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Over the course of the Premier League era, there have been plenty of players who have promised greatness only to fail to deliver. A flash in the pan has not been uncommon in England's top flight, but who are the one-season wonders that have stood out the most? Football FanCast has taken a look.

5

Jesse Lingard (West Ham United, 2020/21)

Technically, this was only half a season, with Jesse Lingard thriving at West Ham after joining on loan from Manchester United in January 2021.

Having not made a single appearance in the Premier League at Old Trafford in the opening half of the campaign, Lingard was an instant hit with the Hammers, scoring nine goals and assisting five in just 16 top-flight games.

Deployed by David Moyes in a second-striker role, Lingard showed his quality as the link between West Ham's midfield and attack.

His success was arguably integral to the Hammers qualifying for the Europa League – a competition they reached the semi-finals of the following year.

With West Ham going on to taste European glory in the Conference League a year further on, it could perhaps be argued that Lingard was a catalyst for the success Moyes' men had as they returned from May's final in Prague with their first major trophy in over 40 years.

However, West Ham did not manage to sign Lingard in the off-season following his remarkable run, and the midfielder returned to being a bit-part player for United, making just two league starts in 2021/22.

Lingard moved to Nottingham Forest as a free agent ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, though he was unable to rekindle his form, failing to score at all in the Premier League, and he was released at the end of the season. His only consolation is now appearing on lists like these.

4

Michu (Swansea City, 2012/13)

Perhaps the ultimate one-season wonder in the Premier League era, Michu enjoyed an extraordinary campaign in his maiden season in the competition with Swansea City in 2012/13.

Signed from Rayo Vallecano for just £2m, the Spaniard took the Premier League by storm, scoring 18 goals in 35 appearances and adding a further four across the cup competitions.

Michu started as he meant to go on, scoring twice and providing an assist on his league debut in a 5-0 victory against Queens Park Rangers.

His goals also helped propel Swansea to the League Cup final, in which he scored in another 5-0 rout, this time of League Two Bradford City.

Other fine memories in his debut season included a superb match-winning double away at Arsenal, while his strike from outside of the box at Stamford Bridge set the Swans on their way to Wembley in their League Cup semi-final tie against Chelsea.

And at the tail end of the season, his impudent finish threatened to spoil Sir Alex Ferguson's leaving party at Old Trafford.

The striker had something of a knack for headed goals, with his aerial prowess accounting for six of his 22 in 2012/13.

His innate sense to be in the right place at the right time was also often on show, with the close-range, first-time finish an art he had perfected during his short time in south Wales.

Having signed a new, bumper contract in February 2013, Michu seemed destined to be a key player for the Swans for years to come, but he managed only six goals in the next campaign across all competitions, and he was loaned out to Napoli in 2014 before leaving Swansea City in November 2015, heading onto Spanish minnows Langreo.

3

Papiss Cisse (Newcastle United, 2011/12)

The season before Michu's exploits, Papiss Cisse arrived at Newcastle United in January 2012 and went on to score 13 goals in just 14 Premier League appearances for the Magpies.

Having netted nine times for Freiburg in the Bundesliga in the first half of the 2011/12 season, Cisse was already in fine form, but nobody quite expected him to settle into English football quite as quickly as he did.

Cisse took Newcastle's famous No 9 shirt and lived up to the billing with a stunning goal on his debut in a 2-1 win against Aston Villa. The goals did not stop flowing there, with Cisse scoring three successive league braces between March and April.

His final goals of the season came in a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge – the second of which was an incredible, outside-of-the-boot strike from long range that curled remarkably into the corner and was later named as the BBC's Goal of the Season.

Such was the level of the Senegal striker's performances, Newcastle went into the last game of the campaign still in contention for a Champions League place, though they had to settle for an admirable Europa League spot – above eventual Champions League winners Chelsea – with the Magpies having finished 12th the season prior.

Cisse went into the next campaign as one of the most feared forwards in the Premier League, yet he could not keep up his form.

He did manage 11 goals in the 2014/15 season – an impressive tally from just 22 appearances – though he was never able to replicate the same level as he showed in his early days at St James' Park, and left Newcastle for Shandong Luneng in 2016.

2

Robinho (Manchester City, 2008/09)

Robinho's arrival at Manchester City on deadline day in August 2008 for a then-British record transfer fee of £32.5m signalled that City's new owners meant business.

For City, back then no more than a team with aspirations of qualifying for Europe, signing one of Real Madrid's prized assets was an extraordinary story, and Robinho repaid the money splashed out on him in his first season as he scored 15 times in all competitions to finish as the club's leading goalscorer.

In doing so, he made the City of Manchester Stadium his personal fortress. 12 of his 15 strikes came in Manchester, including his debut strike against Chelsea – the club he very nearly joined instead – from a free-kick.

A hat-trick against Stoke City was among the flurry of goals that followed, though none were perhaps as cheeky as the chip that left Arsenal's Manuel Almunia completely humiliated as they romped to a 3-0 victory.

