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Forecast Friday; Taking on the Toon
49 Plays1 month ago
Gavin previews the weekend's game as Fulham make the long trip north to take on Newcastle United.
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Transcript
Introduction and Welcome
00:00:01
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network. work Hello and welcome back to the Daily Fulham Podcast, thank you very much for being here, it's much appreciated.
Match Preview: Fulham vs. Newcastle
00:00:14
Speaker
Today is our forecast Friday episode, my name is Gavin Ruffle and I will be talking a little bit about Fulham, I'll be talking about Newcastle and I'll be rounding off the episode by giving my prediction for the game how it's going to unfold, what we're likely to expect as Fulham make the long journey north to take on
00:00:34
Speaker
a firing Newcastle United team and it's an opportunity for Fulham to bounce back after their disappointment after that setback against Manchester United last week where it felt like the air had gone out of a balloon after that result which has had major implications in terms of in terms of the rest of the Fulham season now because it looks almost certain that They're not going to be qualifying for Europe at least via their league position Whereas you turn back the clock a month and there was optimism around the club given the month they have had after doing so well in December Navigating their way through some tough fixtures and there was a lot of optimism going into the new year some fixtures on paper that look winnable and if Fulham could do that then there was every chance that they can go up the table and enjoy a really successful season where they can look to possibly
00:01:20
Speaker
possibly get their highest ever finish in the Premier League? Well, that hasn't
Fulham's Away Performance and League Standing
00:01:24
Speaker
quite gone to plan as wins have been quite tough to come by recently, especially at home. So I think it might actually do full them a favour that they are on their travels this weekend. They seem to have fared better on the road. I don't know why they can't seem seem to quite create that winning feeling, winning environment that Craven Cottage it seems to be a bit tough for them.
00:01:43
Speaker
by and large so hopefully an away game, albeit against very tough opposition will be the kick start they need to get the season up and running in again. Fulham's season I
Newcastle's Form and Tactical Strengths
00:01:53
Speaker
feel has been a bit stop start hence why they find themselves 10th in the league.
00:01:58
Speaker
No danger of getting relegated but too far adrift you would say right at this moment being with a shout of gatecrash in the European places. They do go to a buoyant Newcastle. They are the form team in the Premier League over the course of the last eight games.
00:02:14
Speaker
winning seven of those just the one defeat and in that time they're averaging almost three goals a game and have conceded just six with four of those coming in the one game against Bournemouth so they're firing at both ends keeping it tight at the back keeping a lot of clean sheets when clean sheets have been tough to come by for a lot of teams and they've got a guy leading the line who's absolutely on fire he's in prime form probably the form player in the Premier League so There's no getting away from it, Fulham going to this game as heavy underdogs. But who knows, they have shown in games against the sides, towards the top end of the table, away from home, that they can hold their own. They've gone to Liverpool and got a result, they've gone to Chelsea and got a result, they've gone to Nottingham Forest and got a result. It's the
Recap: Fulham's Previous Victory
00:02:57
Speaker
games where you expect them to win, expect them to collect free points where they've struggled in. So maybe this game on a weekend where everyone's probably expecting a Newcastle home win, Fulham might quietly enjoy that and I've said that they
00:03:07
Speaker
do quite like the tag of underdogs and they go into this game as underdogs. So it might just work to their advantage. Let's look at the positives. To go into greater detail about Fulham's away form, they've only lost the one game on the road since early October, which was self-inflicted, wasn't
Tactical Challenges: Fulham vs. Newcastle
00:03:22
Speaker
it? That 3-2 defeat that West Ham, Graham Potter's first league game in charge, where Fulham basically gifted them the three points. So away from home, they have been a toughen at the crack and let's hope that that can continue this weekend and they can get a A much needed three points just to lift the spirits because it's been a bit it's been a bit downcast recently given some of the similar results and I know Marco Silva just kept saying that they should have got more points but I do think fundamentally there's probably
00:03:51
Speaker
been reasons why they haven't been able to collect the points and that's due to game management and making mistakes at critical times in games and lacking that ruthless edge and they they take on a team in Newcastle, I'll go into it in a bit more detail in the second part where I think the difference between these two clubs is that Newcastle do have that ruthless edge, they also have a bit of a nasty streak about them and they seem to manage games well and hence why they're doing so well and they have every chance of getting back into the Champions League.
