Friday Fulham Stuff - 09/05/25...

[WhiteJC]

Sheffield Wednesday should be concerned by new Fulham, Marco Silva update
Sheffield Wednesday must surely be concerned by the reports linking Fulham boss Marco Silva with a move to Saudi Arabia.

According to talkSPORT, the Portuguese is understood to be one of the leading candidates for the Al-Hilal job, with Fulham believed to be preparing to receive an offer from the Middle Eastern outfit.

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo and Inter Milan's Simone Inzaghi are also believed to be potential options for Al-Hilal, who are a powerhouse in Saudi Arabia.

With Silva seemingly one of those who is in the frame for the job, the prospect of Fulham potentially needing to appoint a new manager this summer will surely have set the alarm bells ringing for Sheffield Wednesday, given that the Cottagers are one of the latest clubs to be credited with an interest in Danny Rohl.

Interest in Marco Silva could spell trouble for Sheffield Wednesday
The job that Rohl has done at Hillsborough has been so impressive that it's no surprise he has been the subject of a significant amount of interest recently.

The 36-year-old led Wednesday to survival in incredible fashion last season, after taking on the job with the club having endured their worst ever start to a league season.

This term, he has carried the Owls up into the top half of the table, even flirting with the play-off positions for a few weeks, something which is a truly remarkable feat considering the limited budget that was made available to him.

The German has begun to build a reputation as one of the brightest young coaches around, and Crystal Palace and Fulham are the latest two clubs to be linked with him.

As such, news of Al-Hilal's interest in Silva should be of particular concern to Wednesday.

TalkSPORT understands that the Portuguese boss is stalling on a new deal at Craven Cottage, with his current contract due to expire in 2026.

With interest from Saudi Arabia now on the table, it could spell the end of his time with the West London outfit. Silva is believed to be keen on the move, having already turned down Saudi offers in the past.

Moves elsewhere could trigger an approach for Rohl
With Rohl's future in South Yorkshire very much uncertain, it's entirely possible that he could have overseen his final game for the club in Saturday's 1-1 draw away at Watford.

Although there are currently no public reports of Wednesday receiving an official approach at any point recently, there are plenty of clubs that are admirers of the German.

Leicester City, Southampton and RB Leipzig have all been credited with an interest in Rohl over the last few weeks. The latter duo are currently without a manager, while the Foxes' dismissal of current chief Ruud Van Nistelrooy seems inevitable.

Despite those links having been around for a while now, they seemingly remain nothing more than links at present. However, suggestions of a potential switch to Fulham or Palace could pose a much more immediate threat to the Owls.

Both clubs view Rohl as a potential successor, with their own managers subject to interest at present.

Alongside the Saudi links, Silva is also believed to be a target for Tottenham Hotspur, while the Eagles' boss, Oliver Glasner, has reportedly held talks to take over at Leipzig.

If either of those potential deals end up coming to fruition, then that could mark the end of Rohl's time in South Yorkshire.

The German hasn't hidden his ambitions and frustrations from public view of late and, with top-level clubs once again circling, it feels increasingly likely that this summer could bring his time in S6 to a close.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/sheffield-wednesday-should-be-concerned-by-new-fulham-marco-silva-update/

[WhiteJC]

U18s edge out Spurs in five-goal thriller
Goals from Tom Wingate, Macaulay Zepa and Aidan Evans guided Fulham under 18s to a fourth successive win as Ali Melloul's side ended their season with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Hotspur Way this afternoon.

The young Whites were in outstanding form from the off and have now registered impressive wins over Chelsea, Brighton and Hove Albion, Arsenal and Spurs in a superb climax to the campaign. Wingate steered the visitors in front from close range, and although George Feeney drew the hosts level, Zepa and Evans gave Fulham a commanding cushion at half-time. Spurs reduced their arrears through an Ellis Lehane penalty midway through the second half, but the away side resisted a barrage of home pressure to sign off for the season superbly.

The Cottagers made their intentions clear from the first whistle with a wave of early attacks. They could have led inside sixty seconds when Zepa seized upon on a poor pass from Elijah Upson to put Kyle Grant in the clear but the winger's shot lacked conviction and was simple for Spurs keeper Samuel Archer to save. Zepa then also failed to stretch Archer when he pulled the trigger a couple of minutes later, but it was no surprise when the talented Frenchman played a part in opening the scoring.

Zepa sauntered to the byline and produced the perfect low cross that gave Wingate, arriving late at the back post, the simplst of tasks to score from two yards out. Grant should have doubled the lead when he went through on Archer's goal again, but he skewed an effort wide of the near post.

Fulham were made to pay for that miss when Spurs equalised from their first real chance of the afternoon. Reiss Elliot-Parris roasted Naz Benchaita down the Tottenham left and crossed for Warren Feeney to fire home from the inside the box. But parity lasted for just sixty seconds as Zepa restored Fulham's lead in stunning style. The talented winger took a pass from Logan Cooke, dribbled towards the Tottenham box and lashed a lovely finish past Archer from twenty yards out.

Zepa was a constant threat to the Tottenham defence and he helped extend Fulham's advantage ten minutes later. His pass sent Seth Chingwaro charging towards the byline and when the former Manchester City midfielder's cross was half cleared by Malachi Hardy it broke to the feet of Evans, who hammered home from close range.

Fired up by a stern team-talk from Stuart Lewis, Spurs were a different proposition after the interval and the visitors were indebted to goalkeeper Dino Kaiser for a string of superb saves. The Bosnian youth international did brilliantly to keep out an effort from substitute Tynan Thompson, who then set up Luca Williams-Barnett with some outstanding wing play only for Quinn Schutter to clear off the line.

But Tottenham quickly established a route back into the contest when Grant brought down Northern Irish international Feeney in the are and Lehane converted the subsequent spot-kick with ease. Spurs laid siege to the Fulham goal in the closing stages but Williams-Barnett shot wide after finding space in a crowded box before Kaiser stayed big to claw away a shot from Lehane after the striker had sped through on goal.

Zepa might have made the game safe two minutes later but his powerful shot from distance flashed wide of goal, before Kaiser came to the rescue twice in quick succession as Fulham held on for the victory. The goalkeeper palmed another Williams-Barnett effort over the crossbar and then got down low to field a Thompson shot. Both Daniel Batty and Thompson tried their luck before the final whistle but neither attempt troubled the outstanding visiting goalkeeper.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): Archer; Hardy, Byrne, Byfield, Upson (Batty 75); Hall (Beggs 61), Feeney (Bangura 75); Adewole, Elliot-Parris (T. Thompson 45), Williams-Barnett; Lehane. Subs (not used): D. Thompson.

BOOKED: Williams-Barnett, Feeney.

