Taarabt, Jol reunited with Fulham loan
Moroccan playmaker Adel Taarabt has joined Fulham on a season-long loan from west London rivals Queens Park Rangers, the Premier League club announced today.
The move sees Taarabt reunited with Fulham coach Martin Jol, who brought him to England from French club Lens in 2007 during the Dutchman's time as Tottenham Hotspur manager. Taarabt, 24, was relegated from the Premier League with QPR last season, but he did not rule out the prospect of returning to Loftus Road when his loan deal expires.
"This was a difficult decision for me but at this stage of my career I feel I need to be playing at the top level," he said. "I hope the fans understand my decision and I really hope to return to Loftus Road one day. I wish QPR well for the season and hope they achieve promotion back to where I believe the club belongs."
Speaking ahead of Taarabt's arrival being confirmed, Jol said he was looking forward to working with the Moroccan again. "I like his creativity. Sometimes it comes off when he scores a lot of goals and I think he was involved in 40 goals (during QPR's 2010/11 Championship promotion season)," he said on Monday.
"It is like (Fulham striker) Dimitar Berbatov - sometimes these fantastic talents will be blamed, but I hope to find a way to gel him in together with the boys we've got. I think he can do a hell of a job for us because he is a tremendous player on the ball."
Taarabt has made over 150 appearances for QPR and captained the side that secured promotion to the Premier League from the Championship in 2011.
The Morocco international is Jol's sixth summer signing after permanent moves for goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, defenders Sascha Riether and Fernando Amorebieta, midfielder Derek Boateng, and young forward Ange-Freddy Plumain.
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=2149464.html?cid=rssfeed&att= (http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=2149464.html?cid=rssfeed&att=)
"Taarabt's Too Good For You"
by barryhaylesgoalmachine
With Jol confirming that Adel Taarabt is imminent and the completion of his medical this afternoon, I wanted to give a few thoughts on the matter and try and get an understanding of the benefits....
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There is no doubt that Taarabt is a talented player even if perhaps he is yet to show it consistently week in week out. Last season his best performance seemed to have been reserved for our visit to Loftus Road but despite an impressive year in the Championship in 2011 he has not exactly set the Premiership alight.
In 2011/12 he managed just 2 goals and 3 assists. Last term he scored 5 goals and created 4 which compared to our own Bryan Ruiz, who by all accounts was judged to have had a poor season but still scored 5 and contributed 7 assists. Admittedly some may point out the players surrounding Taarabt were somewhat of a hindrance.
He may well suit a central midfield position better than Bryan does (although I have never seen him occupy such a role) but anyone thinking that he will be the elusive "Dembele Replacement" may be disappointed. There are certainly similarities in terms of running with the ball and creativity going forward but as a team who absorb a lot of pressure , we always need our central midfielders to chip in as ball winners and work hard off the ball.
Having tried a 4-4-2 against Betis with Bryan on the wing it looked like Jol will try Adel in a flat four alongside a more defensively minded player which given last nights performance will probably be Derek Boateng ahead of Steve Sidwell. Arguably a diamond would be a lot more effective with Taarabt's behind what will hopefully be a front pairing of Berbatov and another new face up front.
Another option would be to consider starting 4-5-1 with both Taarabt & Ruiz in behind Berbatov and more width provided by Kacaniklic and Dejagah with Boateng as an anchor in front of the back four. This would allow for a lot more flexibility in terms of reacting to a change in the game. Should we need to chase a goal then one of either Taarabt or Ruiz could be sacrificed in favour of a second striker with the other remaining in an advanced midfield position as the front of a Diamond 4-4-2 as mentioned above.
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Despite the ability he brings , the one major concern that we all have regarding Tarrabt is his attitude and general reputation for being a trouble maker. Martin Jol will no doubt have his hands full in terms of managing Taarabt as a personality but if he is able to keep him on the right lines then the rewards will be there for all to see. It is not as if he hasn't had a taste of working with him previously so I would hope he knows what to expect. What would be disappointing is if Jol is successful in managing Taarabt and getting the best from the player but we do not have an option too make the deal permanent and our "not so noisy neighbours" benefit from a more well rounded player. Of course these details are yet to be elaborated on but it would be somewhat poor on our part if a potential option is not included. A loan is of course beneficial particularly if Taarabt does get up to his old tricks as it allows us to get rid quick but as a club we cannot be seen to simply "keep him warm" for QPR while they carry on in the Championship.
What is for sure is that if nothing else , The deal gives us ample opportunity for bragging rights over our hooped friends... Only last season we heard the (with hindsight) rather ironic chant of "Taarabt's too good for you" upon visiting Loftus Road. I don't remember ever singing the same about Zamora or Johnson....
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http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=363 (http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=363)
Foundation Coach of the Year(http://www.fulhamfc.com/-/media/Foundation/Coachesofthe%20Year.ashx)
Last week, Fulham FC Foundation hosted its annual coach awards evening at Craven Cottage.
With the chance to reflect on the fantastic work delivered over the past year, the evening concentrated on thanking and rewarding those involved for their hard work and commitment.
Two awards were handed out on the night, 'Coach of the Year' won by Mark Tiller, and 'Best New Coach of the Year' won by Nick Barnes.
Mark Tiller (pictured, top) has been working for Fulham FC Foundation for two years. Working across a number of programmes including schools, soccer schools and the advanced centre, Mark is pioneering and always keen to attend meetings and training sessions. This year he passed the FA Youth Award module 3, demonstrating his desire to improve. Mark has become known for his service excellence in everything he does, with extremely positive feedback received from participants, partners and other coaches.
Having only worked for the Foundation a year, Nick Barnes (pictured, bottom) has a very good attitude and takes an action orientated approach to his work. He is always willing to go above and beyond in order to make a difference on the programmes he works on and provide quality sessions.
A number of other excellent coaches were nominated for these awards so we would also like to thank and congratulate: Luigi Cerullo, Hywel Davies, Jason Henry, Nick Sanders, Chris Wales, Mauricio Sanchez, and Olawale Ojelabi.
For more information on becoming a coach at Fulham FC Foundation, please call 0870 442 5432 or visit www.fulhamfc.com/foundation (http://www.fulhamfc.com/foundation)
http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/07/foundation-coach-of-the-year? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/07/foundation-coach-of-the-year?)
Adel Taarabt: Fulham Fans Remember His Wonder Goal For QPR At The Cottage
The mercurial Moroccan Adel Taarabt has been reunited with former manager Martin Jol on a season long loan for Fulham; here's a reminder of why The Cottagers will be glad he's on their side this season.
Adel Taarabt has always been a footballer to divide opinion, that much is for sure; but after signing on loan for the season with Fulham, will QPR fans be happy to see him go? Only time will tell. But after his match-winning performance against Fulham last season, their fans are probably just relieved their boys aren't lining up against him when the new season starts.
http://sabotagetimes.com/reportage/adel-taarabt-fulham-fans-check-out-the-taraabt-wonder-goal-for-qpr/? (http://sabotagetimes.com/reportage/adel-taarabt-fulham-fans-check-out-the-taraabt-wonder-goal-for-qpr/?)