The Brazil forward also provided nine assists and seemed set to go on and improve in his second season in England. However, Robinho failed to score at all in the league in 2009/10, and only managed to net once that campaign, with that goal coming in the FA Cup.

Robinho joined Santos on loan in 2010 before he was sold to Serie A giants Milan as City moved on from their first superstar transfer.

Things have turned out rather well for City since then, but who knows how Robinho's time in England may have been perceived had he followed up on his initial exploits at Eastlands.

Having helped the Rossoneri to a Scudetto in 2010/11, he was hardly over the hill as a player at the top level, so it may be a case of an opportunity missed with the Brazilian unable to find long-term consistency under Mark Hughes at City.

1

Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers, 2007/08)

Roque Santa Cruz only reached double figures for goals once in his club career in Europe, and that was during his first season at Blackburn Rovers back in 2007/08.

After signing from Bayern Munich, Santa Cruz scored 19 league goals in 37 appearances to help Blackburn finish seventh in the division, with only Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Emmanuel Adebayor scoring more top-flight goals that year.

It was not bad company for Santa Cruz to keep, but the Paraguay international could not keep up the momentum in the following season, netting just five times in all competitions following Mark Hughes' departure to Manchester City.

Nevertheless, he still got a big move in 2009, when Hughes' City came calling with an £18m offer. It is fair to say Santa Cruz's move did not work out, as he scored only three league goals in his first season at the club, starting only six top-flight games.

His first season haul had plenty of highlights. They included a hat-trick – albeit in a losing vein – against Wigan Athletic, with the first of those strikes a volleyed screamer past Latics goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.

He would help Rovers inflict revenge on Wigan in the reverse fixture with one of three braces he scored in the league – future employers Manchester City and whipping boys Derby County his other victims in a dazzling individual campaign.

He returned to Blackburn for an unsuccessful loan spell in 2011 before heading off to have a reasonable career in Spain with Real Betis and Malaga.

The goals flowed again on his return to Paraguay, but Santa Cruz could never return to the pinnacle he once found himself at during his time in Lancashire.

Given his short-lived yet evident prowess in front of goal, you can only consider his drop-off in form to mark a player with unfulfilled potential at the top level.

Everton have been in hot pursuit of Wilfried Gnonto this summer and now a fresh update has emerged on the club's progress of completing a deal for the player.

Is Wilfried Gnonto joining Everton?

According to Italian news outlet Sports Italia (via Sport Witness), Everton are now close to completing a deal to sign the Leeds United winger.

As per the report, Gnonto's agent, Claudio Vigorelli, is working on a move to Goodison Park for his player and it is expected there will be progress in the coming days.

The publication notes that whilst the most recent reports from Italy haven't confirmed the transfer fee involved, previous reports from the Italian media have suggested that Everton had made an initial bid of €18m (£16m), plus €6m (£5m) in bonuses.

How good is Wilfried Gnonto?

If the reports from Italy are to be believed, Sean Dyche is now wasting no time in assembling an improved attacking threat for next season as Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma is also heading to Goodison Park.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Danjuma is set to complete a season-long loan move to the blue side of Merseyside, and if Gnonto follows the Netherlands international it would provide the Everton boss with great options to rely on in the final third.

Despite only joining Leeds last summer and falling out of favour in the second half of the season, Gnonto – hailed as a "special player" by his former coach Michael Skubala – has been attracting a lot of attention for his performance in west Yorkshire over his short time in English football and would be a much better option than fellow Everton target Anthony Elanga.

When comparing the two young players in their outputs over last season, Gnonto has comfortably outperformed the Manchester United talent in a number of attacking attributes including assists per 90 (0.27 v 0.16), progressive carries per 90 (4.39 v 3.20) and tackles per 90 (1.79 v 0.96).

Not only that, Elanga failed to score a single Premier League goal and registered just one assist over his 16 appearances last season, whilst Gnonto scored two goals and delivered four assists over his 24 league appearances.

In fact, in all competitions, Alexi Iwobi (10) and Dwight McNeil (10) were the only two Everton players in the entire squad who delivered more goal contributions than the Italy international last season (8), proving that he could significantly improve the goal-scoring opportunities in the team next season.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has heaped praise on Gnonto in the past, claiming that the player has "electric pace, stature, low centre of gravity, mobility, bravery and a powerful finish" – all attributes that could see him excel in the attacking threat at Goodison Park.

With that being said, the signing of Gnonto would be a great piece of business for Everton in their pursuit of strengthening the quality in the final third and if he could continue his development with Dyche's guidance he would no doubt become a valuable asset to the club for years to come.

Arsenal are reportedly still in the race to sign Ajax ace Mohammed Kudus, as Mikel Arteta looks to add more midfield reinforcements this summer.

The Spaniard, along with Edu, has recruited strongly this window, adding the likes of Kai Havertz and Declan Rice to bolster the middle of the park ahead of the highly anticipated 2023/24 campaign.

Despite spending over £200m, the spending is not expected to stop yet, with a long way still to go in the transfer period.

