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General Category => Archive => Daily Fulham Stuff => Topic started by: os5889 on January 27, 2011, 11:14:50 PM

Title: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: os5889 on January 27, 2011, 11:14:50 PM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1351197/Blackburn-launch-8m-bid-Graham-Dorrans-West-Brom-look-free-agent-Ewerthon.html?ito=feeds-newsxml (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1351197/Blackburn-launch-8m-bid-Graham-Dorrans-West-Brom-look-free-agent-Ewerthon.html?ito=feeds-newsxml)

Blackburn to launch £8m bid for Graham Dorrans as West Brom look to free agent Ewerthon

Blackburn are ready to launch an £8million bid for West Bromwich Albion midfielder Graham Dorrans.

The highly-rated Scotland international was the subject of interest from West Ham last summer but signed a new four year contract after an offer of £5million was rejected.

The 23-year-old is a key figure in Roberto Di Matteo's plans and he would not allow him to leave lightly but ambitious Blackburn are keen and could use striker El Hadji Diouf as part of negotiations.

Di Matteo has been looking to strengthen his squad rather than deplete it.

He is eager to bring in a defender with Chelsea's Jeffrey Bruma and Liverpool's Sotirios Krygiakos among his targets and is also considering a
move for Brazilian striker Ewerthon.

Albion are desperate for a striker after missing out to Stoke on John Carew last week and have posted an interest already in Diouf.

Di Matteo is keen on the former Brazilian international - full name is Ewerthon Henrique de Souza - who has a Spanish passport so will not require a work permit.

The 29-year-old is a free agent after being released by Palmeiras and is looking for a return to Europe. Birmingham, Blackburn, Sunderland and West Ham have also been approached.

Ewerthon has a German league title under his belt and Champions League experience from a four year stint at Borussia Dortmund. He has also played in Spain with Real Zaragoza and Espanyol.

West Brom have also made an enquiry for former midfielder Zoltan Gera at Fulham.
The 31-year-old Hungary international is ready to leave Craven Cottage and has also been linked with Blackpool although no enquiry has been made by Ian Holloway.

Holloway has completed the signing of Morocco left-back Salaheddine Sbai on loan and the club was in talks over a similar deal for Zimbabwe and Plymouth defender Onismor Bhasera although Crystal Palace have also shown interest.

Blackburn, meanwhile, have signed a pre-contract agreement with young Barcelona striker Ruben Rochina.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1351197/Blackburn-launch-8m-bid-Graham-Dorrans-West-Brom-look-free-agent-Ewerthon.html#ixzz1CHRdapSj (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1351197/Blackburn-launch-8m-bid-Graham-Dorrans-West-Brom-look-free-agent-Ewerthon.html#ixzz1CHRdapSj)
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: os5889 on January 27, 2011, 11:17:23 PM
Sexism? I had 20,000 fans calling me a sex toy! Burton boss Peschisolido on life as 'Mr Karren Brady'
By ALAN FRASER

Karren Brady's blood was boiling about Linogate when the rarely simmering Mr Karren Brady sat down to discuss Burton Albion's first FA Cup fourth-round tie this weekend.
But first a word about sexism in football. 'Sexism?' demanded Paul Peschisolido, to give him his proper name. 'Are you kiddin' me? I was married to the managing director of the football club I was at!'
'I used to get absolutely hammered every time I walked into the changing room,' he told Sportsmail. 'Pictures on the wall, all manner of stuff that can't be repeated. The football changing room is a very sexist place. You bet. Every club I went to was the same.'

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01/27/article-1351210-0CE3ED47000005DC-279_634x422.jpg)
On the receiving end: Karren Brady's husband Paul Peschisolido, the Burton boss, was taunted as a player

And there were nine of them in England alone. Birmingham City (twice), Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield United (twice), Norwich City, Derby County and Luton Town - plus Toronto Blizzard and Kansas City Comets, not to mention the great Juventus, where the Canadian spent one year as a homesick academy recruit.
Then there was the chanting from the opposition terraces. 'I used to get absolutely abused,' said the Canadian. 'Twenty thousand Wolves fans singing Peschodildo. That was always a nice one.
'It was all water off a duck's back. I took it as a  compliment. If I was no threat, they would not be trying to put me off my game.
'There were plenty others. "You're s*** and your wife's a whore".'
Peschisolido was unfazed by the abuse from the terraces, but what about his other half, 'first lady of football'?

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01/27/article-1351210-07E5D9EA000005DC-900_306x510.jpg)
All star Mr & Mrs: Pescisolido with his wife and West Ham vice-chairman, Karren Brady

'Karren can look after herself,' the 39-year-old said. 'Karren's Karren. She is an incredible business lady - probably one of the best you will ever come across, as far as running a business is concerned. She is phenomenal.
'Karren is not a feminist. She is very traditional, very much old school. I love my wife. I am proud of everything she does and I hope she goes on to become Prime Minister because the country could do with someone like her.'
Brady would not need to be elected as an MP - never mind PM - to establish a higher profile than a husband who is making the transition from journeyman footballer to aspiring football manager. Her public recognition as West Ham vice-chairman and media darling is already in a different league.
Although Peschisolido would love to take League Two Burton - and his own managerial career - into higher echelons, it would never be a case of trying to keep up with the missus.
'I am not spurred on by wanting to be bigger than my wife,' he said. 'I want to do it because I want to do it. I love football and I love the job I am doing. There has never been a competition between the two of us. I do it for my own sake and if someone wants to call me Mr Karren Brady, fine. It fazes me not one bit.'
The urbane Peschisolido has in two years gone from unlikely managerial recruit to one of those young obsessives who spends every waking hour on the job. When not watching as many as three matches a day, always on the search for talent, he can be found immersed in a book on psychology or nutrition.
Burton is a tight ship crewed by the manager, his assistant Gary Rowett, a physio, a kit man and a scout. And that's about it.
QPR boss Neil Warnock, one of 20 managers for whom Peschisolido played, described Burton as a perfect place for a managerial apprenticeship. That was principally because in chairman Ben Robinson the club was headed by someone with great business acumen, patience and understanding - someone not given to interfering in football matters.
Nigel Clough spent 10 years in charge of them before taking over at Derby, and he was, as Peschisolido acknowledges: 'A daunting act to follow.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01/27/article-1351210-0CE3ECE6000005DC-399_634x422.jpg)
Here comes the science: Burton's manager is from the modern school of bosses fond of laptop analysis

'I did hear bits and pieces about how Nigel would never do it this way, etc. But it didn't bother me.
'I never thought about the Clough factor. I just saw the job as a great opportunity to manage a team run well and on the way up. You have to believe in your own ability and in what you are doing.'
As one of the young breed of so-called 'laptop managers', who believe football to be a science, Peschisolido was distraught to have his computer stolen at the end of last year. It disappeared along with his smart Mercedes car, which he had left with its engine running in the driveway of the family home while he had popped back inside to check on their dog.
'They could keep the car,' he said. 'I wanted the laptop back. I never got either. The laptop contained everything. I had not backed up anything. All the work that went into it. I had to start again from scratch. I was devastated.'

