Friday Fulham Stuff (24/06/11)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Agent cools Stoke's Diarra link
Mahamadou Diarra's agent has denied reports the former Real Madrid midfielder is in talks with Stoke City.



The 30-year-old combatitve midfielder has just been released by Monaco and Stoke and Fulham are believed to be tracking him.

However, his agent, Frederic Guerra, told The Sentinel: "I have not been contacted by Stoke City."

Sources at the Britannia Stadium have also made clear the club is not in negotiations with the Mali international.

Meanwhile, West Ham United are reportedly considering a move for Thomas Sorensen, 35, as a replacement for Rob Green.

Stoke's back-up keeper has a year left on his contract, but has hinted he would prefer first-team football away from the Britannia Stadium if he can't renegotiate his Stoke contract.



http://www.football365.com/fulham/7002380/Agent-cools-Stoke-s-Diarra-link?

[WhiteJC]

 
Kamara's off to Turkey
by DAN on JUNE 23, 2011



It had been widely known for a while, even when Mark Hughes was still in charge at Fulham, that Diomansy Kamara was on his way at the end of the season. He was released without any great fanfare and had been tipped to complete a free transfer to Leicester City, where he had spent part of last season on loan.

It turns out Kamara has opted to sign a three-year contract with Eski?ehirspor, who were promoted to the Turkish top flight in 2008. For much of his four years at Craven Cottage, Kamara was frustrating and enigmatic. He had plenty of skills and could score some sublime goals, but too often he would go missing during games. He certainly wasn't disciplined enough to lead the line for Roy but one could argue that he was jettisoned too quickly by Hughes at a time when we were short of strikers, especially after snatching a timely equaliser at Arsenal.

Things didn't work out the way we might have hoped after Lawrie Sanchez flashed the cash at West Brom but we probably have Kamara to thank for our Premier League safety. That brace at Manchester City on that crazy afternoon was truly inspired and came at a time when the boys looked absolutely doomed. Then, there was the bicycle kick against Spurs when time seemed to be against us and that calm finish in Sofia that earned Fulham their first Europa League point. Plenty of fine memories – just a shame Dio couldn't deliver a little more regularly. Good luck to him in the future, though.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/06/kamaras-off-to-turkey/?

[WhiteJC]

 
US and Mexico in final


HOUSTON, Texas: The United States reached their fourth consecutive CONCACAF Gold Cup final thanks to a Clint Dempsey goal which secured a 1-0 win for the hosts over Panama yesterday.

Dempsey struck in the 77th minute following a pass from Landon Donovan to avenge the Americans' 2-1 loss to Panama in the group stages earlier in the tournament.

"It wasn't our best game but at the end of the day we kept going and got the goal needed to win the game," Dempsey said.

"All I had to do was put my foot on it."

The Americans will play Mexico in Saturday's championship match at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles. The Mexicans defeated Honduras 2-0 in the other semi-final yesterday.

Freddy Adu helped set up the winning goal with a long pass to Donovan at the Reliant Stadium.

Donovan, playing his 27th straight Gold Cup match, then played an inch-perfect pass across the Panama goal to Dempsey, who applied the finishing touch.

"We know that when we apply our game we are a pretty hard team to beat," said 22-year-old Adu.

"I think we showed our quality in being able to grind out a result," said Dempsey.

Panama's loss was their fourth consecutive defeat to the Americans in the knockout stages.

Panama coach Julio Dely Valdes said the Americans had more energy yesterday.

"It was a very intense game, very few chances for both teams," Dely Valdes said. "I'm pleased with my team's performance, they fought until the very end."

Panama were without forward Blas Perez, sent off in his team's quarter-final victory over El Salvador. The US were missing forward Jozy Altidore with a strained hamstring. Altidore had scored two of the Americans' six goals in the tournament.

He was injured in the ninth minute of the 2-0 victory against Jamaica at the weekend.

Dely Valdes said there was more parity in the tournament this year.

"The gap between the great teams and the up-and-comers has shrunk significantly," he said. "Panama showed a very competitive level."

