Friday Fulham Stuff - 23/02/24...

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Cairney reveals what still angers him about Blackburn spell
Tom Cairney is still in disbelief that Blackburn Rovers didn't make the Championship play-offs under Gary Bowyer.

 Cairney spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Ewood Park before joining permanently the following summer. In his second campaign, Rovers finished ninth in the Championship, 11 points behind the top-six.

That was despite having Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede up front, who both scored more than 20 goals.

Now just shy of ten years on, Cairney admits he's still angry that a team filled with such talent felt short. The Fulham captain feels it was an opportunity missed for Rovers to get promised.

 "It's a disgrace we didn't get top-six, honest," Cairney told BBC Radio 5Live.

"My old manager Gary Bowyer rang me and we spoke about it. I said it still angers me now.

"To have two strikers to hit over 20 goals in the Championship season and then not to get top-six is outrageous. Not only that, we had Josh King, Grant Hanley, Scott Dann, Ben Marshall, good, good players.

 "He was such a talent at the time. To not get play-offs with that team (shakes head). We got to an FA Cup quarter-final replay against Liverpool but that was as high as we got.

"It disappoints and upsets me because I feel like that could've been the chance for Blackburn to get back into the Premier League with that team."



https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24134547.cairney-reveals-still-angers-blackburn-spell/

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Bayern Munich still prioritizing search for a holding midfielder
Bayern still wants to bring in a proper No. 6 to strengthen the midfield.

There was very good reason why Bayern Munich was on the verge of signing Portuguese international João Palhinha from Fulham during the closing stages of the summer transfer window. The club is in need of a defensive midfielder with someone of the profile of Palhinha's and Thomas Tuchel was ever so close to getting the man he wanted before the move collapsed just hours before the close of the German transfer window.

In the winter, Bayern's priorities changed slightly as there was a need to bring in defensive reinforcements, putting the search for a defensive midfielder on the backburner. They wound up bringing in Eric Dier, Sacha Boey, and getting Bryan Zaragoza to the club in the winter instead of this summer. Unfortunately, Boey is now injured after featuring just twice for the club and Bayern is in planning mode for the moves they want to make this summer. There could be added weight to the moves they make if they wind up losing out on the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen, too.

Per information from Sport Bild's Christian Falk and Tobi Altschäffl (via @iMiaSanMia), Bayern's board and front office, in concert with the outgoing Tuchel, all agree that a defensive midfielder should be signed during this summer's transfer window. They know that they have more wiggle room to prioritize that position since defensive reinforcements were the primary focus in the winter. The club will also be able to reassess the situation of Josip Stanišić, who is currently on loan at Leverkusen. Adding him back to the fray would add much welcomed depth in defense.



https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2024/2/22/24075080/bayern-munich-thomas-tuchel-max-eberl-summer-transfer-window-defensive-midfielder-marquinhos-ucl-dfb

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Manchester United XI vs Fulham: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news and injury latest
Luke Shaw begins spell on sidelines with visit of the Cottagers

Erik ten Hag will have to conjure up a solution to Manchester United's left-back woes for this weekend's clash with Fulham.

Luke Shaw could miss the rest of the season after suffering a muscle injury in the recent win at Luton, sending the England defender to join Tyrell Malacia and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the treatment room.

Victor Lindelof replaced Shaw off the bench and appears the most likely candidate to slot in on the left side of defence, having previously been deployed across the entire backline by Ten Hag.

On a run of five consecutive wins, United have lately found a far greater degree of consistency in their line-ups when compared to earlier in the campaign.

Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo are a settled midfield pairing while Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund are in good form to complete the attack alongside Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho.

Harry Maguire's return to fitness has seen him comfortably slot into the defence alongside Raphael Varane in the absence of Lisandro Martinez.

Ten Hag will deliver a further team news update in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

Predicted Man Utd XI: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Lindelof; Mainoo, Casemiro; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund

Injuries: Shaw, Martinez, Wan-Bissaka, Martial, Mount, Malacia

Time and date: 3pm GMT, Saturday February 24, 2024

Venue: Old Trafford



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/man-utd-xi-vs-fulham-fc-predicted-lineup-confirmed-team-news-injury-latest-premier-league-b1140812.html

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WhoScored Exclusive: Andreas Pereira on his strengths and settling at Fulham
Few can boast to having played in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and the Brasileirao. "I would say they are all very technical leagues. The Premier League is very tough. As everyone knows, it's the most intense. It's the most difficult league to play. I would say that's what makes the Premier League different from all the other leagues," Andreas Pereira exclusively told WhoScored.com on Tuesday morning.

Andreas is relaxed as we meet him at Motspur Park as the Whites gear up to face his former employers at Old Trafford. Yet there is the focus in his eyes. The drive, perhaps, to prove Manchester United were wrong to sell him? Now halfway through his second season at Fulham, the 28-year-old Belgium-born attacker looks to have settled in a team following stints in Spain, Italy and Brazil preceding his return to England.

