Saturday Fulham Stuff - 20/12/25...

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Fulham player on offers from 'several different teams' – Transfer temptation
Fulham's Raúl Jiménez is in his final year of contract and his future beyond this season still needs to be clarified.

The Mexico international has now opened the door to return to Club América.

Speaking to TUDN in Mexico, the Fulham player says he would be delighted to join Club América.

The 34-year-old came up through the ranks of the Mexican club's academy and spent three years with their first team. He left them to join Atlético Madrid in 2014 and has been in Europe since then.

Back in May, the striker revealed to have held talks with clubs from Mexico, MLS and Saudi Arabia. His desire was to continue with Marco Silva's side until the end of this season. However, he was also open to joining his old team on loan for the Club World Cup.

TUDN explain the frontman has already talked about the possibility of returning to his former club. Jiménez has now said he's received multiple offers, but his preference would be to join Club América.

"Yes, of course, it's in the plans. Several things have to fall into place, but if it happens in the future, I'd be very happy. Yes, 100%. Several offers have come in from different teams, but I think first things first," he said.

The Fulham attacker was asked whether he can see himself retiring at the Mexican club.

Responding to that, Jiménez said: "Why not? It would be nice to finish where I started, but we'll see how things unfold."

It's not clear whether he's left the door open for January or next summer.

Jiménez has three goals and two assists from 19 matches for Fulham this season.




https://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-player-on-offers-from-several-different-teams-says-hed-100-very-happy-to-join-specific-club/

[WhiteJC]

My toxic relationship with cup football is killing me
I really, really need to get a grip on this.

Why is it that we could all see that Lewis Miley goal coming? Not that we knew who would score for Newcastle, but as soon as Sandro Tonali stepped up to take it, you knew that somehow this would end up in the back of our net.

I don't know about you, but it was one of those where my head just hit the table of the bar I was in, before burying my head in to my jumper. Myself and Fulhamish's podcast producer Freddie sat there in stunned silence until the full-time whistle, there was no need to say anything.

You might shout impulsively at a bad referee decision or when one of our players makes a stupid mistake, but those kind of moments are where silence prevails.

There isn't a photo of me at this precise moment, but there is one of Fulhamish's Dan and Elizabeth and it's an exact replica. Their pain is just a fraction more heightened given they'd actually gone all the way to Newcastle, eight days before Christmas (their podcast from Newcastle is well worth checking out today by the way).

In the past few years, I feel like I've got really used to cup heartbreak. I actually wonder if meekly going out in the third round to Oldham at home was easier than this quarter- and semi-final lark.

United, Liverpool, Palace and now Newcastle - four seasons in a row where I stupidly dared to dream that we might actually get to a cup final.

What's ramped it up a notch though, was watching Crystal Palace lift the FA Cup in May. One of the three or four 'big' trophy-less clubs finally breaking their duck. They've done the worst thing imaginable and actually given us hope. Living proof that you can actually break the glass ceiling and win something.

This prescription of hope though is playing havoc with my emotions whenever a cup game rolls around. I can deal with the highs and lows of the league, but cup games are sending me over the edge. The stress of that Wycombe away game was worse than any match I've been to in the Premier League this season.

I can't even work out why it really matters that we've never won a major trophy. It's not like QPR fans that are my age can dine out on the fact they won the League Cup in 1967. Are Barnsley a bigger club than Fulham because they won the FA Cup in 1912?

As I sat on the train home from the pub last night, I kept thinking about the line from The Shawshank Redemption where Red says "These are just shitty pipe dreams". Firstly, maybe that German pilsner was stronger than I thought, but secondly why am I so invested in this idea that we actually could win a trophy?

To all intents and purposes, the Premier League is by far the more important competition. It defines everything about the success of the club as a whole. Yet I know that I would happily see us get relegated in return for one glorious day at Wembley.

I think the biggest factor I'm wrestling with, is the fact that I know that a Fulham side managed by Marco Silva could win a trophy. There are plenty of massive clubs up and down the country that would also kill to win some silverware, but the problem is, we're actually in a position as a mid-table Premier League team where we have a tiny bit of a chance. Additionally, we know that Marco has the ability to make this team competitive against any opponent.