GOALS: Feeney (19), Lehane (pen 63).

FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): Kaiser, Benchaita, Slade (Schutter 45), Cooke, Nsasi', Slade (Schutter 45); Quashie (Khan 90+1), Chingwaro; Zepa, Grant (White 69), White; Wingate. Subs (not used): Mayer.

BOOKED: Chingwaro.

GOALS: Wingate (5), Zepa (20), Evans (28).

REFEREE: Craig Barnett.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2025/05/u18s-edge-out-spurs-in-five-goal-thriller/

[WhiteJC]

Villa's rise and Reading's ruin should provide context for our frustrations

There's a lot of rightful frustration around Fulham's performance against Aston Villa, especially the substitutions and the added time, where you could be forgiven for thinking that the Whites were the team in the lead, such was their lack of urgency in getting the ball towards the opposition box.

It was hard to watch, whether at Villa Park or on the TV, because of what it meant – the opportunity to grab a point that would have taken us closer to Europe, which has been tantalisingly within touching distance for so much of this season. So close, and yet so far away.

But watching a host of football on Saturday, it got me thinking about two clubs who we sparred with in our Championship days, and the journeys we've all been on since then. The most obvious was our hosts on the day, who we beat in the Championship Play-off final on that famous, sun-drenched day back in 2018.

Since then, Villa have been on a seemingly perennial upwards trajectory, coming up the following year, surviving by the skin of their teeth, bringing in a world class manager, qualifying for the Conference League, and then going one better to reach the Champions League quarter-finals this season.

It's been meteoric, and it seems surreal to think that two members of that team who lost to us at Wembley seven years ago – John McGinn and Tyrone Mings – were part of the squad at the weekend as well.

But it's a reminder that we can dream, that making the right decisions and building the right squads under the right manager can produce magic that seems sustainable. Villa have lived on the edge a little bit in terms of PSR, and they have the backdrop of a far larger stadium and fanbase; but that shouldn't take away from how smartly they have been put together to achieve their goals.

That may seem a far cry from where Fulham are right now, but take a counterexample in the form of Reading, who on Friday finally saw an end to the saga that has seen them go from being a Championship club fighting for promotion, to one which feared for its very future as a football institution.

Back in 2017, when Reading knocked Fulham out of the play-offs at the Madjeski, as I watched Tom Cairney cajoled and mocked by pitch-invading Reading fans, as I sat on that godforsaken bus back to the station, there was little I disliked more than Reading Football Club. But from being one game from the Premier League, they tumbled into a nightmare that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy.

Unpaid players, relegations, selling off the training ground, dissolving the women's team – it has been one blow after another for the Royals faithful. Through persistent pressure groups, and with a team on the pitch formed of little more than academy graduates and free agents fighting well above their weight, the supporters have taken the fight to their absent ownership and won – and they deserve nothing but love and credit for doing so. A dream turned to a nightmare in just seconds.

I say this not really to invoke pity for Reading, or to suggest that we should be grateful for our lot, but to frame the context that Fulham, Villa and Reading all competed in the same 2017/18 Championship, and now find themselves in very different positions.

Football is transient, and it moves quickly. We should always want to be the very best we can be, and Saturday's frustration is an embodiment of how that doesn't always come to pass. But while Villa's Champions League exploits feel like they're a long way away – they're a lot closer to us than they are to Reading – and while it will definitely sting if we miss out on Europe, we're still on the right path as far as I'm concerned.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2025-05-08-villas-rise-and-readings-ruin-should-provide-context-for-our-frustrations/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham keen on summer deal for Southampton defender
Fulham are interested in landing Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters in the summer transfer window.

The 28-year-old Londoner is out of contract at the end of June.

And the South London Press understands that the Whites are keen on adding the right-back to their squad.

Fulham have yet to agree a new deal with Kenny Tete, who is in the final months of his terms. Timothy Castagne has undergone ankle surgery after struggling on with a tear for the last four months.

Walker-Peters has produced two assists in 33 matches for the Saints, who are doomed to an instant return to the Championship.

He started on the books of Tottenham but joined Southampton on a permanent deal – reportedly for £12million – in August 2020.

Walker-Peters has made close to 200 appearances for the South Coast outfit.



https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/fulham-keen-on-summer-deal-for-southampton-defender/

[WhiteJC]

Sessegnon: We've got to make home advantage count
Ryan Sessegnon wants Fulham to make home advantage count as the Whites look to revive their flagging European homes when welcome Everton to Craven Cottage this weekend.

The winger told FFCTV that he was doubly frustrated by both the manner of Fulham's narrow defeat at Aston Villa last Saturday – and the fact that he had a potential equaliser ruled out for handball.

"It was frustrating to concede from a corner. It's another set-piece that we've conceded [from]. [It was] very frustrating, a tight game. We have to try and build and forget about that game and just go for the next one now."

Speaking about his goal, Sessegnon said:

"It's just the way it bobbled up and brushed my hand. I kind of had to delay the shot. Obviously, I had the shot and it went in. I think the way VAR is now, if touches your hand and leads to a goal, they've got to rule it out. It's one of those unfortunate moments."

The Motspur Park academy graduate is pleased with his own form that saw him shortlisted for the Premier League's player of the month award for April.

"I'm very happy. It's always what I've wanted to do – impact games with goals and assists – and it is coming now for me. It's crunch time with the last three games. I just want to try and continue that. I'm delighted to be nominated [for the player of the month] alongside some very good players who had great months. It is probably just recognition that I've had a decent month myself."

Sessegnon has refused to admit defeat in the race for Europe – despite Fulham dropping out of the top half of a congested table following last weekend's disappointment.

"It would have been nice to follow up the Southampton win with a win at Villa, but we're still there. Mathematically, we're still there for what we've trying to achieve. I think it might even go down to the last game. We've got to win this game against Everton. We've got full belief being at home in front of fans that we can do that."

The winger knows that the Toffees have improved massively under David Moyes – but believes Marco Silva's side can make the most of two of their last three fixtures being at the Cottage.

"It's going to be a very different game to the one we played at Goodison earlier in the season. They are a very solid team, but again, against anyone on our day, especially at home – we're a very good team as well. So, full focus is going to be on ourselves. We'll take it game-by-game, but those last three [games], get some good points on the board and we'll see where we are at the end of the season. We've got to use that home advantage and I'm sure that we will."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2025/05/sessegnon-weve-got-to-make-home-advantage-count/

[WhiteJC]

Osmand nominated for PL2 player of the seaso
Fulham forward Callum Osmand is among the nominees for the PL2's player of the season award after scoring eighteen goals for the under-21's this season.

