He was a good player but 35 now and not sure how he'll adapt to the pace of the Premier League.
If he does acclimatise quickly, he could be a good addition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgos_Karagounis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgos_Karagounis)
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/karagounis/profil/spieler_6106.html (http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/karagounis/profil/spieler_6106.html)
As a short term fix... yes!
I thought part of the stated policy was to lower the average age of the squad :dft002:
I like Karagounis. A Hard-Worker!
Unfortunately there arent many free agents in their prime
If he's fit enough then he, at the least, provides backup for Diarra.
Well at least the problem is being addressed-know nothing about the guy-and has been stated,restricted to free agents,at best going to be a Heskeyesque signing.
Loads of young players already signed to bring age of squad down,if they are ever ready?
If hes fit.. might be worth a one year deal.
:54: one year. leeeeeeeetsssssss do it!
Question....I know there have been other threads on this, so excuse me for not having read them (they did get a bit tetchy, so I stopped reading 'em). Now the 25 (21) man squad has been handed in to PL, can we add anyone else to it until January anyway, even free agents? I guess he could play in the cups, but what about the league?
dont see why we'd be bringing this guy in to be honest
They only got tetchy because people kept asking the same question and couldn't be bothered to read the answers already given.
I, of course, am never tetchy so I will tell you that we have named a 21 man squad and can add up to 4 more players provided that they were out of contract when the transfer window closed.
Feel free to ask again in 10 minutes.
Quote from: Burt on September 07, 2012, 01:07:48 PM
I thought part of the stated policy was to lower the average age of the squad :dft002:
The policy is to improve the team to ensure PL survival or better.
Quote from: aFFCn_Fan on September 07, 2012, 01:33:09 PM
Question....I know there have been other threads on this, so excuse me for not having read them (they did get a bit tetchy, so I stopped reading 'em). Now the 25 (21) man squad has been handed in to PL, can we add anyone else to it until January anyway, even free agents? I guess he could play in the cups, but what about the league?
We can sign Free agents as we did with Diarra, we have 4 possible spots. I assume one is ope n for Grygera possibly but the rest are for grabs.
thanks 1879 and TG
Quote from: elgreenio on September 07, 2012, 01:36:19 PM
dont see why we'd be bringing this guy in to be honest
CM cover. very short term...
Quote from: Mr Fulham on September 07, 2012, 01:50:31 PM
Quote from: elgreenio on September 07, 2012, 01:36:19 PM
dont see why we'd be bringing this guy in to be honest
CM cover. very short term...
still dont see why we need it. Diarra, Sidwell, Baird, Kasami, Reither, Davies, even Minkwitz and Ruiz. If we can cheap out a 10k p/w 4 month deal then i'm not totally against it. Just struggling to see why we should panic when we have the first 3 I mentioned who can do a job. Unless 2 of the first 3 get injured we'll be fine without anybody else, especially somebody who will have to adapt to the prem.
If we're going for a 35 year old I'd prefer Ballack tbh.
Quote from: elgreenio on September 07, 2012, 01:58:20 PM
Quote from: Mr Fulham on September 07, 2012, 01:50:31 PM
Quote from: elgreenio on September 07, 2012, 01:36:19 PM
dont see why we'd be bringing this guy in to be honest
CM cover. very short term...
still dont see why we need it. Diarra, Sidwell, Baird, Kasami, Reither, Davies, even Minkwitz and Ruiz. If we can cheap out a 10k p/w 4 month deal then i'm not totally against it. Just struggling to see why we should panic when we have the first 3 I mentioned who can do a job. Unless 2 of the first 3 get injured we'll be fine without anybody else, especially somebody who will have to adapt to the prem.
I hear you but I feel we need another midfieler. Would've liked to see Kasami, Davies and Minkwitz tbh.
Karagounis will provide natural CM cover. Riether (I before E) is shite in central midfield, Ruiz is too lightweight there.
I find it very odd that Jol wants to help younger players to come through and - on the other hand - doesn't try Kasami in his natural position. Or Minkwitz. He's immensely talented and we should give him a chance before it's too late.
I would've prefered Reo-Coker or even Hargreaves because Karagounis is 35 and has no Premiership experience.
I think we will sign a top class midfielder in January. Well...I hope we do.
