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Season Expectations & Fond Farewells
47 Plays5 months ago
Gavin and Charlie look ahead to the new campaign, run the rule over pre-season and pay tribute to a couple of departing club legends.
Instagram: @gspndailyfulham X: @GSPNFulham
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction
00:00:09
officialgspn
Hello and welcome to the Daily Fulham Podcast brought to you on behalf of the Global Sports Podcast Network where we will be giving you your daily fix of all things Fulham as we gear up towards the 24-25 season.
00:00:24
officialgspn
My name is Gavin Ruffell and joining me today is Charlie Pritchard. Charlie, it's been a few months since we've seen Fulham.
Season Excitement and Expectations
00:00:31
officialgspn
How are you looking forward to the new season as it's due to get underway in the coming days?
00:00:35
Charlie
I am really excited. You know what? I actually haven't been this excited about a new season since we came back up with Marco and we then started solidifying ourselves. I think now, in my opinion, our ceiling is like seventh. I mean, I think people were saying that last year, but really, let's be realistic. We didn't have a striker. Now we sort of do with Moon years.
00:01:00
Charlie
So I really do think that our ceiling is actually quite high. I also think it could be quite low as well. So I think we've got a good split probably between 7th and like 15th. I'd say it's like our ballpark. We're just so mid table. It's brilliant.
00:01:13
officialgspn
So your level of excitement just generally comes from the fact that you think the squad is in a good enough position to steer well clear of relegation, ah not be involved at that end of the table and possibly can look towards
00:01:21
Charlie
Oh, well clear.
Squad Concerns and New Signings
00:01:25
officialgspn
progressing from what they did last time around.
00:01:27
Charlie
Yeah. Well, we will be well clear of relegation. I've got no, no problems. No problems with that. ah I am a bit worried that we haven't replaced Colenia yet. We've got a big three weeks here before before the season starts. We've got it. We've got to get at least one CDM in. You can't just have little Harrison Reed running around at the back. That just won't work.
00:01:49
officialgspn
Yeah, there's been there's been a lot of a lot of names linked as is the case at this time of the year. I know Tony Khan, for those who don't know, is the director of ah football at Fulham.
00:02:00
officialgspn
He's also involved in other things like AEW and is it the Jacksonville Jaguars as well?
00:02:04
Charlie
Yeah, it is, it is, yeah.
00:02:06
officialgspn
What's his position there?
00:02:08
Charlie
Oh God, I don't know. I mean, it's just been handed to him on a plate, hasn't it? Like, he does a bit.
00:02:12
officialgspn
But yeah, he's got he's got a lot of things going on. he I know he divides a lot of lot of opinion across um the Fulham fanbase. um But yeah, so we head into the new season.
00:02:24
officialgspn
It's due to begin next Friday in earnest when the Premier League gets in the way. They kick things off against Manchester United.
00:02:31
officialgspn
um In terms of expectations, it's interesting you say that you're excited more than you have been in previous seasons. And as we touched upon, there there have been certain departures. Pelina is one of the names you mentioned.
00:02:32
Charlie
We do.
00:02:45
officialgspn
ah What do they need to do? if we're comparing it from last season to progress from that 13th place up towards top half and if you'd be an ultra optimistic maybe European places are a push.
00:02:45
Charlie
Yep.
00:03:01
Charlie
Oh, yeah, I actually might stick a bet on us finishing in the top seven, you know, now that I've said that. um I think essentially what what happened last year was we we sort of got off to a bit of a weird start just because there was this whole sort of commotion with Mitrovich gone and because he left in such a weird way.
00:03:19
Charlie
And we just didn't know where the goals were going to come from. And then we sort of brought in Jimenez. He's an aging striker and he did sort of some bits here, some bits there. And then we and then Muniz came in second half of the season. and I think that's when you saw what Fulham can be this season is that second half of last season when Muniz came in. The Brazilian boys were linking up so well. I think we've got a great replacement for Willianne.
00:03:40
Charlie
in ML Smith Rowe. I'm so excited to see him play. I think that is an absolute bargain at 35mm. Well, with add-ons at 35mm. I'm shocked that Arsenal let him go, but I think that's because he was the only one that actually held any value of the three they're looking to sell. um Really excited about ML Smith Rowe.
