Recent posts

#1

General Discussion / Re: How does Arbeloa now tweak...

Last post by Sting of the North - Today at 12:13:59 AM

Berge and Bobb hardly give the ball away, Garcia is no centre-forward so play Muniz there. And stop keeping the ball at the back just for the sake of it!

This seems to be a bit of a recurring theme now with a lot of people saying that Garcia isn't an out and out striker and should be played out wide or perhaps needs to be played a bit deeper behind the striker,the thing is, nobody knows him better as a footballer than Arbeloa, and he was prepared to pay a lot of money this summer to bring him to Craven Cottage as a striker,
What will be very interesting over the next couple of weeks is to see exactly where the Spanish U21 manager plays him,if it's not as a striker then we've got a problem.

Whether the Spanish U21 manager plays him as striker or not means basically nothing for us, and does not mean we have more or less problems than we already do. You're just finding irrelevant things that you can then get upset about.

In my opinion.

Are you trying to imply that the Spanish U21 manager would play him out of position? Ridiculous if you are.

I guess your reading comprehension could use quite some work. 

A player (any player, except maybe a goalie) can play in multiple positions. The positions themselves are also not fixed. How the Spanish u21 manager opts to use Garcia does not dictate whether or not he can be used in another or the same way by another manager in another context. If you really think it does, that is the only ridiculous thing here.

This place lately, where do all these unhinged comments come from...

[the thing is, nobody knows him better as a footballer than Arbeloa, and he was prepared to pay a lot of money this summer to bring him to Craven Cottage as a striker,]

#2

General Discussion / Re: How does Arbeloa now tweak...

Last post by Arthur - Today at 12:12:42 AM

This seems to be a bit of a recurring theme now with a lot of people saying that Garcia isn't an out and out striker and should be played out wide or perhaps needs to be played a bit deeper behind the striker,the thing is, nobody knows him better as a footballer than Arbeloa, and he was prepared to pay a lot of money this summer to bring him to Craven Cottage as a striker,
What will be very interesting over the next couple of weeks is to see exactly where the Spanish U21 manager plays him,if it's not as a striker then we've got a problem.

Whether the Spanish U21 manager plays him as striker or not means basically nothing for us, and does not mean we have more or less problems than we already do. You're just finding irrelevant things that you can then get upset about.
In my opinion.

Are you trying to imply that the Spanish U21 manager would play him out of position? Ridiculous if you are.

It takes some doing for someone to manage to argue against himself but you are achieving this dubious distinction, seemingly with ease.

If, as you say, no one knows Garcia better than Arbeloa and he regards him as a striker, then you are implying that to not play him as a striker is to play him out of position.

#3

General Discussion / A hallucinatory trip to Craven...

Last post by Cambridge Away - Today at 12:12:27 AM

Some of the designs at the end are actually amazing. If only we had a wealthy owner!   

[Tickets for Fulham's Carabao Cup Round Four tie against Crystal Palace will go on sale from Thursday!]

#4

General Discussion / Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 2...

Last post by WhiteJC - September 22, 2026, 11:58:07 PM

Carabao Cup Tickets: Crystal Palace
Tickets for Fulham's Carabao Cup Round Four tie against Crystal Palace will go on sale from Thursday!

Fulham's Carabao Cup campaign continues with a London derby against the Eagles on Wednesday 28th October, kick-off 7:45pm.

Tickets will go on sale to 2026/27 Season Ticket Holders from 9:30am on Thursday 24th September to purchase their existing seasonal seat (one per person) until 5pm Monday 28th September, when Season Ticket reservations will be released. Tickets will then go back on sale to 2026/27 Season Ticket Holders at 9:30am Tuesday 29th September, four tickets per person.

2026/27 Members will be able to purchase tickets from 9:30am on Thursday 1st October, before tickets go on sale to supporters with previous Booking History from 9:30am on Monday 5th October.

Supporters will be able to secure up to four tickets per person for this tie.