Why on earth the negatives? The guy is still quality - we're missing this in midfield with the very late exits of Dembele & Dempsey - a one year fix? Perfect. Forget the average age scenario - hardly applicable here ... wise old head - gives 110% .... great stuff & what a swan-song for him. Great to have a real character on board, too! All plusses for me ... oh & a much better footballer than the constantly over-rated Reo-Coker, in my book!
Why let Danny go and then sign a 35 year old midfielder when we realise we have problems there? Surely it would have been better to keep Danny on as a player/coach. Still if this guy signs will be interesting to see how he goes
Quote from: General on September 07, 2012, 02:00:28 PM
If we're going for a 35 year old I'd prefer Ballack tbh.
I agree
Quote from: hurricane_nz on September 07, 2012, 03:05:35 PM
Why let Danny go and then sign a 35 year old midfielder when we realise we have problems there? Surely it would have been better to keep Danny on as a player/coach. Still if this guy signs will be interesting to see how he goes
Danny left because he was told he would not be guaranteed a starting spot, because of Moose. Hindsight's a bugger. But Jol clearly thought Dembele would stay.
I would prefer is to find a solution with what we have, but as a short term fix, be it him or someone else, I don't see a downside really.
I'm not completely against this as it would make sense in some ways, but i'd much rather see Kasami, Frei, Dejagah or even Minkwitz given a run at CM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgos_Karagounis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgos_Karagounis)
Sky Sports understands Fulham are weighing up a move for Greek international Giorgos Karagounis.
Karagounis is available on a free transfer and therefore able to sign for a club outside the transfer window.
The experienced midfielder is looking for a new club after leaving Panathinaikos earlier this summer.
Fulham boss Martin Jol is keen to bolster his midfield options after seeing key figures Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey leave the club last month.
Jol is short of options in midfield after also allowing Danny Murphy and Dickson Etuhu to leave for Blackburn earlier this summer.
Karagounis has a wealth of experience having won over 100 caps for Greece, helping them win Euro 2004, and counts Inter Milan and Benfica among his former clubs.
A number of clubs are thought to be keen on signing Karagounis, but Fulham are giving serious consideration to offering him a deal at Craven Cottage.
Source: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8059717/ (http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8059717/)
I note some are concerned at Karagounis' age & the fact this appears, at face value to fly in the face of Jol's policy in bringing down the overall age of the Team. Surely these are exceptional circumstances with the sudden departures of Dembele & Dempsey & besides - if GK signs & plays - he can always make way for one of the up & coming guys after 70/80 mins if need be. Think we need to be a tad philosophical here, in all the circumstances.
Karagounis always gives his all on the pitch, and is a very passionate and hard-working. Could be really useful me thinks.
Jol has already said he wanted to keep Murphy but he moved on. Karagounis would be a good signing as would Grygera they may be ageing and yes we have some talented youngsters but you also need some experience and leaders
I'd say it's more likely to be a signing that will get us through until January if anything. I'm sorry, but people who think Kasami is up for the job need their heads checking. We're not in a position where it's a suck it and see situation, we need someone with experience who can come straight in and start pulling the strings.
If Diarra gets injured, what then? Please don't tell me that most of you would be happy Sidwell in the middle on his own. He's an engine I'll give him that but certainly not one of our most creative players!
I'd welcome this if it was a short term fix that's all, but if Mo or Jol don't invest in this position come January with a matter of urgency, I'm seriously going to be humped off.
A cost effective temporary placement with loads of experience at top clubs. Would love to see him here asap if he can do the biz.
Am I right in thinking Karagounis is quite a good playmaker as well? Good short term fix.
Quote from: Jack Fulham on September 07, 2012, 07:04:47 PM
Am I right in thinking Karagounis is quite a good playmaker as well? Good short term fix.
Quite good? Excellent playmaker if you ask me. It's a reason they say he is one of Greece's most significant midfielder.
All this works hard and gives his all stuff, are people refering to internationals? Surely that's the least expected of a player playing for their national team. Or is it that he just look out of breath all the time considering he's ruddy old
Sent from my BlackBerry 9300 using Tapatalk
Quote from: elgreenio on September 07, 2012, 07:38:30 PM
All this works hard and gives his all stuff, are people refering to internationals? Surely that's the least expected of a player playing for their national team. Or is it that he just look out of breath all the time considering he's ruddy old
Sent from my BlackBerry 9300 using Tapatalk
He's the same in his clubs.
