Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 13/02/24...

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Results

Monday 12/02
Palace	1-3	Chelsea

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Marco Silva urges Armando Broja to embrace competition for Fulham starting spots
While acknowledging Armando Broja's potential, Marco Silva has underscored the need for him to vie for his position within the Fulham squad.

Rodrigo Muniz scored a brace, with Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Cherries defender Marcos Senesi also getting on the scoresheet, as the Cottagers won 3-1 against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.

Broja, who has joined Fulham on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season, started on the bench and when asked whether the Albanian should expect there to be competition for places, boss Silva said: "He knows that.

"I had a conversation yesterday with him about the situation, this is the Premier League.

"He has a lot of potential, we really believe in him. He was a player we looked at last summer as well and he knows that there will be competition for places. He only arrived last week before the Burnley game."

The victory was the Cottagers' first win since their New Year's Eve triumph over Arsenal and Silva believes the triumph was deserved.

The Portuguese added: "Overall looking at the game, I think we were the best team on the pitch. We were much better in the first half."



https://www.planetsport.com/soccer/news/marco-silva-urges-armando-broja-to-embrace-competition-for-fulham-starting-spots

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Why we should be optimistic about Rodrigo Muniz

Rodrigo Muniz is a man in form in the Premier League. After he bagged his first in our (albeit disappointing) draw at Turf Moor last week, he added two more to his tally alongside an impressive performance against Bournemouth this weekend. Here's why I think Muniz has a big role to play at Fulham both in the long-term, and, potentially, now.

A Marco Silva signing

It's best to note from the off that Rodrigo Muniz was a player Marco Silva personally identified. When it comes to attacking acquisitions, Silva's record is actually quite good. During his last three jobs in England (Fulham, Everton, and Watford). Silva oversaw the signing of six first-team strikers (including signing Richarlison twice). The six strikers have recorded an average of 63 appearances for their respective clubs, a sample that includes Vinícius, Muniz and Raúl who are all yet to reach the end of their time at Fulham.

Moreover, every single one of those signings has gone onto have either a high resell value or become an incredibly important asset to their given club. For example, Richarlison provided both Everton and Watford with high resell opportunities, And Andre Gray (signed at Watford) went on to make more than 100 appearances for the Hornets.

It's also worth noting the environment Silva provides for his strikers. Marco imposes an attacking philosophy wherever he goes which lays down a system for attacking talents to be successful. Strikers who are involved in his philosophy tend to get a high number of both chances in front of goal and in terms of minutes. His backroom staff is notable, featuring the likes of analyst Antonis Lemonakis and assistant Luis Boa Morte. These individuals strike the perfect balance that a striker would need to succeed in England, from playing experience to statistical proficiency.

With that said, when it comes to signing strikers. Marco Silva has a very impressive success rate in England. Which is an interesting to keep in mind when looking at Muniz's bigger picture.

The numbers

2021/22

When deciding the starting point for the data I wanted look at. I settled at the scouting reports from the 2021/22 campaign, I wanted to start here for a couple of reasons. Firstly, he played the greatest number of minutes across his two-and-a-half-year period in England. And secondly, we can compare him to Alexander Mitrović, which is the role he is tasked to inherit over the duration of his time in SW6.

What made Mitrović the colossal force he was in the championship season of 21/22 was his ability to obtain high xG from volume/attacking positioning of shots, his general involvement in the final third (in terms of touches in attacking positions/ability to create chances) and ultimately his strong aerial presence.

Rodrigo Muniz did not fall short in any of those metrics that season. He exceeded Mitrovic in aerial duals won, shots attempted and touches in the attacking penalty area (per 90 minutes). And even managed to keep up when it came to shot creating actions, ranking in the top 1% (championship) of GCA and SCA (shots that led to a goalscoring shot/shot attempts). Muniz even starts to deviate from Mitrovic in possession and defensive metrics. This is in reference to his take-on success rate per 90 (60%) and defensive actions (shots/passes blocked, interceptions, tackles, and clearances), which saw him rank among the best in the league that season, again on a per-90-minute basis.

Now, obviously the fact that these stats are restricted to a per-90-minute basis means we cannot directly compare him to Mitrović and other strikers in the Championship that season. In reality, the gap between Mitrović and Muniz that year was extremely clear. But these statistics tell a different story. Through breaking down what Muniz was able to do in the 663 minutes he played that season, we start to see what profile of striker he is. Throughout the 2021/22 season, Muniz demonstrated he could play the role Mitrović thrived in and be a reliable reserve should Mitrović not have been available.

