Introduction and Fixture Excitement
00:00:09
Speaker
Hello, hello, welcome back, welcome along to the Daily Fulham Podcast, bringing you all things Fulham five days a week. We know you're very excited for the upcoming fixture against Newcastle. On the weekend, we're home again, which is nice for all those that live local.
Guest Insight on Newcastle's Season
00:00:26
Speaker
We're obviously joined by Ian as well from the GSP and Newcastle team. Ian, where what are you thinking about the upcoming fixture? Are you excited? What's the feeling up north?
00:00:35
Speaker
Well, up north, we're wondering whether we actually yeah need to perform or not, because this season, as we've very disjointedly limped from game to game somehow, we're third in the table. So yeah, watch out. It's going to click one time. No, we're excited.
Newcastle's London Challenges and Recent Success
00:00:55
Speaker
Of course we're excited. Do you think these are do you think these are three points in the bag, or are you slightly maybe a bit worried? I don't know.
00:01:03
Speaker
ah I have watched Newcastle play Fulham on the numerous occasions. I've lived through decades of failing to win in London, and you know how many games a season that is. So I think when Newcastle come to London, we can never be completely confident.
Impact of New Ownership on Newcastle
00:01:19
Speaker
However, our recent record with you down there is pretty good. Yeah, yeah, really good. I think I remember watching Newcastle beat Fulham, I think it was four or five, one.
00:01:30
Speaker
it might have even been nil and we got a red card literally in the first five minutes and then I've never been so depressed watching a team because Newcastle were just better than us and I think this is a thing that's happened with Newcastle recently where especially in my time I sort of think about Newcastle being around sort of 10th to 15th They obviously got relegated and then bust the championship. That was fine. But I've not really thought about Newcastle as a top six side. And obviously top six in the Premier League is a sort of weird phrase because Tottenham get thrown in when they don't really win
Financial Constraints and Ambitions
00:02:06
Speaker
anything. Chelsea have get thrown in. They sort of win every win everything every five years. Now the now the top six is sort of expanded into a top eight. And I'd say Newcastle is sort of firmly in that, wouldn't you?
00:02:19
Speaker
I would agree with you. I would agree with you. I think that's largely driven by the cash that is available. And of course, and our new Saudi Arabian PIF owners have got more cash than everybody else added together. So they aren't going to settle for anything less than us being a fixture in the top four, I would say, rather than the top eight. That said,
00:02:42
Speaker
We feel a little bit hamstrung by rule changes and interpretations, so we can't actually flash that cash very much at the moment. I think we are having to compete purely on a football basis.
00:02:55
Speaker
um But in that, I would say that, yeah, and we've already gatecrashed that top eight party with finishing fourth in Eddie's second season, finishing seventh, was it, last year?
00:03:11
Speaker
seventh last year. Very close. We wish we should have been going. We might even have been. No, we finished sixth last year. Man United won the League Cup and they got into Europe and we didn't. So we finished sixth last year. um It would be failure, I think, this year at for Newcastle not to be pushing for the top four all season, ah maybe finishing fourth and maybe finishing fifth.
00:03:38
Speaker
But they need they need Champions League now. ah They need Champions League for the income that will give them the spending power which they can then spend. But we're we're on the way. We're on this journey. It'll take a bit longer than we thought with
Injury Challenges and Squad Depth
00:03:49
Speaker
all these new rules. But we're on the way.
00:03:51
Speaker
Yeah, so do you think that anything outside top five is then is then going to be viewed as a failure? But is that going to be viewed as a failure by the ownership or is that going to be viewed as a failure by the fans and the manager? Obviously, those are two very different things. um I think you but you being outside Champions League football not having it this season is probably going to help you probably. I think it will. Charlie also having having enough of your squad not injured to not rely on a 17-year-old boy in the centre of midfield in all of your Champions League away matches, which is what we did last year.
Transformation Under New Ownership
00:04:28
Speaker
We had a ridiculous amount of injuries, freak injuries and injuries that lasted for months instead of the weeks with people.