Could Arsenal sign Mohammed Kudus?

As reported by the Independent writer Miguel Delaney on Wednesday, Arsenal remain contenders to sign Kudus, with fierce competition noted.

The report claims that rivals Chelsea are leading the pursuit for the midfielder, for a fee in the region of £40m.

The believed viewpoint is that the Blues would be able to ‘price Arsenal out of any prospective deal’ for the 22-year-old, taking into consideration the Gunners’ spending spree early into the window.

How good is Mohammed Kudus?

Lauded as the “complete midfielder” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Ghanaian prevailed as one of the best performing attacking midfielders in Europe.

As per FBref, over the past year, the Ajax sensation averaged 4.57 successful take-ons and 0.58 expected non-penalty goals per 90, ranking him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders in leagues equivalent to the Eredivisie.

For Arsenal, signing a player in the calibre of Kudus could be an additional show of the club's ambition on the back of their title-challenging 2022/23 campaign.

The Gunners fell short to the magnificent treble-winning Manchester City side due to their sheer quality and the lack of depth in Arteta’s side, an area that must be addressed ahead of next season.

In adding the likes of Rice and Havertz, the Spaniard has recruited quality as well as adding to the numbers, however the north Londoners will face a transitioning period following the departure of a first team regular.

After seven years at the Emirates, Granit Xhaka bid farewell to life in the Premier League to embark on a new challenge with Bayer Leverkusen, leaving Arsenal without the brilliance of the Swiss.

The 30-year-old had a controversial stay in London – having memorably been stripped of the captaincy in 2019 – however his role in the Gunners’ rise in form showed just how integral his presence really was.

Transitioned to a more advanced number eight role, the former Arsenal captain was freed of his recklessness in deep midfield to flourish as the perfect ball-playing midfielder while maintaining his combative nature, notably scoring seven goals and providing seven assists in the league last season.

A similar task could be taken up by Kudus, who excelled in the final third last term, as highlighted by his 11 goals and three assists in Eredivisie.

Alongside his advanced strengths, the midfielder won 52% of his total duels, averaging 5.6 duel wins per game for Ajax in the league campaign, showcasing his ability to multitask in pivotal areas.

Arteta could land the perfect replacement for Xhaka, in a player with a host of potential and versatility, however with the Ghana international in demand this summer, the Gunners will have to ramp up their pursuit to out-gun the likes of Chelsea.

Juventus are "waiting for Chelsea to decide" on a deal that could see Romelu Lukaku go to Turin and Dusan Vlahovic go the other way for a reduced fee, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Romelu Lukaku leaving Chelsea?

Mauricio Pochettino has overseen a dramatic squad rebuild as the new Blues boss over the last couple of months.

Not only has he seen the arrival of players like Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Diego Moreira and more, but he's also seen the squad he inherited utterly gutted in the process.

According to Football Transfers, the club has sold at least £218m worth of talent so far this window, including a slew of first-team players instrumental in their Champions League triumph just two years ago.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

However, for all the names that have left Stamford Bridge with little fuss or trouble, Belgian international Lukaku is proving harder to shift.

The belief was that he would finally move back to Inter Milan on a permanent this summer after spending last season on loan there, only for the club to pull out of the deal after finding out he had been speaking to Juventus behind their back.

This has created a situation where the only European club seemingly willing to take the 30-year-old is the Old Lady, weakening Chelsea's already weak hand.

According to the Daily Mail, the Turin side are willing to take the former Everton man off of the Pensioners' hands, but to do so, they want the west Londoners to pay an additional £38.5m on top to send Serbian striker Vlahovic the other way.

The ball is now firmly in Chelsea's court as Juventus feel secure in knowing that Lukaku wants to come to Turin, further solidifying their negotiating position should the Blues agree to a deal, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"I told you that Juventus want at least €40m (£34m) to make it happen, the swap deal between Vlahovic and Lukaku, and this is Juventus' position.

"They're working through intermediaries – so it is not a direct negotiation – but intermediaries are taking care of the deal between Juventus and Chelsea. They're waiting for Chelsea to decide, so Chelsea have to decide what they want to do. If they want to proceed with Vlahovic and if they want to pay €40m (£34m) as part of this deal.

"But for Juventus they feel they can be strong in this deal because Lukaku has already said yes, so Juventus know that Lukaku wants the move and they know this deal can happen on their side. Now it depends on Chelsea."

Who was better last season, Dusan Vlahovic or Romelu Lukaku?

There is no getting away from the fact that Lukaku was a disastrous signing for Chelsea, but would Vlahovic fair any better? Did he outperform the want away Blues forward enough last season to justify his transfer to west London?

Unfortunately, it doesn't look good from a general output point of view. According to FBref, the Belgian comes out on top, scoring 0.54 goals and providing 0.33 assists per 90 to the Serbian's 0.47 goals and 0.09 assists.

