Saturday Fulham Stuff (01/12/12)...

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Fulham boss Martin Jol hints at January move for Aston Villa's Darren Bent

Fulham manager Martin Jol has suggested that he may be in the market for Aston Villa striker Darren Bent in January.

The former Sunderland frontman has had a question mark put over his future after numerous snubs from the Villa squad by boss Paul Lambert.

"You never know, but we have three good strikers in [Dimitar] Berbatov, [Mladen] Petric and [Alexander] Kacaniklic," talkSPORT quotes Jol as saying. "We could maybe have one more creative player but you never know what will change."

Fellow Premier League outfits Queens Park Rangers and Liverpool have also been linked with the frontman.



http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/transfer-talk/news/jol-hints-at-bent-swoop_57187.html

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FULHAM v Tottenham: Richardson back from injury for London derby

Fulham will be able to call upon Kieran Richardson again when Tottenham head to Craven Cottage tomorrow.

The 28-year-old returns after missing recent games with a hamstring injury, although similar issues will keep Alex Kacaniklic and Bryan Ruiz out for a further week.

Brede Hangeland serves the final game of a three-match ban against Spurs and Simon Davies also misses out as he continues his return from a hip complaint.

Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Etheridge, Riether, Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Senderos, Riise, Sidwell, Dejagah, Diarra, Baird, Karagounis, Banya, Richardson, Kasami, Duff, Rodallega, Petric, Berbatov.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2241018/FULHAM-v-Tottenham-Kieran-Richardson-injury-London-derby.html#ixzz2DmPzo3go
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Martin Jol was 'powerless' to stop Clint Dempsey leaving Fulham for Tottenham


Martin Jol shows his love for Clint Dempsey after his hat-trick against Newcastle in January

Martin Jol has insisted he did everything in his power to prevent Clint Dempsey leaving Fulham in the summer.

The USA international signed for Tottenham on transfer deadline day with less than a year remaining on his contract at Craven Cottage.

Dempsey claimed earlier this week that he could have stayed at Fulham had he felt "valued and appreciated" during talks over a new deal, but Jol dismissed the midfielder's comments.

Ahead of Saturday's visit of Dempsey and Spurs, Jol said: "We did everything we could do so there are no regrets.

"He wanted to be appreciated financially and he wanted a bigger club, a Champions League club, and that is what he probably got with Spurs.

"He didn't feel appreciated financially, but I am not the one deciding over the contracts. He said it time after time again that he wanted to go to a Champions League club.

"Even when I said in my last conversation with him that I loved him, it was not good enough to keep him here. If you feel appreciated, you would like maybe to stay at Fulham so there is a contradiction there.

"I think he felt loved but he still wanted to move, but of course I understand what he means.

"From the first day he came back from holiday he didn't want to play here. He wanted to move so of course you can force the issue and then come up with things.

"But hopefully he will get over it and hopefully he will feel loved at Spurs."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8296945?

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Jol fearful of Tottenham threat posed by ex Fulham hero

Fulham v Tottenham, Saturday 3pm

  MARTIN JOL admits he will be extra wary of former Fulham star Moussa Dembele when the Belgian returns to Craven Cottage tomorrow.

The striker-turned midfielder was a big favourite with Whites fans, who were hugely disappointed to see him follow Clint Dempsey in moving to Tottenham.

And although Jol values both players and did not want either of them to leave, it is Dembele he fears in particular this weekend.

"Every time when Dembele played, it went well for Spurs, and when he was out injured it was a bit indifferent," said the Fulham boss.

"But he's back now and they've had two wins on the trot.

"He's got the same role that he had here in midfield. He's got everything. He's good on the ball. He's got strength, he's got pace, and he'll only improve every game.

"He had a little problem with his hip, but if they can get him fit, I think they will have a lot of joy out of him"

Jol added: "I don't take pride in converting him to a midfielder, because it was a logical decision.

"I saw him in Holland when he played on the right as a winger and also as a number nine and there were not a lot of goals in him.

"But you can see that he's got the quality to beat people and has a good range of passes. I only wondered if he was strong enough to play in midfield and in training he did that and I never looked back."



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-fc/2012/11/30/82029-32339832/?#ixzz2DmQgRklX

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Fulham Lead Chase for Spartak Moscow Winger Aiden McGeady

Craven Cottage side keen on Irish international.

TuttoMercato state that Fulham are leading the chase to sign Spartak Moscow winger Aiden McGeady after the Irish international stated his intention to leave Russia with an eye to making a move to the Premier League.

The 26 year old is into his third season at the Luzhniki and has on the whole been a success in Russia but seemingly hopes to secure a move to the English top tier and Fulham may well be one of many sides keen on landing the former Celtic man.

Fulham have a host of attacking talent but may feel that McGeady could be the ideal replacement for veteran wide-man Damien Duff and Martin Jol will hope to beat off other interested parties to sign the Glasgow born attacker.