Who knows what's going to happen to Silva next season or beyond, but it feels like we're on borrowed time and the window of opportunity, where Fulham are actually in a position to muster a cup run, is one day going to fade away.

And what's killing me, is that it feels like each season there's always something that stops us in our tracks. This year it felt like the three Nigeria boys could have been the difference against an out-of-sorts Newcastle. Against Palace there was Adam Wharton's elusive second yellow, against Liverpool we missed big chances to make it 2-0 in the first leg, and need I remind you what happened at Old Trafford?

I guess ultimately, that's why winning a trophy would be so special, because the stars need to align perfectly in order for a club like Fulham to actually beat the elite and come out on top.

In the meantime, I probably need to have a personal recalibration of this toxic relationship I have with cup football. Maybe I should channel the well-versed cup line "Whatever will be, will be".



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/my-toxic-relationship-with-cup-football

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Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Prediction: Can Either Side Build on Last Week's Win?
Fulham are favourites for the visit of Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Monday. Look ahead to the game at Craven Cottage with our Fulham vs Nottingham Forest prediction and preview.

Fulham vs Nottingham Forest: The Key Stats

    The Opta supercomputer rates Fulham as the favourites with a win probability of 44.4% to Nottingham Forest's 28.8%.
    Fulham have beaten Nottingham Forest in five of their six Premier League encounters.
    Forest have scored 3+ goals in three of their eight Premier League games under Sean Dyche.

Fulham are protecting a proud home record against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League when the sides face off on Monday night.

The Cottagers, who suffered late heartbreak to exit the EFL Cup quarter-finals at Newcastle United on Wednesday, have defeated Forest in five of their six games in the Premier League, triumphing in all three of their contests at Craven Cottage.

However, Marco Silva's side have lost their last two home games. Since returning to the top flight in 2022, they have lost three in a row on home turf just once, doing so in April and May last season.

Moreover, Fulham have lost seven of their last nine Monday night fixtures (7pm or later) in the Premier League. But, more positively for the hosts, the exceptions were victories in their last two such games (against Wolves and Brentford).

Silva's men have been involved in some entertaining contests of late, with Fulham both scoring and conceding in each of their last four Premier League games, and those matches produced a total of 20 goals (five per game).

One area Fulham will potentially look to exploit is corners. All seven of Fulham's set-piece goals in the top flight this season have come via corners, with only Arsenal (nine) scoring more from such a scenario than the Cottagers.

Harry Wilson has been a man in form for Fulham. The Wales international has been involved in six goals in his last four Premier League games (three goals, three assists), including a goal and two assists last weekend in the 3-2 win at Burnley. Overall, he has been involved in eight goals this season (five goals, three assists), his second most in a top-flight campaign after 2023-24 (10).



Nottingham Forest may have a poor Premier League record against Fulham, but they have won four of their last six Premier League games (L2), more than they managed in their previous 18 (W3 D5 L10).

Last time out, Forest were convincing 3-0 winners over Tottenham and have scored 3+ goals in three of their eight top-flight games under Sean Dyche, as many times as Everton did in their final 49 matches when he was their manager.

Forest lost their first Monday game following their return to the Premier League in 2022 (a 4-0 defeat to Leicester City), but are since unbeaten in their last seven such contests (W4 D3).

Ibrahim Sangaré was involved in all three of Forest's goals against Spurs last time out (one goal, two assists), having registered just two goal involvements in his first 42 Premier League appearances. The midfielder will not be involved here, though, as he and Willy Boly have both departed to represent Côte d'Ivoire at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Forest will hope to have Matz Sels and Nicolás Domínguez back for this game, but Chris Wood and Ryan Yates are unlikely to be involved.

Fulham remain without injured duo Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon, while Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze have all now linked up with Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Head-to-Head
As mentioned, Fulham have an outstanding record against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, winning five of their six games against them in the competition, including all three at home.

It represents their highest win rate against any side they have faced more than twice in the competition (83%).

Forest's three away defeats at Fulham have yielded an aggregate away score of 9-1. It is Forest's worst 100% loss rate away from home against any opponent in the Premier League.

Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Prediction



Fulham's record against Forest is impressive, and as such it is little surprise that the Opta supercomputer rates them as favourites, with a win probability of 44.4%.

The visitors, meanwhile, are given a 28.8% chance of emerging victorious at Craven Cottage, with the draw rated as a 26.8% possibility.