00:04:36
Speaker
And we're still not clear of them completely. You know, we've got Botman and LaSalle still out with Khrushchev ligament injuries. We've got Sicknote, Callum Wilson, who scores what he plays. It's just we can't get him on the bloody pitch because he's got a bad back now. um That said, we've got enough, I think, we've got enough of a squad to to put out a very competitive team. um So I think both the manager,
00:05:05
Speaker
The crowd and definitely the ownership would think that if we're not in the top six, it's a complete failure. I think I think you're probably right there. And with the with the amount of capital Newcastle now have, I mean, God, that's good that's what waking up in the morning and being owned by the PIF instead of Mike Ashley must have been literally like Christmas come early. like That must have been ridiculous as a fan waking up to that news. It was incredible. However, I think we earned it because that was that was almost happening maybe two years beforehand.
00:05:43
Speaker
and So it was dangled in front of us for so long and it dragged on for so long that we had decided it probably isn't going to happen and then suddenly it did.
Transfer Success Stories
00:05:53
Speaker
um Yeah very exciting stuff and it and it was you know how it was appointed when we were bottom of the league, hadn't won. Steve Bruce had won us three points that from our first seven games I think it was um And that January we brought, we didn't spend lavishly I don't think, but but I think Trippier was a fantastic buy. Dan Byrne was inspired. These guys had 10 million or less. And of course we got Bruno at the end of that window who is proving to be a bargain. I think we paid about 35, 40 mil for Bruno.
00:06:35
Speaker
um So yeah, yeah that's our ah that was our transfer policy that is to quote our new football director not fit for purpose.
00:06:48
Speaker
um Yeah, took out Bruno for 40 million, Sven Botman for 35 million, Anthony Gordon, who the Everton fans told us we had completely overpaid for at 45 million. I think he's, I think he's doubled his money now
Potential Management Issues
00:07:01
Speaker
as well. But there you go. That's the quality of Eddie Howe, quality of Eddie Howe's coaching, I think. But then, but then recently, this stuff's emerged that there might be a little bit of there might be a little bit of a problem between Eddie Howe and the sporting director. Do you think there's anything to be read into at that? Do you think you're going to have Eddie Howe by next season or is he on the way out? ah I'm not sure that fans would stand for that at the moment. He's still got a lot of support. Um, and why wouldn't he with where he's transformed us on the pitch over the last three years? I think, um,
00:07:39
Speaker
Mitchell was given a hospital pass to to turn up with about eight weeks left of the transfer window, long enough for him to be assumed that he's in complete control of it, but not long enough for him to actually have any control over it. If Eddie Howe has said, I want Gay here, and nobody else, and that's what Mitchell's been working on and then ultimately failed at.
00:08:03
Speaker
I'm sure between the pair of them, they'll know that there needs to be a different process involved and they'll work it out. m But I don't think Eddie Howe and Mitchell are going to not be able to work away through it. I think they'll get to work together.
Squad Strength and Key Players
00:08:18
Speaker
It's too big an opportunity for both of them, to be honest. They get it right. They get it right and they can go down as legends. Well, the team that Newcastle have assembled right now Seems seems just pretty crazy how how good it is. If you look at each player individually and then put them together as a team, you guys have a ridiculously strong side. I mean, one of my favorite players in the league you have playing up top for you, which is Alexander Isaac, who as a youngster for me,
00:08:50
Speaker
watching the Premier League I was in love with Thierry Henry and for me Isaac seems like the reincarnation of Thierry Henry with his movement and the way he can sort of he does that sort of flick round the keeper from just around eight yards and it just looks so much like Thierry Henry. How much do you love Alexander Isaac at the moment?
00:09:11
Speaker
Well, we do love him. We do love him. He's had a period of injury in both of the seasons that he's played for us, though. um We were fortunate in that that coincided with periods when Wilson was fit. But with Wilson being injured now and he's having to take the strain for 90 minutes through every game, we're a little bit concerned, obviously, um that we did we did get a ah a monster from Sheffield United, who actually looks very raw, but really, really
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00:09:44
Speaker
promising. Six foot four, super quick, called Ozula. Haven't seen him in the Premier League yet, but I've got high hopes for him. He might well be able to come in and do a good job for us. um But yeah, Isaac is world class already, world class. And I mean, you know, we paid 62 million for him, and I reckon he's already doubled in value. Well, personally,
00:10:09
Speaker
Yeah, no, I mean, I completely agree. Before we get on to the next few players to talk about, let me just tell you a bit about our sponsor, Zencaster. So 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? Well, it might be time for you to start a podcast.
