Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 03/12/24...

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This week at Fulham
It's local derbies galore for the various teams at the Club this week.

Monday

Catch up on all the highlights and reaction from Fulham's eventful draw with Tottenham Hotspur, while we will find out our Third Round Emirates FA Cup opponents from 7pm.

Tuesday

The final episode of this season's Fulham Fix airs at 7.30am, with Alain Goma sitting down in the hotseat with Felix and Ivan.

The first match of the week sees our Under-21s make the short trip to Woking's Kingfield Stadium for a 7pm kick-off in the National League Cup.

Wednesday

Marco Silva will be sitting down with the press at 1.30pm to preview our meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Cottage.

Thursday

It's a slightly earlier kick-off of 7.30pm for our Premier League bout with the Seagulls. Tickets remain available for purchase.

Friday

We'll have all the reaction and highlights from the Brighton match, before quickly turning our attentions to the Arsenal game, with Marco looking ahead to that in his 1.30pm press conference.

Sunday

The first match of the afternoon sees the Gunners travel from North to South-West London for a 2pm kick-off. This match has sold out, but will be shown live on Sky Sports.

An hour later, Fulham Women have an intriguing tie in the Adobe Women's FA Cup when they travel to Bedfont Sports Club to take on Brentford.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/december/02/this-week-at-fulham/

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Marco: I love TC as a footballer
Tom Cairney's three game ban could not have come at a worse time for Marco Silva.

With Harrison Reed injured and Saša Lukić suspended for Thursday's meeting with Brighton, we could have done with our Captain's presence in central midfield.

And though Cairney does not start matches as often as he once did, his Head Coach still knows just how much he has to offer the team.

"It will be tough for us to not have a player like him," Silva said in his post-Spurs press conference.

"I know that he's not always playing as a starting XI player, but Tom is the type of player that if he plays 10 minutes he's going to have an impact, if he starts the game he's going to have an impact.

"He's really important for me. Of course, he's not a young player no more, [but] I know his qualities.

"I know some things that he needs to keep improving, but I love him as a football player, I have to say. Probably if I got him a little bit younger, he's going to be fantastic for me, because what a player he is.

"It's going to be a big absence for us, definitely. We have Harrison Reed out as well, next game Saša Lukić is not going to play because he got the fifth yellow card as well.

"Let's hope we can have Andreas ready again next week, to go in the way I know he can play as well, with all the others around him, because we need everybody in this moment of the season."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/december/02/marco-i-love-tc-as-a-footballer/

[WhiteJC]

Player ratings: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Fulham

Fulham came away with a highly credible point after a wonderfully entertaining game of Premier League football at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. Marco Silva may be left ruing missed chances from the boys in red and black earlier in the game, but ultimately to see out the contest with 10 men and get a positive result can only be viewed as a positive.

Bernd Leno
Forced into action almost instantly as a misplaced Bassey pass in the opening seconds gave Son a gilt-edged chance, which Leno saved well with his feet from close range. Later in the first half, he was forced into an acrobatic save to deny a Dragusin header from a Tottenham corner. Kicking was solid throughout in tricky weather conditions and helped wind the clock down in the final stages after going down to ten men. 7.5/10

Kenny Tete
Quality, quality performance at both ends of the pitch from Tete. Some of his deliveries in the first half especially helped to create our most dangerous chances, including one to Jimenez, which should've resulted in an assist for the Dutchman. At the other end, it was his sliding intervention at the very last moment at Leon's back post that stopped Werner from having an easy chance at putting Spurs ahead. As often happens when the right-back manages to stay fit, his performances are going from strength to strength. 8/10

Issa Diop
While everyone has raved about the return of Joachim Andersen to Fulham this season, Diop has calmly slotted in on a number of occasions now and rarely puts in a Diop-style mistake. This was arguably his best performance in a Fulham shirt. Looked so composed on the ball, frequently moving Fulham out of a tight spot when playing out from the back. Made a couple of superb sliding tackles in both halves to prevent Spurs from getting shots away from dangerous positions. This sort of form may make it harder for Silva to place Andersen straight back into the XI when he returns to fitness. 9/10 – Man of the match