In terms of the season overall, Fulham's predicted final position is quite varied given how bunched the actual table is, but right now their likeliest finish is deemed to be 15th (14.8%).

Dyche's men are 16th in the table heading into MD17, and that is exactly where they are predicted to place (18.8%).

Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Predicted Lineups
ulham: Bernd Leno, Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Jorge Cuenca, Timothy Castagne, Sander Berge, Sasa Lukic, Harry Wilson, Emile Smith Rowe, Kevin, Raul Jiménez.

Head coach: Marco Silva

Nottingham Forest: John Victor, Nicolò Savona, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Neco Williams, Douglas Luiz, Elliot Anderson, Omari Hutchinson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus.

Head coach: Sean Dyche
Opta Power Rankings

The Opta Power Rankings are a global team ranking system. They assign an ability score to over 13,000 domestic football teams. This score is on a scale between zero and 100, where zero is the worst-ranked team in the world and 100 is the best team in the world.



https://theanalyst.com/articles/fulham-vs-nottingham-forest-prediction-premier-league-12-2025

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Fulham star needs to 'significantly reduce' wages for dream transfer
Fulham striker Raúl Jiménez would have to 'significantly reduce' his wages to secure a dream move back to Club América.

That's according to Aguilas Monumental. They cover the potential return today after the Fulham striker reiterated his desire to return to his former club.

Jiménez has regularly spoken about his desire to go back to Club América at some point. The Fulham striker started his career with the Mexican side, playing for them from 2011 until 2014.

He came through the youth system at the club before making his debut in 2011. He helped them secure the Clausura title in 2013 and went on to make 103 appearances for them in total, scoring 38 goals and providing 16 assists before heading to Europe.

He's regularly spoke about his desire to return at some point before the end of his career. Indeed, he reiterated that desire in an interview this week.

Aguilas Monumental report it's possible but will take sacrifices. According to them, Jiménez would need to 'significantly reduce' his wage demands. His current salary at Fulham is 'much higher' than anyone in the current América roster.

They estimate that the striker earns €5.8 a year at Craven Cottage and would need to reduce this to €4-4.5m to make the move happen. That's similar to what current top earner Henry Martín earns.

What could be a key factor is that Jiménez's deal at Fulham expires next summer. That opens the door for him to return, if he's willing to take a cut.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-star-needs-to-significantly-reduce-wages-for-dream-transfer/

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Pre-Forest Press Conference
Marco Silva is keen for Fulham to demonstrate their bouncebackability once more when we host Nottingham Forest on Monday night.

After a deflating end to our Carabao Cup Quarter-Final in midweek, Silva was asked how best to respond to that loss in the North-East, to which he replied: "It's always a reaction, it's always a good result, and if you can [win] with a good performance, it's always the best way.

"We have the example of Newcastle – they came to play against us after a very, very tough defeat [to rivals Sunderland] for that football club, and needed a reaction. And the environment at their stadium was for a club that wants to react, and of course they reacted, against a competitive side like ourselves.

"Looking for us, next Monday, we should react like we did, for example, when we went for the Burnley game away from home after two bad results, even if the performances were different than the results show and we probably deserved more against City and against Palace at home.

"The reaction of the team was good. Against Burnley, we won, we got back-to-back away wins in that Burnley away game, we won in a place that the Club hadn't won last 75 years. And now we want to do our best to have back-to-back Premier League wins. That is the main thing for us.

"At home against a tough side, all the games in Premier League are very demanding and, of course, it's going to be another one. Last game of the year for us at Craven Cottage as well, many things are going to be involved in the game, and let's hope we can end the year in a good way at home."

Forest fixtures have, generally, been prosperous for Fulham in the Premier League, with our six meetings yielding five wins.

Silva is hoping for more of the same on Monday, but knows the chances of that will be much improved if a powerful home atmosphere can be generated under the lights.

"We are always very confident, definitely," Silva said. "We are always very confident, playing at home even more. I know that the last two results were not the best for us, but we feel very comfortable at home.

"We know that if we are together we can be very competitive, and stronger with the fans behind ourselves. We are going to need, 100 per cent sure, their help – is a moment for us to be even more together, to show the togetherness of our football club.