The Welsh youth international found the net ten times in the PL2, scored five times in the Premier League International Cup, twice in the National League Cup and once in the Football League Trophy. The Jersey-born striker, who joined Fulham aged thirteen, has trained with the first-team squad this week and could feature on the bench for Marco Silva's side against Everton on Saturday.

The nineteen year-old, who won the player of the month award in November, has been shortlisted alongside Manchester City's Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Emilio Lawrence, West Ham United duo Lewis Orford and Finlay Herrick, Donnell McNeilly of Chelsea, Arsenal's Khayon Edwards and the Crystal Palace midfielder Hindolo Mustapha.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2025/05/osmand-nominated-for-pl2-player-of-the-season/

[WhiteJC]

Tottenham receive positive sign from Fulham and Crystal Palace about summer plans
Tottenham Hotspur's chances of landing two of their leading managerial targets have seemingly been boosted after a fresh report shed light on what two Premier League clubs are now doing amidst Spurs' interest in their managers.

Tottenham's chances of landing their top managerial target, Andoni Iraola, have been downplayed by a number of outlets over recent weeks, with the Spaniard looking set to remain at the Vitality Stadium.

It has since been suggested by a few sources that Tottenham are expected to turn their attention to Marco Silva, and according to Football Insider, Silva is very much open to taking the Spurs job.

Multiple publications have also claimed over recent weeks that the Tottenham hierarchy are big admirers of Oliver Glasner, whose future at Selhurst Park is thought to be in doubt.

Potential boost for Spurs in Oliver Glasner and Marco Silva pursuits
It has now been revealed by Sky Sports Germany that, amidst Tottenham's interest in Silva and Glasner, the Cottagers and the Eagles are both making contingency plans.

Both clubs fear that their managers may want a change of scenery this summer, and they have thus already started doing groundwork on potential replacements.

The report says that Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl is someone who appeals to both Fulham and Palace, especially since the German's contract is thought to contain a modest release clause.

What Marco Silva has said about his future
Amidst all the speculation linking him with Tottenham Hotspur, the Fulham boss had a chance to put an end to those rumours a couple of weeks ago and commit his future to Fulham.

However, Silva simply insisted that he is focused on having a strong end to the season with Fulham, refusing to rule out a departure from Craven Cottage.

It seems like the Portuguese coach is keeping his options open heading into the summer, which could see a managerial merry-go-round across the Premier League.



https://www.spurs-web.com/spurs-news/tottenham-receive-positive-sign-from-fulham-and-crystal-palace-about-summer-plans/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham make move to sign 28 y/o midfielder who could be available for £0
Fulham have now made a move to sign a 28-year-old La Liga midfielder when his contract expires this summer, according to a recent report.

Fulham plan for summer amid Marco Silva uncertainty
Given how well the Cottagers have done in the Premier League this season, it may not be too much of a surprise to see their manager, Marco Silva being linked with a move away. The Portuguese coach, who is reported to have an £8 million release clause in his contract, has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, as they keep their options open over a possible new manager.

It's not just Spurs though, as Saudi side Al Hilal want to appoint Silva as their new manager. They want to appoint a new boss before the Club World Cup and it's even being reported that Silva has already agreed to leave Fulham and move to the Saudi Pro League.

 Therefore, the Cottagers may need to start looking for replacements, and according to Sky Germany, Fulham are interested in appointing Danny Rohl as Silva's successor.

The German is an emerging coach who has done an excellent job in a tricky situation at Sheffield Wednesday and is now on the radar of a few teams in England's top flight and beyond.

Fulham make move to sign 28 y/o midfielder on free transfer
However, the Premier League side will of course hope Silva remains put, and are already working on potential business they would like to conduct under him this summer. According to TEAMtalk, Fulham have made an enquiry to sign midfielder Yvan Neyou, who will leave Leganes at the end of the campaign.

 The report states that Neyou, who has been with the Spanish side on a permanent basis since 2023, will leave at the end of the season when his contract expires, given they look set for relegation. That has alerted several teams who are interested in a possible deal. Fulham have made contact in a bid to understand if he would be interested in a move to Craven Cottage, but they are not alone in the race.

Crystal Palace have also made an enquiry about signing the 28-year-old, but TEAMtalk reports that it is Valencia who are currently leading the way when it comes to signing Neyou. It is claimed that his consistent performances, good defensive awareness and composure on the ball have made him a standout performer for Leganes in what has been a struggle of a season for them.

His arrival might be a priority given Tom Cairney is coming to the end of his contract at Craven Cottage, and Neyou could be seen as a like-for-like replacement for the long-time servant with more time on his side.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-make-move-to-sign-la-liga-midfielder-yvan-neyou-on-free-transfer/

[WhiteJC]

Away Day Guide – Brentford
GETTING TO THE GTECH COMMUNITY STADIUM
BY TRAIN

There are eight train and underground stations close to the GTech Community Stadium and Brentford encourage supporters to utilise the public transport links rather than driving. The nearest station Kew Bridge – which Fulham fans should note isn't step-free – receives trains from Waterloo every 15 minutes. Brentford station, the nearest step-free option, is around 20 minutes walk from the stadium whilst Chiswick station is a little further away.

Gunnersbury station offers both District Line and London Overground connectivity but Fulham fans should be aware that it will not open until an hour after the final whistle and even then queues are likely as access to the small platforms will be restricted on safety grounds. Supporters could also use the nearby Kew Gardens (District Line and London Overground), Chiswick Park (District Line), South Acton (London Overground), Acton Town (District and Piccadilly Lines) and South Ealing (Piccadilly Line) stations before completing their journey by utilising local bus services.

BY BUS
The 237, 267, 65, H91 and the 391 bus routes serve the GTech stadium directly, although supporters are urged to check the availability of these services before commencing their journey by using the TFL website or the TFL Go app.

BY TAXI
Taxi's are available in the area, and Uber is used. There may be a longer wait for a taxi after the match, but anyone with accessibility requirements can contact the club using the contact information on the Stadium Accessibility webpage.

BY CAR
The stadium is located very near the start of the M4 by the Chiswick Flyover and close to the Chiswick Roundabout joining the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205). If coming from the North, the M1 or the M40 will join the North Circular, and if coming from the south or the west the M3 or the M4 are likely to be your best options.

PARKING
FOR BICYCLES

Please check out the Sustaina-bees 'Bike to Brentford' event if you would like to consider cycling to the game. There will be 4 meeting points for fans of both clubs to enjoy a relaxed, leisurely cycle to the game with guides to support along the journey. More information can be found here.

Fans can park and secure their bikes at one of three bike parks organised for matchday.

Bike parks are staffed at all times and include secure storage for items including helmets and e-bike batteries. Please remember to bring your own bike lock.