00:10:28
Speaker
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Match Preparations and Standout Performances
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00:10:58
Speaker
So I just want to talk a little bit about the battles on the pitch when when we get there on Saturday. um I think Newcastle are definitely in the ascendancy. Fulham have come off a very tough defeat last night where we made 11 changes and ended up having 34 penalties taken, which was one of the more agonizing things I've had to watch in a while. It got to the point where I just didn't even care about the result anymore. I just wanted someone to finish it.
00:11:26
Speaker
um But we we got to see some of those players run out. You haven't had a midweek fixture. You guys look to be to be rested. um Do you think you guys are going to come out full strength on on Saturday? I think we'll definitely be full strength. He doesn't pull any punches in the Premier League at because there are, to use the my favourite cliché, there are no easy games in the Premier League.
00:11:47
Speaker
um And I think it would be full strength and I think i think it'll be a hard match. You haven't talked very much about any of your players yet. And you've acquired one or two guys
Fulham's Summer Signings Impact
00:12:02
Speaker
who tend to perform really, really well against Newcastle. I'm particularly thinking about Emil Smith Rowe. I remember him scoring for Arsenal against us on more than one occasion.
00:12:15
Speaker
um but also Triori, who tortured us when he played for wolves many times. So at least there's no Willy Ann because he always used to he always used to turn up against Newcastle as well. But yeah, you you must be quite pleased with your acquisitions this year. ah'll Tell me about it. um This is probably yeah the the first time in ah in ah in a long while where I've seen Fulham really sort of make a statement in the in the ah in the summer window. um some Usually we are sort of chasing our tails in January and we need to make quick signings and we end up making the wrong ones.
00:12:51
Speaker
or bringing someone on loan and then we do badly and they down tools. It's just sort of the classic, the classic story really. But getting in plays like M.L. Smith Rowe, Anderson, who was obviously on loan at us before under Scott Parker in 2020,
00:13:08
Speaker
um I'm really, really excited. We've also managed to replace, well, not fully replace, Paulina, but getting 51 mil from a 28 year old aging central defensive midfielder, I think is just a really, really good bit of business. Very good.
00:13:24
Speaker
Yeah, i'm I'm really impressed. I don't usually say I'm impressed with Tony Khan, but I'm really impressed with but Tony Khan. I've got to congratulate you on successfully buying a centre half from Crystal Palace, of course, because that's something that we tried and really badly failed to do.
Newcastle's Defensive Strength
00:13:43
Speaker
Do you think that's a ah real problem that you haven't been able to ah to to sort of back up your hailing centre backs? I am. ah delighted to see how gay he has struggled in the first four Crystal Palace games. We were already saying at 60 million that we thought he was overpriced and when that price kept getting nudged up and up, 75 at one stage, I'm so pleased we walked away from it. um Because I'm not sure we've
00:14:12
Speaker
I'm not sure we really ah are struggling in the centre half department to be fair. but okay Dan Byrne is a rock solid Premier League centre half and he's in covering first Sven Botman who is a little bit of a Rolls Royce when he comes back fit you will see. Fab Shah got to go down as one of the bargains in the Premier League history. He cost us £3 million. pounds No, he didn't. He cost £3 million. Rafa bought him, I think, way back then and he's a fantastic ball-playing centre-half. We're suspended for those first three games after he got set off against um
00:14:55
Speaker
Southampton but really made ah a difference ah in that obviously scored the equaliser completely against the run of play at Wolves. But you could see how when that went in suddenly there was a switch clicked and we were all over all over them to get the second goal. um This is it. This is what I mean about us having been disjointed. One or two key players missing.
