Fulham

Drew Heatley
Fan writer

The best thing about football is how your emotions can switch in an instant. We’re a fickle bunch, after all. And after this week, everyone’s a bit giddy.

For all the talk about Fulham’s penchant for deadline day deals, we got two fantastic players through the doors of Motspur Park this week within days of each other.

The arrivals of dynamic midfielder Sander Berge and centre-back Joachim Andersen will put Sasa Lukic and Issa Diop on red alert. But in our win over Leicester on Saturday, you could see both were playing for their place in Marco Silva's starting XI. Diop in particular has had a solid start to the campaign, having also impressed on the opening day.

Silva says he is looking to bring in one more player - a wide attacking option. You’d imagine it has to be someone on the left to push Alex Iwobi, with Adama Traore and Harry Wilson currently battling for the right wing berth.

Marco also says he doesn’t want to see any more exits this week. That’s understandable; Fulham lost no fewer than four first-teamers this summer. But Kevin Mbabu and Carlos Vinicius weren’t even handed squad numbers for this campaign, so you’ve got to think they’re an exception. The latter in particular won’t be short of a suitor or two in Europe.

One player we certainly can’t afford to lose is Jay Stansfield. With Rodrigo Muniz still very much a work in progress, you’d imagine Silva will call on the young forward at some point this season. And as with Andersen and Berge, competition for places is what will help drive us up the table.

If Fulham’s season really does begin in September, then we already have a three-point head start. And with a winnable game against Ipswich next, if we’re not careful our giddiness might get out of hand.

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Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League striker Glenn Murray spoke to BBC Radio 5 live about Fulham's transfer buisness in the summer window:

"I think it's been shrewd. Four of the five signings have Premier League experience and they know exactly what they are getting.

"[Joachim] Andersen is a surprise for me, that Crystal Palace have let him go. Everything good that Crystal Palace have done has been under his guidance, he's almost like a manager on the field, a real leader.

"[Emile] Smith-Rowe, I think he's going to burst into life at Fulham. He's been kept at bay for too long at Arsenal and he'll enjoy playing football week in week out."

"I think Fulham and Marco Silva's signings have been very good this summer."

Listen to the full episode of Football Daily here on BBC Sounds

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Carabao Cup game against Birmingham City.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Defender Jorge Cuenca "will start" and make his full club debut against Birmingham City.

• There are no new in jury concerns and Silva did not clarify whether new signings Sander Berge and Joachim Andersen will feature.

• On the new signings being available or not: "It is important to have all players at the same level from a physical point of view."

• He said "we respected the competition" last season and reached the semi-final, so "the ambition in the competition is really high" this season again.

• On League One opponents Birmingham: "We have to respect them. They are in a different division but they are probably favourites to go up."

• He said the club "are fortunate to sign a player" like Emile Smith Rowe "but he needs time" because he has not been playing regular football. Silva added: "He is still young and in a learning process. He is going to be important for us. He needs more games to be in his best shape but we have seen the impact he can make."

• On his hopes for the remaining days of the transfer window: "We are working really hard to add another forward player to play in the wide areas."

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Fulham and Leicester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

Simon: This was always going to be a tough game, especially with Leicester coming off a good first game. They were set up to defend and counter-attack, but we were better from start to finish and controlled the game. There were grumblings about a lack of cutting edge, but this will come with more games and as our new players bed in. Overall, very positive.

Alex: The first half was very strong from Fulham. Emile Smith Rowe is off to a great start thanks to Adama Traore. I was optimistic after so many key players leaving, but I think we have made up for that with players like Sasa Lukic stepping up. A strong performance from Fulham but a nervy final 10 minutes, which is expected. Bring on the next game.

James: Smith Rowe scoring on his home debut was great to see. I was a little frustrated with the equaliser after dominating the first half. I felt Fulham deserved to win the game and Iwobi made sure of that. We look better defensively but we need to be more clinical when on the front foot. I'm happy to see three points on the board. Ipswich away next!

Toppy: If Marco Silva gets out of his own way on the touchline and stops transmitting panic to the team, all of his positive attributes will see us excel this season. We don't need another Manchester United meltdown. Passion is not an excuse for stupidity.