"It's good to settle," Andreas says when asked of the importance of finding his feet for the west London side. "Like you said it's my second season. I'm here to prove to people that I can do my best here in the Premier League. It's going to be a harder year than last year and I'm just happy that I'm proving what I can do." It's fair to say he is very much doing the latter.

Since putting pen to paper on a four-year deal back in 2022, Andreas has established himself as Fulham's creator-in-chief. Since their return to the Premier League almost two years' ago, Andreas ranks top for key passes (113) of all Fulham players, and 10th in England's top tier overall. Operating in the number 10 role in a 4-2-3-1 system under Marco Silva has certainly helped.

Silva was appointed Fulham boss in 2021 as they stormed back to the Premier League in his debut season at the Craven Cottage helm. Indeed, he watched on as his Whites side fired in 106 league goals at a rate of 2.3 per game. The possibility of playing under the attack-minded 46-year-old helped convince Andreas to joins Silva's side.

"I think the most important thing for me especially is the way he thinks about football," Andreas replied when asked of Silva's influence in luring him to move to the capital. "We match in that way so for me that that was the most important thing." What's key, too, is the players that operate in the system under Silva to allow Andreas to flourish in the final third.

Any team operating with two deeper-lying midfielders needs at least one ball-winner to mop up in front of the defence and allow the attackers the chance to thrive. In Joao Palhinha, Fulham have one of, if not the, best, not just in England; but Europe as a whole. "He's a monster in defending," Andreas enthused when asked of the importance of a player of Palhinha's ilk shielding the backline. The 28-year-old has, after all, made at least 11 more tackles (105) than any other player in Europe's top five leagues this season.

"I know he's always there. Even if I can risk a little bit more, he can always win the ball back straight away. I have a lot of confidence to play with him." And Palhinha isn't the only Fulham teammate that has helped Andreas quickly re-adjust to the rigours of English football. The 2022 summer window proved to be a busy one for Fulham, with Palhinha and Andreas two of seven permanent additions to the squad.



Andreas wasn't the only Brazil international to join almost two years ago with compatriots Carlos Vinicius and, crucially, Willian making the move to Silva's side. The pair are key for Fulham, with the experienced Willian ranking second for key passes (82) of all players for the club since both joined. "He helps me a lot," Andreas enthused when asked how playing alongside the 34-year-old helped develop his game. "We speak on and off the pitch a lot. To have him by my side, it means a lot to me."

Speaking of developing his game, Andreas has garnered statistically calculated WhoScored.com strengths of 'Taking set-pieces', 'Long shots', 'Direct free-kicks' and 'Key passes'. Does he believe these are a fair representation of his game? "Yeah I think it's a good representation of what I'm good at," he replies. All are perfect for a player who not only operates behind the striker, but is on set-piece duties too. This is another route to goal for Fulham, and a quality to Andrea's game that they seek to maximise in their pursuit of victory.

Since the start of the 2022/23 Premier League season, Andreas ranks third for key passes from set-piece situations (60) behind fellow dead-ball specialists Kieran Trippier (101) and James Ward-Prowse (77). "I think it's very important," Andreas replies when asked of the importance of his dead-ball delivery. "We are a team that has very big players and can finish well, so it's very important to give opportunities for them to score."



And is this quality to his game one that comes naturally, or has he worked hard on this particular skill over the years? "I think it's naturally. I always find it quite easy to help my players, especially from free-kicks and set-pieces," he adds. With the likes of Palhinha, Tosin Adarabioyo and Raul Jimenez, prior to injury, to name three towering teammates, it's not a surprise that Andreas doesn't find it difficult to create opportunities from set-pieces.

It's not a shock either that Andreas featured in the WhoScored Premier League team of the week more than once this season. The standout display came in the 5-0 dismantling of Nottingham Forest back in December, where Andreas returned a WhoScored rating of 9.14. He followed that up with another fine showing as Fulham recorded back-to-back 5-0 victories, easing past West Ham to make successive best XIs.

"It's always nice to have the recognition," Andreas said when quizzed on how big a confidence boost it is to feature in the WhoScored team of the weeks. "Getting in the team of the week, and it's such an important page. Hopefully I can be in many more until the end of the season." We'll see what we can do to make that a reality!

And with the increase in publicly available statistical data on websites such as WhoScored.com, it can be commonplace for footballers to actively seek out their stats to ensure they are performing to the best of their ability to find areas they can improve upon. Is Andreas one of those? "I check when you tag me and then I see it!" *Hint taken*. "I keep on top of everything that I do and to get even better numbers and improve every day."

Playing in a position under a manager who plays to his strengths, Andreas is blossoming in an exciting Fulham side that is excelling in their second season back in the Premier League.



https://www.whoscored.com/Articles/s8Q0mqhuWkGg5sg383X93A/Show/WhoScored-Exclusive-Andreas-Pereira-on-his-strengths-and-settling-at-Fulham

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Manchester United vs Fulham Prediction and Preview

Can Erik ten Hag's men maintain their push for UEFA Champions League football? We look ahead to Saturday's game at Old Trafford with our Manchester United vs Fulham prediction and preview.

