Dahlberg, Bogle, Chambers, Hoey, Pedrosa, McEachran, Gibbs-White, Wojnar (Murray 73), Bowie (Costa 65), Lewis-Potter, Jakubiak Hardly vintage, but three points are three points
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Millwall 0-2 Fulham
Dahlberg, Bogle, Hoey, Chambers, Pedrosa, Lemina, Gibbs-White, Wojnar, Bowie, Lewis-Potter (Costa 67), Jakubiak (Stansfield 84) An ok first half and a second half where we dominated
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Fulham 2-1 Brentford
Dahlberg, Bogle, Hoey, Chambers, Pedrosa, Lemina, Gibbs-White, Wojnar (Murray 62), Bowie, Lewis-Potter (Costa 62), Jakubiak Back in your box, Brentford.
Dahlberg, Bogle, Hoey, Chambers, Pedrosa, Lemina, Gibbs-White, Wojnar, Bowie (Costa 67), Lewis-Potter, Jakubiak (Stansfield 67) A bore draw in north London, or Hertfordshire, or wherever the f*ck Watford is
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Fulham 2-0 Reading
Dahlberg, Bogle, Hoey (Smith 63), Chambers, Pedrosa, Stone, Wojnar (Lawrence 84), Gibbs-White, Costa (Stansfield 72), Lewis-Potter, Bowie Is Reading in London? Or not? Oh I don't know.
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Fulham 1-0 Coventry City
Dahlberg, Bogle, Chambers (Smith 45), Hoey, Pedrosa, Stone, Gibbs-White, Wojnar (Lemina 45), Costa, Lewis-Potter (Bowie 81), Jakubiak Two subs at half-time. Very fancy...
Dahlberg, Chambers (Cockbill 73), Hoey, Smith, Pedrosa, Stone, Gibbs-White, Wojnar (Stansfield 73), Murray, Costa, Jakubiak Should have scored more
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa
Dahlberg, Bogle, Smith, Hoey, Pedrosa, Stone, Gibbs-White, Wojnar (Stansfield 65), Murray, Costa (Carvalho 83), Jakubiak The goalsccoring centre back strikes again!
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Fulham
Dahlberg, Bogle, Smith, Hoey, Pedrosa, Stone, Gibbs-White, Wojnar (McEachran 68), Costa (Murray 68), Lewis-Potter, Jakubiak Rob Jakubiak's coming into his own
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Fulham 1-0 Cardiff City
Dahlberg, Bogle (Cockbill 61), Smith, Chambers, Pedrosa, Lemina, Gibbs-White (McEachran 80), Jakubiak, Murray, Costa, Bowie More centre back goals!
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Huddersfield Town 1-3 Fulham
Dahlberg, Bogle, Smith, Hoey, Pedrosa, Stone, Gibbs-White, Wojnar (Lemina 66), Murray, Lewis-Potter, Bowie Well the first half was fun...
Dahlberg, Bogle, Hoey, Smith, Pedrosa, Stone, Gibbs-White, Wojnar (Lemina 63), Bowie, Lewis-Potter, Jakubiak We aren't flashy, just consistent.
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Fulham 4-1 Hull City
Dahlberg, Bogle, Smith, Hoey (Stone 63), Pedrosa (Lawrence 79), Lemina, Gibbs-White (Bowie 63), Wojnar, Murray, Costa, Jakubiak Ok we're a little flashy
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Nottingham Forest 0-1 Fulham
Dahlberg, Cockbill, Hoey, Smith, Pedrosa, Stone, Gibbs-White, Lemina (Wojnar 65), Murray (Carvalho 65), Costa, Bowie Not the strongest start to a run of 4 straight away games
Dahlberg, Bogle, Hoey, Smith, Pedrosa, Stone, Gibbs-White, Wojnar, Bowie, Lewis-Potter, Jakubiak A worrying performance where the double barrelleds got us out of trouble
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Newcastle United 0-2 Fulham
Dahlberg, Bogle, Hoey, Smith, Pedrosa (Lawrence 65), Stone, Jakubiak, Lemina (Barratt 65), Murray, Costa, Bowie Ending our away run with a lovely night out in Newcastle
Dahlberg, Bogle, Hoey, Smith, Pedrosa, Gilmour, Wojnar, Jakubiak (McEachran 64), Murray (Sheldon 64), Lewis-Potter, Bowie Our insane winning run is at a end
Dahlberg, Bogle, Hoey, Smith, Pedrosa, Gilmour, Gibbs-White, Wojnar, Murray, Lewis-Potter (Vassalo 67), Bowie (Sheldon 67) A cup run? Very nice.