"Our football club is about us, is mainly about the fans as well, and we need everybody in the same page, because this moment of the year, this moment of the season, is a moment for us to show what we are capable of as a football club.

"We need everybody together, to go and to push us forward. And it's going to be a very good test, a very good challenge next Monday. The record is very, very good – let's hope we can keep that type of record in our favour."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2025/december/19/pre-forest-press-conference/

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Matchday Preview: Forest
🆚 Nottingham Forest
🏟 Craven Cottage
🏆 Premier League
🗓 Monday 22nd December
⏰ 8pm

The opposition

Forest are currently enjoying an impressive run of form, winning six of their previous eight matches in all competitions. That run includes 3-0 wins over Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, the latter their most recent outing. It's a spell which has eased any relegation concerns, moving them out of the bottom three and up to 16th in the standings, knowing victory on Monday would push them above Fulham in the table.

Team news

🤍 Ryan Sessegnon and Rodrigo Muniz are Fulham's only confirmed absentees. Saša Lukić is being assessed after going off at half-time in midweek, but Marco Silva remains optimistic around his availability. Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze are away at AFCON.

🌳 Matz Sels and Nicolas Dominguez could return after missing the 3-0 win over Spurs, but Ola Aina, Ryan Yates, Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi are injured, while Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly are on international duty.

Tickets

This match has sold out - thank you for your terrific support!

Kits

Fulham will be in home colours, Forest away.

Weather

🌧� There is a small chance of some light rain at kick-off, with temperatures around seven degrees.

Lime/Forest bikes

If you use a hire bike to get to the stadium, we kindly request that it is left at a new designated zone which can be found at the junction of Woodlawn Road and Langthorne Street.

Arrive early

Until 7pm, all pints of beer, cider & cans of wine will be priced at just £5, with soft drinks available for just £2, as part of our early bird drinks offers.

Bag drop

Fans are reminded of our bag drop policy that is in place.

Fulham Flutter

The Fulham Flutter allows fans from across the UK to go into the running to win some unique Fulham prizes. Fans can purchase a season ticket to be automatically entered into every home draw or buy tickets on a match-by-match basis, with the winner of our top prize announced on the big screen at half-time of the match.

Coverage

The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, while FFCtv subscribers can listen to commentary from Gentleman Jim and Jamie Reid. Overseas supporters can see who is showing the game in your region at this page.

Counter terrorism policing

We're working with Counter Terrorism Policing to keep Craven Cottage safe. Your safety is our priority. If you see something that doesn't feel right, tell staff, security, or report online at gov.uk/ACT.

Programme

The goals are back. The rhythm is building. And for Emile Smith Rowe, patience, trust and persistence are beginning to pay dividends at Craven Cottage.

In an in-depth interview for the official matchday programme, Smith Rowe opens up on staying ready during quieter spells, rebuilding confidence, and rediscovering his natural flow after a stop-start start to the campaign. Two goals in his last three games have helped restore momentum, but the midfielder insists belief was never lost - only delayed.

"I always had belief in myself," he said. "I had to stay confident in my own abilities. I know how good I am."

Smith Rowe also reflects on adapting to life at Fulham, working closely with Marco Silva, and why he feels happiest operating as a number 10.

Elsewhere in the 104-page publication, Marco Silva, Tom Cairney and Robert Wilson pen their regular columns, while Alex Iwobi lifts the lid on his teammates. We also catch up with Mark Crossley for the latest instalment of our Cult Heroes series, and we revisit the extraordinary legacy of Jimmy Hill, the man who saved Fulham Football Club, 10 years on from his death.

The programme will be on sale around the ground on Monday, priced £4, or available to purchase online.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2025/december/19/matchday-preview-forest/

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Silva hoping to strengthen Fulham squad
Marco Silva says Fulham know what needs to be done during the January transfer window in order to strengthen the squad.

Fulham are light on numbers, with Ryan Sessegnon and Rodrigo Muniz out injured and Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze representing Nigeria at the African Cup of Nations.

The Whites signed four players in the summer, but head coach Silva made it clear he wanted more – and is now hoping to make additions when the window reopens.

"We have been speaking not just now, the last month and a half, probably. After the last summer, things that we were supposed to do, we didn't," he said.

"The African Cup we knew was going to happen, but of course the injury of Rodrigo as well created a completely different scenario for us. We know what we need. Let's see."

