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Friday Fulham Stuff (26.03.10)

Started by White Noise, March 26, 2010, 06:19:58 AM

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White Noise

Critics inspire Argyle keeper


Thursday, March 25, 2010, 07:00

6 readers have commented on this story.


ON-LOAN goalkeeper David Stockdale has revealed he was 'spurred on' by criticism of his performances for Plymouth Argyle.

Stockdale, 24, was outstanding for the Pilgrims when they lost 2-1 away to Scunthorpe United on Saturday.

And he also made a series of excellent saves in the second half of the 2-0 win at Ipswich Town on Tuesday.

Yet those two displays came after some less than convincing outings for Argyle, which had many fans clamouring for club captain Romain Larrieu to return between the posts.

The victory over Ipswich saw Stockdale keep only his second clean sheet in 14 appearances for Argyle.

And it boosted the Pilgrims' prospects of escaping relegation from the Championship.

Stockdale said: "It has been a great learning experience for me. I came here to do a job, and that's to keep us in the league."

The loan signing from Fulham had been aware of the discontent among supporters over his performances.

But he has responded in the best way possible by proving his capabilities in the last two matches, and rewarding the confidence shown in him by Argyle head coach Paul Mariner.

Stockdale said: "People say things to you, and you read things. The fans are entitled to express their opinions.

"But I just wanted to show them what I could do, and why I came here. Long may it continue."

When asked whether he had been hurt by the criticism, Stockdale said: "I was spurred on.

"Paul Mariner had the faith in me and he told me, 'We know what you can do'. I had shown that in a few of the games before.

"Yes, I had a dip in form. Everybody does. It's how you come back from that."

Stockdale's display against Ipswich was all the more impressive because he had been suffering from food poisoning.

The Argyle squad had stayed at the plush Five Lakes Hotel in Maldon, Essex for three nights before the fixture at Portman Road.

It was where England were based when they played Croatia in a friendly at Ipswich's home ground in 2003.

Stockdale thought the Argyle players had benefited from staying away, rather than returning to Plymouth after the defeat by against Scunthorpe.

But he revealed: "I got food poisoning on Sunday and I missed training on Monday, so it wasn't so good for me.

"It was only me that ate the prawn sandwiches! It was coming out at both ends."

The Argyle squad returned to their hotel after beating Ipswich, and then caught a return flight to Plymouth from Cambridge yesterday.

Stockdale said: "It's not ideal because the lads don't want to be away from their families.

"But fair play to the gaffer and John. They rallied the lads (after the defeat against Scunthorpe) and kept us going."

On-loan West Ham United defender Bondz N'Gala made his debut for Argyle in the victory over Ipswich.

The 20-year-old played at centre-back alongside Reda Johnson, because of a hip injury to Kari Arnason, and Stockdale was impressed with the way he slotted into the side.

"It's hard for a 20-year-old lad coming into the team, but he's from West Ham so he's going to be good," he said.

Stockdale did not have a single shot to save in the first half against Ipswich, but was much busier after the break as the home side upped their tempo.

The pick of his stops came when he pushed away a free-kick from Blues' substitute Grant Leadbitter for a corner, diving full length to his left.

Stockdale recalled: "The gaffer and (assistant head coach) John (Carver) told me at half-time, 'You are going to be called into action, do what you can'.

"You just keep your head, but I would rather have had nothing to do and we won 2-0 because it was a bit tense."

He added: "The lads didn't actually look at the other scores when we came off. They were that happy with the performance we put in."

Argyle had beaten West Country rivals Bristol City 3-2 at Home Park before making the trip to Scunthorpe.

Stockdale said: "We have got six points out of three games and if you had offered that to us before those matches I think we would have snapped your hand off. We are on a roll."

Argyle now have back-to-back home games against Ian Holloway's Blackpool on Saturday, and Barnsley next Tuesday.

The Pilgrims won 3-1 away to Barnsley as recently as February 13, but lost 2-0 at Blackpool in October.