Pricing

PRICING	STAND
Price Class	Johnny Haynes & Hammersmith End	The Riverside
Adult	£25	£30
65 & Over	£20	£25
18-21	£20	£25
17 & Under	£10	£10

Supporters are encouraged to secure their seat early with prices increasing across all age categories by £5 on matchday.

Please note that Blocks P5-P7 in the Putney End will be allocated to Away fans only.

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

Tickets can be secured from Thursday online at fulhamfc.com/tickets, from the Fulham FC Ticket Office in person (Mon-Fri, 9:30am-4:30pm) or by calling 0203 871 0810 (Mon-Fri, 9:30am-5pm).

BUY TICKETS FROM THURSDAY
HOSPITALITY

Season Ticket Holders can experience Hospitality in The Riverside for this fixture with an exclusive offer.

With prices starting from as low as £79+VAT, now is the perfect time to sample the finest Hospitality in football, with prime-position seating to soak up all the action.

Season Ticket Holders will be emailed a code to apply when checking out at hospitality.fulhamfc.com after selecting their preferred experience.

All supporters can enjoy Hospitality for this fixture with prices starting from £99+VAT.

EXPLORE EXPERIENCES



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/september/22/carabao-cup-tickets-crystal-palace/

#5

General Discussion / Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 2...

Last post by WhiteJC - September 22, 2026, 11:52:02 PM

Leicester City 6-1 Fulham U21
Fulham Under-21s fell to defeat at Leicester City in our EFL Trophy opener.

Against a League One side stacked with quality, this was always going to be a difficult evening for our youngsters, and that proved to be the case when the scoreline was 5-0 at one point in the first half.

Seth Chingwaro scored a consolation deep into added time just before the break, before Bobby De Codorva-Reid restored the five-goal cushion shortly after the restart.

There was an early warning for our youngsters as Caleb Okoli headed over from a Kamari Doyle inswinger.

Another cross from the right caused problems as former Fulham favourite Bobby De Cordova-Reid was picked out in the middle, and his header from six yards forced excellent reactions from Michael Allen.

Tommy Watson scored the winning goal in the Championship Play-Off Final just over 12 months ago, highlighting the quality Leicester had in their ranks.

Receiving the ball off Sammy Braybrooke, he cut inside onto his right foot and saw a shot fall just past the near post, with a little touch off Nazim Benchaita vital.

Allen's reactions were tested again a few minutes later. A Decordova-Reid cutback found Doyle, who was on the stretch as he shot towards goal, with Allen forced to sort his feet out quickly as the strike deflected off Markuss Gomins on its way through.

The goalkeeper made his third save of the evening with just 10 minutes on the clock. Admir Bristric took his shot quickly, but Allen was down low to keep out his sweeping strike.

It was a barrage of attack after attack, but Allen was given a brief reprieve as De Cordova-Reid headed wide from eight yards.

It had been a long first 15 minutes at the King Power and our resistance was finally broken when Bristric took aim inside the box and squeezed the ball underneath Allen.

De Cordova-Reid was getting closer and closer to getting on the scoresheet. Allen was rooted to the spot as his free-kick from the edge of the area rattled the crossbar and was eventually scrambled clear.

Another opportunity presented itself to the Jamaica international 60 seconds later, but the forward unselfishly teed up Bristric instead, who tapped home into an empty net.

The Bosnia youth international completed his hat-trick just past the half hour mark with a fine first time finish. Braybrooke found Doyle with a lovely diagonal, and Bristric met the 21-year-old's cutback with aplomb.

That marked the end of Allen's evening, though, as he received treatement for a second time on an injury. Matt Bagot came on for his U21s debut in his place.

There was nothing Bagot could do about Leicester's fourth of the evening. Some intricate play on the edge of the box between Bristric, De Cordova-Reid and Watson resulted in the Brighton loanee curling a beautiful strike into the far corner.