Adel Taarabt: I couldn't say no to Fulham
Adel Taarabt revealed today the lure of Premier League football was the key reason behind his decision to join Fulham, writes Giuseppe Muro.
The 24-year-old Morocco international (right) has agreed a season-long loan which could turn into a permanent move from Championship side Queens Park Rangers if he impresses manager Martin Jol.
"This was a difficult decision but at this stage of my career I feel I need to be playing at the top level," said Taarabt, who passed a medical yesterday.
"I hope the fans understand my decision and I really hope to return to Loftus Road one day. I wish QPR well for the season and hope they achieve promotion back to where I believe the club belongs."
Taarabt was sent home from QPR's pre-season training camp in Devon last month after turning up late for a session and since then he has not played for Harry Redknapp's side.
Jol, who signed Taarabt when he was Tottenham manager in 2007, said: "He can do a hell of a job for us because he is a tremendous player on the ball. It is like Dimitar Berbatov — sometimes these fantastic talents will be blamed but I hope to find a way to gel him in together with the boys we've got."
Taarabt is Jol's sixth signing of the summer.
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/adel-taarabt-i-couldnt-say-no-to-fulham-8749959.html (http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/adel-taarabt-i-couldnt-say-no-to-fulham-8749959.html)
Fulham: Quietly getting better
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Whenever a side does the majority of its transfer business earlier in the Summer, there's a tendency for a fanbase to become restless while they watch the flurry of activity at other clubs during July and August.
Quite obviously, by the time 2012/13 finished, Martin Jol knew full-well what his side's principal issues where and very quickly set out to remedy them. Fernando Amorebieta arrived to mercifully end any need for Philippe Senderos' consistent involvement, the long chase for powerful-yet-technical midfielder Derek Boateng was concluded, and Sascha Riether was secured on a permanent basis. Added to which, Maarten Stekelenburg arrived from Roma to provide an upgrade on the ageing Mark Schwarzer.
Had Fulham's business stopped there, then that would have been a significant improvement to a side whose league position last season probably didn't reflect what they were capable of achieving.
Fulham fans have had long-standing concerns over the level of creativity in their side, and – additionally – with the sometimes haphazard attacking shape that can develop as a result of the ad hoc playing styles of Dimitar Berbatov and Bryan Ruiz. That's a problem, and it still is – this side lacks an outright forward, a pivot who stays on the last defender and prevents the attacking phases from occurring too far away from an opponent's penalty-box.
What impact Shahid Khan's wealth will have on the club is unknown, and whether the spending patterns will differ greatly from those under the previous ownership is anybody's guess. But with the resources that Martin Jol has had this Summer, he has made a series of very smart moves.
Here's an alarming statistic: Fulham conceded as many goals as the defensively-hopeless QPR last season.
When you consider also that Fulham, with 50 goals, outscored every side below West Bromwich Albion, that puts the offensive concerns into perspective: Jol's transfer policy has been predicated on priorities, and on making this side harder to beat and more defensively resilient – and he's done that.
Fans don't generally care about solidity, because most want signings who are going to capture the imagination and provide highlight moments, but the Craven Cottage faithful might just be pleasantly surprised with their side their season. Forgetting Adel Taarabt and the potential capture of Darren Bent for the moment, Jol's back-to-front approach to team-building has left Fulham looking extremely durable ahead of the new season, and with the additional quality they have in key defensive areas, as well as the addition of general depth to the squad, there's no way they'll repeat their second-half of the season surrender from 2012/13 this time around.
They're not going to give anybody a battering, but Fulham will be much, much harder to break-down this year.
http://thepremierleagueowl.com/fulham-quietly-getting-better/ (http://thepremierleagueowl.com/fulham-quietly-getting-better/)
Adel Taarabt loan is great business for Fulham – but is lack of permanent option a mistake?
Fulham confirmed the season-long loan signing of Adel Taarabt on Wednesday but the news was not met with the widespread fanfare you'd expect of any normal transfer.
This is partly down to his astonishing temperament; his most infamous incident being the bus journey home during QPR's 6-0 defeat to Fulham in 2011.
But we're more concerned by the lack of a permanent option in the deal, and the short-termism that connotes.
This isn't a bad signing, put simply. Taarabt has bundles of talent and we have seen various glimpses of what he can do. At Fulham, in fact, we've probably seen him at his very best after he stole the show in our local derby last season.
Dimitar Berbatov, Bryan Ruiz and Adel Taarabt is a creative strikeforce to be truly proud of
Fulham have created a niche in signing players when they're at their worst and our new midfielder certainly falls into that category. He didn't adapt well to the Premier League last year but the 24-year-old clearly wanted another shot at the big time – something QPR couldn't offer him.
Martin Jol has worked with him before and knows what he can do.
Yet, still, there is that niggling irritation that comes from the knowledge that Taarabt will only be at Craven Cottage for a year. We've taken out many options over the past few years – Sascha Riether was signed permanently, Eyong Enoh had a £3million clause, and Stanoslev Manolev had a buy-out fee too. So why not our new boy?
Well, nobody knows. Tony Fernandes, QPR's chairman, has made a point of loaning out players to the Premier League only to take them back when (if) they get promoted. Loic Remy made a similar move to Newcastle United.
If that is the case, it is of course disappointing, but we've still got ourselves an incredibly talented player on our books for a year. There is certainly worse business to be done.
As for where he will fit in, though, that's a question only Jol can answer. He is at his best when behind the striker, but Bryan Ruiz has claimed that role and doesn't look set to let it go.
The Costa Rican may be moved out to the wing to accommodate Taarabt, but he is ineffective there and such a role change would compromise either Alex Kacaniklic or Ashkan Dejagah – both quality players.
What we can say, though, is that we now have a particularly potent forward line. Dimitar Berbatov, Ruiz and Taarabt is a creative strike force to be truly proud of and, as a threesome, they will only help to encourage an attractive style of play that, at Fulham, we all like to claim we're playing when, in fact, we aren't.
All too often we're reliant on 'hit-and-hope' balls from the back line but, now, with this new injection of ingenuity, we might just play the way we want to.
Well, for a year at least.
http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/07/adel-taarabt-loan-is-great-business-for-fulham-but-is-lack-of-permanent-option-a-mistake-3914887/? (http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/07/adel-taarabt-loan-is-great-business-for-fulham-but-is-lack-of-permanent-option-a-mistake-3914887/?)
Fulham's greatest?