Stockdale said: "Blackpool will not be easy, but I'm sure the lads can do it. We beat Barnsley up at their place so, hopefully, that will give us a bit of confidence."

Read more: http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/sport/CRITICS-INSPIRE-ARGYLE-KEEPER/article-1944279-detail/article.html#ixzz0jGEePx4l

White Noise

Milsom to Join TPS Turku


Thursday 25th March 2010

Fulham FC News

Fulham Academy graduate Robert Milsom will join Finnish side TPS Turku on loan from 19 April 2010 to 30 August 2010.

Speaking to fulhamfc.com, Milsom was looking ahead to the move:

"I'm really happy to be joining TPS on loan and I'm looking forward to playing as many games as possible," he said. "I've heard positive things from Wayne Brown about his experience and spoke to him regularly whilst he was playing in Finland last season. He did really well and I hope I can too."


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/March/MilsomtoJoinTPSTurku.aspx#ixzz0jGFKXAZN


White Noise

Hull City v Fulham tickets

Barclays Premier League

Saturday 27 March

Kick-Off 15:00

This is an all-ticket game.
On-sale dates

    *
      General Sale  Tuesday, 9th March   

Prices

    *
      Adults -  £32.50
    *
      Over 60s / 16-22 year-olds -  £20
    *
      Under 16s -  £17

Travel

Coaches depart from Motspur Park at 7:30am, Craven Cottage 8:00am.

Coach travel price

    *
      Season Ticket Holders - Adults £20 ; Juniors £10
    *
      Non Season Ticket Holders – Adults £25 ; Juniors £18

To book coach tickets, call 0870 442 1234 option 3.
How to Buy tickets

    * by phone on 0870 442 1234 (option 3) Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; non-match day Sat 10am-12pm
    * in person from the Ticket Office: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; non-match day Sat 10am-12pm


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Tickets/Games/HullCityvFulham.aspx#ixzz0jGFezOuw


White Noise


Fulham v Wolfsburg


WolfsburgUEFA Europa League

Thursday 1 April

Kick-Off 20:05

On-sale dates

    *
      Season Ticket Holders Now on sale (6 tickets per person)
    *
      Fulham Club Members Now on sale (6 tickets per person)
    *
      General Sale Now on sale (6 tickets per person - Putney End only)

Buy tickets now|
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 0870 442 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
    * by fax 0207 384 4810 (download printable form )
    * by postal application to FFC Ticket Office, Stevenage Road, Fulham, SW6 6HH enclosing a stamped addressed envelope (download printable form )
    * Seatwave - the official fan-to-fan ticket exchange
    * Thomas Cook - match breaks for all Fulham FC home games

* Lower booking fees compared to telephone booking
Prices

CottageMap0910Europa
Area     Adult     Conc     Junior
Riverside/Haynes (excludes A/AL)    £40    £25    £20
Hammersmith/Putney and Haynes A & AL*    £30    £20    £1


*Family Area of A & AL to be sold from FFC Ticket Office only.
 

    * Junior - under 16
    * Consessions: Young Person - under 21
    * Concessions: Senior - over 65



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Tickets/Games/FulhamvWolfsburg.aspx#ixzz0jGG2qfFU


White Noise


Boat Race


This year's Boat Race takes place on Saturday 3rd April.

Varsityboatrace

Craven Cottage has become a popular location from which to watch the annual University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge.
Last year saw over 2,000 people take advantage of the great views, entertainment and first class hospitality from our delightful Riverside Terrace.

You can enjoy the wonderful atmosphere at Craven Cottage this year for just £10.   Your Terrace Ticket will entitle you to a drink and hot food option. With a brass band and superb views of the race, Craven Cottage is the only place to be on Saturday 3rd April!

