Monday Fulham Stuff (01/08/11)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Peter Crouch to be 'offered to Fulham' as Spurs move for Bobby Zamora
Bobby Zamora could be on his way back to Spurs as part of a deal that would take Peter Crouch to Fulham.

Zamora failed to score in 16 Premier League games during his brief spell at Tottenham during the 2003-04 campaign, before being sold to West Ham.

The 30-year-old has revitalised his career since moving to Fulham in 2008 and is now a member of the England squad.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is a big fan of Zamora and is thinking over ways to tempt him back to White Hart Lane, reports the People.

One idea he is apparently considering is a swap deal involving Crouch, who was close to joining Fulham from Portsmouth in 2009, only to sign for Tottenham.

Zamora could expect a healthy pay rise if he agrees to return to Spurs, but it is not clear whether the 30-year-old Crouch would be interested in moving to Craven Cottage.

Redknapp has not indicated publicly that Crouch is for sale, but his future has been the subject of much speculation after he scored just four Premier League goals last season.

QPR have expressed an interest in signing the former Liverpool man on loan, while Newcastle United have also been linked with him.


Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/870921-peter-crouch-to-be-offered-to-fulham-as-spurs-move-for-bobby-zamora#ixzz1TkoD3aBU

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham 'monitoring' Defoe
by DAN on JULY 31, 2011



Here's another Fulham-Tottenham transfer link.

According to reports in the Dutch press, Martin Jol is investigating whether he can be reunited with Jermain Defoe. The England striker was not a regular in the Tottenham team towards the end of last season and, with Harry Redknapp keen to add to his attacking options this summer, Defoe's worried that a lack of first-team football will cost him a place in Fabio Capello's plans in the run-up to the Euro 2012 finals.

Defoe has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs this summer. Newcastle and Sunderland are known to be interested in the 28 year-old, but Defoe is reportedly not keen on relocating to the north east. Today's People reckons that should Defoe not be picked in Spurs' early-season line-ups that he will ask to go out on loan. The Dutch website Soccer News says that Defoe's potential suitors would have to pay around £14.8m to secure a permanent transfer. Would Mohamed Al Fayed sanction such a significant financial outlay?



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/07/fulham-monitoring-defoe/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham defender Aaron Hughes: We did not underestimate RNK Split in Europa League qualifier
Player admits they expected a tough and physical fixture against the Croatian team and is satisfied by his side keeping a clean sheet

Fulham's Aaron Hughes has dismissed claims that his side did not expect RNK Split to hold them to a draw in the Europa League third qualifying round in Croatia on Thursday.

Martin Jol's side held a sterling record so far in the preliminal rounds, triumphing against Faroe Islands minnows, NSI Runavik and Northern Ireland's Crusaders, but they failed to overcome Split's challenge at Dugopolje's Stadion Hrvatski Vitezovi.

Hughes looked to put a positive spin on their performance, but remains adamant that his side did not underestimate Split.

"We kept a clean sheet, which is one of the positives we take from the game," he told reporters.

"We expected a tough game from them and that is really our first real test of the competition.

"The other games were difficult for maybe different reasons but we knew coming out here, regardless of who we played, they were going to be of a decent standard.

"Physically they're in decent shape, technically they were good and the standard they play at whether it be club level or international football.

"So we knew we were in for a more difficult game and to be fair to them they played well. They kept the ball well at times and we were solid enough.

"We maybe had one or two moments when we had a little bit of a scare but apart from that I think we were pretty solid.

"But, like I said, we are happy to get the clean sheet and take them back to Cottage and have a real try to win that and go to the next round."

The Croatians were unable to find the edge and came near scoring several times as Ante Erceg and Duje Cop missed golden opportunities to find the target and Hughes insists, they were not surprised by their game play on Thursday night.

"No, not at all. I don't know how they were perceived outside [the dressing room] but certainly we watched a bit of them on DVD and they were what we thought they would be.

"Like I said, they were well organised, they would be physically strong, technically good and they played well.

"They rose to the occasion, they didn't hide and they were confident on the ball.

"So there were no surprises on our part, it was totally expected, which is why we are happy to come away with a clean sheet and still have plenty to play for."

New recruits Marcel Gecov and Pajtim Kasami featured on the Fulham substitutes bench for the first time last night with Kasami making his debut 10 minutes from time and Hughes believes they are on the right road to impress.

"They are very good, very good," He added.

"We've obviously not seen much of them [against Split], but in training and that they have looked very good, very accomplished, tidy players that are technically good and good on the ball.

"And to be fair to them they have come in and settled in really well, which I don't think is a hard thing at Fulham because the lads here are pretty welcoming.