It can't just be attributed to good or bad luck either, as once again, the Antwerp-born forward edges it for expected goals, producing 0.49 expected goals per 90 to the former Fiorentina star's 0.45.

Shot-creating actions is another area dominated by Lukaku as he averages an impressive 3.96 per 90 to Vlahovic's fairly poor 2.10, also per FBref.

The Juventus forward's poor form has been slammed by former Italy international Antonio Cassano, who told Calciomercato:

"He arrived with an impressive desire, but now he doesn't do anything, he doesn't even make a shot on goal."

Ultimately, Chelsea should certainly be looking to move Lukaku on as he has been an unmitigated failure at the Bridge, but sending him to Juventus whilst paying a hefty fee for Vlahovic feels like another transfer disaster just waiting to happen.

The number nine curse might yet continue in west London.

Manchester City are now ready to make a move for Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma as a replacement for Riyad Mahrez, according to a recent report from The Sun.

Who are Manchester City signing this summer?

Man City are actively searching for a replacement for Mahrez at the moment, and they have recently been linked with a move for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, with Pep Guardiola believed to be a huge fan of the 20-year-old.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has recently given an overview of two other players on the Citizens' list of targets, saying:

"They have to replace Riyad Mahrez and I expect Man City to go for a winger in the final weeks. There are for sure two players in the list, Michael Olise is one of them and they really like him, nothing has been decided yet.

"Jeremy Doku is appreciated by City as well. Let’s see who is the third name, at the moment it is not clear."

Olise has a release clause of just £35m included in his Crystal Palace contract, but City are likely to face competition for his signature from Premier League rivals Chelsea, with Romano also naming the Blues as potential suitors.

According to a report from The Sun, Mitoma is now also emerging as a target for the Sky Blues, with Guardiola ready to raid Brighton for the Japan international, who the manager is believed to be a big fan of.

The 26-year-old has two years left on his Brighton contract, but he is yet to put pen to paper on a new five-year deal, potentially opening the door for a move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

During Man City's pre-season tour of the Far East, the winger, who is valued at £50m, was singled out for praise by Guardiola, who said:

"Well, I would say the impact of [Kaoru] Mitoma on the Premier League has been incredible.

"And look at what Japan have done in the World Cup in a tough, tough group."

How good is Kaoru Mitoma?

Not only has the Japanese forward been hailed by Guardiola, but he has also received praise from members of the media, with Brighton podcaster Ryan Adsett lauding him as a "remarkable footballer" back in March.

The former Kawasaki Frontale man had a fantastic 2022/23 campaign with Brighton, registering ten goals and eight assists in all competitions, five more goal contributions than Olise amassed for Crystal Palace.

There are indications that the Brighton star could be an upgrade on Mahrez in some areas, having averaged more non-penalty goals, successful take-ons and progressive carries per 90 than the Algerian over the course of the past year,

The £10k-per-week ace also displays far more of a willingness to pitch in with the defensive side of the game, ranking in the 75th percentile for tackles and the 71st percentile for interceptions in the same timeframe.

£50m is a huge asking price for Mitoma, given that last year was his breakthrough season in the Premier League, but there are plenty of indications that he could be a great signing for Man City.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now keen on signing Manchester City midfielder Tommy Doyle, in what could be a loan deal. However, they are set to face competition from Scottish champions Celtic, according to a recent report from The Sun.

What's the latest Wolves transfer news?

Wolves chairman Jeff Shi has recently penned an open letter to the fans, in which he detailed that it will be difficult for the club to make any major signings this summer, as a result of the limitations brought about by Financial Fair Play restrictions.

As such, there may not be many more arrivals through the door at Molineux this summer, and there is also concern over the future of manager Julen Lopetegui, with the Spaniard now considering his position, as a result of the club's transfer woes.

However, the Old Gold continue to be linked with reinforcements in the middle of the park, following the sales of Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves, and they are reportedly keen on signing Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez.

The Molineux outfit have had "contacts" over a move for the 29-year-old, according to journalist Rudy Galetti, but they have other options in mind to bolster their midfield, with Alex Scott being considered, but Bournemouth could hijack their move for the Bristol City ace.

Scott is not the only young midfielder that Wolves have their eye on, with The Sun now reporting they are keen on Doyle, who helped Sheffield United gain promotion to the Premier League last season.

However, the Old Gold may face stiff competition for the midfielder, as Celtic are also keen on bringing him in, and the Scottish champions' strong relationship with Manchester City could enable them to win the race for his signature.

If the 21-year-old were to complete a move to Molineux, he may not be a regular starter, which leaves the door open for a move to Celtic Park, where Champions League football is on offer next season, making the Hoops an attractive option.

How good is Tommy Doyle?

There is evidence the youngster could be ready to make the step-up to the Premier League, given the part he played in Sheffield United's promotion to the top-flight last term, making 33 appearances for the Blades, picking up three goals and four assists.

The Man City ace also weighed in with five goal contributions in 19 appearances on loan at Cardiff City during the 2021/22 season, and performed very well at youth level for the Citizens in the prior season, amassing 14 goal contributions in 18 Premier League 2 games.