Book Terrace Tickets online|

To further enhance your boat race experience, why not enjoy the day in style with one of our below hospitality packages?
Haynes Lounge

    *
      Pimms reception
    *
      Two-course buffet (main and dessert)
    *
      Unlimited tea and coffee throughout the day
    *
      Full cash bar facility
      Price: £45.00 (+VAT) per person

LG Lounge

    *
      Pimms reception
    *
      Two-course buffet (main and dessert)
    *
      Unlimited tea and coffee throughout the day
    *
      Full cash bar facility
      Price: £45.00 (+VAT) per person

Executive Suite

    *
      Private suite for up to 10 guests
    *
      Pimms reception
    *
      Two-course buffet (main and dessert)
    *
      Unlimited tea and coffee throughout the day
    *
      Full cash bar facility
      Price: £550 (+VAT) per 10 guests 

Executive Suite

    *
      Private suite for up to 10 guests
    *
      Pimms reception
    *
      Three-course meal
    *
      Half of bottle of wine and water per guest
    *
      Unlimited tea and coffee throughout the day
    *
      Full cash bar facility
      Price: £750 (+VAT) per 10 guests

      Please note that hospitality can not be booked online. This years Varsity football match will not take place at Craven Cottage.

      For more information about this year's event, visit www.theboatrace.org, register your interest below or e-mail [email protected].

If you have any questions or need advice, call 020 8336 7555 or drop us a line

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Hospitality/SpecialOffersAndEvents/BoatRace.aspx#ixzz0jGGQgdxm

White Noise


Wolfsburg v Fulham tickets

WolfsburgUEFA Europa League

Thursday 8 April

Kick-Off 20:05 BST - 21:05 CET

Tickets and Travel

The Club is pleased to announce it has secured an allocation of 2,400 tickets for the away leg of the Europa League Quarter-Final against Wolfsburg.
On Sale Dates

    *
      Season Ticket Holders - Wed 24 March, 9am (1 ticket)
    *
      Members - Fri 26 March, 9am (1 ticket)
    *
      Purchase History - Mon 29 March, 9am (1 ticket; Phone bookings only)

Buy tickets now|
Ticket Prices

    *
      £20 (including booking fee)

Please note Season Ticket Holder / Member making the booking must be the named traveller, tickets can not be allocated to third parties. In accordance with UEFA Europa League regulations, you must pre-register your details| prior to making a booking.
How to Buy Tickets

    *
      buy tickets online  - 7 days a week, 24 hrs a day.
    *
      by phone 0870 442 1234 opt 3: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; non-match day Sat 10am-12pm
    *
      in person from the Ticket Office: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; non-match day Sat 10am-12pm

Official travel to see Wolfsburg v Fulham

We are pleased to announce that the Official Fulham Flyer Trip to Germany is now on sale to Season Ticket Holders and Club Members.

From £399pp and includes:

    * Chartered flight from Gatwick to Hannover departing on the morning of Wednesday April 7th.
    * Coach transfer from the airport to the 4* Grand Maritim, Hannover.
    * Overnight accommodation at the 4* Grand Maritim
    * Coach transfer from Hannover to the Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg
    * Match kick-off 21:05
    * Transfer from the stadium back to Hannover Airport after the final whistle
    * Chartered flight returning after the game, arriving back into Gatwick in the early hours of Friday morning.
    * Fulham stewards and TMG trip escorts throughout
    * All taxes, fees and ATOL bonding
    * Your match ticket

You will be required to input your Season Ticket Number or Club Membership Number as well as date of birth at the time of booking.

Book your package today|

PLEASE NOTE, THE DAY TRIP PACKAGE HAS NOW SOLD OUT

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Tickets/Games/WolfsburgvFulham.aspx#ixzz0jGGlml0y


White Noise

http://hammyend.com/?p=6131



Hoesen set to join HJK on loan


by Dan on March 25, 2010

The word is that Fulham's promising Dutch striker Danny Hoesen, who has been impressive for the youth team and the reserves this season, is about to join HJK Helsinki on loan.

Hoesen scored for the second string against Chelsea on Tuesday night and a spell of first-team football on the continent might aid his development. More on this when we get it.

