An intriguing line from Germany where kicker-Sportmagazin claims Schalke have been offered Fulham defender Sascha Riether. The right-back spent last season on loan at Fulham before Cologne confirmed last month that he had moved to Craven Cottage on a permanent basis. The report claims Schalke are keen to sign Riether as competition for Japan international Atsuto Uchida.
From Sky sports. (Sh*t stirring, or something in it ?) 090.gif
Also I just read this................crystal palace set move for kieran richardson.
From Fulham rumours.
Offered is a heck of a different word than Schalke have inquired...
Quote from: andersons11 on June 18, 2013, 10:50:43 AM
Offered is a heck of a different word than Schalke have inquired...
True...
Whatever the truth or otherwise of this the real problem is we don't have any cover at right back. So we would need a replacement pretty smartish. Let's hope it comes to nothing.
Firslty the magazine "claims" Schalke to have been offered, that doesn't mean they have been offered him by Fulham, I note they dont state their source of the information either. Secondly could his agent be thinking he could get a better deal now he has had a great season at fulham? remember no one else could buy him before we either took up the option or gave up the option as we had first refusal.
Agents are always trying to find deals for players that doesn't mean Fulham have offered him to anyone. Personally I reckon this is an agents doing.
This seems like the most ridiculous rumour. We have JUST signed him. He was arguably player of the season. He was a bargain. We don't have cover in the position. I wouldn't want to sell him for anything less than 3 times what we payed. We need him.
white room so you would take 3.6 million 9rumoured fee was 1.2 million i believe), if we were to sell i would be looking for double that amount
Quote from: Whiteroom on June 18, 2013, 11:04:50 AM
This seems like the most ridiculous rumour. We have JUST signed him. He was arguably player of the season. He was a bargain. We don't have cover in the position. I wouldn't want to sell him for anything less than 3 times what we payed. We need him.
My thoughts exactly.
Quote from: westcliff white on June 18, 2013, 11:06:44 AM
white room so you would take 3.6 million 9rumoured fee was 1.2 million i believe), if we were to sell i would be looking for double that amount
I thought we payed 2 mil. I would be unhappy with less that 6 for him.
Quote from: Whiteroom on June 18, 2013, 11:21:59 AM
Quote from: westcliff white on June 18, 2013, 11:06:44 AM
white room so you would take 3.6 million 9rumoured fee was 1.2 million i believe), if we were to sell i would be looking for double that amount
I thought we payed 2 mil. I would be unhappy with less that 6 for him.
And, as I said in the other thread about this, why would Riether want to go to be an understudy?
This is nothing but paper talk, he has signed here he will stay here, Corr the press get bored in the summer
Quote from: Apprentice to the Maestro on June 18, 2013, 11:27:37 AM
Quote from: Whiteroom on June 18, 2013, 11:21:59 AM
Quote from: westcliff white on June 18, 2013, 11:06:44 AM
white room so you would take 3.6 million 9rumoured fee was 1.2 million i believe), if we were to sell i would be looking for double that amount
I thought we payed 2 mil. I would be unhappy with less that 6 for him.
And, as I said in the other thread about this, why would Riether want to go to be an understudy?
- Champions League football
- More money
- Playing in his home country
- Higher chance of getting selected for the World Cup squad (albeit as an understudy to Lahm/Boateng)
I don't think he'll leave, but it's a bit silly to brush this aside so easily. Kicker tend to be a reliable source.
Quote from: JackyFulham90 on June 18, 2013, 11:28:24 AM
This is nothing but paper talk, he has signed here he will stay here, Corr the press get bored in the summer
I suppose they could do some analysis of a club's strengths and weaknesses, look at the market and make some recommendations of possible targets. But that would require sitting down and thinking, a detailed knowledge of the game and being up-to-date with a wide range of players including lower division and overseas.
But hey! Why do that when you can just latch on to a wacky rumour on twitter, polish it up with a few nice phrases and press send. Then work doesn't impinge too much on your drinking time.
Quote from: EJL on June 18, 2013, 11:36:36 AM
Quote from: Apprentice to the Maestro on June 18, 2013, 11:27:37 AM
Quote from: Whiteroom on June 18, 2013, 11:21:59 AM
Quote from: westcliff white on June 18, 2013, 11:06:44 AM
white room so you would take 3.6 million 9rumoured fee was 1.2 million i believe), if we were to sell i would be looking for double that amount
I thought we payed 2 mil. I would be unhappy with less that 6 for him.