Given Wolves' financial limitations, a loan move for a player of Doyle's calibre would make perfect sense, and there is every indication he could develop even further at Molineux, having been lauded by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who said:

"Tommy Doyle is one of the biggest talents in Manchester City youth academy. An absolute star of English youth national teams from U-16 to U-19."

Scott should be the Old Gold's main target in midfield, as it would be far more beneficial to sign a player on a permanent deal, rather than on loan, but the former Sheffield United loanee could be a solid alternative option.

Lionel Messi has scored yet another goal for Inter Miami, this time netting a wonderful 36-yard effort in the MLS Leagues Cup semi-final against Philadelphia Union.

How many goals did Messi score for Inter Miami?

The Argentine has wasted no time in reminding everyone that he hasn't simply moved to America just to put up his feet and take it easy in the final years of his career.

No, on his debut he bagged a stunning last-minute free-kick to win the match – leaving David Beckham literally in tears – as he ended Inter Miami's winless streak in the seventh game.

Since then, he's played five more times. And in total, he's won every single match, scored nine goals, and claimed one assist, while also being named man of the match in five of the six matches.

So yea, it's safe to say he's taking life in the US pretty seriously, and quite frankly the 36-year-old icon is proving far too hot to handle.

This was evidenced in his most recent outing as the ex-Barcelona star carried the ball forward at speed before unleashing a low, driven shot from well over 30 yards.

It wasn't the most powerful strike, but it had such perfect accuracy the goalkeeper stood no chance as it arrowed into the bottom corner with the sort of precision only Messi could manage from so far out – as you can see in this replay.

This alternative angle of the strike shows just how brilliant the goal is, as an isolated Messi simply decides to carry the ball no further before unleashing his goal-bound effort.

How well did Messi play against Philadelphia?

To be quite frank, his entire performance in the match against Philadelphia – which was won 4-1 thanks to goals from Josef Martinez, Messi, Jordi Alba and David Ruiz – was just ridiculous.

The official Major League Soccer Twitter account shared a compilation of his best bits from the game, and it's littered with so many wonderful moments which you can enjoy below.

And adding to just how seriously he's been taking life in his new environment, even when 4-1 up, Messi still stood up for teammate Noah Allen when he was caught in a confrontation with Jose Martinez.

As you can see from the footage below, after the Philadelphia Union player appears to kick out at Miami's number 32, the former Barcelona star confronts Martinez before Sergio Busquets steps in to cool things down.

The Florida-based outfit are now into the final of the MLS Leagues Cup, where they'll meet Nashville this weekend, which means Messi could add yet another piece of silverware to his insanely healthy trophy cabinet with his new side – and do so within just a month of making his debut.

Considering Inter Miami were essentially the worst team in MLS when he arrived, the turnaround in recent weeks has been nothing short of remarkable – although, of course, it's all just looked like a walk in the park for the World Cup-winning Argentina star.

If he keeps this form up, fans may well end up wondering if he could have perhaps stayed in Europe a little while longer, although MLS supporters certainly won't be complaining!

The second round of Premier League games will take place this weekend, and there are a number of standout fixtures.

While Manchester United’s visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening may be the pick of the bunch, there are also a few London derbies.

West Ham will welcome Chelsea to the London Stadium, Arsenal and Crystal Palace go to head-to-head on Monday night, and Fulham will take on Brentford at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

Both sides will be relatively pleased with how they got the new season underway. Fulham edged out Everton at Goodison Park thanks to a Bobby Decordova-Reid finish from close range whereas Brentford went toe-to-toe with a new-look Tottenham side, taking away a point from it, and arguably doing enough to get all three, truth.

Brentford will now go on the road for another clash with a fellow London team, meaning it won’t be a very long trip at all. The five-mile drive from one ground to the other would take just 20 minutes, and so there could well be some bite in this fixture, which will hopefully take place in the August sunshine.

Ahead of the game, Football FanCast takes a look at the history between the two teams.

Fulham vs Brentford: Who has the better head-to-head record?

These are two sides that have enjoyed the highs and lows of football – coming from the lower reaches of the Football League to where they are now, in the promised land.

It is difficult to split them when looking through history – and it was difficult to split them last year, with Brentford finishing ninth in the Premier League standings and Fulham on their coattails in tenth.

Fulham of yesteryear got a taste of European football, winning the Intertoto Cup in 2002 before making that infamous run to the Europa League final in 2009/10 under the stewardship of current Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson.

That being said, Brentford may not have as rich a history as their London rivals, but they have just about edged the upper hand in this fixture.

• Fulham wins: 12
• Draws: 8
• Brentford wins: 14

Fulham vs Brentford: Who has more wins at Craven Cottage?

Turning attentions to how this fixture has played out on Fulham’s home patch, with the Whites playing the large majority of their games at Craven Cottage.

In the late 1800s, Fulham bounced around as many clubs did then before making Craven Cottage home in 1896, and the rest was history.

