview/

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Fulham boss Marco Silva tells fans what to expect from Armando Broja in team news hint
Chelsea loanee could enter the line-up for Bournemouth match

Fulham manager Marco Silva has waxed lyrical about new signing Armando Broja ahead of the loanee's potential first start for the club this weekend.

Chelsea sent the Albanian striker to Craven Cottage on transfer deadline day and he appeared off the bench in last weekend's 2-2 draw at Burnley.

Bournemouth head to west London on Saturday and Silva has talked up Broja's ability to make an instant impact.

"He can add many good things for us, definitely," Silva told reporters.

"He's a different profile to what we have in the squad. His capacity, he's a more dynamic striker to Raul Jimenez. He will add something different to us.

"His qualities are his pace, his capacity to attack in behind, he's dynamic in his mobility and can cause problems to the back line and we will expect good things from him.

"He's adapting to our model and is in a happy place.

"This week was important for him. He had to understand what we expect from him on the pitch."

Fulham were smashed 3-0 away to Bournemouth on Boxing Day and have not won a game in over a month.

"I spoke about that game during the week," Silva continued. "The game after that was against Arsenal at home which was a great reaction from us after a really bad performance.

"We had to do everything completely different. It was a moment to learn and to take not many positives, but to take something to improve to make the players understand and perform much better.

"Tomorrow has to be different. We have to play much much better. Now the aim is clear. It's not about Bournemouth's form, it's much more about ourselves."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-armando-broja-marco-silva-bournemouth-b1138242.html

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Bournemouth Matchday Preview
Fulham v Bournemouth | Saturday 10th February | 3pm | Craven Cottage | #FULBOU

The opposition

    Bournemouth found themselves in difficult waters at the beginning of the season but have turned their fortunes around to where they now sit twelfth in the Premier League table.
    Dominic Solanke has been the name everyone is talking about this season, as he currently sits second on the Premier League goalscorers list this season, only bettered by Erling Haaland and Mo Salah.
    Marco Silva's side will be looking to improve on the Boxing Day reverse fixture, which saw us fall to a 3-0 defeat to the Southcoast outfit.

Fulham team news

Adama Traoré will return to the squad list for the first time since November, with Harry Wilson also returning from a shoulder injury. Armando Broja survived an injury scare in our last fixture but Raúl Jiménez and Kenny Tete will be unavailable for selection.

Bournemouth team news

Max Aarons, James Hill, Ryan Fredericks and Tyler Adams won't be at Craven Cottage on Saturday but January deadline day signing Enes Ünal will be part of the squad, Andoni Iraola confirmed.

Tickets

Tickets are still available for the match and can be purchased online here.

Weather

It looks to be a wet afternoon at Craven Cottage on Saturday with light rain forecasted at kick-off.

Player insight

Rodrigo Muniz spoke to FFCtv about the feeling of scoring his first Premier League goal last time out, as well looking to our home game against Bournemouth.

Celebration Day

Fans are advised to take their seats by 2.35pm on Saturday afternoon, as images and the names of those who have passed away in the last 12 months will be displayed on the scoreboard before kick-off, whilst we honour them.

Coverage

FFCtv subscribers can listen to live commentary from Gentleman Jim and Jamie Reid.

Fulham Flutter

Win prizes while supporting the Foundation by playing the Fulham Flutter!

Early bird

Fans can take advantage of our early bird offers until 2.30pm! Full Early Bird pricing can be viewed here.

Bag policy

Bags larger than A4 in size will not be permitted entry to the stadium. Please see our bag policy for full details, and information on our left luggage facility.

Form

Fulham: LDLDD

Bournemouth: WLWDD

Top scorers

Fulham: Raúl Jiménez (5)

Bournemouth: Dom Solanke (16)

Matchday programme

With the Premier League match against AFC Bournemouth marking the third annual Fulham FC Celebration Day, the matchday programme includes a foldout cover which celebrates the life who those connected to the Club who have passed away in the last 12 months.