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Barnsley 0-2 Fuham
Dahlberg, Bogle, Hoey, Chambers, Lemina, Gilmour, Wojnar (Gibbs-White 63), Bowie, Vassalo, Jakubiak (Sheldon 63) A first league goal for Marcus Sheldon
Dahlberg, Bogle, Smith, Chambers, Lawrence, Lemina (Stone 59), Gilmour, Wojnar, Lewis-Potter, Bowie A last minute penalty to keep the unbeaten run going! The envelope worked!
FA CUP FIFTH ROUND Stoke City 1-2 Fulham
Dahlberg, Bogle, Smith, Hoey, Pedrosa, Lemina, Gilmour (Jakubiak 74), Wojnar (Stone 74), Murray, Lewis-Potter, Bowie A solid performance gets us a win away at Premier League Stoke!
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Fulham 2-1 Bristol City
Dahlberg, Bogle, Smith, Chambers, Lawrence, Stone, Gilmour (Lemina 76), Jakubiak, Murray (Sheldon 76), Vassalo, Bowie Coming from behind against the Robins
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Fulham 4-1 Sunderland
Dahlberg, Bogle (Cockbill 79), Smith, Hoey, Pedrosa, Lemina, Gilmour, Wojnar, Murray, Lewis-Potter (Sheldon 79), Bowie WE'RE UP! What a way to win promotion
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
Dahlberg, Bogle, Hoey, Smith, Pedrosa, Stone, Gilmour (Lemina 70), Jakubiak, Vassalo, Lewis-Potter, Bowie There goes the unbeaten season
FA CUP QUARTER FINAL Manchester City 2-0 Fulham
Dahlberg, Bogle, Smith, Chambers, Lawrence, Lemina (Stone 68), Gilmour, Wojnar (Bowie 59), Murray, Vassalo (Lewis-Potter 59), Jakubiak A bridge too far
Dahlberg, Cockbill, Hoey, O'Shea, Pedrosa, Stone (Gilmour 65), Puigmal, Barratt, Murray, Lewis-Potter (Vassalo 65), Sheldon A rotated side return from the Welsh capital with all 3 points
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Fulham 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Well the Championship was easy, like, really easy. We weren't even a particularly amazing side, very few of the players in that first Xi were of proper quality. Keane Lewis-Potter & Daniel Hoey were top players, as are Adria Pedrosa and Morgan Gibbs-White, but most of the rest aren't. In spite of getting 118 points, this squad would need a makeover if it wasn't to stay up. People like Kieron Bowie are perfectly capable at Championship level, but the Premier League is something different.
I've also not really settled in Fulham. I grew up in South Wales, so Fulham is a completely alien environment to me. The club also aren't important enough to the area, it feels strange. Fulham are just one of 100s of London football clubs. Growing up in Cardiff and later living in Fylde, they were one of the most important things in the area. Everyone wanted to talk about them, its just not the same with Fulham, I've just not fallen in love with the club. We aren't a match.
So what does that leave? Job applications. I applied four 4 jobs at decent European clubs; Marseille, Atalanta, Fiorentina and Villarreal. I had an interview with all 4, how did they go?