It's clearly a stop-gap measure and frankly, why not. I'm assuming it would be a straight one year deal.
Sky reporting no deal or anything struck just we are considering a move...
damage control until January, bring him in imo. :hook:
What are the chances of this move happening, is he likely to want to come to Fulham if other clubs interested?
He can score ...
He can pass....
He never gives up....
He is a REAL fighter ....
What are we waiting for ?????
He was definitely one of the best players in that weak Greece squad at the Euro !!!!!
It was like a different team playing when he was in the fist eleven for Greece
in my opinion we do nothing wrong to commit him 092.gif
Apparently Karagounis passed his medical. Will be announced Monday.
Quote from: ElissonSnygg on September 08, 2012, 12:47:05 PM
Apparently Karagounis passed his medical. Will be announced Monday.
where you get that from?
No compassion for elderly out of work footballers then-only the non depressed-sorry I'll let it drop-apparantly v short term?
the guy is past 30 and got released by a club in the Greek league -- i.e. not quite as strong as this season's SPL. I see no reason for anyone to think that this is a good signing. It seems like something that a club fighting relegation from the Championship might do.
It seems to me that "we want a younger squad" was really Dutch for "we want to get rid of the older players in our squad and replace them with other older players who will have their loyalty to me."
I could be wrong, though. This guy could be a significant upgrade over Danny Murphy. Yeah, right.
Quote from: HatterDon on September 08, 2012, 03:07:18 PM
the guy is past 30 and got released by a club in the Greek league -- i.e. not quite as strong as this season's SPL. I see no reason for anyone to think that this is a good signing. It seems like something that a club fighting relegation from the Championship might do.
It seems to me that "we want a younger squad" was really Dutch for "we want to get rid of the older players in our squad and replace them with other older players who will have their loyalty to me."
I could be wrong, though. This guy could be a significant upgrade over Danny Murphy. Yeah, right.
Clearly you are unaware of this player's ability and his experience plus his role in the recent Euro 2012 competition. I suggest you do some research before you post again on this subject.
Quote from: HatterDon on September 08, 2012, 03:07:18 PM
the guy is past 30 and got released by a club in the Greek league -- i.e. not quite as strong as this season's SPL. I see no reason for anyone to think that this is a good signing. It seems like something that a club fighting relegation from the Championship might do.
It seems to me that "we want a younger squad" was really Dutch for "we want to get rid of the older players in our squad and replace them with other older players who will have their loyalty to me."
I could be wrong, though. This guy could be a significant upgrade over Danny Murphy. Yeah, right.
Diarra was a soon to be 31-year-old who had been out of work for more than 6 months, after being released by a club that were relegated to the French 2nd division, when we signed him.
And he's been just awful, hasn't he?
Probably the team from Manchester recalled Giggs and Scholes to bring down the age of their squad?
Say what you will but we certainly didnt intend on being in such situation. Now we need to get someone for a cover till January or who knows maybe May.
I know people mention Ballack but he'll probably ask for even more than what Berbatov is on p/w and the greek won't be even close to our top earners.
ANd when comparing him to Danny Murphy - yea Karagounis is 12 days older...
HD I responded on a thread last week when you said those brought in were older than those who left and I showed you were incorrect.
Just because you keep saying it does not mean its right.
As I see it, the majority of us would have been happy with Danny for another 12-months. Danny chose to go for a 2-year deal at Blackburn and we may bring in a similar aged and experienced international performer described as "a dogged worker in midfield and a deliverer of fine set plays."
In our current situation its a no brainer to me as a 1-year or 6-month fix
Quote from: HatterDon on September 08, 2012, 03:07:18 PM
the guy is past 30 and got released by a club in the Greek league -- i.e. not quite as strong as this season's SPL.
The Greek League is miles ahead of the SPL. And he decided to leave Panathinaikos.
Quote from: HatterDon on September 08, 2012, 03:07:18 PM
I see no reason for anyone to think that this is a good signing.
He's still got a great stamina, a fantastic right foot and has got 120 caps for Greece. He's a leader and he's got bags of experience, played for Benfica and Inter before.
Clearly no reasons to think that he could possibly be a good signing, eh? fp.gif
Quote from: HatterDon on September 08, 2012, 03:07:18 PM
It seems like something that a club fighting relegation from the Championship might do.