In terms of clashes with the Bees, common sense prevails with Fulham having got the better of Brentford when they’ve been at home, although interestingly, a large chunk of the draws between this duo have come in this area of west London.

• Fulham wins: 6
• Draws: 6
• Brentford wins: 3

Fulham vs Brentford: Who has more wins at Griffin Park/Brentford Community Stadium?

A similar picture is painted when you make the short trip over to Brentford, with the Bees winning nearly three times as many games as Fulham when the latter are the visiting team.

Over the years, Brentford have also bounced around a number of stadiums before landing at Griffin Park in 1904.

As is the case with Craven Cottage, Griffin Park is perceived as a legendary ground, particularly in the EFL, which makes Brentford’s departure all the more upsetting.

As they enjoyed their upward trajectory that took them to the Premier League following their 2020/21 promotion campaign, they made the move to the Brentford Community Stadium that year, where they will no doubt look to continue their trend against top-flight sides such as Fulham.

• Brentford wins: 11
• Draws: 2
• Fulham wins: 4

Fulham vs Brentford: Who has the better cup record?

These two sides have rarely met in cup competitions but when they have, the overall trend of results has been repeated.

Neither Fulham nor Brentford has gone all the way in either the FA Cup or League Cup, with a FA Cup runners-up medal for the Cottagers in 1975 – when they lost in the final to West Ham United – being the best they can offer.

Brentford have reigned victorious in four of the six League Cup meetings against Fulham, with one of the other clashes ending in a draw. In terms of the FA Cup, they have then met just twice and boast a win apiece there.

• Fulham wins: 2
• Draws: 1
• Brentford wins: 5

Fulham vs Brentford: What were the last five meetings?

As previously mentioned, Brentford are a recent addition to the Premier League landscape, and Fulham themselves have been in and out of the second tier, so their last five fixtures date back to their respective stints in the Championship.

6th March 2023 – Brentford 3-2 Fulham: The Bees' latest triumph over their local rivals took place in front of a raucous home crowd at the Brentford Community Stadium.

A scrappy move from the hosts was finished off with a suitably deflected from Ethan Pinnock with just six minutes on the clock. The sides continued to go blow-for-blow, with goals at both ends until Mathias Jensen’s strike five minutes from time put the game to bed.

20th August 2022 – Fulham 3-2 Brentford: Going back to before Christmas, and 3-2 was again the scoreline in favour of the home team. Marco Silva’s men took advantage of the full 90 minutes, with goals coming at the very start and end of proceedings.

It was Bobby Decordova-Reid who eventually put the ball in the back of the net after a truly calamitous sequence of play in the first minute.

Aleksandar Mitrovic would then pop up at the death to sting the Bees in the tail, with his pinpoint header travelling into the bottom corner, out of the reach of David Raya.

1st October 2020 – Brentford 3-0 Fulham: This League Cup tie saw both managers put out weakened XIs with their minds on very different things.

Scott Parker had got Fulham promoted the season prior and was battling to avoid relegation back to the second tier – a mission that ultimately failed. Meanwhile, Thomas Frank was trying to get over the hump and get his first taste of Premier League management.

Said Benrahma was one of the few first-teamers to feature for Brentford, and he made it count. The current West Ham United winger netted a brace alongside a Marcus Forss finish to put Fulham to the sword and book his team a spot in the next round.

4th August 2020 – Brentford 1-2 Fulham (AET): The less said about this fixture the better as it will be covered in greater detail later. The clash in question is, of course, the play-off final from the 2019/20 campaign.

Both sides were regularly finishing in the upper reaches of the Championship table and Brentford, in particular, were struggling to get over the line, with the holy grail that is the Premier League left within touching distance for a team who had not reached the top flight since the 1940s.

20th June 2020 – Fulham 0-2 Brentford: This was the second of the two league meetings in the 2019/20 Championship season, which felt the major ramifications of the pandemic. Behind closed doors at Craven Cottage, Brentford took all three points thanks to a pair of late goals.

Benrahma notched in the 88th minute, before substitute Emiliano Marcondes (now of AFC Bournemouth) put the icing on the cake by adding a second in added time.

Who has played for both Fulham and Brentford?

A number of players have donned the colours of both Fulham and Brentford but the majority of them were from many years ago. Here are just a few of the names to have this honour bestowed upon them.

Gerry Peyton (Fulham 1977-1986; Brentford 1992-1993): Peyton was Arsenal’s longstanding goalkeeping coach from 2003 to 2018. He is also a legend amongst Fulham folk, having played for them just short of a decade.

Then, in the twilight of his career, Peyton had a brief spell with Brentford, furthering his journey around London as a former West Ham United and Chelsea man.

Barry Lloyd (Fulham 1968-1976; Brentford 1977-1978): Going back even further to Barry Lloyd, who also completed the west London treble.

He won promotion out of the Third Division with Fulham before also tasting promotion success some years later with Brentford.

