Saturday Fulham Stuff - 25/10/25...

[WhiteJC]

Marco Silva hopes for the fitness of a midfielder in an 'aggressive' battle
The Fulham head coach continues to work with a stretched squad.

Marco Silva shared some updates about the health of the Fulham squad for the weekend.

There are several absentees, but ahead of a clash between the Cottagers and Newcastle United, there are a couple of figures who are set to return after the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Craven Cottage.

One of those players is a man in the middle of the park who could be critical in a key set of duels.

"Kenny Tete was in contention. He was on the bench not 100% last game. He is training with the team and he is going to be in contention. Probably Sasa Lukic can be in contention too.

"Sasa is very important. We know how Newcastle are strong almost in all the positions, how they are aggressive in a good way. That battle in the middle is going to be crucial like it was last season in both games for us to be able to win the game against Sandro Tonali, Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes.

"They are they are solid, they are compact, they are aggressive, they are physical as well. And of course we have to be at least to reach the same level of intensity and all that stuff for us to play in the way you want to play and of course to control them, to be able to and to create what we need.

"Tom Cairney, there is nothing special as we expected is going to be to be in contention and the other players they are still out.

"Antonee Robinson is going to be out plus Joachim Andersen, Samuel Chukwueze, Rodrigo Muniz. I think they are enough in terms of numbers. They are very important players for us.

"The week after in terms of numbers is important for us with the Carabao Cup game and then the next Premier League match. Let's see how it goes the next few days.

"We have a doubtful with Harry Wilson too because he came with a problem last international pack he played the two games with um with Wales and he came with a problem made a big effort to play the game. Let's see how it's going to be um tomorrow and after I'm going to take a decision."



https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2025/10/24/fulham/1238954-marco-silva-hopes-for-the-fitness-of-a-midfielder-in-an-aggressivebattle.html

[WhiteJC]

Marco Silva searches for positives from defeat to Arsenal
The Fulham head coach commented on another league loss.

Marco Silvashared his takeaways from a 1-0 defeat for Fulham at Craven Cottage against Arsenal.

The Cottagers were strong in the first half hour against the leaders of the Premier League, who had drawn 1-1 and lost 2-1 in their last trips to the ground in West London. However, they failed to register a single shot on target, even with Raul Jimenez on the pitch, and they were punished.

Gabriel Magalhaes got a crucial flick at a corner, and Leandro Trossard turned the ball into the back of the net to put the guests in the lead. Kevin was lucky to avoid conceding a penalty for a tackle on Bukayo Saka, but the final siege from Fulham was not enough to make good on their fortune.

It was another performance where fine margins were involved and improvement could be made: the hope will be that three points come from the contest againt Newcastle United.

"Difficult one like as we expected of course every time you play against Arsenal is going to be always a difficult game. They came to play against us in a very good moment. They are top of the league.

"They one of the most solid teams so far in in the season, but of course the result wasn't what we wanted and uh not a positive one for us. We have to look at all the picture to take some positives from the game. It was not a game that we created many chances as well but Arsenal did not either.

"We know we have to create more even if Arsenal is a solid side um but the attitude the commitment from the players was good. The fanbase was completely behind us and push us in the last 20 minutes, we push more to try to equalize the game.

"The first 30 minutes they were from a good level from ourselves probably the best moments of the game that first 30 minutes. We didn't score, which always important to do, and of course after they scored, it was more difficult for us. No points but positives in a difficult moment."



https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2025/10/24/fulham/1238951-marco-silva-searches-for-positives-from-defeat-to-arsenal.html

[WhiteJC]

Fulham boss Marco Silva states Calvin Bassey's only flaw
Fulham head coach Marco Silva has revealed where Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey needs to improve, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 25-year-old played 35 of the Cottagers' 38 English Premier League games last season, and has featured in every game for them this season, but he came off the bench in the 82nd minute against Arsenal last week.

Ahead of Fulham's game against Newcastle United, the former Watford manager revealed he chose Jorge Cuenca over Bassey in their loss to the Gunners because the former Rangers centre-back can sometimes be unreliable in the air.