Park at one of these locations on matchday:

    North, Kew Bridge Distribution Centre, Unit 1 Lionel Road South, Brentford TW8 9QR
    South, Chiswick Roundabout Gunnersbury, London W4 4AB (includes additional capacity for Lime bike parking)
    Northwest bike racks, Gtech Community Stadium, Lionel Road South, Brentford TW8 0RU

All parks are open two hours before kick-off and close two hours after full-time. A photo of the rider and stored items will be taken on arrival and checked on exit.

FOR CARS
You should be aware that controlled parking zones will be in operation in residential streets near the stadium so you should not plan to park on nearby streets. Please do consider our local neighbours and avoid parking in residential streets.

Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expanded across all London boroughs on 29 August 2023. You can check the roads that are inside the ULEZ zone and whether your vehicle meets the emission standards here. (Vehicles that don't meet emission standards will be charged £12.50 per day to drive inside the expanded ULEZ area and fines are charged for those that do not pay this tariff).

Our car parking partner Event Support Team (EST) is operatinga number of matchday car parks on our behalf. These must be pre-booked and are available to book via the website below. Book parking here.

ENJOYING THE AREA
AWAY-FRIENDLY PUBS

The designated away pub is The Gunnersbury on the Chiswick High Road (590 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, W4 5RP), where Fulham fans are assured of a warm welcome from landlord Scott. It serves a wide selection of ales, beers and wines as well as having an extensive food menu and live sport on television screens. The pub, which is family and dog family, can get quite busy on matchdays so supporters seeking a table are advised to book in advance on [email protected]

Other away-fan friendly venues include The Pilot (56 Wellesley Road, Chiswick, W4 4BZ) – also near to Gunnersbury station – and The Cricketers (79 Kew Green, Richmond, TW9 3AH), The Greyhound (82 Kew Green, Richmond, TW9 3AP), The Coach and Horses (8 Kew Green, Richmond, TW9 3BH) and The Botanist (3-5 Kew Green, Richmond, TW9 3AA), which are closer to Kew Green.

FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS
There are many cafes and restaurants near to the Gtech Stadium on the Kew Bridge side. Coming from the West side, recommendations are:

The Coffee Traveller – 58 Thames Road, Chiswick, W4 3RE

Strand Cafe – 109, Strand-on-the-Green, W4 3NQ

OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
Brentford Steam Museum

Kew Green & Kew Botanical Gardens

GUIDES FOR YOUR DAY
Official Away Day Guide

Level Playing Field – accessibility guide to the GTech

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Cashless? – Yes, the GTech is a totally cash-free stadium, please have a contactless way to pay for use inside.

Under 5s in the stadium – Under 5s are allowed in the stadium, with the production of a matchday ticket, regardless of age. Any child under the age of 14 must attend accompanied by an adult. Any questions with regards to bringing children, get in touch with the Supporter Services team to learn more: [email protected].



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2025/05/away-day-guide-brentford/

[WhiteJC]

Moyes axes Idrissa Gueye, exit-linked ace starts – Everton predicted XI v Fulham
David Moyes could make three changes to his Everton starting 11 for their Premier League encounter with Fulham.

With little left to play for, much of Everton's focus will have already turned to planning for the summer transfer window, though they will remain keen to end the season on a high.

After the disappointment of a 2-2 draw against now-relegated Ipswich Town, the Toffees will be hoping to bounce back with a win against Fulham.

With that in mind, Moyes could make three changes to his side, one of which could see Jack Harrison given a chance to showcase his worth before his summer exit.

Everton looking to bounce back from three-game winless run
After a bright start to life under Moyes, things have slowed down for the Toffees, who have won just one of their last 10.

Despite there no longer being any fears of relegation, Everton still need to get back to winning ways, and three changes made against Fulham could be what they need to achieve it.

Jordan Pickford will start in goal, with one change expected in front of him after the two goals conceded against the Tractor Boys.

Jake O'Brien could drop out of the 11, allowing Michael Keane to return alongside Jarrad Branthwaite in the heart of defence, with Nathan Patterson and Vitalii Mykolenko occupying the two full-back roles.

James Garner may keep his place, with senior midfielder Idrissa Gueye dropping out in favour of a return for Tim Iroegbunam in midfield.



Dwight McNeil to make way for Harrison
Harrison's future at Everton remains up in the air, and Moyes may look to start him in a bid to get one final look at him before deciding on whether they pursue a permanent deal.

Dwight McNeil would be the one to make way for him, with Iliman Ndiaye and Carlos Alcaraz making up the rest of the attacking midfield.

Everton's exit-linked Beto is likely to lead the line once again, having netted last time out at Goodison Park.



https://www.goodisonnews.com/2025/05/08/harrison-given-chance-at-redemption-three-changes-everton-predicted-xi-v-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

How Marco Silva's super subs put Fulham on the brink of Europe
Fulham substitutes have scored 15 goals this season - the highest such figure in the Premier League

There was an unfortunate mix-up during Fulham's recent defeat to Bournemouth that may have painted a misleading picture of Marco Silva's aptitude at substitutions.

With a little over half an hour to play and Fulham chasing a goal against their rivals for European qualification, Silva readied Tom Cairney, Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez to come on.

Yet when the fourth official's board went up and the players left the field, confusion spread across Silva's face. He looked at Ryan Sessegnon, heading for the dugout, and wondered why he wasn't Sasa Lukic. The Serbian midfielder was supposed to be coming off.

Silva protested and tried to have the error corrected, but referee Michael Oliver refused. Later, the Fulham head coach blamed a "lack of communication" between his staff and the fourth official. It was an embarrassing mess, especially in such an important game.

A rare slip-up
And yet Silva has, in fact, been the most influential at making substitutions in the Premier League this season. The 15 goals that his subs have scored – almost one every other game – is a higher total than any other English top-flight team over that period. Add in substitute assists and a total of 21 goal involvements is matched only by Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola.

It is perhaps no coincidence that two of this season's overperforming sides, plucky outsiders vying for Europe, are coached by men who have best used their substitutes' bench, at least in an attacking sense.

Substitutions have become an increasing area of focus in football. A role that has long been undesired – its occupants there to plug injuries or waste time in those soul-destroying last few seconds on the pitch to wind down the clock – is becoming a potent, multifunctional weapon as a new philosophy emerges that can change the mindset of the group sat in the dugout twiddling their thumbs.

This has evolved in part due to increasing permitted changes to five subs in Premier League matches in 2022, adding a new dynamic. Credit, also, is due to the influence of other sports. In America, where substitutes can be made limitlessly in, for example, the NBA and NFL, the role of a substitute is in an entirely different realm.

On these shores, Eddie Jones altered perspectives when he popularised the term "finishers" while in charge of the England rugby union team, referring to players coming on and finishing off the opposition, shifting towards an approach that utilised the whole 23-man squad, rather than a narrower focus on the starting line-up.