Silva's obvious frustration at a lack of signings has fuelled speculation about his future.

His contract expires at the end of the season and he has been linked with a number of other clubs.

But he said: "I think this (signing players) is not about the manager, because it's not what Marco Silva as a manager needs to improve or to strengthen the squad. It's what Fulham Football Club needs.

"If I'm not here speaking and if someone from the club is speaking, they are going to say the same."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/silva-hoping-to-strengthen-fulham-squad

[WhiteJC]

De Fougerolles: Big year
fulhamfc.com caught up with Luc De Fougerolles about winning Canada's Young Player of the Year and his time out on loan in Belgium.

Only one place to start. How did it feel to be named as Canada's Young Player of the Year earlier this week?

It feels amazing, to be honest with you. I found out a few days before and called my family straight away. I'm very happy because it's been a tough year for me, being injured at the start of the year, so I really wanted to bounce back and make it a productive 2025. I feel like I did that, getting my first proper run of professional minutes, playing a lot of games for Canada in the Gold Cup which was amazing.

I had a week or two off and then it was straight into the Belgian season. I settled in really well, played the first few games and had a run of 10 or 11 matches where I started. I picked up a small injury during the last international break, so I've missed the last four weeks or so, but I'm getting back to it now. It's been a good year and I've really enjoyed it.

Your Assistant Manager at Canada, Mauro Biello, described your rise as 'incredible'. How would you describe it?

Mauro actually gave me my first Canada call-up while he was interim coach, so I only have good things to say about him. It's nice to hear those words from such a good coach and hopefully I can keep performing in a Canada shirt. The World Cup is coming up, our aim is to go well and win as many games as possible.

This time last year, you were halfway through a long-term injury. What would your reaction have been if you were told then that you'd be winning this a year on?

I was in a tough spot at the start of 2025 with my injury, thinking, 'What's next? What's going to happen?'. Credit to the medical team at Fulham who did an amazing job and I can't thank them enough. I came back feeling physically better, I felt stronger and faster. Once I got back to playing regular minutes, I felt really good and it put me in a spot to go to Canada in the summer and perform well. A lot of hard work has gone into it, so it's nice to be rewarded for the tough times I've had with injuries.

How would you summarise your time at FCV Dender so far?

I've really, really enjoyed it. Results wise, it has been tough. We started the season badly, but we've turned it around recently. I can see the quality in the team and I know there's so much more to give. We went six games unbeaten before losing to Club Brugge at the weekend.

Meeting new teammates, living in a different country, everything about it has been completely different for me. Being at Fulham my whole life, I've only ever known Fulham. To change that around, to go and live alone in Belgium has been tough, but my teammates have made it easy and it's been a great group to come into. I've really enjoyed my time here and I've still got another five or six months to go, so I'm looking forward to that and hopefully we can climb up the table.

It's not the most conventional first loan for a young defender. What has playing in Belgium done for your development – and would you recommend it to other players?

I'd 100 per cent recommend it. I've played in England my whole life, but every league has a different style. Playing for Canada has helped me, playing with people from different leagues, it shows that there is more to football than just the Premier League and EFL.

I wanted to test myself in the Belgian league, which is really physical. There are fast strikers, counter-attacking football and games are very end-to-end. I have friends from Canada and Fulham who have played in this league and I thought it'd be a great opportunity for me. Playing in the top division in any country means you're testing yourself against top teams. Club Brugge play in the Champions League – and they're the games that you learn a lot from. Even though we lost to them quite heavily, you take experiences from it, you see the goals you concede and see where you can do better.

What's it like living in Belgium?

It's nice. I live a two-minute drive from the training ground. That means I can get to training early and do my prep. After training, I go to the gym with my teammates, cook some dinner and watch a series. It's nice to get into a routine. When you first get here, you're in a hotel and things are changing a lot, but now I'm settled and it feels like home.

What's your contact been like with people back at Fulham?

Staff have been checking in on me, asking me how my games are going. If I need anything, then they always say to contact them, and I do. I've managed to pop in and see some of the guys, which has been nice.

I had two weeks here while I was injured during international break. It's always nice to come back – and Fulham have been great with me. It's nice to know that I'm still thought about even though I'm not in the building!