The main interview for the programme is with Timothy Castagne. With the birth of his second child imminent - and a season of Premier League action with Fulham set to be followed with a trip to UEFA Euro 2024 with Belgium this summer - these are exciting times for our number 21!

"I have loved every minute of being a father even the nights when it is hard to sleep!" reflects Timothy on his parenting journey so far with his first-born, Lya. "It is a crazy realisation, knowing you have a small person relying on you. And it's brilliant. It's the most incredible feeling being a parent. My daughter Lya is around 20 months old and I just love spending time with her."

Priced at £4, you can pick up a copy of the programme on the day or online.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/february/09/bournemouth-matchday-preview/

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Silva gives injury updates on Fulham quartet
Adama Trarore is set to make his long-awaited return Fulham's clash with Bournemouth at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The powerful winger, who signed in the summer following his release from Wolves, has been sidelined for most of the season.

Although he made a brief substitute appearance at Aston Villa in November he reaggravated the hamstring problem that he picked up in early September but has been cleared to be included in Marco Silva's squad.

Harry Wilson is also fit after sustaining a shoulder problem in the FA Cup fourth-round defeat by Newcastle.

However, Silva confirmed Kenny Tete, will miss the game due to a calf injury with striker Raul Jimenez due to be sidelined for at least a month due to a hamstring issue.

Armando Broja is in line to make his full debut following his arrival on loan from Chelsea late last Thursday.

The striker came on for the final 20 minutes in the 2-2 draw at Burnley last week that saw another Chelsea loanee striker David Washington strike twice in the second half after Fulham had raced into a 2-0 lead.

"This week was good for him as we could prepare him for the game," Silva said.

"Last week he was ready but not understanding everything we wanted to do and how we wanted to play.

"Now that he has a week here he has shown us his quality in training and will be ready when we need him"



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/silva-gives-injury-updates-on-fulham-quartet

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Fulham boss supporting Iwobi and Bassey in AFCON final but admits missing Super Eagles duo
Fulham boss Marco Silva has revealed that his side has missed the services of Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey who are currently representing Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The duo last featured for the Cottagers in their 2-1 win over Arsenal in a Premier League fixture played at the Craven Cottage in December 2023.

Since then, they have been with the Super Eagles partaking in AFCON and have played a vital role in José Peseiro's side advancing to the final of the competition where they will face Ivory Coast.

Bassey has only failed to start a game for the three-time African champions which was the opening game against Equatorial Guinea, the same as Iwobi who has also been named among the substitutes on one occasion.

Speaking in his pre-match conference ahead of Fulham's clash with Bournemouth tomorrow, Silva has admitted that they have missed the Nigeria internationals but wished them the best ahead of the final  on Sunday.

"Of course we have been watching. It's mixed feelings for us. It's been a long time without two key players for us. Right now, we are supporting them in the final," Silva said.

All things being equal,  the duo should be available for the London-based side's Premier League encounter with Aston Villa next Saturday at the Craven Cottage.

Iwobi and Bassey joined the Cottagers last summer and have made 19 and 18 appearances for the club respectively.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=50410

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Fulham trio fit to feature against Cherries after injury concerns
FULHAM are set to welcome two wingers back into contention for this weekend's clash with Cherries.

Former Cherries loanee Harry Wilson is available to feature, having missed the past two matches with a shoulder injury.

Meanwhile, speedster Adama Traore is also back in the squad. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Barcelona man has been out of action since November due to a hamstring issue.

Boss Marco Silva also confirmed Chelsea loanee Armando Broja is fit for selection, having taken a kick to the ankle during last week's draw with Burnley.

But Fulham are still without striker Raul Jimenez, who is set to miss "more than a month" of action, due to a hamstring injury.

Full-back Kenny Tete remains unavailable with an Achilles issue.

Key duo Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, who both played a full part in the reverse fixture at Vitality Stadium in December, will not feature as they continue their international duties.

The pair are away with Nigeria, who compete in the Africa Cup of Nations final against hosts Ivory Coast on Sunday.