Ryan Fredericks (Brentford 2012; Fulham 2015-2018): Currently on the books at AFC Bournemouth, Fredericks played in both the Championship and Premier League with Fulham.

His Brentford spell may well have been short-lived – a loan spell that saw him make just four league appearances in League One – but it exists all the same.

What is Fulham’s biggest victory over Brentford?

23rd August 1947 – Fulham 5-0 Brentford: Over three-quarters of a century ago, one of the two most convincing victories by Fulham in this fixture took place. The Cottagers won 5-0 in the first game of the 1947/48 season and repeated the feat five years later, asserting their dominance over their fellow Londoners.

Both clubs finished mid-table in the Second Division that season, with Fulham edging out four teams – including Brentford – on goal average to sneak an 11th-place finish.

What is Brentford’s biggest victory over Fulham?

3rd April 2015 – Fulham 1-4 Brentford: Stuart Dallas has been with Leeds United for nearly a decade, but prior to that, he plied his trade for Brentford.

The Northern Ireland international scored twice against Fulham in Brentford’s biggest win over the Cottagers, with Alan Judge and Jota also getting on the scoresheet.

Fulham vs Brentford: Key stats

• This will be the 26th league meeting between the two clubs
• Both sides could be without their star strikers as Ivan Toney is suspended and Mitrovic’s future remains up in the air amidst rumours linking him with a move to Saudi Arabia
• Fulham and Brentford have not drawn any of their last 7 matches against each other

Fulham vs Brentford: Classic meetings

4th August 2020 – Brentford 1-2 Fulham (Championship play-off final): There aren’t too many clashes between Fulham and Brentford, but the Championship play-off final at Wembley in August 2020 stands out.

An unlikely hero struck for the victors under the arch in the form of Joe Bryan. The full-back scored a brace in extra time after a goalless 90 minutes – the first being a genius free-kick from distance that caught out Brentford goalkeeper David Raya before sweeping home a second.

Manchester United haven't had the desired start to their Premier League campaign, witnessing a real struggle to dominate opponents in their opening fixtures, while injury issues have become a cause for concern for Erik ten Hag.

Now, a new update has emerged on the Red Devils' attempts to strengthen their squad amid Luke Shaw's worrying injury blow.

Who could replace Luke Shaw at Man United?

According to The Athletic, Manchester United are "exploring" a deal to sign Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella before the Friday deadline.

On Twitter, the publication revealed:

"Manchester United are exploring a move for Marc Cucurella after Luke Shaw was ruled out for an extended period with a muscle injury."

Following up in an article, The Athletic's Pol Ballus claimed that Man United and Chelsea have held informal talks about a potential loan deal for the season ahead, as he is considered a short-term replacement for Shaw.

How good is Marc Cucurella?

It will come as no surprise that Man United are desperately searching for full-back reinforcements in the dying days of the summer transfer window, as both Shaw and Tyrell Malacia will be unavailable for the foreseeable.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

Shaw is due to be out of action until November following a muscle injury, whilst his understudy Malacia has an ongoing knee injury that has seen him ruled out for the entirety of the season so far and has a similar recovery timeline as his teammate.

As a result, it is imperative that Ten Hag secures the services of a left-back who can not only replace the quality and availability missing on the left flank but a player who can make an instant impact at Old Trafford, with Cucurella's Premier League and Champions League experience a huge advantage in their search.

The Chelsea star has struggled to make the desired impact at Stamford Bridge since his £60m move from Brighton and Hove Albion last summer, with Ben Chilwell the favoured starting option for Mauricio Pochettino so far, whilst youth prospect Ian Maatsen has moved up the pecking order to become the second in command.

This sparks an opportunity for the Man United boss to repeat his Mason Mount masterclass by diving back into Chelsea's ranks again. Mount, who is yet to score in United colours, may well have had a difficult start to life at Old Trafford but like his former teammate in Cucurella has proven himself at top-flight level before.

Indeed, Ten Hag could offer Cucurella a second chance at first-team football, which will likely be an attractive prospect for the left-back and presents the Blues with the chance to further offload another player who doesn't make the cut.

Despite his difficult start to life in West London, the £175k-per-week Spaniard – once hailed "sensational" by journalist Josh Bunting – ranked in the top 20% of his Premier League positional peers last season for assists, pass completion, passes into the final third, tackles won, dribblers tackled and touches per 90 minutes played, as per FBref.

Not only that, Cucurella shared a number of similarities in his output compared to Shaw last season, with the pair coming close in goal contributions (2 v 3), pass completion (84.3% v 83.7%), successful take-ons (35.7% v 35.9%) and aerial duels won (55.2% v 61.3%), proving that he could be a worthy short-term solution to Ten Hag's biggest headache.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Man United to snap up the services of Cucurella for the season ahead, as his wealth of experience and similarities to Shaw would surely offer Ten Hag a player who can quickly slot into the team at Old Trafford.

Leeds United can place focus solely on the efforts on the pitch following a frenetic, rollercoaster of a summer transfer window.