00:04:01
Charlie
And then also we've got the return the return of the king, Ryan Sesame. I'm really excited to see how he does. He looks a bit rusty in pre-season, not gonna lie, but he's had so many injury problems over the last few years. I'm not surprised that he's gonna have to you know dust some rust off to get the season started, but he'll be welcomed back so hard. well I'm so excited for that first home game. He'll get a big, big, big cheer. We're actually a bit spoiled for choice at fullback at the moment.
00:04:30
Charlie
because we've got Robinson and Cessna on at that fullback on the left. And then we've got Tete and Castaña. And Castaña, I thought, was brilliant last season. I didn't think anyone was going to replace Tete. And then Castaña sort of just did. And he was so good. His link-up play was brilliant. He can play the whole way up that right wing. and And probably on the left a bit as well.
Striker and Midfielder Dilemmas
00:04:52
Charlie
He's pretty two-footed. I think we need to replace Tosin.
00:04:57
Charlie
and we need to replace Paulina. So we were in the middle of the park, we're a bit less solid, but right down the wings, which is where Marco likes to play his football, I think we're actually looking really good. um So I think whipping balls into moon years is pretty good in the air. um i think I think it's looking really exciting. and
00:05:16
officialgspn
Just coming back to Mooney's there, I just want to highlight him a bit more, if that's okay.
00:05:22
Charlie
Yeah, please.
00:05:22
officialgspn
ah Do you feel relatively confident with him leading the line? I know he had a breakthrough season last time around, didn't he?
00:05:28
Charlie
Yeah.
00:05:28
officialgspn
Coming into the team from January onwards, ah taking the place of him and then he had a purple patch surgery for a couple of months.
00:05:30
Charlie
Yep.
00:05:34
Charlie
Yep.
00:05:35
officialgspn
Do you get a sense that he's ready to kick on and make sure that wasn't a one-off or do you have some doubts whether it was just a bit he had a purple patch but is he really up to that level?
00:05:46
officialgspn
I get i guess Time Will Tell will find out in the next next few weeks and I almost feel almost feel the first few games are important for him and the Fulham fans and their level of expectation expectation with him leading the line because you can imagine if he doesn't score in the first three or four games
00:05:48
Charlie
Yeah. Yeah.
00:06:03
officialgspn
and there's still time left in the transfer window there's going to be questions over him and and people saying well was is he just the flash in the pan who just had a good month and a half you know he wasn't that good that he wasn't that good all all along so ah do you feel confident that he is the right guy to lead the line and that he can be your 15 goal the season striker on a you know on a season to season basis?
00:06:07
Charlie
Yeah.
00:06:10
Charlie
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right.
00:06:25
Charlie
I think we're actually quite lucky you know talk about the first couple games I think we're actually quite lucky with the schedule because you know two of the first three games we've got are newly promoted teams we've got Leicester and Ipswich game game week two and three so I think if he doesn't produce against Leicester at home game week two then oh no that's still too early what am i talking about that's still way too early to start passing judgment i i think that you can judge him after about game week six game week seven after we play forest um i think he should have two or three goals by then should do um i think look if if you look at last season he only started playing from january let's say he ended up as our top goal scorer
00:07:08
Charlie
So if he's doing that in half a season, I'm, again, very excited to see what he can do with the whole of it. um He has taken a long time to come good. I always sort of compared Marco's signing of Nunez to him signing Richarlison at Watford.
00:07:26
Charlie
It sort of felt like a very similar sort of player. Obviously, Rich Arleson kicked on so quickly. Now he's not as good. I actually would say Munoz is better than Rich Arleson. I would rather have Munoz than Rich Arleson at Fulham, 100%. I'm really excited to see how he does. I want him leading the line. And if he doesn't, then maybe, you know, we've got him and he's waiting in the wings. And then we've also got Stanner, Jay Stansfield, who's been quality for Birmingham and
00:07:54
officialgspn
do Do you still expect him to be there in the next couple of weeks?