Or a club that could do with a few bodies in central midfield.
Quote from: HatterDon on September 08, 2012, 03:07:18 PM
It seems to me that "we want a younger squad" was really Dutch for "we want to get rid of the older players in our squad and replace them with other older players who will have their loyalty to me."
Kacaniklic, Frei, Kasami and loads of other players waiting to break through. We are indeed replacing older players with older players - and there's a very good reason for that.
Quote from: HatterDon on September 08, 2012, 03:07:18 PM
I could be wrong, though.
Yup.
Quote from: HatterDon on September 08, 2012, 03:07:18 PM
This guy could be a significant upgrade over Danny Murphy. Yeah, right.
Well, you can be sure that Murphy would've stayed had Dembele left before him. So all that Murphy-talk is a non-argument really.
Murphy wanted to be a starter, week in, week out, but Jol refused to guarantee this (and rightly so) because there was Dembele and Diarra as our top midfield pairing. Murphy left and now we are signing Karagounis who won't moan if he has to sit on the bench.
I think Jol would like to have Danny Murphy in the squad now that Dembele has left the football club.
But the argument is pants, to be honest with you Don.
:plus one: Mr Fulham
well, I certainly put the feline amongst the avians, didn't I.
I guess this guy played in a different Greek league than EJ played in. All I heard when he was scoring over there was "my granny could score in that league," and "that league's a joke." Guess it's one of those "slow ticket sales" and "only restricted view tickets left" situations.
I will quibble about one thing and that's the age of our squad. The last I heard the average age of our squad was 28 or 29. So, that would make a guy that's 30 plus older, hence, his addition would in fact make the squad older. If, indeed, Briggs, Stockdale, and Trotta are all to be loaned out, I think you'll find that the average age of our squad will be significantly higher than at any time under Hodgson or Hughes.
Oh, I also stand behind my interpretation of Jol's "we want to make the squad younger."
I haven't caused this much of a ruckus in a long while. I must be losing my grip.
Fact is if we get one or two injuries in the centre, we are pretty screwed. We are only able to sign free transfers. I for one would be very happy with Karagounis, he might be 35 but he's still a good player. If anything it'll tide us over till either January, or next summer to spend big to replace Dembele (which I'm sure Jol tried to do in the limited time he had). Rather have someone old and proven quality than having to rely on inexperience come the important games down the line if we have any injuries.
Karagounis decided to leave the club, rather than him not being good enough. The next season and a half will be when our squad age drops with most likely the likes of Schwarzer, Duff, Davies and Hughes being replaced (probably, anyway).
Quote from: HatterDon on September 08, 2012, 08:04:06 PM
Oh, I also stand behind my interpretation of Jol's "we want to make the squad younger."
You've obviously forgotten Frei and Kacaniklic and all the other young players in and around the first team. Blimey.
I will once again mention my fact. Which I have not checked. BUT against West Ham the starting 11 were the oldest team put out by Fulham in the Prem. So to add a 35 or whatever year old will not help that. I see no argument here. So despite people being excited by a few kids our squad is very very very old. No fault on poor Jol who I think was let down by somebody in the transfer window.
Quote from: Lighthouse on September 08, 2012, 11:46:35 PM
I will once again mention my fact. Which I have not checked. BUT against West Ham the starting 11 were the oldest team put out by Fulham in the Prem. So to add a 35 or whatever year old will not help that. I see no argument here. So despite people being excited by a few kids our squad is very very very old. No fault on poor Jol who I think was let down by somebody in the transfer window.
So what?
I am happy to win the F.A. Cup with with a team of 35 year olds.
You don't get bonus points in the PL for winning when you are the younger team.
Yes, it would be better for continuity to have a better balance of ages but not at the expense of quality and success. We have the 30+ group and a fair group of 18-23 year olds. What we really lack are the 23-29 year olds in their prime.
Quote from: HatterDon on September 08, 2012, 03:07:18 PM
the guy is past 30 and got released by a club in the Greek league -- i.e. not quite as strong as this season's SPL.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_coefficient#Country_coefficient (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_coefficient#Country_coefficient)
Why is there such an obsession with the average age of the squad. Results matter. Average age does not.