White Noise

http://fulham.theoffside.com/player-news/loaner-updates.html


Loaner Updates


By: timmyg | March 25th, 2010

Forgot to mention this a few weeks back but Wesley Foderingham joined south east London side Bromley FC of the Blue Square South on March 12 on loan until April 24. On March 13 he started and played 90 minutes in The Raven's 2-0 win over Worcester City. On March 20 he started and played 90 minutes in Bromley's 1-0 loss at Dover Athletic.

Today Robert Milsom joined TPS Turku on loan starting on April 19 until August 30. TPS Turku is the same club Wayne Brown spent last summer at and subsequently was deified.

Several other loaners were in action this past week but I'll include them on the Monday edition per usual.

White Noise

http://community.footballpools.com/blog/2010/03/25/alan-hansens-premier-league-preview-hull-v-fulham/


Alan Hansen's Premier League Preview: Hull v Fulham

Alan HansenIain Dowie takes charge of his first Hull match at the KC Stadium, a week after his new team threw away a 2-1 lead at Fratton Park with just minutes remaining to lose 3-2. If Iain didn't realise the size of the task he has taken on, he certainly does now after that heart-breaking defeat against Portsmouth. Next up is a clash with a Fulham team that has defied the odds once again this season under Roy Hodgson.

Iain DowieThe Cottagers may well be the victims of their own success after playing a huge amount of games in league and cup this season. Roy hasn't got the biggest of squads at his disposal so the gruelling nature of their fixture list may take its toll on the players. FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Tottenham will have left the players down after looking so comfortable in the first-half at White Hart Lane. Fulham's fitness levels and hunger will certainly be put to the test at the KC Stadium as Iain will be sure to have his players pumped up knowing that his team needs to win their home games to stand any chance of survival.

The KC Stadium is not an easy ground for visiting teams to win at which has been proven by the Tigers form this season. Only two teams have won their since mid-September and those were title contenders Manchester United and Arsenal. Neither of those teams had comfortable rides at Hull with the Gunners needing a rather fortunate late goal to win despite the Tigers being reduced to ten men. Two defeats in eleven home games suggests Hull can pick up a positive result against Fulham. They've drawn quite a few of those games against the likes of Blackburn, Wolves, West Ham, Portsmouth and most notably Chelsea. However, they've also beaten some good teams in this run including Stoke, Everton and Man City. For me, they have an excellent chance this weekend.

Fulham are in a very comfortable position in the league, are not the best travellers and have already played six games this month compared to Hull's three. If the Tigers can play a high-tempo game, they may get some joy as their forwards are all a physical handful and won't give the Cottagers defence an easy ride. Jozy Altidore, Amr Zaki and Jan Venegoor of Hesselink are all big, strong players and their ability to compete gives Hull the opportunity to pressurise away sides at the KC Stadium and to push their backline higher up the pitch which in turn condenses the play. If the Tigers can force Fulham on the back foot then they have an opportunity to pick up an all-important 3 points this weekend.

Fulham have gained plenty of plaudits for their exploits under Roy Hodgson but their away form domestically is hardly impressive. They've won once this season and that came on the opening weekend of the season at Fratton Park. Since then the Cottagers have lost 8 and drawn 6 of their fourteen away league trips. They've also struggled for goals, which is perfectly illustrated by their failure to score in their last five Premier League games on the road.

Despite the Tigers being on a 5-match losing run, I am putting my neck out and backing Hull to pick up a home win on this weekend's Premier 10. With an estimated £30,000 jackpot to be won this weekend, who will you back?


White Noise

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/7519950/Debate-Whos-the-Manager-of-the-Year.html


Debate: Who's the Manager of the Year?


Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes or Roy Hodgson, who is your Manager of the Year?


Published: 11:31AM GMT 25 Mar 2010

Comments 21 | Comment on this article


Wayne Rooney appears a racing certainty to be named Player of the Year, but the managerial award is considerably less straightforward.