00:07:58
Charlie
I know there's a lot there's a lot there's a lot of talk about him going out on another loan. but I'd love to see him play, I really would. ah Because you've seen him in pre-season, he has looked really good, off the ball especially. ah His movement's really, really good. and Because he can play on the wing as well, so he's got that sort of bit of pace about him, which Munoz sort of doesn't have. um He's not slow by any means, but I wouldn't call him a pace-y striker. Munoz, he's more sort of holed up. He's sort of an athletic Mitrovic, with a bit of Brazilian flair.
00:08:30
Charlie
Um, so yeah, but we'll we'll see how he does. I think you can judge him after game week seven. Um, but until then I want him leaving the line every, every game up till then.
00:08:40
officialgspn
Yeah. And you did touch upon some of the recent recruits. I'm not going to go into great detail or length about that. We'll save that for a future tre episode when we go more in depth in terms of transfer speculation and news.
00:08:53
Charlie
Yep.
00:08:53
officialgspn
But I echo the sentiments that you made about Smith Row. I thought um that was a really exciting sign. And you don't see films spend that type of money on a player.
00:09:02
officialgspn
But um you certainly got a point to prove you'll be eyeing getting back in the England side.
00:09:02
Charlie
Nope.
00:09:07
officialgspn
And as I said, we'll we'll touch on it a bit later on. but I think that's an exciting sign. and Before we go with any further in terms of looking at pre-season and the effect of that, we are brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:09:08
Charlie
Yep.
00:09:20
officialgspn
Charlie, would you just give a word about them?
00:09:23
Charlie
Yes, well, this podcast is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only network bringing you exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team, the Premier League, women's football and fantasy football. It's a unique listening experience that puts fans first, bringing you the very latest breaking news from your team. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and make us your first listen every day. Global Sports Podcast Network, every club, every day.
00:09:52
officialgspn
Okay, so I mentioned pre-season there. It's still ongoing at the minute. There is one game left to play against Hoffenheim.
Pre-season Insights
00:09:59
officialgspn
So far, so good. um Pretty much in terms of pre-season, a couple of big wins over QPR and Watford.
00:09:59
Charlie
Yep.
00:10:02
Charlie
Yeah.
00:10:06
Charlie
Classic.
00:10:07
officialgspn
Also and a win over Benfica. They just lost to Sevier. How do you look into pre-season form? do you Did you think the results matter or was it all just about getting minutes into some of the players and just working up their fitness levels?
00:10:19
Charlie
Yeah. It. Yeah, it's all about minutes. I mean, look, it's it's lovely to win. I'll tell you what, like you'll celebrate the wins and then you don't really care about the losses. You'll just say, Oh, it's pre-season.
00:10:30
Charlie
Um, but you know, how getting a win against Benfica, you know, it's a Champions League club. Oh, I'll take it. I will take it.
00:10:37
officialgspn
And they got a nice little trophy for it as well, didn't they?
00:10:39
Charlie
yeah Yeah. Didn't we? Isn't that lovely? Yeah. You'll never sing that. Um, it was, no, it was, it was great to watch the lives. There's a lot of minutes going out to the, to the youth at the moment. So, you know, I think that the first half against Sevilla was pretty much entirely youth academy. So, you know, you're playing against a, you know, a seriously top Spanish side. I'm not, I'm not expecting much with our academy boys out there. Um, second half, we looked really good. Uh, Smith Road came on and scored. Um, you know, the link up play between him and a Wobi, you know, they used to play, play with each other at Arsenal when they were kids.
00:11:15
Charlie
So it's great to have that link up, that chemistry down the left. I think that's going to be fantastic to watch, you know, later on. Smithrow looks really electric, as I keep saying how excited I am about the Smithrow, but God, I cannot say it more enough. Like, wow, what a player. um But I think pre-season, it's all about the minutes. It's all about getting a bit of team chemistry. You know, Fulham are putting out stuff of all the lads playing water polo. There's just East of the up in the middle of the thing, just holding the ball up above his head. No one can, no one can touch it.
00:11:44
Charlie
um So it's all about building that team chemistry. you know you're out in You're out in Portugal with the lads, ah get get some minutes in the legs, get the fitness up, and just kick on. I'm i'm i'm not bothered about results in pre-season. I just like to see the kids play, seeing everyone loving each other. I mean, that's the full-on way. like you just sort of Everyone's just loving each other. It's great.
00:12:05
officialgspn
Yeah, you ah you spoke about the youth prospects there and the lads from the academy getting minutes.