Who has been Fulham's best manager? Sky Sports is launching a vote to discover the finest boss in the history of each current Premier League club and we want your opinions
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Whether it is looking at recent success or the previous achievements through history, Fulham have a history of which they can be proud. Managers have, of course, been central in defining the way events have unfolded and now we want to find the best of the bunch. Sky Sports are looking for find the greatest manager in Fulham's history and we want your vote. Choose between Roy Hodgson, Phil Kelso and Jack Peart and have your say. We will announce the winner in the week commencing 12th August.
Roy Hodgson (2007-2010)
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The now-England manager famously led Fulham to a Europa League final in 2010, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat by the mighty Atletico Madrid. Hodgson had steered Fulham away from bottom place in the Premier League when he first took over in 2007 before going on to then record a highest finish in their history of seventh place in 2008/09.
Phil Kelso (1909-1924)
The Scot is Fulham's longest serving manager after 15 years in charge in the first quarter of the 20th Century, spanning World War One. During his time in charge, Kelso kept Fulham in the Second Division and was considered a success as a result. He was known for his strict style of management and later served as chairman of the Football League Managers and Secretaries Association.
Jack Peart (1935-1948)
Peart helped Fulham to the FA Cup semi-finals in 1936 and secured regular mid-table finishes in the Second Division in his time in charge between 1935 and 1948. Like Kelso, his spell with Fulham crossed a World War but he remains an iconic figure at the club. Peart died in the job in 1948 and the team he built went on to win the Second Division in the same season under his successor, Frank Osborne.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8857577? (http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8857577?)
Roma look to fund deal for Manchester United's Nani with sale of Fulham target Osvaldo
ROMA want to sign Manchester United winger Nani and are hoping to raise funds for the deal by selling Fulham target Pablo Osvaldo.
Nani's future at Old Trafford is less than certain after enduring a poor campaign last season in which he made only 10 Premier League appearances.
Roma manager Rudi Garcia is keen to add further to his attacking options even with the impending arrival of Arsenal's Gervinho, who is currently in the process of completing formalities with the club.
Reports in Italy now suggest Garcia is hoping the sale of Fulham target Osvaldo will allow him room to negotiate a deal with Manchester United for Nani.
Nani has endured a mixed time with United, struggling to capture a consistency to his game since joining from Sporting Lisbon in 2007.
The arrival of Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace has also heightened the possibility that the Portuguese winger will be allowed to leave.
Garcia is preparing to offer Nani a route out of United and an opportunity to join the Italians.
The former Lille boss is willing to let striker Pablo Osvaldo leave the Serie A side if a club matches their £11m asking price.
Southampton recently saw their bid for the 27-year-old rejected by Roma and the south-coast club are unsure about matching the valuation of the player.
Th Italian international scored 17 times for Roma last season as his side just missed out on Europa League qualification.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/331104/Roma-look-to-fund-deal-for-Manchester-United-s-Nani-with-sale-of-Fulham-target-Osvaldo? (http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/331104/Roma-look-to-fund-deal-for-Manchester-United-s-Nani-with-sale-of-Fulham-target-Osvaldo?)
U21s Finish With A Win
Fulham Under-21s secured a late fightback away at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday as their pre-season campaign ended with a 3-2 victory.
In the first half, the Whites lacked the intensity they had shown in previous games over the summer, which resulted in Forest taking the lead, although Cauley Woodrow responded just before the interval.
Fulham flew out of the blocks in the second period and put in a much more lively display, only to see the home side take the lead in the 87th minute.
Kit Symons' boys didn't let their heads drop, though, as two well-taken strikes from Lasse Vigen Christensen ensured their final friendly game ahead of the weekend's season opener at Manchester City ended with a win.
"The first half really wasn't good enough and I let the boys know that, as I do," Kit told fulhamfc.com after the game. "But the second half was miles better and we showed great spirit to come back. It looked as though I'd be preparing my post-match team talk for a 2-1 defeat, when in fact we ended up winning the game.
"It was a good way to finish our pre-season campaign. We've gone the entire summer unbeaten and everyone is looking fit and in really good condition. They've all had some decent game time and now it's about taking all our hard work over recent weeks and putting in a strong performance against Man City on Sunday."
Fulham: 1. Bettinelli, 2. Brister, 3. Kavanagh, 4. Vigen Christensen, 5. Arthurworrey, 6. O'Reilly, 7. Plumain, 8. Minkwitz, 9. Woodrow, 10. Tankovic, 11. Banya
Subs: 12. Oberschmidt, 14. Buatu, 15. Richards, 16. Della Verde, 17. Grimmer
http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/07/u21s-finish-with-a-win? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/07/u21s-finish-with-a-win?)
Forest boss Davies moves in for Wolves' Sako in £2m deal after Fulham move stalls
Wolves midfielder Bakary Sako is a £2million target for ambitious Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies.
The League One side had expected Sako, 25, to join Fulham but a move to Martin Jol's side has faltered.
That has prompted Davies to step in for a player earning £25,000-a-week at Molineux.
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Target: Nottingham Forest have made a move for Wolves' Bakary Sako (right)
Davies is willing to offer Dexter Blackstock as a part-exchange in any deal.
Wolves defender Tongo Doumbia, 24, has joined French club Valenciennes.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2386525/Nottingham-Forest-target-Bakary-Sako-Wolves-2m-deal.html#ixzz2bMGNVgl2 (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2386525/Nottingham-Forest-target-Bakary-Sako-Wolves-2m-deal.html#ixzz2bMGNVgl2)
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Frei on the verge of joining Galatasaray after Fulham receive £2m bid for winger
Fulham starlet Kerim Frei is poised to join Galatasaray after they offered £2m for the 19-year-old.
Turkey international Frei will be offered a five-year contract.
Club president Ünal Aysal said: 'We are interested in Kerim Frei.'
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Target: Fulham's Kerim Frei (right) is the subject of a £2m bid from Galatasaray
Crisis club Coventry have signed striker Mathieu Manset after being given special dispensation by the Football League. The free agent joins on a one year deal.
Chelsea's new signing Cristian Cuevas has been loaned out to Vitesse Arnhem. The 18-year-old Chilean midfielder joined last month.
Hamburg are looking to sell former Chelsea midfielder Michael Mancienne.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2386508/Kerim-Frei-close-joining-Galatasaray-Fulham-receive-2m-bid.html#ixzz2bMGnb7h6 (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2386508/Kerim-Frei-close-joining-Galatasaray-Fulham-receive-2m-bid.html#ixzz2bMGnb7h6)
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Lazy performances are not tolerated here, Sidwell warns Fulham new boy Taarabt
Adel Taarabt has been welcomed at Fulham by Steve Sidwell's warning that 'lazy' performances will not be tolerated.
The Morocco international signed a season-long loan deal at Craven Cottage after telling QPR he wanted to play in the Premier League.
But Sidwell wasted no time in making clear that the 24-year-old's skill would have to be matched by work rate.
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Hard work: Steve Sidwell warned Adel Taarabt that Fulham will not tolerate lazy performances
Taarabt was often accused at Loftus Road of concentrating solely on attack, meaning his new Fulham team-mates may need to prepare for more defensive running.
