http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/football-ealing/fulham-fc-ealing/2010/02/12/hangeland-issues-warning-ahead-of-fulham-v-notts-county-clash-64767-25823626/
Hangeland issues warning ahead of Fulham v Notts County clash
Feb 12 2010 By Yann Tear
BREDE Hangeland has warned his Fulham team-mates that the form book goes out the window ahead of Sunday's FA Cup clash with Notts County.
The Whites are clear favourites to cruise into the quarter-finals against their League Two opponents.
However, Roy Hodgson's side only squeezed past minnows Swindon Town and Accrington Stanley in previous rounds, and Hangeland insists they'll be taking nothing for granted at Craven Cottage.
He said: "Everyone will say it's an easy tie for us, but we've learnt from Swindon and Accrington Stanley that the FA Cup is something special and the difference that should be between a team from the Premier League and League Two seems to disappear.
"We're playing a team from a lower division at home so we should win the game, simple as that. Hopefully, though, we can show that we are a better team on Sunday."
FA Cup Team News
Friday 12th February 2010
Fulham FC News
As Fulham prepare for their forthcoming home matches against Notts County and Shakhtar Donetsk in the FA Cup and UEFA Europa League respectively, Roy Hodgson assessed the player injury situation ahead of Fulham's cup encounters.
With a fine victory over Burnley still fresh in the memory, the Fulham Manager was anticipating minimal changes to the starting line-up for the visit of David Kevan's Notts County.
"There is no reason for me to envisage great changes to the Team, certainly for the game on Sunday," Hodgson said in Friday's pre-match press conference. "Then we'll have to see what happens in that game - if we get further injuries or further problems. We'll take the selection one day at a time.
"The injury situation at the moment is about the long-term ones that we really just have to forget about - I'm thinking about Clint Dempsey, John Pantsil, Andy Johnson and KG Dikgacoi. But we're getting back to where we should be with the others.
"The good thing is we're getting one or two players back to fitness and back into the squad which is a great help to us. Most importantly of all we'll be going into these next two games on the back of a good performance where I thought we were back to our best.
"We've got Gera and Konchesky training - although they're training outside of the actual First Team group, they're training with the fitness people. But they're both making exceptional progress. It would too early for them this weekend but I haven't written either of those two off as possibilities to play in the match against Shakhtar Donetsk."
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/NottsCountyTeamNews.aspx#ixzz0fMXDZzRm (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/NottsCountyTeamNews.aspx#ixzz0fMXDZzRm)
FA Youth Cup Opponents will be Villa -
http://www.millwallfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10367~1964516,00.html (http://www.millwallfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10367~1964516,00.html)
Greening's Cup Final Hopes
Friday 12th February 2010
Fulham FC News
With a place in the Quarter-Finals potentially just 90 minutes away on Sunday, Fulham midfielder Jonathan Greening is hoping the Whites will still be in the hat come Sunday afternoon.
"Getting drawn at home against a non-Premier League team is always a good draw," Greening told fulhamfc.com ahead of Sunday's match against Notts County. "Having said that it's not going to be an easy game because they've got nothing to lose. You need to be confident when you go into games like this.
"They're coming to our place and will want to put on a performance, show everyone that they're a good team and show that beating a Premier League club [Wigan] in the previous round was no fluke. We've got to make sure that we keep professional, try and stick to our game plan and get our names into the hat for the draw."
Greening came close to securing a place in the 2007/08 Cup Final when West Brom were narrowly beaten in the Semi-Final by eventual winners, Portsmouth. And having come so close, Greening is hungry to go one step further this time around.
"The FA Cup's always a nice competition to play in," he explained. "Every kid wants to play at Wembley in the Cup Final. I was close when West Brom lost to Portsmouth in the Semi-Final at Wembley. It was a great feeling being there and I hope that we can put a run together, and I'll be able to go one step further and go to the Final this season. Personally I've always wanted to be part of an FA Cup final side."
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/GreeningNottsCountyPreview.aspx#ixzz0fMeaT6ST (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/GreeningNottsCountyPreview.aspx#ixzz0fMeaT6ST)
Just the Ticket
Friday 12th February 2010
Fulham FC News
Buy Your Tickets at the Store
Fulham FC is pleased to announce that fans can now purchase their Fulham v Shakhtar Donetsk match tickets from the Craven Cottage and Fulham Road retail stores .
Tickets for all other matches will be available at the retail stores from 19th February.
Shakhtar tickets only £10
To celebrate, fans who spend £30 or more on merchandise can buy tickets to our UEFA Europa League match against Shakhtar Donetsk at Craven Cottage on Thursday 18th February (Kick-Off 8.05pm) for just £10 for adults / £5 for juniors* .
20% Off Third Kit
With both the Craven Cottage and Fulham Road stores open seven days a week, fans can also take advantage of the 20% discount** on the Fulham FC Third Kit range!
View directions to the stores and opening times| .
* Max four tickets per customer. Min one adult ticket to be purchased with any junior tickets.
**20% off Third Kit is valid until midday Monday 15th February.
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/StoreTicketSales.aspx#ixzz0fMey33Ga (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/StoreTicketSales.aspx#ixzz0fMey33Ga)
Fulham Podcast
Friday 12th February 2010
Fulham FC News
The latest edition of Inside Fulham, the Official Fulham Podcast, is now online. In this edition of the Inside Fulham Podcast, Roy Hodgson will give us his thoughts on the matches against Bolton and Burnley, plus Swedish striker David Elm tells us how it feels to get his first goal for the Club.
Download or Listen here|
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/FulhamPodcastNottsCounty.aspx#ixzz0fMfLbjZv (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/FulhamPodcastNottsCounty.aspx#ixzz0fMfLbjZv)
Notts County Programme Preview
Friday 12th February 2010
Fulham FC News
Craven Cottage, home to London's oldest football club, plays host to the oldest club in the world on Sunday - in the world's oldest cup competition.
It's a game steeped in history, and a match between two clubs with a long standing tradition in the beautiful game.
This is the first time that Fulham and Notts County have met at the Cottage in the FA Cup and with the Magpies flying high in League Two and having already knocked Wigan Athletic out in the last round, they make the trip full of confidence.
So as the two teams do battle once more in our famous old ground, be sure to pick up the most traditional of football accompaniments, the matchday programme.
Packed from cover-to-cover with all the essential matchday information, the 68-page journal is the essential companion and souvenir for every Fulham fixture.
With its eye catching design and in-depth features, this week's issue includes:
Exclusive insight from Manager Roy Hodgson .
Danny Murphy's views on recent action.
Norwegian striker Erik Nevland discusses the FA Cup, progression and goals.
A peek inside the opposition's camp with Notts County defender Stephen Hunt.
Fulham's past in the Fifth Round with Club historian Dennis Turner.
Rewind with Fulham expert Ian McCulloch who digs out a classic Cup programme from the mid-1990s.
A visual journey back through time in Flashback, recalling Fulham's recent Fifth Round outings.
Match action from the cup run so far with focus on Swindon Town and Accrington Stanley.
Through the ranks profile on African defensive starlet Cheick Touré .
Unprecedented fan interaction and tonnes of fun for younger fans too.
Plus, so much more besides!
The brilliant matchday publication costs just £3 and will be on sale in and around the ground from two-hours before Kick-Off.
If you miss your copy outside then look out for sellers on the Putney and Hammersmith Terrace, or at half-time from the programme room situated inside the Johnny Haynes Stand by Block E (opposite Turnstile 24).
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/NottsCountyProgrammePreview.aspx#ixzz0fMfbmVme (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/NottsCountyProgrammePreview.aspx#ixzz0fMfbmVme)
Quote from: White Noise on February 12, 2010, 10:00:33 PM
FA Cup Team News
"We've got Gera and Konchesky training - although they're training outside of the actual First Team group, they're training with the fitness people. But they're both making exceptional progress. It would too early for them this weekend but I haven't written either of those two off as possibilities to play in the match against Shakhtar Donetsk."
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/NottsCountyTeamNews.aspx#ixzz0fMXDZzRm (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/NottsCountyTeamNews.aspx#ixzz0fMXDZzRm)
That would be GREAT to get Konch back for Europa!
Fulham v Notts County
FA Cup
Sunday 14 February
Kick-Off 15:00
On-sale dates
General Sale 9am Friday 29 January
Season ticket holders who are on the Home Cup Tie Scheme will automatically have their ticket loaded onto their Season Ticket Access Cards.