What would your ideal 2026 look like? It must be impossible to ignore that home World Cup that's on the horizon...

Playing well for Dender, performing to a high standard, keeping us safe in the Belgian league. Getting picked for the World Cup, getting my first minutes in the World Cup and winning as many games as possible. Then coming back to Fulham in pre-season ready to go.

It's going to be a big year for me, but one I can't wait for, and with a home World Cup, it's set up perfectly for me to hopefully get as many minutes as possible.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2025/december/19/de-fougerolles-big-year/

[WhiteJC]

Marco Silva seeks consistent results from Fulham after cup exit
The Fulham head coach comments on the fallout from a midweek loss.

Marco Silva spoke about getting a reaction out of Fulham after a late midweek blow.

The Cottagers crashed out of the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United after Lewis Mileys scored in injury time of the second half. Now, they look to respond to this situation with a win on Monday against Nottingham Forest to secure successive league victories.

"It's always a reaction, it's always a good result, and if you can [win] with a good performance, it's always the best way.

"We have the example of Newcastle – they came to play against us after a very tough defeat [to rivals Sunderland] for that football club, and needed a reaction. And the environment at their stadium was for a club that wants to react, and of course they reacted, against a competitive side like ourselves.

"Looking for us, next Monday, we should react like we did, for example, when we went for the Burnley game away from home after two bad results, even if the performances were different than the results show and we probably deserved more against Man City and Crystal Palace at home.

"The reaction of the team was good. Against Burnley, we won, we got back-to-back away wins in that Burnley away game, we won in a place that the Club hadn't won last 75 years. And now we want to do our best to have back-to-back Premier League wins. That is the main thing for us.

"At home against a tough side, all the games in Premier League are very demanding and, of course, it's going to be another one. Last game of the year for us at Craven Cottage as well, many things are going to be involved in the game, and let's hope we can end the year in a good way.

"We are always very confident, definitely. We are always very confident, playing at home even more. I know that the last two results were not the best for us, but we feel very comfortable at home.

"We know that if we are together we can be very competitive, and stronger with the fans behind ourselves. We are going to need, 100 per cent sure, their help – is a moment for us to be even more together, to show the togetherness of our football club.

"Our football club is about us, is mainly about the fans as well, and we need everybody in the same page, because this moment of the year, this moment of the season, is a moment for us to show what we are capable of as a football club.

"We need everybody together, to go and to push us forward. And it's going to be a very good test, a very good challenge next Monday. The record is very, very good – let's hope we can keep that type of record in our favour."



https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2025/12/19/fulham/1245008-marco-silva-seeks-consistent-results-from-fulham-after-cup-exit.html

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Fulham: Josh King reveals he felt '100 per cent joy' after disallowed Chelsea goal
Youngster's first senior goal was ruled out by dubious VAR decisio

Fulham youngster Josh King said he still managed to find joy in his disallowed goal against Chelsea, despite feeling it was "ripped away" from him.

King, 18, started at Stamford Bridge in August, chasing his first senior goal, and bagged a wonderful solo effort only to see it cruelly ruled out as Rodrigo Muniz was adjudged to have fouled Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up.

Chelsea went on to win the match 2-0, and PGMOL chief Howard Webb later admitted the VAR had made a 'misjudgement'.

For King, though, the fact that his goal was wiped from the record books makes little difference.

"In a philosophical way, I think it was a hundred per cent pure joy," he told The Times.

"Regardless of the fact that the goal didn't count, I still did everything up to and after the goal. And it didn't get disallowed for quite a long time — like, it was probably about five minutes. So in that sense, it was a hundred per cent pure joy and it's still a happy moment, even though it didn't count."

King reminisced on the August match, revealing he knew the goal would be disallowed as soon as referee Robert Jones was sent to check the VAR monitor.

"At first I thought, it's definitely a goal," King says. "I knew I was onside because I started in my own half and I thought, well, there's no way this gets disallowed. I didn't see Rodrigo step on the guy's foot.

"Then it went to VAR and I was like, oh, this could be bad. Just because I feel like VAR is always not a good sign if you've scored a goal which you think is perfectly fine. And then I looked over to the coaches because they have a screen where they can look back on the action and they were like, yeah, it's all fine. So then I sort of relaxed and then they disallowed it.

