Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 10/09/25...

[WhiteJC]

Fulham in transfer tussle to sign Enzo Boyomo
Fulham will reportedly aim to sign 23-year-old Cameroonian international Enzo Boyomo from La Liga club CA Osasuna next year.

According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Enzo Boyomo is the subject of interest of Fulham. The Cottagers are keen on reinforcing their defensive unit by signing a centre-back in one of the two transfer windows next year. So, the 23-year-old CA Osasuna defender has emerged as a target for the West London club.

Fulham will face stiff competition from fellow Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers for the Toulouse-born defender's signature, while Juventus recently failed with an offer of around €15 million to secure his services. Meanwhile, CA Osasuna will point to the release clause worth €25 million in Boyomo's contract to part ways with him.

Enzo Boyomo and his soaring stock
Enzo Boyomo has established himself as one of the most underrated defenders in La Liga since joining CA Osasuna from Real Valladolid last summer. A native of Toulouse, the 23-year-old spent most of his formative years in his hometown before graduating from the youth division at Blackburn Rovers. However, he has risen in prominence since moving to Spain a few years ago.

The Cameroonian international has made nearly 50 appearances thus far for CA Osasuna while chipping in with two goals. Meanwhile, Boyomo's progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs. A return to England may be on the cards, with Fulham among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.

London calling?
Fulham's interest in Enzo Boyomo is understandable. While Joachim Andersen and Calvin Bassey have been exceptional for the West London outfit, Issa Diop and Jorge Cuenca have yet to be convincing enough in their outings at the heart of the defence. So, Fulham can do with a new centre-back, particularly if either defender leaves next year.

Boyomo has thus emerged as a viable target for Fulham. However, the West London outfit will face stiff competition from Wolverhampton Wanderers for the French-born defender's signature next year. Additionally, Juventus recently failed with a bid worth €15 million, with CA Osasuna demanding €25 million to part ways with him.

Boyomo has a release clause worth €25 million in his contract with Osasuna, and Los Rojillos will not let him leave for less than that sum. The 23-year-old Cameroonian international was also a target for other Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window, and it will be interesting to see if Fulham can win the battle for his signature.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2025/09/08/fulham-in-transfer-tussle-to-sign-enzo-boyomo/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham favourite becomes top earner in Brazilian club – Willian deal revealed
Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte have revealed the financial details behind Willian's move to Grêmio, with the former Fulham midfielder becoming one of the club's highest earners.

According to the report, Willian will earn around £215,000 per month (R$1.4m), in addition to signing-on fees and performance-related bonuses. That puts him on top of other big earners in the Porto Alegre side, such as former Barcelona players Arthur and Martin Braithwaite.

The 37-year-old, who has not played since 10 May, has signed a contract until the end of 2026, with an option for a further year depending on performance.

It is also pointed out that Grêmio will not be footing the entire bill alone. One of the club's betting sponsors will contribute towards his wages and financial package, helping to secure the arrival of the experienced playmaker.

Despite interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia and Europe, Willian opted for the Porto Alegre side, encouraged by the support he received from fans online and reassured by conversations with presidential candidate Marcelo Marques, who outlined future plans.

As we previously covered, the winger now reunites with Carlos Vinícius, another former Fulham man, as Grêmio hope the pair can make a difference in the second half of the season.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-favourite-becomes-top-earner-in-brazilian-club-willian-deal-revealed/

[WhiteJC]

PGMOL told to reinstate ref punishment system after Chelsea vs Fulham controversy
PGMOL must bring back meaningful punishments for referees after Rob Jones' mistake in Chelsea versus Fulham, according to Keith Hackett.

The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that there should be a risk of referees losing bonuses or status if they are to make costly errors in the Premier League.

Many believe that Rob Jones should be suspended by Howard Webb after disallowing Joshua King's goal at Stamford Bridge before the international break, having taken Michael Salisbury off VAR for Liverpool versus Arsenal.

Antonee Robinson was fuming after PGMOL apologised to the Cottagers, with his side eventually losing 2-0 after seeing their lead scrapped thanks to a VAR review.

PGMOL apology not enough after Fulham's disallowed goal vs Chelsea
This article contains exclusive comments from ex-PGMOL chief, FIFA official and former professional referee Keith Hackett.

Jones has yet to face punishment ahead of the next round of Premier League fixtures, but the likelihood is that the referee will be taken off all duties following his mistake at Stamford Bridge.

With several mistakes being made during the 2025/26 campaign so far, though, fans are asking for more to be done to combat this, much like when players are given match bans and fines for controversial incidents.