Manchester United vs Fulham Stats: The Quick Hits

    The Opta supercomputer predicts a fifth straight Premier League win for Man Utd, who beat Fulham in 50.9% of pre-match simulations conducted ahead of Saturday's game.
    After only winning two of their eight league games in December and January (two draws, four losses), Man Utd have won all four of their matches so far in February.
    Rasmus Højlund has scored in each of his last six Premier League games – the only Man Utd player to score in more consecutive matches in the competition is Ruud van Nistelrooy (10 in 2003 and eight in 2001-2002).

Match Preview
Erik ten Hag's second season at Old Trafford has been anything but a smooth ride, yet there could still be a happy ending in store for Manchester United. Sitting five points off the UEFA Champions League spots and buoyed by Jim Ratcliffe's minority takeover receiving approval this week, the Red Devils are gaining momentum ahead of Saturday's clash with Fulham.

Things looked bleak for Ten Hag when United won just two of their eight Premier League games throughout December and January, drawing two and losing four, but they have responded with a run of four straight victories in February. The last time that they played at least five league games in a single month and won all of them came back in January 2009 under Alex Ferguson (5/5).

They were tested by Luton Town at Kenilworth Road last time out, though. Rasmus Højlund's quickfire double had United on course for a comfortable victory, but they came under severe pressure after Carlton Morris halved the arrears for the Hatters.

Højlund's form has been instrumental in Man United's turnaround, with the Dane scoring in each of his last six Premier League games (seven goals in total) after failing to net in his first 14. The only United player to net in more successive matches in the competition is their former Dutch goalscorer Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had a 10-game run in 2003 and an eight-match streak in 2001-02.


Elsewhere, United will look to captain Bruno Fernandes to produce the goods once again versus one of his favourite opponents. He has scored the winning goal in United's last two Premier League games against Fulham, including a stoppage-time strike in the reverse fixture in November. In all competitions, he has four goals in his last three meetings with Saturday's opponents.

Since making his Premier League debut in February 2020, meanwhile, Fernandes has created more chances than any other player in the competition (405), while he also leads all players in the division for chances created this season, with 72.

Ten Hag does have a few selection issues to deal with here, with Luke Shaw set to be out for a few months with a leg injury after being forced off at Kenilworth Road, while Lisandro Martínez, Anthony Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Mason Mount and long-term absentee Tyrell Malacia are also ruled out. The United boss also has decisions to make over Harry Maguire and Casemiro, both of whom were withdrawn last Sunday after being fortunate to avoid two first-half bookings.

Casemiro has been upstaged in recent weeks by teenage sensation Kobbie Mainoo, who must surely be an England candidate after producing a series of composed midfield performances.

In all competitions, United have won 61.5% of their games when Mainoo has started this term, compared to 45.5% when he hasn't. Since Mainoo made his full Premier League debut last November, Fernandes (27) and Diogo Dalot (25) are the only United players to be involved in more open-play sequences ending in a shot (excluding taking the shot or creating the chance) than his 23.

Marcus Rashford will be hoping to improve on a recent poor run of form in front of goal at Old Trafford. He's scored just one goal in his last 13 Premier League games there, having managed 10 goals in his previous 13 home appearances before this run.

One teammate who has enjoyed playing at the Theatre of Dreams lately is forward Alejandro Garnacho, who has scored four goals in his last three Premier League games there (braces vs Aston Villa & West Ham), having scored just once in his first 20 home appearances.

Unlike United, Fulham have endured a frustrating start to 2024, only winning one of their five Premier League games (two draws, two defeats) since beating Arsenal on New Year's Eve.

Marco Silva's men were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa last time out, failing to build on Rodrigo Muniz's second-half strike as Ollie Watkins' brace proved decisive. That was just Fulham's second loss in their last eight Premier League home games (five wins, one draw), but they have struggled on the road.

Indeed, Fulham have won just 24% of their Premier League points in away games this season (7/29), the worst ratio in the division, failing to win in 11 road trips since beating Everton on Matchday 1 (four draws, seven defeats).

There was plenty of concern at Craven Cottage when Raúl Jiménez suffered a thigh injury last month, but Muniz's form has been a bright spot in the Mexican's absence. He has scored in Fulham's last three league games, netting four of his team's six goals in that run, having previously gone 23 league matches without a goal for both Fulham and Middlesbrough.

He could face competition on Saturday, with the latest team news suggesting that Armando Broja will be available after missing out with illness last week, but Fulham will be without arguably their most important player after João Palhinha received his 10th yellow card of the season to land a two-match ban.

Last campaign, Fulham lost all three of their Premier League games in which he didn't appear, while their average goals conceded per game went up from 1.2 with Palhinha to 3.3 without him. In 2023-24, they have won two of three matches without the Portuguese, though their average goals conceded per game rises from 1.5 to 2.3 when he is absent.