Historical Context: St. James's Park
00:04:18
Speaker
If you can remember back to the earlier game in the season between these two sides, it was a 3-1 win for Fulham and it was a very well-deserved victory, a very good performance. It's one of only two times where Fulham scored more than two goals in a Premier League game this season. I think there's a bit of nerves in towards the last five, ten minutes of that game given what had happened in the previous home outing against West Ham where they succumbed to a Danny Ng's 95th minute equaliser. Fulham sprung out to a two goal lead and in no time in that game. Newcastle pegged it back but Reece Nelson ah was able to calm any nerves and secure the three points for Fulham which was a rare victory against Newcastle in recent times because before that Newcastle had won the last six in all competitions and it's been the a bit of a bogey fixture for Fulham certainly in in recent times. If
Transfer Updates and Injuries
00:05:04
Speaker
Fulham are to claim three points at
00:05:07
Speaker
St. James's Park this weekend and it'll be the first time they've managed to do it in a Premier League game since May 2009 and yes I am aware they have beaten them in the championship there but As far as the Premier League is concerned you have to go back 16 years and that was a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Diamante Cameron and and that had major consequences for both teams that season because Fulham went on to achieve their highest ever finish in the league, finishing 7th which led to European football.
00:05:38
Speaker
and we all know what happened the following season as as they reached the final of the Europa League, whereas in Newcastle, in contrast, they they got relegated under Alan Shearer. So yeah, 16 years, it's been a long time since Premier League winner at St James's Park. Fingers crossed they might be able to do something about that on the weekend. Just moving away from the game, you're all aware that the transfer window is soon to be coming to a close and it's been a very quiet week as in it for Fulham. There's not been much in terms of rumours. There seemed to be more last week. Been very quiet on that front. It's been very quiet month for the major majority of the teams. I'm sure as we are approaching the end of the deadline you will you will start to see a bit more activity.
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00:06:21
Speaker
We know Fulham have been known. Tony Khan has been known.
00:06:24
Speaker
ah to do business very late on and I'm i'm pretty adamant the Fulham will do something. I said from day one that I didn't see this being a busy month as far as that was concerned. There are one or two areas that possibly do need strength in an hour and I think Marco Silva's confirmed that they are looking at a right back. I mentioned last week the room is circulating about Emerson Royal but that was quickly dispelled by the fact that he went off in the Champions League game with an injury but he confirmed in his press conference before this game that they are looking at a right back and one of the other positions they are now looking at is a winger as well because it's just been confirmed the unfortunate news about Harry Wilson he went off with an injury against Manchester 95 minutes into the second half there was reports of it maybe being a twisted ankle but it's been confirmed now that he's actually fractured a metatarsal
00:07:13
Speaker
and he's set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Marco Silva said maybe in and around 10 weeks, who knows? And obviously that's a bitter pill to swallow, bitter of blow for the player. He had to wait this time, didn't he, to get into the team, being limited to appearances off the bench and finally has managed to forge his way into the team. Been a regular starter in recent weeks and now he's just picked up that injury. and Yeah, so not great news for Fulham, not great news for Wales as well as you'll miss the first couple of World Cup qualifiers.