Decisions to be made. Marseille weren't happy with me apparently, f*ck em. The other three though were very happy, Villarreal offered me the job first, then Atalanta, then Fiorentina, so there's decisions to be made
First things first, I'm definitely leaving Fulham, staying here isn't an option, just look at the money I'm getting offered to move. But where do I go? All three clubs are really the same size
Initially I was going to Italy, but they have strange transfer rules, whilst Villarreal's fantastic youth set up is really tempting, even if the budgets are smaller. Of course of the Italian clubs, Fiorentina are arguably the biggest and more iconic, whilst they're also offering the most money
So that leaves Atalanta.
To be honest, this was the job I wanted really until I found out about Villarreal's youth system. Atalanta have a worse youth system and less money. Their fans drive tanks over cars! They're an irrational choice
To be fair, any of those three would be a pretty good shout but Atalanta is the one I'd have gone for too. I thought they had an awesome youth set-up though?
To be fair, any of those three would be a pretty good shout but Atalanta is the one I'd have gone for too. I thought they had an awesome youth set-up though?
So I've moved to Italy and I'm a big fan already. Atalanta of course play in the wonderful city of Bergamo in northern Italy and it really is lovely, much like the rest of northern Italy
The £46,500 a week they're paying me is wonderful as well, much more than I was on at Fulham although it has lead to some strange spending choices which I think its inappropriate to get into. All in all a great place to spend a few years.
And I really need to spend a few years here, because the club is a mess. Atalanta really burst onto the scene in 2016 under Gian Piero Gasperini and wowed us with some great football and 3 top 3 finishes, but boy have they stagnated. Gasperini is the man I'm replacing and that says it all, they finished 10th last season, their lowest finish since 2015/16 and is indicative of the steady decline the club has faced
The squad also needs a major shake up. There are 9 players in this squad over the age of 30, I'd have loved a squad with the likes of M'Baye Niang and Takumi Minamino 5 years ago, but not now, they have to go. Though I have been hamstrung in my quest to bring down the age of the squad, prior to my arrival the club signed Joao Carvalho (28), Leandro Trossard (30), Phillip Billing (29) and Danny Ings (32, yes really, Danny Ings) on big money. F*ck.
Fortunately, that lot aside there is still some real quality in the squad. Meet Eljif Elmas and Franco Tongya
Beautiful. There's also Caselli who seems great
But yeah, all in all, work to be done. Not a huge amount of money but fortunately the facilities are great and expectations are low
Interested in seeing how this goes
So I've moved to Italy and I'm a big fan already. Atalanta of course play in the wonderful city of Bergamo in northern Italy and it really is lovely, much like the rest of northern Italy
The £46,500 a week they're paying me is wonderful as well, much more than I was on at Fulham although it has lead to some strange spending choices which I think its inappropriate to get into. All in all a great place to spend a few years.
And I really need to spend a few years here, because the club is a mess. Atalanta really burst onto the scene in 2016 under Gian Piero Gasperini and wowed us with some great football and 3 top 3 finishes, but boy have they stagnated. Gasperini is the man I'm replacing and that says it all, they finished 10th last season, their lowest finish since 2015/16 and is indicative of the steady decline the club has faced
The squad also needs a major shake up. There are 9 players in this squad over the age of 30, I'd have loved a squad with the likes of M'Baye Niang and Takumi Minamino 5 years ago, but not now, they have to go. Though I have been hamstrung in my quest to bring down the age of the squad, prior to my arrival the club signed Joao Carvalho (28), Leandro Trossard (30), Phillip Billing (29) and Danny Ings (32, yes really, Danny Ings) on big money. F*ck. View attachment 534568View attachment 534569
But yeah, all in all, work to be done. Not a huge amount of money but fortunately the facilities are great and expectations are low View attachment 534573 View attachment 534574
Here we go, back at the home for old men that is Atalanta, I really wish I'd had a proper look at the squad before picking this lot....