00:15:20
Speaker
um But then when they when they come back in, I mean, you know, think how would know what his best team was. We were awful in that first half against Wolves and he made unprecedented three changes at half time.
00:15:34
Speaker
ultimately those guys coming on, Barnes, in particular, helped win the game. So, yeah, um sorry, I've gone off on a bit of a tangent then, I was talking about. I was enjoying this, please. please wa sir um no i i i'm i'm curious I'm always curious to see how sort of ex Fulham players end up doing, and obviously you've got one in in Dan Byrne, who I don't know, he never really, he sort of flattered to deceive at Fulham, but he's gone on to be seriously important for you, but not in the position that everyone sort of would expected. if he's ah He's been playing at left-back, majoritably, and he's a six-foot-six, sort of turns like the Titanic, but it seems to work. I mean, if I if i was an opposing manager and I saw six-foot-six Dan Byrne at left-back and I've got Adam Atreyore,
00:16:23
Speaker
who's big, strong, and more importantly, rapid. I'd be sending him at him all day long, but he seems to cope with it. Is is that right? Well, and I think it was exposed once or twice last year, that lack of pace.
00:16:39
Speaker
um Certainly Anthony Alanger at Nottingham Forest exploited it in the sort of way that makes you cry into your beer.
00:16:52
Speaker
um to lose 3-1 on Boxing Day with Chris Wood scoring a hat-trick um to an Nottingham Forest at home, exposed Burns' lack of pace. Now, this season, because Botman's been out injured, Burns playing centre a-half, and that's where the six-foot-six, he gets in the way of everything. We've got Lloyd Kelly, recruited from Bournemouth, who can play at at left back, and he's a lot faster, but also Lewis Hall,
00:17:23
Speaker
who is coming on in leaps and bounds now.
Potential Fulham Players of Interest
00:17:27
Speaker
He couldn't get him ah couldn't get a game after we took him on the loan last season for the first half of the season, but was trusted as we got into the end part of the season. um I watched him recently in the England under 20s side, I think it was, come on at half-time and assist the third and fourth goals.
00:17:45
Speaker
he said He's fabulous going forward, but also fast enough defensively. Still prone to where to to maybe trying a little bit too much on the edge of his home box, but he's only young. We'll learn that. He's got a damn bird. to Shout at him alongside him to make sure that he's minimized. so yeah so i think ah I honestly think we were okay in the centre-half department. We could do with a right-sided centre-half, because the cells are injured.
00:18:11
Speaker
But then em Emil Kraft, who's really a full back but came on and played centre half when Shah was suspended, ended up being the top man in the match against Tottenham, was excellent. I'm i'm curious if if you could if you could try and steal a player from Fulham.
00:18:28
Speaker
Who are you who are you you know most, most hankering after?
Fulham's Striker Situation
00:18:33
Speaker
Who who would you say, even if there is one that makes it into your side? I mean, I think there are at least three, but... Yeah, well, I could give you those three straight away, which is Smithrow, Traori. We've got no one down the right hand side, unless Miggy. Miggy's been kept in a box just to come and play at Craven Cottage to score another one of those Wonder Cottage. Oh, I remember that. I think he's done twice down there.
00:18:56
Speaker
So yeah, with Miggie or Murphy on the right wing, we'd swap in for Traore straight away, I think. A Smith role would be challenging to get in a position in everybody's midfield. And I've found, certainly when he started banging the goals in in the second half of last season, and I'm a fan of the centre forward. Is that Muniz? Munoz? It's really an interesting guy, old Roger, because you sort of, he he reminded me, I say this every time when I talk about him, but when When Marco brought him in from Brazil, it sort of reminded me of Marco getting Rishalison into Watford. where It sort of reminded me of that sort of signing like a young, very much unproven, very raw Brazilian striker that could potentially turn into something. Same size, same build. But I think he's got a bit more finesse than a Rishalison. It did also take him about three years to become good. Two loan spells at Giddlesborough.