2023/24 (so far)

When it came to this season. I decided to see how he faired when compared to Raúl Jiménez and Armando Broja. Raúl has recorded a little more than 1,200 minutes this season with Broja and Muniz both playing roughly 500 minutes. Due to this, I have adjusted the stats to a per-90-minute basis again.

Muniz's numbers this season tell a story of a striker who isn't quite ready for the step up to the Premier League. This is made apparent in the quality that he has been able to offer in front of goal. He has recorded 0.20 xG per 90, 0.16 short of what Raúl has been able to produce with more minutes. Showing that he has not been able to get into the high opportunistic attacking positions compared to Raúl.

But there are areas where Muniz has been able to thrive this season. He ranks above Broja and Raúl in most of the shot-creating data, recording more shot creating actions from both attacking and defensive scenarios than the other two candidates. Muniz recorded an average of 1.40 key passes per 90 minutes, at least 0.65 ahead of his nearest competitor (Raúl). And, has recorded the most touches in the attacking and defensive penalty areas. Encouragingly, his defensive numbers again look to have carried on from his Championship performances in the 2021/22 season, which tower over Broja and Raúl. And despite his poor xG, he has been able to test the goalkeeper more frequently with an average of 3.20 shots per match.

This data suggests that Muniz has been involved in more actions than Broja and Raúl while also being able to create and offer a focal point in counter-attacking scenarios. Ultimately, a striker's job is to put the ball in the back of the net. And his performances on paper this season don't support him in this aspect in reference to raw attacking returns. But again, we start to see a profile of a striker that can offer a lot more than stereotypical striker duties. This is supported by Alan Shearer's analysis of his performance on Match of the Day. Shearer stated Muniz was "Strong, ran the channels, brought players into the game and really upset the Bournemouth defenders in every way", which is consistent with his statistical performances across the entirety of the 23/24 campaign. Should his record in front of goal improve and considering his young age, we could start to put a case together for Muniz to get at least a run of uninterrupted games in the topflight.

Best years ahead

To point out the obvious, Rodrigo Muniz joined Fulham at the age of 20. This is an age profile Fulham hadn't signed in a long time. The last time Fulham signed a striker within one year of Muniz's age was Adam Taggart who joined in 2014 from Newcastle Jets, even going back to 2014 Taggart was one year older than Muniz. Since then, Fulham have changed their transfer focus to be involved in a slightly older market.

This means that as a fanbase we tend judge Muniz through a perspective that has seen more older strikers. The likes of Raúl, Vinícius, and Fonte are profiles of strikers that are expected to hit the ground running in front of goal. The fact that Muniz hasn't hit the heights Mitrović showed is no reason to panic and hit the sell button. Out of all the attacking signings made since 2014, Rodrigo Muniz has the strongest case to be given time to adjust to life in London.

In a recent pod, Jack Collins raised the valid point of giving Muniz one more loan to properly develop under a long run of games. Muniz is of the age where he could afford to go away on loan in the near future and still return with the best years ahead of him, which cannot be said for our other striking options. This point of view was also supported in Match of the Day's analysis of Fulham versus Bournemouth. Where a punditry panel (including Alan Shearer) reinforced the point that with players like Muniz it "takes time" and despite his rocky start at Fulham could still come good.

Conclusion

Muniz is a player that has the ability to have a huge impact on Fulham in the long term. The context of Muniz's arrival and the numbers he has put up in a Fulham shirt demonstrate he hasn't been a bad acquisition. And should he play more minutes this season, would guarantee a work rate and presence that Raúl and potentially Broja wouldn't offer.

By no means am I am I stating Muniz will keep Broja out of the team for the remainder of the season, the likely outcome is Broja will assume the regular starting place in the next few games. But Muniz's performances over the last two-and-a-half years have been good enough to consider him a reasonable long-term option. Keeping Muniz on the books would allow Fulham to continue their older transfer strategy and recruit experience until he is ready to assume a more prominent role in the squad, while also having the option to provide him with an opportunity to break into the starting XI and become a valuable long-term asset in the team.

Ultimately, Muniz is a player that requires a lot of patience. It wasn't long ago he couldn't speak a word of English and looked like a player lost in this Fulham team. To go from there to scoring a brace in the premier league, all via encouraging performances hints that patience pays off. Maybe (just maybe) Fulham could have the next Mitrović on their books already.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2024-02-12-why-we-should-be-optimistic-about-rodrigo-muniz/

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Bayern Munich refusing to give up on signing £51 million Fulham star
Despite a summer deadline day move falling through, Bayern Munich reportedly remain keen on signing Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.