Manchester United vs Fulham Head-to-Head
Fulham supporters don't have many fond memories of facing Manchester United. The Red Devils are unbeaten in the teams' last 16 league meetings, winning 13 and drawing three since a 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage in December 2009.

Indeed, the Cottagers have lost 13 of their 16 previous Premier League games at Old Trafford, with their only away win over United in the competition coming under Chris Coleman in October 2003 (two draws).

Fernandes scored the only goal of the return fixture in November, beating Bernd Leno one minute into stoppage time following a poor clearance from Palhinha.


Fulham did upset Arsenal at Craven Cottage on New Year's Eve, but only once have they won consecutive Premier League games against teams that finished the previous season inside the top four.

That pair of victories came back in 2009, when Roy Hodgson oversaw wins over Liverpool and United.

Recent Form
Manchester United have won six of their seven games across all competitions in 2024, with the exception being a 2-2 Premier League draw with Tottenham in mid-January. The first two of those wins did come in cup competitions against lower league opposition (Wigan and Newport County), but they have since enjoyed victories over Wolves, West Ham, Aston Villa and Luton in the Premier League.

They have shown considerable improvement in attack lately, scoring 17 goals across their last seven league matches at a rate of 2.4 per game. They averaged just one goal per game in their first 18 league matches of 2023-24, netting 18 times.

Since beating Arsenal 2-1 at Craven Cottage on 31 December, Fulham have won just once in five Premier League games. A defeat to Chelsea in their opening league game of 2024 was followed by successive draws versus Everton and Burnley before they defeated Bournemouth 3-1 at home. Last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at Craven Cottage meant that they have kept a clean sheet in just one of their last nine Premier League encounters.

They did end a run of five straight away defeats in the Premier League on their last road trip, though that was still a disappointment as they squandered two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Burnley.

With five points from 12 away trips, bottom club Sheffield United are the only team with a worse away record in the Premier League than Fulham (seven points) this term.

Opta Power Rankings
The Opta Power Rankings are a global team ranking system that assigns an ability score to over 13,000 domestic football teams on a scale between zero and 100, where zero is the worst-ranked team in the world and 100 is the best team in the world.

Ahead of kick-off this weekend, here is the Opta Power Ranking for both sides.

Manchester United vs Fulham Prediction


With Tottenham not in action this weekend due to Chelsea's involvement in the EFL Cup final, Manchester United have a chance to land another blow in the battle for a top-four finish.

They are expected to do exactly that, winning 50.9% of the 10,000 pre-match simulations conducted by the Opta supercomputer. Fulham are given a 21.7% chance of victory, with the likelihood of a draw rated at 27.4%.

Before last Sunday's win at Luton, the Opta supercomputer projections gave United a 6.5% chance of gate-crashing the top four. Their hopes are now up to 11.1%, which is below the Aston Villa (53.1%) and Spurs (34.2%) but now well ahead of Newcastle (1.0%) and Brighton (0.9%).

Fulham, meanwhile, make the top half in just 4.4% of season simulations and are only relegated in 0.7%. Thirteenth (23.7%) is deemed their most likely final position.



https://theanalyst.com/eu/2024/02/manchester-united-vs-fulham-prediction/

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Club 'ready to sell' player to Fulham in summer – Stance changed after January refusal
Fulham are still interested in VfB Stuttgart forward Silas, with the German side ready to sell him in the summer.

That's according to journalist Florian Plettenberg, who says Stuttgart are open to a deal for the 25-year-old if they can secure €15-20m.

Silas was heavily linked with a move to Fulham on the final day of the January transfer window, with it reported that they had submitted a €15m bid for him.

That was rejected by Stuttgart due to the lateness of the matter, but it was made clear that Fulham had not completely given up, with a report after the window closed making it clear he was still on their radar.

Plettenberg backs that up, reporting that the forward is still a target for Marco Silva's side as they look to bolster their options in the summer.

A deal is there to be done, too, with Stuttgart 'ready to sell him' now after rejecting Fulham's bid at the end of the winter window. They want €15-20m for their man, who is still tied to the club on a deal until 2026.

Whether Fulham are willing to pay that figure isn't mentioned but the opportunity is there nonetheless if those in charge at Craven Cottage wish to explore it.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-ready-sell-player-fulham-summer-stance-changed-january-refusal/

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Man Utd's Top Four Quest Faces Fulham Test

Man Utd vs Fulham: Premier League Showdown with Top Four Aspirations
Man Utd's Champions League Quest Heats Up Against Fulham

In the heart of the Premier League's relentless rhythm, Manchester United gears up for a pivotal clash with Fulham, eyeing a spot within the coveted top four. The Red Devils, buoyed by a quartet of consecutive victories, find themselves a mere five points shy of the Champions League qualification places, despite the hiccups of their closest rivals, Aston Villa and Tottenham. This weekend's fixture is more than a game; it's a statement of intent from United to reclaim their elite status.