"It was a difficult one because I had the adrenaline of scoring and I was on top of the world, but at the same time, it'd been ripped away a little bit."

King continued, adding that the goal being disallowed only fuelled him to score more. He did so in August, finding the back of the net away to Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.

"It's given me the motivation to score more because I'm almost chasing that feeling again.

"And that's part of the reason why so many good goalscorers do it week in, week out, because that feeling was just incredible."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-fc-fulham-josh-king-joy-b1263388.html

[WhiteJC]

'We will win it' - Fulham players Bassey, Chukwueze, Iwobi confident ahead of Afcon
Fulham trio Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze have expressed strong confidence in the Super Eagles' chances of clinching the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in Morocco, as Nigeria look to bounce back from recent disappointments and reclaim continental glory.

Nigeria finished as runners-up in the last edition of the tournament and are targeting a fourth AFCON crown, especially after failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking during an exclusive interview with Fulham TV, the players highlighted their individual growth, team maturity, and renewed determination to go all the way this time.

Reflecting on his evolution as a player since the last AFCON, defender Calvin Bassey said the squad has undergone significant growth.

"Yeah 100%. I think the last AFCON I was 23. I have matured and a lot of the team have matured and we have gained a lot of experience. So, it would be good for the team and Alex different roles now, he is becoming more of the leadership role," Bassey said.

In agreement, midfielder Alex Iwobi stressed the importance of continuous improvement and the team's ambition to take the final step.

"Basically, what he is trying to say is that anywhere you go, you always want to improve, so the only way we can improve is by winning it," Iwobi added.

Winger Samuel Chukwueze injected humour into the conversation while emphasising his belief in the team's potential.

"So the first one was third place, the second one was Round of 16, and the third one was, I hope the fourth one, Calvin Bassey will help us, if he decides to pass the ball to me, I think we will win it," he joked.

Nigeria will kick off their AFCON campaign in Group C against Tanzania on December 23, before facing Tunisia on December 27.

The Super Eagles will wrap up the group stage with a clash against Uganda on December 30.

With the team eager to start on a positive note, manager Eric Chelle will be hoping for a strong response when Nigeria take on the Taifa Stars at the Fez Stadium on Tuesday.

The Eagles are looking to regain confidence following their defeat to Egypt in a warm-up match at the Cairo International Stadium.

Adeyemi Adewale




https://allnigeriasoccer.com/we-will-win-it-fulham-players-bassey-chukwueze-iwobi-confident-ahead-of-afcon

[Bill2]

My toxic relationship with cup football is killing me
I really, really need to get a grip on this.

Why is it that we could all see that Lewis Miley goal coming? Not that we knew who would score for Newcastle, but as soon as Sandro Tonali stepped up to take it, you knew that somehow this would end up in the back of our net.

I don't know about you, but it was one of those where my head just hit the table of the bar I was in, before burying my head in to my jumper. Myself and Fulhamish's podcast producer Freddie sat there in stunned silence until the full-time whistle, there was no need to say anything.

You might shout impulsively at a bad referee decision or when one of our players makes a stupid mistake, but those kind of moments are where silence prevails.

There isn't a photo of me at this precise moment, but there is one of Fulhamish's Dan and Elizabeth and it's an exact replica. Their pain is just a fraction more heightened given they'd actually gone all the way to Newcastle, eight days before Christmas (their podcast from Newcastle is well worth checking out today by the way).

In the past few years, I feel like I've got really used to cup heartbreak. I actually wonder if meekly going out in the third round to Oldham at home was easier than this quarter- and semi-final lark.

United, Liverpool, Palace and now Newcastle - four seasons in a row where I stupidly dared to dream that we might actually get to a cup final.

What's ramped it up a notch though, was watching Crystal Palace lift the FA Cup in May. One of the three or four 'big' trophy-less clubs finally breaking their duck. They've done the worst thing imaginable and actually given us hope. Living proof that you can actually break the glass ceiling and win something.

This prescription of hope though is playing havoc with my emotions whenever a cup game rolls around. I can deal with the highs and lows of the league, but cup games are sending me over the edge. The stress of that Wycombe away game was worse than any match I've been to in the Premier League this season.