Keith Hackett calls for a league system to be implemented for referees
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider about potential punishments, the former referee said: "I'm very clear that, with key match incidents (KMI), and for an elite referee, they need to get all KMIs correct in a game – free-kicks, dismissals, etc.

"Where there is a KMI, and it's wrong, in my era, they could not have a mark greater than 59 out of 100. They couldn't win those points back, so it was a real penalty.

"That might have impacted their position on the league table of 20 referees, and where they finished on that table would affect any bonuses they might earn. These are paid employees, so therefore, it's not just the sanction that matters, but also the operational advice. Give them the appropriate advice.

"If you're at the bottom of that league table, you're at risk of being demoted. That's how it used to operate, but that hasn't been carried on.

"If you're a centre-forward in a football match and you're not scoring, you're not getting selected for the team next week. There needs to be an agreed level of accountability. Referees are like players – they go off form."



https://www.footballinsider247.com/pgmol-told-to-reinstate-ref-punishment-system-after-chelsea-vs-fulham-controversy/

[WhiteJC]

Does Tom Cairney deserve a statue at Craven Cottage?
After his feature-length documentary, TC10, debate around whether our captain should be immortalised has been reignited.

"Build the statue" is a phrase that's been integrated into the modern football lexicon in recent years, alongside "we go again" and "one of our own".

And it's a phrase that's increasingly used among Fulham fans for Tom Cairney. However, as that campaign begins to gather more steam (fuelled by newfound FFC ITK Francis on X), opposition appears to be rising, too. Not everyone thinks TC is worthy of joining Johnny Haynes and George Cohen in being immortalised at Craven Cottage.

Reasons for
I've never hid the fact that I'm fiercely pro-TC and staunchly pro-statue. And, if I'm honest, I'm yet to see a strong enough reason to oppose it.

It's not just his tenure; while Tom sits in the top 10 in terms of years spent in SW6, there are others above him, including Haynes and Cohen, along with Bobby Robson, all-time tops scorer Gordon Davies, and more.

For me, the main reason for is the impact he has made, and the moments he has been there for, in one of the most significant decade-long periods of change we have had as a football club.

Three promotions - two of which were secured at Wembley. And, lest we forget, he scored the winner in the first one!

That moment alone, for me, is worthy of building a statue. Our first Wembley win. The White Wall. A perfect day for so many of us. A major trophy is the culmination of half-a-dozen high-stakes games. Our play-off final win was the crescendo to 40 - not to mention the four years of rebuilding before that. What is harder to achieve?

Sure, there are the two relegations, but that is where his legend grows. We won and lost together. You can see the pain in the failures, like dropping down to the Championship and that play-off semi-final defeat against Reading. TC is Fulham, like all of us. And we know it's not all sunshine and rainbows.

It's that context that solidifies Tom's position. Long-term relationships like TC and Fulham don't occur often in the modern game. And they're unlikely to again. Just look at players like Alexander Isak; not even top-level success is enough to relieve player's itchy feet nowadays.

Reasons against
I've seen a few arguments against, and while I don't necessarily agree with them, I'll list them here.

Haynes captained his country and Cohen won the World Cup, while Cairney has made just two appearances for Scotland.

Sure - but Haynes and Cohen don't have statues outside Wembley and no one is asking for a TC statue at Hampden Park. This is about a player's contribution to their football club, not to their country.

TC's been injured a lot and hasn't been as crucial a player in the last three or four years.

In his 10 full seasons at the club, there are only three in which Cairney appeared fewer than 30 times - his injury-hit 2020/21 campaign (10), the following Championship-winning year (26), and finally last term (25). And, 20/21 aside, he had an impact in the other two - bagging our 100th goal against Luton in 2022, earning us a point against Spurs last term, and who could forget that goal at the Gtech?

TC's never been about sustained periods of dominance, he's been about moments. And, as the man himself puts it in TC10, that's what football is all about.

Perhaps the biggest stick to beat TC with is that he's not helped us win a major trophy. Spoiler alert: neither has anyone else. So, do we take the two statues we have down? A club our size doesn't judge impact by major trophies. We can't - we operate on a level below that. At least for now.

I think, deep down, we're all still scarred a little bit from the Michael Jackson statue. But, hey - we lived through it.

The most compelling argument I've seen against this is not even necessarily against it: it's that statues should be built when the player's career is over. I get that - and probably agree with it.

But ultimately, I think it'll happen. Not least because I think it's telling that the club allowing players like Ryan Sessegnon say it on TC10 and bring it into the public discourse.

For now, though, Cairney has one final season to end the debate for good - and that mission continues against Cambridge United this month.

If he - and we - succeed, then we really will "build the statue".