Old Trafford's Inconsistent Fortress
Despite their ambitions, Manchester United's fortress, Old Trafford, hasn't quite been the stronghold many fans would hope for. With goal-scoring at home a notable concern—only five teams have netted fewer at their own ground—the Red Devils' attack will be under scrutiny. However, Fulham's struggles on the road, managing just a single win away this season, might tilt the scales in United's favour.

Fulham's Search for Away Day Joy
Under Marco Silva's guidance, Fulham have found themselves in the comfortable mid-table zone, yet the thirst for a thrilling end to the season persists among the fanbase. The Cottagers' away form, particularly their single league win since the year's turn, suggests an uphill battle at Old Trafford. But football, with its unpredictable heart, often writes scripts no one sees coming.

Team News: Injuries and Suspensions
Manchester United anxiously await updates on Luke Shaw's condition after a setback against Luton, with Erik ten Hag admitting the situation "doesn't look great." The absence of key players like Mason Mount and Lisandro Martinez adds to United's challenges. Fulham, on the other hand, will miss Joao Palhinha due to suspension, with Sasa Lukic expected to step up in midfield.

Match Prediction: A United Victory in Sight
As Manchester United finds its stride, the timing could not be better to solidify their challenge for a top-four finish. Fulham's dismal record on the road in 2024 leaves them as underdogs. Expect a determined United side to secure a 3-0 victory, keeping their Champions League dreams alive.

Manchester United's historical edge over Fulham is undeniable, with the Cottagers last tasting victory in this fixture back in 2009. The Red Devils boast 56 wins to Fulham's 14, alongside 20 draws, underscoring a long-standing dominance.

In the grand tapestry of the Premier League, this encounter is more than just a game; it's a chapter in both clubs' storied pursuits of glory and redemption. As Old Trafford prepares to host this clash, the battle for the top four intensifies, promising a spectacle of football's finest drama.



https://eplindex.com/105382/man-utds-top-four-quest-faces-fulham-test.html

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Manchester United vs Fulham LIVE: Red Devils eye fifth straight win to close gap to Premier League top four – kick-off time, team news and how to follow
Manchester United will be aiming to keep up their impressive form this weekend when they take on Fulham at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have won four Premier League games in a row and haven't tasted defeat in all competitions in 2024 so far.

Erik ten Hag's job looked under huge threat but his side have turned things around this year, rising up the table and closing in on the top four.

The Cottagers are their next opponents and Marco Silva will know how tough this game will be as he hopes for a return to winning ways following defeat to Aston Villa.

Manchester United vs Fulham: Sir Jim's in!
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has officially completed a deal to buy 27.7 per cent of Manchester United.

The British billionaire has become a minority owner of the Premier League giants after investing £1.25billion.

United have now confirmed the news after Ratcliffe received approval from the Premier League and the Football Association.

Ratcliffe said: "To become co-owner of Manchester United is a great honour and comes with great responsibility.

"This marks the completion of the transaction, but just the beginning of our journey to take Manchester United back to the top of English, European and world football, with world-class facilities for our fans.

"Work to achieve those objectives will accelerate from today."

Manchester United vs Fulham: Team news
Luke Shaw is set to spend three more months on the sidelines after picking up another hamstring injury against Luton.

The left-back's absence leaves United without cover in that position with Tyrell Malacia also sidelined, Alvaro Fernandez loaned out and Sergio Reguilon's spell terminated.

Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Anthony Martial all remain out.

As for Fulham, Joao Palhinha is suspended after picking up 10 yellow cards this season.

Sasa Lukic will take his place at the base of midfield alongside captain Tom Cairney who continues to keep Harrison Reed out of the team.

Raul Jimenez remains out injured with Rodrigo Muniz set to play up front as Chelsea loanee Armando Broja struggles to get a start.

Manchester United vs Fulham: What has been said?
One of Ratcliffe's first tasks will be to improve Old Trafford and the new minority owner of United has been speaking about the stadium.

He said: "I mean, it's an impressive stadium and it's the largest Premier League stadium in the country – the second-largest stadium in the country to Wembley, I suppose.

"But it's not quite of the standard you would expect of Manchester United today and it's fallen behind. Maybe 20 years ago, it was [at the standard], but today, it's fallen behind.

"We do need to look at the way forward for the stadium, the redevelopment of that stadium, and that there are clearly two roads we could take: we could refurbish the existing stadium or we could look at building a new stadium.

"And that's what we're looking at, at the moment."

Manchester United vs Fulham: How to follow
This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, February 24.

Kick-off at Old Trafford is scheduled for 3pm.

The game will not be broadcast live on TV in the UK due to the 3pm blackout.

However, talkSPORT will have you covered with GameDay Live.

Adrian Durham will be joined by Ray Parlour, Troy Deeney and Micky Gray to keep you up to date with all the latest.



https://talksport.com/football/1759693/

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Preview: Manchester United vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups
Top-four hopefuls Manchester United will endeavour to claim maximum points for the fifth consecutive Premier League game when they play host to Fulham at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

The two teams meet for the first time since November 4 when Bruno Fernandes scored in the 91st minute to help the Red Devils secure a narrow 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage.