"They get everyone in straight away and make them feel at home so no, they've looked really good."




http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2915/europa-league/2011/07/31/2598821/fulham-defender-aaron-hughes-we-did-not-underestimate-rnk?

[WhiteJC]

 
What Can Fulham Expect From John Arne Riise?

When Martin Jol announced that he would overhaul Fulham's rapidly aging squad, few would have put John Arne Riise at the top of their list of tempting young talents worthy of a new home upon the banks of the River Thames.

And, based on the final year of his Liverpool career, few fans of English soccer would presume Riise to still be a capable player.

An ever-present member of Liverpool's squad for seven years, Riise became well-known for his propensity to unleash wonder strikes early in his tenure with the Reds.

John Arne Riise free kick against Manchester United 2001

A lovely strike. Danny Murphy, Riise's teammate now and at the time of the goal, will surely be hoping to see a few more of those.

That was all a decade ago. Murphy is now 34, Riise 30.

Now, after spending three years in Italy with Roma, Riise has returned to England, signing with Fulham. The question is, what can we expect of Riise and how much does he have left in the tank?

We can expect Riise's cultured left boot to remain the same, that is fairly certain. If watching Danny Murphy thrive at the Cottage over the last few years or David Beckham operate in the United States and Italy has taught me anything, it's that technical proficiency dissipates at a much slower rate than physical assets.

John Arne Riise: Every Goal For Liverpool FC

Riise's pace and agility going forward were once major assets, as the above clip makes abundantly clear. That he will play at that pace with Fulham may not be realistic, but Riise should still be capable of keeping up with the speed of wide play in the Premiership through the entirety of his three-year contract.

Going over many of Riise's goals at Liverpool in the above clip, two things stood out to me:
1). How well Riise connects with the ball.
2). How far up the pitch Riise forays in attack.

Right off the bat, you see Riise scoring his first goal in a Liverpool kit while spearheading a counterattack alongside Michael Owen, putting the ball home with a sliding finish. A tendency for a typical full back this is not.

Another goal that stood out starts around the 3:16 mark of the video, with Riise scoring via a looping header. Try to recall a time when a Fulham left back found himself in position to score a goal with a header off of an attacking movement. Can you? Can you recall Franck Queudrue, Liam Rosenior, Paul Konchesky, Nicky Shorey or Carlos Salcido making this type of run? Carlos Bocanegra spent some time at left back and had a propensity to score goals via his head, but they came on set pieces, not attacking movements.

Better yet, can you imagine Roy Hodgson's reaction to watching a player foray forward like that?

Jol, on the other hand, holds no such reservations about his left back getting forward and already stated his intent to allow Riise to play the same attacking style he's played his entire career.

Actually, I expect of him he will play the same role as he always did for Liverpool [and] for Roma, especially for Roma.

A great example of how Riise got forward in attack with Roma is found in a goal that he scored in the dying minutes of a match against Juventus in Jan., 2010, arguably his most famous as a member of the Gallorossi.

John Arne RIISE GOOL Juventus - Roma 1-2

Notice Riise's intent to get forward as soon as Roma gain control of the ball on the right side of the pitch, his frustration clearly visible when his teammates squander possession shortly after.

Riise keeps looking for ways to get forward late in the match, switching between the outside flank and a slightly more central position.

Finally, when Roma regains possession in a dangerous spot and a cross is served into the box, Riise has already lost his marker from his position out wide. The header is a simple one, but the product of his aggressive movements and tendency to gamble going forward.

Where the worry with Riise will be is in his defensive play and propensity to make serious gaffes.

Going through multiple highlight packages, it was refreshing, at first, to see Riise rarely at fault for goals surrendered by Roma over the last few seasons. That held true until I began taking a look at some of Roma's battles against more prestigious opponents.

Few Liverpool supporters will ever forget the disastrous own goal Riise headed into his own net against Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League semi-finals. The goal highlighted a serious dip in form that Riise suffered throughout much of his final season in Merseyside.

Though Riise's fortunes took a significant upturn in the Serie A, that didn't mean he was immune to being exploited by dangerous wide players (0:53)...

Inter 5-3 AS Roma Goals Highlights 02.06.2011

....or to the occasional gaffe (0:47).

Roma Shakhtar Donetsk 2 - 3

Still, Riise's time in Italy was positive. Most attacks against Roma were seemingly orchestrated on the flank opposite of Riise, perhaps a testament to him being the less exploitable of Roma's outside backs, a positive for a player so relentless in attack.

