Thursday Fulham Stuff (19/07/12)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Peach: Dempsey more likely to be at Liverpool than Fulham next season

Press Association Sport journalist Simon Peach discusses Clint Dempsey's future, after Liverpool admitted their interest in the Fulham star.


Read more at http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/andy-goldsteins-sports-bar/120719/peach-dempsey-more-likely-be-liverpool-fulham-next-season-176941?#vpgAt6iGiLh4lysG.99

[WhiteJC]

 
Green: Dempsey wants Liverpool move

US football journalist Nick Green claims Clint Dempsey wants to join Liverpool and says he 'absolutely' expects the American ace to be at Anfield next season.


Read more at http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/extra-time/120719/green-dempsey-wants-liverpool-move-176943?#vPkoAx31D1lcvVjQ.99

[WhiteJC]

 
Premier League: Liverpool not certain to land Dempsey

Michael Lintorn questions how tempting an option Liverpool are for Fulham star Clint Dempsey...

For a man who never misses a chance to emphasise his reluctance to discuss transfers, Brendan Rodgers oddly seems to have been dragged into more conversations of that variety than any other Premier League manager this summer.

After announcing with his willingness to bring Gylfi Sigurdsson to Anfield during the Icelander's talks with Swansea and voicing conflicting views about Andy Carroll's future, the new Liverpool boss has now gone public about his pursuit of Clint Dempsey.

Rather than trying to distance themselves from the versatile American for a few days having irritated Fulham with an awful error (assuming it wasn't part of a strategy to unsettle) that saw his arrival wrongly claimed by a website run by the Reds' owners, they opted to publish a story on the club site confirming their interest.

Rodgers said: "Clint is a player we've enquired about, it is as simple as that. Ian Ayre, our managing director, has spoken with the club to see what the position is. That is where we're at. He's a very talented player but we don't like to talk about other clubs' players."

The expectation is that, were Liverpool able to agree a fee with Fulham (which might not be easy as it has been reported that they would scoff at a £5 million bid), luring Dempsey to Merseyside would be fairly straightforward.

However, it shouldn't be as obvious a decision as many suspect because the 29-year-old specified at the end of last season that if he left Craven Cottage, it would be due to his desire to test himself in the Champions League.

Liverpool haven't qualified for three years and finished level on points with Fulham last term. Sure, the Reds are more likely to face Europe's finest in upcoming seasons than the Cottagers, but their own prospects are pretty slim, with odds of 3.7 offered on a top-four finish in 2012/13.

Dempsey would be better off waiting to learn if rumours of Arsenal interest are genuine, and if not - though a temptation to move now after a career-best campaign is understandable - seeing out the final year of his Fulham contract and tracking from afar how Rodgers fares in his first 12 months.



http://betting.betfair.com/football/premier-league/premier-league-liverpool-not-certain-to-land-dempsey-190712-39.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Liverpool Transfer Rumours: Would Clint Dempsey Be a Success at Liverpool?

Brendan Rodgers has arrived at Anfield tasked with reviving a Liverpool team lacking inspiration and chemistry. At Swansea, the Northern Irishman moulded his side into one of the best passing teams in English football; now he must prove that lightning strikes twice.

A new manager often invigorates a club, sparking fresh enthusiasm and excitement. Rodgers will hope to capitalise on this goodwill by bringing in several new players and defining his style of play.

Under Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool was captivated by glimpses of form in the transfer market, splashing big money for the likes of Andy Carroll, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing. These players dominated at their previous clubs but could not reach the high expectations demanded of them once they made the switch.

Brendan Rodgers must tread carefully in the transfer market this offseason; one mistake and the anticipation from the Anfield faithful will rapidly dissolve into frustration.

In recent days Liverpool has been heavily linked with the Fulham striker Clint Dempsey, as reported in The Guardian. Dempsey is coming off his most successful season in the Premier League in 2012-13, scoring 17 goals while only missing one match.

Dempsey's success has sparked interest from rival clubs, although the Liverpool hierarchy are understandably wary of repeating past mistakes. Andy Carroll's £35 million move springs to mind, a transfer that still haunts the owners.

Would Clint Dempsey have an impact at Liverpool, or would he simply fade away to become another footnote of the Fenway Sports Group's failed transfer market dealings?

Those sceptical of Dempsey argue that he is nothing more than an honest poacher, a player who will surely fizzle out when asked to perform consistently at a higher level.

This argument is not without merit, especially as Liverpool has a track record with strikers failing to reach expected heights (Mr. Carroll, hang your head in shame).

But to simply hide behind the precedent of Carroll would be to ignore the most striking difference between the two transfers: Carroll was signed by Kenny Dalgish and Dempsey (if his transfer does eventuate) would play under Brendan Rodgers.