00:12:09
officialgspn
Is there anyone you've got your eye on in particular that you think may make a real breakthrough and play play in the Premier League this season?
00:12:09
Charlie
Yeah.
00:12:12
Charlie
Yeah, I really like Godo. yeah Yeah, I really like Godo. I alluded to Stano earlier, but Godo looks really good as well. um I think he's probably those are probably my two picks, both attackers. um We do have one. I forget his name now, the centre back, but he he looked all right. I mean, the thing is with with these youngsters that they're playing against these big teams. You've got Ben Fica and Sevilla, you know, these guys have not had had a taste of anything like this. So it must be quite intimidating, especially, you know, coming up into the first team sort of and doing that. But as as I say, it's all about just getting experience. But Godot, I think, looks really, really interesting for the future.
00:12:55
officialgspn
Yeah, I completely agree in terms of the preseason. I never read too much in terms of the results. Obviously it's nice for the feel-good factor and for the young lads to get minutes on the park and winning games so will be confident even if it isn't um the Premier League and the intensity of that.
00:13:09
officialgspn
But I do almost feel like losing that that game against Sevilla, it helps in some ways because if they if they go through, you go through an unbeaten preseason, it just builds ah expectations up to a a level that it's hard to it's It's hard to envisage, envisage really, you know, you start thinking, ooh, bring a one or two plays and you know, for beating Alexis severe and Ben Fica, um, you kind of get ahead of your station.
00:13:09
Charlie
Yeah.
00:13:26
Charlie
Yeah.
00:13:29
Charlie
Yeah. Yeah.
00:13:33
officialgspn
So it's just working up a fitness and Ryan Cessignon, um, who had obviously had a difficult time of it at Spurs, didn't he?
00:13:37
Charlie
Yeah, he needs it.
00:13:41
officialgspn
We had bad, had a bad injury, hasn't played a lot of football than the last two or three years.
00:13:42
Charlie
Yeah.
00:13:44
Charlie
Yeah.
00:13:46
officialgspn
So it's critical for him.
00:13:48
officialgspn
And I'm sure I can't see him, if I'm being honest, being a ah regular starter to begin with, he just needs that match-fit-match fitness now and then hopefully towards the second half of the season he can be a real asset for Fulham and sort of provoke the memories um that the Craven Cottage faithful had of him when he was a young 16-17 year old boy coming through the ranks when he built a name for himself and got that move to Spurs in the first place.
00:13:48
Charlie
No.
00:13:53
Charlie
Not over Robinson. No.
00:14:08
Charlie
Oh.
00:14:11
Charlie
Yep.
00:14:11
officialgspn
um
00:14:13
officialgspn
Yeah, as as
00:14:13
Charlie
100%.
Opening Match Strategy
00:14:14
officialgspn
as we said, so the final game is against Hoffenheim on the 10th of August before that first match against Manchester United. It'll be interesting to see what the team selection is there, whether that will be something that's similar to what we we're likely to see for the first game at Old Trafford.
00:14:24
Charlie
yeah
00:14:28
officialgspn
How do you think he's going to play that?
00:14:29
Charlie
I don't think Smith Row starts and I think people will get really annoyed, but that's just what, but that's what Marco has done with new signings for the last couple of years. It usually takes them about two, three games before they actually get the start. And I'm sure Arsenal fans on Twitter will be going mad, going like, why aren't you playing him? Why aren't you playing him? It's like, no, no, no, you've got to build him up. You've got to build him up. Make sure he's not feeling too nervous. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just make sure everyone's cohesive. um But i think that I think that the first game of this season against United willpee will be a bit of a baptism of fire, to be honest, because you're going straight to Old Trafford.
00:15:06
Charlie
They've got a big point to prove as well. you're United are playing for something here. Tenharg, everyone was saying he was going to get sacked at the end of last season, so he's going to come out got all guns blazing. I think it's going to be a terrific game. In fact, ah um I really fancy it. I fancy our chances against them. We beat them away last year um for the first time since I think it was like 2008 or something. Nuts. um That was a great win. I honestly think we could do it again. I think the guys look like they're really loving each other at the moment and that's the best way. That's the best way to play. um There's no infighting. I think a lot of that was happening at United last season.