00:07:42
Speaker
And we know what an important player, I know, I certainly know what an important player he is for Wales, and that is a blow for club and for country. So Marco Silva, given the news of that, he's also said they are looking at possibly exploring that position, maybe adding another winger in before the window slams shut. Ernest Noam or anyone? Who knows? That name might pop up again. As I said, it's been very quiet on that front. No wins or outs as yet, but I would be surprised if they didn't do anything at all. so so whilst it has been quite sure they will do something they will look to fill the hole that's been left with the injury to harry wilson and of course the long-term injury regarding kenny teddy so there's your updates regarding a bit of transfer activity and what we may or may not see in the coming days in the next part i'll be focused on a bit more on the toon army
00:08:31
Speaker
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Newcastle's League Ambitions
00:08:43
Speaker
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00:08:59
Speaker
Switching the focus of attention onto Newcastle then and they've really hit their straps in recent times haven't they? The attack has been firing, the defence has been rock solid, Bournemouth aside and they're probably where you expect them to be now. It
Newcastle's Edge and Fan Base
00:09:12
Speaker
was a bit of an indifferent start after the first 10 or 12 games where they couldn't seem to quite get it together.
00:09:17
Speaker
It was a bit hit and miss, very inconsistent but are now in 5th level on points with Man City and I do fancy them to have a strong run towards the end of the season and return to the Champions League, which of course they got to experience a couple of seasons ago for the first time in nearly 20 years. i think and unfortunately for them it didn't quite pan out they were unable to get past the group stage they were in a very tough group mind they did have that famous victory against PSG and they probably have an experience that it's made them more determined, hungrier to get back and go a bit further than they managed last time and
00:09:51
Speaker
What I liked about the league this season is that it's so competitive. Some of the teams you would expect to be up there have been off the boil. We've seen surprise packages and in Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth having this tremendous run now. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I don't think there is a big six now, the the Sky Six, whatever you want to call them. I think that's extended to ah to a big eight, which has included Aston Villa and Newcastle. We're seeing Aston Villa, at the success they're having in the Champions League this season.
00:10:19
Speaker
and it's great to see that competitive nature that there is no there is no establishment now and it gives hope it gives belief to so many other teams going forward to see what is achievable and for Newcastle I do consider them among the top echelon in in terms of clubs in this country and they have some fantastic players at their disposal and it's a great fan base isn't it up up in the northeast. They're proper football people I think we we can say that and one of the rare places where it's ah one city, one club.
Eddie Howe's Management Impact
00:10:49
Speaker
It's been a long time since they've had success in terms of
00:10:52
Speaker
trophies being brought to that part, that region, and they've got a good chance, having they in the Carabao Cup, getting that win in the first leg against the Arsenal, every chance of holding onto that and progressing through to the final. who it be Will it be Spurs? will it be Will it be Liverpool? We don't know. Disappointment, obviously, having reached the final in a couple of seasons back and falling short against you United there. Again, we talk about bouncing back from disappointments, bouncing back from setbacks and they'll be eager to deliver a trophy to st St James's Park and give those fans what they deserve which is a trophy which they haven't really seen in a long time. and
00:11:25
Speaker
I think Eddie Howe is doing a really commendable job isn't he, having taken over from Steve Bruce in and amongst the Hullabaloo with the takeover and the Saudi ownership. If you can think back to that time when it first happened there was all kinds of names being linked, being ruined, going to Newcastle with them the money they can spend on players. but so what they have done is they've spent the money wisely and he's got a real solid group of players there. He hasn't brought in any sort of maverick players that might upset the apple cart and also think he's improved players. I remember back to Anthony Gordon signing a couple of seasons back and the fee that was agreed with Everton there and I raised my eyebrows at that. I haven't seen the player he was at Everton I thought
00:12:06
Speaker
That's a bit too much money for for a player like him, but based on potential. But but he seems he seems like he's getting to sort of the finished article player now at Anthony Golden. and and He's got tremendous pace and he's also delivering in terms of adding goals and assists to his game. so as much as the focus has been on maybe other players, and I'll come on to that player in just a moment, Anthony Gordon, there's been a real shining star under Eddie Howe and someone like Joel Linton, Joel Linton if you can remember when he was signed under Steve Bruce, he was signed as that guy that was the supposed to be the goal getter and he's been completely transformed there under Eddie Howe, he's dropped back into that midfield position and everyone talks about that Newcastle 3, about it possibly rivaling any midfield in the league and Joel Linton is a massive part of that and again,
00:12:53
Speaker
talk about players improving you look at someone like Jacob Murphy. Jacob Murphy is someone that opposition managers opposition fans will look at and think that Jacob Murphy what's he going to do but to see the improvement of that player who's been at Newcastle enjoyed the good times but also had to endure some bad times but it's a testament to the player, the character of the player, that he's still at the club. Maybe you look at a player like Jacob Murphy in the past and you could say he could do a job, he can work hard, but yeah what's
Alexander Isak's Form
00:13:21
Speaker
what's he going to deliver? He hasn't maybe got that extra bit of ability, but this season we've seen something different. and
00:13:27
Speaker
As far as assists go, he's only behind Mohamed Salah, Saka and Anthony Robinson, so he further emphasises how Eddie Howe has managed to improve players. and Their focal point has been Alexander Isak, and that at this moment in time it's hard to find a better striker in the Premier League, it's hard to find a better striker in in the world.
