#Craven Cottage

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Fulham 0-1 Manchester United

It wasn't an easy game, or a comfortable result, but it was one where United showed desire and determination, and were it not for some extremely suspect refereeing it might have been a much clearer gulf between the two sides...

The game started with a dramatic injury to Harry Maguire, whose missed header saw him faceplant a player's shoulder. A swollen eye socket for his troubles, but thankfully it wasn't serious enough to warrant substitution and Maguire managed to put in another very solid performance.

A nasty foul on captain Bruno Fernandes in the 8th minute led to a free kick; swung left side to Garnacho who played a beautiful ball back across to McTominay at the back post. The jubilation was short-lived however, with appeals for offside leading to a VAR check. In a highly unusual turn, the referee also took a look from the sideline - something PGMOL argue was because of the technical rules of the incident rather than the normal "clear and obvious error" from the on-field referee. In this case, Harry Maguire was adjudged offside. This despite not touching the ball or interfering with a defender who could stop Garnacho, but instead because he showed intent to attack the ball and thus was guilty. An interesting inconsistency compared to some other decisions made this season.

Fulham's reaction to the goal being disallowed was one of increased tempo and determination. In many ways it felt like they had taken a 1-0 lead and had that confidence boost, the wind in their sails, that allowed them to play more expressive football.

The first half drew to an end slightly in United's favour but the second was a far more open affair. Brazilian winger Antony was notably awful on the right side, which saw him substituted fairly quickly for Facundo Pellistri, and it was a remarkable change of intensity, desire, and competence down that right side for United. The scrappy little Uruguayan with his low centre of gravity and a tenacious approach to duels caused Fulham trouble - trouble which opened up opportunities.

An 84th minute chance nearly led to a sensational goal from substitute Anthony Martial, but it was the Captain who became the man of the hour in the 90th minute. Good pressure from Martial, McTominay and Pellistri allowed Fernandes a chance on the edge of the box. A feint left, cut back right, and ping bottom corner past Leno. 1-0 United, and a deserved 3 points for the Red Devils after it felt like perhaps fate had intervened and stolen away a much needed win.

After heavy criticism of Fernandes and Ten Hag in the past few days, both men will be relieved to have claimed the win away at Craven Cottage. The hope now is that a run of form can begin.

Ten Hag spoke to TNT Sports post-match and was questioned by Rio Ferdinand on the lack of team identity or play style this season. Ten Hag's response was that injuries had curtailed any sense of a predictable XI and that had hindered synergy or familiarity, but it is something the Dutchman needs to address quickly. November is upon us - there have been enough games and training sessions now for players to gel.

There are concerns to be had about many players; Bruno Fernandes being too stroppy, Rashford's lack of goals, players not finding enough passes to Højlund up front, but most pressing is the Antony situation. He has been the Manager's Favourite for a while, to the ire of Jadon Sancho. Poor club operations led to United paying double the asking price for him, but even if United had paid £40m, Antony hasn't even lived up to that. He's pacey and holds the ball up well, but he's unfathomably one-footed and fails take-ons almost every time. United's fatal flaw on the attack for years had been a lack of midfielders, and then it switched to being heavily LW-orientated.

If Ten Hag wants to keep the good times rolling he needs to work on Antony - whether that's tactical changes to encourage better match habits from him or benching him for the eager Pellistri. Something has to change if United want to retain a top 4 spot this season, and games against København, Luton and Everton are the perfect time to act.

[elarea]

Retro Fútbol (74)

Hoy viajamos al 18.09.1965 para ver a unos incondicionales hinchas bajo la lluvia en el Craven Cottage. Observan al local, Fulham contra el Aston Villa. Valió la pena mojarse para presenciar casi diez goles. Ganó la visita por 6-3.

[cityzenchick]

Team news time 😊 Ruben is back 😍, John's on the bench 😢 but Erling ready to score more goals 👍⚽️🥰🩵💋

[famousornotbuthot]

x

[cityzenchick]

And what a goal it was!! 👏 Gotta love Josko 🩵

[ 0 - 1 ] Josko Gvardiol｜Fulham vs Manchester City

[flyhalved]

sorry hang on. fulham are called "the cottagers" ⁉️

[richarlisonny]

not watching luton/west ham but i love kennilworth road so much it reminds me of the bohs home stadium

[rthstewart]

So is John Pevensie still an antagonist in Stone Gryphon? (Am I asking this because I love Helen and Mrs. Godwin? Yes. I am also asking because I love a furiously protective person and John seemed like that in the snippets from his perspective)

@becauseforoncethisisme asked:

So is John Pevensie still an antagonist in Stone Gryphon? (Am I asking this because I love Helen and Mrs. Godwin? Yes. I am also asking because I love a furiously protective person and John seemed like that in the snippets from his perspective)

First, thanks so much for reading and reaching out about the first chapters of Heart and Crow Make The Peace.