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/does-tom-cairney-deserve-a-statue

[WhiteJC]

Additional 1,000 Fulham tickets released for sale
Cambridge United have received a further allocation of 1,000 tickets for the Round Three Carabao Cup trip to Craven Cottage, taking the away following to just short of 5,000...

Approx 4000 tickets have been sold so far, with the tie taking place on Tuesday 23rd September, 7:45pm kick-off.

Ticket Prices:

    Adults – £20
    Concessions (Young Adults 18–21, Over 65s) – £15
    Juniors (Under 18s) – £1

Tickets are now on General Sale to anyone with an active ticketing account.

How to Buy:

    Online at cufctickets.com
    By phone on 01223 566500 (option 1)
    In person at the Cledara Abbey Stadium Club Shop during usual opening hours

Please note, due to this fixture, our Vertu Trophy match against Brighton & Hove Albion U21s has been postponed, with a rearranged date to be confirmed in due course.

For further information or assistance, please email [email protected], call 01223 566500 or tweet @cufc_to.



https://www.cambridgeunited.com/news/additional-1000-fulham-tickets-released-sale

[WhiteJC]

Fulham perform complete U-turn on Harry Wilson transfer – Farke and Leeds will be raging
Leeds United have learned that Fulham are ready to negotiate the sale of Harry Wilson in January if one stipulation is met – and the update is sure to cause confusion and frustration at Elland Road after the Whites missed out on the deadline day signing of the Wales forward.

Daniel Farke's side made 10 signings this summer, giving their goalkeeping, defensive and midfield positions a fresh look and stronger depth heading into the new season. But while Leeds United also made three signings in attack, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor joining Lukas Nmecha, there are serious concerns that the club do not offer enough of a threat going forwards.

That has certainly proved the case over their three Premier League outings so far, where just one goal – a penalty – has been scored.

Frustratingly for Leeds, they did try and add more craft and cunning to their forward line in the closing days of the window, but ultimately saw efforts to sign both Facundo Buonanotte and Wilson fall short – and the real reasons why a move for the 63-times capped Wales international failed came to light soon after deadline day.

However, it has now come to light that Fulham are open to the sale of Wilson after all – and his exit looks increasingly likely to be sanctioned in the January window in light of two developments at Craven Cottage.

Per the Mirror, the Cottagers have made it clear to suitors that Wilson can leave in the winter window if he does not sign a new deal. And with his current arrangement due to expire at the end of the season, the London side are keen to ensure they don't miss out on collecting a fee for the 28-year-old.

Furthermore, with Marco Silva's side bringing in two wingers themselves on deadline day in Kevin and Samuel Chukwueze, Wilson looks to have been squeezed out of the first-team picture at Craven Cottage, making their decision to pull the plug on his sale to Leeds on deadline day all the more baffling.

Harry Wilson to Leeds: foul play in action and what the experts are saying
Why Fulham did not sell Wilson to Leeds on deadline day continues to frustrate those in power at Elland Road.

In the days leading up to the transfer deadline, the Cottagers informed Leeds of the conditions needed to secure his signing after seeing a loan offer rejected.

Having then met those conditions and submitted a deal sheet to the Premier League, Fulham pulled the plug on the deal. A plane to take Wilson north to Leeds from Cardiff, where Wales were preparing for their latest World Cup qualifiers, also had to be cancelled.

At the Leeds end, there was enormous frustration at seeing Fulham cancel the deal at the 11th hour, amid suggestions foul play was at work and that the London side had led the Whites on a merry dance. Knowing they could weaken an opponent, who could very feasibly find themselves in the relegation mix this season, is one theory behind the ploy.

Either way, Leeds could well reactivate their interest in signing the winger in January and TEAMtalk understands that plans to strengthen the squad in the winter window very much remain a possibility and despite managing director Robbie Evans' claims the club will not be active.

Discussing what went down on deadline day, the Yorkshire Evening Post's Leeds United writer Graham Smyth commented: "Leeds felt there was one vacancy to fill, a right-wing 10 blend who could take set pieces, the tricky kind of incisive passer with a bit of magic, perhaps, something a bit different. That's what they felt they wanted. And when Buonanotte didn't happen, because it ran into the Chelsea difficulties, then they switched their attention to Harry Wilson.

"Now, over the weekend, they were led to believe that Harry Wilson had been told, you can get a move if certain conditions are met. Leeds feel like they more than met those conditions. And Fulham were obviously doing their own bit of business.