Having seen their spot in the Premier League severed after a dismal campaign, Leeds are seeking to finish at the upper end of the Championship table this term for an instant return to the big time.

After three years in the top-flight, the Whites understandably lost a multitude of first-teamers, with no less than 15 players leaving the club before Friday's transfer deadline.

There have been a wealth of fresh arrivals, however, with newly-appointed manager Daniel Farke now looking to craft a successful season for the distinguished west Yorkshire outfit.

Who did Leeds sign this summer?

There is a very different feel to this Leeds side now that the roiling waves of the summer market have calmed, with promotion specialist Farke – who has twice taken Norwich City out of the second tier – trimming the bloated squad down.

Having made nine acquisitions across the past few months, the German will be hoping for a more unified, cohesive squad than the team that has struggled for form and fluidity over the past several campaigns.

The likes of Joe Rodon, Sam Byram and Djed Spence have been signed to bolster the backline, while Karl Darlow has been landed to provide competition for the under-fire shot-stopper Illian Meslier; the versatile Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara have been brought in to strengthen the midfield.

With star striker Rodrigo among the departees, Farke will have known the importance of signing a sufficient replacement, and while there was an interminable period of anxious wait for the Whites faithful, patience was rewarded with the signing of Swansea City striker Joel Piroe, worth in excess of £10m.

Is Joel Piroe a striker?

According to The Athletic's Phil Hay, Farke told the 49ers Enterprises – the club owners – that scoring at least 75 goals is paramount to the outfit's chances of an instantaneous return to the Premier League, and a sure-fire way to achieve that is by securing the services of a clinical striker.

Piroe is the man for the job, with the Dutchman proving to be one of the Championship's most prolific forwards across the past two campaigns, scoring 23 goals across the 2021/22 term before netting 20 last season.

There was much talk over his future with Swansea this summer, with Leeds battling against fellow relegated teams Leicester City and Southampton for his signature, with Everton also interested.

The prospect of a talismanic role under Farke's wing was enough to convince the 24-year-old that he was best placed to make the switch to Leeds, and indeed received early affirmation that his decision was apt after netting on his debut during a thrilling 4-3 victory over Ipswich Town.

Whether Piroe finishes the term as the prolific star Farke coveted this summer remains to be seen, but the omens bode well and the Elland Road side have taken the right steps towards combatting the leave of a talisman labelled a "class above" by BBC commentator Pat Nevin last season.

Will Joel Piroe replace Rodrigo?

There is no denying that Rodrigo enjoyed a tremendous individual campaign last year, scoring 13 Premier League goals from 31 appearances, including just 23 starting displays, and it was somewhat inevitable that he would depart the club following relegation.

Signing for Qatari side Al-Rayann after his low-value £3m release clause was met, the Spaniard finished his time in England on a low, but his Elland Road exit did confirm to Farke that signing a new focal frontman would be the centre of the summer transfer plans.

Described as a "livewire" by former forward Aaron McLean, the 28-cap Spaniard ranks among the top 26% of strikers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year, as per FBref, at a scoring rate of 0.46 – meaning he found the back of the net almost once every two outings.

Impressive, right? Especially when considering that the 32-year-old played in such a weak Leeds team last term, devoid of hope, drained of confidence in the campaign's decisive closing stage.

Losing him was a blow, but indeed an anticipated matter, and with Piroe now spearheading the seasonal assault, the 49ers might have actually landed a gem to surpass Rodrigo's role at the club.

Hailed for his “clinical” ability by journalist Josh Bunting, the 6 foot 1 attacker ranks among the top 30% of positional peers across Men's Next Eight divisions – below Europe's top five leagues – for goals, the top 13% for total shots taken, the top 3% for pass completion and the top 17% for interceptions per 90.

The sharpshooter's crisp ball-playing skills are notably important to Farke's plans, with the 46-year-old implementing a possession-based system, crafting intricate, intelligent movements to shepherd the ball into dangerous areas.

Rodrigo, comparatively, ranks only among the top 37% of positional peers for pass completion; Farke has a plan and is looking to build his team with a clear vision, utilising Piroe's strengths to enhance the overall cohesion and flow of his side.

Leeds have not enjoyed the flawless start to the campaign that the supporters will have so dearly craved after a miserable year in the Premier League, but such was maybe to be expected given the tumultuous nature of the club's summer.

Like the sun at the end of a storm, the Whites now look to have shaved off the malaise and can focus on the efforts on the pitch, having discarded the discontented players dreaming of pastures new and making signings for stars eager to demonstrate their talents at a prestigious outfit targetting a return to prominence.

Piroe alone will not be the catalyst for success, but he will provide a steady goal threat and composure in attacking transitions, precise with his passing and clever with his movement, having been heralded for his "brilliant" performances on English shores by Benjamin Bloom.

Rodrigo was rightfully respected for his cutting edge in a blunt season, but the page has turned at Elland Road, and given his prowess as one of the Championship's standout strikers, Piroe is the man to lead the line and send the devoted Leeds faithful into rapture once again.