Monday Fulham Stuff (04/06/12)...

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Johnson eyes UAE move

The agent of Fulham striker Andrew Johnson has confirmed that he is considering offers from clubs in the United Arab Emirates.


The 31-year-old former England international has been made available for a Bosman free transfer at the end of this month when his current contract at Craven Cottage is due to expire.

Cottagers boss Martin Jol has offered Johnson a new deal on reduced terms to stay put, but his agent Anthony McFarlane claims Dubai is a tempting proposition for the player, who has scored 27 goals in 105 games since joining from Everton in a £10.5million deal four years ago.

He was quoted in the Daily Star: "It's something he has firmly been thinking about. He has never been in this situation in his career where he is available on a Bosman.

"His mind is open and he's looking at all his options, both here in England and abroad.

"He is keen on a new challenge and very interested in a move to the UAE provided the offer is right. There have been no concrete offers as such at this moment in time but there has been strong interest from a number of clubs in the Gulf area, including a couple from the UAE.

"Without a doubt, he is looking at it. It's just a case of weighing up his options and making sure he joins the right club."



http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2012/06/03/Cottage-hitman-eyes-UAE-move/gnid-144035/?

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Playmaker flattered by Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd & Spurs interest

Fulham transfer news: Mousa Dembele is happy at Craven Cottage but is also pleased with the interest shown in him

Fulham star Mousa Dembele is flattered by the reported interest shown in him by Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham.

The Belgian featured in 47 games for club and country, scoring twice and his performances have caught the attention of the Premier League giants with the Blues and the Red Devils apparently leading the chase ahead of the Gunners and Spurs.

"Of course, it's normal [to be flattered] - they are big teams," he said.

"But I'm very happy at Fulham, so I'm not in a hurry.

"In the end, we will see what's good for me."


http://www.london24.com/sport/chelsea/playmaker_flattered_by_arsenal_chelsea_man_utd_spurs_interest_1_1397973?

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Fulham star backs playmaker to be a success in the Premier League

Mousa Dembele believes that Eden Hazard, who reportedly turned down Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham to sign for Chelsea, will be enjoyed in England

Fulham star Mousa Dembele has backed Eden Hazard, who is set to sign for Chelsea, to be a success in the Premier League.

The Whites playmaker also believes that his Lille counterpart is the jewel in the Belgium crown at the moment.

"We have a lot of good players, with [Vincent] Kompany, [Marouane] Fellaini, [Thomas] Vermaelen, Gries Mertens," Dembele said.

"But Hazard is a player who is unbelievable.

"He can make from nothing a big chance or a goal.

"He scores, he gives good passes, he's very fast, he has good skills, good free-kicks - a confidence player.

"He has a bit of everything.

"I know him well and I think he will do very good in the Premier League.

"It's a good competition for him and I think that England will enjoy him."



http://www.london24.com/sport/chelsea/fulham_star_backs_playmaker_to_be_a_success_in_the_premier_league_1_1397974?

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Roy can't make England as compact as Fulham in three weeks

Roy Hodgson's England play France on Monday 11th.

France have Benzema and a dodgy defence.

But Lauren Blanc has won 20 games in a row.

England's new manager has had only had three weeks to turn his team of journeymen into the Fulham of Euro 2012.

That job will take at least 20 games.

A tall order, even if we had Jack Wilshere always available.

But Roy has beaten Norway 1-0 with a good goal by Ashley Young and beaten Belgium 1-0 with a superb strike by Danny Welbeck, his first for England.

Welbeck, a tenacious striker with pace, helped to win the ball back, Stevie Gerrard switched it quickly forward to Ashley Young, who released Welbeck one-on-one with the keeper.

The kid dinked Mignolet in fine style. Beautiful goal !

Welbeck might take Mexes apart, given a decent pass or three.

Oxlade,18, started on the left wing and made one excellent pass.

Belgium had no striker but their solid midfield dominated the second half.