Match preview
Although Man United are "a long way behind" knocking rivals Manchester City and Liverpool "off their perch" in the eyes of new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, top-four aspirations have grown in recent weeks following an impressive four-game winning streak.

Victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United and Aston Villa were followed by last weekend's 2-1 win at Luton Town, a game in which in-form striker Rasmus Hojlund scored twice in the opening seven minutes before Carlton Morris pulled one back for the Hatters on the 14-minute mark.

Erik ten Hag's side were unable to increase their lead at Kenilworth Road, but they held on for all three points to consolidate sixth place in the Premier League table. Man United are now breathing down the necks of Tottenham Hotspur, who sit just three points ahead of them in fifth and are not in action this weekend, while Aston Villa in fourth currently hold a five-point advantage over the Red Devils.

The small matter of the Manchester derby is on the horizon, but Man United must first shift their attention to Saturday's clash with Fulham and they will be confident of success considering that they have won 13 and drawn three of their last 16 Premier League meetings with the Cottagers.

Victory for Man United – who last won back-to-back league games at Old Trafford in August last year – would see them boast a 100% win rate in a month in which they have played at least five top-flight matches for the first time since January 2009.

After collecting four points from their first two games in February, drawing 2-2 at Burnley and beating Bournemouth 3-1 on home soil, Fulham were condemned to a 2-1 home defeat against Aston Villa last weekend – their 12th league loss of the campaign.

Ollie Watkins scored either side of half time to put the visitors in control before Rodrigo Muniz netted his fourth goal in three games to provide Fulham with hope of a comeback in the final half-hour. However, the Cottagers were unable to find an equaliser and had to settle for their first defeat at Craven Cottage in 2024.

Marco Silva's men have struggled to find consistency this season, winning back-to-back matches just once in early December, and they subsequently sit mid-table, occupying 12th place with eight points separating them from both the bottom three and Newcastle United in eighth spot.

Fulham head to Old Trafford this weekend with the second-worst away record in the Premier League this season; only basement club Sheffield United (five) have accumulated fewer points than the Cottagers (seven) on the road. Since beating Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park in their opening fixture of the season back in August, they have failed to win any of their last 11 away matches, losing seven.

Success at Man United has also been hard to come by for Fulham, who have lost 13 of their last 16 away encounters with the Red Devils – their only triumph during this period was under former boss Chris Coleman back in October 2003 when they claimed a 3-1 victory thanks to goals from Lee Clark, Steed Malbranque and Junichi Inamoto.

Manchester United Premier League form:

    L    D    W    W    W    W

Manchester United form (all competitions):

    D    W    W    W    W    W


Fulham Premier League form:

    W    L    D    D    W    L

Fulham form (all competitions):

    D    L    D    D    W    L


Team News
Man United have been dealt a major injury blow concerning Luke Shaw, who is facing "a few months" on the sidelines after suffering a recurrence of a muscle injury in last weekend's win at Luton; Aaron Wan-Bissaka (unspecified), Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia (both knee), Anthony Martial (groin) and Mason Mount (calf) are also in the treatment room.

Victor Lindelof is the most likely candidate to replace Shaw at left-back, although Sofyan Amrabat is also an option having previously played on the left side of defence earlier this season, while Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire are expected to complete the back four.

Ten Hag will presumably stick with the same midfield and attack for the fifth successive league game, with Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes all operating in behind Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Hojlund.

As for Fulham, star midfielder Joao Palhinha will serve a two-match suspension after accumulating 10 yellow cards this season, so either Harrison Reed, Sasa Lukic or Alex Iwobi is set to deputise in the middle of the pitch alongside Tom Cairney.

The Cottagers will also have to cope without striker Raul Jimenez (thigh), while Kenny Tete (calf) and Chelsea loanee Armando Broja (illness) will both be assessed ahead of kickoff after missing the defeat to Aston Villa last weekend.

Calvin Bassey will be pushing to return at centre-back ahead of Issa Diop, while Harry Wilson and Adama Traore are set to battle with Bobby De Cordova-Reid for a start on the right flank, as Willian operates on the left and Muniz most likely plays up front.


Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Lindelof; Casemiro, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Castagne, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Cairney, Iwobi; De Cordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian; Muniz

We say: Manchester United 3-1 Fulham
Man United may continue to show signs of weakness at the back, but they have found their groove in the final third since the turn of the year and will be full of confidence heading into Saturday's contest versus a Fulham side against whom they boast an impressive head-to-head record.

Fulham's miserable winless away run is a cause for concern, and although they held their own in the reverse fixture with the Red Devils, it is difficult to back against Ten Hag's resurgent side in front of an upbeat Old Trafford crowd.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-utd/top-four-race/preview/preview-man-utd-vs-fulham-prediction-team-news-lineups_537287.html?cQx=NN&newsnow

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Fulham yet to make offer for player – Deal there to be done, club need the cash
Fulham are yet to make an offer for VfB Stuttgart forward Silas, but a deal is there to be done as the German side need the cash from a sale.