Advance Booking Prices
Adults £15
Concessions £10
Juniors £5
Matchday Prices
Adults £20
Concessions £15
Juniors £5
How to Buy tickets
buy tickets online - 7 days a week, 24 hrs a day. Save on booking fees by booking online*
by phone on 0870 442 1234 (option 1) - 7 days a week, 24 hrs a day
in person from the Ticket Office: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; non-match day Sat 10am-12pm
by fax 0207 384 4810 (download printable form )
by postal application to FFC Ticket Office, Stevenage Road, Fulham, SW6 6HH enclosing a stamped addressed envelope (download printable form )
Seatwave - the official fan-to-fan ticket exchange
Thomas Cook - match breaks for all Fulham FC home games
* Lower booking fees compared to telephone booking
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Tickets/Games/FulhamvNottsCounty.aspx#ixzz0fMftNzag (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Tickets/Games/FulhamvNottsCounty.aspx#ixzz0fMftNzag)
Third Time Lucky
Friday 12th February 2010
Fulham FC News
Don't worry if you missed out on our great half price away kit sale, as ahead of our FA Cup clash with Notts County this Sunday , you will find 20% off the entire Third Kit range , including Shirts, Shorts, and Socks in all sizes.
From Friday 12th February to Midday on Monday 15th February all Fulham Official Third Kit is on offer with 20% off, available in-store or online| .
You can now purchase the shirt from only £23.99 online| or in store today. But you'll need to be quick, the offer is only valid for a few days!
Pick up your kit at our special Valentine's Day game on Sunday!
Buy now| , this offer will expire soon!
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/ThirdKit20OFF.aspx#ixzz0fMg7411s (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/ThirdKit20OFF.aspx#ixzz0fMg7411s)
Weekend Travel Update
Friday 12th February 2010
Fulham FC News
Supporters planning on coming to this Sunday's match between Fulham and Notts County at Craven Cottage should note that ongoing works to Hammersmith Bridge and the Circle Line could affect travel times.
Hammersmith Bridge
Work on Hammersmith Bridge will continue until March 2010, the bridge will be closed to all traffic in both directions every weekend until March 15. However, the bridge will be open to cyclists and pedestrians at all times during these works.
Circle Line
There is no service on the entire line due to track replacement work this weekend. Your journey time could take up to 45 minutes extra. If you need any further information visit tfl.gov.uk| , phone 0843 222 1234 (24 hours) or speak to station staff.
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/NottsCountyWeekendTravelUpdate.aspx#ixzz0fMgTWPWj (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/NottsCountyWeekendTravelUpdate.aspx#ixzz0fMgTWPWj)
FFC Foundation Supports Sport Relief
Friday 12th February 2010
Fulham FC News
Sport Relief is back and bigger than ever and Fulham FC Foundation is proud to lend their support by challenging all true fans to get sporty, have fun and raise cash by entering the Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile in London on Sunday 21 st March .
The London Mile is one of hundreds of Sport Relief Miles taking place across the country on Sunday 21 st March 2010 and we want you to get those running shoes on and join us to make this year's event bigger and better than 2008.
Anyone taking part can choose to do one, three or six miles – and supporters are being urged to show their true colours and wear their Fulham home or away shirts with pride while taking part – along with the official Sport Relief socks, of course!
Sport Relief harnesses the power and passion of sport to change lives for the better. And, the best bit is, all the cash raised will help to transform the lives of those in desperate need across the UK and the world's poorest countries.
Fulham midfielder, Bjorn Helge Riise , said: "I am challenging all Fulham fans to do their bit for Sport Relief and enter the Sport Relief Mile in London. By taking part you will be raising cash to help people who live unimaginably tough lives every day."
Local Sport Relief miles are taking place at the following venues:
The Sutton & Ewell Nonsuch Park Mile – Epsom & Ewell/Sutton
The Redhill Mile – Reigate & Banstead
The Woking Goldsworth Park Mile – Woking
The Daytona Sandown Park Mile - Elmbridge
The Feltham College Mile - Hounslow
The Tooting Bec Mile - Wandsworth
As well as the Mile there will also be plenty of entertainment and activities on the day, for more information and details of how to get involved visit sportrelief.com. |.
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/SportRelief.aspx#ixzz0fMgftY7P (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/February/SportRelief.aspx#ixzz0fMgftY7P)
http://fulhampatsfan.blogspot.com/2010/02/fulham-play-sunday-in-fa-cup-at-craven.html
Fulham play Sunday in the FA Cup at Craven Cottage
The next game for Fulham is this Sunday February 14th, at 3PM UK Time and 10AM EST. The game will be home at Craven Cottage. The opponent on Sunday is League Two Team Notts County. A win on Sunday will put Fulham into the quarterfinals of the tournament.
According to Fulhamfc.com there is a good chance we will see a similar lineup for the team that they used against Burnley. Roy Hodgson gave a quote about the starting team. Hogdson said " There is no reason for me to envisage great changes to the Team, certainly for the game on Sunday." Also, according to Fulhamfc.com, Zoltan Gera and Paul Konchesky have come back to training. This is a good sign for Fulham.
After the FA Cup match on Sunday, Fulham play on Thursday February 18th in the Europa League at 8:05PM UK Time and 3:05PM EST. The game is against Shakhtar Donetsk at Craven Cottage. This should hopefully be a good week of football for Roy Hogdson and Fulham.
Posted by Fulham-Pats Fan at 4:13 PM
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11681_5945325,00.html
Roy slams fans' 'ingratitude'
Cottagers boss blasts unappreciative supporters
Last updated: 12th February 2010
Fulham to win 4/9, draw 10/3 or lose 6/1
First Goalscorer - Zamora 10/3, Elm 11/2 or Duff 13/2
Roy Hodgson has hit back at Fulham fans who have criticised Mohamed Al Fayed for tightening the purse strings.
The Fulham owner plucked the West London outfit out of Football League obscurity in 1997 and ploughed millions into the club en route to turning them into an established Premier League team.
Fulham enjoyed their most successful season since rejoining the top flight last term and are faring well in the Europa League this campaign, and could reach the last eight of the FA Cup if they can beat Notts County on Sunday.
While the majority of the club's fans are thankful for the progress made under Al Fayed, others believe it is time to push on and try to compete with the division's big guns.
But Hodgson believes some Craven Cottage supporters need to get a sense of perspective after citing League Two side County, who were bought by Ray Trew for £1 on Thursday with debts of more than £1.5million, and Portsmouth as examples of the dangers of crass overspending.
Lucky
"We were lucky - we had a sugar daddy, a man who was prepared to come in and put money into the club and help us," he said.
"But in recent years, certainly while I've been here, we've tried to run the club sensibly as a business.
"We are greatly indebted to Mohamed Al Fayed for all the money he has put in and the support he has given us but occasionally now you see letters from fans saying he should invest more and throw more money in and I can't believe the ingratitude.
"There we were a few years ago just about to go out of the Football League, here we are stable in the Premier League. I'd hate to see this club going the way some clubs have gone recently."
Despite all their off-the-field problems, County are in form - they have risen to seventh in League Two and have enjoyed a great cup run that has seen them defeat Premier League Wigan away.
They are 65 places below Fulham in the league ladder but Hodgson is taking nothing for granted this weekend.
Foolish
"It's been a strange season for them, hasn't it?" he said.
"The year before, they didn't do that badly in the league and people were perhaps expecting that to continue. All of a sudden, there is a massive takeover, a the dark side, Manchester City-style investment in the club, with people like Sven-Goran Eriksson coming in.
"It's been very difficult for me from distance to fully understand how these clubs think and operate.
"What I do know is they have done exceptionally well in the league and the cup recently, so irrespective of the financial problems, they have only lost once in the last eight games and have six victories.
"They have beaten Wigan at Wigan to boot. We would be very foolish not to expect a tough game from them and to not expect them to be a tough nut to crack."
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson urges Sven Goran Eriksson to throw in the towel at crisis-club Notts County
By Tom Bellwood Last updated at 10:25 PM on 12th February 2010
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has urged his close friend Sven Goran Eriksson to cut all ties with crisis-hit Notts County and return to what he does best - managing football teams.