00:15:43
Charlie
And I think you saw it at Chelsea as well. Jesus, when the players just aren't playing together, you can really see it. Whereas with Fulham, I think last season, that's something that always impressed me about us is that the boys always backed each other up. There was never any, there was never any squabbles. We always looked like everyone had their head on a swivel. Everyone looked like they knew what they were supposed to be doing. um So yeah, I'm really excited for that first game. I really think we can do it.
00:16:10
officialgspn
Yeah, um so there's been a couple of key departures at Fulham this season. There's always a departures and he can go into this time, but um not a player as such, someone on the coaching staff, someone very popular with the fans who was a player.
00:16:22
Charlie
Oh, yeah.
00:16:24
officialgspn
In fact, in fact um as I said, the Broadway fans, he's gone on to take a role as head coach of Guinea Bissau.
Tributes to Former Players
00:16:32
officialgspn
What are your sort of thoughts on Luis Bormorte as the man as a player?
00:16:36
officialgspn
What are your particular memories of him?
00:16:38
Charlie
Louis Beau, what a player. I remember watching him. Oh, what was it? Oh, six. Oh, five. Oh, six. What a player. He was so good for us. I mean, I think a lot of people remember him more at West End.
00:16:49
Charlie
um It was so great seeing him back at the cottage with Marco and the success that you know the two of them have brought Fulham since they've arrived has been second to none. I haven't haven't seen anything like it, the football we play. I'm not sure how much it's going to change the way we play football, you know because ah ultimately the the buck stops at at Marco. um But I think he was a real catalyst in the dressing room, Louis Beau, especially with a lot with with a lot of the Portuguese players.
00:17:22
Charlie
just but you know There was no language barrier. It's fantastic seeing him on the bench. He was always he was always the one you know getting in the opposition dug out here. It was never Marco. It was always Louis Beau. He's always ducked straight over to him, straight in the ear of the fourth official. So I think maybe we'll miss that energy that he brought um and from the second-in-command that you don't you know see a lot from other second-in-commands.
00:17:46
Charlie
um So I think that might be something we we miss, but I wish him all the best. like There is absolutely no ill will at all. like Honestly, i hope I hope he goes on to be one of the best managers of all time. like ah but We love him. We love him.
00:17:59
Charlie
ah for
00:17:59
officialgspn
Yeah, i hold I hold him in the same regard as you. I mean, I got a special affinity with him in some ways because the first Fulham game I went to, don't let the accent fool all the order listeners here.
00:18:11
officialgspn
I have followed Fulham a long time just because my dad has supported them for a very long time. So the first game I went to was, ooh, I think it will must have been about December 2000. And we were actually lucky enough to bump into some of the Fulham players on the way to the ground.
00:18:24
officialgspn
I think Sean Davis, that was the first autograph I ever had, but Lewis Beaumont was there.
00:18:27
Charlie
Oh, yeah? No way!
00:18:29
officialgspn
No, absolutely. louis but Louis Beaumorte was one of the players there and he could have been more friendly and, you know, with some of the other kids there as well.
00:18:34
Charlie
Oh, that's great.
00:18:36
officialgspn
He was he was great. And I think he probably, at times during his playing career, he got an unfair reputation, maybe being a bit look spiky and provoking the opposition. But I think he's just, ah he's got a passion.
00:18:47
officialgspn
He's got a passion as in, you can see that alongside Marco Silva at times, both of them getting animated.
00:18:49
Charlie
Yeah.
00:18:52
officialgspn
So he'd be lost, he'd be lost the phone.
00:18:54
officialgspn
but um i wish I wish him well as he strives for the next but next path in his career and that's ultimately becoming number one a successful coach in his own right.
00:18:55
Charlie
Yeah.
00:18:57
Charlie
Yeah.
00:19:01
Charlie
100%.
00:19:04
officialgspn
So before we look ahead, I just want to give a word, a shout out to Zencaster. um Do you have a story to tell that the world needs to hear? Have you struggled with reaching new audiences who are engaged with your story? It might be time for you to start a podcast. Let me tell you about a platform we use here at Global Sports Podcast Network. Zencaster makes it easy to start a high quality podcast built for growth from day one.