Clearly, Engerland don't have the skill to pass the ball as fluently as Fulham, and we'll struggle to score than one goal in a game.

They are a belt-and-braces side who can contain and counter-attack with a bit of pace and maybe score from set-pieces.

From now on it's all about (1) selection (2) luck and (3) injuries.

Gary Cahill collided with Joe Hart on Saturday. He lost a tooth in that collision with Hart's shoulder and went off with a fractured jaw that puts him out of the tournament.

The Belgian player who pushed Cahill in the back could not reach the ball and never attempted to play the ball.

That player is a coward and a scumbag and his name is Dries Mertens.

What Mertens did, in a friendly game, was irresponsible, malicious and cowardly.

I've heard a lot about wonderboy Eden Hazard in the last four years.

Wasn't impressed.

He'll find that the EPL is far superior to the French league.

Every player has to adjust and it takes a season.

In other news, BRENDAN RODGERS, a tough cookie, has taken over at Liverpool after refusing to work under a Director of Football.

Very good manager! Like him a lot.



http://www.arsenalnewsreview.co.uk/index.php/news/2456/30/Roy-can-t-make-England-as-compact-as-Fulham-in-three-weeks?

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Dembele - No England fear
Belgium ace not afraid of taking on Three Lions


No fear: Moussa Dembele and Wayne Rooney tussle for the ball during the friendly at Wembley

Moussa Dembele insists facing England is nothing to be afraid of but he has refused to rule out Roy Hodgson's men going all the way to the European Championship final.

Dembele started at Wembley on Saturday as Belgium slipped to a 1-0 friendly defeat to the Three Lions courtesy of Danny Welbeck's goal.

Fulham forward Dembele believes Belgium could compete with Hodgson's men, despite less experience than them.

He said: "England have a very good squad but I'm not afraid of them.

"We could compete with them.

"They have a lot of experience as well - we don't have this.

"We don't have to look up to them."

Dembele is not sure now England will do at Euro 2012 but pointed out Hodgson took an unfancied Fulham side all the way to the Europa League final two years ago.

The playmaker, who moved to Craven Cottage the following season, said: "I heard from my team-mates at Fulham that he's a very good coach as well and he has good organisation.

"He brought Fulham to a final, so you never know."

Hazard praise

Despite not reaching Euro 2012, Belgium are undergoing something of a renaissance, with a star-studded line-up tipped to reach the next World Cup.
Dembele is one of many to ply his trade in the Premier League but he admitted Chelsea-bound Eden Hazard was the real star.

"We have a lot of good players, with Kompany, Fellaini, Vermaelen, Dries Mertens," Dembele said.

"But Hazard is a player who is unbelievable.

"He can make from nothing a big chance or a goal.

"He scores, he gives good passes, he's very fast, he has good skills, good free-kicks - a confidence player.

"He has a bit of everything.

"I know him well and I think he will do very good in the Premier League.

"It's a good competition for him and I think that England will enjoy him."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7793872/?

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Dembele keeps Fulham focus
Dembele happy at Craven Cottage amid transfer speculation


Moussa Dembele: Enjoying life at Fulham and is in no hurry to move on

Moussa Dembele admits he is flattered by links to Chelsea and Manchester United but is in no hurry to move on from Fulham.

The Belgian international, who started against England on Saturday, moved to the Cottagers in a £5 million switch from Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar in August 2010.

His performances for Fulham have seen him linked with summer moves to Chelsea and United and the playmaker is honoured by their reported interest.

"Of course, it's normal - they are big teams," said the 24-year-old.

"But I'm very happy at Fulham, so I'm not in a hurry.

"In the end, we will see what's good for me."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7794048/?

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Aston Villa, Fulham, Newcastle, Spurs & West Ham target can succeed anywhere claims team-mate

Huddersfield goalkeeper Nick Colgan has backed Jordan Rhodes to be a success next season, no matter where he is playing

Huddersfield star Jordan Rhodes, who has been linked with Aston Villa, Fulham, Newcastle, Spurs and West Ham can be a success wherever he goes according to his team-mate.