And, as I said in the other thread about this, why would Riether want to go to be an understudy?
- Champions League football
- More money
- Playing in his home country
- Higher chance of getting selected for the World Cup squad (albeit as an understudy to Lahm/Boateng)
I don't think he'll leave, but it's a bit silly to brush this aside so easily. Kicker tend to be a reliable source.
All true. I really don't know anything about German football so cannot judge for myself. I was just going on the articles. The other one said `understudy'. This at least says `competition'.
Is it just me but surely this has to be total bollox?. We've just signed him, he was our best player last season and he was on loan from a German second division club. Surely if Schalke wanted him they would have sounded him out before he put pen to paper with us?. Wouldn't take less than 3-4 million for him, are they going to splash the cash for a 30 year old back up player?.
white room apologies it was 2 million but 2 million euros so around 1.7 million pounds i guess
Quote from: westcliff white on June 18, 2013, 12:18:55 PM
white room apologies it was 2 million but 2 million euros so around 1.7 million pounds i guess
:54: And what a 1.7!
Richardson to Palace is good news though
Have we actually signed him though? I don't recall seeing anything official on the club website?
Quote from: St Eve on June 18, 2013, 12:59:18 PM
Richardson to Palace is good news though
Yes that would be good if them Money we get will go to a replacement.
Quote from: Jamie88 on June 18, 2013, 01:09:28 PM
Have we actually signed him though? I don't recall seeing anything official on the club website?
http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/july/06/fulham-sign-riether (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/july/06/fulham-sign-riether)
He is worth more than just money to us. His partnership with Dejadah is vital to us. They could be our best right side flank pairing since Cohen & Key.
Palace are welcome to steal Richardson. In fact I will leave the back door open for them to come in and help themselves.
Quote from: the nutflush on June 18, 2013, 01:27:58 PM
Palace are welcome to steal Richardson. In fact I will leave the back door open for them to come in and help themselves.
Would that be the back door to the physio room?
Quote from: sussexwhite on June 18, 2013, 10:47:10 AM
An intriguing line from Germany where kicker-Sportmagazin claims Schalke have been offered Fulham defender Sascha Riether. The right-back spent last season on loan at Fulham before Cologne confirmed last month that he had moved to Craven Cottage on a permanent basis. The report claims Schalke are keen to sign Riether as competition for Japan international Atsuto Uchida.
First team player at Fulham or bench-boy for Schalke?
Living in London or living in Gelsenkirchen?
It must be a hard decision? 064.gif
"In fact I will leave the back door open for them to come in and help themselves."
i bet you say that to all away fans. fp.gif
BEST PLAYER LAST SEASON !!!
Any moron would believe this story. We've just signed him permenantly we aren't going to let him go now.
Quote from: Jamie88 on June 18, 2013, 01:09:28 PM
Have we actually signed him though? I don't recall seeing anything official on the club website?
http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/july/06/fulham-sign-riether (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/july/06/fulham-sign-riether)
[/quote]
Thats last seasons news item when we signed him on loan!
Sasha means more to me than just money. I have him as my computer wallpaper at work, but this could have a bad influence on things as i had Dempsey and Murph as wallpaper last summer, and that didn't turn out well last year. I will change my wall paper first thing tomorrow so as not to cast bad ju-ju on transfer preceedings
This rumour is crazy Riether will be here next season I am very sure of that as will Berbatov as will Richardson
All over Twitter, by actual journalists that we're already in talks with Schalke.
What a ridiculous decision if it is true, whats the point in selling probably the best RB in the league for a quick 2 million or so profit
We'll end up with Danny Simpson or Andre Wisdom there on loan, or even worse Manolev as our first choice.
After such a promising start to the transfer window with Amorebieta and co signing, this has taken all that away. Some of you are gonna say what good business it is to make the money so quickly, but in 12 months will you be saying that if we get relegated.
He was a consistent performer at the highest level and his partnership with Dejagah looked terrific.
Terrible decision by Jol, Mackintosh, the board, whoever. Massive step backwards.
This just doesn't seem plausible. We seem to have done some very good business so far and this would just be utterly, utterly insane..
No, it can't be..
It's absolute rubbish. We won't be selling a player we've just signed on a permanent contract for 2 million.