Ware below for LONG meta/history/ruth stewart blather

For many years, the first and last look readers had of John Pevensie was a scene in the posted Apostolic Way.  It’s a disastrous dinner at the Rainbow Room in New York City, where Col. Walker-Smythe has brought Edmund to America to work as his aide and batman.  John is, as presented in the story, a writer and editor, recruited by the SOE, to work on the generation of pro-British propaganda.  He is a serial philanderer, is bitterly disappointed that it is Edmund, rather than Peter, who has come to America, and the dinner is excruciatingly painful as John’s memories of his children are several years old and certainly pre-Narnia, leaving Edmund to, once again, be far kinder than his father deserves and Walker-Smythe is furious.  It’s made worse by numerous women who have obviously enjoyed John’s attentions in the past stopping by the table to say hello.  

Meanwhile, Helen Pevensie is back in London, and true to what was more common in 1943 than it was in 2020, has been in a sexual relationship with Mrs. Beatrice Goodwin, the widow next door.  

I was probably too successful in the scene as John can come across as a craven and cruel person. Readers’ sympathies (and mine) have always tilted to Helen.

With the reposted story, I slightly tweaked the previous version of the Rainbow Room scene and have introduced in text that a part of John’s issue is untreated PTSD. So, is this signaling a change of heart for me in John's role? and what about Mrs. Goodwin and Helen?

John's untreated illness is an explanation, in part, but not a justification to be sure.

I’ve always intended for Helen and Beatrice to go their separate ways.  As broad-minded as the Four are, it's different when your parents are involved and I’m finding it hard to push myself to writing that as a resolution or where it’s all just one big happy polyamory.  From discussions with readers, I could see Beatrice moving to a small market town for economy, meeting another widow with young children and you know, there are only 2 bedrooms in the cottage, so of course….   Post-war England was filled with these kinds of relationships of economy and convenience and, presumably, potential romance amongst widows.

As a writer, I also want John and Helen to both put some work in and try to rebuild their relationship.  This is something millions of people had to do post-War and I’m interested in how and whether couples can overcome infidelity.  I’m not sure I could, personally (I’ve been married for over 30 years!) and I’m interested in developing it.  TSG itself presents numerous different takes on bonding and infidelity which, while true to the time period, is also intended as a contrast to Edmund and Lucy’s  own sense of loss for their partners.  Something I’ve not decided is whether Morgan and Aidan, respectively, went on to have their own relationships some period of time later.  

There’s another reason for introducing John’s PTSD.  TSG was originally supposed to be a two-fer, Peter-centric story.  I was going to do a time-skip after the conclusion of Ox 1942 and jump to post war, with Peter starting an affair with Mary, dropping out of uni, finally finding his path, and then everyone dying, with Susan left behind (I had this about half-written, even). I never, EVER wanted to touch the 1940s UK educational systems or Peter’s potential service in the military as I deemed bothway beyond my storytelling skill.

[TQSiT was never in the cards – that’s the fault of an early reader, Miniver on ff dot net long since gone, who asked, Well, given these adventures for Peter, and Lucy and Edmund off on the Dawn Treader, surely Susan is up to something exciting in America, which coincided with me reading a WaPo review Connant’s The Irregulars.  Oops.]

So to avoid having to write Peter in the service, from the very beginning, back in Ox 1942, I wrote that Peter’s parents are opposed to his service and he’s willing to go along with it because he thinks he’s an insubordination risk.  I never explained why they are opposed which is really not especially consistent with the patriotism of the time.  

So, in the story I’ve picked up again 12 years later, John’s trauma at Dunkirk as now part of the reason for that opposition.  He goes to War to protect his family and early on is deeply traumatized by the failures to evacuate soldiers on the beaches; he hears the screams of men and ships going down in his dreams.  In his own protective misguided way, he wants to protect his family from that horror. And when he finds out that Aslan plucked his children out of England and turned them into warriors, he is going to be PISSED.  