Terriers goalkeeper Nick Colgan believes that the former Brentford loanee's attitude will help him make his mark at any club.

"I've rarely come across someone as nice a guy as Jordan in football who has gone on to succeed," Colgan is quoted as saying in the Daily Record.

"I know the old cliche is that nice guys go nowhere but Jordan is going places.

"And it's lovely to see someone like him do really well. He's a smashing kid with exceptional talent. A lot of footballers who have had the press he's had might start to believe their own hype.

"But if you see him interviewed after any game where he's scored two, three, four or even five he always talks about the team. It shows how level-headed and down to earth he is.

"I know wherever Jordan ends up he'll always be like that and that's a great attribute to have. His

attitude will stand him in good stead going forward. But don't heap pressure on him. It happens all too often that someone has a wonderful season and suddenly they're the next Jimmy Johnstone, Dennis Law, Graeme Souness or Kenny Dalglish.

"Jordan has done well up to now but still has a lot to do. The important thing is he doesn't think he's the finished article.

"Whether he stays at Huddersfield this summer or goes to a Premiership club or Celtic he's the type who will want to improve."

This season, Rhodes scored an incredible 48 goals for club and country after a double for Scotland Under-21s against Bulgaria on Thursday.



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/aston_villa_fulham_newcastle_spurs_west_ham_target_can_succeed_anywhere_claims_team_mate_1_1398440?

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Dembele in no hurry to decide Fulham future
The Belgium international has emerged as a target for Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United, but insists he is happy to continue playing at Craven Cottage


Getty Images

Fulham striker Moussa Dembele has stated that he is happy at the club, despite interest from a host of teams including Chelsea and Manchester United.

Dembele signed for the west London club in August 2010 and has scored seven goals in 60 Premier League appearances for the Cottagers.

The Belgian initially moved to the club as a striker, but has since been deployed further back, first in an attacking midfield role, and more recently in a deeper-lying central midfield role.

"I'm very happy at Fulham, so I'm not in a hurry," he told Sky Sports.

"Of course, it's normal - they are big teams. In the end, we will see what's good for me."

Goal.com exclusively revealed last month that Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City are interested in signing the 24-year-old, who has only one year remaining on his contract at Fulham and could leave the club for as little as £10 million this summer.



http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/06/03/3146515/dembele-in-no-hurry-to-decide-fulham-future?

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MURPHY AND POGREBNYAK TALKS CONTINUE

All clubs are required to submit their players released and players retained lists to the Premier League by the third Saturday in May,

Press Association Sport understands that Fulham are still in talks with Danny Murphy and Pavel Pogrebnyak about extended stays, but Andrew Johnson is set to leave Craven Cottage this summer.

The Cottagers are hopeful of extending the contracts of captain Murphy and Russia international Pogrebnyak in the coming weeks, with discussions ongoing and offers made.

However, it is understood that Fulham are not in discussions with striker Johnson, midfielder Bjorn Helge Riise or defender Zdenek Grygera about new deals.



http://www.fulhamweb.co.uk/news/Murphy-and-Pogrebnyak-talks-continue.aspx

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Reading hope to nab Pavel Pogrebnyak from under the nose of Fulham

READING are set to make a late move for Pavel Pogrebnyak as FULHAM sweat over completing a deal.

The Russia international – a free agent – has been offered a permanent contract at Craven Cottage and will make a decision very soon.

But the Royals may step in with a better offer.


http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/news/2012/06/03/reading-hope-to-nab-pavel-pogrebnyak-from-under-the-nose-of-fulham-102039-23884707/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

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Dembele offers both compliments and concerns after narrow loss

Moussa Dembele claimed facing England was nothing to be afraid of, despite his Belgium side's 1-0 friendly defeat at Wembley.

But Fulham forward Dembele also refused to rule out Roy Hodgson's men going all the way to the European Championship final.