Despite not having a goal to his name by this point, De Cordova-Reid was having a major influence on this EFL Trophy tie. His quick give-and-go with Tommy Watson was far too slick and quick for our defenders, as Watson finished coolly again past Bagot.

Credit to our youngsters, who stuck at it and were rewarded with a goal on the stroke of half-time. Chingwaro took it well, too, taking his time before slotting a calm finish beyond Franco Ravizzoli into the near corner.

Patience paid off for De Cordova-Reid, who finally found the net four minutes into the second period. He met a bouncing ball sweetly on the half volley and fired past Bagot from 25 yards.

Leicester lost some of their first half intensity after making a number of changes. The closest the Foxes came to extending their advantage further was when Lorenz Hutchinson saw a shot slam against the post having cut inside onto his left foot.

That same post was hit again late on as Watson was denied his hat-trick goal by the woodwork.

Jose Sani almost reduced the deficit in stoppage-time as he tried to lift the ball over Ravizzoli, but the goalkeeper got a strong glove to the effort.

Our U21s return to action at Hornchurch on Tuesday 6th October, 7pm kick-off in the National League Cup.
Leicester: Ravizzoli, Aluko, Okoli (Will Lawrence 62'), O'Hora, Thomas (Coulibaly 45'), Braybrooke, Alves (Hutchinson 62'), Doyle, De Cordova-Reid (Neale 62'), Watson, Bristric

Subs: Faes, Riis, Coulibaly, McCarthy, Neale, Hutchinson, Will Lawrence

Fulham U21: Allen (Bagot 37'), Benchaita, Cooke, Gomins, Slade, Chingwaro (Sani 65'), Nwoko, Zepa, Quashie (Olyott 84'), Casey (White 65'), Kusi-Asare

Subs: Sani, White, Olyott, Zaidan-Jones, Bagot, Taylor, Clarke



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/september/22/leicester-city-6-1-fulham-u21/

[Marco Silva spent years managing in England, most recently with Fulham, and he's finding Portuguese football a rather different experience now he's back at Benfica.]

#6

General Discussion / Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 2...

Last post by WhiteJC - September 22, 2026, 11:49:43 PM

"Don't know if I can continue like this" – Marco Silva dramatic strop, suggests Fulham was different culture
Marco Silva spent years managing in England, most recently with Fulham, and he's finding Portuguese football a rather different experience now he's back at Benfica.

That was certainly the message after Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Porto. Silva was unhappy with the refereeing at the Estádio do Dragão, particularly after Clement Lenglet was sent off in the 35th minute for a second yellow card.

The former Fulham manager then went much further. He suggested referees in Portugal can be influenced by what clubs say before and after matches. He even questioned how long he could put up with it. So clearly it has not been easy for him.

Marco Silva points to a "different culture"
Record have picked up Silva's comments and the reaction to them, with his reference to coming from a "different culture" particularly interesting after so many years working in England.

Asked about Lenglet's dismissal, Silva said:

"I won't comment on the sending off. If the club has something to say about the match, I think it should say it."

"I don't know if I'll be able to continue like this until the end of the season, because I come from a different culture."

"Here, unfortunately, you can influence referees before matches, after them and during the week, and sometimes it works. I'm not going to go down that route."

It's quite the complaint from Silva, and the reference to a different culture inevitably brings his time in England into it.

That doesn't mean Silva never complained about referees in England of course. Indeed, Record point out that he did so several times. One incident even resulted in around €100k (£87k) in fines.

Still, Silva clearly believes there's a difference between complaining about individual decisions and what he thinks happens around referees in Portugal.

His suggestion is that clubs can create pressure throughout the week and potentially influence what happens when the match arrives. And that's a strong accusation after losing the biggest match of his Benfica career so far.

Villas-Boas says it's frustration after defeat
Former manager and now Porto president, André Villas-Boas wasn't particularly impressed. Responding to Silva, he put the comments down to the "normal frustration" of somebody who had just lost a clássico.

