Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 01/10/24...

[WhiteJC]

Results

Monday 30/09
Bournemouth	3-1	Southampton

[WhiteJC]

Raul shouldn't have taken penalty, says Silva
Raul Jimenez shouldn't have taken the winning penalty at Nottingham Forest on Saturday because he wasn't Fulham's designated penalty taker, according to Marco Silva.

The Mexican striker shrugged off Andreas Pereira's protestations after the Brazilian international had won the spot kick and beat Matt Sels from twelve yards to score his 50th Premier League goal. But Silva told the press afterwards that Pereira was supposed to be taking any spot kicks that came Fulham's way.

"It's already sorted and it will not happen again, for sure. That type of situation is clear, it's decided before the match. Raul knew that moment was for Andreas Pereira, not for him. They spoke and it is decided it will not happen again. The players know the rules we have to have as a team and as a squad."

The Fulham boss did heap praise on Jimenez's continued commitment as the striker has scored three goals this term despite not starting the season as first choice.

"He is in a very good moment, it's nice to see him back. It's nice for him to score and be decisive again after a big injury last season. He deserves all the praise because he has been working really hard from the first day of pre-season and didn't stop after not being picked."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/09/raul-shouldnt-have-taken-penalty-says-silva/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham's fortitude fuels feelgood factor
Marco Silva might specialise in stylish football but even an entertainer like him has nothing against old-fashioned 1-0 away wins. Fulham's first clean sheet of the season delivered their first win on the road at previously unbeaten Nottingham Forest on Saturday and meant that the current Premier League table makes for very good reading.

The Whites have played impressive stuff in patches this season which makes the fact that Silva's side sit in sixth all the more pleasing. This was arguably Fulham's most complete display of the campaign so far and it was built on the back of defensive discipline and a fighting spirit that every successful side needs. I still can't believe that Crystal Palace let a defender of Joachim Andersen's quality return to Craven Cottage for £30m: the Dane has slotted back into the Fulham back four as if he has never been away and was the perfect man to repel Forest's attacks once Nuno Espirito Santo had gone with two up top.

Andersen has forged an encouraging partnership with Calvin Bassey at the back. They are both good decision makers who like to use the ball but have the physical attributes to match up with all but the quickest Premier League footballers. Bassey made a brilliant recovery tackle to deny Anthony Elanga before sweeping the ball away from the Forest substitute whilst he was on the ground in the second half – for all the Trent End's screams for a penalty, it was a nerveless piece of defending. Andersen produced a perfectly timed header later on to take the ball off Chris Wood's head as the New Zealand lined up to nod in an equaliser and the late introduction of Issa Diop helped the Whites stand firm.

Perhaps the most revealing stat of all was that Bernd Leno had to make just one save despite the prolonged period of pressure that Forest applied in the closing stages. Both full backs were excellent: Kenny Tete continues to shine at right back having been kept out of the side last season by Timothy Castagne, whilst Antonee Robinson acquitted himself well on the opposite flank – with the American also making an important intervention when Fulham looked short of numbers in the second period. Every successful side can rely on a resolute back four and Silva certainly seems to have that.

We've all written about how the midfield still needs to knit together in the absence of Joao Palhinha but there was no shortage of grit and determination on Saturday. Sasa Lukic has to be in with a shout of being Fulham's most consistent performer of the season – the Serbian was everywhere once again and, whilst showing tremendous versatility to be the most defensive-minded member of the Fulham engine room, still has the ability to pick a pass and put the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Andreas Pereira into space. Lukic doesn't neglect the unglamorous side of the game, as shown by how he hunted down Nicolas Dominguez when the Argentinian threatened to get clear along the left wing in the first half.

The most pleasing part of the victory, especially after Fulham had let points get away late on at Old Trafford and against West Ham United, was how the Whites managed the game whilst holding a slender lead. You can be critical about the fact that Silva's side didn't establish a stronger advantage after the penalty, but they picked the right moments to put their foot on the ball, drop a bit deeper or a pick a pass. It wasn't pretty, but it proved mighty effective and these are the sort of victories – built on the back of sheer bloody-mindedness – that will foster greater confidence amongst what already looks like a tight-knit squad.

Going to Manchester City next weekend will be a stern test but the Whites are already proving the doubters wrong with performances of real substance. You know that Silva will relish the test of taking on the Premier League champions on their own patch, too.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/09/fulhams-fortitude-fuels-feelgood-factor/

[WhiteJC]

A blueprint to stave off the fear of relegation

The Premier League has not always been a happy hunting ground for Fulham – even in recent times, we can recall the days of nine home goals (2020/21 – lockdown was rough anyway, but having to watch Fulham every week really made it worse) and losing a game 2-1 without the victors having a shot on target (2018/19, specifically away at Burnley).