 Oops.

Thanks so much   @becauseforoncethisisme!!

[littlemagicalstardust]

"Fulham FC CEO Alistair Mackintosh, Fulham FC Sporting Director and Activist partner Tony Khan, AEW's Orange Cassidy & Activist founding partner Bernie Cahill celebrate a 2-1 FFC home win against LCFC at London's historic Craven Cottage." - IG: activistsartists

[laketooth]

finished craven manor and i’m losing my mind. fellas is it gay to use ur last strength to summon rain for ur homie as u both lay in the dirt just because he likes ur house and doesnt want it to burn. fellas is it gay for ur homie to then bridal carry u back to his cottage. fellas is it gay to then watch ur homie sleep to make sure he’s safe. fellas is it gay to then live in a fancy manor together and adopt ur little sister’s ghost and a flock of crows and a cat. fellas?

[mermaidsirennikita]

I'll be super honest... one way you can tell that these Kleypas books have been edited is that they are a lot less sexy.

And I don't just mean in terms of like, things that actually happen with the characters together. (See: the It Happened One Autumn scene, which, believe it or not, took a pretty sizable chunk of activity off the page and prolonged Lillian and Westcliff Making It Official by a A LOT.)

I mean... it's like she's worried... about the heroes... sexualizing the heroines inappropriately? Not that I think there's really an appropriate way to sexualize someone, it's just like—you either do it in a way that's creepy or you don't, and a lot of that frankly has to do with how much that person may WANT your desire. But also, a lot of this the heroine wouldn't know about, the hero is just literally thinking about it, sometimes when she isn't in the room.

Like we don't have Ross getting hot and bothered at his desk, his THOUGHTS about Sophia seem worded in a way that's... proper.

And yeah, Ross is one of Lisa's more proper heroes, BUT there's a line. There's a point where it seems contrived. Not only like I'm not reading a historical hero—because, to be real, I think readers expect and in many cases WANT a super thirsty hero in a historical, I think that it's a feature of the subgenre, not a bug—but like I'm reading a guy who doesn't truly want the heroine in a way I desire to see a romance novel hero want his love interest.

I think that part of the fantasy of a romance novel is everything being BIGGER (lmao) especially in terms of FEELINGS. I don't think it's super reasonable to expect some guy who's into me to be thinking of me constantly to the point that he like, screws up his life, but you kinda want that in a romance hero. It's the fantasy of all-consuming obsession, and that obsession doesn't necessarily have to be creepy or overwhelming or dark (see: mafia romance). It can be just... I can't stop thinking of her her her.

And this can be harder to do well in certain subgenres, imo, but there's an inherent sweeping romanticism that I think a lot of people want from historicals. Darcy confronting Elizabeth in the rain while they pant in each other's faces, the big chase at the end of Mr. Malcolm's List, Come What May in Moulin Rouge!. (I'd compare this to the darker sort of obsession we sought in older paranormals; the craving of the vampire, the animalistic passion of the werewolf, etc.)

But also... I think that a lot of good historical romance novels bring it down to Earth and make it a little more WORLDLY and tangible by adding in the inherent like... physicality of desire. Ross getting worked up over Sophia whether or not he's her employer and it's theoretically an abuse of power and he's kind of seeing her as an object in a moment and and and so on.

Plus, it just feels more like the way these dudes would... act? Like, Ross is a magistrate who's dying for it and regularly gets rough with criminals, even if he's a tamer Kleypas hero. Imagine Derek Craven NOT using the drawn dog line, not telling Sara that he wanted to "do her over" because my God, we wouldn't want him to come on too strong!

I mean, I think the edits to Seduce Me at Sunrise, as minor as they may seem, make Kev's claiming of Win feel so much less substantial. Because like. Yeah. It's supposed to read as a kidnapping! A kidnapping she absolutely wants, and her inner monologue made that SO CLEAR to the reader, and she'd been begging Kev to snatch her up since the first few pages of the book so we KNOW this and HE knows this.

But it's important that Kev finally giving in feels like this like... almost subversive thing. Because he's been denying his nature (which is to love Win and love her AGGRESSIVELY) and denying his needs and hers. He's sweet with her in the cottage, sure, but I think that initial SNAP really needs the full force of "he literally can't stand this anymore and it doesn't matter if it's kinda wrong in theory, he's gotta".