That's according to a recent report from Fichajes, who claims the Portuguese midfielder remains top of Thomas Tuchel's wishlist despite the German's failed attempt last year.

Agreeing to a new contract at Craven Cottage since his move to the Allianz Arena fell through, Palhinha, 28, is now tied to Fulham until 2028 with the club retaining the option to add another year. Consequently, the midfielder, as per Transfermarkt, is valued at £51 million (€60 million).

How much Bayern are prepared to pay for the 28-year-old at the end of the season remains unknown, but given Saturday's shocking 3-0 defeat against Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen, theBavarians may be forced to pay whatever is necessary to improve the squad, particularly their midfield, who were outworked and outclassed by Xavi Alonso's Black and Reds.

Since joining Fulham from Sporting Lisbon in 2022, Palhinha, who has represented Portugal on 24 occasions, has directly contributed to eight goals in 67 games in all competitions.



https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/02/12/bayern-munich-still-want-to-sign-joao-palhinha-from-fulham/

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Fulham's Bernd Leno shares how João Palhinha reacted to Bayern Munich transfer collapse
Is there a path back to Munich for the Portuguese international?

When Fulham defensive midfielder João Palhinha nearly made the move to Bayern Munich on deadline day of the summer transfer window, he had a teammate to sound off with: goalkeeper and Germany international Bernd Leno.

The former Arsenal FC and Bayer Leverkusen No. 1 relayed just how much his teammate wanted the move, in comments captured by Sport Bild (via @iMiaSanMia).

"João was already in Munich, everything seemed done. In the end it didn't happen because we couldn't find a replacement. João was very impressed by FC Bayern, how nice everyone was to him and how well organized it was. He would have liked to experience this adventure and was disappointed afterwards," Leno is quoted as saying.

Bayern did not go back for Palhinha in January, but did not sign a different No. 6 either — leaving the door slightly ajar. Bayern certainly looks like it is moving on to other targets given Fulham's demands, but the player himself may still be open to completing the move eventually.

Leno continued: "João kept his head up, he did a great job and immediately gave everything again. The fans were completely behind him, he put his heart and soul into it. If Bayern still want him, I think it's still in the back of João's mind."



https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2024/2/12/24065010/fulham-bernd-leno-shares-how-joao-palhinha-reacted-bayern-munich-transfer-collapse-germany-tuchel

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Ex Fulham stars make AFCON history - heartbreak for current Cottagers duo
The Africa Cup of Nations concluded on Sunday with a victory for hosts Ivory Coast against Nigeria.

Two former Fulham stars got their hands on the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations trophy last night for Ivory Coast, even if it did come at the expense of two current Cottagers.

The much-loved tournament concluded on Sunday with hosts Ivory Coast facing favourites Nigeria at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium. It was the home nation who triumphed thanks to a late Sebastian Haller goal as the nation picked up its third AFCON title and its first since 2015. The Elephants are now level with Nigeria for total wins.

The match-winner Haller is no doubt a name familiar with Premier League fans after his stint at West Ham but there were a number of recognisable faces who emerged as victors with their Ivory Coast colleagues, especially for Fulham supporters.

Fans of Marco Silva's side will have been more focused on the involvement of Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, who have been out of club action in recent weeks as they represented Nigeria, but two former Fulham stars in Seko Fofana and Jean Michael Seri played for the winners in the final.

Fofana spent a short loan spell at the Cottage from Manchester City during the 2014/15 season. The midfielder, who is now on loan at Al Ettifaq from Al Nassr, put in a decent showing in the Championship that year as Fulham placed 17th and he returned to the Etihad Stadium.

Seri spent a longer time on the banks of the Thames and was on the books at Fulham for four years between 2018 and 2022. The current Hull City star played 70 times for Fulham between being sent on loan to Galatasaray and Bordeaux, making 33 league appearances as the club was promoted to the Premier League in 2022.

Speaking about the involvement of Iwobi and Bassey in AFCON, last week Silva said: "Of course, we have been watching. Mixed feelings I have to say. Of course, we are happy and pleased for them, it's an important moment for them and as a country.