England were on the back foot for long periods in Saturday's 1-0 win against a young Belgium side but still managed to extend Hodgson's 100 per cent record for his two games in charge.

Euro 2012 Group D opponents France, Sweden and Ukraine would hardly have been quaking in their boots, though, especially as the Belgians did not qualify.

Dembele, 24, said: "England have a very good squad but I'm not afraid of them. We could compete with them.

"They have a lot of experience as well – we don't have this. (But) we don't have to look up to them."

Dembele was unsure how England would fare at Euro 2012 but pointed out Hodgson took an unfancied Fulham side all the way to the Europa League final two years ago. The playmaker, who moved to Craven Cottage the following season, said: "I heard from my team-mates at Fulham that he's a very good coach as well and he has good organisation. He brought Fulham to a final, so you never know."

Thomas Vermaelen, who captained Belgium on Saturday after Vincent Kompany was injured during the warm-up, said of England: "They have a lot of experienced players, good players.

"They all play in the Premier League, so I think they will do well in the Europeans."

Defender Vermaelen found himself up against Arsenal team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the first time on Saturday after the winger was handed his England debut.

Vermaelen was delighted to see the 18-year-old given his big break.

"He's really brave when he plays and I think players who are really brave, they should be rewarded for that," said Vermaelen, who admitted Belgium only had themselves to blame for failing to pull off a famous Wembley win.

"We played okay. We controlled the game. At the end, it's about the result.

"I think England played really well tactically and they got the score on their side. We had a lot of chances but I think we weren't sharp enough in front of goal.

"I think we have to work on that."

Despite not reaching Euro 2012, Belgium are undergoing something of a renaissance, with a star-studded line-up tipped to reach the next World Cup.



http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/dembele-offers-both-compliments-and-concerns-after-narrow-loss-1-4613656

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Euro 2012 squad: Pavel Pogrebnyak

After missing Euro 2008 due to a last moment injury, Pavel Pogrebnyak sees the upcoming event in Poland and Ukraine as an opportunity for reconciliation.
Full name: Pavel Viktorovich Pogrebnyak
Age: 28
Position: Forward
Club: Fulham
Caps for Russia: 32
Goals for Russia: 8
This winter saw the "great" Russian exodus from the English Premier League, with Andrey Arshavin, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov all returning to the home league.
But there was one man moving in the opposite direction as Pavel Pogrebnyak swapped his German Bundesliga side, Stuttgart, for Fulham.
And the Russian wasted no time in making waves in the world's top football championship, scoring five times in three of his first games for the Londoners.
That made the powerful striker the quickest player to score as many in Premier League history. He could have achieved even more, but an ankle injury hampered his progress.

"Pogrebnyak is a very good lad," Martin Jol, Fulham coach, told Daily Nail newspaper. "The first training session he gave us a feeling that he wanted to be here, that he wanted to prove a point. That is always good so I can't say what I did after his first game, where I said 'one swallow doesn't make a summer'. After five goals in the three games, I have to say he is a pretty good signing for us."
Pavel began his career at Spartak Moscow, but it was his performance at lowly FC Tom which made his name heard and earned him an invitation to Zenit.


Fulham's Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak celebrates scoring his hat-trick during their English Premier league
football match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Craven Cottage.
(AFP Photo / Glyn Kirk)

