In a season of underachievers and overachievers, Fulham would definitely fall into the latter category. Many tipped them to be relegated back to the Championship but the side from South-West London have very different ideas.
Marco Silva, who earned promotion back to the Premier League for the first time of asking the season before guided Fulham to one of their best starts to a Premier League season in their history. Not only were they sitting sixth in the league at the halfway point they also beat their local rivals, Chelsea for the first time in 16 years. In a season to remember, they also picked up four back-to-back wins for the first time since 1966.
Fulham eventually finished a very respectable 10th in the league and a their fans would happily take a repeat of that this season. The summer has not been easy for the club though.
Saudi Arabia clubs have made several attempts to disrupt their preparation. First up was their manager who eventually turned them down in favour of staying in London. Next up was an attempt to sign their star player, Aleksandar Mitrović with reports suggesting the player wants the move but Fulham’s asking price had not been met. The latest, Willian who had recently re-signed with Fulham after his deal came to an end at the end of next season.
Im sure Fulham fans will be glad when the transfer window closes!
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Nickname(s): The Cottagers
Founded: 1879
Manager: Marco Silva
Last Season: 10th
Top Scorer: Aleksandar Mitrović (14)
Played for Villa and Fulham
Zat Knight
Fulham signed Zat Knight in 1999 when they picked him up from Rushall Olympic. Due to him not being under a professional contract, Fulham were allowed to sign him for free as a gesture of goodwill, then chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed sent the non-league side 30 tracksuits.
Knight went on to make 150 appearances during an 8-year spell at the Cottage until he was signed by Aston Villa in 2007 for a fee in the region of £3.5 million.
The defender, who supported Villa as a boy, spent two seasons at the club making 40 appearances. He then moved to Bolton in 2009 for around £4 million. Spells at Colorado Rapids in America and Reading followed before retiring in 2015.
Nicky Shorey
Nickey Shorey came through the academy at Leyton Orient until he was snapped up by Reading in 2001 for a fee in the region of £25,000. Shorey became a fan favourite with The Royals and helped them get promoted to the Premier League. During a 7 year spell, he made 267 appearances until he moved to Villa in 2008 for an undisclosed fee.
The left-back struggled to make a real impact at Villa Park making only 24 appearances in two years. Loan spells at Nottingham Forest and Fulham until he moved to West Bromwich Albion for £1.3 million in 2010.
Shorey retired in 2016 when he became a member of the coaching staff at Stevenage following a second spell with Reading, Bristol City, Portsmouth, Pune City and Colchester United.
Head to Head
Aston Villa: 26
Fulham: 26
Drawn: 22
Last meeting: Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham (25th April ’23)
2023/24 Fixtures: H – 11th November ’23, A – 17th February ’24.
Confirmed Transfers
IN: Calvin Bassey (£20 million), Raúl Jiménez (£5.5 million).
OUT: Paulo Gazzaniga (Free), Joe Bryan (Free), Shane Duffy (Free), Neeskens Kebano (Free).
Transfer Rumours
IN: Demarai Gray from Everton (£17.5 million), Callum Hudson-Odoi from Chelsea (£12 million).
OUT: Willian to El-shabab (£2 million), Aleksandar Mitrović to Al-Hilal (£25 million).
Pre-Season
Fulham 3-2 Brentford (July 23)
Fulham 0-2 Aston Villa (July 27)
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham (July 30)
August 5: Fulham vs Hoffenheim, kick-off 1pm (Craven Cottage)