Monday Fulham Stuff - 19/02/24...

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Ian Wright says Fulham were clearly targeting £42m Man United player on Saturday
Pundit Ian Wright has now been discussing something he spotted in Fulham's win over Manchester United on Saturday.

It proved to be an incredibly frustrating weekend for Erik ten Hag, who saw a huge halt to his side's momentum.

Perhaps the biggest blow to the good feeling at Old Trafford came before the game, when Rasmus Hojlund was ruled out due to injury.

The young Dane has been the flagship player of the new, positive era the club have entered in the last few weeks.

And without Hojlund, United are definitely a much weaker side on the pitch right now.

Marcus Rashford has already proven he's not at his best when played centrally, but ten Hag ended up having little other choice on the weekend.

That being said, when discussing the game on the 'Wrighty's House' podcast, Ian Wright thought Fulham arrived at United with a clear game plan.

Perhaps Marco Silva's side were the last team United wanted to face in that moment, a pragmatic and organised outfit.

Ian Wright thinks Fulham targeted Man United centre-back Raphael Varane
And when speaking on the podcast, Ian Wright thought Fulham clearly targeted Raphael Varane, a player they wanted on the ball.

Wright explained: "I tell you who you could hear a couple of not groans but... Varane. I could see Fulham targeted Varane.

"They marked up everybody in the midfield and only gave him one pass back inside to Harry Maguire and he took so long to get the control down and give it to Casemiro, then he got caught on it and Fulham went again.

"I was like they are so unorganised. There is going to be some more defeats for Man United this season."

Of course, Varane was just coming off the back of a good display at Luton Town the weekend before.

But perhaps this situation delineates why the £42m-defender is best to move on in the summer.

Varane has often been linked with a move away recently, and it wouldn't be a big surprise if speculation continued in the summer.

United are clearly missing what Lisandro Martinez brings to any centre-back partnership, a player who is so important to their project.

And perhaps Wright wouldn't have spotted Fulham arriving with such a game plan, if Varane had an out ball to his United teammate Martinez.

All that being said, one pundit has now decided that Man United need to sell a different player this summer.



https://tbrfootball.com/i-could-see-ian-wright-says-fulham-were-clearly-targeting-42m-man-united-player-on-saturday/

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'It's a problem' - Roberto De Zerbi reacts to another major blow ahead of Wolves and Fulham
All the latest team news and reaction for Brighton and Hove Albion and across the Premier League

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi believes their injury list is costing them points in the race for Europe.

Key men Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma were absent as the Seagulls battled to a 1-1 draw at home to lowly Everton.

De Zerbi does not know if winger Mitoma, who has a back injury, will be fit to face Wolves in the FA Cup on Wednesday.

"I would like only one thing – to have all players available to play. It's difficult for Brighton to play without so many players – we have not got 25 players on the same level.

"I don't know if Mitoma can play on Wednesday, but without him we will be ready and try to win. The same at Fulham and then Roma in the Europa League."

Albion lost Billy Gilmour to a straight red card against Everton meaning the Scotland midfielder will miss out against Wolves and the next two Premier League matches, away to Fulham and at home to Nottingham Forest.

They were trailing to Jarrad Branthwaite's strike but rescued a point when captain Lewis Dunk marked his 400th league appearance for the club by heading an equaliser five minutes into stoppage time.



https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/football/brighton-and-hove-albion/its-a-problem-roberto-de-zerbi-reacts-to-another-major-blow-ahead-of-wolves-and-fulham-4532799

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Three Premier League clubs 'ready to battle for Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha'
Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea reportedly retain an interest in signing Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.

During the summer of 2022, the Cottagers held off competition from Wolverhampton Wanderers to secure the signature of the then-Sporting Lisbon man.

While the Portugal international's reputation was already high, it has since only been enhanced through his performances in the centre of the pitch.

Impressing in his 35 Premier League appearances during 2022-23 led to admiration from Bayern Munich, who were on the brink of signing Palhinha towards the end of the 2023 summer transfer window.

However, the Bundesliga giants missed the deadline to get a deal over the line, Palhinha having to return to Craven Cottage disappointed, yet it did not stop him from penning fresh terms two weeks later.

Although Palhinha is technically tied to Fulham until 2028, vice-chairman Tony Khan has recently acknowledged that "sensible offers" for the 28-year-old will be considered at the end of the season.

According to Football Insider, Bayern continue to monitor the situation at a time when they will have a new head coach in charge for 2024-25.

Nevertheless, the report adds that each of Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are contemplating whether to make a concrete offer for Palhinha.

Liverpool - the Premier League leaders and recently-crowned EFL Cup winners - were said to be keen in the summer, only to focus their attention elsewhere with Moises Caicedo having initially been on their radar before they brought in Wataru Endo.

The Japan international has proven to be a revelation, yet Liverpool could benefit from a greater physical presence in their engine room.

Arsenal may be in a position where they require reinforcements with Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny due to be out of contract at the conclusion of this campaign.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are also in need of more physically-imposing players for their midfield, Palhinha fitting the bill to help the likes of Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

Bayern are prepared to reignite their interest if Palhinha is available for "the right price", the German side having been happy to pay £50m last September.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/transfer-talk/news/three-pl-clubs-ready-to-battle-for-fulham-midfielder-palhinha_537591.html?newsnow

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U18 Report | Albion 2-1 Fulham
Albion's youngsters made it three wins on the bounce on Saturday thanks to a 2-1 triumph at home to Fulham.

Leigh Downing's men, who came into the clash on the back of victories over Reading and West Ham United, raced into a two-goal advantage after just 21 minutes.

Eseosa Sule, fresh from his hat-trick against the Hammers last weekend, pounced on a loose touch from the goalkeeper to steal the ball and tap into an empty net in the seventh minute.

Albion made it 2-0 14 minutes later when Divine Onyemachi finished off a well-worked corner routine.

The visitors tried to force themselves back into the encounter and hit the woodwork before the break.

Louis Brady was the Baggies' hero in the second period, saving a penalty to maintain the two-goal gap.

He was beaten in added time, but it proved to be little more than a consolation for the Londoners as Downing's boys secured another impressive three points.

ALBION: Brady, Kirton, Dupont, Morrish, Humphries, Walker, Mandey (Cherchi), Deeming, Onyemachi (Chimeziri), Kone (Beedie), Sule (Maughan).

Unused subs: Wilkes.



https://www.wba.co.uk/news/u18-report-albion-2-1-fulham