And the player blossomed in St. Pete under coach Dick Advocaat, becoming the top scorer of the 2007/08 UEFA Cup with ten goals.
Ironically, he had plenty to regret after his best year in football as the Great Po missed out on UEFA Cup's final due to suspension.
He also watched Euro 2008 on TV after injuring himself, while scoring in a friendly against Serbia just days before the tournament's kickoff.
And even his goal in Zenit's 2-1 win over Man United in the UEFA Super Cup didn't seem to be enough to sweeten the pill.
Pogrebnyak needed a change – and his desire to play abroad was so great that he left St. Petersburg and moved to Stuttgart, despite his new club having less funds and ambition.
It's hard to admit that the German transfer was such good idea as Stuttgart struggled for a spot in the Bundesliga, and Pavel for a place his team's starting lineup.
But it seems he's finally in the right place with Fulham. By the way, Pogrebnyak's future in London is still uncertain, but a solid display at Euro 2012 would seriously increase the 28-year-old's chances to stay in the English Premier League.
Pavel may be clumsy at times, with his ability to miss from point blank being well-known. But he's a true fighter and never stops looking for chances.
Pogrebnyak made seven appearances in Russia's Euro 2012 campaign, netting twice in his team's away win in Andorra.
"We are very motivated," Pavel told Eurosport channel. "Firs, we have to qualify from the group, and see what happens next. Nobody thought of the Greeks as favorites back in 2004, but they beat everybody... I'm a maximalist. Of course, are teams stronger than us, but in football everything is possible."

"As for our group, the Poles are strong – especially, judging by their players from [German champs] Borussia Dortmund. The group is equal and it'll be interesting. I gave great desire to play as it's my first major tournament with the national team," he added.
And if Pogrebnyak manages to win a place in the Sbornaya lineup from Aleksandr Kerzhakov and Roman Pavlyuchenko, his hard-to-pronounce surname will surely make some foreign commentators suffer during the event in Poland and Ukraine.

Dmitry Gorshkov, RT


Pavel Pogrebnyak (L) and Anatoly Timoschuk kissing the 2007/08 UEFA Cup
trophy after Zenit defeated the Rangers in the UEFA Cup final match 2-0.
(RIA Novosti / Anton Denisov)


Pavel Pogrebnyak performing in the international friendly match between Russia
and Cameroon. (RIA Novosti / Alexander Vilf)


http://www.rt.com/sport/football/russia-euro2012-squad-pogrebnyak-fulham-football-920/

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LIVERPOOL BOSS BRENDAN RODGERS TARGETS CLINT DEMPSEY

NEW Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers wants to splash £20 million on three players.

His targets are £10m-rated Swansea midfielder Joe Allen, £6m Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fulham's Clint Dempsey, worth £4m.


http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/254764/Liverpool-boss-Brendan-Rodgers-targets-Clint-Dempsey/?

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Manchester United: Why Clint Dempsey Would Be a Cult Hero at Old Trafford


Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

In the summer months after the normal playing season is complete, transfer speculation tends to engulf our headlines, and one such story to be making the rounds in recent months is Clint Dempsey's supposed departure from Fulham.

It's at this time that clubs consider their immediate futures as they look to improve upon their previous campaign by strengthening their squad for the season to come.

Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham have all been linked with a move for Dempsey after what was, in short, a spectacular season for the attacker.

However, there's one side that could have more to gain from Dempsey's services than the rest.

With a history stretching back more than a century, the football dynasty of Manchester United has their fair share of icons that will be forever remembered as "cult heroes."

The last 20 years have been incredibly good to the Red Devils, but that isn't any more reason for the side to have more heroes than other clubs.

One of the prettiest aspects of "The Beautiful Game" is its global involvement that adds a marvellous sense of significance to the word "perspective" and what success means to the mind of every team, coach and player.

So, if we were to gaze into our crystal balls, what would the future hold for a Clint Dempsey, as a cult hero plying his trade in the red of Manchester United?

Well, first of all, what does one have to do or achieve to become a "cult hero"?

Clint Dempsey - I Stand Alone (All 2011-12 Highlights)

Some would associate the word "hero" with the fastest, strongest or perhaps even the smartest or most tactical of performers.

The truth is, to become a cult hero, you don't necessarily have to possess any of the aforementioned factors, but that's not to say that they don't help.

Personality, loyalty, commitment and other more abstract features can often prove just as, if not more valuable to the supporters of a club who ultimately play the role of decider in whether or not someone is truly a cult hero.

After all, they make up a considerable part of the concerned "cult."

Clint Dempsey scored 23 goals in all competitions for Fulham this season, a tally that played a direct hand in allowing him to become the Cottager's all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League.