Meanwhile, Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera entered the French football market for the first time yesterday, buying a share of the rights for Ligue 1 matches for the period 2012-2016.

Al Jazeera, which last month secured the international rights for Ligue 1, are understood to have paid 90m euros for one of the five lots that were sold by the league. French satellite channel Canal Plus, a traditional partner of the league, acquired the other four lots which were sold for 420million euros.

"Al Jazeera is a respectable partner, respected throughout the world, which has entered into a long-term partnership," said league president Frederic Thiriez.

Canal Plus is expected to broadcast two weekend matches, on Saturday at 1700 local time and Sunday evening, while Al Jazeera can broadcast two matches, one on Friday evening and Sunday at 1400.

The result of the auction went against the desire of two French government ministers. Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno and Budget Minister Francois Baroin had both come out in favour of keeping football within the remit of French operators.

"I am surprised by this kind of chatter," said Thiriez. "We make no discrimination between the candidates and we are proud to tie up a partnership with such a respected international broadcaster."

He said Al Jazeera would be setting up a new sports channel -- possibly in conjunction with an existing French operator -- to broadcast the matches.



http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/international-sport/156766-us-and-mexico-in-final-.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol hints at Fulham exits

FULHAM boss Martin Jol wants to bring 'total' football to Craven Cottage - but only if he can offload some of the current squad.

The man from the country that produced Johann Cruyff, Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and dozens of other world superstars admits he wants Dutch style and flair in west London, but says he will need time to turn the Whites into an English version of dazzling orange.

To do so, the Dutchman believes he needs to pull the curtain down on an ageing squad.

He said: "It's a difficult question about turning around the style, because it's an older team with their own style.

"We can't change that overnight. But in the next couple of months - or even years - I will be trying.

"[Previous manager] Roy [Hodgson] wanted to change, Mark [Hughes] wanted it. And if you have, say, someone like Aaron Lennon at Fulham - you have a different team."

The Dutchman also reckoned the friendliness surrounding English football was a major reason for signing on the dotted line a year after he turned down Fulham's overtures to remain at Ajax.

He joked: "English people may not be nice - but they act as if they're nice, and that's good.

"I played in Germany, and there you are on your own, but here players take you out - it's different, and better for that in my opinion."



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/06/24/jol-hints-at-fulham-exits-82029-28932365/?#ixzz1QAsUVMGy

[WhiteJC]

 
Stoke aim to beat Liverpool and Fulham in race for Palace youngster

Stoke are keen on Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha.

Eagles boss Dougie Freedman will be reluctant to lose the highly-rated 18-year–old, who only made his professional debut last season, but will consider selling for the right price.

However, the Potters could face competition from Fulham and Liverpool, who have also being tracking the youngster's progress.

Zaha was born in the Ivory Coast but also qualifies for England and made his debut for the Under-19s in February against Germany.



http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/8539/4/stoke-aim-beat-liverpool-and-fulham-race-palace-youngster

[WhiteJC]

Johnny Haynes photos and biog

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/Johnny-Haynes-previously-unseen-pictures-of-the-Fulham-legend-plus-original-features-and-stories-from-our-archive-article2197.html

[White Noise]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/fulham-star-dempsey-thanks-galaxy-s-donovan-match-winning-pass-1713121


Fulham star Dempsey thanks Galaxy's Donovan for match-winning pass


23.06.11 | Andrew Slevison


USA stars Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan combined to give their team a vital 1-0 win over Panama in the Gold Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.

The Fulham attacker netted his third goal of the tournament in the 76th minute when he stretched out to reach Donovan's low backpost cross and was thankful that the LA Galaxy superstar was able to send the ball in his direction when it was required most.

"Once Landon gets in those positions, he normally finds a player," Dempsey said.

"All I had to do was try to put myself in position that he could find me and I felt far post was the place to go. He hit it hard and low and all I had to do was put my foot on it.

"That's why after the goal I tried to go and celebrate with him because without that pass, there wasn't going to be a goal."

And Dempsey admitted that the Panamanians made life very difficult for he and his teammates with tight checking and close marking and praising them for producing a some quality throughout the tournament.