"It's all over Twitter" - that's the clue to stop reading.
bloody nonsense if true. lynchpin for progression and a sell on makes no #$%&@( sense.
COYW
There is no reason to sell him, not unless we've got a top quality replacement coming in. We paid what, 1.3 million to make his move permanent and to sell him for 2 million is absolutely ludicrous. The club would need their heads checked just to make a 700K profit on last seasons player of the year.
Twitter is actually quite good to get information off, if you know who to follow.
I have faith in the decisions that are being made by the club. I wouldn't think, straight after signing him permanently, that he would be sold for pocket change unless there was a replacement and competition for places as well.
Quote from: PaulJ123 on June 19, 2013, 12:25:02 AM
Twitter is actually quite good to get information off, if you know who to follow.
So who exactly are the journalists saying this?
http://www.derwesten.de/sport/fussball/s04/bei-goretzkas-wechsel-nach-schalke-stehen-zeichen-auf-klage-id8086272.html (http://www.derwesten.de/sport/fussball/s04/bei-goretzkas-wechsel-nach-schalke-stehen-zeichen-auf-klage-id8086272.html)
via a twitter link
Article claims Riether just signed 2-year contract at Fulham and we paid 1.4million EURO for him. Also continues in the same paragraph that if we (Fulham) put the asking price too high, there won't be any deal.
I doubt after filling some holes in the squad and with many still to fill, that we're going to sell our best right back for the last 10 years just so that we can get some money and as a result try someone else that might not really work out too well. Would be an extremely terrible decision and the worst made by the club in recent history.
just a lot of re-tweets and even the articles that suggest it say valuations are far apart and it is a long shot. What a waste of time.
Don't believe everything you hear on twitter, it really is thr silly season
I read the words "soll" ("can") and "Möglich" (possible). He is also seen as an 'alternative' to another player (already with the club). No, Germans have a lot of fantasy!
I'm going to copy what I said in the similar post yesterday, I'm pretty sure there has been no official news item from Fulham that has confirmed Riether has actually signed for us on a permanent basis yet.
Just ask Sascha himself and see what he says https://twitter.com/saschariether
Just saying, nothing official from club...
Why dont the club tell us we (who are actually the club as such) are like all other clubs keep fans in the dark
and of course rumours are abound.But having been a supporter and season ticket holder for more than
55 years its what I've come to expect.Throughout time we've sold our best players.Get used to it , it will
continue through time
Riether soll eine Alternative zu Uchida sein
Weil der 30-Jährige bei dem Londoner Klub zum Leistungsträger avancierte und von den Fans sogar zum ,,Spieler der Saison" gewählt wurde, zog Fulham für 1,4 Millionen Euro die Kaufoption und stattete Riether mit einem Zwei-Jahres-Vertrag aus. Dennoch scheint ein Wechsel möglich, wobei die Engländer bisher eine Summe aufrufen, bei der Heldt erst einmal droht: ,,Wenn die Forderung zu hoch ist, kommt das nicht zustande."
"Riether should be an alternative to Uchida" It's just someone's wishlist - like we sometimes speculate about players who aren't available or for whom the price is too high. "If a transfer were possible whereby Fulham gave a price then if the price is too high the situation doesn't arise" (loose translation).
And why would we want to sell him?
Pretty obvious really, clearly Germany has a silly season as well!
Why would he want to leave after saying how well he has settled in Lomdon, he loves the club, getting first team football to go and sit on the bench as cover!
As a few people have said it is just a wish list and the press stirring thinks up!
I've had this argument with a good chap on twitter regarding this transfer who claimed that ALL german press do huge research before posting 'facts' and that they are rarely wrong. People on twitter find a small caption like this and run away with it trying to foresee events and get lost in there own fabricated story. Yes, they have shown interest, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of teams did but unless we get a ridiculous offer that we can't possibly turn down, or if he has some serious personal issues with playing the england, I can't see anything happening. If it does and we get very good profit, I can understand it but unless the margin is is significant, I don't see what FFC or Reither get from this deal.
"Riether should be an alternative to Uchida". So, if they don't get Uchida, then someone thinks they should enquire about Riether.
Nothing unfactual about that but it's a very long way from "Riether's off".
Yes, it's disgraceful the way we are kept in the dark.
The club should, every day at 00.01, issue a list headed:"The following players are expected to still be with the club tomorrow morning."