I got rid of a lot of old men and kept the players I wanted, happy days
INS
I didn't sign Carvalho, Trossard, Billing and Ings. They signed Danny Ings ffs.
ETHAN AMPADU - CHELSEA - LOAN
I wanted him at Fulham, I've got him at Atalanta. He's quality.
GIUSEPPINO PALOTTA - FIORENTINA - £2.5m P/EX
Not only did I turn Fiorentina down, I nicked their best youngster
MATTHEW CAMPBELL - CELTIC - £1.7m
A little punt, sorry a little c*nt
ALEX - BRAGE - £7.25m
Not fussed on the whole "one name" thing but other than that he looks great
ALBERTO SIANI - SASSUOLO - £3.1m
Hoovering up Italy's youngsters
RICCARDO CALAFIORI - ROMA - £12.75m P/EX
We were desperate for a good left back and we've got him. Can't believe Roma let him go.
Like I said, there's no real pressure this season. We're comfortable one of the top 10 or so teams in the league, and the lack of Europe as a distraction should prove beneficial
AS ROMA 0-2 ATALANTA
New Atalanta boss Matthew Hawkins has issued a statement of intent following his side's impressive opening day victory over reigning Serie A champions AS Roma, declaring that he "wants the title"
Atalanta were thoroughly impressive and dominated the champions for the full 90, taking the lead through Franco Tongya after 14 minutes, with Marcus Thuram doubling that lead in the 31st minute
Following the game Hawkins had this to say: "When I joined this club I was written off and laughed at, something I'm used to in my career. I was laughed at when I joined Fylde and when I joined Fulham, look where they are now. I'm well prepared for this, nothing you lot can throw at me compares to the pain of being laughed at whilst half naked and thrusting to the beat of Paperhouse by Can in my old job. I've come here to win things, I've won things throughout my career and I want the title"
Atalanta fans have taken quickly to their new boss and statements like this will only help matters. Hawkins reportedly joined Atalanta's notorious ultras in local bars following his unveiling, drinking into the early hours, however its his softer side that's seen the older fans fall in love with him
"It was his piece in the Carrara which really drew me in, though slightly derivative I felt the juxtaposition of hedonistic life characterised by Rome with the monotony of modern life through IKE furniture was well presented" said Giuseppe, 64, "while his serious of essays on the human condition in our local newspaper have been both thought provoking and fascinating, if a little disturbing"
My full month in Italy and we play Juve, Inter & Napoli. Send help.
SERIE A Atalanta 5-0 Juventus
Areola, Lirola, Caldara, Ampadu (Frattini 76), Calafiori, Caselli, Elmas (Kana 61), Alex, Raccagni, Tongya, Thuram (Ings 76) No help required! Incredible performance as we stick 5 past Juve! Danny Ings scored! I can' believe it
SERIE A Inter Milan 1-1 Atalanta
Areola, Lirola, Caldara, Ampadu, Calafiori, Caselli, Elmas (Elneny 90), Alex, Raccagni (Kana 68), Tongya, Ings (Niang 68) We weathered the early storm where Inter threw everything at us, came back and should have won it in the end but had a goal disallowed
Can we back up a very good September with a good October?
SERIE A Atalanta 1-0 Salernitana
Areola, Lirola (Esposito 81), Caldara, Ampadu, Calafiori, Caselli, Elmas, Alex, Raccagni (Piga 73), Niang, Ings (Siani 63) They didn't have a shot
SERIE A Fiorentina 0-2 Atalanta
Areola, Lirola, Caldara, Ampadu, Calafiori, Caselli, Elmas (Campbell 61), Kana, Alex (Raccagni 61), Niang, Thuram Fiorentina had the best defence in the league before they met us
SERIE A Atalanta 1-0 Sassuolo
Areola, Lirola, Caldara, Ampadu, Calafiori, Caselli, Elmas, Kana (Niang 62), Alex, Tongya, Thuram Hardly a classic but a win's a win