Eriksson's dream of turning County into a leading force in English football came to a grinding halt on Thursday after the club was sold for £1 and prompted the Swede's switch from director of football to Honorary President.
The two have known each other for 30 years, from when they were managing league clubs in Sweden and have been friends ever since but Hodgson has urged the former England boss to move on.
Catch me if you can! County face Fulham in the fifth round after beating Wigan
'Sven's an outstanding football manager and coach, he is not a president. What does an honorary president even do? It's what he's done all his life, manage and coach football teams.
'The only other person I know who had that kind of role Lennart Johansson and he was given that after 15 in years in the years in the job, overseeing some fantastic changes within Uefa.'
Hodgson will come face to face with Eriksson before the FA Cup fifth round clash at Craven Cottage on Sunday, hoping his team can take another step towards their first cup final since 1975.
But he has conceded the saga which has surrounded County since Munto Finance, the Middle Eastern consortium, bought the club has had a detrimental effect on the game.
Call it a day! Hodgson says Eriksson should quit County and return to management
'What is the point of dangling carrots if you can't deliver? You'd have to ask them yourselves but I don't think this has done the club or football in general any good whatsoever.
'I'm disappointed for Sven, this was obviously a project he believed in, because he's a serious man and he wouldn't have bought in to it if he didn't believe there some hope.
'He's been let down as have the club because the promises have failed to materialise and, arguably, they are worse off than when this all started.'
Eriksson has already been linked with permanent moves away from Meadow Lane with North Korea and Nigeria rumoured to be interested in offering him the job of managing their national sides.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1250597/Fulham-boss-Roy-Hodgson-urges-Sven-Goran-Eriksson-throw-towel-crisis-club-Notts-County.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0fMi4NwdQ (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1250597/Fulham-boss-Roy-Hodgson-urges-Sven-Goran-Eriksson-throw-towel-crisis-club-Notts-County.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0fMi4NwdQ)
FULHAM v Notts County: Roy Hodgson to go unchanged with Zoltan Gera among absentees
By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 3:49 PM on 12th February 2010
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Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is set to name an unchanged side for Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Notts County at Craven Cottage.
Midfielder Zoltan Gera (knee) and left-back Paul Konchesky (foot) are both back in light training after recent injuries but are not in contention for this weekend, while in-form striker David Elm should continue up front alongside Bobby Zamora.
Kagisho Dikgacoi (ankle), Andrew Johnson, Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil (all knee) are all long-term absentees.
Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Zuberbuhler, Baird, Kelly, Stoor, Hangeland, Hughes, Smalling, Shorey, Duff, Murphy, Greening, Davies, Etuhu, Riise, Nevland, Okaka, Elm, Zamora.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1250586/FULHAM-v-Notts-County-Roy-Hodgson-unchanged-Zoltan-Gera-absentees.html#ixzz0fMiSq4cW (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1250586/FULHAM-v-Notts-County-Roy-Hodgson-unchanged-Zoltan-Gera-absentees.html#ixzz0fMiSq4cW)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/leaguetwo/nottscounty/7224840/Sven-Goran-Eriksson-makes-swift-exit-as-Notts-County-count-cost-of-financial-mess.html
Sven-Goran Eriksson makes swift exit as Notts County count cost of financial mess
Sven-Goran Eriksson left his Notts County office for the last time on Friday, boxing up his few personal effects, the furniture in his rented Nottingham apartment already removed, the traces of the former England manager's brief and surreal sojourn now gone.
By Sandy Macaskill
Published: 10:08PM GMT 12 Feb 2010
So keen is the Swede to put the experience behind him, he has written off £2.5 million owed to him by the League Two club. But for County's new owners the process of forensic analysis into the club's accounts is only just beginning, a process which was accompanied by the warning that they fully anticipate the discovery of evidence of past questionable activity.
Ray Trew, the businessman who assumed control of County for £1 from former chairman Peter Trembling, has sent in a team of five accountants, who spent the day combing through computer documents, looking for discarded invoices in their attempt to unravel the mess left behind by Munto Finance and gauge the financial turmoil at the club.
Sven-Goran Eriksson flies in to give Notts County the kiss of lifeEarly discoveries have revealed that Munto changed the accounts system on their arrival in July last year. Jim Rodwell, County's new chief executive, told Telegraph Sport: "They run up huge bills that the club could never hope to pay. I firmly believe they should be taken to task for this."
Even though Trew's involvement dates back four weeks, including more than 60 hours spent at Meadow Lane this week before signing on the dotted line, due to time implications he was not able to complete adequate due diligence.
By purchasing the club through his company Contracting Solutions Group, he has structured his takeover so that administration would be simpler if the club's debts proved worse than anticipated.
Rodwell said the new board would take a decision next week, but stressed that administration was a last resort. Trembling has been vindicated of any dubious link to Munto by the new owners. "He's been hoodwinked more than anyone," Rodwell said. "Peter was very open and transparent."
Trembling has promised to take action against Munto, provided he can track them down, of course.
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_league2/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/10/02/12/manual_182225.html&TEAMHD=nationwide3
NO WORRIES FOR NOTTS COUNTY
Notts County will be at full strength in their FA Cup fifth round tie against Fulham.
Delroy Facey has returned from a loan spell at Lincoln but the best he can hope for is a place on the bench, while striker Sean Canham is cup-tied.
Caretaker boss Dave Kevan has named the same starting line-up for the last two league matches, so the likes of Ade Akinbiyi, Luke Rodgers, Graeme Lee, Jamie Clapham and Matt Hamshaw will hope to force their way into the reckoning.
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is set to name an unchanged side.
Midfielder Zoltan Gera (knee) and left-back Paul Konchesky (foot) are both back in light training after recent injuries but are not in contention for this weekend, while in-form striker David Elm should continue up front alongside Bobby Zamora.
Kagisho Dikgacoi (ankle), Andrew Johnson, Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil (all knee) are all long-term absentees.
Fulham (from): Schwarzer, Zuberbuhler, Baird, Kelly, Stoor, Hangeland, Hughes, Smalling, Shorey, Duff, Murphy, Greening, Davies, Etuhu, Riise, Nevland, Okaka, Elm, Zamora.
http://hammyend.com/?p=5359
Up next: Notts County (h)
by Dan on February 12, 2010
Sunday sees Notts County come to town. Fulham, who have something of a hit or miss record record in the FA Cup in recent seasons, will see this as a glorious opportunity to book a place in the last eight. Notts County, once seemingly set to make the kind of surge up the footballing pyramid that Mohamed Al Fayed's funny had funded for little old Fulham after Micky Adams' basement rescue act, now suddenly seem destined for administration. With Sven-Goran Eriksson and Tord Gripp gone on the eve of their big day out which will see 4,000 supporters of the league's oldest club travel to London, who knows what will ensue on Sunday. Is it another one of Peter Trembling's false dawns?
Mark Schwarzer eluded to the fact that, with their form on the upturn of late, Fulham would rather be playing for league points this weekend. They might have rediscovered the swagger that saw them swot Manchester United aside before Christmas, but there was an ease about the home side's football as they swarmed all over Burnley in the second half on Tuesday night. With the return of Dickson Etuhu and Bobby Zamora, the spine of Roy Hodgson's side suddenly looked stronger and the manager was moved to describe David Elm, whose summer purchase from Kalmar had been seen as something of a gamble, as a revelation.
Changes are almost certain to be made for the visit of Notts County with games against Shakhtar Donetsk and Birmingham City to follow quickly afterwards, but not as many as you might think. Hodgson has spoken this week about his desire to 'attack the FA Cup,' knowing that his team are only 180 minutes away from a rare appearance at Wembley. Stephen Kelly might get another chance to prove himself at right back and Chris Smalling could come into the heart of the defence, whilst Jonathan Greening and Bjorn-Helge Riise might feature in midfield. There's something intriguing about pairing the raw Stefano Okaka with Elm, with confidence now surely coarsing through his veins, up front.
Notts County certainly shouldn't be taken for granted, although they have fallen away from their early pacesetting form at the top of the League Two table. They plenty of players with Premier League pedigree. Eyebrows were raised that Kasper Schmeichel, so impressive when he made a top-flight impact for Manchester City a few years ago (he kept goal well in a thriller at Craven Cottage just a couple of seasons back), decided to drop down the divisions in the summer, persuaded by Eriksson's charm perhaps. Jamie Clapham has plenty of top flight and European experience from his days at Ipswich and is a tireless worker in midfield, whilst the likes of Lee Hughes, whose return to professional football from prison sparked plenty of debate and Ade Akinbiyi, sure to get a hot reception from those who remember his Gillingham antics, could be a handful up front. Fulham will certainly remember Craig Westcarr, who twice brought non-league Kettering level as they threatened to embarass us at the fourth round stage last year.