Also a further list headed: "We are interested in signing the following players and are prepared to pay the sum indicated for each."
And another one headed:"We think the following players are a waste of space and are prepared to accept any money just to get shot of them".
That's what PR is all about.
Quote from: cmg on June 19, 2013, 09:03:05 AM
Yes, it's disgraceful the way we are kept in the dark.
The club should, every day at 00.01, issue a list headed:"The following players are expected to still be with the club tomorrow morning."
Also a further list headed: "We are interested in signing the following players and are prepared to pay the sum indicated for each."
And another one headed:"We think the following players are a waste of space and are prepared to accept any money just to get shot of them".
That's what PR is all about.
You should apply.
Quote from: FFC1987 on June 19, 2013, 09:13:52 AM
Quote from: cmg on June 19, 2013, 09:03:05 AM
Yes, it's disgraceful the way we are kept in the dark.
The club should, every day at 00.01, issue a list headed:"The following players are expected to still be with the club tomorrow morning."
Also a further list headed: "We are interested in signing the following players and are prepared to pay the sum indicated for each."
And another one headed:"We think the following players are a waste of space and are prepared to accept any money just to get shot of them".
That's what PR is all about.
You should apply.
I once thought I had a promising career in this area. Unfortunately I was found to be allergic to bullsh*t.
Quote from: Admin on June 19, 2013, 12:12:49 AM
It's absolute rubbish. We won't be selling a player we've just signed on a permanent contract for 2 million.
Exactly. We're not
that type of club. This such a non-story that I don't understand why there is so much outrage. It's clearly rubbish.
And now it starts again.
We have few weeks of positive news and now we are reverting to type. Lets see how we can be negative about our team. I suppose it can only get worse.
Quote from: Jamie88 on June 19, 2013, 07:13:56 AM
I'm going to copy what I said in the similar post yesterday, I'm pretty sure there has been no official news item from Fulham that has confirmed Riether has actually signed for us on a permanent basis yet.
Jamie has a point. He hasn't officially become a Fulham player. That leads me to believe that any club can still go for him. It might be that he has already signed, but under PL rules, he won't be unveiled until 1st July. So in theory, anyone can say anything about any club for him until we are 100% certain that his wages are payed by Fulham.
By the way the club HAS informed us that we have Sascha in our ranks. Jol said it in countless interviews and I am pretty sure the site ran a story about it, so shut it with this nonsense please.
Quote from: Peabody on June 19, 2013, 10:02:48 AM
And now it starts again.
We have few weeks of positive news and now we are reverting to type. Lets see how we can be negative about our team. I suppose it can only get worse.
Basically right. The few who were unhappy that everyone was so happy with the club have come crawling back out due to some maybe maybe rumour that has very little basis and probably won't happen.
Quote from: Holders on June 19, 2013, 08:26:54 AM
"Riether should be an alternative to Uchida". So, if they don't get Uchida, then someone thinks they should enquire about Riether.
Nothing unfactual about that but it's a very long way from "Riether's off".
They already have Uchida. He has been there since 2010.
Quote from: BenjyUK on June 19, 2013, 10:55:40 AM
Quote from: Peabody on June 19, 2013, 10:02:48 AM
And now it starts again.
We have few weeks of positive news and now we are reverting to type. Lets see how we can be negative about our team. I suppose it can only get worse.
Basically right. The few who were unhappy that everyone was so happy with the club have come crawling back out due to some maybe maybe rumour that has very little basis and probably won't happen.
I'd hardly call direct quotes from Schalke's director of football a rumour with "very little basis".
Quote from: Jamie88 on June 18, 2013, 10:09:48 PM
Quote from: Jamie88 on June 18, 2013, 01:09:28 PM
Have we actually signed him though? I don't recall seeing anything official on the club website?
http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/july/06/fulham-sign-riether (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/july/06/fulham-sign-riether)
Thats last seasons news item when we signed him on loan!
[/quote]
Whoops, that's no good, totally missed that. Looked Again and can not find it either... Though I am pretty sure that it have been announced on the site at some point.
I can't find anything on the official site about him signing a permanent deal. I'm sure there was something on there. Maybe it was removed? Maybe I'm going mad? Maybe Silly Season is going to plunge me into depression?
Sascha could at least post something on twitter. I know it doesn't mean that much (see Hazard's flirting last summer), but it would at least put me at ease a bit.
it would take a ridicolous bid for a player of his age for someone to take him off us this summer. It's a non story.