With the Premier League season now approaching its home straight, there are a number of outstanding candidates for Manager of the Year.

Starting at the top of the table, a 19th title for Sir Alex Ferguson would be a phenomenal achievement considering the obstacles he has overcome – the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tévez, horrendous defensive injuries and a civil war between Manchester United fans and the club's owners.

Arsène Wenger also deserves huge credit for re-establishing Arsenal as genuine title contenders while playing outstanding football on a limited budget.

What about Roy Hodgson, who has taken Fulham fans on an unforgettable journey into Europe, defeating Juventus and becoming everyone's second favourite team?

With Tottenham favourites to finish fourth and reach the FA Cup final, should Harry Redknapp's achievements be acknowledged?

Or does your vote go to David Moyes, who has shepherded Everton from an early-season injury crisis to the brink of European qualification, beating Manchester United and Chelsea along the way?

White Noise

http://www.lfconline.com/news/tmnw/fulham_game_confirmed_510164/index.shtml


Fulham game confirmed


By Al Campbell
   
Thursday, 25th March 2010


Liverpool's game with Fulham is definitely on Sunday, April 11th.

The home game with Roy Hodgson's side is a 3pm kick off on Sunday, April 11th because of the Grand National at Aintree the day before. This game could have been moved if Fulham were involved in the FA Cup semi-final, but their quarter-final defeat to Spurs last night means the game goes ahead as planned.

The final game of the season, away at Hull, is a 4pm kick off on Sunday, May 9th in line with all other Premiership fixtures.

Tom

WN, are you feeling better? I hope you are.
Fulham for life!


White Noise

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/165277/Jimmy-Bullard-issues-apology-for-fight-with-Nicky-Barmby


JIMMY BULLARD ISSUES APOLOGY FOR FIGHT WITH NICKY BARMBY


Friday March 26,2010

By Matthew Dunn



JIMMY Bullard has issued a belated apology for his fight with Nicky Barmby earlier this month that upset the Women's Institute and heralded the departure of Phil Brown as manager of Hull City.

Midfielder Bullard spoke of his "embarrassment" at the altercation with his team-mate at the foot of the Humber Bridge as the players congregated for a post-training warm-down and has said the one positive of the whole affair is that it has made him look at himself more closely as the fight for survival hots up.

"A few things were said, as there always is and then we've ended up having a roll around, me and Nick," said Bullard.

"To be honest, it's probably got a few things out in the open when maybe we might have held back. I'd rather he said what he was thinking and the same goes for me.

"All right, it went over the top and I owe my apologies to the ladies that were there and I suppose anger took over. I hold my hands up, it shouldn't have happened.

"But me and Nick are fine. We had it sorted that Monday. The manager pulled us in and said, 'You two had better shake hands or there'll be consequences'.

"We shook hands because we wanted to, we had a quiet word with each other and said it was silly. It was all put out in the open. Being down at the bottom of the league doesn't help, we don't like losing and we're going to take it out on each other at times.

"Me and Nick took it out on each other but we're fine and we'll get on with it.

"It was all about frustration but, when things are said and it comes to that, of course you look at yourselves in the mirror and ask yourself what you can change."   

Bullard responded with a goal against Arsenal in the game that weekend but, at the end of such a turbulent week, Hull's injury-time defeat by the Gunners forced chairman Adam Pearson to put Brown on gardening leave.

A mortified Bullard said: "The incident probably didn't help but I hope to God the reason he went wasn't because of us. It got blown out of proportion. People were talking about right hooks being thrown. The fight is done now but I've not been able to step on that pitch a lot, nowhere near enough for me. There's a big part of me that wants to show people up here what I can do. I don't want to be seen as a peg-leg."

Nine games in over a year since his £5million transfer has done little to dissuade people of that but, at this crucial stage of the season, Bullard knows he has the chance to change people's minds for good.

"I owe the club and the fans," he said. "I want to be remembered for what I achieve on the football pitch."