Quote from: Lighthouse on September 08, 2012, 11:46:35 PM
I will once again mention my fact. Which I have not checked. BUT against West Ham the starting 11 were the oldest team put out by Fulham in the Prem. So to add a 35 or whatever year old will not help that. I see no argument here. So despite people being excited by a few kids our squad is very very very old. No fault on poor Jol who I think was let down by somebody in the transfer window.
The argument that I want to bring into this discussion is that we've got so many immensely talented youngsters who are knocking at the door of the first team but are not quite there YET. Maybe that's the reason why we are signing players like Petric, Karagounis or Diarra on short-term deals.
But indeed you are right with the fact that Jol fielded Fulham's Oldest Premier League team so far. Average of 30.91 years. But it's just for the gallery that one. Frei, Kacaniklic, Trotta, Kasami, Briggs, and looking further ahead, even the likes of Mesca, Minkwitz, Kavanagh, Ryan Williams, Banya, Burn, Altman and Woodrow do have a very good chance to make the breakthrough within the next couple of years. Why sign expensive best-agers (22-26) now on long-term deals and for heavy fees when the future Fulham team is already there? We won the bloody league with the U18s!
Couldn't and didn't put it better Mr Fulham.
But as we know the youngsters often don't make the step up. So until they do it means little in terms of age. Kaka and Frei have come close so far. We await any other players making the grade despite the promise. A promise is just that until it is realised.
Doesn't help your average age when your goalkeeper is 39 haha.
Quote from: alexbishop on September 09, 2012, 08:45:08 AM
Doesn't help your average age when your goalkeeper is 39 haha.
This too. The figure is massively distorted by that.
I wasn't arguing that we should buy players in their prime (and therefore when they are most expensive) when I said "What we really lack are the 23-29 year olds in their prime".
What is needed is a team with a spread of ages so that you don't lose a large number of mature players at the same time and young players are continually coming through to replace them. We have recently had a bulge of mature players with few players coming into their prime to replace them. Murphy's position is the prime example of that.
The youth policy is now in place so we hope that this replacement problem will no longer be a major issue in a few years time.
Quote from: Lighthouse on September 09, 2012, 08:01:24 AM
But as we know the youngsters often don't make the step up. So until they do it means little in terms of age. Kaka and Frei have come close so far. We await any other players making the grade despite the promise. A promise is just that until it is realised.
A lighthouse-esque answer. Yeah, definitely, but our academy setup has improved massively over the past few years and I'm very sure there are many players who will make the grade during the next couple of years.
I'm completely with Mr F on this one. It may well be too early to throw in the youngsters yet. But we should be confident that some of them will succeed in breaking into the first team squad in due course. Having players like Petric on board with shorter contracts seems very much connected to this strategy.
Quote from: Mr Fulham on September 09, 2012, 12:27:43 PM
Quote from: Lighthouse on September 09, 2012, 08:01:24 AM
But as we know the youngsters often don't make the step up. So until they do it means little in terms of age. Kaka and Frei have come close so far. We await any other players making the grade despite the promise. A promise is just that until it is realised.
A lighthouse-esque answer. Yeah, definitely, but our academy setup has improved massively over the past few years and I'm very sure there are many players who will make the grade during the next couple of years.
Just to add to this, our under 16's are immensely talented. I can say now that Emmo Hyndman, Dembele, Woodrow and a few others from the Under 21 will be Premier League class, especially Hyndman. Stupidly talented for a 16 year old.
Average can be changed in a transfer window if the club wanted too. It's really not an issue.
Quote from: Jack Fulham on September 09, 2012, 01:38:31 AM
Why is there such an obsession with the average age of the squad. Results matter. Average age does not.
Not obsessed by it, my friend. Just remembering that the idea of getting rid of Zamora, Johnson, and Murphy was so "the squad could be younger." Signing guys older than those three and sending your young players off on loan doesn't make your squad younger. I just believe that Jol did not want veteran players who had played for Hodgson to remain in the club. Hangeland's on his way next and then who knows who?
If that's your aim, then that's fine, but the "we must get younger" stuff is a joke if the replacements are the same age and older.
Quote from: HatterDon on September 09, 2012, 03:47:04 PM
Quote from: Jack Fulham on September 09, 2012, 01:38:31 AM
Why is there such an obsession with the average age of the squad. Results matter. Average age does not.