"I think they spent nearly €90m, didn't they, on wingers, on deadline day, which is probably why they were considering letting Wilson out. But for some reason, where Leeds say they were given encouragement to sign a deal sheet and get an extra two hours to get it done, Fulham decided they were not going to sell Harry Wilson and Leeds were left after the deadline without filling that spot. And then the meltdown ensued."

Leeds latest: Why Solomon did not return; new No.10 targeted
Meanwhile, details have emerged over why Leeds United missed out on bringing Solomon back to Elland Road this summer, with TEAMtalk analysing how and why Farke was squeezed out of the transfer picture for the Tottenham Hotspur star.

Elsewhere, it's been revealed that Leeds blocked the chance to sell three of their big-name players this summer in a move that could have given them more cash to spend on new arrivals.

On the incoming front, Leeds are reportedly prepping a move to sign a talented Manchester City youngster in the January window, with the player potentially ending their long search to sign a new No.10.



https://www.teamtalk.com/leeds-united/fulham-complete-u-turn-harry-wilson-transfer-farke-leeds-raging

[WhiteJC]

Games for the weekend 13/09...
We welcome Leeds to the Cottage for a 3 o'clock kick off

I'm still fuming about VAR and I really feel for Josh, having your debut premier league goal, especially against local rivals, disallowed for a non-foul a couple of minutes before, I would have been devastated! Then to add insult to injury they score past added time, the length of which was extended due to the 3+ minutes the referee took to agree with VAR, changed the game.

We finally, finally announced a couple of signings, after the window closed!, why do Fulham leave signings until the last possible moment? I'm assuming its to save money however not having players pre-season surely will cost us league points and therefore places? Which in turn will cost us "prize money" as the higher the finish the more money the team receives.
Both players look to be very exciting additions, Samuel Chukwueze on loan with an option to buy was the first to be announced. If rumours are to be believed, Chukwueze has been a 'long-term' target and could become a fans favourite, hopefully his load will be successful and he'll join permanently at the end of the season.
Kevin, Shakhtar's player of the season last year, has signed until 2030, with an option for a further year, so having lost one Brazilian, Pereira, we've gained another.
I don't think either will start this weekends game but I do think they'll both be in the squad and will come on at some stage.

Jonah Kusi-Asare was announced the day after the window closed on a season lone with an option to buy. Interestingly it appears that part of the loan deal is that the fee of 3 million will reduce dependant on how many games he plays?
Kusi-Asare is a young, 18 years old, Swedish striker who looks to be a very promising prospect.

Our record, for the previous 8 games, is OK with 4 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw, a cup game that Leeds won on pens.

As I said I don't think any of the new signings will start the game, they'll be on the bench, so my squad would be...



COYW's

Games of Interest
Saturday 13/09
Arsenal v Forest
Bournemouth v Brighton
Fulham v Leeds
Brentford v Chelsea

Sunday 14/09
Burnley v Liverpool
come on over to the forum and join in the conversation...
https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=36.0



https://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=3280

[WhiteJC]

Fulham extend Ebury deal
September 9 – Fulham have extended their partnership with fintech firm Ebury for another two seasons which will see the company remain the club's Official FX Transfer Partner – a role it first took on in 2023 when the club became the firm's first major Premier League sponsorship. 

The platform is used to handle the club's international financial operations, with the partnership designed to streamline transactions and support Fulham's business growth abroad.

The deal gives Ebury, who also have a deal with Aston Villa, continued visibility inside Craven Cottage and the chance to use the club's global profile to connect with new clients. 

Peter Brooks, Global Head of Sport at Ebury said: "We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Fulham Football Club. Our first two seasons of working together were a resounding success, and we've established a strong, collaborative relationship. 

"At Ebury, we are proud to deliver tailored financial solutions that power Fulham's international payment infrastructure and FX risk management. We look forward to continuing this journey with one of England's most historic clubs, supporting them with our expertise as they pursue their strategic goals." 

Elliott Thomas, Financial Controller at Fulham FC, added: "The renewal of our partnership with Ebury is proof of the value that they bring to our financial operations. Their expertise in international payments has been essential in helping us operate more efficiently on a global scale. We're proud to continue this journey with a partner that understands the needs of our football club, and we look forward to another successful season together."

Jon Don-Carolis, Commercial Director at Fulham FC, said: "We are delighted to continue our partnership with Ebury. Their approach to FX services and tailored solutions has propelled the Club's growth over the past two seasons, and we look forward to our continued relationship."



https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/09/09/fulham-extend-ebury-deal/

[WhiteJC]

Limited Availability: Leeds United

Limited tickets remain for Fulham's Premier League clash against Leeds United this Saturday 13th September, kick-off 3pm.

Don't miss the possibility of seeing our new signings in action as they hope to make their debuts at Craven Cottage this weekend.

