Friends of Fulham

 
QPR assistant fears Crystal Palace and Fulham will pounce for Spurs star

Kevin Bond, Harry Redknapp's number two at QPR, has given his backing to the club's pursuit of Scott Parker – but fears the R's could be gazumped by a Premier League rival.

The R's have been strongly linked with a move for Tottenham midfielder Parker, with manager Redknapp confirming that he is hopeful of bringing the player to Loftus Road.

Bond is aware of QPR's interest in Parker, but with Crystal Palace and Fulham also said to be keen, he believes it could prove tricky to persuade the England international to drop down into the Championship.

Bond told talkSPORT: "I know we are interested in Scott.

"Quite where we are with him at this stage, I'm not certain. Harry has been a big admirer of Scott for a long time and, if it was to happen, it would be a great acquisition for QPR.

"However, if a Premier League club came in for him, that is the holy grail for players, so it will be difficult."


http://www.london24.com/sport/qpr_2_5433/qpr_assistant_fears_crystal_palace_and_fulham_will_pounce_for_spurs_star_1_2334710 (http://www.london24.com/sport/qpr_2_5433/qpr_assistant_fears_crystal_palace_and_fulham_will_pounce_for_spurs_star_1_2334710)

 
International Fans: FulhamNYC

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All summer we're profiling some of Fulham's international fan groups and, in our final feature before the start of the new season, we caught up with the New York City supporters' group which is headed up by John Ponessa.
Presumably the influx of American players at Fulham was a contributing factor to the Club's popularity in the States?
Since 1999, there has been an American player influence within the Club, starting with Marcus Hahnemann and Eddie Lewis, but more attention was garnered with the rise of Brian McBride. Then, as painful, and later triumphant, as the 2007/08 season's 'Great Escape' was, it was a huge season for FulhamNYC as the American influence within the squad peaked with McBride, Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, and Eddie Johnson. This brought a lot of supporters out of virtual forums and into the world of supporter bar culture in New York City.

Do you have a regular meeting point where you watch games together?
During the 2006/07 season, Fulham supporters were a scattered bunch in New York City. Few of us knew that there were others who supported the Club in the city, let alone where to find them. Nevada Smith's was quickly establishing itself as the official bar to watch soccer in this huge city, with the tagline 'Where Football Is Religion.' Thanks to the efforts of Jack Keane, the word slowly spread of the now well-known venue, that has since sadly closed.

However, despite Nevada's reputation, there was still confusion as to where to go. Thankfully, the Fulham USA message boards became instrumental as a beacon for local supporters. One could post about the following weekend's match and suggest a venue to unite. Attendance went from two or three coincidental supporters showing up to watch a match, to around six to eight, and even more for popular matches!

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How have you grown as a supporters' group in the years since?
Throughout our successful UEFA Europa League campaign, we saw our numbers rise with more consistent supporter showings week in and week out. While the American influence on the first team has waned, we are very happy to see Emerson Hyndman quickly rising through the ranks as one of our most talented Academy players, and we are still continuing to grow.

Now, we're a prominent fixture at Jack Keane's new venue at Legend's Bar, The Football Factory, located at 6 West 33rd Street, across from the Empire State Building. We're now a diversified group of 17 official members, with over 25 showing up on a big matchday! Our group consists of expats and American fans, members who have supported the Club since birth, as well as new fans recently discovering the wonders of English football, with many travelling multiple times per season to watch our boys in white play overseas.

What can fans expect if they join FulhamNYC?
The Football Factory is an ideal venue for our supporters group with the many innovations they provide for their football patrons. This season, in addition to the benefits received from Fulham Football Club as an international member as a part of FulhamNYC, you will also receive a special member's card for the Football Factory that entitles you to a special discount at the bar whenever you go! These cards cost $5 each but get you 10 per cent off your bill at Legend's at any time of the day or night, seven days a week. With this perk, along with the help of our Facebook group, we've made it easy for people all over the world to join us if they happen to be in our fair city on matchday, as well as continuing to expand FulhamNYC.

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We saw a great mock-up on Twitter recently of Dimitar Berbatov taking over Times Square. What was that about?
As for the Times Square sign, one of our members Jesse Snyder is a graphic designer. He's designing a few t-shirts for us and actually designed our flag that is being made in the next few weeks. He was experimenting with new designs and came up with that concept of FulhamNYC in Times Square and made a great picture! He's done all of our designs down to the FulhamNYC logo. He's an ace designer as you can see and we're ecstatic to have him with us and that he takes the time to do this great stuff on his own!

For more information regarding FulhamNYC, email [email protected]



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/14/fulhamnyc? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/14/fulhamnyc?)

 
Dimitar Berbatov's Value to Fulham: £4 Million into 15 Goals

It's difficult to make an appraisal of a player's value to his club after only one season—that is, if the player is a 25-year-old or even a 28-year-old.

Just look at Antonio Valencia; one fantastic season for Manchester United that won him the famous number seven shirt, only for his next season's form to be so bad that he reverted back to his former number 25.

But 32-year-old Dimitar Berbatov is a player Fulham manager Martin Jol will be looking at very closely.

Fulham are clearly in the market for a striker as evidenced by their failed bids to bring Darren Bent to Craven Cottage, and with Marcello Trotta back from his loan at Brentford the Bulgarian will be looking over his shoulder.

Signed for £4.4 million from Manchester United last summer after struggling to feature regularly enough in Sir Alex Ferguson's plans, Berbatov found a new lease of life in West London. As a result we witnessed a far more spritely and energised version of a player who was so often described as languid.

Obviously buoyed by his new status as the star striker, Berbatov covered the pitch in a manner rarely, if ever, seen at United and Tottenham Hotspur—he could almost have been a different man altogether.

The vitality in Berbatov's game translated into goals, 15 of them in 33 matches to be precise—a very good return for his relatively low price. However, with the uncontrollable creep of age on a player come the doubts of his manager, who will then seek to—sometimes reluctantly—pave the way for new blood.

Although their attempts to land Bent were unsuccessful, Fulham will most likely bring in an alternative before the end of the transfer window. That does not mean Berbatov's days are over, at least not for the moment.

A veteran player of 252 goals from 550 games in all competitions for top-tier clubs, plus a couple of Premier League titles and a World Club Championship victory, Berbatov will remain important to the development of Fulham even if his considerable ability starts to falter.

Younger players could learn a thing or two from someone with one of the best first touches in football, but that is not the entire picture.

Berbatov's trademark, however unwanted, is to appear uninvolved for long periods before popping up with a moment of sheer brilliance.

At Fulham this label has peeled a little, but if his fitness levels do begin to drop, unlike most players he can rely on his knack of being in the right place at the right time without breaking sweat. Perhaps the years of minimal running effort may benefit his career in the long-term as his legs will not be quite as battered as the majority of players.

Furthermore, Fulham have a top-class striker on their books, and as long as Berbatov continues to perform they can use this to attract other quality players.

Even if he does begin to feature less frequently, he will continue to be a great presence at the training ground for the young forwards—anyone who knows their football would jump at the chance to learn from and work with Dimitar Berbatov.

Teammates will hope that is at least a couple of years in the future. Judging by last season, Berbatov is relishing his freedom on the pitch and will have a few more tricks up his sleeve before calling it a day.

But the real winners are Jol and Fulham. Regardless of how Berbatov's form fluctuates—barring a 20-game goalless run or something equally unthinkable—he remains an asset.

Experience, star quality, a colourful career and shirt sales all serve their purpose for a football club, especially when they were purchased at such a bargain price.

Can you imagine another Premier League season top-scorer of the last few years—such as Robin van Persie, who is only two years younger than Berbatov—going for a price as low as Fulham had to pay?

Carlos Tevez went to Juventus this summer in a deal worth £12 million, but think of all the baggage and the fact that Manchester City saved about £27 million in wages and add-ons.

So, Berbatov's value to Fulham? If you don't know the answer, just look at his scoring stats.



http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1737168-dimitar-berbatovs-value-to-fulham-4-million-into-15-goals? (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1737168-dimitar-berbatovs-value-to-fulham-4-million-into-15-goals?)

 
Riise & Fall
by LRCN on AUGUST 14, 2013

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When John Arne-Riise signed from Roma for what seemed a bargain fee back in 2011, I think most Fulham fans would have both been delighted at the news and eagerly anticipated his contribution. Known – from his previous years in England with Liverpool – for scorching off-the-ball runs from left back into the opposition box and a left foot so fierce it could rival the hammer of Thor (it literally broke someone's leg once), the prospect of Riise at Fulham was an exciting one and representative of Martin Jol's attacking philosophy with an emphasise on wing play.

Fast forward two years and the club are so keen to get him – and his wages – off the books that they've let him know that he is available to leave for free, despite having a year of his contract remaining. Most fans wouldn't bemoan his exit either, despite having just injury-prone Richardson and the inexperienced Briggs remaining as left back (although, we've been closely linked with Aaron Cresswell, a very good young left back). Werder Bremen have publicly announced their interest, and Riise has implied his unhappiness at both Richardson being first choice left back in pre-season and with the general situation at the club. All in all, it seems as if a move away would suit everyone.

So where did it all go wrong for the man who never lived up to his reputation? I think it'd be more apt to say it was never right to begin with. His debut against Villa at home saw Murphy pick out a surging Riise who escaped behind the defence, only to drag his shot wide. A sign of things to come we'd have hoped, but it turns out we should have been paying more attention to the missed shot than the movement. His form quickly disappeared, and he offered none of that blazing shot or enthusiastic running we'd thought he had in him, although it picked back up again towards the end of the 2011-2012 season. Last season was entirely unspectacular however – in a season full of disappointments, to be fair – reaching a crux at the end of the calendar year when, against Southampton at home, he dummied a clearance while under pressure from opposition midfielder Ramirez, before turning and walking back to the half way line while the ball was still in play (Ramirez picked the ball up, cut in to the box and the ball was cleared, but part of me wanted them to score just to show Riise up). He was dropped for a while after that, with Jol's patience finally snapped, and it looked as if he wouldn't play again before Richardson picked up another injury, giving Riise a few games at the back end of last season where his exuberant running seemed to completely disappear.