Villas-Boas said Silva was looking for reasons to explain the result and strongly defended the officials.

"I think it was great refereeing," he said.

The Porto president also argued his club have themselves suffered decisions which were "difficult to understand". He then pointed towards the table instead.

"The statistic I know is that Porto have 21 points and seven wins."

That probably won't improve Silva's mood. Benfica left the Dragão beaten 3-1, while Porto maintained their perfect league record.

Silva has now discovered another part of the reality he returned to after leaving Fulham.

Refereeing arguments between Portugal's biggest clubs can continue for days, with managers, presidents and directors all getting involved. Judging by his comments on Sunday, it's a culture Silva isn't particularly enjoying.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/dont-know-if-i-can-continue-like-this-marco-silva-dramatic-strop-suggests-fulham-was-different-culture/

#7

General Discussion / Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 2...

Last post by WhiteJC - September 22, 2026, 11:48:01 PM

The story behind our Loftus Road exile
Looking back on our two-year stay with QPR nearly 25 years ago.

Craven Cottage and Fulham FC have remained synonymous since the club bought the land on which the ground is built in 1894. But 2027 will see the 25th anniversary of a two-season period when we were forced to leave our beloved home and become lodgers at a club with which we had a chequered history.

Our spell at Loftus Road, home of Queens Park Rangers, saw us move a mere matter of a few miles. Yet the separation of Fulham from its historic ground upset many.

That said, on-field matters could have been worse: the first season in exile, 2002-03, saw us win the Intertoto Cup under Jean Tigana, his last successful act as manager before being replaced by former captain Chris Coleman. 'Cookie' took us to ninth place, then Fulham's highest ever league placing, in his first full season and could have done better had star striker Louis Saha not been sold to Manchester United against his wishes in January 2004.

So why did Fulham leave? Although plans to redevelop the Cottage had led to local opposition, this was overruled by the government. Now-disgraced chairman Mohamed Al Fayed couldn't make a business plan work on a 25,000-capacity Cottage, given the potential cost of the proposed development, so the club turned their attention to a new site in White City. This would allow the prime Thames-side site to be sold off, releasing much-needed capital. But the land belonged to two companies, one of whom refused to sell.

Fulham were victims of their own success. We had arrived in the Premier League in 2001 but had standing terraces behind both goals: in the post-Hillsborough world, this was not acceptable as a top-flight football club. After one season's grace, we had no choice but to move.

QPR had recently been relegated and needed a tenant for financial reasons. As mentioned, Fulham stayed at Loftus Road for two campaigns until, in September 2003, plans for a return were announced. Pressure had been exerted by a supporters group formed that very year called Back To The Cottage, and one happy result of this victory was its transformation into the Fulham Supporters Trust. Regular dialogue between the club and the FST began in 2014 and continues today.

During the second season in exile, the Cottage saw work done to make it fit for top-flight football. Temporary seated stands were installed at the Hammersmith and Putney ends – they still exist today – while the standing enclosure which ran the length of the Stevenage Road (now Johnny Haynes) stand was also given seats. The result of this 'make do and mend' approach, club historian Dennis Turner said, was still "an anachronism, a ramshackle Edwardian edifice, but to Fulham supporters it was home."

Fulham's temporary exile was not as seismic as the events of early 1987, when a combined 'Fulham Park Rangers' club was mooted and Fulham FC as we know it faced an existential crisis. Yet separation from the Cottage and all it represents was an unhappy situation for fans to be in. We never had 'flats on the Cottage', but some cynics would say it was not for want of trying. Al Fayed realised taking us home 'to the place we belong' would earn him thousands of friends, and so it proved.

Since then, of course, the 20,000 capacity of the ground has been increased by the multi-purpose Riverside Stand, which will hopefully help Fulham FC compete financially in years to come. It also means that, despite the Khans' failed 2018 bid to buy Wembley that preceded that development, our foundations remain firmly in SW6. Long may we 'Live by the River'...