MY FULHAM XI (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Kelly, Shorey, Smalling, Hangeland; Greening, Murphy, Riise, Davies; Elm, Okaka. Subs: Zuberbuhler, Baird, Hughes, Etuhu, Duff, Nevland, Zamora.
http://football.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/02/12/sunfulham-v-notts-county-preview/
Fulham v Notts County Preview: Roy Hodgson is Relishing his Cup Luck
12/2/2010 12:20 PM GMT By Jon West
FULHAM:
The luck of the draw is an important ingredient for any team outside the so-called Big Four hoping to progress in the FA Cup and so far Fulham have had no complaints.
Roy Hodgson's side, who are also in the hunt for Europa League glory, host Notts County, the last remaining League Two side, having disposed of League One and League Two opposition in the previous rounds.
Hodgson rarely gets excited - or at least shows it in public - but admits that getting to Wembley would be an achievement to add to the accomplishment of having turned the club from seemingly relegation certainties to European qualifiers in a short space of time.
"I don't think we can ever dismiss the fact that winning a trophy for Fulham would be a red letter day," he said. "There would be very few people putting money on us to win the Europa League given the level of competition and the fact that some of our very best players are not available to play between now and the rest of the season.
"The FA Cup? Maybe we've got a slight shout. We've been lucky with the draws. We've played Swindon, Accrington and now we're playing Notts County, so we can't say the draw has been unkind to us.
"It's in our hands and if we can do well and get through, who knows what the next round would bring. We have high hopes and aspirations. There'll be lots of tough nuts to crack before we get there and we're aware of that."
Strategy: Hodgson reckons he no longer has selection problems as he only has 18 fit players. The Whites are delighted striker Bobby Zamora is back in the starting line-up following a shoulder injury however and midfielder Simon Davies, absent since the end of last season after an operation on a foot, is also back in the fold. They know they have to be careful about County's atttacking threat, particularly from set-pieces, but expect Fulham to make a high-powered start in an attempt to make their extra pace count.
Injury update: John Pantsil, Paul Konchesky, Clint Dempsey and Kagisho Dikgacoi are all injured and out of Hodgson's plans.
NOTTS COUNTY:
The League Two side have rarely been out of the headlines this season and this week has been no exception, with the club having been sold for £1 to Ray Trew, the former Lincoln City chairman. Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has resigned as director of football as a result but may still attend in his new role of joint life president. Now they want to make the headlines because of what happens on the pitch at Fulham - at team that are 65 places above them in the pyramid. It will be a special day for Craig Westcarr, who scored twice against the Londoners when he played for Kettering in the fourth round last season. Fulham went on to win 4-2.
http://www.givemefootball.com/premier-league/on-this-day-in-history-february-12th-
On This Day In History: February 12th
Tribute to Phil Kelso: a manager from the old school
(http://www.givemefootball.com/GMF/files/89/89000522-e326-47ba-be9b-1359763c4338.jpg)
By John Harding February 12, 2010
Phil Kelso dies. Phil was a manager in the early years of the 20th century, essentially an administrator who never played professionally (although he did once turn out for Fulham in an emergency during the war at the age of 47!).
He was best known for his reign at Fulham, beginning in May 1909 and lasting until the end of the 1923-4 season although during his years at Woolwich Arsenal, whom he joined in 1904, he took the Gunners to two FA Cup semi finals.
At Craven Cottage he had to contend with a series of financial problems as well as an attempt by his former Fulham chairman, Henry Norris, to merge the Cottagers with his former club, Arsenal, where Norris was in charge!
Phil was a disciplinarian, who held strong views on smoking and drinking but in other ways he was very modern, expecting players to live close to London while taking them away from the capital on the night before matches. More than one player left as a result of his strict regime.
He remains the manager who has had sole control of team affairs at the Cottage for the longest time, 15 years, with four seasons of League football lost to the Great War. Phil was 53 when he called it a day, but stayed in the area as the landlord of The Grove in Hammersmith and then the Rising Sun in the Fulham Road.
A keen golfer and bowls player, he was also chairman of the Football League Managers and Secretaries association. He died aged 64 and is buried in Sheen Cemetery.
Lee Hughes can make the difference -
http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10426~1963565,00.html
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=740230&sec=england&root=england&cc=5739
Fulham (LLWDW) v Notts County (WWWWL) - 1500 GMT
As the only League Two side left in the competition, little is expected of Notts County but the Magpies shocked Wigan Athletic in the previous round when triumphing 2-0 at the DW Stadium. With a record of just one defeat in their previous 14 home games, though, and having beaten Burnley 3-0 in midweek, Fulham will be confident of avoiding a giant killing and reaching the quarter-finals for the second year in succession. Andy Johnson is sidelined with a knee injury so David Elm could be handed another chance after he scored his first goal for the club in the win over Burnley.
County know they face likely elimination at the hands of a seasoned Premier League outfit. Caretaker manager Dave Kevan saw a seven-match unbeaten run brought to a halt by defeat to Bournemouth on Tuesday and could well field a 4-5-1 formation, meaning former Ipswich and Birmingham midfielder Jamie Clapham could come into the side.
http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/football-ealing/fulham-fc-ealing/2010/02/12/smalling-s-manchester-united-move-to-go-ahead-even-if-he-s-injured-64767-25822013/
Smalling's Manchester United move to go ahead even if he's injured
Feb 12 2010 By Paul Warburton
CHRIS Smalling's £8million move to Manchester United will go ahead even if the Fulham defender suffers serious injury between now and the end of the season.
There is no get-out clause in the contract of the 20-year-old who swaps the more homely surrounds of Craven Cottage for the might of Old Trafford in May.
In fact, should the worse happen and Smalling incur something like season-wrecking cruciate damage - he will have done so with Sir Alex Ferguson's blessing. The only time the Manchester United manager has forbidden the centre-back to play is when Fulham visit the Reds on March 14.
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson revealed that cancelling the deal, because of an injury to the player who's only made eight appearances in a white shirt, never arose.
He said: "Sir Alex is also realistic to know he'll be playing a lot of football between now and the end of the season - and things can happen.
"The question of Chris being injured never came up. And knowing Chris as I do, he'll play well for us until he goes because it takes pressure away. His future's been even more finely tuned by joining Man U."
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23805393-craig-westcarr-hopes-to-hit-top-gear-against-fulham.do
Craig Westcarr out to hit top gear at Fulham
David Smith
12.02.10
Journeyman striker Craig Westcarr heads for Craven Cottage on Sunday vowing to inflict a new FA Cup scare on Fulham.
Last year Westcarr hit both non-League
Kettering's goals in a thrilling fourth-road tie, which Fulham only won 4-2 after Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora scored in the last couple of minutes.
Now Westcarr is coming to London with League Two promotion chasers Notts County and he is ready to make his mark again.
The 25-year-old, who has already played for seven clubs, said: "Kettering probably should have got a replay last January. Certainly, scoring against Fulham was one of the best days I've had."
Although Notts County have been firing on the pitch there have been problems off it following the ill-fated takeover by a Middle-East consortium in the summer.
Their future was finally secured yesterday when they were bought by former Lincoln chief Ray Trew, which saw ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson quit as director of football.
Westcarr insisted the players have not been distracted by the turmoil. He said: "We've got a tight unit and we're all sticking together and playing for each other."
Fulham are set to give David Elm another chance after the Swede scored against Burnley in midweek but Simon Davies faces a test on an ankle injury.
http://www.clarets-mad.co.uk/feat/edb1/fifty_per_cent_more_ecky_thump_495194/index.shtml
Both Blake and Eagles were left out of a more defensive starting line-up at Craven Cottage. It was surprise enough when Eagles was left on the bench for the West Ham game and in came Blake. For the Fulham game in came defender Edgar as well as the two full backs and the two central defenders. After nearly three years of Coyle's line-ups, I must say my eyebrows lifted at this one and also at the story that Eagles was far from happy with life at the Turf. Edgar went to left back, and Fox to left midfield. The intentions may have been good; the result was much the same as so many other away games.