"It's a frustrating match in the sense that it was real tight," he added. "We found it difficult trying to get the ball between the lines.

"They're a very organized team. That's why they were in the semifinals. I think we showed our quality in being able to grind out a result even if it wasn't our best game and we now find ourselves in the final."

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol reveals Cottage style change plans

Martin Jol wants Fulham to eventually play 'total football' like the Dutch but revealed he will have to replace a chunk of his squad.
The new Cottagers boss was unveiled to the media earlier this week as he replaced the outgoing Mark Hughes at the Craven Cottage helm.

And, while Jol has big plans to produce a side full of flair to the Fulham fans in the future, he acknowledged that it will take time and several of the current 'older team' being offloaded.

The former Tottenham chief, whose influences are fellow compatriots such as Johan Cruyff and Marco Van Basten, told the Fulham Chronicle: "It's a difficult question about turning around the style, because it's an older team with their own style.

"We can't change that overnight. But in the next couple of months - or even years - I will be trying.

"[Previous manager] Roy [Hodgson] wanted to change, Mark [Hughes] wanted it. And if you have, say, someone like Aaron Lennon at Fulham - you have a different team."



http://www.eatsleepsport.com/fulham/jol-reveals-cottage-style-change-plans-1230389.html?

[White Noise]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/bolton-front-office-buzzing-over-record-ticket-sales-1712461


Bolton front office buzzing over record ticket sales

23.06.11 | tribalfootball.com


The front office at Bolton Wanderers is buzzing over increased season ticket sales.

The Bolton News says Wanderers season ticket sales are up a massive 20 per cent on this time last year.

A fifth more supporters have taken advantage of the club's early purchase discount offer, which ended on Sunday, raising hopes of another surge in numbers at the Reebok in the coming season.

The "Owen Coyle factor" prompted a 4.5 per cent rise in gates in the 2010-11 campaign, bettered only by Fulham in the entire Premier League, with more than 100,000 people watching the final four home games.

[White Noise]

http://twofootedtackle.com/premier-league/premier-league-villas-boas-jol-and-mcleish-take-on-the-challenge/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChrisNee+%28twofootedtackle%29


Martin Jol, Fulham


Martin Jol was appointed by Fulham on 7th June to replace Hughes, who declined the option of renewing his contract at Craven Cottage. Hughes' exit was keenly felt (not a euphemism) at a club that he'd guided to a very respectable eighth-placed finish in the Premier League last season. They also qualified for the Europa League through the fair play league and Hughes' claim that he was leaving the clue to pursue his ambitions can therefore be considered a real kick in the teeth to the supporters.

The identity of his replacement has somewhat softened the blow. Jol was, for Villa as well as Fulham, the appointment many wanted last summer and didn't get. This time Fulham got their presumed first choice and the likeable Dutch boss will be a welcome addition to the Premier League as a whole. I can think of at least one club whose supporters might just be a little jealous that Fulham arguably appointed a better manager this summer than they did.

For both Jol and Fulham, this could be the perfect blend of familiar and challenging. Jol knows English football well, having played here and managed Tottenham Hotspur with a good deal of success; he was under-appreciated at times and Fulham's supporters can rightly be excited with their new manager. There is no guarantee at all that he will be a success, but having over-achieved in the past it's not unrealistic to think he might help them qualify for Europe once again. He might even be more willing to give the Europa League a go this year than was his predecessor.

[White Noise]

http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2011/06/24/Jol-reveals-Cottage-style-change-plans/gnid-98146/


Jol wants total football


by Setanta Staff , 24 June 2011



Martin Jol wants Fulham to eventually play 'total football' like the Dutch but revealed he will have to replace a chunk of his squad.

The new Cottagers boss was unveiled to the media earlier this week as he replaced the outgoing Mark Hughes at the Craven Cottage helm.

And, while Jol has big plans to produce a side full of flair to the Fulham fans in the future, he acknowledged that it will take time and several of the current 'older team' being offloaded.

