Wednesday Fulham Stuff (11.05.11)

[White Noise]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/fulham-midfielder-davies-hodgson-would-have-been-liverpool-success-given-time-1623201


Fulham midfielder Davies: Hodgson would have been Liverpool success given time

10.05.11 | tribalfootball.com


Fulham midfielder Simon Davies says Roy Hodgson would have been a success at Liverpool if given time.

Hodgson is now proving his worth at West Bromwich Albion.

Davies, who played under him at Craven Cottage, said: "Roy's done an unbelievable job at West Brom. When I heard he was going there I knew if he could organise them they would be fine.

"At Liverpool, maybe they just wanted more. They want attacking football and they want goals, but Roy is about attacking shape and defensive shape.

"It was a shame because I think if he had stayed there long enough it would have worked because he had the quality to do it. It was just a tough job to take on. I felt sorry for him when people were calling him a bad coach. He's definitely not. He's a top bloke and if was given the time he would have done a good job.

"Even after a couple of months you could see the trademark two banks of four – now he's doing it at West Brom."

[White Noise]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/sheffield-united-part-company-adams-1624061



Sheffield United part company with Adams


10.05.11 | Andrew Slevison


Sheffield United manager Micky Adams has left the club following their relegation from the English Championship this season.

The former Fulham, Leicester City and Port Vale boss has left Bramall Lane after guiding the Blades to second bottom in the second division.

Adams held talks with Sheffield United owner Kevin McCabe earlier today and was told he would no longer be required at the South Yorkshire club.

The Blades won just four matches under Adams who was in charge for 24 games since his appointment at the end of December when Gary Speed took the Wales job. His departure comes at the same time as that of assistant manager Paul Cork and chief executive Trevor Birch.

[White Noise]

http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2011/05/10/fulhams-next-europa-league-campaign/

Fulham's next Europa League campaign

May 10, 2011. 5:34 pm


LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 03: Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed unveils a statue in tribute to Michael Jackson prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham and Blackpool at Craven Cottage on April 3, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)Increase Font SizePrint Page

As the Premiership season hurtles to a satisfying conclusion, few may be more sated than Mark Hughes. The Welshman, in his twelfth year of management, has led Fulham to tenth place so far this season, boasts a +4 Goal Difference and a fair play record which sees them strongly in contention for Europe.

Roundly pilloried in his early days at Craven Cottage – for a combination of factors including the club's mediocre-at-best early form, his egregiousness about his time at Manchester City, an insistence that every opposing manager properly shake hands with him and finally, his not being Roy Hodgson. Using a finally-healthy forward trio of Andy Johnson, Moussa Dembele and – critically – Bobby Zamora, Hughes has masterminded the Cottagers back from a perilous December position. Fulham still struggle to win away from home, but they've solidified their spot as a mid-table Premiership team and haven't had a player sent off since 2009.

UEFA awards a Europa League position to the best-behaved club (in terms of red and yellow cards) in each of the three best-behaved European leagues, so long as that club hasn't already qualified for the tournament. While Fulham lead the Premiership's disciplinary table, they haven't assured themselves of this spot – should they commit three yellows more than second-placed Blackpool (or worse, a couple of red cards) over their last two games, they would be lose their position. Stoke City qualified for the tournament thanks to their FA Cup success, while Birmingham's League Cup triumph could see them playing in Podgorica next year. To see Blackpool – perhaps even from the Championship – would provide the most unlikely trio of English Europa League entrants in some time.

The Whites' positive goal difference is also a boon. Alongside freescoring midfielder Clint Dempsey, their primary forward trio of Johnson, Zamora and Dembele have played a combined forty-two starts as Dembele and Zamora have spent much of the season recovering from broken legs. Each of the three has a differing, harmonising set of skills – Big Bobby's the target-man with eyes on an England call-up, Johnson's the archetypal goal poacher while Dembele is fleet of foot and nimble in the link-up.

This trident – thrust by Dempsey and Danny Murphy – has Fulham, Michael Jackson statue and all, sitting tenth in the league. Even after receiving an entertaining 5 -2 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool, Fulham boast a goal difference of +4, the second-best figure over the past ten EPL seasons for a club finishing in that position. Should they finish lower this differential could be a Premiership record. Like many managers, Hughes is most visible in defeat. That very little has been said of him during 2011 could perhaps be the ultimate compliment that his job in London has been completed in the image of the man himself – with very little fuss.

[White Noise]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/qpr-chasing-hull-fullback-rosenior-1624501


QPR chasing Hull fullback Rosenior



11.05.11 | tribalfootball.com


QPR are eyeing Hull City defender Liam Rosenior.

The London Evening Standard says the R's are looking at Hull right-back Rosenior, who knows the Premier League well having spent four seasons at Fulham.

Rosenior would be open to a return to London.

QPR's move for Rosenior could see them end their interest in Tottenham fullback Kyle Naughton.