"To be the most honest with you, for us as a club, it is not good. It's been a long, long time without two key players who have been so, so important since they joined last summer. It took a bit more time for Calvin to settle but after he was crucial and of course, Alex from the first moment has been so crucial for us.

"It's a mixed feeling as I'd prefer to have them with us in January and February but at the same time I'm pleased for them - it's important for their country and for them individually. We are all supporting them."



https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/fulham/ex-fulham-stars-make-afcon-history-heartbreak-for-current-cottagers-duo-4514650

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"Gives life to his team" – Manager praises Fulham player after summer transfer, Marco Silva's side suit him perfectly
Mexico national team manager Jaime Lozano has praised Fulham striker Raul Jimenez and the manner in which he's bounced back at Craven Cottage this season.

The national boss has been speaking to Paramount, relayed by Marca, about his players in the Premier League as he undergoes something of a European tour looking at players ahead of the next international break.

Jimenez is one of the players he will be keeping an eye on having managed to bounce back at Fulham this season following the miserable end to his time at Wolves.

The Mexican striker had been struggling for goals at Molineux after coming back from the skull fracture he suffered in November 2020 that saw him spend a year on the sidelines recovering.

He moved to Fulham in a €5m deal in the summer and has managed to find his goalscoring boots again after a slow start, with five goals in 24 games so far already seeing him surpass last season's tally of three.

It's put him back in contention for Mexico, with him returning to the set up in September and Lozano clearly keeping an eye on his performances if these latest comments are anything to go by.

"Raúl, beyond that he scored goals late in his signing with Fulham, which helps is very good, in a club that normally defends, but knows how to go on the counterattack, and builds; that is where Raúl Jiménez gives life to this team, resuming the level, praised by his coach; that is good for him, for his club and for us at El Tri," he said regarding the striker.

"I watch the Premier League every weekend, I love the league because it grows, it is the most professional, it is a treat. I am happy, visiting players.

"It is a long time than we saw each other at the next call, that is why it is important see them, see how they are, see training sessions, from elite coaches and being in the Premier League, training in what I believe is the best league in the world."



http://sportwitness.co.uk/gives-life-team-manager-praises-fulham-player-summer-transfer-marco-silvas-side-suit-perfectly/

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Jacob Ramsey makes admission but Aston Villa will have plan for Fulham
Aston Villa head to Fulham this weekend in need of a pick me up after a strong performance against Man Utd ended in defeat

 After a year of excellence on home soil, things have begun to go awry for Aston Villa in front of their faithful. Having not tasted defeated in 2023 - in fact, having even barely dropped a point in B6 in the Premier League - the Lions have now lost three on the bounce in all competitions. Indeed, stretching back to before Christmas, they've now won one of their last five.

Meetings with Newcastle United, Chelsea and Manchester United hardly scream routine victories prior to kick off, but after the success Villa and Unai Emery have enjoyed against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City towards the end of last year, those who occupy the home end can be forgiven for an increase in frustration during this period when they've been dumped out of the FA Cup and seen their top four hopes take a hit.

It's quite a swing of the pendulum. Funnily enough, it's been away from home that Villa have looked more at it recently; they cruised to victory against an albeit poor Sheffield United side last week. Mind you, the Blades won themselves this past Saturday, so you mustn't take that 5-0 win for granted. Villa dominated at Everton without breaking through, too, and now Fulham - who have experienced a polarising campaign thus far - come next.

Jacob Ramsey admits that Villa haven't been good enough at fortress Villa Park lately. That said, and in the wake of the performances against Newcastle and Chelsea when Villa were well beaten, you can't particularly grumble about the display against the Red Devils, during which the hosts fought back from falling behind and created a number of opportunities to nudge themselves in front, before eventually succumbing to Scott McTominay's sucker punch.

"Especially in the first half, I had two or three chances and Ollie had two or three chances and on another day we'd put them away and kill the game in the first half," Ramsey said. "We want to win games and we've not been great at home recently, but we can take positives from the performance. Manchester United are a big team and we were dominant . We were just lacking the last ball in the final third. Apart from their goal they didn't have many chances."

So Villa can, despite the recent run of form, head back out on the road this coming weekend actually heartened by their showing here on Sunday. Fulham are a side with talent who have dismantled the likes of Nottingham Forest and West Ham this term as well as taking four points off Arsenal, so going to Craven Cottage will be something of an acid test of Villa's seasonal credentials.

"It's another week to rest, recover and I'm sure the boss will look over the game and tell us his plans," Ramsey added. "We'll get the tactical work in and look forward to the game." As a rule, top four contenders would turn up at such places and do the business. The proof will be in the pudding.