00:19:30
officialgspn
With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes ums, r's, your nose, and 22 other speech patterns, Zencaster makes it super easy to start a podcast that sounds great.
00:19:43
officialgspn
Ready to tell your story? Check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. And before we wrap up, ah it's just been announced that Tim Ream has departed.
00:19:55
officialgspn
Store walk the full, I know he's one of your favorites.
00:19:59
Charlie
Oh.
00:19:59
officialgspn
um just a few words on him and what he done with fullen because there have been times when people have question him every every time they got promoted when they were in that phase of being a yo-yo side
00:20:10
officialgspn
he was kind of the first one that was jettisoned and and when he did play there was always the odd mistaken him but i think at the age of 36, 37 now.
00:20:11
Charlie
Yeah.
00:20:20
officialgspn
I think so the season before last was a standout one for him and just a proof to the naysayers, including myself.
00:20:20
Charlie
He's old.
00:20:22
Charlie
Oh.
00:20:28
officialgspn
i've I've questioned him as well, wherever he's up to it, but he certainly, he certainly shot a lot of people up during that season.
00:20:31
Charlie
Yep. We all are. Yeah.
00:20:35
officialgspn
He's been a longtand long servant for Fulham, so just a few words on him.
00:20:39
Charlie
Wow. I mean, look, where, where do I start? He's, he's had the 312 appearances for Fulham. He's got the second most appearances for Fulham behind Tom Kenny in the, in the 21st century.
00:20:53
Charlie
You know, he's an absolute club legend, and he joins a whole list of famous Americans that have played for Fulham, the Fulham America Classic. I myself have an American passport, so I have an even more special special link to to Tim. um If I think about the great American players of the past, like Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey, he he joins that he joins that sort of upper echelon of talent that's come over from the US and played for Fulham.
00:21:22
Charlie
ah We all sort of wanted to replace him at one point. We all thought he was, you know, just passed it. And then he had that season, just that's it. We all know the one we're talking about two seasons ago. Oh my God. What a player. And I think there was that, there was that, uh, post-match thing you you saw after the city game with Pep and Pep goes up to him and says, God, you know, if if you, uh,
00:21:46
Charlie
if If you were 10 years younger, you'd be playing for me. And you're just like, wow. I mean, getting getting something like that from Pep Guardiola, like that is that is top. That is seriously top. It'll it willll be sad to see him go. He was always so brilliant with the fans, you know, even on Twitter.
00:22:00
Charlie
Like he would always, he would reply to stuff all the time. And really you felt like you were getting an authentic view of who he was. And I think it will be, it will be a real shame to see him go, but you know, all the best. And he's 37. He can go back, retire in the US. I think it's probably something that he's always wanted to do. He's going over to Charlotte. They've got an absolutely great bloke there. Like, wow. Um, I cannot, I cannot say more about Timmy. He's, you know, the captain, like he's, he's the man. Like he'll be really sad to not see him and in white anymore.
00:22:30
officialgspn
Yeah, and he sees someone I can see going on to progress and go into the coaching or if he wants to do punditry, I'm sure he'll go on to have a successful career after he's playing days.
00:22:35
Charlie
A hundred percent. Yeah.
00:22:40
officialgspn
ah But yeah, he's he's a great role role model. He's been at that club for a long time. And I think what he could have passed on to some of the younger players is invaluable. And as you said, his interaction with the fans.
00:22:51
officialgspn
um you know you' You're not going to hear a bad word about Tim Ream.
00:22:55
Charlie
No, never.
00:22:56
officialgspn
Being out at nightclubs, getting up to no good. but He's an absolute model professional.
00:23:01
Charlie
Yeah, no trips to Northern Ireland.
00:23:01
officialgspn
As I said, I'm sure he'll go on to have success. It wouldn't surprise me one day if he he ends up sort of on the coaching staff of of the US u team.
00:23:09
officialgspn
um time time will Time will tell.
00:23:09
Charlie
Oh, yeah, good shout.
00:23:11
Charlie
Good shout.
00:23:12
officialgspn
but um No, I'm sure he'll be welcome back at Fulham any time and, you know, he'll bring a smile to everyone everyone's faces if if they do see him down at the cottage in the future, because he's meant a lot a lot to a lot to the fans.