I can't even work out why it really matters that we've never won a major trophy. It's not like QPR fans that are my age can dine out on the fact they won the League Cup in 1967. Are Barnsley a bigger club than Fulham because they won the FA Cup in 1912?

As I sat on the train home from the pub last night, I kept thinking about the line from The Shawshank Redemption where Red says "These are just shitty pipe dreams". Firstly, maybe that German pilsner was stronger than I thought, but secondly why am I so invested in this idea that we actually could win a trophy?

To all intents and purposes, the Premier League is by far the more important competition. It defines everything about the success of the club as a whole. Yet I know that I would happily see us get relegated in return for one glorious day at Wembley.

I think the biggest factor I'm wrestling with, is the fact that I know that a Fulham side managed by Marco Silva could win a trophy. There are plenty of massive clubs up and down the country that would also kill to win some silverware, but the problem is, we're actually in a position as a mid-table Premier League team where we have a tiny bit of a chance. Additionally, we know that Marco has the ability to make this team competitive against any opponent.

Who knows what's going to happen to Silva next season or beyond, but it feels like we're on borrowed time and the window of opportunity, where Fulham are actually in a position to muster a cup run, is one day going to fade away.

And what's killing me, is that it feels like each season there's always something that stops us in our tracks. This year it felt like the three Nigeria boys could have been the difference against an out-of-sorts Newcastle. Against Palace there was Adam Wharton's elusive second yellow, against Liverpool we missed big chances to make it 2-0 in the first leg, and need I remind you what happened at Old Trafford?

I guess ultimately, that's why winning a trophy would be so special, because the stars need to align perfectly in order for a club like Fulham to actually beat the elite and come out on top.

In the meantime, I probably need to have a personal recalibration of this toxic relationship I have with cup football. Maybe I should channel the well-versed cup line "Whatever will be, will be".



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/my-toxic-relationship-with-cup-football

I think you have just aired the feelings of all Fulham fans, certainly in my age bracket. I have reached the point where I no longer expect us to ever win anything. I have been to two finals, numerous cup games, including the recent Old Trafford debacle, and nothing. Still I will be there on Monday.

[Bill2]

Fulham: Josh King reveals he felt '100 per cent joy' after disallowed Chelsea goal
Youngster's first senior goal was ruled out by dubious VAR decisio

Fulham youngster Josh King said he still managed to find joy in his disallowed goal against Chelsea, despite feeling it was "ripped away" from him.

King, 18, started at Stamford Bridge in August, chasing his first senior goal, and bagged a wonderful solo effort only to see it cruelly ruled out as Rodrigo Muniz was adjudged to have fouled Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up.

Chelsea went on to win the match 2-0, and PGMOL chief Howard Webb later admitted the VAR had made a 'misjudgement'.

For King, though, the fact that his goal was wiped from the record books makes little difference.

"In a philosophical way, I think it was a hundred per cent pure joy," he told The Times.

"Regardless of the fact that the goal didn't count, I still did everything up to and after the goal. And it didn't get disallowed for quite a long time — like, it was probably about five minutes. So in that sense, it was a hundred per cent pure joy and it's still a happy moment, even though it didn't count."

King reminisced on the August match, revealing he knew the goal would be disallowed as soon as referee Robert Jones was sent to check the VAR monitor.

"At first I thought, it's definitely a goal," King says. "I knew I was onside because I started in my own half and I thought, well, there's no way this gets disallowed. I didn't see Rodrigo step on the guy's foot.

"Then it went to VAR and I was like, oh, this could be bad. Just because I feel like VAR is always not a good sign if you've scored a goal which you think is perfectly fine. And then I looked over to the coaches because they have a screen where they can look back on the action and they were like, yeah, it's all fine. So then I sort of relaxed and then they disallowed it.

"It was a difficult one because I had the adrenaline of scoring and I was on top of the world, but at the same time, it'd been ripped away a little bit."

King continued, adding that the goal being disallowed only fuelled him to score more. He did so in August, finding the back of the net away to Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.

"It's given me the motivation to score more because I'm almost chasing that feeling again.

"And that's part of the reason why so many good goalscorers do it week in, week out, because that feeling was just incredible."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-fc-fulham-josh-king-joy-b1263388.html

"Dubious". They are really rubbing it in. Everyone says it was a goal. It was disallowed by incompetent refereeing assisted by VAR.