Not obsessed by it, my friend. Just remembering that the idea of getting rid of Zamora, Johnson, and Murphy was so "the squad could be younger." Signing guys older than those three and sending your young players off on loan doesn't make your squad younger. I just believe that Jol did not want veteran players who had played for Hodgson to remain in the club. Hangeland's on his way next and then who knows who?
If that's your aim, then that's fine, but the "we must get younger" stuff is a joke if the replacements are the same age and older.
Johnson and Murphy were offered contract extensions and I don't think Jol wanted to lose Zamora so it was hardly a case of "getting rid of".
Sending young players out on loan is designed to accelerate their move into the first team by giving them competitive experience rather than having them restricted to practice matches.
The idea that "Jol did not want veteran players who had played for Hodgson to remain in the club" is odd. Yes, some have moved on but there has hardly been a clear out initiated by Jol.
And this Hangeland situation is just speculation at this stage.
Quote from: HatterDon on September 09, 2012, 03:47:04 PM
Quote from: Jack Fulham on September 09, 2012, 01:38:31 AM
Why is there such an obsession with the average age of the squad. Results matter. Average age does not.
Not obsessed by it, my friend. Just remembering that the idea of getting rid of Zamora, Johnson, and Murphy was so "the squad could be younger." Signing guys older than those three and sending your young players off on loan doesn't make your squad younger. I just believe that Jol did not want veteran players who had played for Hodgson to remain in the club. Hangeland's on his way next and then who knows who?
If that's your aim, then that's fine, but the "we must get younger" stuff is a joke if the replacements are the same age and older.
We replaced Johnson with Petric. Same age, Petric the better player.
Murphy wanted regular pitch time (not guaranteed with Dembele and Diarra) and a two-year contract. With the benefit of hindsight it's easy to say 'Poor management that we didn't keep hold of Murphy' but Jol apparently had clear signals that Dembele wanted to stay for another (half) year. So Jol let him go - reluctantly.
And Zamora wanted a fresh challenge and didn't see eye to eye with Jol. We replaced him with Pogrebnyak (short term) and Berbatov (same age and arguably the superior player)
We added Rodallega and lost Orlando Sa - Rodallega is three years older than Sa - but again, he's the better player.
Quote from: Mr Fulham on September 09, 2012, 07:04:56 PM
Quote from: HatterDon on September 09, 2012, 03:47:04 PM
Quote from: Jack Fulham on September 09, 2012, 01:38:31 AM
Why is there such an obsession with the average age of the squad. Results matter. Average age does not.
Not obsessed by it, my friend. Just remembering that the idea of getting rid of Zamora, Johnson, and Murphy was so "the squad could be younger." Signing guys older than those three and sending your young players off on loan doesn't make your squad younger. I just believe that Jol did not want veteran players who had played for Hodgson to remain in the club. Hangeland's on his way next and then who knows who?
If that's your aim, then that's fine, but the "we must get younger" stuff is a joke if the replacements are the same age and older.
We replaced Johnson with Petric. Same age, Petric the better player.
Murphy wanted regular pitch time (not guaranteed with Dembele and Diarra) and a two-year contract. With the benefit of hindsight it's easy to say 'Poor management that we didn't keep hold of Murphy' but Jol apparently had clear signals that Dembele wanted to stay for another (half) year. So Jol let him go - reluctantly.
And Zamora wanted a fresh challenge and didn't see eye to eye with Jol. We replaced him with Pogrebnyak (short term) and Berbatov (same age and arguably the superior player)
We added Rodallega and lost Orlando Sa - Rodallega is three years older than Sa - but again, he's the better player.
I haven't talked at all about anything you've just said. Who is better than whom is a good discussion. Whether someone had to go or should go is another good discussion.
MY comment was about making the squad older instead of making the squad younger. Unless you can convince me that last week's starting XI was actually quite young, and that signing a 35-year-old Greek midfielder while loaning out Briggs, Stockdale, and Trotta will make the squad younger, then there's no real need to respond to this post any more.
Now there will be plenty of chances to talk about Rodallega's value to the squad, but this isn't the conversation that I thought I was starting.
Quote from: HatterDon on September 09, 2012, 08:26:15 PM
I haven't talked at all about anything you've just said. Who is better than whom is a good discussion. Whether someone had to go or should go is another good discussion.