Fulham have won just one league game since that 3-0 loss to Cherries, defeating title-chasing Arsenal at Craven Cottage on December 31.

Andoni Iraola's men are also yet to win a Premier League match this calendar year.



https://uk.news.yahoo.com/fulham-trio-fit-feature-against-153511550.html

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Fulham vs Bournemouth: Preview and Prediction

Fulham will host Bournemouth at Craven Cottage this weekend, looking to get back to winning ways with a positive result at home.
Fulham have failed to win five of the last six league matches, and the home fans will be expecting a strong reaction from the players when they lock horns with Bournemouth at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth are winless in the last four league matches, and they will be eager to get their season back on track. Both teams will be desperate for a win here, so we can expect a fiery encounter.

The two sides will feel that they are good enough to finish in the top half, and they cannot keep dropping points if they want to secure a respectable finish in the Premier League this season. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics
Fulham
The home team are without the services of Adama Traore, Harry Wilson, Raul Jimenez, and Issa Diop due to their respective hamstring injuries. Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi are still away on international duty at to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Fulham are likely to shape up in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Bernd Leno in goal. Timothy Castagne and Antonee Robinson will start as the full-backs. They will look to protect the central defenders and help out in the attack. Tosin Adarabioyo will form the central defensive unit alongside Tim Ream.

In the midfield pivot, Joao Palhinha will start alongside Harrison Reed. The two players will look to break up the opposition attacks and win the ball back for their side.

Willian and Bobby De Cordova-Reid will be deployed in the wide areas. They will look to open up the opposition defence with their pace, flair and creativity. Andreas Pereira will start as the central attacking midfielder behind striker Armando Broja. The Albanian international joined Fulham on loan from Chelsea and will look to make his mark with regular football with Fulham.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed; Reid, Pereira, Willian; Broja

Bournemouth
The away side will be without the services of Tyler Adams (hamstring), Ryan Fredericks (calf), and Max Aarons (thigh) because of their respective injuries. Philip Billing picked up a red card against Nottingham Forest last weekend, and he will miss out this weekend.

Bournemouth will start in a 4-2-3-1 formation as well, with Neto in goal. Adam Smith and Lloyd Kelly will be deployed as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Illia Zabarnyi will start alongside Marcos Senesi at the heart of the defence.

In the midfield pivot, Lewis Cook will start alongside Ryan Christie. The two players will look to protect the backline and break down opposition attacking moves. Alex Scott will start as the central attacking midfielder, and he will look to help create goalscoring opportunities in the final third.

Marcus Tavernier and Luis Sinisterra will be deployed as the wingers here. The two players will look to break down the opposition defence with their pace and trickery. Dominic Solanke will lead the line for the Cherries.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neto; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kelly; Cook, Christie; Tavernier, Scott, Sinisterra; Solanke

Key Stats

    Bournemouth are undefeated in ten of their last 11 matches against Fulham in all competitions.
    Bournemouth have scored at least two goals in their last three matches against Fulham in all competitions.
    Three of the last five matches between these two teams have ended in a draw.
    Bournemouth are unbeaten in eight league matches away to the Cottagers (W4 D4).
    Fulham have not scored in ten Premier League matches this season, more than any other side.

Player to Watch
Dominic Solanke
The 26-year-old Premier League striker has been in splendid from this season, scoring 15 goals across all competitions. He will look to add to his goalscoring tally here and help the Cherries get back to winning ways. The visitors will need him to step up and deliver to grind out all three points away from home.

Prediction
Fulham 1-1 Bournemouth
Both teams will be desperate for a win here, and this is likely to be a close contest. It wouldn't be a surprise if they ended up cancelling each other out and sharing the spoils here. Neither side are in impressive form right now, and they might take a cautious approach. Three of the last five matches between these two teams have ended in a draw, and this one is unlikely to be any different.



https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2024/02/09/fulham-vs-bournemouth-preview-and-prediction/

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AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola on facing Fulham
HEAD COACH Andoni Iraola feels neither Cherries nor Fulham have "changed a lot" since the last encounter between the two sides.