00:19:55
Speaker
and everyone had sort of given up on him. I remember last season Jimenez was sort of injured and then suspended with a red card against against your lot um and then and then ah we brought in Brozier and we were like interesting right before Brozier gets his start we'll give Mooney as a game to sort of pad the gap and Mooney goes and scores and then you're like oh okay right well we we'll give him another we'll give him another game you can't drop him for score and then he goes and scores too and then he kept scoring like every weekend and Brozier never ended up starting for us which I thought was hilarious
Eddie Howe's Coaching Impact
00:20:31
Speaker
So we're all now very fond of Muniz but then the start of this season he hasn't scored yet so we're a bit worried because Jimenez came into the team last weekend and scored immediately. So it sort of comes down to the argument you want your striker to score goals and if he's not scoring goals can you start him? I mean, the rest of his play is really good and his link up with the other wingers is really fantastic. He wins a lot of aerial balls and he's in the top 10 of aerial duels successfully won this season. So he does make a difference in other impacts, but how much how important it is it for your striker to score? I'd argue that's the most important thing. You've got to have some, definitely, that's for sure. um But yeah, I mean, there there will be lots of
00:21:21
Speaker
challenges in our squad from the Fulham squad because ultimately half of our squad is the championship winning squad still, you know, Al Naron, Murphy, Kraft, Lasselles, Shah, Dubravka, these guys is all played in the championship with us um however many years ago that was, was that 2016?
00:21:47
Speaker
um So yeah, it's ah but ah they've all struggled along with the steve but that being uncoached by Steve Bruce as well. um So I think Eddie is getting a fantastic tune out of some guys with some limited talent. that's Eddie Howe is genius. so So if he saw something in maybe one of your less well-sung, unsung players, it would be because he'd think that he could convert him into a Joe Linton. Let's face it, a Premier League joke turned into an absolute monster. It's going to be a place where he's fit in Brazil's midfield and we wouldn't be without him.
Podcast Network Introduction
00:22:38
Speaker
Before we come on to our final thoughts, lineups and predictions, more importantly, let me just tell you more about the GSPN. The Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasts with dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football and daily Premier League wrap-ups in five different languages, it's one it's your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcasts.
Lineup Changes Due to Injuries
00:23:09
Speaker
So you guys have obviously had a had a rest midweek, you haven't had that brutal 34 penalty shootout. You guys are probably going to be starting in the same way that you did last last game week, would you say so? Are we going to expect any changes from Newcastle? Well, it um
00:23:27
Speaker
The one concern I have is that Alex Izak was taken off at half time because he got hit in the face. It looked like a broken nose, but Eddie after the match said that he had blurred vision and it was something to do with his eye. So we don't know on that one. I've not heard whether he's AOK or not yet. If Izak's out, then then you could look forward to maybe an Anthony Gordon false nine sort of role, which I think i'm looking forward to that i think takes him away from where he's best, which is bombing down the wing and beating two players and cutting in on either side. um But yeah, so that's one major concern that we have. I don't think Glassback Wilson will be fit to step in to fill the breach either. But maybe maybe we will see Osceola make a name for himself.
00:24:20
Speaker
um He's got all of the tools. I'm really quite excited by this young guy and of course he's decried because we bought him from Sheffield United and he couldn't even get in the Sheffield United side. and He didn't score in the Premier League but he wouldn't if he played for Sheffield United, did let's be honest. I think i think he looks like the sort of um raw materials that how and tinsel can mold into something quite special. So I'm looking forward to him. But yeah, let's say that we line up as we lined up last week.
00:24:52
Speaker
um Maybe as we finished last week, I think Barnes has got to start after that goal. ah So maybe that'll be Gordon on the right with Murphy taking a back seat. Barnes coming in on the left. ah Equally,
00:25:08
Speaker
Hall and Kelly at left back is a toss-up. They've both performed well. Depends how um how aggressive, how it wants to go.