That process continues with tomorrow's game against Fulham – a club which knows how influential Bullard can be in the fight for survival. Another injury-ravaged season in 2007-2008 saw Bullard on the sidelines until January and, when he finally made his first start of the campaign, it was for a club languishing second from bottom and five points from safety.

However, his inspirational play in the heart of the team was credited with turning performances around and a Fulham side being already consigned to the Championship with 15 points from 23 games ended up securing its safety with 21 more points from the final 15 matches.

Bullard said: "We always believed we could do it and that's what we need to keep doing here.

"There's still 24 points to play for and there will be a few more changes in the league yet. Teams might think they're safe but they can soon get dragged back into it.

"At Fulham we put a little run together and all of a sudden you're right back in the pack. We've had our bad luck and it's our turn for a little run, that's the way I'm looking at it.

"We do really believe and, even if we were to lose against Fulham, we have to keep believing. Knowing the boys like I do, we know we can do it.

"We've got the players here to be as good as Fulham. Nothing much changed at Fulham from the squad that was down fighting relegation to where they are now. That's how quick it can change."

White Noise

Quote from: Tom on March 26, 2010, 06:46:19 AM
WN, are you feeling better? I hope you are.

Lot better thanks Tom. More depressed now than anything.  :dft012:

White Noise

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/127989/Battered-Steven-Taylor-in-demand/

BATTERED STEVEN TAYLOR IN DEMAND

26th March 2010


By Ian Murtagh



NEWCASTLE defender Steven Taylor is a target of four Premier League clubs – Aston Villa, Birmingham, Everton and Fulham.

And the signs are he could quit St James's Park after his bust-up with team-mate Andy Carroll left him nursing a broken jaw.


Taylor stayed loyal to the Toon following relegation when he could have moved on – but was bitterly upset when Alan Shearer wasn't handed the manager's job.


He was a mainstay at the back this season until a knee injury cut short his campaign in January.


And he won't play again this term having undergone surgery to have his jaw wired following his training ground brawl with Carroll last Sunday.


Newcastle are due to open contract talks with Taylor, 24, in May as his current deal has just one year left.


But the player is believed to be seriously considering his future in the wake of the recent incident.

And the Geordies would rather cash in on one of their biggest assets rather than risk him leaving on a free transfer next June.


That's alerted a clutch of top-flight clubs who will enter the race to sign the £8m-rated former England Under-21 international.


After talking with his family, Taylor decided not to press charges against Carroll, who lashed out at him in the treatment room at Newcastle's Benton training base after an argument over a girl.


White Noise

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article7076652.ece



Chelsea and Liverpool among clubs on credit agency blacklist



Simon Goodley

    * 1 Comment

Recommend? (1)

Seventy per cent of Barclays Premier League clubs have had their credit ratings "suspended", an investigation by The Times can reveal.

Reports seen by this newspaper and generated by Riskdisk, a credit checking agency, reveal that 14 of the top-flight sides have been blacklisted, essentially meaning that companies trading with them are advised to withdraw credit terms.

The data — calculated using a range of financial metrics including payment history, court records and information contained on company balance sheets — does not take into account whether a club have a wealthy benefactor or are owned by a cash-rich holding company so the line-up contains some surprising entries.

The clubs with a "suspended" rating are Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Stoke City, Wigan Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Rob McLaughlin, the director of Riskdisk, said: "The ratings do not predict what a wealthy backer may do. They are based on information available from sources such as Companies House and from the courts. There is no assumption made that a shareholder may put more money in."

In addition, clubs including Chelsea and Bolton have County Court Judgments on their records, according to the Riskdisk reports, which will adversely affect their score.

Tottenham Hotspur are not given a rating of any kind because of technical accounting reasons concerning a high level of intangible assets on the club's balance sheet. In this case intangible assets relate to how the club value their players.

