Shining a light on Fulham’s FA Cup fifth round heroes
Written by Charlie Shaw on 3rd March 2025
Take a step back and revel in the greatness of the team that Marco Silva has assembled. At times, it can be frustrating, but there’s no doubting this side’s quality, and in a life defined by moments, this team has given us many that we’ll never forget.
Was it the perfect performance? No, it wasn’t, but quite frankly, I don’t care. I’ve seen Fulham batter Manchester United from pillar to post only to succumb to a late sucker punch, and in games like this, it’s all about getting over the line, and that we certainly did. But looking deeper into the chaos that was Sunday evening, who deserves a special mention?
Timmy Castagne
Since the injury to Kenny Tete in mid-December, Timothy Castagne has had to contend with playing 13 out of 14 consecutive full 90s, with his only break coming for 10 minutes at home against our quarter-final opponents, Crystal Palace.
With that said, the way Timmy played for the full 120 minutes yesterday is a credit to himself. Making overlapping runs well into the second half of extra time, alongside a 100% success rate in the air and in the tackle, with eight tackles and five aerial duels won, the joint most in the Fulham team. When you really look into Castagne’s performance and the extenuating circumstances of it, his Sunday night showing deserves to go down in Fulham folklore. Thank you, Timothy Castagne.
Sander and Sasa
A midfield partnership that seems to be getting better by the game, former Manchester United target, Sander Berge and his midfield partner, Sasa Lukic, ran the show at Old Trafford.
Sander and Sasa have taken up the mantle of Joao Palhinha’s role and then some, with the Norwegian colossus particularly impressing, winning eight ground and six aerial duels over the course of 120 minutes, alongside nine successful recoveries in an all-action display.
Joa and Calvin: the new Thames Barrier
Despite a flurry of chances at the end of the second half of normal time and the second half of extra time, Fulham looked an assured defensive unit for vast periods of Sunday’s tie, with the recently criticised Joachim Andersen’s leadership key to keeping the whites organised, with Joa being the vocal leader in this Fulham team.
Alongside Andersen’s leadership being essential to the Cottagers defensive shape. Calvin Bassey’s elite Sunday showing is in part down to the Dane. The marauding runs and aggressive style that Calvin has been so successful in recently are permitted by Joachim’s ability to read the game and play in a more conservative style as a centre half. Bassey may be the man that gets most of the plaudits, and deservedly so; the Nigerian was fantastic yesterday, and Andersen’s disciplined display deserves more recognition.
Sess and Willian’s Impact
If Ryan Sessegnon’s delightful cut inside and shot wasn’t parried away by Andre Onana, I think my soul may have left my body. Sessegnon’s chances have been limited until the last few weeks, but his cameo last night and goal away at Molineux reinforce the fact that the talent Ryan showed at the cottage seven or eight years ago is still in his locker, and with Adama Traore just adding to Fulham’s list of wingers on the treatment table, alongside a dip in Alex Iwobi’s form since the new year, opportunities deserve to come Ryan’s way.
On the opposite wing, Willian once again impressed off the bench, with another classy display. Dispatching a penalty with ease, the winning experience, and the touch of class that the now 36-year-old still possesses will be crucial in some tight games down the stretch of this season. Despite his February arrival drawing much criticism, Willian has so far proven to be a shrewd piece of business by Marco Silva and his recruitment team. As the season goes on, and the Brazilian continues to gain match fitness, I wouldn’t be shocked to see the former Olympiakos man make a start for the Whites.
Bernd Leno: Fulham’s greatest goalkeeper
In a performance reminiscent of last season’s Carabao Cup quarterfinal, Bernd Leno is proving to be perhaps the most influential keeper in Fulham’s history.
Pulling off numerous crucial stops throughout the duration of normal and extra time, his penalty shootout heroics have cemented his status as a Fulham legend for years to come, and although it could be argued that Edwin Van Der Sar was perhaps a more gifted goalkeeper, the achievements that Leno has played a major role in see last night seal his spot as Fulham’s greatest ever goalkeeper.