Calvin Bassey
Nearly had another moment to forget at Tottenham just seconds into this tie. An almost blind pass across his own box found Son rather than a teammate and were it not for the intervention of Leno, Fulham could've been on the back foot from the off. Calmed down after that and was solid enough in possession. Also caused carnage at set pieces, manipulating Tottenham's defenders to create space for the ball to fall to a Fulham man. 6.5/10

Antonee Robinson
Our left-back, like Bassey, also almost had a proper moment of madness that could've put Fulham in a load of bother. An under-hit back pass also ended up at the feet of Son, who should've really scored but instead tried rounding Leno who dutifully collected the loose ball. Bar that, Robinson was really good. Made several interceptions really high up the pitch that set us up nicely in transition, and through some wonderful combinations with Nelson, helped to create a number of chances. Frustratingly it felt like every cross of his fell at the feet of a Tottenham man. 7/10

Sasa Lukic
Absolute Rolls Royce in the middle of the pitch, slightly incredible how seamlessly he's walked straight back into this side in the form he started the season in before his injury. Realised today that the Serb is actually really quick, which helped him to be our main man in terms of winning second balls in the middle of the park, but also helped him as a ball progressing machine in the transition. Often took our corners, and it was nice to see a difference in our deliveries and to see them actually result in Fulham opportunities for once. Incredible how much of an important cog he's become in such a short amount of time at the club, long may it continue. 8/10

Sander Berge
Along with Lukic, the two formed a brilliant pivot that Tottenham struggled to get through for large spells of the game. Berge often sat the deeper of the two in transition to allow Lukic to join attacks, something which worked really well. It felt like anything Spurs tried through the middle in the first half just led to frequent interceptions from the Norwegian, who is another player getting better and better in white. Berge frequently moved the ball quickly out of his feet when being pressed by Spurs, which I thought was particularly impressive. Seeing how well balanced this midfield was with Berge and Lukic side by side, it'll be interesting to see if it's a system utilised going forward by Silva once Lukic returns from suspension. 8/10

Emile Smith Rowe
He was absolutely superb for large spells of the game and really showed how this Fulham side can benefit from the England international in a more advanced role, rather than as one of the duel eights. The role allowed ESR to press higher up the pitch, which he did excellently, forcing several Tottenham errors, which Fulham looked to capitalise from in transition. His combination play with Reiss Nelson was there as it always seems to be, with the two constantly targeting Porro and Dragusin with the ball at their feet. 7.5/10

Alex Iwobi
The Nigerian midfielder is surely playing the best football of his career right now, which is reflected in the confidence he's showing on and off the pitch. While off it he's lively in interviews and creating music, on the pitch he's gladly gliding past any player who comes within five yards of him, trying moves that only a player at the top of their game can. Showed a lovely composure in a tight space to create Tom Cairney's goal and combined well on countless occasions with Wilson after he came onto the pitch. As many have said in and outside of the club, Iwobi is looking to be our player of the season right now. 8/10

Reiss Nelson
This was Nelson's best performance of the ones that he's started in in the Premier League. Pedro Porro would hardly have known how to spell his own name during the first half, Nelson had him in that much of a spin. It's so beautiful to watch a player who from minute one to the final seconds he's on the pitch, constantly pick the ball up and run at his man with zero hesitation and get such joy from it. It doesn't always work, but when he does best his man, he's easily one of our greatest creative threats in the final third. Looks to be forming a nice relationship with Robinson down the left side too. 7.5/10

Raul Jimenez
Can't his effort but he was ultimately left frustrated in North London. An early headed effort sailed over the bar but ultimately Raul's best chance would come later in the first half when his close-range effort forced an unbelievable save from Fraser Forster, who was superb all day in the Tottenham goal. As the second half wore on, Raul cut a frustrated figure as decisions went against him and he got a bit leggy in difficult game and weather conditions. Not a poor performance by any means, but he'll be gutted not to have got on the scoresheet here. 6.5/10