Tickets are on General Sale with supporters able to secure up to four tickets per person for this fixture.

Further information about this fixture can be found here.

BUY TICKETS
HOW TO BUY

Supporters can purchase their tickets online at fulhamfc.com/tickets, by calling the Fulham FC Ticket Office on 0203 871 0810 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) or in person from the Fulham FC Ticket Office (Monday-Friday, 9:30am-4:30pm).

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2025/september/09/Limited-Availability-Leeds-United/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham vs Leeds United result predicted by supercomputer in Premier League
Leeds United return to action on Saturday when they travel to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham.

Daniel Farke's men have started the season solidly so far in the Premier League.

Aside from their thrashing against Arsenal, Leeds have picked up four points at Elland Road against Everton and Newcastle.

Whilst Leeds were defensively sound against Newcastle, the lack of spark in the final third was apparent against the Magpies, and the travelling supporters will hope this changes on Saturday.

Fulham heavy favourites over Leeds
Dan James was previously sent on loan to Fulham by Jesse Marsch, and the Welsh winger will be hoping to impress against his former club if given the opportunity.

Along with Harry Wilson's proposed move to Leeds that collapsed on deadline day, multiple intriguing subplots are going into the game after the dreaded international break.

According to Opta's supercomputer, Fulham are expected to pick up all three points in the encounter, and United's wait for their first points on the road is expected to continue.

    Fulham have been given a 56.6 per cent chance of winning
    Leeds' chances of winning sit at 21 per cent
    The odds of both sides walking away with a point are said to be 22.4 per cent

A defeat will be made even tougher to handle if Rodrigo Muniz gets on the scoresheet, as the Brazilian was another long-term target of Leeds over the summer.

Leeds' need to put in a more threatening attacking performance
It may seem early, but if Leeds cannot at least look like a threat against what is likely to be a mid-table side away from home, then the alarm bells will begin to ring for the travelling supporters.

The Whites created a combined 0.86 xG in their previous two league matches against Arsenal and Newcastle, and a dramatic upgrade in this is urgently needed.

A draw would be a solid result for Leeds, who do not want to become overly reliant on their home form to pick up the points they need to stay in the division.



https://motleedsnews.com/matchday/fulham-vs-leeds-united-result-predicted-by-supercomputer-in-premier-league/

[WhiteJC]

South Africa 1-1 Nigeria: Fulham's Bassey nets first goal but Super Eagles fail to win battle of Bloemfontein
Calvin Bassey scored his first international goal for Nigeria but the Super Eagles could only manage a damaging 1-1 draw against South Africa in their matchday eight clash of the FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in Bloemfontein on Tuesday evening, Soccernet.ng reports.

Nigeria knew only a win over the Bafana Bafana would do in the race to qualify for the Mundial to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

However, the Super Eagles fell behind midway through the first half courtesy of a William Troost-Ekong own goal.

Fulham defender Bassey headed home the equaliser just before the halftime break but the Super Eagles could not find the much-needed winner after the interval.

South Africa vs Nigeria: How it happened
Nigeria went into the clash knowing only a win would keep them firmly in contention for automatic qualification to the 2026 finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

But Eric Chelle's men made life difficult for themselves after a calamitous own goal from William Troost-Ekong gifted the Bafana Bafana a 24th-minute lead.

The early setback seemed to jolt Nigeria into life.

They responded with sustained pressure, forcing a series of corners before Bassey finally levelled five minutes before the interval.

The Fulham defender rose highest to meet Fisayo Dele-Bashiru's delivery, powering in a header for his first goal in national colours since making his debut three years ago.

Chelle, who had already been forced to replace the injured Ola Aina with Bright Osayi-Samuel, rang the changes again at half-time, withdrawing captain Troost-Ekong and striker Cyriel Dessers.

The introduction of Tolu Arokodare injected urgency into the attack, with the new Wolves forward narrowly missing the chance to put Nigeria ahead after breaking clear early in the second half.

South Africa, roared on by their home support, remained dangerous on the counter. Nwabali was twice called into action late on, while teenager Benjamin Fredrick impressed again at the back with a commanding performance.

Tempers flared midway through the second half when opposing coaches Chelle and Hugo Broos squared up on the touchline, adding extra bite to an already fierce contest.

Wilfred Ndidi hobbled off with an injury in the 68th minute, replaced by Crystal Palace's Christantus Uche, while Ademola Lookman saw his best opening snuffed out when the ball stuck under his feet in the box.

Both sides pushed in seven minutes of added time, but neither could find a decisive goal.