McGeady was a much sought after property when he finally chose to leave Celtic, having greatly impressed during his seven seasons in the Parkhead first team during which time he scored 37 times in 252 appearances and secured three SPL titles.



http://www.caughtoffside.com/2012/11/30/fulham-lead-chase-for-spartak-moscow-winger-aiden-mcgeady/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Midfielder back for Fulham, but three still out for Tottenham visit

Fulham v Tottenham - Saturday, 3pm

  FULHAM have Kieran Richardson available again after his recovery from a hamstring strain, but both Bryan Ruiz and Alex Kacaniklic are sidelined for another week.

Boss Martin Jol is grateful that at least one of his injured brigade is fit again for the visit of his old club Spurs to Craven Cottage.

He was resigned to working Ruiz and Kacaniklic earlier in the week, but hopes both will be fit again for the game against Newcastle on Monday week.

Brede Hangeland sits out the final match of his three-game ban for the red card picked up against Sunderland.

Simon Davies is still out, but should resume training next week after his hip-injury lay off.

Jol says the fact he is facing a club he used to manage is not the novelty it was last season.

"It was a different experience the first time, and it was nice," he said. "But you get used to it, and for us it's just another home game and we need the points, of course.

"It's quite exciting. They've got some terrific players, and we've got some good players, but for us the game is not about Spurs, it's about trying to get the three points.

"We had a decent result at Chelsea [in midweek]. I think it was a good draw. We defended well and in the last 15 minutes, we broke six or seven times and still had the heart and the eagerness to try and get a result and that was a good thing for me."

A good point it may have been for Fulham at Stamford Bridge, but it leaves the Whites looking for a first win in seven games.

"Our away form is better than in the last decade, but you should win the odd game as well away from home and that is our problem," Jol said.

"And out of nothing, we had that result against Sunderland. We haven't got our best spell, that's for certain, but it's not as bad as you would say."

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest Fulham news.



http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2012/11/30/82029-32340030/?

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'I told Clint Dempsey I loved him': Martin Jol says nothing could have stopped Tottenham forward departing Fulham
United States international left Cottagers on transfer deadline day



Martin Jol says nothing could have stopped Clint Dempsey leaving Fulham, with the forward wanting Champions League football and to feel appreciated "financially".

The United States international returns to Craven Cottage for the first time since his acrimonious departure to Tottenham on transfer deadline day.

Ahead of the match this week, Dempsey said he didn't feel "valued and appreciated" at Fulham and that was why he had to move on.

In response, Jol says Fulham did everything in their power, including telling Dempsey that he loved him.

"We did everything we could do so there are no regrets," Jol said.

"He wanted to be appreciated financially and he wanted a bigger club, a Champions League club, and that is what he probably got with Spurs.

"He didn't feel appreciated financially, but I am not the one deciding over the contracts.

"He said it time after time again that he wanted to go to a Champions League club.

"Even when I said in my last conversation with him that I loved him, it was not good enough to keep him here."

Dempsey was heavily linked with a switch to Liverpool after enjoying his most successful season for Fulham, but with the Cottagers angry over the Reds' public courtship of their leading scorer, he ended up making the shorter move to north London instead.

Asked if there was anything Fulham could have done to get make him stay, Jol shook his head at today's press conference and said: "No, no.

"You know what he wanted. He wanted to go to a Champions League club.

"If you feel appreciated, you would like maybe to stay at Fulham so there is a contradiction there.

"I think he felt loved but he still wanted to move, but of course I understand what he means.

"From the first day he came back from holiday he didn't want to play here. He wanted to move so of course you can force the issue and then come up with things.

"But hopefully he will get over it and hopefully he will feel loved at Spurs."



http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/i-told-clint-dempsey-i-loved-him-martin-jol-says-nothing-could-have-stopped-tottenham-forward-departing-fulham-8372224.html

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Jol gives lowdown on Darren Bent and David Beckham


Martin Jol

MARTIN JOL admits he is lukewarm about the prospect of being re-united with Darren Bent at Craven Cottage – and once again dismissed suggestions he might be keen on signing David Beckham.

With Bent again left out of the Villa squad for the weekend, speculation is mounting that the striker will leave in January, with QPR and Fulham among the potential destinations for a man whose best years were in London at Charlton.

Jol took him to White Hart Lane when he was boss of Spurs but now says he is more interested in signing a player who can play 'in the hole' like Bryan Ruiz rather than take on an extra forward.

"I signed him [Bent] at Tottenham because if you saw him at Charlton he scored almost one every two games, so I thought he's a quality finisher, "said the Fulham boss.

"You never know, but we've got three good strikers.

We've got Hugo Rodallega, Mladen Petric and Dimitar Berbatov. In the hole, we've got Ruiz. Of course we could do with maybe another creative player in that position, then I could leave Berbatov up front all the time."

Earlier in the week, Jol said there was no chance of signing Beckham – who is quitting LA Galaxy – because he thought he would be too expensive.

But he also says it would go against his policy of developing a younger side than the one he inherited.

"We want to try and get a younger team," said the Fulham boss.

"On average, we are the oldest team in the Premier League and it would be crazy to get players like David Beckham for Alex Kacaniklic, Kerim Frei and Pajtim Kasami.

"He's an unbelievable player and he's good to have around, but for us it's a non starter."