Make no mistake Burnley were poor and were totally outplayed by a big, strong, sharp, accurate and very accomplished Fulham. But an appalling linesman lost this game for Burnley as well as their own ineptitude. Clear offside decisions were missed resulting in the first two goals. This was linesman Mike Bull, a more apt name you would struggle to find, his decisions utter bullsh*t. Millions of pounds hang on decisions like these and though we can understand hairline decisions being wrong, and the sheer pace of the game, or cheating, catching officials out, the obvious offsides demand to be seen. The third goal was the result of a free-kick which could have gone either way with Zamora sticking his straight-arm out in rugby fend-off fashion in a 50/50 tussle. Bennett of course gave the decision to Fulham. Zamora disdainfully stroked the free kick home from outside the box, both wall and Jensen at fault with Towneleyesque positioning: Thank you and goodnight.
No one could suggest that Burnley deserved anything from a sorry performance, but neither could anyone say that without these three decisions from the officials, Burnley might not have just scraped home with a lucky 0-0 draw, bad as they were. Fletcher, Nugent and Elliott were nonentities, communication between Jensen and Mears nil, Edgar is no left back, moves broke down, the ball was given away, first-touch was frequently clumsy, barely a header was won all night up front; and despite Fox being brought in to bolster the left side of midfield in front of Edgar, Duff still had the freedom of the park and ran at will. Then, when Cort went off and the re-shuffle put Edgar into central defence, Zamora gave him a torrid time, and Duff continued to enjoy himself against Fox. In Murphy, Duff and Zamora, Fulham had three players who ran Burnley ragged.
The Mirror commented that on the Andrew Marr Show, Alastair Campbell was for once lost for words. So were Burnley supporters after this show. The Telegraph suggested that somewhere soon real humiliation is heading Burnley's way with displays like this. The cruellest comment was that they looked so lost; a ball of string might help them find their way round the pitch. My pal Tim who was there emailed to say that it was "chastening" and what was lacking was "speed of thought." Maybe the latter is one of the key things that separate the established Prem sides from the newcomers.
It was difficult to see any positives. I watched it on the internet, not a bad picture but the view limited of course. Comments on the message boards and the Press suggested it was far worse watching it in the raw. Arguments centred around the old chicken and egg problem; were Fulham extremely good because Burnley were extremely poor; or were Burnley poor simply because Fulham were very good. Does it really matter? Burnley were very, very poor and it's as simple as that with a number of players looking out of their depth. The incessantly vociferous travelling supporters, meanwhile, were a source of wonderment to all neutrals, Fulham fans, TV commentators and reporters. All night long they kept up the chanting loud and clear. It was reminiscent of when Jimmy Mullen took Burnley to Derby many years ago and the support they gave was the talk of the football world. Fulham on a cold, damp Tuesday in February, a trip not for the faint-hearted; but there they were, simply magnificent. Pity the team couldn't match them on the night. Sadly, it was Fulham and Zamora who had 100% more 'ecky thump.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Roy-Hodgson-hits-out-at-Fulham-fans-over-criticism-of-club-owner-Mohamed-Al-Fayed-article321525.html
Hodgson hits out at Fulham fans over Al Fayed criticism
Published 17:09 12/02/10
By MirrorFootball
Roy Hodgson has slammed Fulham fans who have criticised club owner Mohamed Al Fayed for not splashing the cash in pursuit of silverware.
The Cottagers have established themselves as a solid Premier League side over the last few seasons and are currently 10th in the table.
They have also made it through to the knockout stages of the Europa League and take on Notts County in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday.
While the majority of the club's fans are thankful for the progress made under Al Fayed, the owner of retail giant Harrods who took over Fulham in 1997 when they were at the wrong end of the league pyramid, others believe it is the time to push on and try to compete with the Premier League's big guns.
Hodgson cited League Two side County, who were bought by Ray Trew for £1 yesterday with debts of more than £1.5million and risk being wound up, and Portsmouth as examples of the dangers of crass overspending.
And he believes Fulham supporters need to get a sense of perspective.
"We were lucky - we had a sugar daddy, a man who was prepared to come in and put money into the club and help us," he said.
"But in recent years, certainly while I've been here, we've tried to run the club sensibly as a business.
"We are greatly indebted to Mohamed Al Fayed for all the money he has put in and the support he has given us but occasionally now you see letters from fans saying he should invest more and throw more money in and I can't believe the ingratitude.
"There we were a few years ago just about to go out of the Football League, here we are stable in the Premier League. I'd hate to see this club going the way some clubs have gone recently."
Despite all their off-the-field problems, County are in form on it. They have risen to seventh in League Two and have enjoyed a great cup run that has seen them defeat Premier League Wigan away.
They are 65 places below Fulham in the league ladder but Hodgson is taking nothing for granted this weekend.
"It's been a strange season for them, hasn't it?" he said. "The year before, they didn't do that badly in the league and people were perhaps expecting that to continue. All of a sudden, there is a massive takeover, a Chelsea, Manchester City-style investment in the club, with people like Sven-Goran Eriksson coming in.
"It's been very difficult for me from distance to fully understand how these clubs think and operate.
"What I do know is they have done exceptionally well in the league and the cup recently, so irrespective of the financial problems, they have only lost once in the last eight games and have six victories.
"They have beaten Wigan at Wigan to boot. We would be very foolish not to expect a tough game from them and to not expect them to be a tough nut to crack."
Hodgson has no new injury worries for Sunday and has welcomed back Zoltan Gera (knee) and Paul Konchesky (foot) from injury.
The County game will come too soon for the pair, though, and Hodgson is set to name the same team that started the 3-0 win over Burnley in the Premier League on Tuesday.
That means another start for David Elm, the Swedish striker who opened his account for the club with a goal against the Clarets in his second-successive start.
"What we're going to find with him, I'm sure, is that it's going to weigh heavily on him game after game but it was really good to see that he repaid the faith we've always had in him," Hodgson said.
"We've seen a good player in him and we have always believed that if he got his chance, he is good enough to take it."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/feb/12/worst-valentines-day-ideas
Going out
A Valentine's dinner date is rarely what it's cracked up to be. More often than not, you'll end up in a restaurant you'd never have chosen yourself (because your favourites were all booked up months ago), eating food you don't really like (only the best set menu for you), and bashing elbows with the couples seated either side of you (well, you said you wanted intimate).
Still, if your heart's set on a slap-up meal, where better than your local Ikea, the land of Swedish meatballs and marital squabbles? You can tuck in to a three-course set menu for just £6.95 and pick up a bunch of freshly cut flowers on your way out - a snip at £1.99. Or choose from two for one whoppers at Burger King, a two-course Toby carvery for £5, or a free 'sundae best' ice cream with any main meal at Harvester, all courtesy of Toptable.
Fancy a pint down the local instead? JD Wetherspoon is luring couples in with its £14.99 'two steaks and a bottle of wine' deal, while the Trafford Arms in Norwich is hosting its 17th annual Valentine's beer festival. No? We thought not.
The dining with a difference award goes to the terraces at Fulham FC, where you can settle in with a jumbo hot dog and enjoy a live FA Cup match at the same time. Fulham v Notts County kicks off at 3pm, tickets £15.
http://www.thisiswalsallonline.co.uk/sport/Walsall-sign-Arsenal-Crystal-Palace-winger/article-1830978-detail/article.html
Walsall sign former Arsenal and Crystal Palace winger
Friday, February 12, 2010, 08:00
THE Saddlers have completed the signing of talented left-winger Julian Gray until the end of the season.
The 30-year-old learned his trade at Arsenal where he earned a glowing reputation as he came through the ranks.
His first-team opportunities were limited to just one substitute appearance for the Gunners and Crystal Palace paid a fee of £500,000 to take him to Selhurst Park in 2000.
His undoubted skill and ability on the left-hand side really came to the fore at Palace and he went on to become a key figure for the club in more than 100 appearances.
During that time he scored the goal that knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup in 2002/03 at Anfield and also helped them secure promotion into the Premier League.
Moving on to Birmingham City in readiness for the 2004/05 campaign, he played an important role under Steve Bruce at St Andrews before being released in May 2007.
A short spell at Coventry City followed before he went on a season-long loan to Fulham in September 2008, which was made into a permanent deal in February of last year.