A player who game with big expectations, Riise has been utterly underwhelming, and it's a shame because I was really expecting him to provide a lot of fun on the pitch. I was hoping he'd be able to make an impact at least this season after hearing of his intense off-season cardio work, but not much has appeared to have changed, and I think the final straw really was when we were away at Liverpool earlier this year and he paid more attention to the home fans than to his own. Two seasons in and not a goal to his name, it looks like time has run out for Riise in England, whether he stays with Fulham or leaves for pastures new.

LRCN



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2013/08/riise-fall/? (http://hammyend.com/index.php/2013/08/riise-fall/?)

 
Transfer news: QPR see second bid for Tottenham's Scott Parker accepted

Sky Sports understands Queens Park Rangers have had a second bid for Scott Parker accepted, but are wary of Fulham's reported interest in the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder.

QPR boss Harry Redknapp has aired his optimism regarding a deal for the England international, with an agreement to bring the 32-year-old to Loftus Road believed to be close.

It is understood that he is poised to undergo a medical with the Championship promotion hopefuls, which would leave him on the verge of a summer switch.

QPR are, however, aware that they are not the only side to have expressed an interest in Parker's services.

Fulham are the latest club said to be readying an approach for a proven top flight performer.

Were the Cottagers to make a move, QPR assistant manager Kevin Bond acknowledges that it would be difficult to compete with a Premier League suitor.

He said in the Evening Standard: "If a Premier League club came in for him, that is the holy grail for players, so it will be difficult."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11675/8869858? (http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11675/8869858?)

 
Fulham season preview

It's a make or break season for Martin Jol's tenure at Fulham.
What's changed since last season?
Little on the playing front suggests Fulham will be any better than last season. However, the massive change over the summer came with the surprising news that benefactor supreme Mohammed al Fayed was stepping down. Having single-handedly taken a club that was on the verge of bankruptcy in 1997 into the top flight - and kept them there for 13 seasons - it shows how the rise in Fulham's status has all come about from his towering presence as chairman. At 84-years-old he now wants to spend more time with his family. Even more commendable was the fact that al Fayed left the club debt free and thus was able to swiftly engineer transfer of ownership. The new man at the top is US-based Pakistani billionaire Shahid Khan. If Khan can get close to 50% of what al Fayed achieved then Fulham may prosper for many years to come.

Key to this campaign?
We are yet to see the colour of Khan's money. Fulham, as it now becomes clear, have spent two seasons under-investing on the playing side in order to present a strong set of accounts. There's nothing wrong with that strategy, but the Premier League and the riches it carries builds its own critical mass. Treading water for too long will see you go under.

On the playing front, Fulham have gone backwards in three seasons, being reluctant to radically re-shape the 2010 Europa League side of superheroes. Fresh blood is now called for, and though Fulham have left it late to really make a big splash in the market, last season's side slipped too close to the relegation zone for comfort - a final placing of 12th flatters them and Martin Jol. Early signs in pre-season friendlies indicated another season of struggle without an injection of quality for the campaign ahead.

Another striker to take the weight off Dimitar Berbatov's shoulders (15 last season) is a must, along with reinforcements to midfield and at left-back. The three signings made to date were all in a way business that could not, for one reason or another, be wrapped up last January. Maarten Stekelenburg and Derek Boateng look solid enough acquisitions, while questions remain as to how Venezuelan centre-back Fernando Amorebieta adapts to the Premier League.

It's hard to be too gung-ho with a prediction at this point, but expect two or three big name arrivals before the end of the month. Should that happen, Fulham will comfortably survive in mid-table and may for once make some noise in the cup competitions.

Predicted finish/realistic goal
It will be three places either side of 11th I suspect, which will more than keep the fans happy. Should the side fail to gel, suffer with injuries, or make none of the signings needed, then Khan will be forced into spending again in January. And should the roof fall in at the Cottage...

Make or break season for...
It will spell curtains for Martin Jol. The bookies already have him priced at 4/1 second favourite to be the first manager to get the chop. Khan changed his complete staff roster after the Jacksonville Jaguars first disastrous NFL season once he took over. Martin, you have still to prove you have what it takes down by the Thames. Year three of your project and this is your last chance. The same goes for your underwhelming £10 million man Bryan Ruiz.

One to watch
You might nominate Adel Taarabt just for the soap opera his antics will inspire. Adel's simply not as good as he thinks he is. The thought of the petulance, play-acting and posturing Fulham might be witnessing once he, Ruiz and Berbatov between them have spent 90 minutes failing to create a single opening is enough to have anyone pack tranquilizers along with their matchday Mars bar. On a more positive note, Boateng may turn out to be an unsung hero, a willing dray horse who gets the job done rather than some of the more expensive show ponies around him.



http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/fulham/id/1177?&cc=5739 (http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/fulham/id/1177?&cc=5739)

 
Premier League Preview: Fulham - Can Jol coax more from ageing bones?

The Big Issue: Can Jol coax more from ageing bones?

What do John Arne Riise, Brede Hangeland, Steve Sidwell, Dimitar Berbatov, Giorgios Karagounis, Damien Duff, Aaron Hughes, Sascha Riether and Mark Schwarzer all have in common? Each of that nine started more than half of Fulham's league games last season – and each ended the season over the age of 30. Of course, that isn't a total disaster: the superb right back Riether is in his prime at 30, while 40-year-old Schwarzer has moved on. But the fact remains that the core of Fulham's squad are closing in on their autumn years.

Manager Martin Jol knows this, and has quietly begun refreshing his squad. Maarten Stekelenburg is also aged 30, but that's a baby in goalkeeper years – and signing a Dutch international (who played in the last World Cup final) looks great business at an estimated £3m. Loanee Adel Taarabt offers raw talent to go with his youth, but it's doubtful as to whether another mercurial-but-lazy attacker is what Fulham really need. What they do require is new owner Shahid Khan to twirl his mighty moustache and cough up for a new central midfielder or two before the start of the season. Jol has the nous and class of player to keep clear of a relegation battle, but this remains a squad that requires new blood.

Keep an eye on...
Bryan Ruiz - It's wakey-wakey time, Bryan. Don't worry: that portly figure standing over you isn't Tony Soprano, but his Dutch lookalike Martin Jol – and he's simply working out how to get the best from a versatile attacker of flair and vision but one who has, at times, flattered to deceive with Fulham. For a player with his ability, seven goals over two seasons isn't enough. It's time for the Costa Rican to kick on, and Jol plays football that suits his style.

The Stat
30% - Languid fop Dimitar Berbatov netted 30 per cent (or 15 of 50) of Fulham's Premier League goals last season. No-one else managed more than five. What's that you say... dependent much?

If they were an animal, they would be a...
Water vole - Small, river-dwelling creature. Generally well-liked and cute to look at, but not very scary to encounter.

Prediction:14th


Read more at http://talksport.com/football/premier-league-preview-fulham-can-jol-coax-more-ageing-bones-13081455568#EsChcjVKZlWHtmHG.99 (http://talksport.com/football/premier-league-preview-fulham-can-jol-coax-more-ageing-bones-13081455568#EsChcjVKZlWHtmHG.99)

 
The Fulham Jaguars? New owner Shahid Khan has 'no intention of messing' with the club's name
Suggestion came after Hull City officially added Tigers to their name

Fulham owner Shahid Khan has ruled out rebranding the club as the Jaguars in the wake of Hull City having added Tigers to their name.

Khan believes a club's name is sacrosanct and does not plan to follow the lead of the Assem Allam who wants the club to be known as Hull City Tigers nationally and Hull Tigers internationally.

It is a month since Pakistan-born billionaire Khan completed his purchase of the Barclays Premier League club.

Khan has been busy making his mark at the west London club, with on and off-field plans continuing apace.

One of his immediate goals is to create a links between Fulham and his NFL franchise Jacksonville Jaguars, who will play a regular season game at Wembley for the next four years.

Khan, though, is keen to stress such a tie-up will see both retain separate identities and promised never to mess with the club name like the high-profile case of Hull.

"We won't be becoming Fulham Jaguars," he told Press Association Sport.

"I don't think they are the things [we would change].

"Fulham Football Club is how it was way before my lifetime and that is hopefully how it will be a long time after I am gone.

"Both Fulham and the Jaguars really have to operate as their own entities and they have their own core fans and obviously the sports are unique.

"We want to look for areas where they can work together and I think most of those are going to be on the business side.

"Anything historical like that, I absolutely have no intention of messing with."

Khan has big boots to fill at Craven Cottage having replaced Mohamed Al Fayed as owner after 16 years in which he transformed the club.

The new owner has spoken to the Egyptian a few times since completing his takeover and plans are afoot to honour the former chairman.

Some fans suggest the renaming of the soon-to-be-redeveloped Riverside Stand in his honour would be a suitable gesture and is one of several ideas under consideration.

"Let's face it, I don't think the club would probably be around without Mr Al Fayed," Khan said.

"I think he is a huge part of Fulham and, with the role he played, you have to respect and honour him in some way.

"What exactly it is, there are a lot of irons in the fire but definitely I think you have to honour all his contributions towards Fulham."

Khan has been splitting his time between his Florida home and London since completing the takeover and will be at Craven Cottage for the first home game of the season against Arsenal.

He revealed a new signing is set to be announced imminently and more could follow before the big match as he looks for a year of improvement.

Asked what would represent a successful first year in charge, Khan said: "It is very simple: we got better. That would be for me what we want to do on and off the field.