The draw momentarily sees Nigeria climb to second place in Group C on 11 points, level with Benin and Rwanda, who defeated Zimbabwe earlier in the day, but ahead on goal difference. South Africa stay top with 17 points and now look firm favourites to qualify.

Nigeria's hopes are not over, but with just two matches left — away to Lesotho and at home to Benin in November — Chelle's side will now look to target a spot in the playoffs.



https://soccernet.ng/2025/09/south-africa-nigeria-super-eagles-report.html

[WhiteJC]

Premier League announce referee for Leeds United vs Fulham – He cost Liverpool a big game this year
Leeds United return from the international break to extend their positive start to the season. They will however be facing a tough test against Fulham.

Leeds have not been great away from home this season, in their two games they have lost 5-0 to Arsenal and have been dumped out of the EFL Cup at Sheffield Wednesday. Daniel Farke's men will be the visitors when they take on Marco Silva's side. Fulham will be happy after the news that Nottingham Forest hired Ange Postecoglou instead of making a move for Silva.

The London side have just two points from three games this season, losing one and drawing two games. Leeds on the other hand enter the game with four points from a possible nine, and will hope to continue their form in the league.

Referee for Fulham vs Leeds United announced
Ahead of Saturday's clash, the Premier League have announced the referee for the game. Craig Pawson will be refereeing a Leeds game for the first time since 2024. The last time he was involved in a game with the Whites was a 3-1 win over Leicester City in 2024.

Pawson has been at the center of controversy earlier this year. He missed an obvious red card as Liverpool were held by Aston Villa. Axel Disasi caught Alexis MacAllister right in the face, with the referee only giving the defender a yellow card. Keith Hackett, a former referee himself, said Pawson got the decision wrong:

"I really don't get it. If you strike, or attempt to strike an opponent, as Disasi did against Mac Allister, then that is a red card offence.

"There was clearly force, Mac Allister went to ground pretty quickly, so where was VAR? Because Craig Pawson, I'm sorry, you got that decision wrong.

"You were too lenient, that player should have walked."

Leeds injury doubts
Ahead of the game, Daniel Farke's side have some injury doubts. Ilia Gruev played the second half of Bulgaria's game against Georgia with a knock. Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka have not been declared fit yet, with Daniel Farke set to give an update on Thursday.



https://www.theleedspress.com/premier-league-announce-referee-for-leeds-united-vs-fulham-he-cost-liverpool-a-big-game-this-year-44912/

[blingo]

Does Tom Cairney deserve a statue at Craven Cottage?
After his feature-length documentary, TC10, debate around whether our captain should be immortalised has been reignited.

"Build the statue" is a phrase that's been integrated into the modern football lexicon in recent years, alongside "we go again" and "one of our own".

And it's a phrase that's increasingly used among Fulham fans for Tom Cairney. However, as that campaign begins to gather more steam (fuelled by newfound FFC ITK Francis on X), opposition appears to be rising, too. Not everyone thinks TC is worthy of joining Johnny Haynes and George Cohen in being immortalised at Craven Cottage.

Reasons for
I've never hid the fact that I'm fiercely pro-TC and staunchly pro-statue. And, if I'm honest, I'm yet to see a strong enough reason to oppose it.

It's not just his tenure; while Tom sits in the top 10 in terms of years spent in SW6, there are others above him, including Haynes and Cohen, along with Bobby Robson, all-time tops scorer Gordon Davies, and more.

For me, the main reason for is the impact he has made, and the moments he has been there for, in one of the most significant decade-long periods of change we have had as a football club.

Three promotions - two of which were secured at Wembley. And, lest we forget, he scored the winner in the first one!

That moment alone, for me, is worthy of building a statue. Our first Wembley win. The White Wall. A perfect day for so many of us. A major trophy is the culmination of half-a-dozen high-stakes games. Our play-off final win was the crescendo to 40 - not to mention the four years of rebuilding before that. What is harder to achieve?

Sure, there are the two relegations, but that is where his legend grows. We won and lost together. You can see the pain in the failures, like dropping down to the Championship and that play-off semi-final defeat against Reading. TC is Fulham, like all of us. And we know it's not all sunshine and rainbows.

It's that context that solidifies Tom's position. Long-term relationships like TC and Fulham don't occur often in the modern game. And they're unlikely to again. Just look at players like Alexander Isak; not even top-level success is enough to relieve player's itchy feet nowadays.

Reasons against
I've seen a few arguments against, and while I don't necessarily agree with them, I'll list them here.

Haynes captained his country and Cohen won the World Cup, while Cairney has made just two appearances for Scotland.