To add to that, the Texan also recorded eight assists, showing him to be an unselfish and apparently much sought-after asset in England's top flight.

The numbers mentioned above certainly point to a very high quality of player in the Premier League especially considering that the star plays for a team that has hovered around the Europa League places in recent seasons.

Although one could argue that Dempsey has certainly blossomed late in his career, not unlike a finely matured cheese, the 29-year-old has only improved with age and with his sights set on Champions League football, may well find himself playing in new surroundings next season.

Clint Dempsey wonder goal Vs. Juventus

It's a secret to nobody that United already hold firm ties to the USA.

The club is owned by the Glazer family, already a known group in their native North America due to father, Malcolm's ownership of NFL side, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Although based in Florida and New York, the Glazers have significant ties all over the USA and in addition to the talent that Dempsey would bring to the table, the financial perks that would inevitably come from the playmaker's involvement with the club would be nearly as valuable.

Fulham already have a strong contingent of American followers and although former alumni, Brian McBride and Carlos Bocanegra, helped establish that link, Dempsey is one of the bigger reasons that it remains so firmly intact today.

With Dempsey on board, the Glazer family would receive a substantial boost in shirt sales from across the pond and the Old Trafford shop would certainly need to stock up on the letters D,E,M,P,S and Y.

As touched upon earlier though, the Fulham talisman's ability is of course the most important reason why Manchester United would even consider bringing him in.

After all, one doesn't get linked with the likes of Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool unless you have at least a smudge of skill.

Fans often start chants off in the line of: "He scores with his left, he scores with his right, that boy (Insert Name), makes (Insert Opponent Name) look—" ahem. You get the drift.

Supporters are often excessively jubilant when winning and nearly always biased to their own players but when singing of Dempsey, these particular lyrics aren't exactly fallacy.

The 2004 MLS Superdraft pick can play just about anywhere in midfield as well as up front should the need arise.

This season alone, Dempsey has featured on both wings, at central midfield, as a striker and also played in that proverbial space behind the forward known simply as "the hole."

To summarise, Dempsey is a tried and tested Premier League talent capable of functioning in a variety of attacking positions.

Now doesn't that strike you as the kind of player that Sir Alex Ferguson might try and recruit?

Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo and George Best are all examples of players to play the similar utility role that Dempsey has played at Fulham but have gone on to earn "cult hero" status at Old Trafford due to their playing exploits.

Since arriving at Craven Cottage in 2007, the former New England Revolution star has stuck out as a top talent and is always at least in the mix for the end of season awards.

It's this kind of workhorse ethic that can often be appreciated by those paying for the seats in the stands and if, by some chance, Dempsey were to move to Manchester United and not replicate the same success he has seen at Fulham, an A for effort can still earn plaudits.

This leads us to another aspect of the American's game that may put him in the right light amongst his potentially fellow Red Devils: aggression.

For all the twinkling talent his playing style brings, don't mistake Dempsey's fancy footwork for a lack of brawn; the Furman University graduate was once suspended by former side New England Revolution for clashing a bit too harshly with teammate Joe Franchino in a training session.

This fierce streak transcended into league matters and the 2005-06 season saw Dempsey suspended by the MLS on two occasions, one of which being down to an elbow which ended up breaking the jaw of US teammate, Jimmy Conrad.

Playing amongst the characteristically hard-tackling bunch of England's elite, Dempsey's combative side has only grown and although his maestro-esque play hasn't suffered, the Fulham forward still has a great sense of bite around him, a trait that hasn't gone unappreciated in past Manchester United greats.

Although 29 years old may have been considered as "getting on a bit" in the beer-swilling, cigarette-smoking, takeaway-munching footballers of yesteryear, a particularly nice benefit of the modern player is their extended longevity.

New diet regimes, training methods and scientific revelations mean that footballers are now able to play at a top level much longer than was possible ten years ago provided they take care of themselves in the right manner.