'That's the general joke going around the training ground at the minute,' conceded Sidwell. 'Listen, it's just part and parcel of players' make-up. You've got some who've got tremendous talent on the ball and their work rate off it isn't great.
'Then you've got some who've got the great work rate but not as good on the ball. You try to accommodate each others' strengths. Everyone's got to work for the team. It doesn't matter who you are, you can't be lazy, everyone's got to put the work rate in.
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Switch: Taarabt sealed a season-long loan switch to Fulham from QPR
'I'm sure (Martin Jol) is going to emphasise that to players this season. If they don't I'm sure he'll pull them up. But you don't want to take that away from their strengths.'
Sidwell also revealed Fulham players first met new owner Shahid Khan when the American businessman made a flying visit in his private jet to the squad's pre-season training base in Costa Rica.
'He was in Florida at the time – not round the corner but a short plane journey,' Sidwell said. 'He came to the hotel, introduced himself to the guys, watched our game that evening and then shot back.
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Talent: Taarabt's ability is clear for all to see, but his work ethic let him down on occasions at QPR
'I assume once the season starts he'll be coming to games and having an input on what he owns. 'Once the takeover happened, and we found out who it was, the boys were digging deep and going through contacts and getting a bit of know-how; finding out what he's done with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
'Brede Hangeland, the manager and some of the staff went to Jacksonville to see him and they just had big praise for him and what he's done over there. I assume he's wanting to do the same for Fulham.'
Steve Sidwell was speaking on behalf of the Tackle Africa charity during a golf day put on with the assistance of Chris Garrod Global, S&T Interiors, and Sterling Security.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2386550/Steve-Sidwell-warns-Adel-Taarabt-lazy-performance-tolerated-Fulham.html#ixzz2bMHGJiMu (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2386550/Steve-Sidwell-warns-Adel-Taarabt-lazy-performance-tolerated-Fulham.html#ixzz2bMHGJiMu)
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Fulham priced out of £3m Eyong Enoh deal
Fulham manager Martin Jol has conceded defeat in his efforts to sign Ajax defensive midfielder Eyong Enoh.
The 27-year-old Cameroon international spent the second half of the season on loan at Craven Cottage, making nine appearances for the club.
Jol was said to be keen on a permanent transfer, but he claims that the Cottagers are being priced out of a move.
"Eyong Enoh did a good job for us but the option to buy him was £3m, which is too much when he's not even playing at Ajax," Jol told reporters.
Enoh has made 149 appearances for Ajax since joining from Ajax Cape Town in 2008.
http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/transfer-talk/news/fulham-priced-out-of-gbp3m-enoh-deal_97421.html (http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/transfer-talk/news/fulham-priced-out-of-gbp3m-enoh-deal_97421.html)
Nerves fray for Whites followers
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GettyImages
Dimitar Berbatov will once again be vital to Fulham's attack this season.
That day one showdown with Di Canio's vision for a new Sunderland looms ever nearer, with Fulham still to address deficiencies in their squad make-up. Two friendlies against admittedly high calibre teams in Werder Bremen and Real Betis both served to underline the need for reinforcements in key positions. While Fulham have been cautious over the summer so far, the club remain consistently non-committal on transfers until deals are actually done. I would be amazed if either the manager or the executive are not acutely conscious that a relegation battle looms without the addition of a proven striker and a creative midfield general of genuine stature.
The confirmed loan agreement that brings Adel Tarrabt across the borough for the season was enough to get this blog moving again, but some of the names supposedly linked to the club in recent weeks have been the stuff of nightmares.
A Fulham midfield of Lee Cattermole, Joey Barton, Scott Parker and Steve Sidwell would certainly guarantee the side airing last on Match of the Day all season – the broadcasting authorities could never allow such X-rated content to air before the watershed. That scenario for a 'footballing' side like Fulham might cause even the Haynes statue to blush. I would return my season ticket if either Cattermole or Barton ever pulled on the shirt.
While the unpredictable and enigmatic Adel neatly sits among the ranks of the loose cannons named above, the mitigating circumstances of his arrangement allows me begrudging latitude in welcoming him to the colours. In short, Fulham have gone down the car showrooms with their usual spiel. Yes they like the flashier models, but note there are a few miles on the clock and one or two blemishes to the bodywork. Neither the salesmen nor Fulham are sure if they'll handle like a Testarossa or a Trabant – so in that case the goods can be returned no questions asked? Thanks, you gotta deal.
We are getting good at that game. Back to our chunky Moroccan maverick. It's a low-risk gamble for Martin Jol, which intriguingly will focus attention on the gaffer's Achilles heel. Because surely if Taarabt can rediscover the form he showed in 2011 the only man he replaces in the team is Bryan Ruiz?
It is a given that your top scorer from last season remains the first name on the team sheet. I am pretty convinced by now that Darren Bent will also be in a Fulham shirt by next week to support Berbatov up top. If we are to lay down some serious money, finally, it seems madness not to support Bent with at least one genuine winger. Just don't kid yourself for one second Martin into thinking that man can be Ruiz. He is totally ineffectual there. We can all see it.
(http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0806/soc_g_taarabt_gb1_255.jpg)
Ian Walton/Getty Images
Will Adel Taarabt prove an effective signing for Martin Jol?
Although not the greatest crosser of a ball at pace, that surely has to be Kacaniklic? If Fulham have now agreed to let Kerim Frei go to Turkey, use that money to buy Bakary Sako from Wolves as insurance, or deploy Damian Duff to come off the bench for 25 minutes - or be really bold and give the kid Manga a go now and again.
Some people have floated the idea of either Taarabt or Ruiz dropping deep to fill the creative hole left by Mousa Dembele's departure a year ago. That must never happen. Both are poor tacklers and give up possession far too easily. Fulham will be attacked by teams up the left flank again, where there remains no solution to the glaring weakness at left-back.
Action in the market to find a strong young left-back would be a bonus in the next month, but I'm not holding my breath. The overwhelming priority remains the capture of a commanding midfielder, apart from what has been outlined above. This is the bare minimum. A few utility players might also be needed to paper over the cracks. Don't even dare contemplate the consequences of a long injury list – the squad as of now looks as brittle as a poppadum. I know who I would go after – English and affordable. But I won't jinx things by naming him yet. What can Jol's troupe of talent scouts come up with. I'm yet to be impressed by them to date.
I've not felt this apprehensive pre-season for a few years. We could well find ourselves embroiled in a real struggle to finish 17th. Can you imagine the body language on the park from Adel and Dimi when things start unravelling? One thing about the window we know from previous years, deals get cut right up to the death. Let's see what we glean from this week's friendly with Parma before pressing the panic button. I shall be watching with a keen eye. Hope very much Mr. Khan is too.
twitter@fulhamphil
http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/fulham/id/1170?&cc=5739 (http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/fulham/id/1170?&cc=5739)
Quote from: WhiteJC on August 08, 2013, 07:46:02 AM
Adel Taarabt loan is great business for Fulham – but is lack of permanent option a mistake?