Finding his first-team chances limited at Craven Cottage, he joined Barnsley earlier this season and went on to play in seven games for the Championship outfit, including a League Cup tie against Manchester United.
Gray – who has been handed squad number 24 – stands by to make his debut at Oldham Athletic tomorrow (Saturday) subject to the necessary clearance being received from The FA and Football League.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/birmingham/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8491000/8491009.stm
"I booked Bobby Moore when I refereed at Fulham and he was a gentleman and he said to me, 'You're quite right, Harry, I deserved it'."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article7022740.ece
The Ireland striker has tricks aplenty, but the truth is, it is Diomansy Kamara who has made the most impressive of all these fresh career starts at Celtic in recent days. The Senegal striker has a ranginess that carries him effortlessly past opponents, and on this evidence you can see why Fulham, even if they were a bit carried away, paid £6.5 million for him two years ago. Kamara helped to soothe Celtic on a jittery night for Mowbray's players.
'I'd chop Terry's manhood off'
NICOLA T calls old pal an 'a******* who's into slappers' and blasts her moody ex Zamora
By TIM NIXON
Published: Today
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GLAMOUR girl NICOLA T has branded former pal JOHN TERRY an "a******* who's into slappers".
The Celebrity Big Brother star - whose ex-boyfriend BOBBY ZAMORA is best mates with Terry - claims the cheating Chelsea ace has a split personality.
He can be raving about family life one minute and then chasing skirt the next, according to Nicola.
She told The Sun: "I think he's two people. He was one of Bobby's best friends and I met him a lot.
"He seemed so lovely and nice, always speaking about his family. He was always talking about how much he loved his kids. So that's the lovely John Terry.
"But then you've got the 'a******* who's into slappers' side of him."
Close buddies ... Bobby Zamora and John Terry
Terry has touched down in Dubai in a bid to salvage his marriage with TONI POOLE, following revelations about his affair with former teammate WAYNE BRIDGE's ex VANESSA PERRONCEL.
She added: "If I ever met Vanessa I'd knock her out on behalf of every woman in the country.
"If I was Toni I'd like to think I'd chop his d*** off and shove it up his a***.
Former flame ... Nicola with Bobby Zamora
"But then again, maybe they should stay together for the children. It's really difficult."
Nicola split with Fulham striker Zamora in 2008.
The mum-of-one is now engaged to Plymouth Argyle midfielder SIMON WALTON, currently on loan at Crewe Alexandra.
Despite her life as a WAG, Nicola admits infidelity is rife within football as few men are capable of turning down the advances of lusty ladies.
The former Page 3 pin-up said: "Most footballers are probably like John Terry.
"If any bloke is given a load of female attention when they're out and temptation's put in front of them, there's going to be a pretty high percentage of men who'll take it. It's not just footballers.
"I think with footballers, it's just offered more to them because of the situation they're in - and girls are just shallow."
However, Nicola is convinced her man will never stray.
She added: "I don't know how he deals with the attention but I don't worry about it. I trust him.
"I just say to him, 'Go out, get drunk, enjoy yourself, but come home.'"
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2851236/Nicola-T-Id-chop-off-John-Terrys-manhood.html#ixzz0fMv1Adak (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2851236/Nicola-T-Id-chop-off-John-Terrys-manhood.html#ixzz0fMv1Adak)
And then Boa Morte, whose transfer fee somehow rose from the £1.7m he cost Fulham in 2001 to £5m when he arrived at Upton Park six years later - a staggering fee for a 29-year-old.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/sunsport_columnists/2850241/Who-I-blame-for-Hammers-mess.html#ixzz0fMvnP3oT (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/sunsport_columnists/2850241/Who-I-blame-for-Hammers-mess.html#ixzz0fMvnP3oT)
What Im about to write is probably not all correct, as my memory isn't great.
However while it was decent business for us as he'd become too self-important.
I think its staggeringly derisory to FFC to say Boa wasn't worth the £5m paid by a stuggling West Ham.
He was our captain,one of our best players at that time plus he was on the cusp of playing for Portugal.
Easily worth £5m and £50,000k a week to them...
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/I-can-finally-fulfill-my-potential-at-Newcastle-says-Wayne-Routledge-article321607.html
Routledge: 'I can finally fulfill my potential at Newcastle'
Published 05:00 12/02/10
By Simon Bird
Wayne Routledge wants to end his days as a football nomad by fulfilling his potential at Newcastle.
The winger has played for eight clubs in five years including Spurs, Portsmouth, Fulham and Aston Villa, and to prove his ambition he's already bought a house in Toon.
Chris Hughton snapped up Routledge last month from QPR for £1million and he has already had an impact. United face Swansea in a lunchtime kick off today forced by Sky, with Newcastle's supporters buses having to setting off at 3am to complete the journey.
But it is Routledge's unsettled existence that had hampered his career and he hopes to make Newcastle his long term home. He said: "I just want to be settled.
"I've been a nomad over the last few years, constantly moving around and that isn't good for any player. I want to put down roots, I think that is important here.
"I want to settle down. I thought that would happen at QPR, but it didn't because of a variety of reasons but now I'm at Newcastle I want to be here for years.
"I've reached a point where I don't want to be moving around the whole time, I want to be able to concentrate fully on my football and to do that I need to build a career at one club. Hopefully that will bring out the best in me when I'm out on the pitch knowing I'm settled in my life. Newcastle is the perfect place for me to do that.
"The manager has said he feels as though he's got me at a good age and I'd agree with that. When I worked with him at Tottenham I was very young and I made mistakes. I was still learning a lot, I mean I'm still learning now, but I lacked experience on and off the pitch.
"I've been through quite a lot in my career already and it feels as though I've come to Newcastle a more mature person. I have still got progress to make, but I'm able to offer a lot more now than I did."
Newcastle have not won on their travels since December 9 and lost top spot after their 3-0 defeat to Derby this week. A boost is needed and Routledge said: "It was just a disappointing game for us against Derby.
"We are looking to the future now, we have an important game at Swansea and if we get three points there everyone will forget about that result at Derby.
"We have to remember we are points ahead of Nottingham Forest with a game in hand and we are level on points with West Brom with a game in hand. We've built up a bit of lead but we have to keep going.".
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Sven-Goran-Eriksson-was-naive-to-believe-anyone-would-bankroll-Notts-County-into-the-Premier-League-says-new-owner-Ray-Trew-article321625.html
Sven was wrong to believe Notts County could spend way to the top, says owner
Published 23:00 12/02/10
By James Nursey
New Notts County owner Ray Trew believes Sven Goran Eriksson was naive to think anyone would bankroll the club into the Premier League.
Eriksson, 62, was unveiled as League Two County's director of football last July with a mission to get the club to the top-flight.
And he stayed as the Magpies chased investment of £25-50million to keep their ambitions alive despite mysterious backers Munto Finance pulling out in December.
But ex-England boss Eriksson has finally left Meadow Lane after outgoing chairman Peter Trembling admitted gaining such a huge cash injection was impossible.
Now businessman Trew, who used to run Lincoln, has stepped in to stop the embattled club, which has debts of £4million, going bust over a winding up order.
Trew admires Eriksson for sticking with County so long given the club's problems and tips him to get a new job soon - as manager of Nigeria at the World Cup.
But he is critical of the previous regime's running of the club and reckons ideas anyone would plough millions into County were misplaced.
"They were always hopeful that this sum of £25-£50m would be found," said Trew.
"But this is a League Two club for goodness sake and one has to be real about this because that was never going to be achievable.
"If you are going to spend £50m on a football club, you are not going to buy Notts County.
"I am sure Sven will have some harsh words to say and must feel let down.
"But I think he will take it on the chin and has a few jobs offers - I think he is in for the Nigeria job."
Businessman Trew, a trained accountant, is launching a probe into County's finances amid suspicions at Munto Finance's short-lived reign.
Tomorrow's FA Cup fifth round tie at Premier League Fulham could be the last game for some of County's top earners like keeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Trew is hoping County win in a televised replay as he is banking on at least £140,000 in revenue from tomorrow's match plus potentially £250,000 prize money.
Trew met club employees yesterday and warned them there need to be big cut-backs to survive due to excessive expenditure - which continued even after Munto left.
He added: "If I was in the hot-seat three months ago as well as looking for funding, I would have concentrated on making cuts.