(I mean, based on these edits, I think there's a decent chance, tbh, that the entire scene where Derek and Sara get close at the masquerade ball would be changed dramatically because of how pushy he is, and how he doesn't know her identity, and how she's just sort of swept up if VERY MUCH INTO IT. And therefore. My God. Never let Lisa start ripping that book apart.

I am almost POSITIVE that the Devil in Winter "you're going to lose that bet" scene would be changed by the standards of the Autumn edits. Because St. Vincent literally says no. And I don't feel bothered by that scene... at all. But he says no a few times lol.)

It just makes me like... a bit bitter, lol, because I feel as if not only does it make it hard for me to feel the same enthusiasm when I'm trying to relisten to these books (and I really don't have time to reread with my eyes at this moment, I'm struggling to find time to finish Prince of Dreams even though I love it so far) it makes me not want to recommend them to people I know? Because they're probably going to get edited versions! They're probably going to read them and go "huh, not quite as hot as I expected".

And like. While there are many reasons to read a Kleypas book, I think that what has often appealed to readers are these alpha-y heroes who aren't like, BRUTAL but are dominating and aggressive and full of barely controlled desire. So when you water that down, it's like... You still have the romanticism, the beautiful writing, but those are not the only ingredients. The books feel hollow.

[killa-trav]

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrates with team mates after scoring their sides first goal during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Manchester United at Craven Cottage; London, England; 04.11.2023

📸; ASH DONELON

[cityzenchick]

Less than 3 hours now - love my City boys 🩵💋

[leibal]

Craven Road Cottage is a minimal home located in Toronto, Canada, designed by Anya Moryoussef Architect. Toronto’s “Tiny Town” has witnessed the rejuvenation of a single-storey worker’s cottage, transforming a modest home into a 720-square-foot haven for its owner, retired schoolteacher Laurel Hutchison.

[brightlight-dazzlingeyes]

between the lines | chapter 02

rúben dias x original female character [+18]

synopsis: isabella is a sports journalist covering the premier league. she has sworn to never get involved with a football player. that is, until she meets a handsome portuguese defender. warnings: incorrect journalism references; timeline of events are not faithful to real life; i have never been to england; mutual pining; romantic comedy;  minors dni.

previous chapter | masterlist | next chapter

Chapter 02 — There’s only one F in Fulham

The very first Premier League game that I’ve covered was at Craven Cottage; it was a sunny day on the riverside and the home team tied with Liverpool, 2-2, on the first matchday of the season. Ever since then I’ve held an over sentimental feeling for the Fulham stadium and the press boxes where you can’t really see the field thanks to the structure poles. On colder days, the Cottage is not as charming and I’m reminded that I actually chose to work in England so I just have to deal with it.

Regardless of the weather, it was always nice to watch City play on a Sunday. Makes the rest of the week feel normal. Melissa, who accompanied me on the way in and on the way out, was having a great day planning what I should wear and what kind of makeup I should put on for my date the next day.

“You have to shave. Full brazilian!" She said, way too loudly, as we were leaving the stadium.

“It’s a first date with a stranger.” I emphasize.

“You never know, honey, better to be prepared.”

She lent me a red dress and a pair of black Louboutins, and it took hours for me to convince myself to wear them. I do look hot, the type of ‘hot’ I'm constantly trying to avoid looking given the circumstances of my job. The dress is tight on the top, with thin straps and it flows to right above my knees.

“Oh my god, I feel like I’ve been standing here for three years.” I speak to myself in the mirror. It was almost time to leave and I didn’t have a second outfit option. Alright, what did Mel say? I’m interesting? I can fix Chelsea? Yes, I can wear a red dress and go on a date. Okay. I call an Uber. It was a penthouse restaurant, and we were supposed to meet at the table. To my surprise, when I reached the elevator, the last person on earth I wanted to see at that moment, was right by my side.

“Oh. Hi.”

“Hi, Isa!”

We both look at the elevator and then back at each other, as if we were waiting for the other to make a move. Neither of us do. Instead, Rúben says:

“I didn’t see you yesterday.”

“Oh, yeah, I was interviewing the Fulham players.”

“You should be interviewing the winners.” He smirks and I smile at him. He looks at me from head to toe and I glance back to the elevator, embarrassed. 