[/url]
There is no guarantee that QPR will come back up......
Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell tells Adel Taarabt not to be lazy
Steve Sidwell has warned Fulham new boy Adel Taarabt that he will have to pull his weight at Craven Cottage.
Mercurial playmaker Taarabt has joined Fulham on a season-long loan from Queens Park Rangers with Martin Jol a big fan of the Moroccan.
The 24-year-old has come under fire for his work rate from former managers and Sidwell insists 'lazy' performances will not be tolerated at Fulham
"The general joke going around the training ground at the minute is I'm going to have to do loads more running," said Sidwell, speaking at a Tackle Africa HIV education charity event.
"I'm sure the manager's looked at that and it's great to have these players like Adel, Bryan and Berba but if they're not going to do their job... everyone's got to work for the team.
"It doesn't matter who you are, you can't be lazy, everyone's got to put the work rate in. I'm sure the gaffer is going to emphasise that to players this season. If they don't I'm sure he'll pull them up. You don't want to take that away from their strengths.
"If the manager's got them, I'll assume they can all play together. We've got to accommodate it."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8860246/? (http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8860246/?)
Premier League preview No7: Fulham
Life has been pretty good under Mohamed Al Fayed and it may get better still under the even richer new owner, Shahid Khan
Guardian writers' predicted position: 13th (NB: this is not necessarily Paul Doyle's prediction but the average of our writers' tips)
Last season's position: 12th
Odds to win the league (via Oddschecker): 2,000-1
Fulham are the likable lottery winners, dwelling far above their natural level thanks to the benevolence of a billionaire and inspiring more affection than resentment. Since Mohamed Al Fayed bankrolled their ascent to the Premier League at the start of the Millennium they have become a steady and welcome presence: they have never looked like breaching the top six, rarely been in real relegation trouble, only once threatened to win a trophy and seldom been involved in drama or scandal, yet they have never been boring.
Thanks to a well-preserved club culture and mostly judicious managerial appointments and player recruitment, Fulham have been pleasant and serenely impressive, like a stroll in the country. Fayed ran the club well. If his final decision as owner – to sell up to Shahid Khan in July – proves as wise as most of his others, then the future of Fulham looks bright. The question is: exactly how bright?
Khan is even more fabulously wealthy than Fayed but his declarations of intent so far have been admirably grounded. Whereas even Fayed dreamed early on of turning Fulham into "the Manchester United of the South" before reining himself in, Khan has aired more lucid ambitions, suggesting a top-half finish and an eventual return to Europe as short-term targets. So it seems Fulham are going to try to evolve carefully rather than go for an immediate transformation, which is just as well.
Their transfer activity so far this summer looks characteristically astute. The club that nabbed Dimitar Berbatov for £5m last summer completed one of the signings of this summer as soon as the last campaign ended, as Sascha Riether joined permanently from Cologne for just over £1m. The German was one of the Premier League's best full-backs last season while on loan at Craven Cottage, defending stoutly and rollicking up the right so regularly that he delivered more crosses last term than any full-back other than Leighton Baines.
The Dutch international goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg should prove a solid replacement for the departed Mark Schwarzer, while Fernando Amorebieta, a free capture from Athletic Bilbao, looks a valuable addition to the centre of defence, where Brede Hangeland can be expected to remain a sturdy sentinel. Adding cover for – or an upgrade on – 32-year-old Jon Arne Riise at left-back would put the defence in decent shape going into the new season.
Fulham's pursuit of Darren Bent makes obvious sense. Beyond Berbatov, who struck 15 goals in the Premier League last season, Fulham had no one who could be relied upon to score regularly, with the club's joint-highest scorer in the league after the Bulgarian being Own-Goal, with five. Mladen Petric struck five, too, but did not impress sufficiently to avoid being released, while Hugo Rodallega performed pretty much as most people anticipated, making him one of the club's less inspired recruits. Bent, on the other hand, comes with as close to a guarantee of goals as you can get for a seemly fee.
It will be interesting to see what the arrival of a new striker means for Bryan Ruiz, a creative marvel who does not fit readily into a 4-4-2 and, on last season's evidence, does not quite sparkle consistently enough to make starting him an endorsement of reason over faith. Indeed, Fulham's midfield is full of intrigue. Ashkan Dejagah, 21-year-old Alexander Kacaniklic and the teenager Kerim Frei are also thrilling talents, capable of game-changing dribbles and flourishes, and mean that, with Damien Duff and Giorgos Karagounis still toddling about, Fulham can be great fun when they are in the groove. Unfortunately that is not regularly enough.
They could certainly do with adding more steel to their style, as Steve Sidwell alone is certainly not sufficient. Derek Boateng, the 30-year-old Ghanaian signed this summer from Dnipro, is a useful acquisition but Fulham could do with strengthening further to reinforce a midfield that was severely weakened last year by the nearly-simultaneous losses of Danny Murphy, Mousa Dembélé, Dickson Etuhu and Clint Dempsey.
Fulham's mental fortitude could do with reinforcing, too. Their fickleness must have infuriated Martin Jol last season. They appeared almost indifferent when they became the first team to lose to Queens Park Rangers and later in the campaign, when any relegation concerns had been dispelled and Jol started talking about a top-10 finish, they seemed to ease off, losing six of their last eight matches.
Overall, their lack of mettle helped explain why they won fewer points than any other team in the Premier League after falling behind. A lack of strength contributed to that situation, as Jol's options from the bench were limited. This season his squad looks stronger and he must ensure that Fulham's mind-set is, too. Fulham should enjoy a comfortable season. If they do not, we could find out how clever Khan is when it comes to appointing managers.
Player focus infographic
(http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2013/8/8/1375953845675/Dimitar-Berbatov-infograp-001.jpg)
Infographic courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/08/premier-league-preview-fulham? (http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/08/premier-league-preview-fulham?)
Djetou Has High Hopes
Having played for both Fulham and Parma, Martin Djetou says he will look out for the result from Saturday's pre-season friendly with added interest.
Make sure you're at the Cottage to cheer on the Whites one last time before the Barclays Premier League season kicks off. Buy your ticket now.
The former France international spent four years on the books of Parma, enjoying two seasons on loan at the Cottage during that time.
And he's anticipating an exciting clash at the Cottage this weekend, telling the official matchday programme: "I think it's going to be a fantastic game for the fans to watch. Parma have a very good manager in Roberto Donadoni. He holds a lot of ambition for this Parma side. Fulham will want to put on a good show, and really, this is an intriguing encounter. For me, the teams are similar."
After stints at Strasbourg and Monaco, the defender was strongly linked with a move to Fulham in 2001. Instead he signed for Parma, but spent just a single season in Serie A, making his debut in a UEFA Champions League qualifying defeat to Lille in August 2001. In January 2002, he scored his first goal for the club against Lecce.