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jacob-ramsey-makes-admission-aston-28615433

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Alex Iwobi: Fulham star deletes all Instagram posts following Nigeria's AFCON 2023 failure
The former Arsenal playmaker picked up the first AFCON silver medal of his career

Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has deleted all his posts on social media platform Instagram just hours after Nigeria failed to lift the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.

Iwobi featured from the start as Nigeria fell 2-1 to Cameroon in the final of the competition inside the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday.

Before the final, Nigeria had impressed in the tournament, staying unbeaten in six matches, winning five and drawing the other while keeping four clean sheets.

While William Troost-Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Frank Onyeka, and Ademola Lookman were outstanding for the Super Eagles, Iwobi had a more tempered display.

Usually a bustling attacking midfielder who looks to create and impact the game in and around the penalty box, Iwobi was deployed as a deep-lying playmaker in Jose Peseiro's preferred 3-4-3 formation at the AFCON.

With his change in role and tactical responsibility, Iwobi had few chances to stamp his mark on any of Nigeria's matches, recording no goal and no assist.

After Nigeria's below-par performance against Cote d'Ivoire in the final, several fans on social media took up issues with Iwobi for his perceived underperformance. Some blamed him for Nigeria's loss.



The harsh criticisms could be one of the reasons the Fulham defender decided to delete his post, leaving no room for anyone to drop a comment on any of his old posts.

Iwobi was also a member of the Nigerian squad that won a bronze medal at the 2019 AFCON.



https://soccernet.ng/2024/02/alex-iwobi-fulham-star-deletes-all-instagram-posts-following-nigerias-afcon-2023-failure.html

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Marco Silva explains why Chelsea loanee Armando Broja has not started for Fulham yet
Marco Silva is confident on-loan Chelsea striker Armando Broja will have a role to play at Fulham this season but says he needs to earn a place in the starting XI.

The 22-year-old moved to Craven Cottage on deadline day in order to secure more regular football, with an injury to Raul Jimenez opening up a spot in the frontline for him.

But so far Rodrigo Muniz has been preferred to lead the line and he repaid his manager's faith with a brace as the Cottagers saw off Bournemouth at the weekend.

Broja has been limited to two substitute appearances since his loan switch for a combined total of 32 minutes and he is yet to even attempt a shot on goal for his new club.

Despite Fulham potentially facing a bill of £4million if Broja does not start getting picked, Silva is in no rush to select the Albanian and says he has already spoken to the forward about the situation.

Asked whether Broja should expect competition to get in the side, the Fulham boss replied: 'He knows that. I had a conversation yesterday with him about the situation, this is the Premier League.

'He has a lot of potential, we really believe in him. He was a player we looked at last summer as well.

'He knows that there will be competition for places. He only arrived last week before the Burnley game.

'The striker who played (Muniz) scored an important goal. It doesn't matter if he is on a contract or if he is on loan.

'Football players are not stupid. They can understand decisions. One way to deal with the situation is to work hard and show they are better than the other.'

Fulham's agreement with Chelsea is a so-called 'pay-as-you-don't-play' deal, with the Cottagers having to pay the full £4m fee if Broja starts less than 60 per cent of their games.

Having been benched for the first two, that already means he needs to be picked in the starting XI in nine of Fulham's remaining 14 Premier League fixtures.

Broja might potentially have played more regularly had he stayed at Chelsea – who lined up without a recognised striker last week in the FA Cup against Aston Villa – with the forward having played 13 times in the Premier League in the first half of the campaign for the Blues.



https://metro.co.uk/2024/02/12/marco-silva-explains-chelsea-loanee-armando-broja-not-starting-fulham-20264095/?ito=newsnow-feed

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AFCON: You Are A Failure – AY Blasts Nigerians For Trolling Iwobi
Nigerian comedian, Ayo Makun popularly known as AY has berated Nigerians for dragging Fulham midfielder, Alex Iwobi over the loss at the Africa Cup of Nations Final (AFCON).

Recall that on Sunday evening, Ivory Coast defeated Nigeria 2-1 to win the tournament spectacularly on home soil.

Reacting to the loss, some Nigerians took to social media to attack Iwobi for his performance in the final against Ivory Coast.

Iwobi was criticized in the first half and was taken off for Al Hassan in the 79th minute.

Visiting Iwobi's page on Instagram, Naija News noticed that the midfielder had taken down all his pictures on his page except for one.