"Number one is performance on the pitch. We finished 12th last season and I would hope we do better.

"Performance off the pitch is important and it is indicative that in future years that we have supporters, corporate and otherwise, that will help the club move forward."

PA



http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/the-fulham-jaguars-new-owner-shahid-khan-has-no-intention-of-messing-with-the-clubs-name-8761592.html (http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/the-fulham-jaguars-new-owner-shahid-khan-has-no-intention-of-messing-with-the-clubs-name-8761592.html)

 
Premier League Preview: Stoke - Is Mark Hughes the answer?

The Big Issue: Is Mark Hughes the answer?

It's trendy to mock Mark Hughes. Dubbed a "strange man" by Mohamed Al-Fayed post-Fulham, he seemed hapless during his QPR stint and seems to have a bizarre obsession with signing Roque Santa Cruz. Yet Hughes seems unfairly maligned. Yes, QPR was a disaster, but his record with Blackburn, Fulham and the Wales national team is largely positive (Manchester City is trickier to judge).

At Stoke, however, he faces a near impossible task: taking over from a successful manager and being asked to tweak their brand of football, yet not being given the funds he needs to revamp a squad that desperately requires new blood.

But how badly? Well, put it this way: the favourite to be Stoke's top scorer this season is the 32-year-old Peter Crouch, who got seven goals in 34 league games in 2012-13. Hughes can rely on Robert Huth and Ryan Shawcross at the back, but his signings haven't set the Potteries alight. Dutch full-back Erik Pieters comes in for £3m, while 21-year-old Spanish defender Marc Muniesa is snaffled from Barcelona's reserves on a free. Let's hope Hughes gets to invest a little more before the transfer window closes, or the Britannia could be a bleak place for more than just the visitors this season.

Keep an eye on...
Asmir Begovic - When Stoke snapped up young English keeper Jack Butland, it seemed a tacit admission that prize asset Begovic was on his way out. However, unless the 26-year-old Bosnian cad has pulled a fast one on Stoke by the time you read this, he looks set to stay. Relief sweeps the Britannia. Begovic kept 12 clean sheets in the league last season and is a commanding aerial presence. A crucial part of Stoke's generally miserly defence.

The Stat
£88m - Since 2006-07, Stoke's net transfer spend is an estimated £88m – the same as Manchester United's over the same period. No wonder the coffers are now a bit bare.

If they were an animal, they would be a...
Gorilla - Gruff, hairy, muscular backside (Stoke the Gorilla, that is – not Mark Hughes), but might prove a poor swimmer if the tide of relegation draws near.

Prediction: 18th


Read more at http://talksport.com/football/premier-league-preview-stoke-mark-hughes-answer-13081455583#UOqzulofM8flmfzk.99 (http://talksport.com/football/premier-league-preview-stoke-mark-hughes-answer-13081455583#UOqzulofM8flmfzk.99)

 
Benfica to challenge Fulham, Southampton and Inter Milan for Pablo Osvaldo

BENFICA are set to enter the fray for Roma midfielder Pablo Osvaldo this window.

(http://images.dailyexpress.co.uk/img/dynamic/67/590x/osv-422052.jpg)
Pablo Osvaldo has piqued the interest of Fulham and Southampton

The talented former Fiorentina star was previously linked to Spurs but they have since cooled their interest.

Roma seem reluctant to offload Osvaldo to a rival with a midfielder keen to remain in Italy to boost his chances of making the squad for the World Cup next summer.

Reports in Italy suggest that Benfica officials have touched down in Rome to kickstart negotiations for a move.

(http://images.dailyexpress.co.uk/img/dynamic/67/590x/secondary/65508.jpg)
Benfica have staked an interest in Pablo Osvaldo

(http://images.dailyexpress.co.uk/img/dynamic/67/590x/secondary/65509.jpg)
Daniele De Rossi said he would be sorry to see Osvaldo leave

If he leaves then Roma would be losing a very strong player and I will be losing a friend
Daniele De Rossi
However, his wages are believed to be a potential stumbling block as he currently earns £1.7m a season.

Chelsea target Daniele De Rossi admits he would be sad to see Osvaldo leave.

He said: "I don't know if I'm optimistic or not when it comes to Osvaldo's future here.

"If he leaves then Roma would be losing a very strong player and I will be losing a friend. He's a good guy, on and off the pitch.



http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/422052/Benfica-to-challenge-Fulham-Southampton-and-Inter-Milan-for-Pablo-Osvaldo?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-express-sport-news+%28Daily+Express+%3A%3A+Sport+Feed%29 (http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/422052/Benfica-to-challenge-Fulham-Southampton-and-Inter-Milan-for-Pablo-Osvaldo?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-express-sport-news+%28Daily+Express+%3A%3A+Sport+Feed%29)

 
Away Kit Available Now

(http://www.fulhamfc.com/-/media/Images/717x320awaykit.ashx?w=717&h=320)

The brand new adidas Away Kit is now available to buy instore or online.

Already a big hit with the Fulham fans, many of the new red Away shirts (and several of the 2000/01 design from which it is inspired) were spotted in the crowd at last Saturday's friendly fixture against Parma.

What's more, the shirt will feature throughout the 2014/15 campaign as our Third strip, so the squad will be sporting it for a full two seasons.

To celebrate the arrival of the new kit, the Club secured the services of Fulham legends Kit Symons, Luis Boa Morte and Rufus Brevett to be part of the campaign.

So make sure you get your new adidas Away kit online, direct on 0843 208 1223, or come and see us at the Stadium Store.

Watch the video below which shows how the kit has evolved from 2000/01 for the coming campaign, and take a look at some of the best moments from our promotion season as well our Fulham legends modelling the latest version!



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/14/away-kit-available? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/14/away-kit-available?)

 
Parker Chase?
   
The possible availability of the Spurs / England midfielder Scott Parker (32), saw Queens Park Rangers show an immediate interest.

In fact a fee of £3.5 million for Parker saw our West London neighbours chomping at the bit to tie Scott to a contract.

But, it would appear, Parker would prefer to remain in the Premier League and could well do with it being inferred that Fulham Football Club are looking at trying to persuade Parker that his interests would be much better served, especially with a World Cup coming up!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=328653#ixzz2c0Yu71UP (http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=328653#ixzz2c0Yu71UP)

 
Young Striker Coming
   
The lure of Craven Cottage could well see a young Belgian striker signed up.

Reports suggest that Julien Ngoy, just fifteen years of age, having spent a week on trial at Fulham Football Club is set to ignore the advances of Arsenal and Chelsea to sign for us.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=328654#ixzz2c0Z9PWla (http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=328654#ixzz2c0Z9PWla)

 
Fulham bid for Parker reportedly accepted; Cottagers battle QPR for England midfielder

Last night we heard grumblings that Fulham might come in and make a late swoop for Scott Parker, even though Queens Park Rangers apparently had a bid accepted and Parker looked willing to consider a step down to the Championship. Apparently, there was at least a bit of truth to those rumors. John Percy of the Telegraph tweeted that Fulham have had a bid for Parker accepted.

It's now going to be up to Parker to decide his future if Percy's information is correct. Given that Fulham are weak in the center of midfield and the fact that England's midfield is a revolving door, Parker could opt to go with the Cottagers, since a World Cup place is very much within his reach.



http://www.cartilagefreecaptain.com/2013/8/14/4620960/scott-parker-tottenham-hotspur-transfer-rumours? (http://www.cartilagefreecaptain.com/2013/8/14/4620960/scott-parker-tottenham-hotspur-transfer-rumours?)

 
Hughes Helps Irish Upset

Defender Aaron Hughes played all 90 minutes for Northern Ireland as they shocked Russia 1-0 at home in FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group F.

The Irish were all over Russia in the opening exchanges and the defence was able to play the long ball forward with a high degree of accuracy. However Hughes, slotting in at right-back, was called into action to snuff out the danger as the half wore on with Russia gaining more of a foothold in the game.

It was the Irish who took the lead before the break though as Jamie Ward hammered a shot against the post on 40 minutes and spurred his teammates into action. Minutes later a fine cross was headed home by Martin Paterson and the jubilant Irish went into half-time on a high.

Paterson was unlucky to be flagged offside in the 57th minute when he headed home from close range but the Irish held on in the face of some heavy pressure to seal an historic win which moves them up to fourth place in the table and closes the gap to within six points of the second qualifying spot.

In international friendly action, Alexander Kačaniklić may have been missing because of a hamstring injury, but Sweden were still too good for local rivals Norway and Whites Captain Brede Hangeland as they won 4-2.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic shocked the Norway defence by slipping in to score inside two minutes and then found a gap to stroke home his second in the 28th minute to put Sweden well on the way to victory. But Norway found a way back before half-time as Mohammed Abdellaoue was flattened in the box and dusted himself off to net from the penalty spot in the 38th minute. The away side were then level on 42 minutes as Stefan Johansen's 25 yard drive was deflected into the net.

Norway had no answer to the Paris Saint-Germain striker though and, 11 minutes after the break, Zlatan powered a free-kick into the corner of the net to make it 3-2 and claim his hat-trick. Substitute Anders Svensson made it 4-2 on 74 minutes to kill the game off.

Facing up against the likes of Neymar and Hulk, Philippe Senderos started at centre-back for Switzerland as they beat Brazil 1-0 in a friendly at St Jakob-Park in Basel. The defender went into the book in the first 10 minutes as new Barcelona signing Neymar skipped past him on the halfway line and he held the forward back, but looked assured for the rest of the game.

Brazil were unable to break through the Swiss line and, shortly after half-time, a defensive aberration from Dani Alves saw Switzerland go ahead when he headed into his own net without an opposing player anywhere near him. With their trademark flair deserting them, Brazil's players were unable to find a way back and the Swiss held on for a famous victory.