The former Tottenham chief, whose influences are fellow compatriots such as Johan Cruyff and Marco Van Basten, told the Fulham Chronicle: "It's a difficult question about turning around the style, because it's an older team with their own style. We can't change that overnight.

"But in the next couple of months - or even years - I will be trying.

"(Previous manager) Roy (Hodgson) wanted to change, Mark wanted it. And if you have, say, someone like Aaron Lennon at Fulham - you have a different team."

[White Noise]

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=1646464.html?cid=PULSE_TW


Who are Fulham's Faroese opponents NSÍ Runavík?


Published: Friday 24 June 2011, 12.16CET


From a town of 4,000 and with scant European pedigree, UEFA.com profiles Faroese outfit NSÍ Runavík, pitted against 2010 runners-up Fulham FC in the first qualifying round.

by Hans Pauli Joensenfrom Torshavn



NSÍ line up for the start of a match


NSÍ Runavík could scarcely have asked for a trickier start to their UEFA Europa League campaign. Tasked with overcoming 2010 runners-up Fulham FC, one of three Respect Fair Play winners entering at the opening stage, the Faroese outfit have their work cut out as they travel to Craven Cottage for Thursday's first leg. UEFA.com introduces the club.

Form
Among four early frontrunners in the ten-team Faroese First Division this season, NSÍ's most recent away fixture brought a 6-4 victory at 07 Vestur. That ended a run of three league games without a win – two draws and a defeat – but knowing where the goal is has been a constant. Averaging three goals a game they are the league's most prolific side, with May's 9-0 win against Vestur a particular highlight. Klæmint Olsen is individual top scorer with nine goals.

History
Nes Sóknar Ítróttarfelag, NSÍ Runavík, or just plain NSÍ, were founded in 1957 but did not grace the First Division until 1976. They suffered a yo-yo existence between the first and second tiers until 1997, though since then they have established themselves as top-flight ever-presents.

Pedigree
NSÍ won domestic cups in 1986 and 2002 but their finest hour came in 2007, marking their 50th anniversary with their one and only league title. Their most notable result on the continent came the following year when they defeated Georgia's FC Dinamo Tbilisi 1-0 in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League first qualifying round tie. They had, however, lost the opening instalment 3-0.

Who? Where?
Based in Runavik, a shipping town of 4,000 inhabitants, NSÍ's squad is – like all Faroese sides – made up of part-time players who also hold down regular jobs, from a teacher to a trainee telephone salesman. While the team is comprised predominantly of locals, Hungarian goalkeeper András Gángó, Ghanian midfielder Abdul Razak Ismail and Mamuka Toronjadze from Georgia also ply their trade with the club.

Stadium
NSÍ's home ground – Vid Løkin – has artificial grass and a terrace of 500 seats, attracting an average gate of 300-400. With the ground not up to UEFA club competition specifications, however, the club will stage their UEFA Europa League matches at the nearby Svangaskard Stadium in Toftir.

The coach
Pauli Poulsen, assistant coach when NSÍ won their 2007 crown, is now at the helm, and is all too aware of the magnitude of the occasion that awaits against Fulham. "Of course the players will be thinking about this, because it is by far the biggest match many have experienced," he said.

Draw reaction
NSÍ chairwoman Ragnhild Knudsen: "I am absolutely ecstatic. This was a great and fun draw for the club."

Star player and captain, Christian Høgni Jacobsen: "There is a big difference between the Faroese First Division and the Premier League. If we are to win, they have to have an incredibly bad day while we must hit our peak."

Did you know?
Former keeper Jens Martin Knudsen, famed for donning a bobble hat during games, retired in 2007 but has filled in on the bench five times this season at the tender age of 44.

[White Noise]

http://tribalfootball.com/articles/ex-real-madrid-midfielder-diarra-targets-fulham-move-1715201


Ex-Real Madrid midfielder Diarra targets Fulham move


24.06.11 | tribalfootball.com


Released AS Monaco midfielder Mahamadou Diarra wants a move to Fulham.

The former Real Madrid and Lyon ace is a free agent and declared an ambition to move to England.