00:13:45
Speaker
his numbers might not quite be on a part of one or two others like Severel in Harlan but as a footballer he is the complete package. This is going to be very high praise indeed because Thierry Henry for me is the greatest player to have played in the Premier League and what I would say about Isak is the closest sort of player in that like-for-like role to Henry that I've seen since his days I just think he's got everything you need, everything you need to play at a top club and Newcastle fans will probably get frustrated with all the talk about Aleksandarisak and moves away and all the talk about Arsenal needing the striker and putting two and two together and you ended up with Aleksandarisak. The name is going to be talked about with other clubs because he was just about getting any team in the world. He's that good and he continues
Newcastle's Team Dynamics
00:14:31
Speaker
to flourish and he's someone that Fullham obviously is going to have to keep quiet to have any chance of getting a result on the weekend. I think Fullham were fortunate in the game earlier in the season. I think he he had a bit of an injury so we didn't quite see the best of him on that occasion. But damn, he's so good. He's so good that he would he would get 99.99% of clubs in world football.
00:14:51
Speaker
And yeah, Newcastle, they just seem like a well-oiled machine at the minute. it They have a really tough, bite, physical nature to them in the midfield, but they can play as well. And they've got that electric firecracker and Anthony Gordon, a guy in Jacob Murphy that people underestimate, but the numbers don't lie, he's enjoying the best football of his career, Alexander Isak.
00:15:12
Speaker
absolutely on flames and a solid defence where you've got Dan Byrne and Fabian Shaw they're very experienced know what they're about characters and you've got youngsters either side of them in Liv Remento and Lewis Hall who've gone on interesting journeys to to find their way at St James's Park. Both youngsters in the Chelsea set up but ah not breaking through there necessarily and for Lewis Hall especially he had to buy this time coming to Newcastle game time was limited to begin with but now he's flourishing and I look at the England situation at left back that seems to be a problem area. It's been injuries to the likes of Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwells found himself out of favourite club so you look at someone like Lewis Hall who's
00:15:55
Speaker
doing well for Newcastle. There's every chance now he can make that left-back position for England his own for the years to come. And whilst I think Anthony Robinson has been the best-performing fullback this season, and you can make a very strong case for Lewis Hall to also be up there, certainly probably just tucked in behind Anthony Robinson for for left-backs. But they just have a nice mix, don't they? That blend of experience. They can play, but they're quite physical.
00:16:21
Speaker
you know you're going to be in the battle against this Newcastle team and yeah just want to emphasize the job that Eddie Howe has done and there's been different stages where he would have come under pressure or there's been talk outside noise of what's going to happen with England vacancies when that has arisen. He's done absolutely superb at Newcastle and if they can get Champions League football and cap it off with maybe a league cup that will go down really well and he would put himself in the frame for manager of the season.
00:16:49
Speaker
Yeah I do expect them to have a strong end to the season. You
Fulham's Lineup and Tactical Adjustments
00:16:53
Speaker
know at St James's Park you're going to be in for one heck of a game, one heck of a tough challenge and for them no doubt we'll prepare for that and have to be wary of the threats that Newcastle have.