Sure - but Haynes and Cohen don't have statues outside Wembley and no one is asking for a TC statue at Hampden Park. This is about a player's contribution to their football club, not to their country.

TC's been injured a lot and hasn't been as crucial a player in the last three or four years.

In his 10 full seasons at the club, there are only three in which Cairney appeared fewer than 30 times - his injury-hit 2020/21 campaign (10), the following Championship-winning year (26), and finally last term (25). And, 20/21 aside, he had an impact in the other two - bagging our 100th goal against Luton in 2022, earning us a point against Spurs last term, and who could forget that goal at the Gtech?

TC's never been about sustained periods of dominance, he's been about moments. And, as the man himself puts it in TC10, that's what football is all about.

Perhaps the biggest stick to beat TC with is that he's not helped us win a major trophy. Spoiler alert: neither has anyone else. So, do we take the two statues we have down? A club our size doesn't judge impact by major trophies. We can't - we operate on a level below that. At least for now.

I think, deep down, we're all still scarred a little bit from the Michael Jackson statue. But, hey - we lived through it.

The most compelling argument I've seen against this is not even necessarily against it: it's that statues should be built when the player's career is over. I get that - and probably agree with it.

But ultimately, I think it'll happen. Not least because I think it's telling that the club allowing players like Ryan Sessegnon say it on TC10 and bring it into the public discourse.

For now, though, Cairney has one final season to end the debate for good - and that mission continues against Cambridge United this month.

If he - and we - succeed, then we really will "build the statue".



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/does-tom-cairney-deserve-a-statue

What a ridiculous proposal

[dorsetwhite]

Does Tom Cairney deserve a statue at Craven Cottage?
After his feature-length documentary, TC10, debate around whether our captain should be immortalised has been reignited.

"Build the statue" is a phrase that's been integrated into the modern football lexicon in recent years, alongside "we go again" and "one of our own".

And it's a phrase that's increasingly used among Fulham fans for Tom Cairney. However, as that campaign begins to gather more steam (fuelled by newfound FFC ITK Francis on X), opposition appears to be rising, too. Not everyone thinks TC is worthy of joining Johnny Haynes and George Cohen in being immortalised at Craven Cottage.

Reasons for
I've never hid the fact that I'm fiercely pro-TC and staunchly pro-statue. And, if I'm honest, I'm yet to see a strong enough reason to oppose it.

It's not just his tenure; while Tom sits in the top 10 in terms of years spent in SW6, there are others above him, including Haynes and Cohen, along with Bobby Robson, all-time tops scorer Gordon Davies, and more.

For me, the main reason for is the impact he has made, and the moments he has been there for, in one of the most significant decade-long periods of change we have had as a football club.

Three promotions - two of which were secured at Wembley. And, lest we forget, he scored the winner in the first one!

That moment alone, for me, is worthy of building a statue. Our first Wembley win. The White Wall. A perfect day for so many of us. A major trophy is the culmination of half-a-dozen high-stakes games. Our play-off final win was the crescendo to 40 - not to mention the four years of rebuilding before that. What is harder to achieve?

Sure, there are the two relegations, but that is where his legend grows. We won and lost together. You can see the pain in the failures, like dropping down to the Championship and that play-off semi-final defeat against Reading. TC is Fulham, like all of us. And we know it's not all sunshine and rainbows.

It's that context that solidifies Tom's position. Long-term relationships like TC and Fulham don't occur often in the modern game. And they're unlikely to again. Just look at players like Alexander Isak; not even top-level success is enough to relieve player's itchy feet nowadays.

Reasons against
I've seen a few arguments against, and while I don't necessarily agree with them, I'll list them here.

Haynes captained his country and Cohen won the World Cup, while Cairney has made just two appearances for Scotland.

Sure - but Haynes and Cohen don't have statues outside Wembley and no one is asking for a TC statue at Hampden Park. This is about a player's contribution to their football club, not to their country.

TC's been injured a lot and hasn't been as crucial a player in the last three or four years.

In his 10 full seasons at the club, there are only three in which Cairney appeared fewer than 30 times - his injury-hit 2020/21 campaign (10), the following Championship-winning year (26), and finally last term (25). And, 20/21 aside, he had an impact in the other two - bagging our 100th goal against Luton in 2022, earning us a point against Spurs last term, and who could forget that goal at the Gtech?

TC's never been about sustained periods of dominance, he's been about moments. And, as the man himself puts it in TC10, that's what football is all about.

Perhaps the biggest stick to beat TC with is that he's not helped us win a major trophy. Spoiler alert: neither has anyone else. So, do we take the two statues we have down? A club our size doesn't judge impact by major trophies. We can't - we operate on a level below that. At least for now.