Ryan Giggs does yoga and whatever the Italian likes of Javier Zanetti and Paolo Maldini have done over the last twenty years, a diet of wine and pasta doesn't appear to be poison to the career of a professional athlete.

That being said, the 29-year-old can still be considered a "prime" age in some aspects and the rumoured £7 million being placed on Dempsey is certainly an affordable one.

The exemplar samples of Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes and the aforementioned Giggs seems to point to the fact that either Ferguson or someone else at Old Trafford has some sort of Fountain of Youth locked away and provided they're willing to lend Dempsey a sip, the attacker's price-tag could prove to be a very modest one.

With all this in mind, Clint Dempsey could well be a valuable and affordable purchase for Ferguson this summer and if we were to look back in ten years' time, we might see that the Glazers weren't the only link that United hold to the US (Tim Howard and Jonathan Spector excluded).

As of yet, no US player can really boast the title of being a cult hero to the Manchester United faithful, so the space is there for Clint Dempsey to become their first.




http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1207547-manchester-united-why-clint-dempsey-would-be-a-cult-hero-at-old-trafford?

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Cottagers face scrap for Lions ace

Reported Fulham target, Millwall midfielder Liam Trotter, is a reportedly wanted by Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill this summer.

Cottagers boss Martin Jol has been linked with the highly-rated Lions player as he looks to strengthen his squad during the close season.

However, Black Cats chief, O'Neill is also said to be in the running, while newly promoted Southampton are also strongly linked and their boss Nigel Adkins knows the player well after signing him when he was in charge of Scunthorpe three years ago.

Trotter has two years left on his current deal at the New Den and will command a fee but he looks likely to be moving on this summer.



http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/cottagers-face-scrap-for-lions-ace-1435361.html?

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Manchester United set for talks with Chelsea target Dembele

According to reports Manchester United and Chelsea are in talks with Fulham for Moussa Dembele.

The Daily Mail claims United and Chelsea have stolen a march over their rivals by starting negotiations over the fee and personal terms.

Sir Alex Ferguson has long admired the 24-year-old Belgium playmaker, while Chelsea see him as an ideal long-term replacement for Frank Lampard.

With Lampard about to turn 34, Chelsea are understood to be conducting a review of potential candidates to fill his boots a year or two down the line, and Dembele is seen as the ideal choice.



http://www.click-manchester.com/sport/manchester-united/1216492-manchester-united-set-for-talks-with-chelsea-target-dembele.html?

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Kelly's Euro Dream

Stephen Kelly's dream of playing at EURO 2012 for the Republic of Ireland is set to become a reality this weekend as the tournament kicks-off in Poland and the Ukraine.

Ireland's first Group C game takes place on Sunday evening (KO 7.45pm) when Kelly and company challenge Croatia in the 41,000 capacity City Stadium in Poznan, Poland.

Having played an integral part in Ireland's successful qualifying campaign, the Fulham right back is now looking forward to finally getting things underway this weekend.

"It's been so long since we've qualified and it was a really uplifting experience reaching Euro 2012," Kelly told fulhamfc.com. "To have played in so many of the qualifying games was really exciting and obviously I'm really looking forward to the tournament now.

"I want to make an impact on the tournament and I'm truly excited - it's something I will be delighted to be a part of and I can't wait for the first game against Croatia in Poznan."

Kelly is following in the footsteps of a number of former Republic of Ireland internationals who he looked up to in his formative years and the Fulham defender is now hoping to emulate their performances in an Irish shirt at a major international tournament.

"As a defender, Paul McGrath was a hero for me when I was growing up – he was an absolute legend," said Kelly. "The performances he put in when wearing the green shirt were second to none. He always stood out on the pitch.

"Roy Keane was obviously one of the best players to ever have played for Ireland. Dennis Irwin was another top performer and every week he was at the top of his game. As a full back myself, he was someone I admired and you look to emulate people like that."



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2012/May/KellyEuroKickOff.aspx#ixzz1wpo3NPhe