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01/27/article-1351210-0CC66218000005DC-657_634x387.jpg)
Up for the cup: Peschisolido's Burton side travel to Burnley on Saturday

The replacement contains a detailed dossier on Championship side Burnley, who entertain Burton at Turf Moor on Saturday. Peschisolido will be without striker Shaun Harrad, who transferred to Northampton after scoring the two goals that defeated Middlesbrough in the previous round.
'We have not played much football in the past month,' pointed out the Burton boss, who knows that is a factor in his side's lowly 20th place in League Two.
'I hope my lads go and enjoy themselves. It's a chance for them to show what they can do. They are really good footballers, capable of playing at a much higher level. I just hope they show up.'
Peschisolido usually did, albeit latterly as a 'super sub'. And it was as a substitute that he might have helped Sheffield United to the FA Cup final in 2003, but for an astonishing one-handed save by Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman in the semi-final at Old Trafford.
The comparison with Gordon Banks's wonder save for England in 1970 has often been made, although no one ever bracketed Peschisolido with Pele.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1351210/Paul-Peschisolido-Mr-Karren-Brady-Sexism-I-20-000-fans-calling-sex-toy.html#ixzz1CHS8Ixbh (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1351210/Paul-Peschisolido-Mr-Karren-Brady-Sexism-I-20-000-fans-calling-sex-toy.html#ixzz1CHS8Ixbh)
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: os5889 on January 27, 2011, 11:19:13 PM
The 10 biggest transfers we expect to happen before the window closes

3) Paul Konchesky (Liverpool to Fulham)
Konchesky believed it was too good to be true when his former Fulham boss Roy Hodgson took him to Anfield last summer. Sadly, it was. Liverpool fans declared themselves completely unimpressed with his ability, and since Kenny Dalglish's return he has been frozen out. As Konchesky has already played for Fulham this season he cannot move on to another club. But he can go back to Craven Cottage. A loan deal should be tied up shortly.

Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-gossip-Luis-Suarez-Liverpool-Charlie-Adam-David-Luiz-Chelsea-Robbie-Keane-West-Ham-Phil-Neville-Tottenham-The-10-biggest-transfers-we-expect-to-happen-before-the-window-closes-by-Darren-Lewis-article683719.html#ixzz1CHSwdkog (http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-gossip-Luis-Suarez-Liverpool-Charlie-Adam-David-Luiz-Chelsea-Robbie-Keane-West-Ham-Phil-Neville-Tottenham-The-10-biggest-transfers-we-expect-to-happen-before-the-window-closes-by-Darren-Lewis-article683719.html#ixzz1CHSwdkog)
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: os5889 on January 27, 2011, 11:21:11 PM
http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-sport/liverpool-fc-news/2011/01/27/konchesky-heads-for-exit-as-reds-ponder-new-suarez-move-59067-28065546/ (http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-sport/liverpool-fc-news/2011/01/27/konchesky-heads-for-exit-as-reds-ponder-new-suarez-move-59067-28065546/)

Konchesky heads for exit as Reds ponder new Suarez move
Jan 27 2011 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Echo

PAUL Konchesky could end his unhappy six months at Liverpool by sealing a return to Fulham.

The 29-year-old full-back arrived at Anfield from Craven Cottage in August, but has struggled to nail down a regular place, and is now considering a move, possibly on loan, back to west London.

Konchesky reportedly held talks with Cottagers officials ahead of last night's game between the two sides, and could finalise a switch before the closure of the transfer window on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Reds' pursuit of Luis Suarez looks set to be resolved in the next few days, after Ajax set the Reds a deadline of Saturday to table a 'good' offer for the Uruguayan forward. The Reds hold a long-standing interest, and have tabled a bid of around £13m for the 24-year-old's services.

Ajax, however, are looking to collect a fee closer to £25m, and the manager Frank De Boer has urged Liverpool to meet their asking price by Saturday.

"I do not want to be surprised on the last day of the window," said De Boer.

"So we have made that deadline, January 29. This situation has been going on long enough. Liverpool have to come up with a good offer and the money we want by that day."

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish last night refused to be drawn on potential transfers, stating that all business would be done "in house."
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: os5889 on January 27, 2011, 11:22:36 PM
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110128/jsp/sports/story_13501680.jsp (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110128/jsp/sports/story_13501680.jsp)

United escape to victory

United were staring at their first defeat of the season after Blackpool dominated the first half and Charlie Adam corners created headed goals for defender Craig Cathcart and striker DJ Campbell.

United manager Alex Ferguson sent on Ryan Giggs as a substitute and the veteran's influence crushed Blackpool's dreams of a major upset in their biggest game for 40 years when Berbatov volleyed in on 72 minutes and substitute Javier Hernandez equalised with a cool finish.

With Blackpool's players visibly tiring, Berbatov snatched all three points for his side with a clinical strike in the 88th minute to send United five points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table.

"We always have a chance with the spirit we have in the club," Ferguson told said. "We didn't play well in the first half but you know we will always keep going.

"We knew they would get tired in the second half, we kept playing our football and got some more penetration. Ryan gave us composure, Hernandez was a threat with the timing of his runs and Berbatov has been doing that for us all season. In the end it doesn't matter how you get the win."

It was a match that felt like a cup tie, such was the obvious disparity between the sides.

The team sheets came out on a simple black and white printout rather than the colourful document produced at Old Trafford.

The stand shook when the fans leaped around in celebration, while Blackpool manager Ian Holloway had said in his programme notes he had to "commandeer the chairman's office because my office is a little too small to be entertaining Sir Alex".

Any inferiority complex was quickly put aside after the opener which had fairytale written all over it as Cathcart headed in at the far post against the club where he spent his youth days before being sold to Blackpool in the close season.

Campbell's goal came after another Adam corner was headed on inadvertently by Darron Gibson into the Blackpool striker's path for his sixth goal in his last seven games.

It looked like a major upset was on the cards with United struggling to create any clear chances and apparently on the verge of losing their unbeaten record.

Blackpool were denied what looked like a certain penalty following a clumsy foul by United defender Rafael da Silva and the replacement of Wayne Rooney with Hernandez midway through the second half livened up the visitors' attack.

Berbatov's first strike proved the turning point and Hernandez calmly converted Gigg's fine pass before the Bulgarian's 19th league goal of the season completed the sort of revival that champions are made of. Rafael was carried off with what looked like a nasty injury following a clash of heads and after he had received lengthy treatment on the pitch, United hung on through 10 minutes of stoppage time to secure only their third away league win of the season.

In the day's other Premier League match, Aston Villa won 2-1 at Wigan Athletic through goals by Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young to climb to 13th in the table.

On Wednesday , Liverpool clinched a gritty 1-0 victory over Fulham on Wednesday to hand Kenny Dalglish his first home win since returning to Anfield for his second spell as manager.

It took a scrappy 52nd minute own goal from John Pantsil, who sliced the ball into his own net after Fernando Torres shot deflected off the post, to secure the three points and Liverpool's second consecutive Premier League win after the weekend victory over lowly Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The win lifted Liverpool to seventh in the standings with 32 points.