Reacting to the development via the comment section of Tunde Ednut's page, AY berated Nigerians for trolling the footballer.

He insisted that those who were angry with Iwobi's performance were also failures.

According to him, "It does not make any sense at all. He came back home with the fullest intention to serve his father's land. Some of you have failed in your various responsibilities in life. Begging money on line, expecting others to take care of you is a failure. Your inability to take care of yourself at Iwobi's age is a failure. Coming online and trolling him is also a failure. If una get work una no go get all the time. Fail Fail."



https://www.naijanews.com/2024/02/12/afcon-you-are-a-failure-ay-blasts-nigerians-for-trolling-iwobi/

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Why Marco Silva deserves praise for another fine Fulham job
Fulham, in the nicest possible way, are perhaps the least interesting team in the Premier League this season. 

The Cottagers are at once too far adrift to challenge for European qualification and too far clear of the dropzone to be troubled by relegation. Unlike the teams around them in the table, such as Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth, they are not under new management this term. No wonder, then, that Fulham have flown under the radar for much of 2023/24.

Marco Silva will not mind that one bit. At the beginning of the campaign, many tipped Fulham to be involved in the demotion dogfight. They had just lost Aleksandar Mitrovic, their long-term talisman, to Saudi Arabia. That country's Pro League also spent much of the summer sniffing around Silva, who was reportedly offered a huge £20m-a-year pay packet to jump ship.

The manager ultimately decided to stay in west London, but it was an unwelcome distraction on the eve of the new season. So too was Joao Palhinha's proposed move to Bayern Munich, which fell apart at the last minute on transfer deadline day.

In those circumstances, plus the broader concern over second season syndrome, it would not have been a huge surprise had Fulham struggled. The fact they have steered clear of the bottom three all season long - the lowest they have been in the table is 15th, and that was for just two gameweeks in of November - is testament in large part to the acumen of Silva, who does not get enough credit for the job he has done at Craven Cottage.

A 3-1 victory over Bournemouth at the weekend means Fulham have lost just one of their last five league encounters. Rodrigo Muniz notched a brace with two poacher's finishers that delighted his manager, who is still looking for a Mitrovic replacement amid injury struggles for Raul Jimenez. That man was expected to be January signing Armando Broja, but Muniz has stepped up since the Chelsea loanee came through the door.

Fulham were pleasingly efficient. Bournemouth took 25 shots to the home team's seven, but six of Fulham's efforts hit the target compared to four for their opponents. 

Typically for the Cottagers, at least one of the two wide players - the evergreen Willian and Bobby Decordova-Reid - was involved in every goal. Fulham love to attack down the flanks: only 24% of their attacks come through the middle of the pitch.



Out of possession, Silva likes to see his team operate with aggression and purpose. Fulham are first in the division for interceptions per game with 11.8, with Antonee Robinson way out in front in the individual rankings with 63. Of Premier League midfielders, only Lewis Cook (39) has made more interceptions than Palhinha (35).

There are still areas in which Fulham can improve. They have only beaten two teams currently in the top half of the table. Only Sheffield United have a worse away record than Silva's side, who have also lost 11 of the 13 matches in which they have conceded the opening goal. 

Overall, though, the Portuguese is doing an excellent job again this season. With a 10-point buffer above the bottom three, Fulham have the ability to play without pressure in the coming weeks. A second consecutive top-half finish - a feat Fulham have not achieved in the top flight since 2011/12 - is a distinct possibility.



https://www.whoscored.com/Articles/1ubWxB71zUm8AJ0VONR_lw/Show/Why-Marco-Silva-deserves-praise-for-another-fine-Fulham-job

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Fulham 3-1 Bournemouth: Brazilian Striker Bags Brace
South Americans are stealing the spotlight in England on a weekly basis and Rodrigo Muniz is the latest Brazilian to hit the headlines in the Premier League.

The striker from São Domingos do Prata in Brazil scored a brace for Fulham on Saturday, as they triumphed 3-1 over visitors Bournemouth, in what are another 3 points that have Fulham feeling safe and secure in mid-table, free of the fear that a relegation battle might bring.

In fact, this win saw Fulham overtake their visitors in the table. The home team now sit 12th in the Premier League table, with the Cherris two points behind them in 13th position.