Being promoted in 2022 under Marco Silva, things felt different – after all, we'd won the Championship at a canter, under a manager that the fans adored. Even now, after two successful seasons in the top flight, there is still the threat of us doing something, well, Fulhamish, and tumbling back down to the second tier.

The question becomes: What can I, a powerless fan, do to stave this off? Enjoy watching my team and avoid worrying about an unlikely drop? Not really my style, so I created a survival checklist: every league fixture we play is included, and labelled with win/loss/draw. Match those results, and we make it to a respectable, if underwhelming, 37 points, which would have been enough to stay up in the last eight seasons.

This chart follows the idea that, to stay up, a team can have a 50:25:25 split in their results of loss:draw:win. All the wins can come at home, against bottom half teams. Draws can come against those better teams at home – those challenging for Europe like Brighton or Newcastle – and the worst teams away from home. Then we can afford to lose the rest, with no worries about getting turned over at the Etihad, or falling to our traditional loss at St James's Park.

There are significant flaws with this system, of course. I have to predict the finishing position of every team in the league before the first ball is kicked, which can lead to some skewed results (who could have predicted Newcastle's considerable rise in 2022/23, or Brentford's dramatic drop in 2023/24?). Home advantage factors into the chart, but maybe too much. Does a 0-2 home loss against a catastrophically bad Burnley side in December really derail our entire season? Perhaps not. This kind of nuance is lost.

At the end of September, it's clear that we've had a good start to the season, but with a comfortable fixture list. How far have we outperformed expectations? Well...



It's a relief to know we're outperforming relegation form, and can set out sights slightly further up the table. For the rest of October, following this chart, we've got difficult enough fixtures that we don't need to get a single point – but I think we'll all be feeling a bit wobbly if that's the case.




https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2024-09-30-a-blueprint-to-stave-off-the-fear-of-relegation/

[WhiteJC]

Exclusive: Man Utd to 'Accelerate Plans' to Sign £40m Liverpool Target
Manchester United are looking to thwart Premier League rivals Liverpool and Chelsea in their attempts to win the race for the signing of Antonee Robinson as plans have been put in place at Old Trafford to accelerate their pursuit of the Fulham star, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag was not afraid to splash the cash during the summer transfer window, with teenage defender Leny Yoro being the most expensive acquisition thanks to completing a move worth up to £58.9million from Lille, but there is already a determination to bring in further reinforcements in the coming months.

A 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend - in a clash which involved Bruno Fernandes picking up the first red card of his Manchester United career - resulted in their season hitting a new low point, and they are facing stiff competition from Liverpool and Chelsea as they aim to land Robinson.

Red Devils Eye Robinson as Left-Back Recruit
United States international gaining interest ahead of transfer window
 Manchester United are beginning to accelerate plans to sign a new left-back and have had Robinson on their list of potential recruits for a prolonged period, according to GMS sources, but they could face an uphill battle to get the deal over the line as Liverpool and Chelsea are also considering making an offer in 2025.

The United States international still has just shy of four years remaining on his £50,000-per-week contract, meaning that Fulham are in a strong negotiating position ahead of potentially being forced to contend with formal proposals from three domestic rivals in the upcoming transfer windows.

Although GMS sources have been informed that Manchester United are unlikely to want to meet the Cottagers' £40million demands, the fact he has vast amounts of Premier League experience is a major attraction, while Liverpool and Chelsea are also contemplating whether to up the ante in their pursuit.

Antonee Robinson's season-by-season statistics in the Premier League

Season	Appearances	Goals	Assists	Yellow cards	Sent off
2024/25	6	0	2	1	0
2023/24	37	0	6	6	0
2022/23	35	0	1	8	0
2020/21	28	0	0	4	1

Statistics correct as of 30/09/2024

Noussair Mazraoui's summer arrival at Old Trafford from Bayern Munich, in a double deal with Matthijs de Ligt worth close to £60million, has allowed Diogo Dalot to move across to the left-hand side of the Red Devils' backline while Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have remained on the sidelines as they step up their recovery from injuries.

But Manchester United have set their sights on hurrying their attempts to land Robinson due to an awareness that Liverpool and Chelsea are also among his suitors, GMS sources have learned, and they are seriously mulling over whether to test Fulham's resolve by opening discussions over his availability.