While the analysis seen by The Times is proprietary and will differ from ratings agency to agency, the research highlights the creaking finances of many Premier League clubs after the crisis at Portsmouth, who became the first Premier League side to go into administration last month. It also illustrates the different commercial basis on which football is run when compared with the rest of business.

The discovery of the credit blacklist, which applies to clubs' operating rather than holding companies, is mirrored by research by another credit-ratings firm, Experian, which concludes that five Premier League sides are on its "financial critical" list, although the identity of the clubs is unclear. In January the agency blacklisted eight clubs.

Joe Myers, the head of commercial credit at Experian, said: "We do not recommend credit to companies in the maximum risk group."

Many of the blacklisted clubs claimed to be unaware of their ratings and insisted that the score does not affect their day-to-day business operations. Others refused to comment.

When asked about their "suspended" credit rating, Everton said: "That information is commercially sensitive. We simply do not discuss such matters with the media."

Tottenham said: "The club has very good relationships with all its suppliers and business partners, and would certainly never need to provide up-front payments. Equally, Tottenham is very highly rated by financial institutions as a result of its prudent financial management, very strong balance sheet and substantial levels of cash generation. The club takes a conservative view when valuing its intangible assets and therefore the net present value of the playing squad is also substantially understated."

Manchester United and Arsenal are considered "good risks" to whom it is "OK to offer your best terms" in the reports, as are Blackburn Rovers. Sunderland are rated a "normal risk" but suppliers to West Ham United are warned that the club are "a little higher than average risk. Proceed with caution."

Matt Grayson, the head of marketing and communications of Wolves, whose owner, Steve Morgan, has injected £30 million into the club's holding company, said: "We are one of the most financially stable clubs in the Premier League, with a significant amount of cash in hand which sits on our balance sheet."

Clubs with strong parent companies can provide "parental guarantees" to lessen credit risks.

Riskdisk, which was founded 11 years ago and employs more than 100 people, supplies almost 20,000 businesses with monthly credit reports on about 50,000 UK companies.

White Noise

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/americans-get-a-kick-out-of-facing-england-1927938.html


Americans get a kick out of facing England

As the World Cup approaches, the start of the Major League Soccer season has ushered in a crucial year Stateside.

Simon Hart reports

Friday, 26 March 2010


Seventy-nine days before the United States' World Cup showdown with England in Rustenburg, the new Major League Soccer season began last night with not so much a bang as a sigh of relief.

A week ago there had been no guarantee the curtain-raiser between the Seattle Sounders and Philadelphia Union would even take place, given the threat of strike action by the players' union.

That it was averted last Saturday with a new five-year collective bargaining agreement between the MLS and players offered an early cause for celebration for a league that is gradually growing up.

As it enters its 15th season, the MLS now boasts 16 clubs with the addition of the Philadelphia franchise. More than half the teams are now in specific football stadiums, with New York Red Bulls – linked with a move for Thierry Henry – leaving Giants Stadium behind for the impressive 25,189-seat Red Bull Arena. One side in particular provide a notable success story, Seattle Sounders achieving an average home crowd of 30,942 in their first MLS campaign last year when, with Freddie Ljungberg in their ranks, they reached the quarter-finals.

The former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol, now coach at New England Revolution, finds reason for encouragement. The longest-serving coach in the MLS, he is entering his ninth season and says: "It has developed with the quality of players. The one thing that hasn't happened is an out-and-out superstar, but the standard is rising. The guy who is 20 on the roster will probably play now, whereas eight years ago if he played, we were in trouble. Teams couldn't live in the Premier League but they could cope with the Championship."

Nicol sends his charges into action tomorrow against an LA Galaxy side missing David Beckham but featuring the league's poster boy Landon Donovan. He says Donovan's impressive recent loan spell at Everton attracted plenty of attention. "Everybody involved in football watched him. He's gone to England and made a name for himself. It is good for us that a guy in our league goes to the Premier League. It gives us more credibility."