Substitutions

Tom Cairney (62' for Lukic)
Honestly what a crazy cameo from the skipper. Really liked how he set himself up in the middle of the park and just played the perfect forward pass to help move on every Fulham attack. His finish for the equaliser was beyond sublime and gave me flashbacks to the Championship days under Slavisa Jokanovic when he'd score a beauty most weeks. Absolutely abysmal tackle to get sent off but we'll just say he slipped and forgive him. Shame he's out for three games now though. 7/10

Harry Wilson (62' for Nelson)
My goodness me, similar to Iwobi, you can tell when a player's confidence and form are sky high. Wilson looked unbelievable off the bench. Every counter-attack seemed to be a product of him refusing to go sideways or backwards, he just wanted the ball in Tottenham's box as soon as he could. Some of the cross field passes to Iwobi were sensational in that second half. 8/10

Rodrigo Muniz (77' for Jimenez)
Genuinely must've set a record for most headed duels won in a 20-ish minute cameo after coming on. Muniz absolutely bullied Tottenham's defenders in the air and his ball control to bring others into play was superb. You feel one chance in the air in the box and we may have had a winner. Good to see his head hasn't dropped after recent time spent on the bench. 7/10

Timothy Castagne and Ryan Sessegnon (87' for Smith Rowe and Iwobi)
Both came on too late to be fairly assessed, but I thought Sess put his foot in everywhere to stop Spurs putting crosses in, and to see the reception he received at full time with his song being sung and the badge being patted genuinely nearly bought me to tears. Good on him.

Manager

Marco Silva
I gave the boss a lot of criticism after the Wolves game and I stand by it. There's no need for that here. The game plan looked to be executed perfectly in the first half with the style of football Fulham were playing and the chances they created. While Spurs going ahead was frustrating, he did well to re-jig things and use his subs bench earlier than he normally might, with Wilson, Cairney and Muniz all having particularly useful cameos in helping us to get a positive result. Using a Leno "injury" to set the side up not to concede late on with 10 men was admirable too. 8.5/10



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2024-12-02-player-ratings-tottenham-hotspur-1-1-fulham/

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Brighton's fresh double injury doubt ahead of Fulham as Fabian Hurzeler makes 'we try' admission
All the latest team news for Brighton and Hove Albion and across the Premier League

Brighton will assess the fitness of key duo Yasin Ayari and Kaoru Mitoma this week.

Both players were hobbling badly as they left the field after the 1-1 draw with Southampton at the Amex Stadium last Friday.

Mitoma – who scored the opening goal – looked in considerable discomfort after he was clattered by Southampton's Tyler Dibling in the closing stages.

"We have to wait," said Hurzeler in the post match press conference. "I don't think it is a big issue and we try to get them available for the next game."

Joel Veltman, who missed the Southampton clash, has "a small issue" and will also be assessed by the medical department this week.

James Milner (hamstring) Adam Webster (hamstring), Solly March (knee) and Jack Hinshelwood (knee) are unlikely to feature at Fulham.

Hurzeler will though hope to have Turkey international Ferdi Kadioglu available after a toe injury and Brajan Gruda is expected to return after illness forced him to miss the Southampton clash.

Midfielder Carlos Baleba will be back having completed his one-match suspension following his controversial dismissal at Bournemouth.

Skipper Lewis Dunk, who made his return following a calf injury as a second half substitute against Southampton, will hope to regain his starting position at Fulham.

"It was not an easy one," said Hurzeler on starting Igo Julio ahead of Dunk. "He (Dunk) is my captain, so one of the most important players. But I think Igor and JP have done well.

" I explained it to him and he came in and showed his impact to the team, showed his role immediately. He will help us to win games next time."



https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/football/brighton-and-hove-albion/brightons-fresh-double-injury-doubt-ahead-of-fulham-as-fabian-hurzeler-makes-we-try-admission-4891955

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Up Next: Brighton
Don't miss our Premier League clash against Brighton on Thursday 5th December, kick-off 7:30pm.