Fulham Desperate to Fend Off Robinson Bids
Cottagers remain determined to keep 27-year-old on board
 In a significant blow to Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea's recruitment plans, GMS sources have been told that Fulham have absolutely no intention of sanctioning Robinson's departure, meaning his admirers will have to match his price tag if they want to stand a chance of altering his current employers' stance.

The 27-year-old has been one of the first names on the team sheet throughout his time with the Cottagers, resulting in him making 157 appearances in all competitions since his arrival, and head coach Marco Silva is desperate to keep him on board instead of entertaining the possibility of cashing in.

But Manchester United boss ten Hag remains keen to acquire Robinson despite Fulham's desire to fend off interest, GMS sources understand, while Liverpool chief Arne Slot and Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca have also set their sights on bolstering their options at left-back after moving into their respective positions in the summer.

GMS sources recently revealed that the Red Devils pinpointed the former Wigan Athletic man as a potential recruit due to being increasingly frustrated by Shaw's ongoing injury problems, while Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez and Brest talent Bradley Locko are also on their radar as plans are put in place.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and WhoScored



https://www.givemesport.com/manchester-united-transfer-news-accelerate-plans-sign-liverpool-target-robinson-old-trafford/

[WhiteJC]

Man United mulling over January approach for Fulham's Antonee Robinson to win transfer race
Manchester United were all over the place and Tottenham Hotspur took full advantage, inflicting a humiliating 0-3 defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday in the Premier League.

The 0-3 loss was United's third of the league campaign and second successive home defeat by a similar margin, leaving the Red Devils just four points off the relegation zone.

Despite strengthening at the back during the summer, not much improvement has been seen, especially with regards to the results with the Red Devils' current goal difference reading minus three after six games.

Injuries to both left-backs have forced Erik ten Hag to persist with Diogo Dalot on the left while new signing Noussair Mazraoui has played as the right-back.

LB issues
The Moroccan has impressed but the Portuguese's form has been indifferent, probably as a result of playing in all games so far this season.

Even for the Carabao Cup game against Barnsley, the manager did not give him any rest and started him on the right this time while playing Toby Collyer on the opposite flank.

And against Spurs, the former Porto star struggled, with his lack of concentration while tracking back allowing Brennan Johnson to open the scoring from an easy tap-in in the third minute.

The club knew about Luke Shaw's poor injury record and Tyrell Malacia's struggles and should have prioritised strengthening on the left, especially after being forced to play Sofyan Amrabat and Victor Lindelof in that position for quite a few games.

But no additions were made, neither on loan or via the free agent market and that has taken a toll on Dalot's effectiveness.

Antonee Robinson of Fulham was one of the supposed targets but both Liverpool and Chelsea are plotting a 2025 summer move for the US international.

INEOS are mulling over making an early approach to the Cottagers as per Givemesport, which could give them a headstart in the race for the 27-year-old.

This effectively indicates a January deal could be on the cards, which is in line with previous reports relayed by The Peoples Person.

"Manchester United are looking to thwart Premier League rivals Liverpool and Chelsea in their attempts to win the race for the signing of Antonee Robinson as plans have been put in place at Old Trafford to accelerate their pursuit of the Fulham star, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

"Although GMS sources have been informed that Manchester United are unlikely to want to meet the Cottagers' £40million demands, the fact he has vast amounts of Premier League experience is a major attraction, while Liverpool and Chelsea are also contemplating whether to up the ante in their pursuit.

Robinson approach on the cards
"But Manchester United have set their sights on hurrying their attempts to land Robinson due to an awareness that Liverpool and Chelsea are also among his suitors, GMS sources have learned, and they are seriously mulling over whether to test Fulham's resolve by opening discussions over his availability."

Robinson's current deal is valid until 2028 and Fulham will be in no hurry to agree to his exit, thereby making a January deal unlikely or extremely costly.

Ten Hag will hope that Malacia can return quickly while Shaw can stay fit for the rest of the campaign once he does regain full fitness.

But whether the manager will remain to see that day is a huge doubt. Despite backing in the market, he simply has not managed to spark a turnaround in form and INEOS are under pressure to take a major call regarding the managerial situation.



https://thepeoplesperson.com/2024/09/30/man-united-mulling-over-january-approach-for-fulhams-antonee-robinson-to-win-transfer-race-286045/

[iansthailand]

Exclusive: Man Utd to 'Accelerate Plans' to Sign £40m Liverpool Target
Manchester United are looking to thwart Premier League rivals Liverpool and Chelsea in their attempts to win the race for the signing of Antonee Robinson as plans have been put in place at Old Trafford to accelerate their pursuit of the Fulham star, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag was not afraid to splash the cash during the summer transfer window, with teenage defender Leny Yoro being the most expensive acquisition thanks to completing a move worth up to £58.9million from Lille, but there is already a determination to bring in further reinforcements in the coming months.