Donovan is part of a United States team playing their sixth successive World Cup in June and who were Confederations Cup runners-up in South Africa last year. But according to Grant Wahl, Sports Illustrated writer and author of The Beckham Experiment, the success of the US team and key players like Donovan, Everton's Tim Howard and Fulham's Clint Dempsey does not automatically equate with a strong domestic league. "The concern is there are fewer US players on the World Cup team coming from MLS than ever before. This year it is probably going to be five or six," he says.

Wahl fears that the MLS has "lost some of the star power it had" with the absence of Beckham, who helped Galaxy average crowds of 28,000 on the road in his first two campaigns, and Mexico international Cuauhtemoc Blanco, a big draw for the Hispanic communities, who has left Chicago Fire.

These factors may not have stopped the Sounders selling 36,000 tickets for every game until August but the picture is less rosy elsewhere. LA Galaxy and FC Toronto were the only other franchises to pass the 20,000-mark in 2009 with the overall average falling slightly to 16,037.

Come the World Cup interest will soar. Wahl says: "ESPN are promoting it far more than ever. Whenever you turn it on, not just during soccer games, they are flogging the World Cup." For the first time the MLS will pause during the tournament's first round and at the league's headquarters there is hope the game's biggest show will have a knock-on effect.

England fans will hope Fabio Capello's side can douse that enthusiasm but Nicol does not rule out an upset. "If they are going to surprise England it is going to be a team effort but that is how the American team plays. The one thing the Americans do have is they have been winning a lot of games, and coming back to either win or draw games. They have got a togetherness."

White Noise

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1801_6054534,00.html


Volz offered loan deal by Warnock


Former Fulham full-back Moritz Volz has been offered a contract until the end of the season by Queens Park Rangers boss Neil Warnock.


Volz has been without a club since leaving Fulham last summer, but could now finish the season at Loftus Road.

The 27-year-old trained with the Championship side in January and Warnock said: "Moritz has done really well. I've made him an offer, but he has options abroad."

The German also trained with Schalke in January, but he failed to impress sufficiently to earn a contract with the Bundesliga outfit.

Volz spent last season on loan in the Championship with Ipswich Town and spent six years with Fulham after previously playing for Arsenal.


White Noise

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/mirror-football-blog/Tottenham-v-Fulham-FA-Cup-analysis-After-losing-their-50th-game-of-the-season-to-Spurs-have-the-Cottages-got-the-legs-for-success-this-year-By-Neil-McLeman-article366689.html


After losing their 50th game of the season to Spurs, have Fulham got the legs for success?

By Neil McLeman in Mirror Football Blog

Published 22:15 24/03/10

The pitches are better and the pictures are no longer in black and white. But Roy Hodgson and his Fulham team, who played their 50th match of their long season last night, are a throwback to a different age of English football.

When players went to the ground on the bus and had a pint in the pub afterwards.

The avuncular 62-year-old, like a character out of an Ealing comedy, is the only man who in the Empire who still refers to "the Arsenal".

But just six days after felling the mighty Juventus, the Spurs had the last laugh in the FA Cup last night.

Like his opposite number Harry Redknapp, Hodgson picks good players in a simple system. He has a big safe goalkeeper, two big centre-backs who can tackle all day and a big old-fashioned centre-forward who can't stop scoring.

If Fabio Capello were to fall under a No 11 bus tomorrow, he would be the logical choice as the next England manager.

But though Fulham face Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals of the Europa League next week, the effort of playing so many matches is taking its toll.

They have now won only one in their last eight games - that miracle against Juventus - and lost four of their last five in all competitions.

After a stretch of nine games umbeaten till recently, Hodgson and his men now need to turn back the clock a few weeks to capture some glory.

Tom

Quote from: White Noise on March 26, 2010, 06:49:44 AM
Quote from: Tom on March 26, 2010, 06:46:19 AM
WN, are you feeling better? I hope you are.

Lot better thanks Tom. More depressed now than anything.  :dft012:
Glad to hear you are feeling better! I am depressed about that second half too.
Fulham for life!