With tickets on General Sale* for this fixture, join us in SW6 and watch Marco Silva's side in action at Craven Cottage.

Supporters will be able to purchase up to six tickets for this fixture. Tickets can be secured at fulhamfc.com/tickets from the Fulham FC Ticket Office in person or by calling 0203 871 0810 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).

More information regarding on sale dates and pricing for this fixture can be found here.

BUY TICKETS

*Subject to postcode restrictions

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/december/02/up-next-brighton/

[WhiteJC]

Even if this is a "what if?" season, let's enjoy it

The relief when that final whistle went on Sunday was wonderful. A properly dogged, resolute last 15 minutes, where we kept Spurs at arm's length, sparked lovely scenes in the away end. It was one of those moments where you feel the stress evaporate and you can finally breathe.

However, it wasn't long until that annoying voice popped into my brain saying, "We should've won that". It was the same voice that piped up after Everton, Aston Villa, Manchester City, West Ham, and Manchester United. It's a troublingly long list of games when you realise we've only just touched December.

I'm confident that this is the best team we've had under Marco Silva, which means it's the best side we've had in well over a decade. I just have this unfortunate niggly feeling that we won't do as well as we deserve. That this season will leave us all asking, "what if?".

Some of the football that we played at the creatively-named Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was stunning. There were passages of play that just made me smile. The move that saw Iwobi hit the crossbar in the first half was near perfection; a sequence of passes that the best of the best would be proud to show highlights of. Yet what do we have to show for it? A point. It's not fair, but it's also very on brand.

This is my worry with this era of Fulham. We're in danger of becoming the nearly men. We play superb football, we bloody some noses, but we just don't have that knockout blow. Ultimately, it's that characteristic that means we will probably underachieve this season.

But do you know what? I think I'm OK with that. With a couple of notable exceptions, I'm just really enjoying watching us play football. I'm looking forward to every game and there's a really nice atmosphere in the fanbase; a sense of pride. We might not reach our desired destination, but I think the journey is going to be fun. So, let's lean into it, let's accept that this is the season of "what if?" and allow ourselves to fully enjoy Silva's silky Whites.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2024-12-02-even-if-this-is-a-what-if-season-lets-enjoy-it/

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Brighton's £25m ace ready to return against Fulham after controversial absence
Brighton team news ahead of Thursday's Premier League trip to Fulham

Midfielder Carlos Baleba looks set to return to the starting XI as Brighton travel to Fulham this Thursday.

Baleba was suspended for last Friday's 1-1 draw with Southampton after his controversial dismissal in the 2-1 win at Bournemouth.

The Cameroon international, who joined Brighton last year for around £25m from Lille, has been a key player for Fabian Hurzeler's fourth-placed team this term and has made 10 appearances with eight starts so far.

Baleba's midfield presence was missed against Southampton and his return will be a welcome boost as Jack Hinshelwood (knee) and Ferdi Kadioglu (toe) are struggling to be fit in time, while James Milner (hamstring) remains side-lined.

Yasin Ayari is also a doubt as the Sweden international was seen limping heavily after Friday's frustrating draw with basement dwellers Southampton.

Hurzeler, speaking in his press conference after the Southampton match, remained upset by Baleba suspension and felt Southampton's Flynn Downes should have been sent-off for two bookable offences before scoring the equalising goal.

"That's exactly what I said in the halftime already, " Hurzeler said to Sussex World. "And then he [Downes] makes another foul. There is no explanation for this. That is something that changed the game in Bournemouth in their direction and this could have changed the game in our direction.

"But you have to be very careful what you say in England. Also my yellow card is something that I cannot understand and I have to adapt to this here."



https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/football/brighton-and-hove-albion/brightons-ps25m-ace-ready-to-return-against-fulham-after-controversial-absence-4892178

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Fulham captain suspended for Arsenal clash
Fulham captain Tom Cairney will be unavailable against Arsenal after picking up a red card in their match away to Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.