Its permeation into football can be seen in Gareth Southgate adopting the thinking and terminology around subs to great success with England.

Mikel Arteta, who is in a high-performance WhatsApp group with Jones, embraced the idea at Arsenal and adjusted the phraseology to "impacters" after consultation with his analysts, before discussing the ethos in team meetings.

The idea is to change the way that substitutes see themselves: that they are not demoted benchwarmers, but gamechangers, difference-makers, point-plunderers. And they need to be ready.

Fulham on course for record-breaking campaign
Silva has excelled in this area this season.

The Portuguese has leaned heavily into his subs – using 164 across 35 matches, all five in the majority of Premier League games this season (4.7 per match, if you prefer to be more accurate). Only Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler has used more in that time.

His main "finisher" is centre-forward Rodrigo Muniz. The Brazilian has scored six goals from the bench this term, including crucial goals in wins over Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur. Another secured a draw against champions Liverpool.

Harry Wilson has also had a big impact as a sub. Against Brentford in November, the Welshman came on in the 82nd minute and scored twice in second-half stoppage time to earn Fulham a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory. He scored a minute after coming on in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace the following game. And in another defeat-to-win turnaround, he equalised after entering the field in the 67th minute against Chelsea in the Boxing Day game in which Muniz struck a late winner.

Hard to quantify precisely, but it all adds points to the pot. And Fulham are three points away from a club-record Premier League total.

Silva has drawn some criticism from Fulham fans for his changes. But look closely and there are traces of his substitute work all over the results.

They scored the winning goal against Leicester City in August a minute after the first subs were introduced. Cairney scored the equaliser in a draw against Tottenham in December five minutes after coming on (although he was subsequently sent off).

With Fulham trailing at half-time against Southampton last month, Silva hauled off Andreas Pereira and Sander Berge for Traore and Lukic, and they won 2-1. Emile Smith Rowe scored the first goal of the comeback in the 72nd minute, six minutes after coming on.

Silva has never been afraid to make a statement with his bench, last season ordering a brutal triple substitution in the 33rd minute of a game against Nottingham Forest that Martin Keown, on co-commentary duties for TNT Sports, described as a "public embarrassment".

The head coach uses subs freely and deliberately. His average first change in the league this season has been in the 64th minute – long enough to let his first choice have a decent go, but, equally, time enough for the finishers to make an impact, or impacters to find a finish, depending on which way you look at it.

He has frequently turned to the age-old tactic of making late substitutions: 30 per cent of his subs have come in the final 10 minutes of normal time and the ensuing stoppage time.

And, it should be said, not all his substitutions have worked. Beto scored for Everton in October to level the game in the 94th minute, after Silva had hooked Jimenez and Alex Iwobi two minutes earlier. Four subs in the space of six minutes, from minute 78 to minute 84, came either side of a Chelsea equaliser last month, with the Blues ultimately earning a 2-1 comeback win in stoppage time. But the hits outweigh the misses.

Differing substitution fortunes
Much can be gleaned from a manager's ability at substitutions.

Arteta's "impacters" have made a difference – joint third for direct goals in the Premier League this season, with 11, alongside Unai Emery's Aston Villa.

Ruben Amorim, meanwhile, has had very little attacking impact with his changes. In his 24 games and 100 substitutes at Manchester United, only one has scored directly, and only four have been involved in goals.

It is the same number of involvements that Erik ten Hag's changes had in only nine league games this term. And the same number as Russell Martin, in 16 games, and Ivan Juric, in 14 – two managers sacked on the way to leading Southampton to relegation.

It is, of course, not all about substitutes scoring directly. Eddie Howe's substitutions have only resulted in three goals scored – and five assists – but Newcastle United have the third-highest points tally from losing positions in the Premier League this season.



https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-marco-silva-super-subs-3682444?ITO=newsnow

[WhiteJC]

Marco Silva: Fulham head coach happy at Premier League club amid Al Hilal interest
Marco Silva rejected a £40m two-year deal from Al Ahli in July 2023; The 47-year-old is in his fourth season at Fulham after winning the Championship title; Silva has led the club to comfortable mid-table finishes in the Premier League; Al Hilal sacked head coach Jorge Jesus

Marco Silva is totally focused on Fulham and the Premier League despite interest from Al Hilal.

The Saudi Pro League champions sacked their head coach Jorge Jesus last week and they are looking for a replacement to lead them at the Club World Cup in the United States next month.

Silva is one of the names on Al Hilal's shortlist to take over but he is happy and settled in England. He is one of the favourites to become the Tottenham head coach if they decide to replace Ange Postecoglou.

Jesus left after Al Hilal lost to SPL rivals Al Ahli at the semi-final stage of the Asian Champions League.

Silva turned down a £40m two-year deal to manage Jeddah-based Al Ahli in July 2023.

The 47-year-old won the Championship title with Fulham in his first season in 2022 and then led them to 10th place in the Premier League.

Last season they finished 13th and currently they are 11th, aiming to qualify for Europe and set a new club-record points total in the top flight.

Silva has one year remaining on his Fulham contract after signing an extension in October 2023.

'We want Marco to stay at Fulham forever'
Fulham owner Tony Khan said last month that he wants Silva to stay at the club "forever".

"Marco is a huge, huge asset to Fulham Football Club," he told BBC Radio London. "He is such an amazing person and he is so important to the football club.

"Marco has a great relationship with my father and myself, and we really love Marco and we want him to stay at Fulham Football Club forever.

"He is a huge part of what we have got going for the future and the present and he is a great man."

Silva has managed 181 Fulham matches, winning 83, drawing 35 and losing 63.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/30778/13363714/marco-silva-fulham-head-coach-happy-at-premier-league-club-amid-al-hilal-interest

[WhiteJC]

Preview: Fulham vs. Everton - prediction, team news, lineups
Faltering Fulham welcome Everton to Craven Cottage in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon in an important encounter for the home side's hopes of finishing in the top eight.

Marco Silva comes up against his former club desperately needing a win to keep the Cottagers' fading European hopes alive, while Everton's season is fizzling out after ensuring their top-flight survival.

Match preview
Form has evaded Fulham at the worst possible time, as a return to European football for the first time in 13 years is slipping out of their grasp.

A 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa last weekend was a third defeat in four games, and the six losses they have suffered across their previous 10 matches in the Premier League is the same number they fell to in the opening 25 games of the campaign.

Youri Tielemans's straightforward header from a set piece was the all-important moment at Villa Park, on an afternoon where Fulham offered limited threat, so they will need to respond here on home soil.

The Cottagers' recent struggles are illustrated by the fact they find themselves in the bottom half now, but eighth place is still only two points away, so a win paired with dropped points from Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford this weekend could put Silva's side back in the driving seat.