That's according to Sky Germany, who follow up a report from earlier today on a potential Fulham revival for the forward.

They were linked with a move for Silas at the end of the January transfer window, submitting a bid on deadline day as they looked to bolster Marco Silva's squad late on.

Their offer was rejected as Stuttgart didn't want to sell late in the window, but a report earlier today indicated a deal could be revived as Fulham's interest remained.

That report stated that Stuttgart were open to a sale for €15-20m and Sky back that up, reporting that Marco Silva's side 'continue to dig' at the player.

They say a change in the summer is definitely possible as Stuttgart need to raise funds to sign the likes of Deniz Undav and Alexander Nübel, who are among their top performers this season but only on loan at the club.

They need to 'spend a lot of money' to secure those signings, money they don't currently have, and so some of the funds could come from selling Silas to Fulham.

They're not willing to give up the player for any price and would be willing to talk for €15-20m, although neither Fulham, or any other suitors, have offered that or made any bid as yet.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-yet-make-offer-player-deal-done-club-need-cash/

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Premier League confirm referee ahead of Fulham clash
Michael Oliver will take charge of Saturday's Premier League clash between Manchester United and Fulham.

The match will take place at Old Trafford and it will be an experienced referee tasked with controlling the match, as confirmed by the Premier League.

United's renewed fight to qualify for the Champions League means that we'll be looking for another win to continue Ten Hag side's unbeaten run in 2024.

Four consecutive wins in the Premier League have moved the Reds to within five points of Aston Villa in fourth.

Oliver, 39, has taken charge of three United fixtures so far this season. The most recent game came in December and ended in a scoreless draw with title contenders Liverpool at Anfield.

Rob Jones will be in charge of VAR.

Meanwhile, Oliver will be assisted by Stuart Burt and Dan Cook, with Craig Pawson set to be the fourth official.



https://strettynews.com/2024/02/22/premier-league-confirm-referee-ahead-of-fulham-clash/

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Player turned down 'richer offer' from Fulham to sign for club – 'Couldn't wait' to wear their shirt
Fulham are today mentioned in a story from Italian newspaper Corriere Dello Sport about Lazio defender Alessio Romagnoli.

Fulham are today mentioned in a story from Italian newspaper Corriere Dello Sport about Lazio defender Alessio Romagnoli.

It's said that Romagnoli had always been a Lazio fan and 'couldn't wait' to finally wear their shirt. Now he's said to be fully committed to them, having a contract running until 2027.

Back in 2022, Fulham were indeed heavily linked to Romagnoli, as it was said the Whites had a contract offer on the table and were 'ready to close' a deal with him.

It was even claimed that the Whites had offered him a salary worth €4m.

That clearly wasn't enough, though, and he ended up at the club he always wanted to play for, even if they offered less money.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-turned-richer-offer-fulham-sign-club-couldnt-wait-wear-shirt/

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Marco Silva insists Armando Broja must 'wait for his chance' at Fulham amid Rodrigo Muniz form
Striker yet to start since loan move from Chelsea

Marco Silva insists Armando Broja must "wait for his chance" at Fulham.

The Albania international, who joined the club on loan from Chelsea in the winter transfer window, has come off the bench twice and missed the Cottagers' 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa through illness.

Rodrigo Muniz, who has netted an impressive four goals in his last three games, has been rewarded with a string of starts and Silva called for new signing Broja to wait for his opportunity.

Speaking ahead of Fulham's Premier League clash with Manchester United on Saturday, Silva told a press conference: "He has to wait for his chance.

"We really believe he is the right guy to be here. He arrived on deadline day before the Burnley game and he had 20 minutes on the pitch but Rodrigo scored and then the game after Rodrigo scored twice.

"Unfortunately for him, last week he was unwell and missed the match but now he is available and I will decide what the best solution will be to start the game.

"He's working hard at a different club with a different style and he needs time to adapt and understand things. It takes time but we can see his quality."

Rasmus Hojlund's brace during United's 2-1 victory over Luton on Sunday extended his scoring run to six straight matches.

Silva hailed the 21-year-old forward's talent, believing he has the ability to have an exciting future at Old Trafford.

"You can see the talent and the quality," Silva added. "Since he arrived you can see that he's a young striker and young players need time to adapt and understand the ideas.

"When they start to score they become more confident and I can see this in Hojlund. He is a really strong player when he attacks in behind and it's clear for me that he has the capacity to have a very good run while he is at Manchester United.

"Let's hope we can block and defend him well because he's a good player."

Joao Palhinha picked up his 10th yellow card of the season last Saturday and will miss Fulham's next two matches.

Silva admitted the midfielder is an important player to his team and that he is working with him to find a balance in the way he defends.

"He is a really important piece of our team and plays in an important position," Silva said.

"We don't want to take from Joao the aggressiveness which he plays with but at the same time we're working with him to get the balance in some situations."