Muniz's brace was the story of the day and the Brazilian provided two lovely strikers' finishes to a delighted Craven Cottage crowd. As if hunting his prey, Muniz showed some fantastic movement and killer instinct to sneak into the Bournemouth box as if unnoticed, and on both occasions he made no mistake with some clinical finishing.

In particular for his second goal, Muniz showed brilliant poise at the back post, to fire Fulham back to a two-goal advantage as Bournemouth had scored just two minutes earlier. The timing of that goal was crucial and helped the hosts to hold onto their lead thereafter despite some good football from the visitors.

Muniz will hope this performance can win him some regular playing time in the Fulham starting XI. The forward arrived from Brazil in 2021 and has since had a less than spectacular loan spell with Middlesborough amongst inconsistent periods with the Craven Cottage Club.

Yet, Muniz looked unfazed on Saturday, he seemed comfortable and confident leading the line in a Premier League side. Let's not forget Muniz is still just 22 and this was only his twelfth league appearance of the season.

Muniz made the move to London from Brazilian giants Flamengo in 2021 for just under $10 million. In 2020, as a teenager, he made a handful of appearances for the Rio de Janeiro club as they became Brazilian league and super cup champions, before scoring 5 league goals as Fulham returned to the Premier League in 2022. Muniz may not be a household name but he is certainly moving in the right direction.

He will feel at home in South-West London playing alongside countrymen in the form of Andreas Pereira and Willian; the latter provided the assist for Muniz's second strike at the weekend.

Fulham have added a stunning new stand to their historic ground and bounced between the top two divisions in recent years, this is a big financial strain on the club. Yet they seem as settled as ever in the Premier League. With the help of some fabulous Brazilian flair, they aren't just making up the numbers, as the likes of Arsenal have found out at Craven Cottage this season.



https://www.forbes.com/sites/josephosullivan/2024/02/12/fulham-3-1-bournemouth-brazilian-striker-bags-brace/?sh=6912c0504f0b

[WhiteJC]

Liverpool target Tosin Adarabioyo must snub summer transfer
Tosin Adarabioyo would be well advised to reject a summer move to Liverpool.

The Fulham defender is out of contract at the end of the season and, as one of the Premier League's most solid defenders not playing for a big team, is naturally a sought-after commodity. The Man City academy graduate will very likely depart the Cottagers in the summer.

It is not yet known where the 26-year-old will play his football next term. In recent weeks, reports emerged of Liverpool eyeing the towering centre-back as a potential replacement for Joel Matip or perhaps even Virgil van Dijk. The former is out of contract and currently nursing an ACL injury and the latter is only tied down until 2025 and recently hinted at a potential exit before eventually backpedalling.

While signing for a club like Liverpool would be a just reward for his great development in recent years, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Indeed, if we consult data experts SciSports, we can see that Tosin would be well advised to stay as far away from Anfield as possible.

Tosin should stay at Fulham
Using SciSports' Career Advice tool, we can get an idea of where the 26-year-old would fit in well and where he wouldn't. When it comes to Liverpool, the result is quite emphatic. The Reds only have a Club Fit rating of 73. While not atrocious, it does mean that they would be a relatively poor destination for him.

Indeed, a transfer away would generally not be in his best interest. Fulham take top spot with a whopping score of 89, illustrating that penning a new deal would be a very wise choice. Tosin is a regular at Craven Cottage and playing at a very high level.

At Liverpool, for example, he would be a peripheral figure. In fact, even if Van Dijk were to depart, Tosin likely wouldn't be first choice as he is simply a massive downgrade on the Dutchman, according to SciSports. If the player really is desperate to leave, though, there are still some good options for him to consider even if remaining with Fulham would be the smartest decision.

Italy, for example, could be a good destination, but not AC Milan, with whom he has frequently been linked. Instead, Fiorentina and Napoli are thought to be some of the best teams for him, both clocking in with a rating in the low 80s.



https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/tag/newsnow-features-only/liverpool-transfer-news-tosin-adarabioyo-fulham-summer-exit

[WhiteJC]

Stop bullying Iwobi! Ahmed Musa says as home fans troll midfielder
Nigerian fans blamed Iwobi for their country's 1-2 loss to Ivory Coast in Afcon final.

In Summary
• Nigeria's loss went viral on social media with South African, Ghana and Angolan fans trolling the three-time champions.

• Iwobi played the better part of the game but was substituted in the 79th minute for Al Hassan, just two minutes before Ivory Coast scored the winner.

Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has come to the rescue of midfielder Alex Iwobi who's been targeted for trolling by home fans following Nigeria's 1-2 loss to hosts Cote d'Ivoire in the 2023 Afcon final.