 Cherries swept the Cottagers away on Boxing Day, completing a 3-0 win at Vitality Stadium.

That remains Cherries' last top-flight win heading into tomorrow's encounter (3pm) at Craven Cottage.

Including that fixture, both teams have five points from their last five games, with Fulham and Cherries drawing their last two Premier League matches.

"It is strange because we played not so long ago against them," Iraola explained.

 "Both teams haven't changed a lot. The way both teams play is pretty similar, pretty consistent, game-to-game.

"I think they are a very good team.

"Especially on the ball, they take very good positions.

"They have players with a lot of quality and I think we have to defend really, really well.

 "If you are not aggressive enough, if you do not win duels, they have been really good.

"Especially some games where they take the ball and feel confident, you can suffer a lot, in their stadium especially.

"But we know also that if we are good and we are at our level, we can be dangerous for them, like we were last game against them."

Both teams managed to bolster their striking options on deadline day.

Cherries drafted in Turkish striker Enes Unal on loan from La Liga outfit Getafe, whilst Fulham have borrowed Albanian Armando Broja from west London neighbours Chelsea.

Discussing Broja, Iraola continued: "He is a top level player, of this there is no doubt.

"He has the level. He is a very good number nine.

"He can do a lot of things from the number nine position, because he is good inside the box.

"He is also quite a fast player for his size, quite dynamic and I am sure he will want to show everyone he can score goals and have a good second half to the season.

"We hope it is not against us and we can mark him as good as possible.

"But he will give them much more offensive power I think."



https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/24110078.afc-bournemouth-head-coach-andoni-iraola-facing-fulham/

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Media View: Expert insight on Fulham
AFC Bournemouth will be hoping to register their first Premier League double of the season when they meet Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Dom Solanke's penalty and goals from Justin Kluivert and Luis Sinisterra earned the Cherries a convincing 3-0 win over the Londoners at Vitality Stadium on Boxing Day.

Five days after losing in Dorset, Marco Silva's team recorded one of their best results of the season when goals from Bobby Decordova-Reid and Raúl Jiménez saw them triumph 2-1 against Arsenal.

They followed up by progressing to the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup with Decordova-Reid netting the only goal as they edged past Championship strugglers Rotherham United.

Since then, Fulham have exited the Carabao Cup, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Liverpool in the semi-final, and the FA Cup after going down 2-0 to Newcastle in the fourth round at Craven Cottage.

In the Premier League, Silva's team have taken two points from their past three games, drawing 0-0 at home to Everton and 2-2 away to Burnley having lost 1-0 at Chelsea last month.

Ahead of Saturday's clash, afcb.co.uk caught up with Peter Rutzler who covers the fortunes of Fulham and used to cover the Cherries for The Athletic.

FULHAM PROFILE

Founded: 1879

Ground: Craven Cottage

Nicknames: The Cottagers, the Whites

Record appearances: Johnny Haynes – 658 games (1952-70)

Record goalscorer: Gordon Davies – 178 goals in 450 games

Manager: Marco Silva (appointed July 2021)

Club captain: Tom Cairney

League position: 13th

Leading goalscorer: Bobby Decordova-Reid, Willian, Raúl Jiménez (all have five)

Last game: Burnley 2 Fulham 2 (Premier League)

afcb.co.uk: Was the transfer window a success for Fulham?

PR: It's been quite up and down for Fulham and that includes the Boxing Day game on the South Coast.

They followed that up by beating Arsenal on New Year's Eve, one of their biggest wins under Marco Silva, certainly since they returned to the Premier League.

But in terms of wins, they still haven't picked one up since their back-to-back 5-0 victories over West Ham and Nottingham Forest.

They had two very good performances in the semi-finals of the League Cup against Liverpool.

There was a bit of disappointment that they didn't manage to get over the line in the end because they did push Liverpool quite well and had their moments. #

But Liverpool are in terrific form right now and are a tough nut to crack.

There's been a bit of disappointment recently. They suffered defeat in the fourth round of the FA Cup to Newcastle and drew 0-0 against Everton, a game Fulham felt they should have won.