Elsewhere, goalkeeper Jesse Joronen captained Finland Under-21s as they beat Wales 5-1 in a UEFA Under-21 European Championship Qualifier. The Fins raced into a 4-0 lead at half-time thanks to goals from Tim Väyrynen (2), Kastriot Kastrati and Moshtagh Yaghoubi. Joronen was only called into action to make one first half save in the 39th minute but was forced to pick the ball out of the net as Emyr Huws converted a penalty early in the second half.

Väyrynen netted his hat-trick soon after to secure the points and the result sees Finland jump to the top of Group One on goal difference (although level on four points with Lithuania) as it has won one and drawn one of its two matches.

Pajtim Kasami's Switzerland Under-21s fell 5-2 to Portugal U-21s in a friendly in Setubal. The away side took the lead through Oliver Buff in the 19th minute, but an Ivan Cavaleiro hat-trick helped to put paid to the Swiss hopes in what was eventually a convincing win despite Josip Drmic's consolation.

And Lasse Vigen Christensen came on in the 60th minute as Denmark Under-21s beat Northern Ireland U-21s comfortably 4-1 at Stangmore Park. Patrick Jensen put the Danes ahead before Adam Thompson hit the Irish level. Three second half goals from Nicolaj Brock-Madsen (2) and Bassel Jradi then ended the tie just after Lasse's arrival from the bench.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/14/hughes-helps-irish-upset? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/14/hughes-helps-irish-upset?)

 
John Arne Riise Drops Fulham Stay Hint

(http://cdn.caughtoffside.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/John-Arne-Riise.png)

Norwegian defender still unsure as to what the future holds.

Fulham defender John Arne Riise has said that it is not a foregone conclusion that he will be leaving Fulham but has expressed his desire to head back home before calling time on his career, Sky Sports reports.

Earlier in the year the 32-year-old had admitted that a move away from Craven Cottage could be a possibility this summer and confirmed that there was a deal in place for him to exit the club on a free transfer with Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen waiting in the wings to make him an offer.

However, no deal has been put in place and the former Liverpool man could yet still find himself central to the club's plans as they kick off their Premier League campaign against Sunderland this weekend.

"The pre-season has been good in all aspects," he said.

"I am looking forward to fighting for league points again. We will see if that is at Fulham or somewhere else."

Riise also admitted that he still hopes to stay abroad for another few years before bringing the curtain down on his career in the Tippeligaen.

He added: "The plan is to stay another two or three years abroad.

"I have said in the past that I was not tempted to end my career in the Tippeligaen, but I have started to change my mind. A year or so in the Tippeligaen might be nice."


http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/08/14/john-arne-riise-drops-fulham-stay-hint/? (http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/08/14/john-arne-riise-drops-fulham-stay-hint/?)

 
Epiphany at Stadium of Light?

The curtain is about to rise on another Premier League season. What fate awaits Fulham? They are now under new ownership. Will the Khan Dynasty see the club rise to new heights or produce a plunge in fortunes undoing all the fine work of Mohammed Al-Fayed's sterling stewardship of London's oldest football club? Nobody knows. I have no more clues or insight than you, dear reader.

Business analysts, financial advisers and bankers galore construct empires crunching numbers in trying to beat the stock market and keep their figures in the black. In truth, their research guarantees nothing except the certainty all markets will one day run through their cycle to the next inevitable crash. The Premier League is no different to the stock market. It is designed to create winners and losers. That is how it functions.

This humble scribe says what he sees, to quote Catchphrase. I think the majority of sober-minded Fulham fans in this final week of the close season are feeling uneasy with the current state of the team. Trepidation in some may be mere frustration for others, impatience at lack of news, or a calm acceptance that things will come good and the sun will shine tomorrow.

-Fulham season preview

Assuming my conclusions from the Parma friendly broadly chimed with those at the Cottage last Saturday -- and I spoke with plenty on the Hammy End throughout the match -- I was surprised at some of the broadsides my blog attracted when re-published on other forums. There are of course those who spit their dummy on site of my byline, even were I to praise the turf at Craven Cottage, the finest playing surface in the capital. All writers have their small tribe of haters -- through naivete, prejudice or envy, there's no pleasing them -- and I don't even try.

The only surprising element from criticisms to my last post was how so many ended up agreeing with virtually all of the shortcomings we highlighted!

Let's be honest for once -- if you are a season-ticket holder, were you really happy with what you saw last season? Sixty goals conceded, nine home defeats, embarrassed by relegated Reading at home, tamely surrendering to winless QPR away? Repetitive implementation of a tactical system that fails?

We will not go over old ground. Before a ball has been kicked or any of us have the measure of our billionaire chairman, we shall endeavour to strike an upbeat note for the season opener.

The four signings made early in the summer all suggest real improvements to what went before. Little Fulham are parading a world-class shot stopper in goal in Dutch national keeper Maarten Stekelenburg. The man from Haarlem is 30; his predecessor Mark Schwarzer, also a top international, is 40.

Player of the season Sascha Riether at right-back would be coveted by most other Premier League clubs. He's been a model of reliability to date. Fernando Amorebieta has 250-plus appearances to his name over eight seasons in La Liga. He's already said he needs to adapt to the pace of the Premiership. If he can do that, and curb his indiscipline, he and Brede Hangeland should provide a formidable defensive shield. As to Derek Boateng, he bravely blocked a certain goal on Saturday, looks to have elements of both Dickson Etuhu and Papa Bouba Diop about him, is a Ghanaian international and undoubtedly gives Fulham more muscle in midfield.

There is no question Fulham will be adding to the roster before Sept. 2 and maybe even before Saturday's opener at Sunderland. I sense the club have targeted specific players, and like the rest of us are not blind to where we need to strengthen. The board have shown they can't be pushed around by agents and make it abundantly clear Fulham don't pay the highest wages. It's a pragmatic approach as long as it can be pulled off. Should Martin Jol snaffle another to match the calibre of Dimitar Berbatov, we'll all be singing his praises. Who's to say he won't?

In conclusion, I've spent time this week running the rule over other sides. Sunderland, for instance, are a completely unknown quantity with Paolo Di Canio having gone crazy in the market. I think WBA, Swansea and Norwich have spent well, Southampton look stronger, Stoke weaker. I feel the market will still produce some major shock waves, what with question marks hovering over the destinies of Gareth Bale, Wayne Rooney and Luis Suarez. A few megadeals will trigger a ripple down through other clubs.

Like all other preview pundits, survival looks a tough call for Hull and Crystal Palace to me. That leaves just the battle to avoid 18th place and be next season's Wigan. Backed by Khan's fortune, I can't see that being Fulham.

Survival then comes first. Some more entertaining football along the way would be welcome. As to the whole uncertainty surrounding the last few weeks -- here's a thought (I would not be so arrogant as to offer Mr. Khan advice):

A culture of obsessive secrecy involving club operations grew under Al-Fayed, and is practised to this day with some zeal behind the scenes. We do not expect open-handed transparency between board and fans. Tony Fernandes tried that and made himself a laughing stock. Considering how Mohammed looked to threaten the British Establishment, his own business background and loathing of investigative journalists, that culture surrounding Fulham FC operations is understandable.

Shahid Khan has already shown himself to be far more a man of the people and accessible to the media. A simple short press release in the last 30 days to state Fulham had a progressive policy in place to invest in new players and were actively engaged in scouring the market would not have gone amiss. The dashed hopes and hints, continually reading of players such as Wilfried Bony heading to other clubs instead of Fulham, has not helped the general mood.

Anyway, we turn over a new page, look forward to giving it our best shot up at Sunderland, and for the first time this season open our lungs and shout: COYW!!!

Check back here for our matchday preview before Saturday's opener plus details of my appearance on the Salut!Sunderland podcast Thursday 18.30 UK time.

Twitter: @fulhamphil



http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/fulham/id/1194?&cc=5739 (http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/fulham/id/1194?&cc=5739)

 
Fulham Fail In Second QPR Raid As Midfielder Heads To La Liga

Former Real Madrid man set for La Liga return.

Fulham look to have been beaten to the signing of Queens Park Rangers midfielder Esteban Granero, with talkSPORT reporting that the Spaniard has chosen a move to Real Sociedad.

Granero only joined QPR last summer, but was one of several big names to disappoint for the London side as they suffered a humiliating relegation from the Premier League.


The likes of Southampton and Fiorentina had also been chasing the former Real Madrid man, and Fulham were optimistic of making him their second signing from Rangers, following their recent loan deal for Moroccan winger Adel Taarabt.

However, Real Sociedad have managed to lure the 26-year-old back to his native Spain, where he can also hope to have a crack at the Champions League this season with the side that finished fourth in La Liga last season.

Sociedad see Granero as a perfect replacement for star midfielder Asier Illarramendi, who was sold to Real Madrid for £35million earlier this summer.

It is thought that Granero will join on an initial loan deal, with the view to completing a permanent £5million transfer next summer, as QPR have done with a number of their big-name players in this transfer window.


http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/08/14/fulham-fail-in-second-qpr-raid-as-midfielder-heads-to-la-liga/? (http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/08/14/fulham-fail-in-second-qpr-raid-as-midfielder-heads-to-la-liga/?)

 
Fulham set to snatch Spurs man at last minute?

Fulham could be about to hijack Scott Parker's move to Queen's Park Rangers, according to the London Evening Standard.

The newspaper previously reported that QPR boss Harry Redknapp had renewed his interest in signing up the Spurs midfielder, but in a shocking turn of events, it now looks like Parker could be headed to Craven Cottage.

Stiff competition

The Hoops realise just how hard it will be to land Parker when they realised they are facing stiff competition from Premier League clubs, with

The London Evening Standard reports that assistant manager Kevin Bond said: "If a Premier League club came in for him, that is the holy grail for players, so it will be difficult."

Miss Out

The newspaper writes that Fulham have only become interested in the England international because they look set to miss out on one of their other transfer  targets, QPR midfielder Esteban Granero.

