Fulham Linked With Slovenian Striker Etien Velikonja

[White Noise]

Football Talk ‏@FootballTalk_

Fulham sent a scout to watch Slovenian champions Maribor on Saturday amid speculation they made a £1m bid for Etien Velikonja.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etien_Velikonja

[White Noise]

http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/fulham-scout-watches-young-striker-1429555.html

Fulham scout watches young striker

Fulham, 13:28, May 15, 2012


Fulham sent a scout to watch Slovenian champions Maribor on Saturday amid speculation they made a £1m bid for Etien Velikonja.

Reports in Slovenia claim Fulham had a representative at the top of the table clash between Maribor and Olimpia at the weekend, which Maribor won 3-2 courtesy of two goals from Velikonja.
The 23-year-old forward, who has only been capped once by Slovenia, was the subject of a £1m offer from an unnamed club recently.
Velikonja has scored 15 goals in 20 league starts for Maribor this season, including 11 in his last 12 league appearances - plus four in his last two games in the cup.
He played in both of Maribor's UEFA Europa League ties against Birmingham City this season which may be how he came to Fulham's attention.
Velikonja, naturally left-footed, has been viewed as one of the best talents to emerge from the country for a while and was top scorer in Slovenia's top flight when he was at Gorica, aged 20.

[AlFayedsChequebook]

Love these kind of rumours.

Will be interesting to see if this has legs

[Bassey the warrior]

I think Jol's determined to build a team of players with almost unpronounable names. Just to p**s of the commentators.

[EJL]

I think Jol's determined to build a team of players with almost unpronounable names. Just to p**s of the commentators.

:005: Don't call my name, don't call my name, Velikonja !!!   yee-haw!

[GoldCoastWhite]

Saying "You can call me anything you like, but my name is Velikonja" - with apologies to Elvis Costello !

[The King]

It's not that hard... you just say Velikonja. Like Jääskeläinen. You know? You people need to learn Finnish.

[HatterDon]

It's not that hard... you just say Velikonja. Like Jääskeläinen. You know? You people need to learn Finnish.

and our striker corps need to learn TO finish.

[Swedish Terrier]

It's not that hard... you just say Velikonja. Like Jääskeläinen. You know? You people need to learn Finnish.

and our striker corps need to learn TO finish.

:drums:

[LordNelson]

That thudding sound was Gentleman Jim falling off his chair!   :005:

[valdeingruo]

I even had a post about it, he would fit in right with Progrebnyak, we just need to get harder to pronounce defenders!

[Burt]

It's not that hard... you just say Velikonja. Like Jääskeläinen. You know? You people need to learn Finnish.

and our striker corps need to learn TO finish.

Here's a good finish, from Velinkonja himself...

Velikonja amazing goal with heel in 92 min. - Maribor vs. Rangers

[Burt]

And some more...

goals etien velikonja

[NorthernWhite]

It looks like we've been scouting this guy for some time and thanks to Twang's eagle eyes, it looks like he may be coming. Twang's message below from another thread:-

Slovenian club NK Maribor is having a press conference at 15:00 (14:00 for those of you in Blighty) to announce the sale of star striker Etien Velikonja, 23. It's rumoured that Fulham, who have been interested in him in the past, is his new destination.

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=sv&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fnogomania.com%2FSlovenski-Nogomet%2FEkipa%2FMaribor%2FNovica%2FVelikonja-zapusca-Maribor.aspx

[SKSW6]

He seems like he's at that slightly awkward Gecov-esque stage where, at 23, he can't quite be called a youngster and he still hasn't proven himself in a top league. We seem to have scouted him for some time though, and I trust Jol's judgement.

[AlFayedsChequebook]

It looks like we've been scouting this guy for some time and thanks to Twang's eagle eyes, it looks like he may be coming. Twang's message below from another thread:-

Slovenian club NK Maribor is having a press conference at 15:00 (14:00 for those of you in Blighty) to announce the sale of star striker Etien Velikonja, 23. It's rumoured that Fulham, who have been interested in him in the past, is his new destination.

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=sv&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fnogomania.com%2FSlovenski-Nogomet%2FEkipa%2FMaribor%2FNovica%2FVelikonja-zapusca-Maribor.aspx

This would also match up with our other business - Not a word in the English press, broken by foreign news agencies 24hrs before he joins.

[AlFayedsChequebook]

According to a Slovenian blogger, The local news are denying it is Fulham he is moving to but another Prem club

[Reindeer]

I'm actually counting down the minutes for this. 

Bring on the start of the season.

[cottage cheese]

not really bothered about this if im honest with you guys. If he signs great if not then its not like hes going to set the world alight judging by his stats.

[twang]

Ha, he signs for Cardiff...