Tom Cairney certainly had an eventful appearance for Fulham against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, after coming off the bench for his team.

Cairney was introduced with Spurs 1-0 up, but just five minutes later he brought his team level with an excellent finish from just inside the penalty area, assisted by former Gunner Alex Iwobi.

Yet not long after that the Fulham captain was off, having raked his studs down the back of Dejan Kulusevski's leg to earn a red card.

The straight red card for serious foul play means a three-match ban, with Fulham facing Arsenal in the second of those three games.

Another Fulham starter who will be unavailable against Arsenal is loanee Reiss Nelson, ineligible to play against his parent club at the weekend.

Nelson put in a good performance against Spurs, completing 98% of his passes, creating three chances including one big chance, and making a couple of tackles and interceptions.

The winger will want to follow that up in Fulham's game against Brighton on Thursday, before he has to drop out of the squad when Arsenal visit on Sunday.

Harrison Reed and Joachim Andersen will also be out against Arsenal through injury, and Jorge Cuenca Barreno and Ryan Sessegnon are minor doubts at this stage.



https://dailycannon.com/2024/12/fulham-cairney-suspension-arsenal/

[WhiteJC]

How to watch Fulham vs Brighton live: Stream link, TV channel, team news, prediction
Fulham host Brighton at Craven Cottage on Thursday and both teams will be hoping to kick on after draws last time out.

WATCH — Fulham v Brighton live
The Cottagers were disappointed not to win away at Tottenham as they drew 1-1 but spurned several glorious chances. Marco Silva's side had Tom Cairney sent off late in the second half just after the sub had curled home a beautiful equalizer, but even with 10 players they looked the more likely to win it in stoppage time. Fulham are a lot of fun to watch this season and in Iwobi, Smith Rowe, Nelson and Jimenez they have a group of attackers who slot together so well. Fulham sit on 19 points, four behind Brighton.

Brighton are right up there in the top four hunt but Fabian Hurzeler's side were disappointed to draw at home against bottom club Southampton on Friday. The 1-1 draw was a game of two halves as Brighton could have been 3-0 up at half time but then put in a subdued second half display to drop two points. Still, the Seagulls are having a fine start to the season and another European push is well and truly on.

How to watch Fulham vs Brighton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2:30pm ET, Thursday (December 5)
Venue: Craven Cottage — London
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Watch live on Peacock

Fulham team news, focus
The hosts have a few injury issues to deal with as Diop will likely continue at center back. Andreas Pereira did not feature at Tottenham, with Marco Silva not addressing questions about Pereira's future at the club. The Brazilian midfielder has released a statement saying comments in a recent interview which said he wanted to leave Fulham for Marseille had been misconstrued. In attack Raul Jimenez had so many chances against Tottenham but couldn't finish, as Smith Rowe, Iwobi and Nelson were excellent and full backs Robinson and Tete provide so much attacking ability out wide.

OUT: Harrison Reed (knee), Joachim Andersen (calf), Tom Cairney (suspension), Jorge Cuenca (knock) | QUESTIONABLE: Ryan Sessegnon (other)

Brighton team news, focus
The Seagulls started with the quartet of Mitoma, Welbeck, Pedro and Rutter up top against Southampton but it only clicked in spells. Minteh could come in to start, while Lewis Dunk should be available to start after easing himself back in after returning from injury. Adingra and Ferguson could also come in as Hurzeler can now mix up his attacking options with some big players back fit.

OUT: Solly March (knee), James Milner (thigh), Adam Webster (hamstring), Joel Veltman (muscle) | QUESTIONABLE: Jack Hinshelwood (knee), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), Brajan Gruda (illness)

Fulham vs Brighton prediction
This feels like it has the potential to be a really fun one with plenty of goals. Both teams go for it and I think it ends even. Fulham 2-2 Brighton.



https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/how-to-watch-fulham-vs-brighton-live-stream-link-tv-channel-team-news-prediction

[WhiteJC]

Fulham draw Hornets
Fulham will host Watford at Craven Cottage in Round Three of the Emirates FA Cup.