"We will take anything as any club will do," manager Dalglish said. "At times we played good football and deserved the bounce of the ball. I have seen three games and that is one of the few games we have had a little bit of good fortune."

Liverpool could have taken an early lead when a rejuvenated Torres latched onto a pass from Raul Meireles and poked it into the net only to be pulled back by the linesman's flag.

While Fulham keeper David Stockdale made fine saves to deny Meireles from eight yards and a long-range effort from Glen Johnson in a first half largely dominated by the Reds.

But after taking the lead, Dalglish's side failed to press home their advantage and allowed the visitors to maintain a foothold in the game. Fulham pressed hard in the closing minutes and should have levelled when Moussa Dembele saw a shot from eight yards scrambled away by Reds keeper Pepe Reina.

"I think Fulham might feel a bit of injustice and feel they should have got something from the game," Dalglish added.
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 07:55:45 AM
Aaron Hughes dreaming of Wembley glory for Fulham

Aaron Hughes has only ever been to the new Wembley once. Not to play but to watch, wait for it...an NFL game.

He enjoyed the American football, but would much rather prefer that his next visit to the famous stadium is for one of English football's grandest occasions.

The Northern Ireland skipper would love to play in an FA Cup final, preferably the one coming up in May. He's been close before.

As a kid with Newcastle United he was in the squad for the 1998 and 1999 finals at the old Wembley, but frustratingly missed out on a place on the bench both years.

In 2000 he was in the team, playing in defence for the Geordies when they lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the semi-finals under the shadow of the twin towers, which are no longer there since the iconic venue was re-constructed.

Playing at the old Wembley in a semi-final is one thing.

Playing at the new Wembley in a final would be so much better.

To have a chance of getting there Hughes and his Fulham team-mates must pass a difficult test in the fourth round. They host Tottenham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

And remember there is a one in the year so most Spurs fans already think their name is on the trophy.

The White Hart Lane outfit beat Fulham in a replayed quarter-final of the competition a year ago.

This season they've met twice already in the Premier League with Harry Redknapp's men coming out on top on both occasions, so the 31-year-old is under no illusions about the size of the task facing Fulham.

"In our games this season we have lost to Spurs, but both were tight. I expect it to be close again," says the Cookstown man, rightly regarded as one of the most consistent defenders in England.

"They have some great players and are having a good season. They are challenging for a top four place again and are in the last 16 of the Champions League, so we know it will be tough, but we have ability in our side too and perhaps haven't got the results we deserved at times. Hopefully we'll get one on Sunday. We'll certainly go into the game with a positive attitude believing we can win."

It was that mental strength that helped Fulham, under Roy Hodgson, reach the Europa League final last season — a remarkable achievement in which Hughes and his countryman Chris Baird played major roles.

They lost out in the decider to a Diego Forlan inspired Atletico Madrid, but great heart was taken by the players in how far they progressed.

"We really enjoyed it. There were some brilliant nights which we'll all remember for a long time," says the former Aston Villa ace.

If you can make a European final, why not go all the way in the FA Cup?

"That would be fantastic," admits doting dad Hughes, who lives in Surrey with his wife and two young daughters.

"But we have a lot to do before we get to that stage.

"Everyone dreams of playing a Cup final at Wembley. When I was at Newcastle we reached two finals, but I wasn't involved.

"I did play at the old Wembley once for Newcastle in a semi-final defeat to Chelsea. The atmosphere was great with all the Geordies there, but it is a hard place to lose.

"As for the new Wembley I've been there once at an NFL game and I was really impressed by the place. It would be great to go back with Fulham."

It's not just the Wembley experience that Hughes is after, it's winning some silverware, something he has yet to achieve

in a fine career which started back in 1997 when he made his debut as a teenager for Kenny Dalglish's Newcastle side against Barcelona in the Nou Camp. Hughes and Dalglish were in opposition on Wednesday night as Liverpool got lucky in a 1-0 victory at Anfield in the league.

Northern Ireland's leader, looking forward to next month's Carling Nations Cup clash with Scotland in Dublin, had an exceptional game and was close to scoring an equaliser late on.

He's having another solid season, but is one of those players rarely praised by the pundits.

And unlike some of your modern day footballers, modest and team orientated Aaron would never seek it.

There's more chance of Andy Gray and Richard Keys being put in charge of the England women's football team!

He's the guy that just gets on with his job — extremely well too. He wouldn't have played 500 games with top flight sides and won 75 caps otherwise.

Mark Hughes is the latest in a long line of club managers to appreciate his talents, while Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington is a massive admirer.

Both would agree few would deserve an FA Cup final appearance at Wembley more than their reliable central defender.



Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/aaron-hughes-drreaming-of-wembley-glory-for-fulham-15066225.html?#ixzz1CJZ1kqei (http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/aaron-hughes-drreaming-of-wembley-glory-for-fulham-15066225.html?#ixzz1CJZ1kqei)
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 07:57:01 AM
http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/football/news/article/-/8732439/role-model-schwarzer-just-rolls-on-and-on/? (http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/football/news/article/-/8732439/role-model-schwarzer-just-rolls-on-and-on/?)

Role model Schwarzer just rolls on and on

Mark Schwarzer's Socceroos teammates could go on for hours talking up the veteran goalkeeper's impact on Australian football but coach Holger Osieck needs only a few seconds to sum up his admiration.

"You use the term 'role model', well he is the incarnation of the role model," the German says.

"That is all I can say. I think that includes everything."

When Schwarzer steps out for the Asian Cup final against Japan on Saturday night (11pm WA time) for his 88th international appearance he will solidify his status as a legend of Australian football by surpassing Alex Tobin's caps record in full internationals.

The humble Fulham shot-stopper describes the achievement as an honour "beyond belief".

But you get a sense his teammates are not surprised to see Schwarzer is still at the top of is game and arguably fitter than ever at the ripe old age of 38 in an international career spanning close to 18 years.

Schwarzer is without doubt one of Australia's most gifted glovemen but it is his commitment, work ethic and discipline that are the driving force behind his longevity.

In Qatar, Schwarzer looks meaner and leaner than ever.

He embarked on an intense personal training program six months out from last year's World Cup and carried it on to the point where he's now never felt fitter.

With an attention to detail that extends right down to a strict dietary program, the words "ultimate professional" come up several times in conversations with his teammates.

Or, as a cheeky Luke Wilkshire puts it, he's "52 going on 22".

"I think he's probably the fittest I've ever seen him," Wilkshire said.

"I've played with him for a long time and he's in good condition for an old fella.

"He's like the grandfather of the team, he's been around forever and he's probably still going to be around forever.

"You always know what you're going to get from him.

"He's the ultimate professional and it's the only way he's got to where he is and to still be around like he is now and at the level he is now, is a great example to set for all young people."

None are more pleased to see Schwarzer break Tobin's record than the senior teammates who have been with him through some of the great moments in Australian football.

Tim Cahill rates Schwarzer as one of Australia's greatest ever players and a huge influence on his career on and off the park.

Captain Lucas Neill is equally complimentary and can't see why the evergreen Schwarzer can't go on to reach a ton of caps.

"I am delighted that I can be playing with him," Neill said.

"He's earned every cap he's got so far and I imagine his target now will 100.