00:17:03
Speaker
And I'll go further into detail about some of those threats and what team changes we might see in the final part. But before I do that, let me point you in the direction of the Global Sports Podcast Network. 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 a daily Premier League rapid broadcast.
00:17:27
Speaker
in five different languages it's your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcasts. We know that Fulham will be forced into at least one change for this outing as they come to terms with the absence of Harry Wilson so the big question is who is he going to be replaced by and Marco Silva in that press conference when he talked about Harry Wilson and the setback in his injury he also was asked or he spoke about Reece Nelson. now I had spoken previously about Reece Nelson that he looked like he was closing on a return, not in the squad for the last game against Manchester United, but back in full training, signs were good, signs were promising and that he could play a role in this game against Newcastle, especially with Wilson being out. but
00:18:13
Speaker
silver in his pressie he confirmed that he won't yet be in contention for this game it's kind of what you expect with Marco Silva he's not one necessary to rush players back if they're not quite 100 ready although it does leave Fulham pretty short in that department now so in all likelihood we will see Adama Troy coming to replace Harry Wilson while I was surprised that in the game against Manchester United was that Adama Troy came on and for their first Half an hour, while until Manchester United scored the opening goal, he was playing on the left side and they eventually changed it after the goal. and ah just Whenever I watch a Dan Matrari, we know he frustrates a lot of people as a footballer and we're always to talk about his end product, but he's always seemed to be a player that's a lot more comfortable playing on the right and I think that's where he should be playing if he is assigned a starting place and you stick with a Wobi on the left hand side.
00:19:02
Speaker
I think the concern for Fulham now is our teams maybe getting wise to Fulham's threat and the fact that they are so dominant are so reliant on the left side attacking from that base and that is their obvious threat. I think Castanha's form is a slight concern and hence that's the reason why they are looking at a right back. If Castanha's performances had a been a bit more convincing then They probably would have been content with that, but Kenny Tettie's absence looks a much greater, more significant absence as the games go on. And maybe it's not a coincidence that Fulham's results have suffered with the loss of Kenny Tettie and what he brings to the team. And I think Castaneda is noticeable in the game against United that I think he got beyond the wing. I think he got beyond Iwobi one time in that
Adama Traore's Potential Impact
00:19:48
Speaker
game. We know Robinson's made more overlapping runs than any other fullback this season, but they're not quite getting that same
00:19:55
Speaker
same output on the other side so you do worry for full to a certain degree if teams can block off their avenue on the left side then what other areas can they hurt the opposition but yeah I would like to see Adama Traury in his favorite side and and that's the right side we know he blows hot and cold I think at this stage of his career we kind of come to expect that now and it's difficult to see that ever changing but on his day He has the attributes that can cause serious problems to the opposition.
Midfield Concerns for Fulham
00:20:25
Speaker
The other question mark is Emil Smith-Rowe. At times he's looked a little bit lost. I noticed in the United game he was dropping a bit deeper to try and receive the ball. You do worry in this sort of game with the physicality in that Newcastle midfield, how they can look to dominate and pose themselves on the opposition. This could be a game where Smith-Rowe maybe gets bullied, at least they'll try and target him.
00:20:48
Speaker
I know Bruno and Joel Linton are the masters of just smashing into you. They're bruisers, aren't they? They're those bruising nightclub bouncers. And Joel Linton, well, both of them, they seem to be the masters in avoiding red cards. And they'll forearm smash you, they'll they'll throw their elbows about, they'll do everything but get sent off. Joel Linton reminds me a little bit of Maroon for laying me back in his evident days. Elbows, forearms going all over the place but somehow managing to avoid getting getting sent off, so...
