Friday Fulham Stuff (15.04.11)

[White Noise]

http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/sport/football/8975859.Burn_to_join_Fulham_in_record_breaking_move/#


Burn to join Fulham in record-breaking move

11:23pm Thursday 14th April 2011

By Craig Stoddart


Deputy Sports Editor


It was confirmed last night that teenage defender Dan Burn will join Premier League club Fulham in the summer after Darlington agreed a record-breaking transfer fee.

It is understood that Quakers stand to net just over £1m, depending on the 18-year-old's development and appearances in the Fulham first team.

The initial six-figure payment, although described as undisclosed by both clubs, is believed to be higher than the Conference record of £260,000.

That was set when striker George Boyd signed for Peterborough United from Stevenage in 2007.

Burn's initial fee has not exceeded Darlington's club record sale which is £400,000, the total received in 1998 when selling Jason DeVos to Dundee United.

However, the sale represents a substantial payment for a player that has made only 19 appearances since making debut in December 2009.

Aside from a handful of appearances last season after being plucked from Craig Liddle's lauded youth section, the Blyth teenager only came into the first team reckoning in January primarily as a stand-in for Adam Quinn who is cup-tied for FA Trophy games.

Manager Mark Cooper, however, was so impressed with the 6ft 6" centre-back that he soon became a regular, leaving experienced Quinn on the sidelines.

Everton also made a bid for Burn while Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew made an enquiry last Friday, as did a small number of other Premier League clubs.

But it is Fulham who won the race for the talented teen who becomes the second Quakers player in recent years to switch to Craven Cottage following David Stockdale's move in 2008.

Darlington chairman Raj Singh has praised Cooper for getting "the best deal for the club".

He said: "This represents a fantastic bit of business for Darlington and we're delighted for Dan that he's joining a top, Premier League club.

"Mark Cooper wanted to make sure Dan joined the right club and he kept me informed of all enquiries, ensuring we got the best possible deal while also looking after the player, so he deserves a lot of credit for that.

"I'd also like to thank Dan's parents for the way they've handled themselves. They allowed us to handle the deal without getting involved and trusted us to make sure it was right for both the club and the player.

"Dan will join Fulham at the end of the season and, naturally, we wish him our luck in what we hope and believe is the beginning of a very successful career."

The centre-back, who has agreed a three-year deal, is currently out of the Quakers side with a knee injury with Quinn deputising.

Quinn will again play tomorrow when Darlington travel to Hayes & Yeading, a club in danger of relegation but they have mounted a recovery in recent weeks.

The 18th-placed side have won four of their last six matches, and Cooper has warned that he expects an improvement on Tuesday's display when Darlington scraped a 1-0 win at bottom-of-the-table Histon.

The manager used a selection of fringe players on Tuesday, but will revert to a strong line-up tomorrow, though Liam Hatch is a doubt.

Cooper said: "The players that played on Tuesday didn't give me enough food for thought, even with the chance of playing at Wembley or to try and earn a new contract.

"Some of them will get another chance, but I'm going to play as strong a team as I can, although it depends on Liam Hatch's injury.

"He's got something wrong with his ear so we'll have to see whether he'd available or not. If not, then someone else will get another chance up front."

Last week Hayes & Yeading stunned Quakers' Trophy final opponents, Mansfield Town, winning 4-0.

Mansfield bounced back last night, winning 2-0 at home Bath City in a match attended by Quakers assistant manager Richard Dryden.

Darlington have so far sold 5,606 tickets for the Trophy final at Wembley on May 7.

[White Noise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/quiz/2011/apr/15/football-quiz-bobby-zamora?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Ffootball%2Frss+%28Football%29


Football quiz: Bobby Zamora

Today's questions are bang back on form ...


Alistair Lyons

guardian.co.uk, Friday 15 April 2011 00.01 BST


The Fulham striker Bobby Zamora was a £4.8m signing from West Ham United in July 2008. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/AP


1. For which club has Zamora scored the most goals to date?


West Ham United 
Brighton & Hove Albion 
Fulham 
Bristol Rovers

2. Which of these players did not play with Zamora at Senrab FC as a boy?


John Terry 
Joe Cole 
Paul Konchesky 
Ledley King

3. How many goals did Zamora score in his first season at Fulham?


2 
4 
6 
8

4. What was the final score when Zamora led a comeback for Fulham against Juventus in the 2009-10 Europa League last-16 second leg?