We both decide, at the same time, to press the button. Our hands touch. Barely, but they do. I pull my hand away from him immediately, on instinct, and I hear myself gasping. My face is bright red and the situation becomes even more awkward because I realize he had the exact same reaction as I had. So I stare at him, partially waiting for him to smile again and tell me another joke, partially waiting for him to mock me and reject me. But he just stares right back. The interaction lasted for less than a minute, maybe less than a second, maybe for just a moment. The elevator door opens up and I’m just standing there wondering who the hell pressed the button.

“I think we’re supposed to go in.” Rúben says holding the door open.

We walk in together and I know for a fact that my face matches the color of my dress. I try to avoid looking at him or thinking about how hot he looks. Is he here for a date also? Well, fuck me. At least it is a pretty big space, there’s no way we’re seating close to each other. Right? We don’t say another word to each other until the door opens again, finally at the restaurant entrance hall.

“I hope you have fun on your date.” Rúben is not really looking at me when he says that.

“You too.” I reply and we finally make eye contact again. He shakes his head.

“Oh, no. I’m not on a date. It’s a business lunch.”

“Okay, have fun on your business then.” I wink at him and he smiles, agreeing.

We go search for our tables and of course, of course, we are sitting close to each other. In the horrible angle where I could, if I wanted, to spend the entire lunch just looking at him. I won’t do it, of course, but it pisses me off that I could. Sexy doctor is very sexy in real life so my anger lessens for a second.

“Hi.”

“Hi, you must be Isabella!” 

He has a beautiful voice. We shake hands and start to make small talk. About my sister-in-law and my little niece, about the weather and what it's like to live in Manchester. I have to hold back and not just straight up point at the table at the back to our left and say: ‘Hey, Rúben Dias is sitting right there. And yes, I have a crush on him. So this date is going great.’ Instead I just nod and listen to him talk about his work. Are business lunches supposed to last longer than a date lunch? Who knows, but my brain just turned that into a competition. I’m not leaving this table until he leaves. I’ll show him, for some reason, that I’m having more fun than he is. Fuck, what’s the name of sexy doctor? 

“Turns out it was a racoon the whole time!” He laughs and I accompany him, even though I completely lost the start of the story. “Can you believe it?”

"Unbelievable!" I’m still laughing with him. “A racoon!”

Our order arrives and thank God for inventing the culinary arts. The food is delicious and, at least while I’m eating, everything else seems unimportant. I decided to try once again. He seems like a nice guy and he could be funny if I paid attention to what he was saying. So I excuse myself to the bathroom and text Sienna.

Isabella: girl  whats sexy doctor called?? help

Sienna: oh my god his name is peter warren lol

As I walk back to the table I make the mistake of making eye contact with Rúben. He smiles at me, that handsome jerk, and I smile back, instinctively. When I sit down, I’m blushing again. Peter Warren, huh?

“Sienna told me it was your favorite restaurant.” Peter says.

“Yes, it is!”

“I’m loving it, honestly, the food is heavenly. How did you find out about it?”

He asks and I have to physically hold myself back from facepalming. “Oh. It was through work. I come here a lot with my colleagues.” I answer. Yes, me, my colleagues and literally everyone in Manchester that works with football comes to this restaurant. What an idiot, why did I agree to come here on a date? You know what, at least, is Rúben. It could have been my boss seeing me in this dress. I relax with the realization.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it, Peter!” I speak, casually making him aware that I know his name.

“We could go to my favorite restaurant next? I mean, as far as blind dating goes, I feel like this is worth a second date?”

“The racoon story definitely earned you a second date.”

Peter laughs loudly when I say that. I really wish I understood the context, though. We’re having dessert and as I look over, Rúben is still talking with God knows who, his agent, maybe? They don’t seem like the’yre leaving the table anytime soon. So I convince Peter that I always order a second dessert, that is a tradition. That buys me more time. Rúben gets up to leave when I’m in the middle of my second tiramisu slice.

As he leaves, I look at him again. Just to make sure, I guess. But he notices, and waves goodbye. Handsome and polite jerk. I can’t help waving back at him, and of course Peter notices.

“You know him?” He asks.

“Just a football player.” 

I take another bite.

Mel: so how was the date?

Isabella: terrible but we already agreed on the second one

Mel: did you kiss :(

Isabella: no but he shook my hand? is that something?

Mel: :(

[footyhd]

Chelsea's Mykhaylo Mudryk celebrates scoring his side's first goal with Enzo Fernandez during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Chelsea FC at Craven Cottage on October 2, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)