Fulham's Recent Struggles and Predictions
00:25:17
Speaker
And I think that we might be ready for Sean Longstaff to start on the bench and Tenali to come in alongside Gamarish and Jolinton. Because of course, you haven't seen here, but in Italy,
00:25:32
Speaker
Tenali is already world class. We haven't really seen it yet because he didn't play much last year. no but But we're expecting, I mean, he cost a lot of money. He did. And he owes us a lot. The fans absolutely love him and he loves the fans because he stayed in touch all the way through his band. But Tenali coming in alongside Bruno and Joe Linton with Willick to come on and relieve whoever it is that's the most knackered.
00:25:59
Speaker
you'll have to have a very, very a good midfield to get on top of that, to be fair. Yeah, I mean, I i think we'll be largely unchanged. i'd be I'd be surprised, to be honest, if we do make any changes, mainly because we made 11 last night against Preston. So everyone that wasn't getting a run out has now had a run out and they didn't really impress. We've ended up we've we've ended up drawing one all to Preston and getting knocked out the cup, a cup that we got to the semifinal in last season.
00:26:30
Speaker
So um whilst I do think it might be a blessing in disguise so that we can focus on the league, um it does still it does still sort of suck to get kicked out by a championship side, especially a championship side that isn't really doing well this season. um But I think as a result of that, we will not make any changes at the weekend. I think we'll still lead the line with Jimenez. It'll be interesting because last time Real Jimenez played Newcastle or Fulham,
00:26:58
Speaker
he got ah you got a red card by jumping sort of from first into the face of Anthony Gordon, um which was one of the weirder red cards I think I've ever seen. I'm not sure if you remember that. its do It sort of looked like a very well executed karate kick that he suddenly changed his mind on at the last moment and as you say he sort of asked him in the face, if I can use that word, sorry,
00:27:23
Speaker
sorry all of you were you were word police but that's what he did that's the only way you can describe it literally so if if him and his managers to stay on the pitch I'm gonna make I'm gonna make a small prediction that Fulham still lose ah we haven't we we we we we haven't We haven't beaten Newcastle at the cottage for near on like six years. um And I don't think that's something that's going to change. Newcastle are very much in the ascendancy. I would like to say that we we get a goal. um But to be honest, I think it's going to be a really difficult day for the lads out there. I'm going to predict two ones in Newcastle, but it would not surprise me if it was three. um Yeah, that that where's where that's where my head's at right now.
00:28:12
Speaker
Well, my fellow podcasters up at the Newcastle team will be laughing because they know my prediction for every Newcastle game is that we win 3-1. And sometimes if you do it every game, it does come in, so you're ahead when you win.
00:28:27
Speaker
and I'm hoping that we can put together more of a cohesive performance instead of the fits and starts. We tend to have relied on genius moments to get our points this year. And we've been clinging on in a lot of games. Poor Southampton were all over us in that first game when we had charts sent off. um But that was a fabulous backs to the wall backs tothe-wall type um grind out that 1-0 win. Bournemouth
00:28:58
Speaker
Let's be honest, had a goal disallowed right at the end, it probably shouldn't have been disallowed. We were very pleased that was classed as a handball. They would have won that 2-1. So we feel remarkably fortunate to have 10 points from 12 and to be sitting in third. We haven't really seen our boys click into gear much yet at all.
00:29:17
Speaker
um And I'm hoping that we'll see that on Saturday as as a warm up to getting it perfect when we play Man City the following week at home. So I'm going to go 3-1 for us. Although I'm a slightly alarmed you say that you've never got anything for six years. That just to me means that it's your turn. You probably end up scoring early and then we'll be chasing it and you'll just keep picking us off. Like that awful, awful day at St James's Park when we lost and our championship-winning season when we lost 4-1 back in 2016, that was a lesson. Tom Kenny was a top man that afternoon. I don't think he'd be a top man this Saturday, will he?
Closing Remarks and Listener Engagement
00:29:59
Speaker
No, no, he definitely will not be seeing the pitch until at least the 80th minute, if at all. But there you have it. Thank you very much for coming along. There you go. Two, three, one predictions, both in favour of Newcastle. um Do let us know if you think any different. In fact, definitely let us know if you think any different on all our socials. But from us at Daily Fulham and Daily Newcastle, it is goodbye. Thank you again. See you all.
00:30:27
Speaker
Global Sports Podcast Network.