Nigeria's loss went viral on social media with South African, Ghana and Angolan fans trolling the three-time champions.

But back home in Nigeria, home fans singled out Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi and blamed him for the loss.

Iwobi played the better part of the game but was substituted in the 79th minute for Al Hassan, just two minutes before Ivory Coast scored the winner.

Most felt that the midfielder should have done more on the pitch before he was taken off.

But Musa, who was part of Nigeria's 2013 Afcon winning squad, said it was unfair for the home fans to pick on Iwobi and blame him wholly for the country's loss at the continental showcase.

"Dear fans, I want to please urge you to halt the cyber-bullying directed towards Alex Iwobi. Cyberbullying is not just a violation of decency but also a serious crime," Musa said in a statement on X Monday evening.

"It's hypocritical to claim that football unites us while engaging in such behaviour. Losing a game is undoubtedly tough, but targeting a single player for the team's shortcomings is unfair and unjust. We win as a team, and we lose as a team," he added.

Musa said Iwobi gave his all on the pitch just like the entire squad and urged the home fans to show him and his colleagues love and support.

"They need our encouragement now more than ever. Let's uplift each other and stand united, both in victory and defeat," Musa said.

Musa who plays as a forward and left winger for Turkish Süper Lig club Sivasspor was named in the Nigerian squad for Afcon by Coach Jose Peseiro's but did not play.

Nigeria had taken the lead during the Sunday evening Africa Cup of Nations final in the 38th minute through William Troost-Ekong's header but Franck Kessie drew things level in the 62nd minute with a superb header.

Just two minutes after Iwobi was pulled off, Sebastian Haller scored the inner for Ivory Coast in the 81st minute to hand the Elephants their third title in the competition on home soil.

Ivory Coast and Nigeria are now levels with both countries having lifted the Afcon trophy on three occasions.

Ivory Coast were winner of the 1992 and 2015 editions while Nigeria lifted the title in 1980, 1994 and 2013.



https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2024-02-12-stop-bullying-iwobi-ahmed-musa-says-as-home-fans-troll-midfielder/

[WhiteJC]

Liverpool 'plotting double swoop for Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, Antonee Robinson'
Liverpool are reportedly prepared to launch a double swoop for Fulham defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Antonee Robinson this summer.

The Reds focused their efforts on overhauling their midfield last summer, recruiting Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo.

Liverpool have also freshened up their forward line over the last few years, having signed the likes of Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo.

They are now set to turn their attention to their defence ahead of the 2024-25 season, with uncertainty surrounding the future of Joel Matip.

Matip, who has been at Anfield since 2016, is currently in the treatment room after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in December.

The 32-year-old's contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and it seems likely that Liverpool will allow him to walk away on a free transfer.

If the Reds decide against offering Matip a new deal, they will be left with Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Jarrell Quansah as their main centre-back options.

With Liverpool on the lookout for defensive reinforcements, Fichajes are reporting that they are considering a double swoop for Adarabioyo and his Fulham teammate, Robinson.

Adarabioyo has less than six months remaining on his current deal, and he could be available on a free transfer if Fulham fail to agree a new contract with the 26-year-old.

A recent report claimed that Tottenham Hotspur could renew their interest in the centre-back after being linked with a move last summer.

Meanwhile, Robinson has emerged as one of the most highly-rated left-backs in the top flight after putting in a number of impressive performances for Marco Silva's side.

The USA international has started 23 of Fulham's 24 Premier League matches this season, highlighting his importance to the West London club.

In contrast to Adarabioyo, Robinson has a long-term contract until the summer of 2028 after he put pen to paper on a new deal last season.

The Reds currently have Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas on their books, the former could drop down the pecking order if Robinson were to join the club.

While Liverpool are believed to be keeping tabs on Adarabioyo and Robinson, it remains to be seen whether the new head coach will have a say on any potential pursuit, with Jurgen Klopp set to leave his role at the end of the campaign.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/liverpool/transfer-talk/news/liverpool-plotting-double-swoop-for-fulhams-adarabioyo-robinson_536580.html?newsnow

[filham]

We need to concentrate on the remaining game of the season in order to secure as high place as possible in the league, a top ten finish would be magnificent. At the same time however Silva ond TK need to keep an eye on retaining players for next season, rumours suggest Robinson, Tosin and Palhinha are wanted by big clubs, to start next season without them would be a blow.