Sacha posted on twitter that he'd signed, Jol said he'd signed in multiple interviews. I'm guessing because the process was so drawn out and was basically going to happen from about January time it never got it's full story on the website.
Quote from: Apprentice to the Maestro on June 19, 2013, 10:57:14 AM
Quote from: Holders on June 19, 2013, 08:26:54 AM
"Riether should be an alternative to Uchida". So, if they don't get Uchida, then someone thinks they should enquire about Riether.
Nothing unfactual about that but it's a very long way from "Riether's off".
They already have Uchida. He has been there since 2010.
Ok, I didn't know that and mis-read it. But is still doesn't sound as if he'd be guaranteed first-team football, just a back-up or to provide competition. Besides it's just speculation, like so much at this time of year.
This is the mangled Google translation of the relevant bit of Ridgerider's link http://www.derwesten.de/sport/fussball/s04/bei-goretzkas-wechsel-zu-schalke-stehen-zeichen-auf-klage-id8086272.html (http://www.derwesten.de/sport/fussball/s04/bei-goretzkas-wechsel-zu-schalke-stehen-zeichen-auf-klage-id8086272.html).
It seems to say:
- we have signed Riether on a two year contract
- Schalke would be interested in Riether as backup to Uchida if he was cheap enough.
I take the latter in a similar way to my interest in Messi as backup to Rodallega if he is cheap enough.
"And top candidate for the position of right-back is the two-time A-National player Sascha Riether and the volume in the past season 1 FC Köln was on loan to the English Premier League club Fulham.
Riether to be an alternative to Uchida
Because the 30-year-old at the London club became a top performer and was voted by fans as "Player of the Season ', Fulham drew the option to purchase 1.4 million euros and paid Riether from a two-year contract. Nevertheless, a change seems possible, with the English call a sum far in the Heldt threatened only once: "If the demand is too high, will not materialize."
Riether where Schalke two years ago was interested ever to be an alternative to the fluctuating in its services to Atsuto Uchida, on the right side of defense. Heldt also simultaneously praises the attitude of the ex-Cologne artist and explained. "We want to make in the future at our new items more on the mentality to not return something to experience as Ibi Afellay" The had in the last season, after he had been injured, just do not let look at Schalke.".
Quote from: Holders on June 19, 2013, 11:43:04 AM
Quote from: Apprentice to the Maestro on June 19, 2013, 10:57:14 AM
Quote from: Holders on June 19, 2013, 08:26:54 AM
"Riether should be an alternative to Uchida". So, if they don't get Uchida, then someone thinks they should enquire about Riether.
Nothing unfactual about that but it's a very long way from "Riether's off".
They already have Uchida. He has been there since 2010.
Ok, I didn't know that and mis-read it. But is still doesn't sound as if he'd be guaranteed first-team football, just a back-up or to provide competition. Besides it's just speculation, like so much at this time of year.
The use of `alternative' just shows the problems of automatic translations such as with Google. It's a very hard technical problem.
Quote from: Apprentice to the Maestro on June 19, 2013, 12:10:10 PM
The use of `alternative' just shows the problems of automatic translations such as with Google. It's a very hard technical problem.
Problems of automatic translation? You ever bothered to check a german dictionary if the word "Alternative" had any other meanings? :P
Quote from: SKSW6 on June 19, 2013, 11:17:00 AM
Quote from: BenjyUK on June 19, 2013, 10:55:40 AM
Quote from: Peabody on June 19, 2013, 10:02:48 AM
And now it starts again.
We have few weeks of positive news and now we are reverting to type. Lets see how we can be negative about our team. I suppose it can only get worse.
Basically right. The few who were unhappy that everyone was so happy with the club have come crawling back out due to some maybe maybe rumour that has very little basis and probably won't happen.
I'd hardly call direct quotes from Schalke's director of football a rumour with "very little basis".
They're interested. Of course they are. That doesn't mean we've offered him or he's going.
Quote from: Apprentice to the Maestro on June 19, 2013, 12:10:10 PM
Quote from: Holders on June 19, 2013, 11:43:04 AM
Quote from: Apprentice to the Maestro on June 19, 2013, 10:57:14 AM
Quote from: Holders on June 19, 2013, 08:26:54 AM
"Riether should be an alternative to Uchida". So, if they don't get Uchida, then someone thinks they should enquire about Riether.