Stoke City have expressed interest in Diarra, but the Daily Star says he favours a move to Fulham.

[WhiteJC]

 
Final Encounter

Fulham team-mates Clint Dempsey and Carlos Salcido could be set to line-up on opposing sides this weekend in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final as the United States take on Mexico.

Dempsey scored the only goal of the States' semi-final encounter against Panama whilst Mexico triumphed in their semi against Honduras.

Speaking after his Man of the Match display, Dempsey reflected on the goal that booked a place in the Final.

"It was a great ball from Freddy [Adu] to open up Landon [Donovan]," Dempsey explained. Once Landon gets in those positions, he normally finds a player. All I had to do was try to put myself in a position that he could find me. I felt far post was the way to go. He hit it hard and low, and all I had to do was put my foot on it. That's why after the goal I tried to go and celebrate with him, because without that pass there was no goal.

"It was a frustrating match in the sense that it was real tight "We found it difficult trying to get the ball in between lines. They were a very organised team. That's why they are in the semi-finals. I think we showed our quality in being able to grind out a result even when it wasn't our best game, and now we find ourselves in the final."

Mexico expect that Salcido will be able to shake off a niggle in time for Saturday's final, with the Fulham man having to be replaced in his side's semi-final win.

"I have some pain in the heel," Salcido said. "I have an issue there since the last two games. It has something to do with the training surfaces being too hard. This field was also hard. It began to hurt a lot. They gave me a substance to reduce the pain prior to the game but it didn't work that well."



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/June/DempseySalcidoGoldCupFinal.aspx?#ixzz1QCCA4iJN

[WhiteJC]

 
Europa League campaign starts in earnest

Six weeks after FC Porto lifted the trophy Fulham FC, the 2010 runners-up are the pick of 50 sides who will kick off the 2011/12 campaign in the first qualifying round on Thursday.


Fifty teams begin their quest to lift the trophy on Thursday

Fifty teams will be in UEFA Europa League action on Thursday, when the start of the first qualifying round kicks off the 2011/2012 campaign.

Premier League side Fulham FC began at the third qualifying stage two seasons ago and played 19 matches culminating in their extra-time defeat by Club Atlético de Madrid in the Hamburg final. The Cottagers will need to play four more games this time around if they are to appear in the Bucharest showpiece on 9 May next year. They host NSÍ Runavík of the Faroe Islands on Thursday in new manager Martin Jol's first game in charge.

"It's an interesting draw, that's for sure," said the Dutchman. "We have a busy few days ahead of us, but that's the job we have been given. It's the second time Fulham have been in Europe in three seasons and that is very positive. It's a fantastic achievement for the club and we'll do what we can to get as far as possible. We're certainly looking forward to getting going."

Fulham's fellow Respect Fair Play entrants, Norway's Aalesunds FK and BK Häcken of Sweden, meanwhile, will encounter Neath FC and UN Käerjéng 97 respectively. Ferencvárosi TC, the 1975 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup runners-up, launch their European campaign against Ulisses FC of Armenia.

Representatives from San Marino, Andorra, Luxembourg and Lithuania will also have a chance to shine. Sp Tre Penne, UE Santa Coloma, CS Fola Esch, and FK Banga (one of five European debutants in action) respectively take on Serbia's FK Rad, Hungary's Paksi SE, Swedish side IL Elfsborg and Qarabağ FK from Azerbaijan. The return legs all take place on 7 July.

The draw for the second qualifying round, which takes place on 14 and 21 July, has already been made. Fulham will meet Crusaders FC of Northern Ireland if they negotiate NSÍ, while in Scotland, 1987 UEFA Cup runners-up Dundee United FC have been pitted against Polish outfit WKS Śląsk Wrocław.