The Spaniard looks set to move back to his home country.

Parker has made 18 appearances at international level, and won the Premier League with Chelsea in 2005.

The midfielder could be drawn to Loftus Road though, as he may enjoy linking up with his former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp.



http://www.touchlinetalk.com/fulham-set-to-snatch-spurs-man-at-last-minute/61970/? (http://www.touchlinetalk.com/fulham-set-to-snatch-spurs-man-at-last-minute/61970/?)

 
Brown out of Sunderland's opener against Fulham

WES BROWN has been ruled out of Sunderland's Premier League opener against Fulham on Saturday.

The 33-year-old's return to fitness has been one of the big plus points of the Black Cats' pre-season campaign after the former England international had endured more than 18 months without a competitive game.

But Brown (pictured) missed Sunderland's final pre-season friendly against Danish side Midjtylland last week, after suffering a minor problem with the knee that has been at the root of his injury woes.

Brown is only days away from a return to full training, but, with fellow centre-halves John O'Shea, Carlos Cuellar, Valentin Roberge and Modibo Diakite at his disposal, head coach Paolo Di Canio is wary of risking the former Manchester United man.

Di Canio told the Echo: "Wes has improved over the last few days.

"Another few days and he can start joining in with the rest of the team in training.

"But, for this game, we will not risk him because we have had that scenario in the past and it is silly.

"We have four central defenders to choose from and he (Brown) will be important during the season so we must not risk him."

Despite an injury setback on the eve of the campaign, Di Canio believes Brown can play his part this term.

The Italian says the defender proved his fitness during pre-season after Sunderland had offered to pay off the remaining two years of his contract.



http://www.newspostleader.co.uk/sport/local/brown-out-of-sunderland-s-opener-against-fulham-1-5953124 (http://www.newspostleader.co.uk/sport/local/brown-out-of-sunderland-s-opener-against-fulham-1-5953124)

 
FULHAM PREVIEW: There's a new Khan do attitude in boardroom at the Cottage but Jol needs to sort out travel sickness

Story of the summer...
The biggest story at Craven Cottage has been in the boardroom, where Mohamed Al Fayed sold the club after 16 years as owner. Al Fayed helped Fulham rise from the third tier to the Premier League so new man Shahid Khan has a lot to do before he endears himself to fans as the Egyptian did.

Manager's main challenge...
Sorting out Fulham's wretched away form. It has been abysmal in the Premier League – in their last five seasons they have won just 15 of 95 away matches.

Needing to find a way to win away: Martin Jol must sort out Fulham's wretched form on the road - the club have won just 15 of 95 away matches in the last five seasons

Hiccups on horizon...
Jol could still do with some reinforcements, particularly in central midfield where they are short of real class. But a new owner does not always mean new players.

First name on the team sheet...
Dimitar Berbatov – The Bulgarian is still pure class, when he feels like it.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/08/14/article-2392913-1B29742B000005DC-731_634x477.jpg)
Talisman: Dimitar Berbatov still oozes class and will be key to everything Fulham do this season

Youngster to watch...
Noe Baba Age: 16 Position: Defender Twitter: @noebaba

Fulham beat Manchester United to the signature of highly-rated and versatile defender Baba, who was born in Cameroon but moved to Ireland at the age of 10. A combative player who has shown his leadership potential in captaining the Republic of Ireland Under 17s. Baba initially played as a striker when he arrived in Ireland as he didn't speak enough English to ask to play in defence.

Pre-season quote...
'My priority is to ensure the club and Craven Cottage each have a viable and sustainable Premier League future that fans of present and future generations can be proud of.' – Shahid Khan

Top Tweeter
David Stockdale (@stockogk1313) -  Owns a bait and tackle shop.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/08/14/article-2392913-1B3C96AC000005DC-980_634x469.jpg)
Maverick: Adel Taarabt will strut his stuff at Fulham for a season after a loan deal from QPR

Ins: Sascha Riether (Cologne, £1.3m), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, undisclosed), Fernando Amorebieta (Athletic Bilbao, free), Maarten Stekelenburg (Roma, undisclosed), Ange-Freddy Plumain (Lens, free), Adel Taarabt (QPR, loan)

Outs: Chris Baird (released), Simon Davies (released), Mahamadou Diarra (released), Csaba Somogyi (released), Mladen Petric (released), Mark Schwarzer (Chelsea, free), Tom Donegan (released), Alex Smith (Swindon, free), Dan Burn (Birmingham, loan)

New kit
New season and new sponsors all round for Fulham, who have swapped Kappa for adidas and FxPro for bookmakers Marathonbet.

Fulham have come up with some attractive, simple strips during their time in the Premier League and their black-and-white number is about as straightforward as they come.

It was Fulham's current stars that unveiled the new home kit but the club have turned to their promotion winning stars from 2001 to help launch their new away strip. Kit Symons, Luis Boa Morte and Rufus Brevett were on hand to unveil the new red design.

Kit cost: £49.99

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/08/14/article-2392913-1B248BFF000005DC-366_634x442.jpg)
Old boys: Promotion winning stars from 2001 including Rufus Brevett launched the away strip

Stats from 2012-13 season...
Former goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer saved more penalties than any other in the Premier League – saving three of the six that he faced.

Dimitar Berbatov scored the first goal of the game more often than any other player in 2012-13 (nine times).

Of all players to have contested over 100 headers in 2012-13, Brede Hangeland had the best success rate (74 per cent).

No player made more goal line clearances than Sascha Riether last season (four).

Fulham gained just five points from losing positions all season, a league low.

They suffered the joint-longest run of consecutive home defeats in the PL in 2012-13 (four between April-May).

Only QPR (one) won fewer points from their final six PL games than Fulham (three).

Fulham won more headers in their own box than any other PL team in 2012-13 (420) but won the fewest in the opposition box (115).

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/08/14/article-2392913-1B14A43E000005DC-422_634x497.jpg)
The future's bright: Noe Baba, 16, joined Fulham ahead of Manchester United

Where do I buy tickets and how much do they cost?

Tickets can be bought through the official website, via phone, 08432081223 or at the stadium box office, which is open 9-5 Monday to Friday. Category A £49-£70 and Category B £25-£45.

Pre-season results
July 14 Cartagines (Estadio Nacional, San Jose) - won 3-0
July 17 Alajuelense (Estadio Nacional, San Jose) - won 3-1
July 20 Deportivo Saprissa S.A.D. (Estadio Nacional, San Jose) - drew 2-2 (won 5-3 pens)
July 28 Werder Bremen (Weser Stadion, Bremen) - lost 0-1
August 5 Real Betis (Craven Cottage) - drew 1-1
August 10 Parma (Craven Cottage) - lost 1-2


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2392913/Fulham--Premier-League-preview-2013-14.html#ixzz2c38HMFDJ (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2392913/Fulham--Premier-League-preview-2013-14.html#ixzz2c38HMFDJ)
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 
David's Dream

(http://www.fulhamfc.com/-/media/PlayerActionShots/2013-14/Chris%20David/PA-17285398.ashx?w=350&h=250)

Chris David hopes that the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League season will be a breakthrough campaign for him, as he works towards a spot in Fulham's First Team.

The omens are good for the Dutch youngster, who arrived from FC Twente in the January transfer window, as he featured in half of our pre-season fixtures, and was on the bench for the others.

"Going to Costa Rica was a great experience for me as it was the first time I'd trained with the squad," David told fulhamfc.com. "I had some minutes on the pitch with the First Team as well, so I was happy with that and I think I did quite well which the Manager was happy about.

"It's a good start for me and I'm getting fitter and fitter and hopefully this season will be my season. We will see – I want to make my debut this season, for sure.

"It's been my dream and I'm 20-years-old now so I think it's the right moment to make my debut. After that I want to play a lot of minutes for Fulham and then, hopefully, I'll end up being a First XI player. But first I have to train hard and do well and then maybe I will get a chance this season."

The Fulham team can boast a series of international footballers who have played at the highest levels possible, and David admitted it can only aid his development when he's in the company of such esteemed professionals.

"We've got a lot of big players here at Fulham," he said. "People like Brede Hangeland, Damien Duff, Steve Sidwell and Giorgos Karagounis, and I speak with them a lot. They are helping me with their experience, which is great.

"I talk to Karagounis a lot especially because he's such a good midfielder. I ask him a lot of questions and he helps me very much, so that's good. It's good to have a mix of older players and younger players because, in the future, we will be standing there in the First Team."

The Netherlands youth international also praised the impact his compatriot Martin Jol is having on his career and highlighted his desire to do his Manager proud when called upon.

"It's always good to be a part of the group and we're always talking to each other," David explained. "He tells me what I can do better and what I'm doing well. I like that because now I know what I have to work on which is good and I don't want to disappoint him because he put faith in me. I want to show everybody what I can do.

"I think everyone kind of dreams of playing in the Premier League, and now I'm so close. I've only been here for little more than six months now, and I've had to get used to it, but I'm getting better and better."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/15/davids-dream? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/15/davids-dream?)

 
Bent Set For Palace?... Nope, It's Fulham

News has broken with a late twist in the Darren Bent saga.

Rumours were rife last night as talk of Darren Bent heading for a medical this morning had appeared during the England game. But, in a shocking late twist, Bent pulled out of having a medical with Palace and now seems set to undergo a medical at Fulham today ahead of a transfer for a rumoured loan spell. The loan move would include a £2m fee for his season loan spell, Fulham paying his wages & £3m to complete his move at the end of the season.

Many football writers and sports editors, including Ed Malyon, Stuart James and John Percy, have all reported over Twitter that the England International changed his mind late last night with a deal all tied up with Palace and it seems Darren Bent is heading to Fulham this morning for a medical.

Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway has told BBC London 94.9 Darren Bent is joining Fulham today, having expected him to sign for the Eagles. Hollyway has been quoted saying:

Fulham could wait a lot longer than we could so we've tried to force it, they've stepped in, took our deal. It's life.
Mat Kendrick of the Birmingham Mail has now had confirmation from Aston Villa boss, Paul Lambert, that the forward is indeed at Fulham having a medical ahead of a season long loan. Mat has also asked if anymore signings will arrive at Villa this summer, with Paul Lambert replying: "I've got a fortnight to decide..."



http://avillafan.com/site/7834/bent-set-for-palace-nope-its-fulham/? (http://avillafan.com/site/7834/bent-set-for-palace-nope-its-fulham/?)

 
Transfer news: Fulham close on signing Aston Villa striker Darren Bent

Aston Villa forward Darren Bent will secure a loan deal to Fulham if he comes through a medical on Thursday.

Although Fulham boss Martin Jol rejected reports that a move for the unsettled striker was imminent, his Villa counterpart Paul Lambert confirmed on Thursday that Bent's transfer would go through barring any hitch with fitness checks in London.

"He's just away down to Fulham," said Lambert. "I think it's well-documented now that he's down there having a medical and that's the last I've heard."

Bent was the subject of a £4m bid from the Cottagers earlier in the summer, which was rejected by Villa, but the two clubs have reached an agreement with a view to a season-long loan.

It is also a big blow for Crystal Palace who had looked favourites to snare the 29-year-old.

Bent was a peripheral figure for Aston Villa last season, often left on the sidelines with Christian Benteke making his mark in Lambert's side.

And with new attacking options now available to Lambert, the Villa boss has opted to offload the striker they bought in January 2011 for around £24m from Sunderland.

Jol has been desperate for a goalscorer to take some of the pressure off last season's leading man, Dimitar Berbatov, and Bent's acquisition will be great news for him and the south London fans on the eve of a new Premier League season.


http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/8871283? (http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/8871283?)

 
Competition time!
By rich on August 15, 2013

We've teamed up with The Times to celebrate the launch of The Goals hub, the new football service that offers subscribers the first chance to see every Premier League goal this season, both online and on smartphone.

We are giving readers the chance to win one of two three-month subscriptions to The Times Digital Pack, which, in addition to The Goals hub provides award-winning sport and news coverage plus exclusive benefits.

This competition follows the innovative advertising campaign the Sports Newspaper of the Year has used to mark the beginning of the season and launch the new service. The Times has worked with each Premier League club to develop 20 unique adverts which see the iconic masthead of The Times redesigned to feature a symbolic club image.

(http://cravencottagenewsround.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/fulham.jpg?w=620)

The Times app for smartphones features The Goals hub, which will offer extensive coverage of the Premier League, giving fans access to near-live goal replays, live commentary and expert analysis, all in one place. Also online at http://www.thetimes.co.uk (http://www.thetimes.co.uk), highlights of each match will be available at midnight on the day of every game.*

The complete subscription offers the latest news on your phone, unlimited access to The Times and The Sunday Times websites, as well as membership to Times+ for events, offers and extras including prizes and rewards.

Visit www.thetimes.co.uk/goals (http://www.thetimes.co.uk/goals) for more details.

For your chance to win a three-month subscription to The Times Digital Pack including access to The Goals hub, just answer the following question:

Q          What will be the score in Fulham's opening game away at Sunderland?

To enter, simply email your answer to claude,[email protected] with CCN Competition in the subject field, together with your full name and home address.  The person who gets closest wins the subscription.  If more than two people get it right, winners will be decided in the order that their entry was received (first come, first served, etc).  If nobody gets it right then winners will be drawn at random from all entries received.  All decisions are final in this respect.  Cheers.

* Full access to Premier League highlights in The Goals hub is only available to users in the UK due to rights restrictions.


http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/competition-time/? (http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/competition-time/?)

 
Senderos 1 Neymar 0 - Switzerland get the better of Brazil

(http://static-imgs-acf.hereisthecity.com/20110721//98/switzerland_v_spain_21777.jpg)

Fulham defender and former Arsenal man Philippe Senderos helped Switzerland pull off an international shock in midweek.

As international results go, Switzerland's 1-0 win over Brazil was certainly a surprise.

The same Brazil who tore World Champions Spain apart at the Confederations Cup earlier this summer, failed to breach Switzerland's defence in a firecely contested friendly in Basel.

New Barcelona striker Neymar could not get the better of Switzerland's backline, featuring Fulham's Philippe Senderos.

Neymar's frustration boiled over when he chopped down defender Stephane Lichtsteiner, sparking a mass brawl between the players of the two teams.

The goal came early into the second half, when Barcelona defender Dani Alves headed the ball in his own net, failing to control a cross from Bayern Munich's Xherdan Shaqiri.

It goes down as another major result for Switzerland manager Ottmar Hitzfeld, formerly himself of Bayern.

Hitzfeld masterminded a memorable 1-0 win over Spain at the 2010 World Cup in the opening group game.

Switzerland are currently four points clear at the top of their World Cup qualifying group, with surprise package Albania in second place.

Last night they ensured they will be one side Brazil will be keen to avoid on their quest for glory on home soil.

The result was Switzerland's first win over Brazil since a friendly victory back in 1989, and it was Brazil's first loss in seven months.

Featuring for Brazil was defensive midfielder Luiz Gustavo, whose future has been the hot topic of conversation as he looks for a move away from Bayern.

image: © jitbag



http://hereisthecity.com/2013/08/14/senderos-1-neymar-0-switzerland-get-the-better-of-brazil/? (http://hereisthecity.com/2013/08/14/senderos-1-neymar-0-switzerland-get-the-better-of-brazil/?)

 
Fulham to sign Darren Bent on loan from Aston Villa
Darren Bent is to sign for Fulham on loan to finally end his frustration at Aston Villa.

Bent is expected at Fulham for a medical after Martin Jol made a late bid to hijack the England international's move to Crystal Palace.

The £24 million forward had seemed likely to join Palace late on Wednesday but Fulham have pounced and are now poised to end their protracted pursuit by taking him to Craven Cottage.

Bent's move will be for the season and Fulham are expected to pay a substantial loan fee, and the majority of his £65,000 a week wages, if the deal goes go through.

The 29 year-old has endured a difficult 12 months at Villa Park under manager Paul Lambert and was sidelined for the majority of last season, largely due to the emergence of Christian Benteke.

He was also exiled from training with the first-team squad when he returned for pre-season and told he would not feature in Lambert's plans.

Newcastle and Fulham have both struggled to meet Villa's strict asking price - around £6 million - and Palace were confident of sealing an ambitious loan deal.

But Jol has moved swiftly for Bent and is also hopeful of beating QPR to the £3 million signing of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Scott Parker.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/10244363/Fulham-to-sign-Darren-Bent-on-loan-from-Aston-Villa.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/10244363/Fulham-to-sign-Darren-Bent-on-loan-from-Aston-Villa.html)

 
2013/14 Squad Numbers

With the new season just days away, the Club can confirm the official squad numbers for the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League campaign, with notable changes for Bryan Ruiz and Alexander Kačaniklić.

Ruiz has taken the illustrious number 10 shirt following the departure of Mladen Petrić – the number that he wears internationally when he captains Costa Rica. He follows in a long line of popular Fulham faces to wear number 10, most famously our greatest player Johnny Haynes, in addition to the likes of Rodney Marsh, Ray Houghton and Gordon Davies (in his second spell at the Club).

Kačaniklić, meanwhile, will now occupy the number 11 jersey – the traditional digits for a left-winger. Having broken into the Fulham First Team midway through the 2011/12 campaign, Kača has made no secret of his desire to nail down a First Team berth, and he's seemingly on the right track having been awarded the shirt previously worn by Tosh Chamberlain, Luis Boa Morte and Zoltan Gera.

Our new midfield enforcer Derek Boateng takes 23, a number first made famous at Craven Cottage by another box-to-box workaholic, Sean Davis. Since the local boy left Fulham in 2004, the shirt was worn almost solely by Clint Dempsey and has been vacant since his departure to Tottenham Hotspur a year ago.

Adel Taarabt will take the number 19 shirt, the same jersey he wore when he made his debut in English football with Spurs, while Fernando Amorebieta adopts 35 to become the first centre-back to sport that number since Ian Pearce, who coincidentally also wore 19 during his time in SW6.

Maarten Stekelenburg has worn the same number as Edwin van der Sar at Ajax and with the Netherlands, and he follows suit at Fulham, too, as he unsurprisingly will wear the No.1 shirt throughout the season.

In the only other squad number changes, Marcello Trotta has dropped 10 digits to wear 29, while Chris David has moved from 32 to 30. Jack Grimmer, Muamer Tankovic, Buomesca Tue Na Bangna and Charles Banya have all retained the same numbers they were allocated last season.

Full list of Fulham squad numbers:
1. Maarten Stekelenburg

3. John Arne Riise

4. Philippe Senderos

5. Brede Hangeland

7. Steve Sidwell

8. Pajtim Kasami

9. Dimitar Berbatov

10. Bryan Ruiz

11. Alexander Kačaniklić

13. David Stockdale

14. Giorgos Karagounis

15. Kieran Richardson

16. Damien Duff

17. Matthew Briggs

18. Aaron Hughes

19. Adel Taarabt

20. Hugo Rodallega

21. Kerim Frei

23. Derek Boateng

24. Ashkan Dejagah

27. Sascha Riether

29. Marcello Trotta

30. Chris David

35. Fernando Amorebieta

36. Buomesca Tue Na Bangna

38. Neil Etheridge

42. Charles Banya

43. Muamer Tankovic

44. Jack Grimmer



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/15/squad-numbers? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/15/squad-numbers?)