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/the-story-behind-our-loftus-road

[English football loaded with creative No.10s]

#8

General Discussion / Re: Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 2...

Last post by WhiteJC - September 22, 2026, 11:46:12 PM

Can Josh King be as good as Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers & Morgan Gibbs-White? Ex-Fulham star explains why future transfer will make teenage wonderkid 'better'
Josh King's star continues to rise at Fulham, but will the teenage wonderkid go on to be as good as fellow creative influences Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Morgan Gibbs-White? That trio all have senior England caps to their name, with King eager to tread a similar path. Former Cottagers midfielder Ray Houghton has told GOAL why a future transfer may help to unlock full potential.

English football loaded with creative No.10s
The highly-rated 19-year-old has already come a long way in a relatively short space of time. A product of the Craven Cottage academy system, King made his competitive debut in August 2024. He has now passed the 50-appearance mark.

Three Premier League goals have been recorded, with a regular role in west London being nailed down. The fleet-footed youngster has nudged former Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe down the playmaking pecking order.

He is still growing and maturing, as a person and player, with extra strings being added to his bow all the time. He has already mastered the art of gliding across the pitch, picking defensive locks and carving open goal-scoring opportunities as he goes.

English football boasts an abundance of those talents at present, with the likes of Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze also knocking on the England door - while Real Madrid 'Galactico' Jude Bellingham is considered to top the No.10 depth chart.

Can King emulate the likes of Palmer & Rogers?
King has some way to go before he can claim to rub shoulders with such illustrious company, but he is very much on the right track. Asked if the Kingston native can go on to emulate the likes of Palmer, Rogers and Gibbs-White, ex-Fulham star Houghton - who was speaking in association with IrishBetting.ie - told GOAL: "I think so.

"I spoke to someone, I can't reveal who it was because it would be wrong of me to do that, but they were a little bit like, 'oh, I'm not quite so sure'. Nothing against Fulham, I think the better players he plays with, the higher up he goes, the better he'll become.

"He's got all the attributes you need as an attacking player - he's got pace, he can run with the ball, he can see players in good positions, he's got an eye for a goal. I really like him and I think he's going to have a good future.

"I hope he doesn't disappoint, I hope he's not one of them that the more adulation he gets, then maybe his ego gets too high. I think you've got to be really balanced at that age, a lot of things are going to be said about you, but most of it you've just got to sweep to the side and you've got to be focused, laser focused on what you want to do in football. That's to be the best that you can be and play at the highest level that you can and win trophies, and I'm sure that's his goal."

Will a big-money transfer form part of King's future?
King formed part of England's training camp ahead of the 2026 World Cup, giving him a taste of what that environment is like. The expectation is that a big-money transfer will form part of his not too distant future.

Another former Cottagers star, Bobby Zamora, told GOAL recently when asked if there is an air of inevitability on the departure front: "He's a fantastic talent. Again, 19 years of age and doesn't fear receiving the ball, wants the ball, wants to be in these positions, wants to create chances, wants to score goals.

"It's who does he go to? Lately I've seen a lot of stars leaving the Premier League, which I don't like. I want the best players and certainly the English boys to be playing in England. The issue is that the English boys are normally priced out or demand a little bit more money, which is a little bit upsetting because I'd love to see all the English boys playing in the Premier League."



https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/josh-king-cole-palmer-morgan-rogers-morgan-gibbs-white-fulham-transfer-wonderkid/blt4307cc7b392c58fd?utm_id=fa3iys5y8hyz9ezk&utm_source_platform=newsnow

[Could Fulham decide to sack Alvaro Arbeloa?]

#9

General Discussion / Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 23/09...

Last post by WhiteJC - September 22, 2026, 11:37:21 PM

Fulham risk 'fan backlash' over new Alvaro Arbeloa sack decision
Fulham have no plans to sack Alvaro Arbeloa during the international break and believe he will be the man to turn their form around.