"I'm sure there are players you could argue over the years who deserved a lot of caps, but to hit triple figures ... there wouldn't be an Australian in my time that deserved that more than him."

Schwarzer earned his international breakthrough as a wide-eyed 20-year-old in a World Cup qualifier in Edmonton in 1993, coming on as a substitute after first-choice Robert Zabica was sent off after 17 minutes.

"It was surreal," Schwarzer said.

"I remember it vividly. Sitting on the bench next to Paul Wade ... we were counting flags in the stadium, how many Aussie flags there were in the stadium. There was about 27,000 people in the game, we were looking around, having a bit of a joke.

"I was as nervous as hell being a young guy there.

"Next minute, three-quarters of the bench stood up looked at me and went 'get up and get warm'.

"It was one of the games that just flew past me. We lost 2-1 unfortunately but Eddie Thomson thought enough of me that I was good enough to play in the next game."

It was in that return leg in Sydney where he really made his mark, saving two penalties to send Australia to the final phase of qualifying against Argentina.

Schwarzer labelled that a defining moment in his career and although it took him some time to fully establish himself as the No.1 keeper, he has never looked backed.

Schwarzer has had his fair share of dark moments, though.

He almost quit international football after feeling he was unfairly overlooked by Terry Venables for the World Cup qualifiers against Iran in 1997 before being coaxed back by Frank Farina.

But he considers the lowest point of his career the time he spent playing in Germany with Dynamo Dresden and Kaiserslautern from 1994-96, where he barely got a look in.

"I was heading towards being two and a half years in Germany and almost heading nowhere," he said.

"There were no opportunities for me. At training, every normal session with the team, I was playing on the field.

"There was many times I came home, I was in bits and I even considered coming back home to Australia, and starting afresh.

"It was until my wife (Paloma) said to me 'it all comes down to you, it all comes down to what you want to do and the belief in your own ability and whether you believe you're still good enough to play, whether you believe you're good enough to make it'.

"The bottom line for me was I still believed I was good enough.

"I just needed to find a manager who believed in me and gave me an opportunity."

That man was Chris Kamara, who signed Schwarzer to Bradford City, a move which led to him eventually joining Middlesbrough where he went on to make 367 appearances and flourish into one of the world's best goalkeepers.

Schwarzer has since gone on to become one of the game's most desired and respected figure and a pivotal part of the Socceroos' most successful generation, which qualified for back-to-back World Cups.

And it was the start of that journey that stands out to Schwarzer most as a career highlight, when his brilliant performance in a penalty shootout against Uruguay in 2005 helped Australia qualify for a first World Cup finals in 32 years.

"I remember it so vividly, the way the Australian public responded towards the Uruguay national anthem," Schwarzer said.

"On any other occasion I would have said that was not right, but on this occasion it was spot on. It was an amazing feeling.

"And the Australian anthem, the way it was sung, I've never experienced it ever before wearing a green and gold jersey."

Schwarzer is not expecting the same atmosphere when he takes the park against Japan at Khalifa Stadium in Doha, or anywhere near the 83,000 fans that packed ANZ Stadium that night in Sydney.

But he's excited about what lifting the trophy could mean for the game that has given him so much.

"Hopefully we can do Australia proud and hopefully we can win this for Australia and for football in Australia and also for future generations of kids in Australia, to give younger kids aspirations to succeed and go on and play for the Socceroos.

"Because take it from me, it's a massive part of my life."
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 08:52:32 AM
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/PremierLeagueEnterpriseChallengeFinal.aspx? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/PremierLeagueEnterpriseChallengeFinal.aspx?)

Premier League Enterprise Challenge Final
(http://www.fulhamfc.com/Images/MainNews/NewsPages/Foundation/Enterprise-Challenge-Final.jpg)

The Foundation hosted its first Enterprise Challenge Final recently at Craven Cottage.

Schools from across London came to the stadium to take part in an educational tour, followed by the final in which they delivered their presentations to a panel of three judges from businesses in Hammersmith and Fulham.

The students presented their ideas to a very high standard and all did exceedingly well. Lauren Tarrier, Work Related Learning Officer at the Foundation, said, "The ideas offered by the students at the final were brilliant and it was clear a lot of hard work and effort had gone into making their presentation so professional."

Students Adam Cane, James Dobran, Jamie Minns, Tom Pearson and Florence Tolson, from Woodbridge High School in Essex, were declared the overall winners, and travelled up to Manchester, with their teacher Safina Khatun, to represent Fulham FC at the Premier League Enterprise Challenge Final 2010, at Old Trafford. The team competed against schools from nine other professional football clubs and once again performed superbly, but just missed out on a top three finish.

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/PremierLeagueEnterpriseChallengeFinal.aspx?#ixzz1CJnNby00 (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/PremierLeagueEnterpriseChallengeFinal.aspx?#ixzz1CJnNby00)
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 08:54:05 AM
http://www.supersport.com/football/fifa-internationals/news/110128/Schwarzer_set_for_Socceroo_milestone? (http://www.supersport.com/football/fifa-internationals/news/110128/Schwarzer_set_for_Socceroo_milestone?)

Schwarzer set for Socceroo milestone

Having equalled Australia's appearance record in the Asian Cup semifinal against Uzbekistan, goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will become the outright record-holder in Saturday's final against Japan.

The 38-year-old veteran currently stands level with former centre-back Alex Tobin, after donning the gold and green of his country for the 87th time in the Socceroos' 6-0 thrashing of the Uzbeks.

It was the fourth clean sheet that Schwarzer has managed to keep in five games at the Qatar tournament, with Koo Ja-Cheol's goal in the 1-1 group stage draw against South Korea the only strike that has beaten him to date.

Australia now stand on the verge of their first ever major international title and Schwarzer's consistency between the sticks has been an integral feature of their path to the final.

The Fulham shot-stopper pulled off several key saves as Australia edged Bahrain 1-0 to reach the quarter-finals, drawing warm praise from German coach Holger Osieck.

"We know the quality that Mark has to offer to the team and I'm happy to have him there," said Osieck.

"He had an excellent performance and made some good saves, especially in the second half. He kept us in the game and we must give him credit."

Schwarzer said it was "a fantastic honour" to match Tobin's record, having played alongside the former Adelaide City stalwart in the early days of his international career.

"He was a great player for the Socceroos and I made my debut in the national team when he was playing, so there's a bit of history there as well between the two of us," said Schwarzer.

Born in Sydney in October 1972, Schwarzer joined hometown club the Marconi Stallions at the age of 14 and made his professional debut during the 1990-91 National Soccer League (NSL) season.

He made his international debut in a World Cup qualifying match against Canada in Edmonton in 1993, before moving to Germany a year later to play for Dynamo Dresden and then Kaiserslautern.

In 1996 he arrived at English side Bradford City, but it was a move to Middlesbrough in 1997 that was to prove his making.

In a nine-year spell on Teesside, Schwarzer made 367 league appearances for the north-east club, establishing himself as one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League.

In 2008 he joined London side Fulham and played a key role as they reached the final of the 2009-10 Europa League, where they lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in Hamburg.