 
Brede Hangeland: Staying up is still Fulham's main concern

Expectation levels among Fulham fans may have been heightened by Shahid Khan's takeover but Brede Hangeland says avoiding relegation is the priority this season.

Khan has ambitions of establishing Fulham in the top half of the Premier League, giving supporters reason to be optimistic that the future is bright at Craven Cottage.

Hangeland does not want the club, who finished 12th last season, to lose their sense of ambition but is realistic about what can be achieved.

"I think the expectations for the season are much the same," said the Fulham captain. "My concern every year is to get 40 points and I am hoping that will be as early in the season as possible. It might sound like a lack of ambition but I am very happy to stay in the Premier League because I know how tough the competition is.

"I know our strength relative to all of the other clubs and you can't say that we are a big club in the Premier League. We are punching above our weight a little bit and some of that is down to the fact we stay modest and keep our feet on the ground.

"There has been a good buzz around the club following the announcement. We have a lot to thank Mohamed Fayed for but the new owner seems like a really good guy and has been successful in what he has done in the past. I hope that will continue here."

American owner Khan wants to learn from mistakes made by clubs like Queens Park Rangers and appears to have plans for steady growth rather than immediate change.

Transfer funds have been made available to Martin Jol, who has signed five players this summer and wants to strengthen his squad further before the window closes.

Maarten Stekelenburg, Sascha Riether, Derek Boateng and Fernando Amorebieta all signed before Khan's takeover, while Adel Taarabt joined on loan last week.

Fulham begin their Premier League season away at Sunderland on Saturday and Hangeland, 32, said: "We would welcome new signings but that is not my decision to make.

"We have good competition now and it is hard to pick the best starting line-up because there are so many players on the same level. That gives the manager a headache but a good one."

Hangeland signed a new contract in April that keeps him at Craven Cottage until at least 2015 and includes an option for a further year. The Norway defender, who has made 243 appearances for Fulham since joining from  FC Copenhagen in 2008, had offers to move in January but says he could now finish his career at the club.

He added: "I have loved my time here, I have had chances to leave but I found no reason to leave. I can see myself playing the rest of my career here.

"I still love playing for these fans and I am looking forward to a few more years of doing that."

Brede was speaking at the announcement of Brother as Fulham's Official Technology Partner. Brother will integrate its technologies to assist the club's performance both on and off the pitch. For more information on Brother products, visit brother.co.uk.



http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/brede-hangeland-staying-up-is-still-fulhams-main-concern-8763059.html (http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/brede-hangeland-staying-up-is-still-fulhams-main-concern-8763059.html)

 
Aston Villa Striker Darren Bent Undergoing Fulham Medical Ahead of £5m Transfer

Striker close to ending Villa nightmare with £5million Craven Cottage switch.

Aston Villa striker Darren Bent is close to sealing a move away from the club, as he undergoes a medical ahead of a £5million move to Fulham, Sky Sports claims.

The 29-year-old had a difficult season last year, finding himself frozen out by Villa boss Paul Lambert and spending most of his time watching from the bench.

The England international had been the club's record signing in 2011, and it was something of a surprise to see the prolific forward dropped by Lambert in favour of young duo Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann.

However, as the pair shone for Villa and helped steer the club away from relegation, Bent became an increasingly peripheral figure at the club and looked certain to leave this summer, with the likes of Crystal Palace said to be interested in taking him on loan.

But it now looks like Fulham have won the race for his signature, and he will link up again with his former manager from his days at Tottenham, Martin Jol, in a bid to revive his Premier League career.

He will also look to form a potentially dangerous strike partnership with another former Spurs player, Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov.



http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/08/15/aston-villa-striker-darren-bent-undergoing-fulham-medical-ahead-of-5m-transfer/? (http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/08/15/aston-villa-striker-darren-bent-undergoing-fulham-medical-ahead-of-5m-transfer/?)

 
Why Darren Bent's Proposed Loan Deal to Fulham Was His Only Way Out

A Darren Bent Loan Move to Fulham Suits All Parties

It was known from the second half of last season that Darren Bent had no part to play for Aston Villa under Paul Lambert. On end of season chat with Lambert confirmed it, while the  new squad shirt numbers advertised the fact.

Darren Bent was perhaps in the most intriguing of the so-called 'Bomb Squad' (apart from the question of 'how the hell are Villa going to get rid of Stephen Ireland?'). Villa's record signing should be the club's prized asset. Costing up to £24 million and on wages reported to be £65,000-a-week, the club must have expected to recoup at least some of his transfer fee, if the day ever came to sell the England international.

A proven goalscorer, his powers haven't exactly diminished, as he proved on the last day of the season with his swan song goal away at Wigan. The only problem it seems is he doesn't fit into Lambert's system, with the 4-4-2 giving way to 4-5-1/4-3-3, where his poacher-like instincts are of secondary value to a more complete striker.  Surely at least half the clubs in the Premier League would welcome such as striker who has one of the most consistent strike rates in the league?

Of course, what complicates matters is the figures. Bent turns 30 in February, so why many clubs would envisage the striker would have two years tops at his prime left.  With over three million pounds in wages a year to fork out, it's difficult to envisage any club wanting to take a punt on a long term contract.  After all, Villa were also keen for a transfer fee in the region of £6 million.

A solid approach from Newcastle has been dismissed as a myth, despite what Joe Kinnear said to the contrary. The very factors indicated above would have made them think twice anyway, not to mention the fact, Bent's Sunderland connection wouldn't sit well with their fans.

He would have been a perfect signing for Crystal Palace, with their manager Ian Holloway even thinking  a loan arrangement was a done deal, even this morning.  Initially, it was reported, they wanted to pay £40,000-a-week wages, then as well as a loan fee, offer Villa a bonus payment, if Bent helped keep them up.

Bent though always preferred the option of playing for a more established Premiership team and Fulham were almost the most likely with the Martin Jol connection, a manager who he played for at Spurs.

Today, was the last day a player could sign to be eligible for the start of the new season; it was a deadline that finally forced Fulham to act with intent.

The reported £2million loan fee and the fact that Fulham will cover his £65,000-a-week wages is probably as good as it gets for Villa. He also won't be able to come back and haunt us, when Villa play Fulham, as he will be exempt from playing due to the terms of his contract.

What happens after the loan is almost immaterial; if Bent has a decent season, he will no doubt get a move out on reduced wages.

It's a deal that makes Villa at least £5 million richer this season. Bent will get to ply his trade at a decent club in the Premiership. In short, it's a win-win situation for all concerned. UTV.



http://www.myoldmansaid.com/darren-bents-proposed-loan-move-fulham/ (http://www.myoldmansaid.com/darren-bents-proposed-loan-move-fulham/)

 
Soccer-U.S. owners buy in to new era for Premier League finances

U.S. businessmen own six English Premier League clubs

* New Fulham owner Khan attracted by TV deals, fan base

* Relegation risk means clubs come cheaper than NFL teams

LONDON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Illinois car parts baron Shahid Khan will find plenty of familiar faces and accents when he visits English soccer stadiums this year after spending an estimated $300 million to buy London team Fulham.

With Khan's arrival U.S. sports franchise owners now control six of the 20 clubs in the world's richest soccer league, reflecting an explosion in interest in the game in the United States and a growing trend among owners to seek global networks.

Investors like the Glazer family at Manchester United, Arsenal's Stan Kroenke and Boston Red Sox owner John W. Henry at Liverpool have been drawn by the Premier League's ability to generate vast sums of TV cash and support from fans all over the world.

"The Premier League obviously has a huge global audience," says the moustachioed Khan, who was born in Pakistan and already owns Florida's Jacksonville Jaguars in American football.

"It's got a great media deal, it's got great leadership at the top and most importantly a very, very passionate fan base and it's an excellent business platform," he told Reuters.

As a new season kicks off this weekend, television deals at home and abroad have allowed the English top flight to put the dark hooligan days of the 1980s behind it.

The league's 20 clubs will share annual TV revenues of around 1.7 billion pounds ($2.6 billion) thanks to new broadcast deals starting this month.

Underlining the growing interest in the United States, NBC has bought the rights there for the next three years, paying an estimated $250 million to unseat Fox. There are now an estimated 24 million Americans playing soccer compared to 100,000 in 1967.

"Soccer is on the rise big time," Khan said, commenting on the game's growing U.S. profile. "I think Fulham can get its fair share of fans and we want to help them do that, playing friendlies in Jacksonville next year," he added.

To try to build his NFL team's international profile, Khan is bringing the Jaguars to London's Wembley Stadium to play a game in each of the next four seasons.

SOBERING UP

The U.S. influx comes at a turning point for English soccer as a business.

After a decade in which rich Russian and Arab owners have poured hundreds of millions of pounds into winning the Premier League title at Chelsea and Manchester City, the European game's governing body UEFA is striving to force clubs to run tighter and more sustainable budgets.

Stan Kroenke's Arsenal, starved of success but reliably in the upper reaches of the league, have created one model admired by the game's financial planners, generating operating profits of 20 million or more annually.

Champions Manchester United have seen around 100 million pounds in annual EBITDA profit in each of the past three years, allowing them to service the debts - controversial with many of the club's fans - that the Glazers took out when they bought the club for 790 million pounds in 2005.

At Fulham, whose stadium on the banks of the Thames sees crowds of a third to at most half of those at the bigger clubs, the sums are much tighter and dominated by the threat of relegation out of the top flight.

Fulham's revenues for 2011-12 were 79 million pounds - a quarter of what Manchester United generated in the same season.

"The key challenge for me is that it's got to be sustainable for the long haul," said Khan.

"The investments we have to make - obviously in the squad but more importantly in the stadium - are something that will generate the revenue so we will get into a virtuous circle."

THE PRICE OF FAILURE

The Financial Fair Play regime being implemented by UEFA is second nature to Americans where mechanisms like salary caps and a luxury tax levy are in place to regulate spending by sports franchises.