Though not the most prestigious of accolades, the always enlightening Zonal Marking named the Riise to their 2009-10 European Team of the Season alongside defensive standouts such as Gerard Pique, Lucio and Dani Alves.

Many thought Riise's career as a top-level player was over when he was forced out of Anfield by Rafael Benitez, but this season's form has shown he still has a few years left in him yet. Perhaps the key to his rejuvenation as a player was finding a club that suits his playing style. At Roma he does not merely have a license to get forward, he has strict instructions to get forward - with their left-sided attacking width coming from Mirko Vucinic, their main striker, Riise overlapping is important to allow Vucinic to cut in and offer a goal threat. He has made one or two mistakes when defending at the far post, but has made up for them with some crucial goals, such as against Juventus.

With Jol affording Riise the opportunity to play in the same style as he did in Roma, it's hard not to be excited about Fulham's prospects out wide this season.

Indeed, Riise, it's fairly safe to say, is the most talented left back to suit up for Fulham in a long time, perhaps ever. A gaffe or two may be expected from him, but the rare slip up should be of little concern in the long run and the attacking quality provided by the Norwegian international should far outweigh any perceived faults to his defensive game.



http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2011/7/31/2305581/what-can-fulham-expect-from-john-arne-riise?

[WhiteJC]

 
A Day for Tottenham Links

It seems that Tottenham-related rumours are pretty much boundless today, with a proposed three transfers being lashed around the tabloids today.

Firstly, and the one of greatest concern, is Harry Redknapp's potential interest in our very own Bobby Zamora. Over the intervening years of Zamora's discredited departure from White Hart Lane, Fulham have quite gladly established themselves as a club most reluctant to sell its best stars, bar a ludicrously large offer for Chris Smalling from Sir Alex Ferguson. With that in mind, stories linking players with moves away from the Cottage are few and far between, yet Redknapp still believes his North London side can lure the England international across the capital.



Such a deal is easier said than done, however, with Martin Jol already affirming that Zamora is somewhat of a spearhead to our 2011/12 attack. To sweeten the deal, then, Tottenham are proposing that Peter Crouch can travel in the opposite direction, providing direct cover for Zamora. With the furore surrounding the events of our last move for Peter Crouch not yet reaching a suitable crescendo, though, the move could be somewhat ironic.

Jol has also been linked with want-away striker Jermaine Defoe, although wages and price tag provide a palpable stumbling block.



http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2011/7/31/2307297/a-day-for-tottenham-links?

[WhiteJC]

 
Some Nonsense About Fulham, Bobby Zamora, Peter Crouch, And Jermain Defoe

Okay, this is the straw that broke the camel's back. The thing that finally made me hate transfer rumors and want to stop posting on them, even though it is quite literally my job to post on them. A whole lot of nonsense has come out regarding potential deals with Fulham regarding Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Bobby Zamora.

One rumor states that Spurs are looking into buying Zamora and offering Crouch in a swap deal where we just kick in a couple million extra. Another rumor states that Fulham are interested in Defoe and that they'll have to pay a bunch of money for him.

I have an idea! How about we send you Defoe, you give us Zamora, and we call it a day? Huh? Is anyone okay with this from either side?

Actually, this is kind of interesting. Forget Crouchie for a second. Here's a poll about a potential Defoe-Zamora swap that I just made up. Vote on it.



http://www.cartilagefreecaptain.com/2011/7/31/2307397/tottenham-hotspur-transfer-rumours-fulham-bobby-zamora-jermain-defoe-peter-crouch?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Enter Cameron Jerome Race

There are reports that Fulham are joining the race to sign Birmingham City striker Cameron Jerome.

The Blues have been looking to offload the striker for some time and it did look at one time like he was going to Stoke City, but things fell through and although Stoke have not lost interest, Bolton are also interested.

A number of high-profile stars have already left St Andrews this summer and Jerome is widely tipped to be the next one who leaves the club.



Read more: http://www.birmingham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=249009#ixzz1TkvcaG6X

[WhiteJC]

 
Tottenham to Make Shock Swap Deal: Crouch for England and Fulham Striker

Amidst the furore surrounding the fate of Croatian star Luka Modric, now almost certain to head over the Channel to PSG, a bold swap deal is on the table at Spurs which would see Fulham striker Bobby Zamora heading to White Hart Lane whilst Peter Crouch would head in the opposite direction.

The 30-year-old Zamora had a disastrous time at Tottenham in 2003 before being offloaded to West Ham as part of the deal which saw Spurs gain Jermain Defoe for the first time.

However, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is a long time fan of Zamora, and will be keen to bring him back if it can be done.  Redknapp is shopping for at least two new strikers and the part exchange of Zamora would facilitate an additional  bigger money signing. Spurs will be more than able to offer him an improvement on the £50,000 a week he's picking up at Fulham.

The trickier bit of the deal is the offloading of Peter Crouch to Fulham. Both the striker and the Fulham boss Martin Jol will need some persuading.  Crouch is currently a target for QPR, new to the Premier League, and the player is also thought to favour a move to North London for family reasons.

The Cottagers are still in a legal battle with Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards over the transfer of Crouch from Portsmouth to Tottenham two years ago. Fulham thought they had struck an £11million deal for the striker, but he eventually joined Spurs for a rumoured £9m fee but were  willing to pay a larger slice up front.

On the field, Fulham's new boss may also be keen to hang onto Zamora, as part of his first-choice front pairing, and Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has revealed his side are definitely still in the race with Premier League rivals Arsenal to sign Valencia's under 21 winger Juan Mata. 



http://www.sportsvibe.co.uk/news/football/tottenham-to-make-shock-swap-deal-crouch-for-england-and-fulham-striker-9648/

[WhiteJC]

 
The Fulham Review 2010/11 is here!



The all new Fulham Review!

The fifth book in the series. Featuring all the usual reports, essays and statistics.

A match report from every game. A look back at Jimmy Conway, Steve Earle and Les Barrett by Nick Johnson. Kieron "Swiss Ramble" O'Connor writes about Fulham's Finances. Mike Whalley contributes a "Last on Match of the Day" Fulham special. Dave Harris returns with another of the famous "Departing Heroes" columns. Tim Gelles has another loaner report. Don Hymel pays tribute to Gentleman Jim. And Colin Baker has another round up of player stats that you can't get anywhere else. We've even got some colour pages this year, looking at some programme covers through the years. Also a new cover by John Cummins.

An amazing read, and still only £5, the same price as the 2006/07 book was! There's value...

Order now!  Also, please spread the word anyway you know how.

www.godsfoot.com to get yours!



http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/the-fulham-review-201011-is-here/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Peak Performance

Fulham Captain Danny Murphy is looking forward to another season of top-flight action as the start of the Barclays Premier League campaign draws ever closer.

The 34-year-old midfielder could register his 150th Fulham appearance this season and, as he told fulhamfc.com, his physical condition is better than ever.

"Last year I missed one game and all of my physical stats were better than the year before – so there wasn't a decrease, there was an increase in my physical output," Murphy explained. "That could be for many reasons but maybe it's because I'm feeling fitter and I'm still able to do the physical aspect of the game – which is what you're fighting with when you get older.

"In terms of my ability, I'm fine with that. It's going to be, as the years go on, about the physical demands of the games – especially this year if we do qualify for the group stages [of the Europa League].

"The main factor for me is when you're playing week-in, week-out you're going to get fitter than when you don't play. Any player will tell you, whether you're 21 or 31, if you're playing games and training hard, your fitness will go up.

"In an ideal world, from now, I'd like to do another two seasons - that would be realistic. Then I'd have to reassess, that's as far as I can look. You see a few players getting to that level, a great inspiration for me was Gary McAllister, I think he was 35 or 36 when he was at Liverpool and was a huge factor in winning the treble.

"I think the way I play helps me have longevity because I'm not someone who goes mad running around the pitch. I also have to give the lads credit over the last couple of years; the lads I've got around have an unbelievable work ethic – the likes of Clint, Dickson, Simon Davies, Duffer. They are unbelievable lads to have about and they don't half make it easier for us."



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/August/MurphyFitness.aspx?#ixzz1TmRivjYX

[WhiteJC]

 
Spurs Offer Crouch to Fulham as they Attempt to Land Zamora

Tottenham are reportedly ready to offer forward Peter Crouch to London rivals Fulham as they attempt to bring former striker Bobby Zamora back to White Hart Lane.

The England striker had a short and unsuccessful spell with Tottenham in the 2003-04 campaign where he failed to score in his 16 league appearances before bring sold to West Ham.

Zamora impressed with the Hammers and earned a move to Fulham where he enjoyed his most successful season as he scored 19 goals including eight in the Europa League as the Cottagers eventually lost in the final to Atletico Madrid.

The 30-year-old was sidelined for a number of months after breaking his leg  in September of last year but returned towards the back end of last season and is now attracting interest from Harry Redknapp.

The Spurs boss is a known admirer of the powerful forward and believes that he will be able to tempt him back to north London by offering Crouch to Fulham.

The former Liverpool striker has been linked with a number of clubs this summer after a disappointing season with Spurs and it appears as though he could be shown the door.