2-1 
3-1 
3-2 
4-1

5. Which player was the other half of a double signing made by Fulham for £6.3m?


John Pantsil 
Zoltan Gera 
Dickson Etuhu 
Paul Konchesky

6. For which country was Zamora prevented from playing for in a World Cup qualifier due to a last-minute injury in August 2009?


Wales 
Trinidad and Tobago 
England 
Honduras

7. Which of these players did not share a debut with Zamora for England in August 2010?


Jack Wilshere 
Gary Cahill 
Kieran Gibbs 
Andy Carroll

8. Liverpool beat West Ham 3-1 on penalties in the FA Cup final in 2006. Zamora missed West Ham's first penalty but who was West Ham's only player to score?


Yossi Benayoun 
Teddy Sheringham 
Dean Ashton 
Nigel Reo-Coker

9. To date, Zamora's highest number of goals in one season was achieved in back to back seasons. How many did he score in each season?


20 
22 
26 
28

10. Zamora scored the only goal in the Championship play-off final to take West Ham to the Premier League. Who were West Ham's opponents?


Ipswich Town 
Norwich City 
Preston North End 
Crystal Palace 

[White Noise]

http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/6574/0/arsenal-and-fulham-linked-freiburg-striker-cisse


Arsenal and Fulham linked to Freiburg striker Cisse

By talkSPORT


Thursday, April 14




Freiburg have been contacted by Premier League clubs about free-scoring striker Papiss Demba Cisse, their sporting director has confirmed.

The Senegal hotshot has hit 20 goals in just 27 Bundesliga appearances this season, helping Freiburg to within touching distance of a European place.

But the 25-year-old, who joined Freiburg from Metz for just £1.5m less than 18 months ago, looks set to leave the club in the summer and he could be on his way to England.

"Several clubs in the Bundesliga and from abroad, including the Premier League, have approached us officially, but have not decided anything yet," said Freiburg sporting director Dirk Dufner.

"We need to value many things and do it privately at the end of the season."

Both Fulham and Arsenal have been linked with moves for the striker, who is under contract for another three years and is understood to be valued at around £11m by his club.

[White Noise]

http://www.clicklancashire.com/sport/blackburn-rovers-fc/129320-blackburn-rovers-rival-fulham-for-espanyol-striker.html

Blackburn Rovers rival Fulham for Espanyol striker


by Kieran Evans.


Published Thu 14 Apr 2011 15:03


Blackburn Rovers rival Fulham for Espanyol striker  According to reports Blackburn Rovers are interested in Espanyol marksman Dani Osvaldo.

Sport claims Rovers boss Steve Kean is chasing the Italy Under-21 striker.

However, it is understood he will face compeitition from his Fulham counterpart Mark Hughes.

The Argentine-born international has just returned from long-term injury.

It seems Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino will be reluctant to lose his centre-forward this summer.

[White Noise]

Fulham Sign Burn

Thursday 14th April 2011



Fulham Football Club is delighted to confirm the signing of Dan Burn on a three year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The highly-rated 18-year-old defender signs from Darlington and will join Mark Hughes' squad in the summer of 2011.

Burn progressed through Darlington's Academy and has courted interest from many other clubs. He has made 10 appearances for the Quakers this season which has seen the side reach the FA Trophy Final.

Born in Northumberland, 6' 6" Burn has great aerial presence and made his Football League debut for Darlington in 2009. Since then, his impressive performances have caught the eye of many top clubs.


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/April/BurnDeal.aspx#ixzz1JZMrY28N

[White Noise]

http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2011/04/14/schwarzer-set-to-stay-on-at-fulham-64767-28522046/

Schwarzer set to stay on at Fulham


Apr 14 2011


By Jacob Murtagh




MARK Hughes wants Mark Schwarzer to stay at Fulham for as long as possible.

The Australian keeper signed a new deal earlier this season that keeps him at Craven Cottage until 2012.