In July 2002, he finally arrived in SW6, albeit on loan, teaming up once again with Jean Tigana, his boss at Monaco. Djetou, capped six times by France, went on to make 51 league appearances over two seasons with the Whites, scoring once in 1-0 win over Terry Venables' Leeds United in December 2002.
"From day one I was made to feel welcome," he said. "I felt accepted straight away. The players all got on; there was a good spirit in that team. I'm extremely proud and honoured to have pulled on the Fulham shirt. The Club and team put their trust in me, and Tigana treated me like a son. They will always have a special place in my heart and it gives me great satisfaction to see them doing well."
To read the full interview with Djetou, make sure you pick up a copy of Saturday's matchday programme.
Priced £3, the 64-page publication is available from various sellers on Stevenage Road from two hours before kick-off. Fans can also order copies online and can save money by taking out a season subscription for just £55 for the campaign - that's a saving of £11.50 if you were to purchase each edition individually. Head to www.programmemaster.com (http://www.programmemaster.com) for more details.
The programme is also available digitally with added video content, so whether you're at home or away, you need never be without it on your iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, PC or Mac via Apple's Newsstand. The programme is also available via the Pocketmags app on Kindle Fire and Blackberry Playbook.
You can subscribe for the whole season for the digital edition for just £24.99 or buy a single issue for £1.99 and it will be at your fingertips from 9am on the day of the game.
http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/08/djetou-has-high-hopes? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/08/djetou-has-high-hopes?)
Fulham target Faurlin swoop
FULHAM have Ali Faurlin in their sights – and are ready to make a double swoop for the QPR midfielder in the same week the Whites took Adel Taarabt on loan.
Fulham coach Billy McKinlay, partnered by ex-defender Ian Pearce, were in the Loftus Road crowd that saw the Argentine return to first-team action in the 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
And Chronicle sport has learned the Premier League side are interested in a player who would compliment Taarabt in a midfield down to just one long-term regular at the end of last season.
Rangers would prefer to broker a loan after chairman Tony Fernandes made it plain the playmaker was very much part of long-term plans if Rs regain their Premier League status.
The supremo, ever ready to tap 140 characters of opinion tweeted this week: "To clear any doubt. Ale (sic) faurlin I hope gets back to the form. He's my favourite hoop. A model professional. Hope he gets to prove himself."
But boss Harry Redknapp may have other plans to improve midfield options, especially after he allowed Faurlin to go on loan to Palermo last season.
The player has only one year left on his QPR contract and is attracting interest elsewhere in the Premier League as well as France and Italy.
But a source close to Faurlin revealed a temporary move to Craven Cottage would be ideal for both parties.
"Ali could team up with Adel and both could play with their eyes closed, they know each other's games that well," said the insider.
Read more: Fulham Chronicle http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-qpr/2013/08/08/82029-33702759/?#ixzz2bN0YO5CT (http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-qpr/2013/08/08/82029-33702759/?#ixzz2bN0YO5CT)
Trotta Talks Parma
(http://www.fulhamfc.com/-/media/PlayerActionShots/2012-13/Players/Marcello%20Trotta/Trotta300400.ashx?w=300&h=400)
Fulham's Italian striker Marcello Trotta is looking forward to a match-up against FC Parma on Saturday afternoon.
The Serie A side visit Craven Cottage for our final pre-season friendly before the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League campaign begins on 17th August against Sunderland and, after some tough fitness work this summer, Trotta is keen to be out on the pitch again.
"The pre-season started well for me," he said. "We went away to Costa Rica which was very nice, and Austria as well. In the meantime, I have played a few games for the Under-21s and that was good to get some game-time under my belt, and I scored a few goals as well. It was good to get a good few days of hard training done in order to get fit for the new season."
Trotta began his youth career with Napoli but chose to move to England and joined the Whites in 2009, however he is well aware of the Italian reputation for tough defending and thinks that Parma will be no different.
"I think they will be a solid side and they will try to play on the floor; passing the ball all the time and trying to keep possession," he said. "As is normal for Italian sides, they will try not to concede and will want to play the best football.
"If you don't concede then you don't lose the game, so in the past that has worked for Italian teams but the game has changed now and we will have to see what they do on the day. We know that it will be tough, whatever happens.
"Parma has always done well in Italy, sometimes they have stayed in mid-table but they have had a few good players over the years and will come with a strong team looking to win on English soil. I think they will do well this season."
The Club may find themselves up against tricky Italian striker Antonio Cassano and our forward insists that their number 99 is a dangerous opponent if given room to show his skills.
"Cassano is a very talented player as everyone knows," he said. "I think he has shown that with a number of different clubs and it is always good to watch him play. He can make the difference, so Fulham will be wary of what he can do with the ball."
Trotta also believes that having international teams visit SW6 is good for both the players and the Fulham fans, as they can see a different style of play from that on show in England.
"I think it is great to be playing other European teams," he added. "Not just for the fans, but also for the players to experience other styles of football. It will be a good test for us and we are all looking forward it."
Marcello is wearing the new 2013/14 Away Kit (our Third Kit for the 2014/15 campaign) which is available to buy online now, or from the Stadium Store from Saturday 10th August.
http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/08/trotta-talks-parma? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/08/trotta-talks-parma?)
Clint Dempsey moves to Seattle
It must be strange being a footballer. For most of us our careers, such as they are, stretch out into the great temporal unknown. (Mine does anyway – I know lots of people are in a hurry to get to 'the top', but if I ever reach 'the top' it will have been because someone drove me there against my will.)
But as a footballer you're basically tied down to the knowledge that beyond, say, 33, you'll be lucky to get the jobs you want. If you spend a year in the reserves you lose one of these crucial years, and you also lose time to build a reputation that then might get you a better job... before time runs out. Every season counts. It's partly why injuries, which seem so ideal to those of us who'd love a few weeks out of circulation, are so distressing to footballers.
For Clint Dempsey that career clock started ticking quickly. He wasn't in the top leagues until relatively late, and then he found that he couldn't get the regular games he felt his ability deserved. Whether his talent was held back by Roy Hodgson or shaped by him is quite hard to untangle, but in any case, Dempsey under Mark Hughes and Martin Jol had become a fabulous player.
Too late, though. Had he been 25 he might have had the pick of clubs, but as things stood, in the eyes of a big club he was always a second hand lexus rather than the new ferrari his goals tally suggested.
Dempsey still believed in himself though, which is why he left Fulham, where a second hand Lexus was the best car in the garage (the metaphors are quite confused here, aren't they? What with Fulham being a very wealthy area, too), to Spurs, where expensive (overpriced) cars were the norm.
He gave up being a big fish in a smallish pond to being a small fish in a big pond (lexus? fish? what next?).