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-fc/2012/11/30/82029-32340169/?#ixzz2DmYxthuH

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MATCH PREVIEW: FULHAM (A) 01/12/12

A trip to Craven Cottage is something that always catches the eye as soon as the fixtures come out, it's gained a reputation as one of the best away games of the season.

The Putney End hosts the visiting supporters and the "neutral" fans – which basically means there will be over 5,000 Spurs fans in full voice come 3pm tomorrow overpowering the whispers from the hosts.

Fulham's results this season have a striking resemblance to Jol's Tottenham side.

3-3 draws, 2-2 draws, 3-2 defeats, 5-0 wins with a few clean sheets thrown in here and there. Ring a bell?

Slowly but surely we're getting bodies back fit to the squad. Up lifting news this morning that Scotty Parker and Benny should be back in training on Monday.

The return of Dembele last week was a huge boost, his absence has showed how crucial he is to the balance of the side.

Kyle Walker has upped his game the last 2 outings and will be looking to get at John Arne Riise who like Walker, is more of an attack minded full back.

Hugo Rodallega got the nod from the left last time out for Fulham at Stamford Bridge but I think Jol will go for a more rigid winger starting on the left hand side to help out Riise with the threat of Lennon on top of Walker's runs from deep.

Gareth Bale is edging game by game back to top form, which should give on-loan right back Sascha Riether a bad night's sleep!

The lack of pace at the heart of Fulham's defence may fall into our hands with Jermain Defoe looking to either latch onto something over the top or run at either Senderos or presumably Aaron Hughes in Brede Hangeland's absence.

Hangeland finishes the last of his 3 match suspension with Kieran Richardson, Bryan Ruiz and Alex Kacaniklic all out with hamstring injuries.

New boy Mladen Petric has settled in well scoring a handful since departing Hamburg in the summer, the Croatian international can may play off Berbatov and comes with decent pedigree playing in the German top flight over the last 5 years.

Looking through Fulham's starting line up the last 3 fixtures you notice there has been plenty of rotation in particular in the midfield.

One player who's featured in all 3 games is ex Spur Dimitar Berbatov.

It's proved a master stroke of a signing from Martin Jol, luring Dimi from Old Trafford on big wages, granted – beating us to the punch should you believe the rumours on deadline day.

Berba banged 23 in each of his full seasons at Spurs – some of which are still a joy to look back on... That goal in Beskitas, that free-kick at Upton Park, that scissor kick volley away to PSV and that cheeky flick at Craven Cottage. All genius and there's more both you and I could easily of reeled off.

His departure left a sour taste, but as a whole he was a joy to watch at the Lane.

Dimi has started brightly this term and it goes without saying he's the main threat tomorrow.

Jol himself, what a gentleman. I've had the chance to meet him on more than one occasion, he's a top bloke who I'm sure still has a place for Spurs somewhere in his heart.

As much as a fair chunk of our support felt that bond with Jol, let's hope the chants aimed towards the Dutchman are kept at a minimum tomorrow. I'd rather be singing AVB's name personally as much as I liked Jol. There's a time and a place...

On the flip side, two of our current crop are returning to familiar surroundings.

Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembele are set to make their first visit back to The Cottage since Summer moves to White Hart Lane.

Dempsey, who featured as a second half sub in Fulham's 2010 Europa League Final defeat spent 5 and a half years in SW6 before finishing his tenure with a 23 goal return last campaign.

Dembele, a Mark Hughes signing from dutch side AZ has gone from strength to strength since plying his trade in the English top flight. Jol has to take a lot of credit for dropping Dembele into a more effective deeper role.

His performance at Old Trafford in his last showing sporting a Fulham shirt gained praise from all corners which proved to be the defining factor for Daniel Levy to get his cheque book out.

4 wins out of our last 5 against Fulham should fill us with confidence, victory would see us go 9 points clear of Fulham and up the pressure on the likes of Chelsea and co above.

I'd line up: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Caulker, Vertonghen; Sandro, Dembele; Lennon, Dempsey, Bale; Defoe

Prediction: Fancy goals, Berba and Dempsey both to score – share of the points, 2-2.



http://www.thecockerelcrows.co.uk/tcc/2012/11/30/match-preview-fulham-a-011212.html?

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Fulham Football Club payment to agents 2011/12

Payments to Agents – 2011/12

Total amount paid to agents in the period 1st October 2011 to 30th September 2012: £2,581,208

Explanatory Note:

The amount shown is the aggregate of all payments made to agents during the reporting period for agency activity, including payments made by the club on behalf of players.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/november/30/agents-fees?

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Pay on the Day

Tickets still on sale for today's match
After a strong performance away at Chelsea, Martin Jol's Whites face up against another London side in the form of Andre Villas-Boas' Spurs team and there's still time for you to secure your seat at the Cottage.

A limited number of tickets for today's match are still available to buy for all supporters with a previous Booking History.

Fans can buy online at fulhamfc.com/tickets or by calling 0843 208 1234 (Option 1) until midday today.

From midday, supporters are advised to visit the Ticket Office on Stevenage Road to buy.

All tickets are subject to availability, terms and conditions apply.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/december/01/pay-on-the-day?