Fulham's recent record against Everton gives hope, because they are unbeaten in seven games against the Toffees, but the last three have all ended in draws, after Beto's injury-time leveller in the reverse fixture at Goodison Park.

Draws are rare for Fulham, who have not ended a match level in any of their last 15 games, whereas seven of Everton's last 12 matches have seen the spoils shared.

While form at home versus Fulham has fallen off a cliff in recent years, Everton have actually improved at Craven Cottage, because after losing on each of their first seven Premier League visits here, they have since only suffered defeat twice in their last 10.

With nothing left but pride to play for though, Everton could be accused of having their feet up already, and fumbling a 2-0 lead at home to already-relegated Ipswich Town last weekend proves that.

Everton have become the first team in over a decade in the Premier League to lead by two or more goals on four separate occasions, but fail to win, as Ipswich joined Bournemouth, Villa and Manchester United in completing unlikely comebacks against them.

While there is now just one game remaining at Goodison Park, it has not been a fortress by any means in recent months, with Everton failing to win any of their last six matches at home - their longest run at the venue since 2009.

Being away from home could provide the chance to play with less pressure, as they enjoyed in their 1-0 win away to Nottingham Forest last month, and remarkably, given their struggles on the road in recent years, Everton have actually averaged more points away (1.57) than they have at home (1.38) since David Moyes took charge.

The visitors are not great in London though, as defeat to Chelsea two weeks ago means they have won just one of their last 10 games in the capital, scoring a mere five goals in the process.

Fulham Premier League form:

    L    W    L    L    W    L

Everton Premier League form:

    L    D    W    L    L    D

Team News
Andreas Pereira could be back in the Fulham squad after he missed the trip to Villa Park with a knock last weekend, while Harrison Reed is less likely to be involved due to a calf strain.

Timothy Castagne and Reiss Nelson will not feature again this season, while Rodrigo Muniz is also a huge doubt to feature before the final day, as the Brazilian is currently recovering from an Achilles injury.

There should be two ex-Everton players in the Fulham side, as well as an ex-manager in the dugout, as Alex Iwobi and left-back Antonee Robinson will be central to any success the hosts can expect to enjoy in this clash.

For the visitors, Moyes could be tempted to give Dominic Calvert-Lewin his first Everton start since January, but he made little impact when replacing Beto, who scored the opener, a week ago against Ipswich.

Making his first start in four months, Dwight McNeil racked up his 100th appearance for Everton in that 2-2 draw, marking the occasion with a goal, which was his first since suffering that serious knee injury back in December.

On the injury list, Abdoulaye Doucoure missed the clash with the Tractor Boys due to a personal issue, so should return, but James Tarkowski, Jesper Lindstrom and Orel Mangala will not feature again this season.

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Berge; Smith Rowe, Andreas Pereira, Iwobi; Jimenez

Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Young, O'Brien, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; McNeil, Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Beto

We say: Fulham 1-1 Everton
Fulham are infrequently involved in draws, but that does not seem to matter when Everton are around, who have ended level in a whopping 15 games this season.

Both teams are struggling for form at present, and that could show here, despite the fact there is a lot riding on the game for the hosts.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/preview/preview-fulham-vs-everton-prediction-team-news-lineups_572125.html

[WhiteJC]

Fulham lineup vs. Everton: Predicted XI for Saturday's must-win Premier League encounter
Fulham will hope to have Andreas Pereira back from a brief injury for the visit of Everton to Craven Cottage in the Premier League on Saturday.

Pereira was missing when Fulham lost 1-0 away to Aston Villa last weekend, in a performance that saw Marco Silva's side offer very little threat in the attacking third.

Having a prolific chance creator in the XI could help Raul Jimenez to break his recent scoring duck, with the Mexican now eight games without a goal, but he does have a good record against Everton, finding the net five times in nine career appearances.

It will be Jimenez in attack, with Rodrigo Muniz set to miss the rest of the season with an Achilles injury, joining Reiss Nelson and Timothy Castagne on the sidelines for the next few weeks.

There are still doubts around Harrison Reed's fitness, as the midfielder is currently doubtful due to a calf strain, but it is unlikely he would have featured ahead of both Sasa Lukic and Sander Berge in the engine room.

Most of Fulham's play is likely going to come through the two ex-Everton players in their lineup, as Alex Iwobi has two goals and two assists in his last five games, and also netted on his return to Goodison, against the club he made 140 appearances for, when the sides met in October.

Left-back Antonee Robinson still ranks higher than any other defender for assists in the Premier League this season, registering 10 in 34 appearances so far, and he started his career at Everton, before dropping down the divisions and working his way back up.

Robinson returned from a minor injury to start in the defeat at Villa Park last weekend, and that saw Ryan Sessegnon move from left-back to right-wing, but the 24-year-old struggled to make much of an impact before being replaced on 57 minutes, so Emile Smith Rowe or Adama Traore could be in the frame to replace him here.

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Berge; Smith Rowe, Andreas Pereira, Iwobi; Jimenez



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/predicted-lineups/two-ex-toffees-to-start-in-familiar-xi-predicted-fulham-lineup-vs-everton_572126.html

[WhiteJC]

Fulham vs. Everton: Head-to-head record and past meetings
A very common fixture in the Premier League during the 21st century, Fulham and Everton will lock horns once again at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.

Both clubs enjoyed their Premier League heyday during the 2000s, and have fallen off the boil quite significantly since, but there have been no fears of relegation for either side this season.

Fulham will still have ambitions of Europe, but a win will be necessary if they are to keep those hopes alive, and Everton could be favourable opponents, given their strong recent record against the Toffees.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between the two sides.

Head-to-head record
Previous meetings: 71
Fulham wins: 24
Draws: 16
Everton wins: 31

Apart from two seasons in the early 1950s when both were in Division Two, Fulham versus Everton has strictly been a top-flight affair, after their first two meetings came in the FA Cup in 1926 and 1948, where Fulham won both in replays.

It took Everton seven matches to record their first win over the Cottagers, winning 5-1 in West London in 1950, and they went on to enjoy a very dominant record over them for the following couple of decades.

Everton contributed to Fulham's relegation from Division One in 1968, as a 5-1 thrashing at Goodison Park in the May of that season was one of the final nails in their coffin during a campaign that saw them finish bottom.

Fulham would not return to the top flight until 2001, but they have become part of the furniture since, featuring in 17 of the subsequent 23 Premier League seasons.

The Toffees were initially welcome visitors to the Cottage, because they were beaten on their first seven PL trips to West London, before a win in 2009, but after that, the tables have turned, with Everton losing just two of the following 10.