I think, deep down, we're all still scarred a little bit from the Michael Jackson statue. But, hey - we lived through it.

The most compelling argument I've seen against this is not even necessarily against it: it's that statues should be built when the player's career is over. I get that - and probably agree with it.

But ultimately, I think it'll happen. Not least because I think it's telling that the club allowing players like Ryan Sessegnon say it on TC10 and bring it into the public discourse.

For now, though, Cairney has one final season to end the debate for good - and that mission continues against Cambridge United this month.

If he - and we - succeed, then we really will "build the statue".



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/does-tom-cairney-deserve-a-statue

What a ridiculous proposal

Absolutely. Tom's been a loyal player. But statue no way. So many post war players in front of him in the queue

[ex-Pat]

Does Tom Cairney deserve a statue at Craven Cottage?
After his feature-length documentary, TC10, debate around whether our captain should be immortalised has been reignited.

"Build the statue" is a phrase that's been integrated into the modern football lexicon in recent years, alongside "we go again" and "one of our own".

And it's a phrase that's increasingly used among Fulham fans for Tom Cairney. However, as that campaign begins to gather more steam (fuelled by newfound FFC ITK Francis on X), opposition appears to be rising, too. Not everyone thinks TC is worthy of joining Johnny Haynes and George Cohen in being immortalised at Craven Cottage.

Reasons for
I've never hid the fact that I'm fiercely pro-TC and staunchly pro-statue. And, if I'm honest, I'm yet to see a strong enough reason to oppose it.

It's not just his tenure; while Tom sits in the top 10 in terms of years spent in SW6, there are others above him, including Haynes and Cohen, along with Bobby Robson, all-time tops scorer Gordon Davies, and more.

For me, the main reason for is the impact he has made, and the moments he has been there for, in one of the most significant decade-long periods of change we have had as a football club.

Three promotions - two of which were secured at Wembley. And, lest we forget, he scored the winner in the first one!

That moment alone, for me, is worthy of building a statue. Our first Wembley win. The White Wall. A perfect day for so many of us. A major trophy is the culmination of half-a-dozen high-stakes games. Our play-off final win was the crescendo to 40 - not to mention the four years of rebuilding before that. What is harder to achieve?

Sure, there are the two relegations, but that is where his legend grows. We won and lost together. You can see the pain in the failures, like dropping down to the Championship and that play-off semi-final defeat against Reading. TC is Fulham, like all of us. And we know it's not all sunshine and rainbows.

It's that context that solidifies Tom's position. Long-term relationships like TC and Fulham don't occur often in the modern game. And they're unlikely to again. Just look at players like Alexander Isak; not even top-level success is enough to relieve player's itchy feet nowadays.

Reasons against
I've seen a few arguments against, and while I don't necessarily agree with them, I'll list them here.

Haynes captained his country and Cohen won the World Cup, while Cairney has made just two appearances for Scotland.

Sure - but Haynes and Cohen don't have statues outside Wembley and no one is asking for a TC statue at Hampden Park. This is about a player's contribution to their football club, not to their country.

TC's been injured a lot and hasn't been as crucial a player in the last three or four years.

In his 10 full seasons at the club, there are only three in which Cairney appeared fewer than 30 times - his injury-hit 2020/21 campaign (10), the following Championship-winning year (26), and finally last term (25). And, 20/21 aside, he had an impact in the other two - bagging our 100th goal against Luton in 2022, earning us a point against Spurs last term, and who could forget that goal at the Gtech?

TC's never been about sustained periods of dominance, he's been about moments. And, as the man himself puts it in TC10, that's what football is all about.

Perhaps the biggest stick to beat TC with is that he's not helped us win a major trophy. Spoiler alert: neither has anyone else. So, do we take the two statues we have down? A club our size doesn't judge impact by major trophies. We can't - we operate on a level below that. At least for now.

I think, deep down, we're all still scarred a little bit from the Michael Jackson statue. But, hey - we lived through it.

The most compelling argument I've seen against this is not even necessarily against it: it's that statues should be built when the player's career is over. I get that - and probably agree with it.

But ultimately, I think it'll happen. Not least because I think it's telling that the club allowing players like Ryan Sessegnon say it on TC10 and bring it into the public discourse.

For now, though, Cairney has one final season to end the debate for good - and that mission continues against Cambridge United this month.

If he - and we - succeed, then we really will "build the statue".



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/does-tom-cairney-deserve-a-statue

What a ridiculous proposal

Absolutely. Tom's been a loyal player. But statue no way. So many post war players in front of him in the queue

                    This is old news..;;He's been a statue for many years..