That is despite a nightmare start to the season, with the Whites still winless after five Premier League games and sitting second-bottom of the table ahead of the three-week break.

However, draws against both Liverpool and Man United have seen a positive upturn in recent performances, and have shown enough to convince the board of his position.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Fulham are planning to stick by their decision to appoint Arbeloa and prove any doubters wrong.

There are also concerns that the optics of dismissing their new manager so early into his tenure would be negative and they would risk alienating the fans as a result.

Arbeloa is aware that results must improve if he is to keep his job at Craven Cottage, but he will receive the backing of the baord as he works to turn things around.

Could Fulham decide to sack Alvaro Arbeloa?
Football Insider revealed on 13 September that Fulham have been impressed by recent performances under Arbeloa despite not having yet won a game.

Draws against Man United and Liverpool are the standouts, but they believe they were also unluckly not to take points from their games against Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

With those clear encouraging signs of improvement, Fulham are prepared to give Arbeloa time, and they believe he will be able to turn things around after the break.

"Fulham aren't going to be looking for their next manager just yet," Brown told Football Insider.

"The people at the top of the club have invested in Arbeloa, they've backed him, they worked hard to convince him to take over as the manager, and they got what they wanted.

"By bringing him in, they've told the supporters that this is the man they believe will lead them to success, because they've done their due diligence and identified him as the top candidate.

"If they now go and sack him less than 10 games later, what does that say about their decision-making? What made him the right man 10 games ago but now he isn't?

"Then the fans will turn around and question why they brought him in to begin with, if they want to pull the plug already. The fans aren't silly, they see through these things.

"So the board should be aware that if they change their minds already on the manager, it creats a disconnect and a lack of trust with the fans.

"It's been a bit of a nightmare start to the season, I know, but they've improved in recent weeks and they looked very impressive against Man United even if they couldn't get the win.

"So there's plenty of Arbeloa to work with, there have been encouraging signs, and I would be surprised if Fulham were to sack him right now."

How much time will Arbeloa be given at Fulham?
Despite Fulham having decided to back Arbeloa and give him time to turn their results around, there is no doubt he will remain under intense scruitny in West London.

Games against Man United and Liverpool were not the ones by which he would be judged, despite taking two points from them, ahead of a positive run of fixtures.

Football Insider revealed on 11 September that Fulham are expecting Arbeloa to improve results after the international break, when they will face all three newly-promoted clubs.

The Cottagers will first face a visit to Ipswich Town, before high-flying Hull City come to Craven Cottage, and then they will travel to the CBS Arena to face Coventry City.

However, should Arbeloa prove unable to pick up positive results from those three games, it may force Fulham into a deicison about his future at the club.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/fulham/fulham-risk-fan-backlash-over-new-alvaro-arbeloa-sack-decision

#10

General Discussion / Re: Andersen comments...

Last post by hopper - September 22, 2026, 11:01:17 PM

The Bournemouth game was kind of the straw that broke the camel's back for me with Andersen. He's not been good enough for us for a while in my opinion, we so often get caught out by his lack of pace and it's been a big issue. He also seems to always shrug his arms and look around at his teammates after he's done something wrong.

I've not really got the sense he's got as much as desire as he used to, and seems a different player to the one at Palace and under Parker. Not his primary job but he's also barely threatened at set pieces offensively either.

Sure Affengruber may have misplaced a pass that led to a chance v Liverpool, that kind of thing can happen to any CB trying to make a progressive pass. Look at the Brentford game last season, it was Andersen who gave the ball away late on and was far too slow to recover, and it was Leno's point blank save that kept us in it.

What he did v Bournemouth was absolutely horrendous.

He's one of the few players I actually dislike we've had in recent years, and it's connected to his attitude. He appears very conceited, and these comments I think give substance to that.

Also if anyone is actually trying to blame Affengruber for the deflected goal then they need to give their head's a wobble. Deflected shots are a clear case of bad luck.