"They had the opportunity and because the transfer window was open, economies could have been made.
"It has carried on being run like a Premier League club but without the financial resources.
"Now there are various problems like the transfer window being closed and a transfer embargo.
"Potentially we could loan players to the Championship but the squad here is quite small and we don't have the ability to even bring players in as replacements.
"Our ambitions for the season are still promotion and initially my money is going to be spent getting us through until the end of the season and then having a big sort out.
"The best scenario for us this weekend would be to get a draw because we would more than certainly get the cameras down here at Meadow Lane for a replay and hopefully we can beat them here."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article7025862.ece
Sven-Göran Eriksson left Notts County to avoid administration
Peter Lansley
Sven-Göran Eriksson has waived his right to £2.4 million as a farewell gesture to Notts County. The former England head coach, who announced his departure from the club on Thursday, has 4½ years remaining on his contract as director of football at Meadow Lane. However, the Swede has decided not to pursue any legal entitlement to a high level of compensation.
Eriksson had come in as County's director of football in a blaze of publicity last summer but the collapse of Munto Finance has left them £4 million in debt.
He said yesterday: "Time was short for us and in the end I signed the agreement to leave the club because the alternative would maybe have been for the club to disappear. I don't want to be the man to take Notts County into administration, that's why I signed the agreement yesterday.
"I am very sorry because I like the club and everyone in the club; they are very nice, very genuine people. I did feel personal responsibility — I know some of the players wouldn't be there if I was not. Of course I feel that. I stayed on as long as I could because of the players, the coaching staff and the fans.
"I tried as hard as I could to find people who could help us. After Peter Trembling took over the club we travelled all over looking for finance for the club. I have been to Norway, Sweden, Spain, Germany and London many, many times.
"The last time I was in London was yesterday to meet someone about taking over the club. But the guarantees never came and yesterday at 5pm Peter sold the club.
Eriksson was never paid the sums promised by Munto Finance. He has always said he remained at Meadow Lane because he genuinely believed in the viability of seeing County, the world's oldest league club, rise from League Two to the Championship and even beyond. He said:"I liked the idea of the project. It was like a dream for me.
"I am deeply sorry for the players, the coaches working in the stadium — hard-working, down-to-earth people and for the fans. It was a dream for them, and they have suffered big problems. I am sorry this happened at the last moment but it's going on as a club, even if it is not in the Premier League."
Ray Trew, the new owner, acknowledged that Eriksson has acted as "an absolute gentleman" in accepting payment only up until Monday, while Kasper Schmeichel has called on his team-mates to produce their best for Eriksson, who will retain an honorary role as life president, when they face Fulham in the FA Cup fifth round tomorrow.
"It would be nice to win it for Sven," said the goalkeeper, whom Eriksson signed from Manchester City for an undisclosed club-record fee on a five-year contract. "Sven is a great man. It's sad to see him go. He thanked us for our efforts and we thanked him for his.
"He was here this morning like he has been every morning. I have a huge respect for him and I understand the pressure that he has been under. I knew how much the project meant to him."
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/opinion/andy-west/53018-penniless-portsmouth-set-premier-league-example-to-avoid-
Turning Pompey into a regular trophy contender was never a realistic aim, for a number of reasons. Firstly, their stadium, Fratton Park, has a very limited commercial value with its capacity of just 20,000 (it's also by far the least welcoming venue in the Premier League: some old grounds, like Fulham's Craven Cottage, have retained some old-world charm...Fratton Park hasn't; it is an absolute dump). Moreover, the club has a moderate history, a moderate fan base, has never been anything more than moderately successful or moderately wealthy. Yet there was absolutely no moderation in the way they recklessly spent money. Now, those heady days of living way beyond their means is coming back to haunt them in spectacular fashion.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0213/1224264351704.html
Portsmouth paying heavy price for FA Cup win
MICHAEL WALKER
SOCCER ANGLES : A plan is in the making to get clubs to advance Portsmouth €12.6 million so they can go into administration, play out the season and not skew the league so obviously
PORTSMOUTH JUST won't go away, will they? Not as an issue, not as an example of the perils of gross financial mismanagement and overstretched, under-checked short-term ambition. Not as a cause for head-shaking.
But they may go away in another sense. It is hard to believe that in 2010, 18 years after the land-grab foundation of the Premier League, which is on the verge of a massive overseas TV deal, that one of its 20 members, and the winners of the FA Cup just two years ago, can not just be placed in administration but can be liquidated.
But that is where we are.
It is 15 years since Alan Sugar, then Tottenham owner, aimed his "Carlos Kickaball" accusation at Jürgen Klinsmann over the German striker's desire to earn bigger wages at Bayern Munich, but while the term has hung around, its meaning and its implications were left on the shelf.
As a former Portsmouth player said on Radio 5 recently, it was known within the game that Sol Campbell's salary on joining Portsmouth in 2006 – one month before his 32nd birthday – was €120,000 per week. The average attendance at Fratton Park in Campbell's first season was 19,862. Those two figures belong on different graphs. At different clubs.
Campbell did his job. Having finished one place above relegation the season before, Portsmouth came ninth. They beat Manchester United and Liverpool. Soon Campbell would be joined by Jermaine Defoe, Niko Kranjcar and Sylvain Distin, among others.
It seems reasonable to speculate that that quartet alone commanded wages of €345,000 per week, 52 weeks a year, at club with an average attendance below 20,000, who had 19 guaranteed home games.
Because there was a Russian multi-millionaire's name above the door, Alexandre Gaydamak, no one at Premier League HQ appeared to question these economics.
And the thing is, no one there has the legal power to do so. Providing Gaydamak could prove his wealth, which he could, the Premier League was and remains hamstrung. They were not to know that Gaydamak would suddenly withdraw his investment. But this is the free market. As in other walks of life, deregulation is the key.
What we can do without is the self-satisfaction. The chief executive of the Premier League, Richard Scudamore, yesterday referred to it as "my league" while discussing foreign rights. Scudamore is of the belief that the scale of television deals prove the Premier League to be the biggest and the best in the world and he was generally typically positive about the situation as a whole. He has an argument.
But where do Portsmouth fit in that? The club, founded in 1898, were in the High Court in London on Wednesday over €14 million of unpaid taxes. They were given a week's stay of execution.
Realistically they have three options: go into administration, thereby accepting a nine-point deduction and automatic relegation; liquidation, meaning the end of the club, the sale of all its assets and the cancellation of all contracts; or hope for a saviour.
Options one and two are the bookmakers' favourites. Liquidation sounds drastic – it is – but it is clearly a possibility.
Thursday's newspapers produced a 19-club Premier League table to show the effects of Portsmouth's liquidation. All the club's results would be void and so those teams who have beaten Portsmouth this season would suffer a three-point deduction. Arsenal, Fulham, City and United, who have beaten them twice, would lose six points. Alarmingly for West Ham and their new owners, they would drop from 14th to 19th.
Then take Burnley and Hull. At the moment Burnley are third-bottom on 23 points, Hull one place and one point above them. If Portsmouth go into liquidation those placings are reversed. Think of the implications, think of the finances, think of the law suits.
It is an embarrassing position for the greatest league to be in. So a plan is in the making to get the clubs to advance Portsmouth €12.6 million so that they can go into administration, play out the season and not skew the league so obviously.
However, if Hull City say yes to this plan before administration, and Portsmouth then overtake them on the run-in, Hull might feel a bit foolish. It is therefore hard to believe they, for one, will vote in favour of the plan before the next court case.
But if Portsmouth were to take their points deduction and go into administration – thus accepting relegation – then the clubs would probably vote to give them €12.6 million as an up-front instalment on revenue due later in the year. Portsmouth would go out of the Premier League but not out of existence.
There could still be moaning. Portsmouth being reduced to seven points would surely obliterate collective if not individual motivation.
So it could be argued that the table would still be skewed: Burnley host Portsmouth in a fortnight, Hull go to Fratton Park next month. Wolves' penultimate game of the season is at Portsmouth. You can imagine the clamour should there be even one duff performance from Portsmouth in the run-in.
Ordinarily the fact that Portsmouth have a local derby today against Southampton would be enough reason to focus on them. It is, moreover, in the FA Cup.
Portsmouth fans, however, may not wish to mention the Cup for much longer.