Strongly linked with a move to Arsenal during the 2010 summer transfer window, he remained at Craven Cottage due to manager Mark Hughes's reported reluctance to let him leave.

Schwarzer remains on course to become the first Australian player to break the 100 caps barrier, and the fact the 2015 Asian Cup is taking place in his homeland may motivate him to prolong his career even further.
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 09:00:46 AM
http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/70586.html?CMP=OTC-RSS (http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/70586.html?CMP=OTC-RSS)

Johnson could scupper Wright-Phillips' City exit

Manchester City winger Adam Johnson has suffered an injury scare that could hamper Shaun Wright-Phillips' chances of leaving the club on loan.

Johnson was reportedly stretchered out of City training on Thursday and is set for scans on a leg problem on Friday. It is unlikely he will feature in Sunday's FA Cup clash at Notts County and depending on the length of his lay-off, he could be a doubt for the crucial Manchester derby on February 12.

City have been in negotiations with Fulham over a loan deal to take Wright-Phillips to Craven Cottage, although the clubs are struggling to agree on suitable terms surrounding the player's wages. If the prognosis on Johnson is serious, however, Roberto Mancini may opt to keep Wright-Phillips at Eastlands as cover for the wide positions.

Meanwhile, loaned out striker Emmanuel Adebayor said City can win the Premier League title this season after deeming him surplus to requirements. On his unveiling as a Real Madrid player, albeit a temporary one, Adebayor only had positive words for his English club and their hopes of title success.

Big-spending City, who last won the league back in 1968, are currently third in the standings, six points behind leaders Manchester United while they have also played a game more than their local rivals.

When asked if City can win the league, the 26-year-old said: "Of course, why not? I think Manchester City have a big chance to win the league this season, with all the players that they've bought, Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko, they've got a big squad... And at the minute they are playing good football, so they have a chance to win it. It's not going to be easy, don't get me wrong, but I think they will do everything to achieve that because it's a dream of the club.''
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 10:40:31 AM
http://www.hornseyjournal.co.uk:80/tottenham-hotspur/tottenham-hotspur/fulham_back_among_the_goals_ahead_of_spurs_fa_cup_clash_1_784716? (http://www.hornseyjournal.co.uk:80/tottenham-hotspur/tottenham-hotspur/fulham_back_among_the_goals_ahead_of_spurs_fa_cup_clash_1_784716?)

Fulham back among the goals ahead of Spurs FA Cup clash

THERE have been strong signs of recovery at Fulham since the Cottagers last crossed swords with Tottenham on New Year's Day.

Spurs' 1-0 win increased the pressure on Mark Hughes' side, whose failure to score left them with six goals from nine games – and in a very precarious position.

However, since then, the goals have been flooding in, and so have the points – particularly at home.

Fulham responded to their loss in north London by thumping West Brom 3-0 at Craven Cottage and they then battered Peterborough 6-2 by the Thames in the FA Cup third round.

That was followed by a 1-1 draw at Wigan and then a 2-0 home win over Stoke on Saturday, which took Hughes' outfit four points clear of the relegation zone ahead of their trip to Anfield on Wednesday night.

Just as importantly, the Cottagers' win over Stoke took them to 12 goals in four games, ending a goal drought which had left them at the wrong end of the table.

Having initially struggled to replace Bobby Zamora's goals after his broken leg in September, Fulham's other forwards are starting to fire again.

Clint Dempsey's brace at the weekend took his tally to nine, and Andrew Johnson broke his duck at Wigan on January 15, which followed Diomansy Kamara's hat-trick against the Posh in the third round of the cup.

There is a fresh wave of optimism around the Cottage – which is bad news for Spurs, as they make the trip across London for the fourth round on Sunday, in a replay of last season's quarter-final.

"It's a tough draw, Fulham's always difficult and we always have difficult games with them," said Harry Redknapp. "It was close again when we played them a few weeks ago."

The verdict: Much will depend on the team that Redknapp picks, given that he rested key players in the third round against Charlton, and that Spurs go to Blackburn three days later.

However, the Tottenham boss will know that an overly-weakened side could well be eliminated by a rejuvenated Fulham, who are sure to field their best team.

Both sides will have high hopes for this competition and, while Spurs would prefer to avoid a replay given that they already have six games in February, the Lilywhites would be favourites to progress if, like last year, the tie goes back to the Lane.

Prediction: Fulham 1 Spurs 1
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 11:22:45 AM
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/CupMagic.aspx? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/CupMagic.aspx?)

Cup Magic
(http://www.fulhamfc.com/Images/MainNews/NewsPages/Players/murphy/General1.jpg)

After coming agonisingly close to lifting the UEFA Europa League trophy with Fulham in Hamburg last season, Danny Murphy is hoping to go one step further in the FA Cup this year and add another winners' medal to his impressive collection.

There are few players in world football that can boast of winning five trophies in one season, a remarkable feat that Murphy achieved during the 2000-01 campaign with Liverpool, and the former England midfielder is clearly relishing the opportunity of challenging Spurs for a place 5th Round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

"The FA Cup brings a different atmosphere and the lads are looking forward to it," Murphy told fulhamfc.com ahead of Sunday's match. "It's also a London derby and we always have good games against them [Spurs].

"It's nice to play in the FA Cup because it's still got that magic for me. The fans always come out and enjoy it and it's going to be great atmosphere. It's the type of game you want to be playing in.

"I thought we were desperately unlucky in both the games we played against them [Spurs] so far this season. We've also got nearly a fully fit squad to choose from, other than one or two missing and hopefully we'll be able to give them a good game. We owe them one for knocking us out last year.

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/CupMagic.aspx?#ixzz1CKPCTiZn (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/CupMagic.aspx?#ixzz1CKPCTiZn)
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 01:44:56 PM
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23918349-forget-west-ham-affair-sidwell-now-feels-loved.do? (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23918349-forget-west-ham-affair-sidwell-now-feels-loved.do?)

Forget West Ham affair, Steve Sidwell now feels loved

(http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01/sidwell415.jpg)
Seventh heaven: Steve Sidwell knows he has a challenge to keep his place
in Fulham's first XI but says he already feels at home at Craven Cottage


Steve Sidwell is honest and straight-talking so admits his immediate reaction was one of "disappointment" when Karren Brady suddenly vetoed his move to West Ham this month.

"There is no denying that if it could have happened I would have been happy," said the midfielder. "There is no getting away from the fact that West Ham are a big club and they try to play the right football."

So does the 28-year-old regard his subsequent deal to join Fulham from Aston Villa until the end of the season, when a three-year contract will be up for discussion, as a consolation prize? Not a bit of it.

Ahead of Sunday's FA Cup derby against Tottenham when he is set to make a second start in a white shirt following a solid full debut at Liverpool in midweek, Sidwell insisted: "It's fantastic, the way it's worked out.

"This is about coming to a club where faith has been shown to me by the chairman and the manager who said, 'We welcome you with open arms, come to us and express yourself'."

That offer from Mohamed Fayed and Mark Hughes has been eagerly accepted by a player seeking to re-launch a chequered career which began with great promise at Arsenal, gained substance at Reading but then stalled at Chelsea and Villa.