First qualifying round matches (30 June and 7 July)
KR Reykjavík (ISL) v ÍF Fuglafjørdur (FRO)
FC Daugava Daugavpils (LVA) v Tromsø IL (NOR)
IL Elfsborg (SWE) v CS Fola Esch (LUX)
The New Saints FC (WAL) v Cliftonville FC (NIR)
FC Honka Espoo (FIN) v JK Nõmme Kalju (EST)
Fulham FC (ENG)* v NSÍ Runavík (FRO)
ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar (ISL) v Saint Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL)
BK Häcken (SWE)* v UN Käerjéng 97 (LUX)
Aalesunds FK (NOR)* v Neath FC (WAL)
FK Renova (MKD) v Glentoran FC (NIR)
FC Koper (SVN) v FC Shakhter Karagandy (KAZ)
FK Banga (LTU) v Qarabağ FK (AZE)
Paksi SE (HUN) v UE Santa Coloma (AND)
FK Rabotnicki (MKD) v JK Trans Narva (EST)
FK Rad (SRB) v SP Tre Penne (SMR)
FK Budućnost Podgorica (MNE) v KS Flamurtari (ALB)
Ulisses FC (ARM) v Ferencvárosi TC (HUN)
Jagiellonia Białystok (POL) v FC Irtysh Pavlodar (KAZ)
FC Minsk (BLR) v Olimpik-Şüvälan PFK (AZE)
FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) v FC Milsami Orhei (MDA)
NK Varaždin (CRO) v FC Lusitans (AND)
FC Banants (ARM) v Metalurgi Rustavi (GEO)
Birkirkara FC (MLT) v KS Vllaznia (ALB)
NK Široki Brijeg (BIH) v NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN)
FC Spartak Trnava (SVK) v FK Zeta (MNE)

*Respect Fair Play entrants



http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=1646080.html?rss=1646080+Europa+League+campaign+starts+in+earnest

[WhiteJC]

 
Palace Youngster Courted!
The next few weeks promise to be very busy.

Martin Jol, as well as preparing to start our Europa League campaign next Thursday evening, will be busily scouring the market to see who he can bring to Craven Cottage to bolster the squad.

Several names have already been suggested and today (Friday) another has been mentioned.

It is that of the Crystal Palace striker Wilfred Zaha.

But, interest seems to be at an early stage with no price being mentioned only the possibility that Stoke City are rivals for his signature.

We`ll see where this one goes shall we!




Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=245281#ixzz1QCCwWoRH

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol ushers in a new style
by DAN on JUNE 24, 2011

Much has been made of Martin Jol's comments that he wants to play with authentic wingers and adopt a more attacking style with Fulham this season. I touched on what this might mean earlier this week.

Setanta have predictably christened it 'sexy football,' something I'll be trying to avoid given the memories of Ruud Gullit's disastrous tenure at Newcastle after he used that very phrase in one of his early press conferences on Tyneside. Jol is right to be cautious about how quickly things might change, though.

It's a difficult question about turning around the style, because it's an older team with their own style. We can't change that overnight. But in the next couple of months - or even years - I will be trying.

Roy wanted to change, Mark wanted it. And if you have, say, someone like Aaron Lennon at Fulham - you have a different team.

One would hope that we'll showcase some of that attacking intent against Runavik on Thursday night, although it might be the kids who get the first opportunity to shine.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/06/jol-ushers-in-a-new-style/?

[WhiteJC]

...incase you missed it
Martin Jol press conference

http://www.fulhamfc.premiumtv.co.uk/articles/20110621/martin-jol-press-conference_2254083_2379794

[WhiteJC]

 
Kameni Move Expected to Go Ahead

Despite the quality of current crop Mark Schwarzer and David Stockdale, Martin Jol still seems keen on employing a new goalkeeper, and rumours are still rife that Carlos Kameni will be that man.

The Espanyol goalkeeper confirmed to Goal.com that he would like to play Premier League football in the near future, and Martin Jol is certainly expected to be interested.

Meanwhile, the Daily Star are reporting, with astonishing and quite dissuading brevity, that Mahamadou Diara, a current free agent and former Real Madrid star, wants to join Fulham specifically.



http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2011/6/24/2241653/kameni-move-expected-to-go-ahead?

[WhiteJC]

 
Is total football really the way forward?