This is a fixture that became quite notorious among both sets of supporters though, given how poor Fulham's record was at Goodison Park, because the Cottagers failed to win any of their first 27 league visits - losing 22 in a row between 1961 and 2018.

In a quite astonishing turn of events though, Fulham have not lost since, and even won three in a row after returning to the top flight in 2020-21, before drawing 1-1 in October 2024, only being denied a fourth straight success thanks to Beto's injury-time strike.

Fulham have often had the upper hand in cup competitions too, with only one of the seven ties between the sides going against them - during the 2011-12 FA Cup.

Everton were one kick away from reaching the EFL Cup semi-finals in 2023, which would have ended a seven-year wait to reach that stage of any competition, as they led 4-3 on spot kicks heading into the fifth round of takers, but Amadou Onana's woeful penalty kept Fulham alive in the shootout, before the visitors went on to win, as Idrissa Gueye also failed from 12 yards.

Last 20 meetings

Oct 26, 2024: Everton 1-1 Fulham (Premier League)
Jan 30, 2024: Fulham 0-0 Everton (Premier League)
Dec 19, 2023: Everton 1-1p Fulham (EFL Cup Quarter-Finals)
Aug 12, 2023: Everton 0-1 Fulham (Premier League)
Apr 15, 2023: Everton 1-3 Fulham (Premier League)
Oct 29, 2022: Fulham 0-0 Everton (Premier League)
Feb 14, 2021: Everton 0-2 Fulham (Premier League)
Nov 22, 2020: Fulham 2-3 Everton (Premier League)
Apr 13, 2019: Fulham 2-0 Everton (Premier League)
Sep 29, 2018: Everton 3-0 Fulham (Premier League)
Mar 30, 2014: Fulham 1-3 Everton (Premier League)
Dec 14, 2013: Everton 4-1 Fulham (Premier League)
Sep 24, 2013: Fulham 2-1 Everton (League Cup Third Round)
Apr 27, 2013: Everton 1-0 Fulham (Premier League)
Nov 03, 2012: Fulham 2-2 Everton (Premier League)
Apr 28, 2012: Everton 4-0 Fulham (Premier League)
Jan 27, 2012: Everton 2-1 Fulham (FA Cup Fourth Round)
Oct 23, 2011: Fulham 1-3 Everton (Premier League)
Mar 19, 2011: Everton 2-1 Fulham (Premier League)
Sep 25, 2010: Fulham 0-0 Everton (Premier League)

Last 10 Premier League meetings

Oct 26, 2024: Everton 1-1 Fulham (Premier League)
Jan 30, 2024: Fulham 0-0 Everton (Premier League)
Aug 12, 2023: Everton 0-1 Fulham (Premier League)
Apr 15, 2023: Everton 1-3 Fulham (Premier League)
Oct 29, 2022: Fulham 0-0 Everton (Premier League)
Feb 14, 2021: Everton 0-2 Fulham (Premier League)
Nov 22, 2020: Fulham 2-3 Everton (Premier League)
Apr 13, 2019: Fulham 2-0 Everton (Premier League)
Sep 29, 2018: Everton 3-0 Fulham (Premier League)
Mar 30, 2014: Fulham 1-3 Everton (Premier League)



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/head-to-head/fulham-vs-everton-head-to-head-record-and-past-meetings_572131.html

[WhiteJC]

Italian tactician De Zerbi among candidates for Tottenham Hotspur job
According to Sky Sport Italia transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi is among the candidates to be the new Tottenham manager next season, but the favourite is Fulham's Marco Silva.

There are several Italian players in the squad for Spurs this season, above all goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and defender Destiny Udogie.

They could potentially be getting an Italian on the bench too, as Sky Sport Italia pundit Di Marzio suggests that the heir to Ange Postecoglu might be De Zerbi.

De Zerbi tipped for Tottenham task
The former Sassuolo, Benevento and Shakhtar Donetsk boss is currently working at Olympique Marseille, but has been linked with an exit, including a possible return to Italy for Milan or Roma.

It would be a return to the Premier League for De Zerbi, who had taken Brighton and Hove Albion to European qualification.

Tottenham have Italian representation already
While De Zerbi is among the candidates, Di Marzio insists that the favourite for Tottenham Hotspur is Marco Silva, whose current job is at Fulham.

Another alternative is Spaniard Andoni Iraola, who is already in England at AFC Bournemouth.



https://football-italia.net/italian-de-zerbi-among-candidates-tottenham/

[WhiteJC]

Reliable journalist reveals Tottenham 'main target' to replace Ange Postecoglou
Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with multiple managers in recent weeks, and it appears that the Fulham manager, Marco Silva, is the main target.

According to the reliable Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the 47-year-old is the most concrete option for the north London club. They are keeping tabs on Andoni Iraola and Roberto De Zerbi as well. However, Silva is their main target, and it will be interesting to see if they can get the deal done.

Marco Silva would be ideal for Spurs
He has done an impressive job with Fulham in the Premier League this season, and there is no doubt that he could be a quality appointment. Tottenham have had a disappointing season, and they are 16th in the league table.

It is clear that Ange Postecoglou has not been able to deliver the goods, and he is likely to be shown the door in the summer. Tottenham have a talented squad, and they need to bring in a manager who will be able to harness their quality.

Silva has proven himself in the Premier League, and he could be the ideal appointment. The 47-year-old is likely to be tempted to join Tottenham. They have an exciting project, and he might be able to push for trophies with them.

Can Tottenham finish the season strongly?
Meanwhile, Tottenham are fighting for a place in the UEFA Europa League final, and it remains to be seen whether they can win the tournament this season. It is their only way of finishing the season strongly. They have been hugely disappointing in the league, but winning the Europa League would ensure their place in the Champions League next season.

It would be a huge boost financially, and it would also help them attract quality players during the summer transfer window.



https://theboyhotspur.com/marco-silva-tottenham-main-target-replace-ange-postecoglou/

[Bill2]

Villa's rise and Reading's ruin should provide context for our frustrations

There's a lot of rightful frustration around Fulham's performance against Aston Villa, especially the substitutions and the added time, where you could be forgiven for thinking that the Whites were the team in the lead, such was their lack of urgency in getting the ball towards the opposition box.

It was hard to watch, whether at Villa Park or on the TV, because of what it meant – the opportunity to grab a point that would have taken us closer to Europe, which has been tantalisingly within touching distance for so much of this season. So close, and yet so far away.

But watching a host of football on Saturday, it got me thinking about two clubs who we sparred with in our Championship days, and the journeys we've all been on since then. The most obvious was our hosts on the day, who we beat in the Championship Play-off final on that famous, sun-drenched day back in 2018.