Nothing unfactual about that but it's a very long way from "Riether's off".
They already have Uchida. He has been there since 2010.
Ok, I didn't know that and mis-read it. But is still doesn't sound as if he'd be guaranteed first-team football, just a back-up or to provide competition. Besides it's just speculation, like so much at this time of year.
The use of `alternative' just shows the problems of automatic translations such as with Google. It's a very hard technical problem.
I certainly don't use google, I do the translation myself. I did misunderstand about Uchida though, I read it that they were after him, not that they'd got him. easy if you're not familiar with the intricacies of Schalke's teamsheet.
As I say, if you read what's said, google or not, it's flying a kite.
Quote from: ffcbulgaria on June 19, 2013, 12:39:54 PM
Quote from: Apprentice to the Maestro on June 19, 2013, 12:10:10 PM
The use of `alternative' just shows the problems of automatic translations such as with Google. It's a very hard technical problem.
Problems of automatic translation? You ever bothered to check a german dictionary if the word "Alternative" had any other meanings? :P
I put up the Google translation because that seemed to be the source of the rumours. It uses `alternative'.
I do not think that a native speaker familiar with football would use `alternative' in this context.
They might say "We could buy player X. Player Y would be an alternative" but they would probably say "Riether would be cover/back up for Uchida", not `alternative' in that context. That's the technical difficulty. Dictionary lookup doesn't work. Some words are preferred in some contexts.
Alternatively I suppose it could also mean someone to challenge Uchida for the position of right back. Again it would require someone who is fluent (not me, I have trouble ordering a beer) to clarify that. But the stuff about only being interested if he is cheap doesn't seem to fit with that.
im sure he'd much prefer a 1st team spot rather than on the bench to uchida
This is all media hype, Riether wont be going anywhere when we have only just signed him. Dint get caught up in the whirlwind of media speculation at this time of the season!
So far in this window we have had wild rumours about Ruiz and Berbatov leaving and now Reither, its going to be a long hard summer. Problem with us is that however stupid the rumour is there is always a chance that it could happen, particularly late in August , and that the club will again be caught with their trouser down as they were with the Dembele transfer last season.
Quote from: filham on June 19, 2013, 07:00:51 PM
So far in this window we have had wild rumours about Ruiz and Berbatov leaving and now Reither, its going to be a long hard summer. Problem with us is that however stupid the rumour is there is always a chance that it could happen, particularly late in August , and that the club will again be caught with their trouser down as they were with the Dembele transfer last season.
Plus we do seem to have rather a large number of supporters who get some sort of kick out of believing every bad news rumour that hits the internet, however unlikely it may be, and they appear to revel in the odd correct forecast, smugly telling us they knew Dempsey/Dembele/Saha/Conway/Earle was going to go long before us mere mortals, and ignoring their more common failures such as Brede to Arsenal. I admit I laugh like a drain (not a pleasant sound, I assure you) whenever one of them posts something like "Please tell me the rumours of Myfavouriteplayer going to Myworstenemies FC isn't true, when half the time their post is the first inkling the rest of us have had of this latest piece of nonsense.
Ah, the silly season, if it did not exist we would all operate under the mistaken impression that all of our fans are rational human beings.
Quote from: Apprentice to the Maestro on June 19, 2013, 12:06:28 PM
This is the mangled Google translation of the relevant bit of Ridgerider's link http://www.derwesten.de/sport/fussball/s04/bei-goretzkas-wechsel-zu-schalke-stehen-zeichen-auf-klage-id8086272.html (http://www.derwesten.de/sport/fussball/s04/bei-goretzkas-wechsel-zu-schalke-stehen-zeichen-auf-klage-id8086272.html).
Because the 30-year-old at the London club became a top performer and was voted by fans as "Player of the Season ', Fulham drew the option to purchase 1.4 million euros and paid Riether from a two-year contract. "
If you believe this article, then just bear in mind that Berbatov was voted Player of the Season by the fans, not Sascha. If the geniuses at WAZ can't even get that right, what else did they screw up?
By the way, WAZ is a regional newspaper with all the "qualities" normally associated in the UK with the Daily Mail!
I am quietly confident that our best players are either not good enough or to old to attract too much attention from any club big enough to be of concern.
Unless it is for personal reasons or a ridiculous bid from Joe Kinnear then I don't see anybody leaving us that we don't want to leave.