Effectively they bought it in 2008 on unfair terms over more prudent rivals. They got some great days out, which must have upset those rivals who would also have liked them.
Who's sorry now?
http://www.espnstar.com/football/fa-cup/news/detail/item396170/Hodgson-lays-challenge-to-Elm/
Hodgson lays challenge to Elm
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has challenged David Elm to "grasp the nettle" to nail down a regular place in the starting XI.
Elm found it hard to adapt to English football following his £500,000 switch from Kalmar FF last summer but he has finally forced his way into Hodgson's plans.
The 27-year-old has started the last two matches, against Bolton and Burnley, and opened his account for Fulham with the team's second goal in the 3-0 win over the Clarets in the Barclays Premier League on Tuesday.
Elm will keep his place in the Cottagers' line-up for Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Notts County at Craven Cottage and Hodgson is interested to see if the striker can maintain his strong form.
"He has had two very good games on the trot," Hodgson said.
"What we are going to find with him, I'm sure, is that it's going to weigh heavily on him game after game but it was really good to see that he has repaid the faith that we've always had in him.
"We've seen a good player in him and we have always believed that if he got his chance, he would be good enough to take it. He now has to grasp the nettle."
Hodgson is keen to take up the option of keeping Elm in south-west London for a further two years, with the player's initial 12-month deal set to come to an end this summer.
Elm will be confident of getting on the scoresheet against County, who are the lowest-ranked club still alive in the cup. Indeed, the Magpies are 65 places below Fulham on the league ladder.
Hodgson has no new injuries to contend with and his absentee list is slowly clearing up, with Zoltan Gera and Paul Konchesky back in training after recovering from knee and foot injuries respectively.
The pair could return to first-team action when Fulham resume their Europa League campaign next Thursday.
"They won't be ready for this weekend but I haven't written them off for the game with Shakhtar Donetsk," Hodgson added.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/mike-walters/Exclusive-interview-with-Notts-County-goalkeeper-Kasper-Schmeichel-The-Mike-Walters-column-article321787.html
Wally meets... Kasper Schmeichel
By Mike Walters
Published 06:00 13/02/10
The great Swedish lothario popped into Notts County's dressing room yesterday to say his fond farewells.
After another quiet week at Meadow Lane, when the Football League's oldest club was taken over and a former England coach left the payroll, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was sadder than most to see Sven Goran Eriksson pack his bags.
It was Eriksson who handed Schmeichel his Premier League debut at Manchester City two-and-a-half years ago, and the blessed Sven who sold County's dream of surfing through the divisions to one of football's most recognisable chips off the old block.
And now he has gone, somehow tomorrow's FA Cup tie at Craven Cottage on Valentine's Day doesn't hold the same appeal. Instead of red roses, perhaps we should lay a wreath - because we may never see Eriksson in English football again.
Sven was only part of the Nottingham landscape for six months, but during his short stopover County ceased to be Forest's poor relations across the Trent.
Thirty years ago, when they lived permanently in Brian Clough's shadow next door, it was only of passing amusement when growling ex-County manager Jimmy Sirrel said of his centre forward: "He may be a donkey - but at least he's a 24-carat donkey."
But now, even among the grated cheddar jostling for the loft hatch out of League Two, they are big cheeses. Promotion rivals Bournemouth even accused Schmeichel of trashing a dressing room door in a hissy-fit in midweek after County's six-match winning streak away from home ended at Dean Court.
"It's not even a storm in a teacup," shrugged the Danish Under-21 international, whose shock of blond hair and voluble encouragement of defenders to keep their standards high are genetic traits he inherited from his old man.
"A storm in an espresso cup would be nearer the mark. Someone has got it into his head that I smashed the doors off their hinges in a rage after we lost, but the truth is much less interesting and I have more important things on my mind at the moment."
What - like Sven?
"I can only say I have nothing but admiration for the man," said Schmeichel, 23. "Sven is the reason I have played in the Premier League, and I will always be in his debt for that.
"Of course it is hugely disappointing that he is gone. I spoke to him briefly when he came into the dressing room this morning and explained to the players, in that calm manner of his, that he was leaving, and one day I hope I will catch up with him for longer to thank him for showing faith in me.
"Clearly his position at the club had become untenable, but we can't afford to dwell too long on it, otherwise our heads will be all over the place at Fulham.
"We have already shown, in the last round at Wigan, it is possible for a team from League Two to beat a Premier League side on their own patch if we apply ourselves.
"The FA Cup has a special place in our family's hearts because my dad won it three times with Manchester United."
Ah, yes. Peter Schmeichel - the man Sir Alex Ferguson described as "bargain of the century" at £530,000 and the Great Dane who even had a dog named after him on Coronation Street.
He won five Premier League titles, the Champions League and the League Cup, including the treble in 1999, and the family surname is like a nuclear deterrent to strikers across Europe.
"As a kid I was incredibly lucky, and privileged, to be in and around the United dressing room at all of the big moments in the 10 years he was at Old Trafford," said Schmeichel the younger.
"I've been to the training ground and seen legends, all-time greats at work, and I can't stress how much I admire those players and their enthusiasm for the game.
"My dad was a fantastic keeper and I am extremely proud of his achievements. I've still got a photo hanging on my wall of me, aged 12, with the Champions League trophy in 1999 and I was there for all his FA Cup wins and Premier League triumphs.
"Opposition fans try to get under my skin by singing, 'You'll never be your father' - and they are quite right, I never will be as good as him.
"But I would still love to make a name for myself, aim to play at the highest level possible, and prove that sons who follow their dads into the same business need not walk in their shadows."
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Spotlight-Fulham-v-Notts/article-1831367-detail/article.html
Spotlight on Fulham v Notts
Saturday, February 13, 2010, 07:00
TEAM NEWS
Fulham will name their strongest team to face Notts.
They are expected to be unchanged from their 3-0 win against Burnley in the Premier League on Tuesday night.
With strikers Andrew Johnson (knee) and Clint Dempsey (cruciate ligament) both sidelined until the end of the season, Bobby Zamora and David Elm are likely to be partnered in attack.
Nicky Shorey, who spent two months on loan at Nottingham Forest earlier this season, is not cup-tied so will start at left-back.
Midfielder Zoltan Gera (knee) and left-back Paul Konchesky (foot) are both back in light training after recent injuries but are not in contention for this weekend.
Notts have a fully-fit squad for the trip to Craven Cottage.
TEAMS
FULHAM: Schwarzer, Baird, Hangeland, Hughes, Shorey, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Duff, Zamora, Elm, Nevland, Zuberbuhler, Smalling, Kelly, Riise, Greening, Okaka Chuka.
NOTTS: Schmeichel, Thompson, Edwards, Hunt, Lee, Jackson, Clapham, Westcarr, Hamshaw, Ravenhill, Bishop, Davies, Hughes, Hawley, Rodgers, Akinbiyi, Hoult, Fairclough, Canham.
DANGER MAN
Damien Duff
The former Blackburn, Chelsea and Newcastle winger will be a huge threat on both flanks because of his pace and trickery.
He will start on the left wing, but always switches flanks with Simon Davies during games.
He is one of Fulham's chief creators and also has an eye for goal, having scored five goals in the Premier League this season.
He also netted in The Cottagers' 3-1 win at Accrington in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
KEY CLASH
Stephen Hunt v Bobby Zamora
Bobby Zamora will be the most potent threat to the Magpies, with Andrew Johnson and Clint Dempsey both sidelined.
He scored his 12th goal of the season on his return from illness in Fulham's 3-0 win against Burnley on Tuesday night.
And he also created the goal for his strike partner David Elm.
Stephen Hunt, who has produced a string of good performances at centre-back for Notts, will have to be at the top of his game to stop The Cottagers' powerful front man.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/726907/ANDY-GRAYS-FA-CUP-PREDICTIONS.html
Fulham v Notts County
Sometimes in football you go on a winless run without really understanding how or why. Fulham were a case in point. Until they beat Burnley that was. And what a good win that was with old campaigners Danny Murphy and Damien Duff particularly impressive. Strong home form has been the big change at Fulham since Roy Hodgson took over at Craven Cottage and here they face a side which isn't one or two but actually three divisions below them. This has been a fine FA Cup run for Notts, including an away win at Wigan in the previous round, but I can't see anything but a home win here.
Recommended Bet: Back Fulham to win 2-0 at 9.0