We have talked before about the folly of ambition but you can't fault Dempsey for trying. You can fault Jurgen Klinsmann for belittling Fulham and Dempsey's achievements there, and you can fault football in general for transforming itself into a 'me first, show me the money' industry where individualism is all there is, but Dempsey, with that ticking career clock, had to at least try to move on.
The sad thing is that it all happened so wrongly. Spurs must have appealed on the basis that they were "somewhere else" but in retrospect it was a terrible choice for Dempsey, who could have been useful to a number of other half-reasonable teams, particularly had he looked abroad.
Mais non: he went to Spurs, a vehicle for the sprawling talents of the simian Gareth Bale, a team that had a number of good players who might also want Dempsey's role, and which wasn't in the Champions' League either. He had an up and down season, a predictable one probably: he got some goals, but didn't really convince his new team's fans. He certainly didn't have to move on after that, but a switch to somewhere like Everton, as mooted, would have made sense.
Then we find out he's gone to Seattle. This makes a lot of sense as well:
1. the atmosphere he'll play in front of will be great. I know American sports teams try to build in English style "passion" to their marketing, what with their songs and named groups and whatnot, but in truth English football is pretty passion-less. This is partly to do with all-seater stadia, and partly a demographics issue, but you can go entire seasons watching top level English football without experiencing a saucepan atmosphere, let alone a cauldron one. I went to Anfield a few years back, full of excitement: it was silent. True, it was 'only' Fulham, and perhaps the fans weren't so thrilled to see us, but still. (Roy Hodgson, of course, noted the same thing while managing the club, which only made them hate him more). In any case, Seattle draws fans by the bucketload, and games there should be good fun for that reason.
2. he'll be the star man. I think he'll enjoy being "the man".
3. he'll be paid to be a star man. This matters, of course.
4. it's not really a backwards step when you consider everything. I mean, he has a young family, which presumably he'd want to take home before long, so really what do you do? Mess around in England for four more seasons trying to recapture a glory that may never be re-caught? Move your family to Germany for a bit? Dunno, but moving to Seattle would be a decent option in that list I'd say.
5. why not? America seems to be a fabulous place to live if you have money. I'm stunned that more footballers don't do this.
6. when you get to a certain material comfort zone, I'm told that life becomes less about securing more money than about leaving a legacy. Look at Tony Blair! He left us with the milennium dome and the Olympics! Where would we be without those! In any case, Dempsey playing in MLS probably does matter, on all kinds of levels. He's making a difference to the game in the US. That's important. Good on him.
http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/clint-dempsey-moves-to-seattle/? (http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/clint-dempsey-moves-to-seattle/?)
Fulham closing in on Aston Villa outcast Bent
Fulham are hoping to conclude their summer-long chase for Aston Villa striker Darren Bent by the end of this week.
Martin Jol has made Bent, whom he managed briefly at Tottenham in 2007, a priority target after it became known the England forward wished to leave Villa Park.
Bent was frozen out by Villa manager Paul Lambert last season and has also been the subject of interest from Newcastle in the current window, who signed Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy on a season-long loan on Monday.
Villa are reportedly asking for £6million for England forward Bent, with the clubs yet to agree on a deal, but Jol hopes to confirm the signing by the end of the week.
He said: "We don't speculate on things which are not 100 per cent, but with Darren Bent hopefully I can tell you something about him, or another player, by the end of the week.
"We have got several doors open so for us it's only about making a decision and getting the player."
But Jol appeared to rule out a move for Roma forward Pablo Osvaldo, saying: "Players like Osvaldo will be a lot of money so we will never do it."
http://talksport.com/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/130806/fulham-closing-aston-villa-outcast-bent-203141? (http://talksport.com/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/130806/fulham-closing-aston-villa-outcast-bent-203141?)
Quote from: WhiteJC on August 08, 2013, 11:03:23 AM
Clint Dempsey moves to Seattle
It must be strange being a footballer. For most of us our careers, such as they are, stretch out into the great temporal unknown. (Mine does anyway – I know lots of people are in a hurry to get to 'the top', but if I ever reach 'the top' it will have been because someone drove me there against my will.)
But as a footballer you're basically tied down to the knowledge that beyond, say, 33, you'll be lucky to get the jobs you want. If you spend a year in the reserves you lose one of these crucial years, and you also lose time to build a reputation that then might get you a better job... before time runs out. Every season counts. It's partly why injuries, which seem so ideal to those of us who'd love a few weeks out of circulation, are so distressing to footballers.
For Clint Dempsey that career clock started ticking quickly. He wasn't in the top leagues until relatively late, and then he found that he couldn't get the regular games he felt his ability deserved. Whether his talent was held back by Roy Hodgson or shaped by him is quite hard to untangle, but in any case, Dempsey under Mark Hughes and Martin Jol had become a fabulous player.
Too late, though. Had he been 25 he might have had the pick of clubs, but as things stood, in the eyes of a big club he was always a second hand lexus rather than the new ferrari his goals tally suggested.
Dempsey still believed in himself though, which is why he left Fulham, where a second hand Lexus was the best car in the garage (the metaphors are quite confused here, aren't they? What with Fulham being a very wealthy area, too), to Spurs, where expensive (overpriced) cars were the norm.
He gave up being a big fish in a smallish pond to being a small fish in a big pond (lexus? fish? what next?).
We have talked before about the folly of ambition but you can't fault Dempsey for trying. You can fault Jurgen Klinsmann for belittling Fulham and Dempsey's achievements there, and you can fault football in general for transforming itself into a 'me first, show me the money' industry where individualism is all there is, but Dempsey, with that ticking career clock, had to at least try to move on.
The sad thing is that it all happened so wrongly. Spurs must have appealed on the basis that they were "somewhere else" but in retrospect it was a terrible choice for Dempsey, who could have been useful to a number of other half-reasonable teams, particularly had he looked abroad.
Mais non: he went to Spurs, a vehicle for the sprawling talents of the simian Gareth Bale, a team that had a number of good players who might also want Dempsey's role, and which wasn't in the Champions' League either. He had an up and down season, a predictable one probably: he got some goals, but didn't really convince his new team's fans. He certainly didn't have to move on after that, but a switch to somewhere like Everton, as mooted, would have made sense.
Then we find out he's gone to Seattle. This makes a lot of sense as well:
1. the atmosphere he'll play in front of will be great. I know American sports teams try to build in English style "passion" to their marketing, what with their songs and named groups and whatnot, but in truth English football is pretty passion-less. This is partly to do with all-seater stadia, and partly a demographics issue, but you can go entire seasons watching top level English football without experiencing a saucepan atmosphere, let alone a cauldron one. I went to Anfield a few years back, full of excitement: it was silent. True, it was 'only' Fulham, and perhaps the fans weren't so thrilled to see us, but still. (Roy Hodgson, of course, noted the same thing while managing the club, which only made them hate him more). In any case, Seattle draws fans by the bucketload, and games there should be good fun for that reason.