00:23:18
Charlie
100%. Yep.
Season Success Discussion
00:23:25
Charlie
and Thank you, Tim.
00:23:25
officialgspn
I just want to wrap things up with just the a final sort of look ahead.
00:23:31
Charlie
Mm hmm.
00:23:31
officialgspn
what what What would we deem as success as we gear up towards the 24, 25 scene? What is realistic or what would you be, I guess, content happy with before a ball has been kicked.
00:23:45
Charlie
Okay, before a bull's been kicked um but before a ball's been kicked, ah I would really like to have the striker question answered on that we're definitely going with Moonyas or whether we're still searching for for one, because I know at one point we were linked with Inketia, but I'm sure that's out the water now. So I think we probably are going with Moonyas, which is great. Then it's just middle of the park because we haven't replaced Tossin and we haven't replaced Polina. So we need those two areas looked at.
00:24:23
Charlie
Like I know we're linked with Andre and we've already got an agreement with him and then we're also in the water for McTominay. So really, I just like to see another CDM come in. I think we're probably all right at centre back, but we need one more. But I think that's probably less of a priority than than the than the middle of the park, just because of how dominant Paulina was for us for the last two seasons. just It's pretty impossible to replace that.
00:24:47
Charlie
um after a ball's been kicked. I would say that, as I said, our ceiling is, in my opinion, our ceiling is is European football, but just seventh.
00:24:59
Charlie
um I think I'm being optimistic. I think we finish 10th, 9th or 10th if I'm being honest, if I'm being like true. um I think I'll be very disappointed if we finish worse than we did last season. Very disappointed. ah In fact, I don't actually know how they could manage to do that um just because I think everyone's ticking on. That's the whole Paulina question. It's like, how much will we miss?
00:25:24
Charlie
having that bruiser in midfield that makes you know the top for tackling charts in Europe every season. you How much are we going to miss that? um Well, a lot, I think. That's why we need another one. But um I think that's really the um my main my main question and worry about this season coming up, is is what are we going to do with that CDM
Premier League Survival Talk
00:25:45
Charlie
slot? What are we going to do?
00:25:47
officialgspn
I think from my own personal perspective, I think it's just about consolidation. there there are times when i think and I know Crystal Palace fans, they got bored of finishing between 11th and 15th and their manager came in last season, giving you lease of life and they look at their fans are talking optimistically, aren't they, about pushing for Europe.
00:26:04
Charlie
Yeah.
00:26:08
officialgspn
You've also got to be careful and just realise that being in the Premier League and having consolidation is massive because Fulham were, despite being in the Premier League for 14-15 consecutive seasons, were labelled as a yo-yo team and you you don't want that to be the case. So it's it's been nice the last couple of seasons that they've not been in any threat at all of being dragged into a relegation dogfight.
00:26:31
officialgspn
So yeah, just looking at the first six games, you don't want to sort of pick out at this stage or what's a must win, you know, we'll, we'll take a win there, a draw a draw there. But looking at the first six games, I do see opportunities to pick up points.
00:26:44
officialgspn
And if you can get points on, on the board early, then you can strive to push up that table and ah just alleviate any fears of potentially being dragged into it.
00:26:48
Charlie
yeah
Transfer Speculations and Closing Remarks
00:26:56
officialgspn
ah But there's a lot to look forward to, and as so as I said, you know you mentioned possibility players coming in, we'll look we'll look at that down the line. um There's another three, three and a half weeks to go, so what the Fulham squad's looking like at the minute, I'm sure there's going to be more ins and more outs.
00:27:13
officialgspn
as the days and weeks progress.
00:27:13
Charlie
Yeah.
00:27:15
officialgspn
There you have it. That is episode one in the books. We hope you all enjoyed it. and Be sure to follow us. We are on Twitter, or as it's called now, XGSPN Fulham.
00:27:15
Charlie
100%.
00:27:28
officialgspn
We're also on Instagram, so give us a follow there.
00:27:30
officialgspn
and just ah We thank you for tuning into this episode.
00:27:31
Charlie
Please.
00:27:34
Charlie
Thank you very much.
00:27:34
officialgspn
We hope you've enjoyed it, and be sure to tune in next time at the Daily Fulham Podcast.