Leicester fans

Gav: We gave the game away. We offered very little up front after signing Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Jordan Ayew as Premier League standard upgrades, but they both look League One standard. Fulham won in second gear.

Chris: I'm not going to criticise the effort but when you're crying out for creativity and you see no striker on the pitch, Jordan Ayew being 'neat and tidy' and Wilfred Ndidi being the most advanced player, makes you concerned. How Steve Cooper can somehow seemingly not fancy arguably our best player in Ricardo, I just don't understand!

Fred: I think it's inevitable that we are going to have wins and losses, but we need to be better at the back and up front as well. I think Steve Cooper is doing very well to adapt the team to the Premier League. We just have to stay positive and get behind the team to cheer them on. It is the least we can do.

James: I think we Leicester fans need to keep our expectations in check. We are expected to struggle and pick up points where we can. We deserved nothing, with any hint of a repeat of the second half against Spurs quickly extinguished. Back to the training ground to work on our attacking threat, which needs a signing or two and quickly.

Gary Lineker presents highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Tottenham 4-0 Everton

• Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal

Fulham goalscorer Emile Smith Rowe has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I can't be happier. To play my first game at Craven Cottage, and get three points, I'm really happy.

"My good team-mate Alex [Iwobi] made a good movement for me to get in behind, so I'm really happy with my goal today. He let me have it today and it was a really good goal."

On being the club's record signing: "It is a good pressure. I think the team and staff have welcomed me so nicely. I got a warm welcome today from the fans as well so I'm feeling really at home."

On Iwobi's goal: "A great goal for him. I'm really happy for him."

On the overall performance: "Coming off Friday, which was a tough result [against Manchester United] for us away from home, it was really important for us to get a good result."

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "A tight score, but it is clear the best team - the most dominant team, the team that did more to score - won the game.

"A top level for our first 30 minutes. The way we started the game was dominant. The quality, the connections, the way we arrived so many times around the box. We created some good chances.

"Set-pieces play a big part. We need to be much more consistent. It is something we are normally strong in. We have to improve in that type of situation, but it is a good thing that we kept calm and didn't start to rush everything.

"In the second half, it was not the same quality of football. But we won so many corners and so many shots. Rodrigo [Muniz], I don't know how many shots he had this afternoon. Normally, with these type of chances, he is going to score one or two.

"There were very good moments from us. I didn't see chances from Leicester, to be honest."

On Emile Smith Rowe: "It is not best to think about whether he is the club-record [signing] or not. We recognise his quality. I'm sure he is going to be important, as he was today. I'm sure he is going to be even more important in the future. He is getting the minute in the tank that he needs.

"Last season, he didn't almost play and he didn't have a normal pre-season, so it is going to take a bit of time for him to be in the best shape he can be."

On VAR intervening for Leicester's goal: "It is a decision that we have to respect."

On needing more forward players in his squad: "We are going to add a wide player. We lost two wingers from last season, so we are going to add a wide player. Those areas of the pitch are going to be the last piece of our market."

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, PA Media

It was the best possible start for Emile Smith Rowe on his home debut for Fulham.

An expectation has been placed on his shoulders after becoming the club's record signing in a £34m deal with Arsenal.

So far the 24-year-old is showing glimpses he can live up to the price tag.

Smith Rowe hardly played under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal last season, making just 13 league appearances in which he failed to score.

There were no signs of rustiness, however, when he received Adama Traore's pass with a touch that set him up perfectly, allowing him to dart forward and get in front of a backtracking Leicester defence.

He took his strike early, before goalkeeper Mads Hermansen could set himself, and got his reward when the net bulged - his first goal since April 2022.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Fulham fans, have your say on the performance, external

Foxes fans, what did you make of Leicester's display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Follow reaction and read the match report

There are seven games on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you all the action and reaction.

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*All times are BST

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week two, he takes on Make Me A Mixtape hosts Clara Amfo and Jordan Stephens.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Fulham were competitive against Manchester United last week and probably felt hard done by they didn't come away with a point.

Leicester got absolutely trounced in the first half against Tottenham. But in fairness, they were resilient, got the goal and carried a threat.

It was great to see Jamie Vardy back in the Premier League and getting a goal from Leicester's perspective, too.