Hughes moved for Sidwell in the wake of West Ham's rejection, which attained the status of debacle when Hammers vice-chair Brady used her column in a newspaper to announce that, since her club already had "13 midfielders", Sidwell could not be guaranteed first-team football.

To the chagrin of Avram Grant, the under-pressure Hammers boss who had worked with Sidwell at Chelsea, Brady wrote: "I had to tell Steve that for various reasons - none his fault - we had changed our mind about signing him on loan."

Sidwell doesn't remember it happening quite like that. "She didn't call me," he said. "She didn't speak to me directly. She spoke to my advisors. Now I'm just getting my head down and trying to get myself back on track."

On signing Sidwell, Hughes maintained the former England Under-21 midfielder would be "hungry" following his frustrations at Chelsea and Villa.
The player himself goes even further: "I'm very hungry. The last few seasons it's been up and down. It's time for me now to get back on the map and start showing people what I was like a few years back."

Sidwell, born in Wandsworth, was one of Arsenal's budding stars who won the FA Youth Cup in 2000 and 2001. But with players such as Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit and Gilberto Silva available to Arsene Wenger, he never made the first team and in 2003 accepted an offer to join Reading.

Sidwell came into his own with the Championship side, making a vital contribution to a successful promotion campaign. After that, it was inevitable that bigger clubs would come calling and in 2007 Sidwell joined Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, although the nature of his Bosman move drew criticism.

He recalled: "A lot of people said it was for financial gain but it wasn't that at all. I was 24 and when a club like Chelsea comes in for you, you don't turn them down. The year I had with Chelsea was fantastic. I learned so much on and off the pitch."

However, having stated upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge that he was not there "to make up the numbers", Sidwell found he was in danger of doing just that and in the summer of 2008 he joined Villa for a reported £5million.

"It was a really funny time at Villa," he said. "I caught an injury in my first game and I was out for six weeks and it was always stop-start that first year. I had more injuries in the second year, then James Milner went into the middle, did exceptionally well, and it was hard for me to get back in the team."

Sidwell nearly went to Wolves when the West Ham deal fell through. However, Hughes' intervention, allied with the knowledge he would no longer face a regular commute to the midlands from the family home in Surrey, made joining Fulham a no-brainer.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy created headlines when he voiced frustration over losing one of his principal transfer window targets but Sidwell said: "The thing with me is, I'm straight-down-the-line and honest. I had to say this was the move for me, not just geography-wise but football-wise as well. McCarthy fully understood that."

Sidwell faces a tough task claiming a regular place in Fulham's starting line-up. The established midfield pairing of Danny Murphy and Dickson Etuhu was performing well until Etuhu strained a hamstring against Stoke last Saturday and Sidwell acknowledged: "My eyes have been opened as to how good the players are here."

With Etuhu sidelined opportunity has come knocking, so what is Sidwell bringing to Fulham's game? He replied: "I'm a box-to-box midfielder, who can do the dirty work on the edge of his own box, getting tackles in, winning headers, then getting up the pitch to help the attack. It's worked for me so far in my career and I've not lost it. I just need the opportunity to show it."
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 01:47:19 PM
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/SidwellExclusive.aspx? (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/SidwellExclusive.aspx?)

Back On Track
(http://www.fulhamfc.com/Images/MainNews/NewsPages/Players/Sidwell/SidwellShirt.jpg)

Steve Sidwell has joined Fulham with a point to prove and the all-action midfielder is determined to get his top flight career back on track in SW6.

Sidwell, who hails from the Borough of Wandsworth, may be closer to home following his move back to West London, but the player dismisses any talk of geographical convenience having played any part in his move to Fulham.

"Coming home had nothing to do with it," Sidwell explained. "It was made out that I was living down here and driving up [to Birmingham] every day. But I had a place up there and when it was business time, I was up there.

"The last few years it's been up and down and it's time for me now to get back on the map and start showing people what I was like a few years back.

"My contract with Villa was up at the end of the year. So it's a deal until the end of the season [at Fulham] with a view to a further three years after that."

Sidwell's decision to move to Fulham was taken after lengthy discussions with those closest to him, none more so than his father, who will become a familiar face at the Cottage, as Sidwell explains.

"He's trying to retire to make time to come and watch football," said Sidwell. "Him and my mum come and watch all the games when they can. They support me, really, wherever I go.

"I sat down and we had long discussions [about the move], not just with him but with my brother as well, and as a family. The decision to come here was all based on football, to get my career back on track."

It wasn't so long ago that Sidwell was plying his trade for Fulham's near neighbours, Chelsea, after a highly successful spell with Reading. After just one year with Chelsea, Sidwell made the switch to Aston Villa but as the midfielder explains, his decision to move on before his contract expired this summer, highlights his desire to put his football at the forefront of any career based decisions.

"My best spell was during my time at Reading, where we had a fantastic few seasons and we got into the Premier League and then we had a really good season.

"Then I had options to go anywhere. I chose to go to Chelsea and a lot of people said it was for financial gain. That wasn't the case at all. When a club like Chelsea comes in for you, you don't really turn it down.

"I was a 24-year-old and they were Champions at the time when they came in, and it was hard to turn down. The year that I had there was a fantastic year. I learned so much on and off the pitch in that short year.

"I was only there [at Chelsea] a year but I signed a four-year deal. I could have easily have stayed there for four years and collected a nice wage. I decided to leave to go and play more regular football but it didn't work out at Villa. So since the Villa days it has gone a bit downhill.

"I could have easily stayed there [at Aston Villa] until the end of the season and gone on a free and maybe got a better deal, but it's not about that. It was really a decision to leave and get my career back on track.

"It's about coming to a club where faith has been shown, and that has been shown to me here from the Chairman and manager, who said to me, 'we welcome you with open arms, come to us and express yourself'.

Sidwell is clearly hungry and motivated to prove his worth once again and his frustrating spell at Villa Park seems to have only added to his drive to reproduce the form that marked him as one of the Barclays Premier League's outstanding midfielders.

(http://www.fulhamfc.com/Images/MainNews/NewsPages/Players/Sidwell/SidwellAction.jpg)

"My time at Villa was really disrupted by injuries more than anything else," the midfielder explained. "When I was at Reading I played every game near enough every season I was there. I was never injured. It was just a real funny time up at Villa. I caught an injury in my first game and I was out for six weeks.

"I came back and it was always a stop-start period during the first year. The second year again, I had a few injuries and then James Milner went into the middle and did exceptionally well and it was hard to get back into the team.

"So it was always an uphill battle, really, to stake a claim. But I decided to leave there [Villa] to go and play football. It's a short career and that's what I want to do."

Sidwell was handed his Fulham debut as a second half substitute during the Team's victory over Stoke last weekend and the midfielder will clearly strengthen Mark Hughes' options in the middle of the park. However, the partnership of Dickson Etuhu and Danny Murphy may prove tough to break and Sidwell is well aware of the task ahead of him.

"What I've brought to myself and to teams throughout my career, how the manager has described me already, is a box-to-box midfielder, a player who can do the dirty work on the edge of his own box, get tackles in, win headers, and then get up the pitch, help the attacking players and chip in with the odd goal, which has been the case throughout my career.