Rodgers prizes hard work and willingness to listen above pure skill and talent; his Swansea side was an exquisite machine, with each player performing his role without fuss.

Meanwhile, Dalglish's strategy seemed to compose of, "Give it to Suarez and see what happens".

Andy Carroll never stood a chance.

Clint Dempsey has never been one to shy away from the dirty work, and with Brendan Rodgers as his manager, Liverpool will have a very capable striker able to take some pressure off Luis Suarez.

Now, all they have to do is sign him for less than £35 million.


http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1264451-liverpool-transfer-rumours-would-clint-dempsey-be-a-success-at-liverpool?

[WhiteJC]

 
Resigned to Him Leaving!
   
I`m of the belief that the transfer of Clint Dempsey, to Liverpool, is a done deal.

I reckon that only the terms and conditions need finalizing before the deal is announced, even more so after it came to light that Clint wasn`t even on the bench for our 4-0 friendly fixture victory over Lokomotive Leipzig.

And when you throw into the mix the fact that the new Liverpool boss, Brendan Rodgers, openly admits his admiration for the player and that contact has been made between the two clubs, I think you`ll agree that I`m probably right.

As for those Brendan Rodgers comments, they go something along the line of,

"Clint is a player we have enquired about, it`s as simple as that. Our managing director Ian Ayre has spoken with the club to see what the position is. That is where we are at."

"He is a very talented player but we don`t like to talk about other club`s players."

Except for when it comes to the clubs owners putting incorrect articles on their business web site!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=287555#ixzz214z2Hycn

[WhiteJC]

 
A Dempsey Replacement
   
With it being the general consensus of opinion that Clint Dempsey`s time, at Craven Cottage, is coming to an end, the press have wasted little time in implying who may be arriving as his replacement.

Several sources are confident that Fulham are on the verge of securing a deal for the thirty-two year old Juventus striker Vincenzo Iaquinta

When quizzed on the possibility of Iaguinta coming to our part of London, his agent, Andre D`Amico
"Fulham? That`s a concrete possibility."

"We`re verifying options in Italy but especially in England. Fulham is a concrete hypothesis."

I`m not sure I`ve heard our club called that though - a concrete hypothesis!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=287556#ixzz214zAxYMx

[WhiteJC]

 
Midfield Muscle!
   
With Danny Murphy having defected, the word on the Daily Grapevine is that Martin Jol has identified a replacement.

Seemingly, Jol is looking at bringing the experienced midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker to Craven Cottage"

Reo-Coker, who has previously had spells at West Ham United and Aston Villa, has a clause in his contract whereby he has now become, possibly following Bolton`s relegation, a free agent.

What are your feelings on a possible move for Reo-Coker? Is it a move you support or is it a move you`re against?


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=287557#ixzz214zJapmF

[WhiteJC]

 
Ivory Coast Target
   
Whilst the tabloid press is of the belief that Martin Jol`s man striking target us the Juventus forward Iaquinta, some sources are now suggesting differently.

They`re of the opinion that Jol has turned his attention to the Ivory Coast forward Yannick Sagbo

Sagbo, an Ivory Coast international, is currently on the books of the French club Evian. Twenty-four years of age, he`s valued at £5 million.

Is he the one or is this another red herring!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=287558#ixzz214zUJyiu

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol praises ability of new signing Petric
The Fulham manager has hailed the former Hamburg striker for his ability to make the difference in games while the player himself is happy to be at Craven Cottage

Fulham manager Martin Jol has praised the ability of new signing Mladen Petric after signing the former Hamburg striker on a one-year deal.

The Croatian made 98 appearances for Hamburg, scoring 38 league goals and the 56-year-old has hailed his ability to win games for the Cottagers.

The former Ajax manager also discussed newly-signed defender Sascha Riether who has joined Fulham on a season-long loan from Koln.   

"Petric is a player who has the ability to make the difference," Jol told reporters. 

"He's a good number nine, he was our top-scorer in Hamburg. Riether is a very good player with his strong points in defense and as a right-back."

The 31-year-old striker spoke of his first impression when arriving at Craven Cottage. The Croatian international is looking forward to more players being added to the current squad before the transfer window closes.   

"The first impression was great, I feel very happy," Petric told reporters. "I'm looking forward to the future.

"We can only tell what is possible when the transfer window has closed and we know which new players have been added."



http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/07/19/3251864/jol-praises-ability-of-new-signing-petric?

[cmg]

   

The 31-year-old striker spoke of his first impression when arriving at Craven Cottage. The Croatian international is looking forward to more players being added to the current squad before the transfer window closes.   


"We can only tell what is possible when the transfer window has closed and we know which new players have been added."



http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/07/19/3251864/jol-praises-ability-of-new-signing-petric?

...Huh - he won't have much to contribute to this forum with that kind of attitude.