At Fulham, former owner Mohamed Al Fayed pumped some 200 million pounds into the club after taking it over in 1997, loans he converted into shares earlier this year before selling up.

Fulham and fellow U.S.-owned clubs Sunderland and Aston Villa are among a group of teams whose initial ambition is to garner enough points to avoid finishing in the bottom three of the Premier League and losing their place in the elite.

American sports franchises do not have to deal with that system of promotion and relegation with the big swings in income that it can bring.

Khan, who paid an estimated $770 million to buy the Jaguars less than two years ago, says that the annual threat of demotion makes it cheaper to buy a Premier League club than to acquire an equivalent NFL franchise.

"The risk of relegation prices teams less than they would be in a closed league," he said.

"I think it's a simple matter of economics."



http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/08/15/soccer-england-owners-idUKL6N0FV2RM20130815?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=governmentFilingsNews (http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/08/15/soccer-england-owners-idUKL6N0FV2RM20130815?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=governmentFilingsNews)

 
Need to know: Fulham

By JACK BEZANTS — Associated Press

LONDON — Five things to know about Fulham going into the 2013-14 English Premier League season:

PLAYERS IN

Manager Martin Jol has been busy during the offseason, signing five players to strengthen his first-team squad. Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg arrived from Roma, replacing Mark Schwarzer, who signed for London rival Chelsea. Sascha Reither's season-long loan from Wolfsburg became a permanent transfer and defender Fernando Amorebieta signed from Athletic Bilbao. Ghana midfielder Derek Boateng joined on a free transfer from Ukrainian club Dnipro, and Adel Taarabt made the switch to Fulham from second-tier Queens Park Rangers on a one-season loan. Reports in the English media also suggest Fulham could sign striker Darren Bent from Aston Villa before its first game of the season away to Sunderland.

PLAYERS OUT

Aside from goalkeeper Schwarzer's exit after five years, Jol also decided not renew the contract of four other players who featured for the first team. Chris Baird, Simon Davies, Mahamadou Diarra and Mladen Petric all left as Jol made space for the players he had targeted to bring into the team.

NEW OWNERS, NEW ERA

Mohamed Al Fayed's 16-year ownership of Fulham ended in July when he sold the club to Shad Kahn, owner of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars in the United States. Khan has taken 100 percent ownership of the club, which is debt-free. Al Fayed's tenure as owner saw Fulham establish itself comfortably in the Premier League. It also reached the final of the Europa League under current England manager Roy Hodgson in 2010, losing to Atletico Madrid in extra time.

KEY PLAYER: DIMITAR BERBATOV

Berbatov scored 15 goals for Fulham last season and was voted its player of the season by the club's supporters. He was the focal point for Fulham's attack and scored one of the goals of the season in its 1-0 win against Stoke against Craven Cottage. A partnership with new arrival Adel Taarabt, an attacking midfielder, has potential to excite the Fulham fans. Taarabt's performances for Queens Park Rangers were inconsistent last season but at times he reached a very high level. If he and Berbatov can combine on a regular basis they could pose problems for any defense in the league.

SURPRISE STARTERS?

Fulham could surprise a few people with a fast start to its 2013-14 season. In its opening nine games, it only plays Arsenal and Chelsea out of the teams expected to compete for European places in the league. If Jol can create a winning mentality in the early stages of the season and his best players stay free from injury, Fulham might fancy its chances of competing for a top-seven finish and earning a spot in the Europa League.



Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/08/15/3109144/need-to-know-fulham.html#storylink=cpy (http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/08/15/3109144/need-to-know-fulham.html#storylink=cpy)

 
Jol quiet on Bent link

Martin Jol has issued a cautious response to the suggestion that Fulham have signed Aston Villa striker Darren Bent.

Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway announced on Thursday morning that Bent had chosen Craven Cottage over Selhurst Park but Jol, who signed the 29-year-old when at Tottenham in 2007, denied a deal had been done.

"I don't know what's happening. Darren's probably doing his own thing. We're not sure about it," the Fulham boss said.

"We don't speculate on players and can only give an answer when a deal is finalised. We'll see in the next day or two."

Bent swapped Sunderland for Villa for £24million in 2011, but fell out of favour with manager Paul Lambert last season following the emergence of Christian Benteke.

"We need quality up front and we're trying to get someone in that position in the next week. We need some pace up front," Jol said.

Jol, who refused to comment on his interest in Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker, took a swipe at Holloway for stating that Bent had agreed to join Fulham.

"People were telling me yesterday that he was having a medical at Crystal Palace. That is changing every day," Jol said.

"I thought yesterday that he was going to Ian Holloway. It's tough in the Premier League.

"I'm not sure if other managers should say things like that, because we are not 100 per cent sure about any player and I have a few players on the list.

"Maybe some geezer told him he was coming to us. Maybe he's right, maybe not. We'll see in the next day."

Jol would be happy to keep Norway full-back John Arne Riise, who has fallen behind Kieran Richardson in the pecking order, if he fails to secures a move away from Craven Cottage.

"John is a fantastic player and deserves to play and that was the only conversation we had," Jol said.

"If he's the second choice at this club, I'm not sure he'll be a happy customer.

"But if he stays I'll be happy because if something happens to Kieran Richardson then I have another fantastic left-back."

Fulham are hoping to strengthen their squad with the addition of a forward, midfielder and defender, but Jol has ruled out the prospect of new owner Shahid Khan loosening the purse strings.

"The new owner wants us to go places and that's our intention as well," he said.

"We don't expect new owners to come in and spend a lot of money because you have to be self-sufficient. That's what we're trying to do. We won't spend 10-15-20million pounds on players.

"The new owner's not interfering with anything. The only thing he said was try to create a nice sausage.

"He knows that we like sausages here. As long as it's a nice sausage he'll be happy."



http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/324/8871751/-? (http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/324/8871751/-?)

 
Lydia's Premier League Preview
by LYDIA on AUGUST 15, 2013

There are just a couple of days left before all the waiting is over and the PL finally kicks off again. It has been a strange summer for Fulham fans as we made a couple of good signings right at the very beginning then we had to wait a while before the next major piece of club news came through. The sale of the club to Pakistani business man Shahid Khan was done in classic Fulham style- under the radar. We don't hear very much of Fulham's business, it's always been like that but I think fans still get frustrated at not knowing what is going on. It's interesting that among all of the rumours and being connected with every player under the sun with no actual fact involved, the club tends to officially confirm whenever they are interested in a player. It was a number of days before Taarabt signed when the club announced that they were close to a deal. I'm not sure what the point of this is but I guess it at least lets us know what deals are real and what's the work of a bored journalist.

Nevertheless, enough of the confusing transfer gossip, what about the season ahead? Fulham needed to do some business in order to match the clubs around us. Look at West Ham, Norwich and Cardiff for example. All have spent money to improve their squads. Time will tell whether it will pull off but I feel that many fans are concerned that Fulham haven't spent the money that they thought the club would after the Khan takeover. However, we have made some astute signings with Stekelenburg, Boeteng, Amorebieta and Taarabt. We also made Riether an official Fulham player and it looks like we are about to sign Darren Bent. OK, we haven't spent a lot of money as our dealings seem to yet again be free transfers or loans but, although it doesn't look like we have long term answers, they certainly aren't bad players that we have brought in.

However, I can't say that I wasn't worried for a while. I still believed that we need another goal-scorer and a play maker. It now looks like we have our goal scorer in Darren bent but we are still missing someone in CM to pull the strings and control the game. We lost Murphy, Dembele and Dempsey in the same window and I don't believe we have recovered from that yet. There has been talk about us ruining QPR's Scott Parker deal and I honestly believe this would be a good piece of business at this stage in the window. He is good player but wouldn't be a long-term fix unfortunately. For now though, it looks like some of our youngsters are going to have the chance to show their worth in the centre of the park. People are raving about Chris David and we are still waiting for Kasami to be given his shot. If these players step up then we might have some ready made replacements already in our squad. I still think we need an experienced head in there though but we shall just have to see what happens there.

In terms of a goal-scorer it looks like we have Darren Bent. This is a good signing as he is a very different player to Berbatov who likes to drop back a bit. Bent should stretch defences and he is a quality finisher! I feel he has been let down a bit at Villa so should be very keen to have a new start and show his worth. If we get the ball to his feet in the box, he should score goals for us.

I think that if Jol can get Taarabt, Ruiz and Berbatov to play together we could have a very exciting team on our hands. The other thing to sort is the defence but I think with Amorebieta there with Hangeland and with Dutch international Stekelenburg between the sticks, our problems at the back shouldn't be as bad as last year. The key is consistency. If the players can gel and play well together then a top 10 finish can be reached. However if that hole in midfield isn't filled and our fancy players can't learn how to work together then we will finish lower than that. I think we have the players to ensure that we won't be in danger by the end of the season but there certainly might be rocky moments along the way!

Anyway, I'm going to put myself out there with some predictions, feel free to agree or disagree!

Where we will finish – 10th, dead centre.

Top goal-scorer – Berbatov...with 15 goals.

Player of the season- I'm going to go with Dejagah. I think he will pick up from where he left off before his injury last season

How will Bent get on? – Solid season with the club getting 11goals

Will Taarabt rediscover his form? I think he will have a slow start but will come good around October. He needs a little bit of time to adjust to not being the most talented player in a squad! This should hopefully improve his attitude.

Cup Run?- If we use some of the talented youngsters we have then I think their desire to show their talent will get us through the first few rounds of the cups we are involved in. If the league run is going well then I think the team will really want to have a real go at the FA cup in particular. Quarter finals are possible in both cups but it really depends on how early we get a top 4 team.

Will Jol still be our manager at the end of the season? YES.

COYW



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2013/08/lydias-premier-league-preview/? (http://hammyend.com/index.php/2013/08/lydias-premier-league-preview/?)