The match against Marco Silva's former side will take place 9-13th January.

Date confirmation and ticket information will be confirmed in due course.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/december/02/fulham-draw-hornets/

[WhiteJC]

Watford fans won't have forgotten snake-like behaviour
Although his time at Watford was not without success, Marco Silva did not endear himself to the Hornets faithful who will doubtless remind him of that when they travel to Fulham for the FA Cup third round tie.

 At Vicarage Road for only five months, Silva's Watford made an outstanding start to the 2017/18 Premier League season.

Four wins – including the 2-1 success against Arsenal at Vicarage Road where Tom Cleverley scored the late winner – and three draws from the first eight games had the Hornets flying.

 However, having only arrived in May his work at Watford attracted the attention of Everton and, when rumours began to surface, the wheels came off for the Hornets.

Silva managed just three more league wins which would have been bad enough, but he declined several opportunities to distance himself from the stories that he wanted to move to Merseyside.

 Eventually he was sacked after losing 2-0 at Leicester in mid-January, and he joined Everton that summer, with Watford negotiating a compensation payment for what was clearly some very obvious 'tapping up'.

Silva has since become known as 'the snake' to Watford fans, who brought inflatable versions of the reptile into the ground when Silva brought his Everton team to Vicarage Road in the 2018/19 campaign.

Cleverley played 24 times for Watford under Silva, who named him in his first XI on the opening day of the season and started him 21 times in the Premier League.

 The last time Watford played at Craven Cottage was a 1-1 draw in the Premier League on September 22, 2018.

Ironically, the man who suddenly found form to deny the Hornets recently – Andre Gray – scored for the Hornets that day after only two minutes, but Aleksandar Mitrovic netted 12 minutes from time to earn the home side a point.

Recent visits to the Cottage have been few and far between, and the previous one before that game in 2018 was an evening to very much remember: Troy Deeney scored a hat-trick and Almen Abdi grabbed two as Watford romped to a 5-0 win in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

The last FA Cup clash of the sides came in 2005, when the pair met in the third round at Vicarage Road on January 8.

A Heidar Helguson penalty earned Watford a replay after Zat Knight had put Fulham ahead, and then in the replay 11 days later the Cottagers won 2-0 with goals from Moritz Volz and Tomasz Radzinski.

It was at that time Watford had reached the semi-finals of the Carling Cup (where they lost over two legs to Liverpool), and with the addition of the FA Cup replay at Fulham, the Hornets ended up playing six games in 17 days.

Fulham was also the venue for an Associate Members Cup tie in 1997 when Graham Taylor selected a youthful team that included the likes of Daniel Grieves, Per Ola Ljung, Nathan Lowndes, Colin Pluck and Mark Rooney.

Fulham won the game in front of a crowd of just 3,364.

One of Taylor's more successful cup moments, though, came in 1983 when having drawn 1-1 at home to Fulham in the Fourth Round (Jan Lohman scoring), they went to Craven Cottage and won the replay 2-1 thanks to goals from Lohman and John Barnes.

This will be the fifth time Watford have played away to Fulham in the FA Cup, both sides having won two of the previous four encounters.



https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/24767052.watford-fans-wont-forgotten-snake-like-behaviour/

[WhiteJC]

Man Of The Match Result: Spurs
Issa Diop has been voted Fulham's Man of the Match following our 1-1 draw away to Tottenham.

The centre-back came back into the Starting XI to replace the injured Joachim Andersen, slotting in nicely next to Calvin Bassey.

With the Whites reduced to ten men following Tom Cairney's 83rd-minute red card, Issa was part of the defence that held onto a valuable point on the road.

Issa claimed 19.67 per cent of the vote, followed by Alex Iwobi with 18.57 per cent and Antonee Robinson with 13.05 per cent.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/december/02/man-of-the-match-result-spurs/