00:21:17
Speaker
It's going to be a real physical challenge for Fulham and Berger and Lukic, you think, to be able to stand up to that. i just I just wonder if he's maybe a bit concerned about Smith Road for this particular game. So Andres Pereira might coming back into the fold. Andres Pereira just getting a bit tiring now, isn't it? All the talk about what his future holds and finally we'll get the answer in the coming days. but
Defensive Strategies for Fulham
00:21:38
Speaker
yeah there is still talk about him possibly being on the move. ah So it wouldn't surprise me if that is another changeful and look at his getting Pereira or you might even see them set up in a similar sort of vein to what they have done in in the game against Man City when they they dropped into a back five when when they were defending. Of course, Newcastle present obvious threats, don't they? Alexander Isak, the two centre-rafts,
00:22:01
Speaker
are going to have to be mindful of him at all times and jockem anderson needs to start getting back to the player we saw before the injury because since coming back into that team i know there's been some debate whether the ops should be in the team or anderson i think I think Marco Silva is right to play Anderson, but I think now we want we just want to see him step up and be the player that we've known him to be in the Premier League, but obviously the Newcastle Fretts, Anthony Gordon's pace up against Timothy Castagna, and it'd be a big game for Timothy Castagna, Anthony Gordon, playing on that left side.
Key Players for Fulham
00:22:33
Speaker
is I would say the Premier League is not blessed with great left wingers and I'm not saying Anthony Gordon is is great but he's certainly one of the better left wingers so that's going to be tough for Timothy Kostanya to keep him at bay and I just want to see a bit more from Timothy Kostanya going forward to provide support for whoever's on the right side and not make it seem obvious where the full-on threat is that they can hurt teams and in different ways not be so predictable because I think one of the things I do like about the Marco Silver side is how they are able to mix up their game but I think just in the last few outings it's it's been so clear and obvious their threats that their weaknesses are kind of got exposed as well if those strengths aren't quite firing. Anytime you go to St James's you know it's going to be a hostile atmosphere it's going to be vociferous passionate Jordies tops off screaming their lungs out for
00:23:27
Speaker
But if all of them can keep it quiet for the first 20-25 minutes then they have been known in the past possibly to get on the back of the team but they have such a a terrific record at home. The Bournemouth result was a bit out of the blue but the way Bournemouth have been beating teams there's no shame in losing to Bournemouth right now is there so.
00:23:46
Speaker
Newcastle will be eyeing up Champions League. A win here could put them in the top four. By the end of the weekend, who knows? Yeah, it's a very tough challenge for Fulham. One, they lost 3-0 last season. Hopefully, Raul Jimenez doesn't stick his backside where it doesn't belong. And Fulham can keep 11 players on the pitch. But even 11v11, it's going to be a very tough match for them and probably not feeling as confident as a collective as they were a month ago. So Newcastle will be buoyed by recent form.
00:24:14
Speaker
seven wins in the last eight and I gave a different prediction on the crossover because I felt I had to. I was obliged as the Fulham representative on the crossover to say that Fulham would get something from this game. Do I honestly think they will I think Newcastle might come out to win victors in this game. Fulham as I said earlier you can take confidence in some of the games away from home against the teams higher up in the league and how they've been able to get points from those games. not Not only been able to get points but been worthy of getting the points. It's not necessarily been backs against the wall having to defend for 90 minutes.
00:24:50
Speaker
When they have gone to Anfield, when they've gone to Stamford Bridge and gotten positive results there, they've been worthy of getting those results. OK, the Chelsea game was in the 95th minute, but it's not like they were dominating on that game. And
Match Outcome Predictions
00:25:03
Speaker
I think it does seem easy for them to play away from home right now, probably just because the Ole Miss is more on the opposition to attack and that seems to play into their hands. I'm sure Fulham will carry a threat.
00:25:16
Speaker
They are known to score away from him, only that one blank on the opening day, so I think they will score. Can they get a result here? It's going to be very tricky, as I said, and I'm probably leading towards a narrow Newcastle victory. If I'm being pressed on a prediction, I probably think Newcastle will make this 2-1, but sir I hope that I'm proven wrong.
Closing and Future Content Preview
00:25:40
Speaker
There we go folks, that'll do it for today's forecast Friday episode. Thank you all once again for tuning in and I will be back with your match review Monday to see how things pan out. At St James's, I'll be taking you through all the key events or the major takeaways from the game. Hope to catch you next time. See you soon. Every club, every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network.