Additional reporting from PA



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-fc-news-broja-muniz-2023-b1140964.html

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Tom Cairney blown away by Fulham player with 'scary speed'
Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney has praised Adama Traore for his 'scary speed', branding him 'frightening'.

Fulham lost 2-1 at home to Aston Villa last weekend having fallen two goals down to an Ollie Watkins brace.

Rodrigo Muniz handed Fulham hope but it just wasn't to be as Villa left Craven Cottage with all three points.

There was a late chance for Fulham though as substitute Adama Traore was played clean through on goal.

Traore raced clear of the Villa back line and with Emiliano Martinez advancing, he fired straight at the Villa stopper.

Tom Cairney on Adama Traore
Traore has yet to really kickstart his Fulham career after joining on a free transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

With 61 minutes across six Premier League substitute appearances, Traore just hasn't got going in a Fulham shirt.

A goal against Villa would have been a huge moment for Traore but he squandered his chance to steal the limelight.

Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney has now spoken about Traore on the Footballer's Football Podcast for BBC Sounds.

Cairney admitted that he desperately wanted to see Traore find the net, believing the he not only deserves to score, but 'needs' that moment.

Cairney noted that he was expecting Traore to try and dink the ball over Martinez rather than shoot low, highlighting that Traore often does a 'scoop' finish in training.

The Fulham ace praised Traore's 'scary' speed and strength, believing that all players think that Traore is simply frightening with his pace and physicality.

"I wanted him to score so bad, because I feel like he deserves it, he needs it, he's just had so many injuries," said Cairney. "He got played through 1v1 and no-one's catching him in the world. I was expecting a little dink, he does a scoop sometimes in training, like back at the Nou Camp, but no."

"Scary speed, scary strength. I think all players have the same view on it; on the pitch, it's frightening. He runs past people like they're not there. He's built like an NFL player!" he added.

Traore has played just 28 minutes of action since the 2nd of September, so it will take time for him to reach full sharpness.

The 28-year-old will be a dangerous super-sub whenever called upon and, hopefully, these cameos will result in Traore being a bigger factor towards the end of the season or into next term.



https://www.fulham.news/2024/02/22/tom-cairney-blown-away-by-fulham-player-with-scary-speed/

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Fulham player rejected national team call three times – Meeting with coach taking place this week
Goal Brasil today shares some interesting news on the international future of Fulham star Andreas Pereira.

As reported by the Brazilian media this week, new national team manager Dorival Junior is set to visit the Whites' training ground, and that's a big sign the midfielder might get a new chance to prove himself with the yellow shirt.

Now Goal comes up to confirm it, claiming that besides seeing Pereira train with Fulham, the coach will also have a meeting with the 28-year-old.

The outlet claims that the midfielder is very keen on playing for Brazil again, and a proof of that is his rejection to Belgium.

Even though Pereira was born in Duffel, it's said he already rejected their national team three times, and an approach was made recently.

Since he only has one appearance for Brazil in a friendly, he could change shirts and play for Belgium, but that's not his desire.

Long before joining Fulham, Pereira played for Belgium's U-16 and U-17 levels. He played for Brazil's U-20 and U-23, and made his appearance for the first team back in December 2018.

Now this could be the time for a return.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-player-rejected-national-team-call-three-times-meeting-coach-taking-place-week/

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Fulham boss Marco Silva sends message to Chelsea loanee Armando Broja over lack of game time
Marco Silva has told Armando Broja that he is going to have to be patient as the Chelsea loanee continues to wait for his first Fulham start.

The 22-year-old made the very short journey across west London from Stamford Bridge to Craven Cottage at the start of February, joining on loan until the end of the season.

His first team opportunities were limited under Mauricio Pochettino and he was hoping for plenty more of them under Silva, but that has yet to materialise.

The Albania international has come off the bench in the Premier League twice and missed the last match with Aston Villa due to illness, so has played just 31 minutes in the top flightsince the move on 1 February.

His chances have not been boosted by the fact that Brazilian forward Rodrigo Muniz has been in fine form, scoring four goals in his last three games.

Silva says there is no other choice for Broja but to be patient, wait for his opportunity and make the most of it when it comes.

'He has to wait for his chance,' said Silva. 'We really believe he is the right guy to be here. He arrived on deadline day before the Burnley game and he had 20 minutes on the pitch but Rodrigo scored and then the game after Rodrigo scored twice.

'Unfortunately for him, last week he was unwell and missed the match but now he is available and I will decide what the best solution will be to start the game.

'He's working hard at a different club with a different style and he needs time to adapt and understand things. It takes time but we can see his quality.'

Out of all cup competitions, Fulham only have Premier League action to come for the rest of the campaign.

The Cottagers go to Manchester United on Saturday, where Broja would love to make his breakthrough, before hosting Brighton a week later.



https://metro.co.uk/2024/02/22/fulham-boss-sends-message-chelsea-loanee-armando-broja-lack-game-time-20330700/?ito=newsnow-feed