However, the 38-year-old wants to trigger the one-year's option on his contract.

And boss Hughes has hinted he could extend Schwarzer's time in SW6.

He said: "If you've got an experienced keeper in your midst, I have always felt it is important to keep them there, fit and well, because that experience is difficult to replicate.

"He's changed the way he approaches his game in terms of preparation. He's changed his body composition as well.

"He's got more lean and he works hard on his diet and nutrition and that shows what a very good professional he is.

"He's trying to lengthen his career because he wants to play as long as he can. He still has ambitions in the game and hopefully he can achieve them."

The news is a massive blow to number two David Stockdale, who earlier this week vented his frustration at being stuck behind Schwarzer in the Fulham pecking order.

[White Noise]

Managerial Sack Race -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1376818/Chelsea-axe-looms-Carlo-Ancelotti--The-Firing-Line.html

[White Noise]

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1658/ghana/2011/04/14/2441110/ghana-coach-goran-stevanovic-must-revamp-black-stars

John Paintsil's problems at Fulham are well noted and the Craven Cottage outfit is not thought to be keen on extending the contract of the veteran defender following his inconsistent showing this season.

Again, Stars coach Goran Stevanovic has more than enough replacements for the position with many wondering why Samuel Inkoom is regularly seen on the bench.

[White Noise]

http://tribalfootball.com/articles/west-ham-target-sporting-lisbon-winger-djalo-1571391

West Ham target Sporting Lisbon winger Djalo


14.04.11 | tribalfootball.com



Sporting Lisbon's Portuguese international forward Yannick Djalo is back on the radar for Premier League clubs.

The Mirror says West Ham are watching Djalo leading up to the summer market.

Djalo, 24, has also been scouted by Tottenham, Everton and Fulham this term with Sporting ready to sell for around £8m this summer.

The winger is prepared to leave at the end of the season.

[White Noise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/lostinshowbiz/2011/apr/14/mohamed-al-fayed-michael-jackson

Will Mohamed Al Fayed moonwalk into history?

Michael Jackson's friend has been offered a singing and dancing role in a new stage musical about Jacko


Comments (2) 


Mohamed Al Fayed has been offered the chance to take to the stage in a musical about his late friend, Michael Jackson. Photograph: Ian Walton/Getty Images


Mohamed Al Fayed's unveiling of a Michael Jackson statue at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground met with what you might politely call a mixed response – the LA Times rather cruelly referred to it as "the pederast on a pedestal" – so Lost in Showbiz is cheered to report that some good has come of it. Inspired by its appearance, David King, executive producer of a new Michael Jackson stage musical called Man in the Mirror and clearly an adherent of out-of-the-box thinking, has offered Fayed a singing and dancing role in the forthcoming production. "I would like to give him a chance to share his passion with fellow fans."

Even so, King sounded a note of caution: "I'm not sure what his dancing is like." To which, LiS bellows: worry no more! Having noted Fayed's "moves" to the strains of Man in the Mirror at the unveiling of the Jackson statue, it can happily confirm that something of the terpsichorean spirit of the late King of Pop has clearly settled within the ex-Harrods' owner. Like Fred Astaire after witnessing Jackson's performance of Billie Jean at the Motown 25th Anniversary Concert, it is moved to remark: "You're a hell of a mover."

King furthermore hopes that Fayed will also narrate parts of the show and share stories from his own friendship with the late star, having presumably noted his uniquely engaging brand of public speaking.

Witness his assessment of the difficulties he encountered in trying to get a dividend approved by trustees of the Harrods pension fund – "I say Jesus Christ! I say how can this happen? I run a business and I need to take bloody loving trustee's permission to take my profit" – or his description of British politics: "You think those politicians have any intelligence ruling the country? They go like donkeys, you elect them . . . It's really a shame. From one dickhead to another: Major. Margaret Thatcher. Tony Blair. I would not use him as a doormat downstairs. Prescott. All these characters . . . you only go and elect dickheads to rule you."

Lost in Showbiz weighs up all the evidence and gasps. Come on Mohamed! Don't be a dickhead! Say yes and thus set into motion the theatrical event of the century!