2. he'll be the star man. I think he'll enjoy being "the man".
3. he'll be paid to be a star man. This matters, of course.
4. it's not really a backwards step when you consider everything. I mean, he has a young family, which presumably he'd want to take home before long, so really what do you do? Mess around in England for four more seasons trying to recapture a glory that may never be re-caught? Move your family to Germany for a bit? Dunno, but moving to Seattle would be a decent option in that list I'd say.
5. why not? America seems to be a fabulous place to live if you have money. I'm stunned that more footballers don't do this.
6. when you get to a certain material comfort zone, I'm told that life becomes less about securing more money than about leaving a legacy. Look at Tony Blair! He left us with the milennium dome and the Olympics! Where would we be without those! In any case, Dempsey playing in MLS probably does matter, on all kinds of levels. He's making a difference to the game in the US. That's important. Good on him.
http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/clint-dempsey-moves-to-seattle/? (http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/clint-dempsey-moves-to-seattle/?)
Was reading this earlier as I'm a subscriber. Really well written piece, but I have to disagree about a couple of points.
It certainly is a backwards step. The MLS is where you go to retire. He's still in his prime. He kicked up such a fuss about leaving to play at a higher level then he quit when he didn't have everything go his way.
I don't believe he was transfer listed I think he simply couldn't handle not being the star man. But there's lots of Premier League clubs that would have him as their star man and plenty of clubs playing in Europe who would play him at least some times.
He does look a hypocrite and is hard to take seriously. Maybe some day we will learn what 'the real reasons' for him leaving were?
Quote from: The Moose on August 08, 2013, 11:50:42 AM
Quote from: WhiteJC on August 08, 2013, 11:03:23 AM
Clint Dempsey moves to Seattle
It must be strange being a footballer. For most of us our careers, such as they are, stretch out into the great temporal unknown. (Mine does anyway – I know lots of people are in a hurry to get to 'the top', but if I ever reach 'the top' it will have been because someone drove me there against my will.)
But as a footballer you're basically tied down to the knowledge that beyond, say, 33, you'll be lucky to get the jobs you want. If you spend a year in the reserves you lose one of these crucial years, and you also lose time to build a reputation that then might get you a better job... before time runs out. Every season counts. It's partly why injuries, which seem so ideal to those of us who'd love a few weeks out of circulation, are so distressing to footballers.
For Clint Dempsey that career clock started ticking quickly. He wasn't in the top leagues until relatively late, and then he found that he couldn't get the regular games he felt his ability deserved. Whether his talent was held back by Roy Hodgson or shaped by him is quite hard to untangle, but in any case, Dempsey under Mark Hughes and Martin Jol had become a fabulous player.
Too late, though. Had he been 25 he might have had the pick of clubs, but as things stood, in the eyes of a big club he was always a second hand lexus rather than the new ferrari his goals tally suggested.
Dempsey still believed in himself though, which is why he left Fulham, where a second hand Lexus was the best car in the garage (the metaphors are quite confused here, aren't they? What with Fulham being a very wealthy area, too), to Spurs, where expensive (overpriced) cars were the norm.
He gave up being a big fish in a smallish pond to being a small fish in a big pond (lexus? fish? what next?).
We have talked before about the folly of ambition but you can't fault Dempsey for trying. You can fault Jurgen Klinsmann for belittling Fulham and Dempsey's achievements there, and you can fault football in general for transforming itself into a 'me first, show me the money' industry where individualism is all there is, but Dempsey, with that ticking career clock, had to at least try to move on.
The sad thing is that it all happened so wrongly. Spurs must have appealed on the basis that they were "somewhere else" but in retrospect it was a terrible choice for Dempsey, who could have been useful to a number of other half-reasonable teams, particularly had he looked abroad.
Mais non: he went to Spurs, a vehicle for the sprawling talents of the simian Gareth Bale, a team that had a number of good players who might also want Dempsey's role, and which wasn't in the Champions' League either. He had an up and down season, a predictable one probably: he got some goals, but didn't really convince his new team's fans. He certainly didn't have to move on after that, but a switch to somewhere like Everton, as mooted, would have made sense.
Then we find out he's gone to Seattle. This makes a lot of sense as well:
1. the atmosphere he'll play in front of will be great. I know American sports teams try to build in English style "passion" to their marketing, what with their songs and named groups and whatnot, but in truth English football is pretty passion-less. This is partly to do with all-seater stadia, and partly a demographics issue, but you can go entire seasons watching top level English football without experiencing a saucepan atmosphere, let alone a cauldron one. I went to Anfield a few years back, full of excitement: it was silent. True, it was 'only' Fulham, and perhaps the fans weren't so thrilled to see us, but still. (Roy Hodgson, of course, noted the same thing while managing the club, which only made them hate him more). In any case, Seattle draws fans by the bucketload, and games there should be good fun for that reason.
2. he'll be the star man. I think he'll enjoy being "the man".
3. he'll be paid to be a star man. This matters, of course.
4. it's not really a backwards step when you consider everything. I mean, he has a young family, which presumably he'd want to take home before long, so really what do you do? Mess around in England for four more seasons trying to recapture a glory that may never be re-caught? Move your family to Germany for a bit? Dunno, but moving to Seattle would be a decent option in that list I'd say.
5. why not? America seems to be a fabulous place to live if you have money. I'm stunned that more footballers don't do this.
6. when you get to a certain material comfort zone, I'm told that life becomes less about securing more money than about leaving a legacy. Look at Tony Blair! He left us with the milennium dome and the Olympics! Where would we be without those! In any case, Dempsey playing in MLS probably does matter, on all kinds of levels. He's making a difference to the game in the US. That's important. Good on him.
http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/clint-dempsey-moves-to-seattle/? (http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/clint-dempsey-moves-to-seattle/?)
Was reading this earlier as I'm a subscriber. Really well written piece, but I have to disagree about a couple of points.
It certainly is a backwards step. The MLS is where you go to retire. He's still in his prime. He kicked up such a fuss about leaving to play at a higher level then he quit when he didn't have everything go his way.
I don't believe he was transfer listed I think he simply couldn't handle not being the star man. But there's lots of Premier League clubs that would have him as their star man and plenty of clubs playing in Europe who would play him at least some times.
He does look a hypocrite and is hard to take seriously. Maybe some day we will learn what 'the real reasons' for him leaving were?
I imagine some Man Utd fans were saying the exact same thing when Berbatov came to us, but we can see why he came. Jol is trying to build something, to build a team that play entertaining and flair-ridden football and ultimately that's what Berbatov wants more than anything. He's also still playing at a very high level in the Premier League, probably the most competitive in the world.
What's more he (probably) took a considerable pay cut to come here rather than Dempsey's considerable pay rise. Jol may need to persistently stroke his ego, but potentially with Taarabt and Faurlin coming in we could see Berba playing as more of a striker this season than a number 10, that means more goals for him and more goals created by him.