It was the same again at Burnley where they threw away a 2-0 lead and drew 2-2.

The mood hasn't been overly positive and they are determined to get back to winning ways.

PR: It was a very quiet transfer window. There was a hope Fulham might have been more active than they were but, in the end, they kept their counsel and Marco Silva spoke about financial reasons being behind that.

They were almost forced into action late on after Raúl Jiménez suffered a hamstring injury. He looks like he's going to be sidelined for a good amount of time, certainly more than a month.

Considering the two back-up players – Rodrigo Muniz (pictured above) and Carlos Vinícius – have hardly impressed in the Premier League yet, it forced the issue a bit.

Fulham haven't replaced the goals of Aleksandar Mitrović, who departed in the summer. They haven't really signed a replacement for him directly, Jiménez wasn't signed as a replacement for him.

But with Jiménez now absent, it made the need to sign a striker all the more pressing and they did that by bringing in Armando Broja.

It remains to be seen how well he does. There's a lot of optimism about his potential and how he might fit into this Fulham team.

But in terms of the window as a whole, it was quiet and they did just about what they needed to do.

afcb.co.uk: How is Marco Silva away from the media glare?

PR: He's been quite relaxed this season.

During the summer, it was more of a tense time, not just because there was speculation about his own future, but there was speculation around key players like João Palhinha and Mitrović, who, of course, left.

There was a lot of uncertainty but I think that's calmed down quite a bit now. He signed a new contract in October and he's cut a more relaxed figure.

In the more recent games, there's been a little frustration because of the way the team haven't picked up those wins that they are beginning to need and not doing as well as they did last season.

He's got quite a calm demeanour at the moment. He can be a bit spiky, but it depends on how games go and if bad decisions go against him.

afcb.co.uk: In the expected absence of Raúl Jiménez, discuss Silva's attacking options?

PR: Goals have been a big problem for Fulham this season. They've not quite been the same attacking force as they were last season.

They had those back-to-back 5-0 wins in December, which seemed like a corner turned. But, at the moment, it feels like they were just rarities, they bucked the trend.

Jimenez found form in that moment and it's quite clear that he's become very important to the way Fulham play, bringing those around him into play.

Without him, they want more and that's why they needed to sign a striker once his injury was confirmed.

No team has played more games than Fulham and drawn a blank in the Premier League this season, which underlines where they are at.

Broja (pictured above) has come in on loan and part of the deal is structured in a way that it's incentivised that he plays.

I expect he will want to hit the ground running and Fulham need him to hit the ground running.

They haven't found a way to not just score goals, but also to click and connect in the same way they did last season consistently rather than those one-off games that we've seen.

There are goals in the team, but we haven't seen that consistently.

afcb.co.uk: Who is their rising star?

PR: Fulham have fielded the oldest average aged starting 11 in the Premier League this season, they have one of the more experienced teams and that experience has been the bedrock of their Premier League return. It's helped them stabilise.

But there are some promising players within the group and I think the standout at the moment is left-back Antonee Robinson (pictured above).

He was signed in 2020 from Wigan for quite a low fee, under £2m. He took a little while to adapt but has taken his game to a new level over the past two seasons.

A lot of Fulham's best play comes down the left wing and it normally sees Robinson combining with Willian, who seems timeless, a complete contrast in terms of ages.

Robinson's end product is improving a lot. His running and athleticism have always been his strength, but he's now combining that with being effective in the final third.

Defensively, he's very solid and some of his best games have been against some of the league's best attackers. The 4-3 defeat at Anfield comes to mind where he played very well against Mohamed Salah.

Robinson is the one who is really progressing in a way that suggests he has more room to grow and there is a higher level for him to reach.

afcb.co.uk: Are any other key players either injured, suspended or still away on international duty?

PR: Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi are Africa Cup of Nations finalists with Nigeria.

Jiménez is out for at least a month with a hamstring injury.