"On and off the pitch it's worked so far through my career. I've not lost it, I've still got it. I just need to show it and have the opportunity to show it. I'm not coming here to walk into the team at all. The starting 11 here, the squad, is a good squad. It's going to take time. When I get a chance I know I've got to take it with both hands and see where it takes me.

"No-one said it was going to be easy. I'm not expecting it to be easy. I've noticed how, in the first few weeks of training, it's a great standard of training, and you've got to work hard every single day. It's been great and the first few weeks have opened my eyes as to how good really the players are here.

"We can easily match last year because I'm seeing it every day in training. Although this year it's not really worked out and we're down the wrong end of the table, it's down to the league itself with the competition getting better.

"You've seen that with how the top end of the table is going. Every team is getting better and the competition is getting better. This year is going to be a transitional year, maybe, for Fulham. The main thing is we start picking up points as soon as possible. Creeping up the table to where we hopefully deserve to be."



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/SidwellExclusive.aspx?#ixzz1CKzae677 (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/SidwellExclusive.aspx?#ixzz1CKzae677)
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 01:48:46 PM
http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/sport/football/8819574.Fulham_host_coaching_clinic/? (http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/sport/football/8819574.Fulham_host_coaching_clinic/?)

Fulham host coaching clinic

The fourth Surrey Football Coaches Association (SFCA) session of the season was held at Fulham FC's academy on Monday.

The evening was lead by FA regional coach development manager Ben Bartlett, who delivered a classroom presentation on "understanding club coaching philosophy".

Attended by 130 people, there were also coaching demonstrations support for charter standard club development, a speech on how to build an environment where the players are most important, classroom activities, and a session on coaching children.

The event included an insight into the coaching pathways available, (especially level 1 and 2 and the FA Youth Award modules), with the aim of delivering support, advice & incentive for where to go next as a coach.

The session was also open to non-coaches and officials at football clubs as the evening aimed to give those who are interested in player (and coach) development within their club the support, advice & incentive for taking it forward.

The event was supported by Surrey County FA, who provide the football development team as a help to clubs and coaches with their development. They were in attendance and very pleased with the turn out.

"It was great to see so many coaches from across the County and further a field attend the evening", said Surrey County FA Coach Education Officer, Craig Hicks.

Craig added, "The Surrey County FA and Surrey Coaches Association have a passion to support, develop and provide sessions like this evening's to grass roots coaches."

The event was also supported by Fulham FC, who has a Club Coaching Philosophy and shared their knowledge on the night.

Fulham provided their indoor 3G Astroturf to the event and even provided one of their academy teams for the practical element of the occasion.

Ben Singh, a local coach for Sutton O'Neills FC and first time attendee, said "We have found this to be a very good starting point for how we are going to go forward with our own team.

"We are now looking at our own players' strengths and weaknesses and looking at building up an idea of areas we can improve and how best to go about improving our team from the principles we looked at in Ben's session "The pace and balance of the presentation mixed with the practical session at a high class facility such as Motspur Park made the session as interesting for someone new to coaching (like myself) as well as those with higher levels of experience."

To become a member of the Surrey Football Coaches Association contact membership secretary Ian Smith at [email protected] For any other details contact Craig Hicks on 01372 387092 or email [email protected]
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 01:50:03 PM
http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/fenestration-talk-now/? (http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/fenestration-talk-now/?)

Fenestration talk now
Filed under: General — rich
Here at CCN we haven't got too involved with the whole transfer window nonsense.  Perhaps the recent good performances have dulled our hunger; perhaps the return of various players just make things look a bit better.

Before the window we'd have identified the following needs:

a defender of some sort.  Some wanted a right-back; others left.

a central midfielder.  We're not short of these, of course, but the idea was to get a better player than the current cadre, ideally someone young enough to succeed the Murph when his legs do finally "go".

a centre forward.  Because of Zamora's injury.

What have we got?   Steve Sidwell for one, and in his one and a bit games he's looked handy.  I'm not convinced yet that he's doing anything that Jon Greening can't do, but he does look like he has something about him.

Gael Kakutacould be anything, although I'm inclined to assume that the player he most closely resembles in our side is Moussa Dembele.  Kakuta's looked phenomenal whenever I've seen him play (on Match of the Day), but it's been so long since we had a young, dynamic flair player that I really can't picture him in a Fulham shirt.  It could be Wayne Routledge all over again, or Giles Barnes, or something altogether new.   We shall see.  What it isn't is Shaun Wright Phillips, which is a shame because SWP is a good player and very nippy to boot; we distinctly lack nippiness, AJ's return to relevance notwithstanding.

And then what?   The centre-forward of our dreams is still not in our car, and it seems increasingly likely that we'll be back on the phone to Millwall and asking for 'insurance choice' Steve Morison (whose Millwall form has gone to pot since the window opened) after all.   He'd be a Kuqi type signing, which isn't necessarily a bad thing (Kuqi being an interesting example of perception perhaps overtaking reality: for one thing he really never was that fat, and for all his myriad limitations, he made some quite important contributions to a desperately poor side, without which, etc, etc).

Do we still need a centre forward?  Yes, but AJ is better than we could have dared hope, and with Dembele dovetailing nicely behind him I'm less inclined to panic.  Sure we missed chances at Anfield, but that's what teams do; you can't score them all.   Perhaps we'd be better off making do and mending, then signing a progressive player in the summer.

At full-back we seem likely to pick the roving left back that is Paul Konchesky.  I have no bone to pick with Konch, who, like his former manager, took a career choice that backfired badly.   We've all done it, and it seems ridiculous to suggest that we shouldn't want him back because he once left us.  This strikes me as the worst kind of unthinking:  if we need a left back and the best available is Paul Konchesky, then certainly we should sign Paul Konchesky.  What are we worried about; that he'll want to leave us again?   That he won't be committed because he once dared presume to leave Fulham behind.   Give me strength.

I'm not sure that there'll be anything else beyond the above, and I'm not sure there needs to be.  With AJ and Dembele fit and well we look a decent side, and the return of Zamora will only improve this.  Sidwell's a good fit for the middle of the pitch, and Konchesky would certainly be useful while the promising but perhaps disorientated Salcido gets his head on straight.
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 01:51:28 PM
http://www.sportingo.com/football/a18064_tottenham-midfielder-ponders-fulham-switch (http://www.sportingo.com/football/a18064_tottenham-midfielder-ponders-fulham-switch)

Tottenham midfielder ponders Fulham switch
White Hart Lane outcast mulling over Craven Cottage move

Fulham manager Mark Hughes has switched his attentions to Tottenham Hotspur midfield player Niko Kranjcar after failing in his attempts to bring winger Shaun Wright-Phillips to Craven Cottage.

Hughes had been tracking Manchester City's unsettled England international since the transfer window opened at the start of this month, however, the move has since broken down over mega-rich City's insistence that Fulham pay part of the player's massive weekly wage packet.