Since then, Villa have been on a seemingly perennial upwards trajectory, coming up the following year, surviving by the skin of their teeth, bringing in a world class manager, qualifying for the Conference League, and then going one better to reach the Champions League quarter-finals this season.

It's been meteoric, and it seems surreal to think that two members of that team who lost to us at Wembley seven years ago – John McGinn and Tyrone Mings – were part of the squad at the weekend as well.

But it's a reminder that we can dream, that making the right decisions and building the right squads under the right manager can produce magic that seems sustainable. Villa have lived on the edge a little bit in terms of PSR, and they have the backdrop of a far larger stadium and fanbase; but that shouldn't take away from how smartly they have been put together to achieve their goals.

That may seem a far cry from where Fulham are right now, but take a counterexample in the form of Reading, who on Friday finally saw an end to the saga that has seen them go from being a Championship club fighting for promotion, to one which feared for its very future as a football institution.

Back in 2017, when Reading knocked Fulham out of the play-offs at the Madjeski, as I watched Tom Cairney cajoled and mocked by pitch-invading Reading fans, as I sat on that godforsaken bus back to the station, there was little I disliked more than Reading Football Club. But from being one game from the Premier League, they tumbled into a nightmare that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy.

Unpaid players, relegations, selling off the training ground, dissolving the women's team – it has been one blow after another for the Royals faithful. Through persistent pressure groups, and with a team on the pitch formed of little more than academy graduates and free agents fighting well above their weight, the supporters have taken the fight to their absent ownership and won – and they deserve nothing but love and credit for doing so. A dream turned to a nightmare in just seconds.

I say this not really to invoke pity for Reading, or to suggest that we should be grateful for our lot, but to frame the context that Fulham, Villa and Reading all competed in the same 2017/18 Championship, and now find themselves in very different positions.

Football is transient, and it moves quickly. We should always want to be the very best we can be, and Saturday's frustration is an embodiment of how that doesn't always come to pass. But while Villa's Champions League exploits feel like they're a long way away – they're a lot closer to us than they are to Reading – and while it will definitely sting if we miss out on Europe, we're still on the right path as far as I'm concerned.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2025-05-08-villas-rise-and-readings-ruin-should-provide-context-for-our-frustrations/

A very thoughtful post and to which I can agree with. But, there is always a but, historically Villa have been a successful side with a large trophy cupboard while we and reading are about the same size as my golf one. They have a big fanbase and stadium, so financially should be able to put their club in a better position than either us or Reading. Money talks.

[bencher]

Villa's rise and Reading's ruin should provide context for our frustrations

There's a lot of rightful frustration around Fulham's performance against Aston Villa, especially the substitutions and the added time, where you could be forgiven for thinking that the Whites were the team in the lead, such was their lack of urgency in getting the ball towards the opposition box.

It was hard to watch, whether at Villa Park or on the TV, because of what it meant – the opportunity to grab a point that would have taken us closer to Europe, which has been tantalisingly within touching distance for so much of this season. So close, and yet so far away.

But watching a host of football on Saturday, it got me thinking about two clubs who we sparred with in our Championship days, and the journeys we've all been on since then. The most obvious was our hosts on the day, who we beat in the Championship Play-off final on that famous, sun-drenched day back in 2018.

Since then, Villa have been on a seemingly perennial upwards trajectory, coming up the following year, surviving by the skin of their teeth, bringing in a world class manager, qualifying for the Conference League, and then going one better to reach the Champions League quarter-finals this season.

It's been meteoric, and it seems surreal to think that two members of that team who lost to us at Wembley seven years ago – John McGinn and Tyrone Mings – were part of the squad at the weekend as well.

But it's a reminder that we can dream, that making the right decisions and building the right squads under the right manager can produce magic that seems sustainable. Villa have lived on the edge a little bit in terms of PSR, and they have the backdrop of a far larger stadium and fanbase; but that shouldn't take away from how smartly they have been put together to achieve their goals.

That may seem a far cry from where Fulham are right now, but take a counterexample in the form of Reading, who on Friday finally saw an end to the saga that has seen them go from being a Championship club fighting for promotion, to one which feared for its very future as a football institution.

Back in 2017, when Reading knocked Fulham out of the play-offs at the Madjeski, as I watched Tom Cairney cajoled and mocked by pitch-invading Reading fans, as I sat on that godforsaken bus back to the station, there was little I disliked more than Reading Football Club. But from being one game from the Premier League, they tumbled into a nightmare that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy.

Unpaid players, relegations, selling off the training ground, dissolving the women's team – it has been one blow after another for the Royals faithful. Through persistent pressure groups, and with a team on the pitch formed of little more than academy graduates and free agents fighting well above their weight, the supporters have taken the fight to their absent ownership and won – and they deserve nothing but love and credit for doing so. A dream turned to a nightmare in just seconds.

I say this not really to invoke pity for Reading, or to suggest that we should be grateful for our lot, but to frame the context that Fulham, Villa and Reading all competed in the same 2017/18 Championship, and now find themselves in very different positions.

Football is transient, and it moves quickly. We should always want to be the very best we can be, and Saturday's frustration is an embodiment of how that doesn't always come to pass. But while Villa's Champions League exploits feel like they're a long way away – they're a lot closer to us than they are to Reading – and while it will definitely sting if we miss out on Europe, we're still on the right path as far as I'm concerned.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2025-05-08-villas-rise-and-readings-ruin-should-provide-context-for-our-frustrations/

A very thoughtful post and to which I can agree with. But, there is always a but, historically Villa have been a successful side with a large trophy cupboard while we and reading are about the same size as my golf one. They have a big fanbase and stadium, so financially should be able to put their club in a better position than either us or Reading. Money talks.

With hindsight, it was a mistake allowing so many professional teams in London to form, as it has diluted their fanbase and opportunities. London is one of the biggest and wealthiest cities in Europe, in one of the top 2 football leagues, and yet the dominant football teams have come from Manchester and Liverpool over the past 60 years. The numbers matter, because the so called big clubs all started as amateur teams. They became big because they had a mixture of local talent (affected by the size of the talent pool around the club), wealthy owners that paid for better players, and had sustained periods of success, cementing their reputations as big clubs. Other than Arsenal in the 1930s, no London club has reached that level, and I surmise that the level of competition between London clubs, plus possibly the opportunities in London to succeed financially without relying on sporting talent (in the past), have weakened each of them to the benefit of clubs in the north west. It is somewhat surprising that no Birmingham club has become a successful big club to date, so perhaps that puts a dent in my theory. The bottom line, is that Fulham should have as much chance to compete with Villa, Man Utd, Liverpool as any other big team, but local competition has got in the way.

[The Cravenette]

Regarding the Brentford travel. Not only are the trains to Kew Bridge less frequent on a Sunday, when we play, but it's a bus replacement service!