You were going on about why we sold these players if I remember correctly. I say they left because we had very good reasons for that. And we have made the squad even better - we have replaced Johnson with a better player, Zamora with a better player, have added another quality forward for free and have at the very least a 15m kitty for a quality CM in January
Your view is incredibly short-sighted Don. You say "why are we signing old players" (not older players by the way, Petric/Berbatov are almost exactly AS OLD AS Johnson/Zamora) - we are signing old players on short-term deals because we have faith in our youth setup and we are not prepared to spend fees/big wages on 'best agers'.
We are making the squad younger. There's absolutely no doubt about that. But you should look at it in the long term. You don't do that at the moment, and this is a bit weird actually.
There are at least 10 players in the Academy who do have a very good chance to make it. YES, they may not make it but if the club is confident then SO AM I.
Karagounis is a short-term option, I frankly don't know why so many people are moaning about the average age of the squad.
Kasami, Trotta, Stockdale need a loan because they are not there just yet. They will be. Up until then we've got the old guard.
And OBVIOUSLY is the value of players like Rodallega of importance for this discussion.
our first team was old. but wasnt our bench remarkably young? and that is the first team of the next 2/3 seasons
Quote from: Mr Fulham on September 09, 2012, 09:02:38 PMKaragounis is a short-term option, I frankly don't know why so many people are moaning about the average age of the squad.
My concern is less about the age of the squad for the short-term and more about the fact that Karagounis has no experience in the Prem and why if he is such a good option did no team sign him before the window closed. He may come in and be fantastic or he may come in and need time to adapt to the league. If it is the latter and he needs time to adapt then this could be a worthless signing. Since what Fulham needs is a creative body in CM I will certainly hope for the best if he signs but I could easily see this being a bust for a lot of reasons.
Quote from: BarryP on September 10, 2012, 05:59:51 AM
Quote from: Mr Fulham on September 09, 2012, 09:02:38 PMKaragounis is a short-term option, I frankly don't know why so many people are moaning about the average age of the squad.
My concern is less about the age of the squad for the short-term and more about the fact that Karagounis has no experience in the Prem and why if he is such a good option did no team sign him before the window closed. He may come in and be fantastic or he may come in and need time to adapt to the league. If it is the latter and he needs time to adapt then this could be a worthless signing. Since what Fulham needs is a creative body in CM I will certainly hope for the best if he signs but I could easily see this being a bust for a lot of reasons.
You could say the same about Diarra could you not?
Quote from: 1879 on September 10, 2012, 10:08:21 AM
Quote from: BarryP on September 10, 2012, 05:59:51 AM
Quote from: Mr Fulham on September 09, 2012, 09:02:38 PMKaragounis is a short-term option, I frankly don't know why so many people are moaning about the average age of the squad.
My concern is less about the age of the squad for the short-term and more about the fact that Karagounis has no experience in the Prem and why if he is such a good option did no team sign him before the window closed. He may come in and be fantastic or he may come in and need time to adapt to the league. If it is the latter and he needs time to adapt then this could be a worthless signing. Since what Fulham needs is a creative body in CM I will certainly hope for the best if he signs but I could easily see this being a bust for a lot of reasons.
You could say the same about Diarra could you not?
Not really. When Diarra was signed, we had much more depth in midfield. I felt he was a luxury signing at the time - if he works out it's fantastic, if he doesn't it's not that big of a deal. While I'm not down on the Karagounis signing at all, there's a greater need for him to come good IMHO.
Have we signed him? if not are any nearer signing him?
I asked a Greek friend about Karagounis. He gave the following reply:
"Be prepared for plenty of photos showing his famous grimaces and theatrics. He will spice up your football fan life.
Also, be prepared for something unusual in english football: A player who spends more time on his ass than on his feet on the pitch. He must be the top fouls-for winner worldwide and destroys both his team's or the enemy's pace in the game.
That is on the other hand a good thing when you play against superior sides. Which is the usual case for Fulham in the premier league or for Greece in every tournament. And it works.
I am surprised they want to sign him at the age of 35, but he has a strong make (looks like a hobbit) and has generally been healthy. So he might give some quality 30 mins as a sub.
...oh and I forgot to add that it should be a priviledge for Fulham to have a EURO CHAMPION in its ranks.
Unless if they (can afford to) sign some spaniard..."
Quote from: epsomraver on September 10, 2012, 01:23:50 PM
Have we signed him? if not are any nearer signing him?
[/quote )
Well have we????????????