Adama Traore remains sidelined due to a setback with a hamstring injury. He's been absent for much of the season, which has been a big blow for Fulham because they are quite thin on the ground in terms of numbers the Afcon absences and injuries.

Issa Diop also has a hamstring injury, I'm not sure of his timeline. Unless there are any surprises, that is it.

afcb.co.uk: How do you see this one panning out and what's your score prediction?

PR: It's a really tough game.

Bournemouth have shown what they are capable of under Andoni Iraola. We saw how clinical and smart they are, particularly in the final third when Fulham visited the Vitality on Boxing Day.

I expect it to be quite similar. I think the games Fulham and Bournemouth have had over the past couple of seasons have been high intensity and two teams that want to play on the front foot.

I can see this being a score draw and I can see Dom Solanke scoring. I think Fulham will hope Broja can do the same, so I'll say 1-1.

You can follow Peter on X (formerly Twitter) – @peterrutzler

Officials: Darren England (referee), Simon Bennett (assistant), Daniel Robathan (assistant), Stephen Martin (fourth official), Michael Salisbury (VAR).



https://www.afcb.co.uk/news/first-team/media-view-expert-insight-on-fulham-1-1-3/

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Fulham vs Bournemouth: Muniz vs Senesi & Other Key Battles To Watch Out For
Fulham will lock horns with Bournemouth at Craven Cottage in a Premier League fixture on Saturday afternoon.

The Cottagers threw away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with relegation-threatened Burnley last weekend. Thus, they have a point to prove this weekend after being inconsistent for large parts of the campaign.

The Cherries, on the other hand, were held to a 1-1 draw by Nottingham Forest, which stretched their winless run in the top flight to four games. They sit just one place and one point above Fulham in 12th spot, albeit with a game in hand.

With both teams in desperate need of points, here are the key battles on the pitch to watch out for.

#Dominic Solanke vs Fulham centre-backs
Dominic Solanke is tearing apart Premier League defences currently with Bournemouth. The Englishman has scored 12 goals in 20 appearances so far and is in the race for the Golden Boot. If he can match the stats of his first half of the season, he will easily cross the 20+ goals mark.

Monitoring his movement in the final third is a tough task as he is perennially on the move, and the Fulham centre-backs will have to be defensively alert if they intend to keep the striker at bay. With Issa Diop out with a hamstring problem, Marco Silva should field a centre-back pairing of Tosin Adarabioyo and Tim Ream.

Tosin and Ream were part of the Fulham backline that threw a two-goal lead at Burnley last weekend, so the duo must show drastic improvement to stop Solanke from scoring.

#Rodrigo Muniz vs Marco Senesi
Raul Jimenez (thigh) will not be returning for another couple of weeks, so Rodrigo Muniz is expected to lead the Fulham attack again. Muniz doubled Fulham's lead against Burnley with a delightful lob over James Trafford last time out, and he will be coming into this game hungry to get on the scoresheet again.

Standing in the way of the Brazilian striker will be Marco Senesi. The Argentinean must take responsibility for leading Bournemouth's defence against Marco Silva's men. The Cherries' stopper dealing with Muniz promises to be a key battle as the Fulham striker can cause problems for the visitors.

#Marcus Tavernier vs Antonee Robinson
Bournemouth's Marcus Tavernier is a testing foe for any full-back. His turn of pace, movement and directness will need extra attention from Fulham on Saturday.

If Bournemouth can exploit the space vacated by Antonee Robinson down Fulham's left, as many sides attempt to do, then Tavernier can enjoy himself at Craven Cottage. As much as Robinson is an enterprising left-back and loves to go forward, he will have to be up to the task defensively this weekend.



https://madaboutepl.net/2024/02/fulham-vs-bournemouth-key-battles-2024/

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Tony Mowbray explains why Jay Stansfield was benched in Birmingham City defeat
Latest Birmingham City news from BirminghamLive includes Tony Mowbray on top scorer Jay Stansfield's absence from the starting line-up against Sheffield Wednesday


Jay Stansfield was a substitute in Birmingham City's 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday
Tony Mowbray says Jay Stansfield's omission from Birmingham City's starting line-up at Hillsborough was due to fatigue.