And, that change of stance has forced Hughes to drop his interest in Wright-Phillips and instead make inquiries with Tottenham over the availability of their underused Croatia international Kranjcar.
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 01:52:44 PM
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/i-wont-be-sad-to-see-my-caps-record-go--schwarzers-earned-it-20110128-1a89r.html? (http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/i-wont-be-sad-to-see-my-caps-record-go--schwarzers-earned-it-20110128-1a89r.html?)

I won't be sad to see my caps record go - Schwarzer's earned it

The first time I saw Mark Schwarzer was in the early 1990s. He was playing for Marconi and I was captain of Adelaide City. He was the young up-and-coming goalkeeper and everyone could see it. That was almost 20 years ago, which seems extraordinary.

He was a quiet guy, a big guy, but nowhere near as solid as he is now. Spindly and long-limbed, the perfect build for a goalkeeper. It's not just that he's tall, he has got such long arms.

Tomorrow morning he will claim my record for the most caps for a Socceroo. I'll be in the stands in Doha watching and cheering. The record is not something I spend much time thinking about, nothing stands forever. It's a different era now but international football has always been hard. Schwarzer has been a player who came through those changes, seeing us go out of Oceania and into Asia, seeing the game grow and the Socceroos become household names.

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I'm proud of the record, but it's not something I use to define myself. Mostly I'm proud I played for as long as I could, that I was a long-term member of the team and captain of my country.

Most capped is not a title I sought but many people know me for it. I like having the record but I'm not clinging to it.

Mark has kept himself in outstanding physical condition and has been an absolute ambassador for the game, both in personality, in his play and as a role model.

Early on, Mark Bosnich and Robert Zabica and later Zeljko Kalac were challenging him. But for the latter part of his career, his dominance has never been in doubt.

To be as good as Mark at his age is unbelievable. It speaks volumes for his attitude and dedication. He is one of our most important contributors and clearly one of the best goalkeepers we have ever produced.

Everyone remembers the 2005 penalty shoot-out against Uruguay. On that night at the stadium some guy kept bugging me about who was going to win. He kept asking me so I said ''I don't know, I'm not a magician''. Then with 15 minutes to go I turned to him and said "It will be a penalty shoot-out, Australia will win 4-2 and Schwarzer will save two penalties''. Later he came back and thought I was a genius.

I gave that prediction because I was thinking back to the Canada game all those years before in 1993. It was tight and tense, a crucial World Cup qualifier, but the one thing I felt was confidence in Schwarzer.

That game against Canada, Bosnich had been injured and Zabica was sent off in the previous game. Schwarzer was the No.3 keeper and came in for his first start as an international. Nobody expected him to get a gig but circumstances gave him a chance and he saved two penalties in the shoot-out.

Goalkeepers need big personalities. They spend a lot of time screaming and organising the defence. I knew Bozza from a very early age and he was always loud. Mark was different, quiet at first. But after Canada his confidence lifted, everybody was talking about him.

He's in great form still. I'm looking forward to being there to see him play in the Asian Cup final and claim the record. So congratulations Mark. Just remember, you are a long time retired. Given current form and fitness there is no reason you can't go on for years. It has been a stellar career. Long may it continue.
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 01:53:53 PM
http://www.teamtalk.com/match/preview/978/6706535/Fulham-v-Tottenham-preview? (http://www.teamtalk.com/match/preview/978/6706535/Fulham-v-Tottenham-preview?)

Fulham v Tottenham preview

Team news for Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round clash between Fulham and Tottenham at Craven Cottage (kick-off 4.30pm).

Gareth Bale misses the match with a back injury.

Bale came off 10 minutes into Spurs' draw at Newcastle last week with a back spasm but Harry Redknapp insists the problem is not serious and expects the Wales winger to return to action in 10 days' time.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee), Heurelho Gomes (shoulder), Wilson Palacios (knee) should return after missing the game at St James' Park but Ledley King (groin) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) remain sidelined.

Tottenham (from): Gomes, Pletikosa, Cudicini, Hutton, Corluka, Dawson, Kaboul, Gallas, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Khumalo, Sandro, Palacios, Jenas, Lennon, Modric, Dos Santos, Van der Vaart, Crouch, Pavlyuchenko, Keane, Defoe, Pienaar.
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 01:55:41 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/9379083.stm? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/9379083.stm?)

BBC: Fulham v Tottenham

FA Cup fourth round
Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Sunday, 30 January Kick-off: 1630 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC local radio, Final Score

TEAM NEWS
Fulham team news to follow.

Tottenham's Gareth Bale is out with back trouble but Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Heurelho Gomes and Wilson Palacios should all return from injury.

Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate and Tom Huddlestone are all still sidelined.

BIG-MATCH FACTS
The tie in context
• This is one of five all-Premier League clashes in the fourth round, and the only London derby.

Gulf in class
• Tottenham are 10 higher than Fulham in the top-flight table.

Head-to-head
• This is the 75th competitive meeting of these clubs.
• Tottenham have won their last three meetings with Fulham, including a Premier League double over them this season.
Fulham 1-2 Tottenham (Prem Lge, 16 Oct)
Tottenham 1-0 Fulham (Prem Lge, 01 Jan)
• Spurs have not lost in seven meetings with the Cottagers, three of which were goalless draws.
• The Thames-side club last defeated Spurs in November 2008, with a 2-1 Premier League triumph at Craven Cottage.
FA Cup records and best performances
• This is the sixth time these London clubs have been drawn to meet each other in the FA Cup.
• Spurs have progressed on all the previous five occasions. Two required replays, including the most recent in last season's quarter-finals.

The clubs
FULHAM
Current form
• Midweek defeat to Liverpool ended a four-match run of three wins and a draw in all competitions.
• Bidding for a fourth successive home win.

FA Cup form
• The 1975 runners-up have been quarter-finalists in three of the last seven years, including the most recent two.
• Dismissed Peterborough 6-2 in the third round, with a hat-trick from Diomansy Kamara.
• Eager to avoid elimination at the hands of Tottenham for the third time in five years.
• Everton were the last fellow Premier League club they knocked out; fourth round replay, February 2004.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Current form
• Drawn the last two.
• Lost one of 15 league and cup matches.
• Last won on the road on Boxing Day (at Aston Villa).

FA Cup form
• Last season's appearance in the semi-finals was the best performance in nine years for the eight-times winners, who last lifted the trophy 20 years ago.
• Fulham was the last Premier League club they knocked out in the competition, in last season's last eight.

Replay date
Saturday, 19 February 2011 (Kick off: 1500 GMT)

Match officials
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Assistant referees: Darren Cann and Adam Watts
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor
Title: Re: Friday Fulham Stuff 28/01/11
Post by: WhiteJC on January 28, 2011, 01:57:12 PM
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/28012011/63/bale-missing-spurs.html (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/28012011/63/bale-missing-spurs.html)

Bale missing for Spurs

Gareth Bale is out of Tottenham's FA Cup match at Fulham on Sunday with a back injury.

Bale came off 10 minutes into Spurs' draw at Newcastle last week with a back spasm but Harry Redknapp insists the problem is not serious and expects the Wales winger to return to action in 10 days' time.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee), Heurelho Gomes (shoulder), Wilson Palacios (knee) should return after missing the game at St James' Park but Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate (both groin), and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) remain sidelined.