Silva urges Bassey to be better in the air for Fulham
    "Calvin had an amazing season last year – very quick, strong, the most agile one," the Portuguese manager said in an interview with Jon Harland, as revealed by Hounslow Herald.

    "But I knew Cuenca was more than capable of doing the job. He's given us all the confidence to start him.

    "Even if sometimes the team sheet doesn't show it, he's a very important player for us."

Behind the scenes, Silva says Cuenca has been a model professional, despite the frustration of limited minutes, and that attitude is a part of the reason why the Spaniard started over Bassey against Arsenal.

    "Cuenca is a top guy, working hard every single day. Of course, in some moments he's not so happy because he's not playing — and I want them not happy if they're not playing.

    "But the way he trains, prepares himself and pushes others — he's a great example.

    "To not have doubts, to leave out a player like Calvin and start Cuenca, that shows the confidence we have in him," Marco Silva concluded.

Fulham have a tricky task later today as they travel to St. James Park to face a Newcastle United side who've won three of their last five games across all competitions.



https://soccernet.ng/2025/10/fulham-marco-silva-calvin-bassey.html

[WhiteJC]

Report – O'Neill scores and Emerson Nwaneri debuts but Arsenal U18s lose to Fulham
Fulham 2 (Valley 18, Grant 20) Arsenal 1 (O'Neill 43)

Arsenal U18s suffered their third defeat in a row in all competitions as they lost 1-0 away to Fulham today despite a goal from Ceadach O'Neill.

There was a significant moment for schoolboy Emerson Nwaneri, with the midfielder (the younger brother of Ethan) coming on to make his competitive debut at this level.

Arsenal were without Josiah King and Callan Hamill, with Sam Chapman and Alex Marciniak coming into the team. Theo Julienne moved to right-back and captained the team.

Ranson

Julienne-Onyekachukwu-Chapman-Ogunnaike

Murisa

Hashi-Marciniak

Bailey Joseph-O'Neill-Thompson

Subs: B. Phillips (for Bailey-Joseph, 65), Owusu-Gyasi (for Murisa, 71), Emerson Nwaneri (for Marciniak, 82). Not used: Lupinski, Tahou.

Fulham took the lead in the 18th minute with Khai Valley scoring.

Just two minutes later the hosts made it 2-0 as Kyle Grant scored.

Arsenal got a goal back just before half time as O'Neill found the net after being set up by Brando Bailey-Joseph.

Bowen Phillips, Abraham Owusu-Gyasi and Nwaneri were introduced during the second half but Fulham managed to see out the game and secure all three points.

Arsenal return to action next weekend with a home game against Aston Villa.



https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2025/10/25/report-oneill-scores-and-emerson-nwaneri-debuts-but-arsenal-u18s-lose-to-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

Latest. Team news: Joelinton returns for Cottagers clash
Joelinton replaces Jacob Ramsey in Newcastle United's only change to the starting XI which beat Benfica in midweek.

The Magpies take on Fulham at St. James' Park in a 15:00 BST kick-off and the Brazilian comes back into the midfield after Ramsey made his second start of the season in the midweek Champions League win.

Sandro Tonali, who has been recovering from illness this week, is named among the substitutes with Lewis Miley - who scored his first goal for his boyhood club against the Cottagers two years ago - keeping his place in the engine room.

Harvey Barnes came from the bench to score twice on Tuesday and he is again among the substitutes.

For the second Premier League game in a row, Dan Burn lines up against one of his former clubs. The England international made 69 appearances for Fulham after joining them from Darlington in 2011.

Newcastle United: Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Joelinton, Anthony Gordon, Malick Thiaw, Jacob Murphy, Nick Woltemade, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimarães (c), Lewis Miley

Substitutes: Aaron Ramsdale, Fabian Schär, Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Emil Krafth, William Osula, Anthony Elanga, Joe Willock, Jacob Ramsey



https://www.newcastleunited.com/en/news/team-news-joelinton-returns-for-cottagers-clash

[WhiteJC]