According to the Metro, Redknapp has indicated publicly that Crouch is not for sale but is still considering parting with the England striker who only scored four Premier League goals last season.

Redknapp knows that he needs to sell players in order to bring any new faces to the squad and could therefore use Crouch to bring a new striker to the club.

Whether Crouch would accept a move to Fulham is unknown after turning down the chance to join the west london club when he left Portsmouth back in 2009.



http://www.sportsvibe.co.uk/news/football/spurs-offer-crouch-to-fulham-as-they-attempt-to-land-zamora-9655/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham v RNK Split tickets

UEFA Europa League Qualifier
Date: Thursday 4th August
Kick-Off: 7:30pm

Catch the action live at Craven Cottage by purchasing your tickets now for the Whites' UEFA Europa League 3rd Round Qualifier home leg against RNK Split.

Please note that Season Ticket and Membership cards will be loaded with this fixture on purchasing a seat for this match, you will not receive a paper ticket.

Fans who purchase their tickets after 3pm on Tuesday, 2nd August (the last postage date for tickets) will be expected to collect them from the Ticket Office before noon on the day of the match or after 6pm from the Ticket Collection booths on Stevenage Road.

Buy tickets online

On-sale dates

Season Ticket Holders: Now on sale (unlimited)
General Sale: Now on sale (unlimited)
Loyalty points: 6 (more info)

As you may be aware, UEFA regulations mean that we are required to make special alterations to the ticketing arrangements for all European matches being held at the Cottage. To minimise the impact these alterations have on stadium access & egress, the Club have elected to house visiting supporters in Blocks H - K & HL - KL of the Johnny Haynes Stand. 

Buy tickets online

How to Buy Tickets

buy tickets online  - 7 days a week, 24 hrs a day. Save on booking fees by booking online*
by phone on 0843 208 1234 (option 1) - 7 days a week, 24 hrs a day
in person from the Ticket Office: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; non-match day Sat 10am-12pm
* Lower booking fees compared to telephone booking

Prices

NB: Blocks A and AL are a designated Family Area and are not available to book online. To book, call the Ticket Office on 0843 208 1234 opt 3 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Tickets/Games/SplitHome.aspx#ixzz1TmkFi3Er

[WhiteJC]

 
Split's tactics frustrate Fulham and boss Martin Jol

Fulham and boss Martin Jol left Croatia frustrated after they drew 0-0 with RNK Split last night in their Europa League Third Qualifying round.

After comfortable wins against NSI Runavik and Crusaders, Fulham were hopeful of picking up another victory away from Craven Cottage and Jol admitted his frustration at his side's goalless draw.

"We drew 0-0 away from home against a good side. I'm not happy with the result, but satisfied," he said.

"There certainly was not a lack of effort from my players."

Their Croatian opponents tried to stifle the visitors by playing a defensive 5-3-2 formation and it worked as Fulham struggled to break through, despite fielding strong line-up and a forward pairing of Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora.

"They changed the formation, with three at the back," Jol said. "Normally we put more pressure on the centre-backs but we had to drop off, which I don't like to do.

"But they had only three or four good chances, so that is the only thing we have to work on.

"We didn't do enough with the ball in their half and we have to do better."

Fulham are likely to be boosted next week by the return of United States international Clint Dempsey, while Mousa Dembele could feature after a knee injury.

However, Bjorn Helge Riise may be a doubt for next week after collapsing in the post-match warm-down with what appears to be a hamstring injury.



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/split_s_tactics_frustrate_fulham_and_boss_martin_jol_1_978804?

[WhiteJC]

 
Leeds United and Fulham battling it out over experienced winger

Leeds United are preparing to make a sensational swoop for former star and now free agent Harry Kewell.

It is understood that Fulham are also very interested in Kewell, often regarded as 'Australia's finest football export', but may offer him a 'pay as you play' deal due to his susceptibility to injuries.

Kewell, now 32, could be interested in a move back to the Premier League if Fulham boss Martin Jol is prepared to make an offer for him.

However former club Leeds, where Kewell won the PFA Young Player of the Year award, will attempt to hijack Fulham's move for the Australian and tempt him back to Elland Road.

Kewell has been the subject of a lot of transfer speculation already this summer with Premier League new boys QPR, and Australian A-League clubs Melbourne Heart, Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets all interested in Kewell's signature.

However it looks like Fulham and Leeds are the two clubs who are most likely to sign Kewell, but he will have to make the choice between playing in the top flight of English football or returning to a club where he was once a fan favourite.



http://www.footybunker.com/leeds-united-and-fulham-battling-it-out-over-experienced-winger/8724