A 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend - in a clash which involved Bruno Fernandes picking up the first red card of his Manchester United career - resulted in their season hitting a new low point, and they are facing stiff competition from Liverpool and Chelsea as they aim to land Robinson.

Red Devils Eye Robinson as Left-Back Recruit
United States international gaining interest ahead of transfer window
 Manchester United are beginning to accelerate plans to sign a new left-back and have had Robinson on their list of potential recruits for a prolonged period, according to GMS sources, but they could face an uphill battle to get the deal over the line as Liverpool and Chelsea are also considering making an offer in 2025.

The United States international still has just shy of four years remaining on his £50,000-per-week contract, meaning that Fulham are in a strong negotiating position ahead of potentially being forced to contend with formal proposals from three domestic rivals in the upcoming transfer windows.

Although GMS sources have been informed that Manchester United are unlikely to want to meet the Cottagers' £40million demands, the fact he has vast amounts of Premier League experience is a major attraction, while Liverpool and Chelsea are also contemplating whether to up the ante in their pursuit.

Antonee Robinson's season-by-season statistics in the Premier League

Season	Appearances	Goals	Assists	Yellow cards	Sent off
2024/25	6	0	2	1	0
2023/24	37	0	6	6	0
2022/23	35	0	1	8	0
2020/21	28	0	0	4	1

Statistics correct as of 30/09/2024

Noussair Mazraoui's summer arrival at Old Trafford from Bayern Munich, in a double deal with Matthijs de Ligt worth close to £60million, has allowed Diogo Dalot to move across to the left-hand side of the Red Devils' backline while Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have remained on the sidelines as they step up their recovery from injuries.

But Manchester United have set their sights on hurrying their attempts to land Robinson due to an awareness that Liverpool and Chelsea are also among his suitors, GMS sources have learned, and they are seriously mulling over whether to test Fulham's resolve by opening discussions over his availability.

Fulham Desperate to Fend Off Robinson Bids
Cottagers remain determined to keep 27-year-old on board
 In a significant blow to Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea's recruitment plans, GMS sources have been told that Fulham have absolutely no intention of sanctioning Robinson's departure, meaning his admirers will have to match his price tag if they want to stand a chance of altering his current employers' stance.

The 27-year-old has been one of the first names on the team sheet throughout his time with the Cottagers, resulting in him making 157 appearances in all competitions since his arrival, and head coach Marco Silva is desperate to keep him on board instead of entertaining the possibility of cashing in.

But Manchester United boss ten Hag remains keen to acquire Robinson despite Fulham's desire to fend off interest, GMS sources understand, while Liverpool chief Arne Slot and Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca have also set their sights on bolstering their options at left-back after moving into their respective positions in the summer.

GMS sources recently revealed that the Red Devils pinpointed the former Wigan Athletic man as a potential recruit due to being increasingly frustrated by Shaw's ongoing injury problems, while Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez and Brest talent Bradley Locko are also on their radar as plans are put in place.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and WhoScored



https://www.givemesport.com/manchester-united-transfer-news-accelerate-plans-sign-liverpool-target-robinson-old-trafford/

40 Million? I'd bite their hand off.

[hovewhite]

40 million with loads of cover for whole back 4 would go towards a big striker coming in .Jedi has been improved by all the coaching staff whilst Silva has been so important for him on an individual level,he feels like one of our own to me ,and we have all watched him blossom and grow.

[filham]

The rumours continue about a move for Robinson, this will be a loss for us but we have had good warning and should be able to crank up the transfer fee and find a good replacement.

[Jaguar2013]

Why would we want to sell our best players. If we want to push on this season we should only be strengthening our squad not weakening it. If by the New Year we are still in the top half we should be looking at a striker and another midfielder. We have lost too many players in the past to the so called "Big 6" clubs and if we do want to push on we need to keep our talent.

[WindyCity]

Why would we want to sell our best players. If we want to push on this season we should only be strengthening our squad not weakening it. If by the New Year we are still in the top half we should be looking at a striker and another midfielder. We have lost too many players in the past to the so called "Big 6" clubs and if we do want to push on we need to keep our talent.

Nice post, agreed....