Stansfield was a surprise omission from the starting line-up against Sheffield Wednesday as Blues fell to another defeat on the road. Mowbray introduced his nine-goal top scorer immediately after Blues went 2-0 behind but Stansfield couldn't inspire a comeback.

The 21-year-old ended up playing more than 40 minutes of the match but his teammates couldn't create a clear-cut chance for him. Stansfield is expected to return to the XI for the double-header with Blackburn and Sunderland next week.

Tuesday's game against Blackburn has added spice after ex-Blues boss John Eustace was named their head coach on Friday. Mowbray will need no extra incentive when his former club Sunderland come to St Andrew's next weekend.

Explaining his decision to rest Stansfield, Mowbray said: "He was very stiff, very sore. He has played a lot of football.

"With three games this week, he wasn't going to play 90 minutes in all of these games. Tonight was the night he sat on the bench and hopefully we would have been two or three up and he would have continued to sit on the bench. He had to come on.

"You can't keep flogging a player who is struggling and his body is aching. He is only a young boy and I have no qualms whatsoever about leaving him on the bench."



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tony-mowbray-explains-jay-stansfield-28606745

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Predicted AFC Bournemouth XI to face Fulham in Premier League
THERE is not a lot separating Cherries and Fulham in the Premier League table.

 Andoni Iraola's men head to west London sitting 12th in the standings, one point and one place above the Cottagers, with a game in hand.

Both clubs have identical records over the last three top-flight matches, picking up just two points, with back-to-back draws coming into this one.

Cherries took early leads against West Ham United and Nottingham Forest, but were unable to capitalise as they ended with 1-1 draws.

 Here is how Iraola could line his side up at Craven Cottage, perhaps with some tweaks in the front-line.

Goalkeeper and defence
It is unlikely Iraola will make any changes here.

Neto is the undisputed number one for league games, while the back four have been performing pretty well.

Adam Smith is the only fit right-back, while Illia Zabarnyi and Marcos Senesi are the first choice centre-back partnership.

 James Hill, Max Aarons and Ryan Fredericks remain sidelined.

There is the option to change things at left-back, but Lloyd Kelly should again keep his spot, ahead of Milos Kerkez.

Midfield
 There were some concerns when in-form Ryan Christie went off injured during last week's draw with Forest.

Asked by the Daily Echo after the game about his withdrawal, the Scot said: "Thigh, just a dirty dead leg I couldn't get going again.

"It was frustrating a little bit, but hopefully in a couple of days I should be all right."

The 28-year-old has been pictured in training this week, so it seems unlikely he will miss out, again continuing his solid partnership with Lewis Cook.

 There could be a change ahead of those two to add some creativity, bringing Alex Scott back in for Justin Kluivert in the number 10 role.

Philip Billing serves the first of a three-match ban, after his red card last weekend.

Wingers and striker
 New signing Enes Unal should be in the squad, but likely on the bench as Dominic Solanke continues to lead the line.

The 26-year-old has a brilliant record against Fulham, scoring five times against them in six appearances. The only club he has scored more against in his career is Huddersfield Town (7).

Luis Sinisterra, who has become a permanent Cherries player this week, has looked Cherries' liveliest threat on the wings in recent weeks, so should keep his place.

As for the other spot, it appears well up for grabs.

There are plenty of options out wide but, as was the case earlier in the season, nobody is really nailing down the spot.

Marcus Tavernier and Antoine Semenyo have struggled for form in the past couple of matches, so it could be an opportunity to give Dango Ouattara a chance in his preferred position.

With a full week of training behind him having returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, the Burkinabe was impressing at full-back prior to his international duty.

Cherries predicted XI: Neto; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kelly; Christie, Cook; Ouattara, Scott, Sinisterra; Solanke.

Subs: Mepham, Kerkez, Sadi, Faivre, Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo, Unal, Travers (g/k).



https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/24110374.predicted-afc-bournemouth-xi-face-fulham-premier-league/