There's definitely a profound yet simple message in the cliché "it's possible to have too much of a good thing." Too much chocolate makes you ill, too much alcohol makes you incoherent and too much attacking football leaves you exorbitantly fragile in defence; just ask Blackpool.

But that hasn't stopped Martin Jol, a man whose country put total football on the proverbial map of sport mastery, from insisting change in our style of play is a definite pre-requisite of success. The Dutchman labelled his newly inherited side as "older", while suggesting a squad overhaul may be necessary to truly allow his motion to make progress. About time, I hear you cry, but is a team of European calibre and top 10 consistency really in need of absolute metamorphosis?

As with all teams during the Summer months, we are in dire need of a revolution. To take heed of Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, whom habitually set a transitional precedent which the intelligent would blindly follow, and continue to update a palpably ageing squad, would make the utmost of sense. Mark Schwarzer, Danny Murphy, Andrew Johnson, Simon Davies and Damien Duff all find themselves on the tail end of their respective careers, yet provide us with our most promising first eleven. It may be far from embarrassing and the formula clearly works, but everything has a life span, and that of our squad is thinning.

And, we mustn't forget, as a side that has blessed the Premier League with wondrous football for the best part of three years now, that attacking, fluent and ultimately progressive play, is the most assured and acknowledged way of pleasing the followers. On occasion, a deft Zamora flick can be received as greatly by the home Craven Cottage faithful as a bundled Andrew Johnson goal.

Memories of Lawrie Sanchez only bring forth the red mist in most, but it's not just the flaws in his capabilities that aggravate the Fulham fans; the style of play he put forward was repugnant to say the least. The alluring passes and the classy freedom of Tigana's Fulham were all but a distant memory as the Northern Irishman systematically removed all that was good in SW6.

Hodgson and Hughes have progressively injected resplendence back into our play since Sanchez was thankfully shown the door, but we have always been held back by an intelligible desire to defend our own goal. The away form under both managers provide the evidence, although inroads were gratefully made under Hughes' tutorship.

Perhaps, then, it is time to push on some more and exploit the wondrous talents of Dembele, Zamora and the like. However, such alterations after such credible stability always have the potential to rock the boat.

In the past, this Fulham side have always responded well to change; almost to the extent that continuity appears to breed decline. When Hodgson came in, results instantaneously improved; so emphatically in fact, that relegation was generously avoided. Hughes was appointed after Sir Roy, and returned Fulham to the top ten. Martin Jol, then, should have no problem settling in and taking us onwards and upwards.

Yet, his obvious ambition to reform our idiosyncrasy is what could prove to be his downfall. The Hodgson-Hughes transition didn't hit hard at all - they proved to be similar managers (admittedly, not in personality) with similar methods. Such a simplistic changeover will have helped the players immensely, but it appears such benefits won't arise this time around. The players will need to adapt instinctively and immediately, with competitive action taking place only next week.

The experienced heads of Murphy, Davies and co will find it most easy to cope, but, aren't they the ones Jol would like to dispose of? It seems to almost offer us a viscous circle, and it's clear that the former Spurs boss will have to make compromises in his clearing our sale if he is to preserve the heart of this side and continue to build upon what is already an established team in English football.



That in itself also begs the question, do we really need to be more diverse and refined? Clearly, we possess a side of great ability and, even more clearly, previous managers have been well aware of how to exploit them to the best of their abilities. It would surely make more sense to apply some cohesion with previous bosses and allow for steady, realistic growth, rather than overturning a steadfast regime and risking all that has already been worked for.

There can always be an argument that attacking football will not harm us in the slightest, given our sturdy defence and enviable clean sheet record. However, such records were set under previous coaches and therefore cannot be taken for granted. Yes, Hangeland and Hughes are well vested and difficult to break down, but they won't be immune to lapses of concentration and moments of error if they are not tactically deployed to the best of their abilities.

While the concept may work impressively for Johann Cruyff and Marko Van Basten, maybe it would be best to put the idea of total football to one side for the time being, and, instead, we taking this club onto the next, achievable, step.



http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2011/6/24/2241692/is-total-football-really-the-way-forward?