But I think Fulham at home, this will be a 2-0 win.

Amfo's prediction: 2-1

Stephens' prediction: 4-0

The fact you are guessing these is hilarious because your scores are all reasonable, while I have gone for hopeful... with lots of goals.

Read the full predictions and have your say

This season, English top-flight clubs are trialling a new financial system that limits spending based on the earnings of the bottom side, designed to "protect the competitive balance of the Premier League".

Football finance expert Rob Wilson tells The Football News Show why, if permanently introduced, it could make the top Premier League sides less competitive against their European counterparts.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Image source, Getty Images

Defender Joachim Andersen has said it "feels a little bit like coming home" after rejoining Fulham from Crystal Palace.

The 28-year-old Denmark centre-back has signed on a five-year deal for a fee believed to be in the region of £30m.

Andersen previously spent time on loan with Fulham in 2020-21, when he made 31 appearances and scored one goal.

He spent three years with the Eagles after joining them from Lyon in 2021 and played 113 times across all competitions.

"It's really nice to be here. Feels a little bit like coming home, so it’s a good feeling," he told club media."

"I know the club, I know how Fulham are playing, I know many players, I know some staff, so I didn't need anyone to convince me because I knew a lot of things already.

"I had some good talks with the manager. I know the playing style he likes to play, so it was just a decision I needed to make myself, with my wife and family, and see what's the best for me, and I think this is a good step for my career."

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Leicester City.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• New signing Sander Berge "will not be ready to start" against Leicester but will be available for the two games next week.

• He confirmed they are "very close" to signing Crystal Palace centre-back Joachim Andersen and they are hoping the deal will be official by the end of Friday.

• On Andersen: "We will be delighted with the signing. I am 100% sure he is going bring something important for us. He is going to be important this season and the seasons ahead."

• He said Berge and Andersen are "two very good solutions" to the areas of the pitch they wanted to strengthen in this transfer window.

• On their ambitions for the final week of the window: "We are going to sign a forward player, for sure. You all know that we have lost two wingers and we haven't signed any players for that position."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Maheta Molango, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association tells The Football News Show why he is concerned at the current and potential future financial rules in the Premier League.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

We asked for your views on Sander Berge, who completed a move to Fulham from Burnley on Thursday.

Here are some of your comments:

John: A good signing. Not quite the level of Joao Palhinha, however he has great physicality, gets into tackles and is also good on the ball.

Martyn: Our Scandinavian Palhinha? Or the new Hangeland? Either way, excited to see signings in before deadline day.

Matt: Obviously going to be tough to replace Palhinha but always liked the look of Berge. Not ever going to be at that level - but confident he can do a job. He's also used to scoring at the Cottage! Just a shame we've paid top dollar when we could have gone in for him earlier from Sheffield United.

Will: Great that we finally got the Joao fill-in. Not sure if he can ever truly be replaced as he was that good but this allows us to strengthen. Also shows the pull of the club and what a great transfer window we are having.

Image source, Getty Images

New signing Sander Berge says Fulham's style of play "suits" him after completing his move from Burnley.

The midfielder has joined the club on a five-year-deal having spent 12 months with the Clarets, where he played 40 times and scored two goals.

The Cottagers will pay an initial £20m for the 26-year-old, with a further £5m in add-ons.

"It feels fantastic. It's been a little bit back and forth the last few weeks, but I’m finally sitting here in the shirt in this beautiful stadium, knowing that my future is here, which feels great," Berge told club media.

"Fulham has always been a team that excited me. I've played them both in the Championship and Premier League, and it's fantastic how they play, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1.

"The DNA of the club is to be dominant, aggressive, front-footed, and play nice football, and I think that suits me."

The Norway international becomes the club's fourth signing of the transfer window, following the arrivals of Emile Smith Rowe, Jorge Cuenca and Ryan Sessegnon.

Director of football operations Tony Khan added: "Sander has tremendous experience playing in the Premier League and in international competition, and we believe that he'll be a great addition to our squad."

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham have completed the signing of midfielder Sander Berge from Burnley.

The 26-year-old has joined the Premier League club on a five-year deal for a fee believed to be £25m, with a club option of another 12 months.

What do you think of the new signing, Fulham fans? The type of player you need?

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