Thursday Fulham Stuff (02/08/12)...

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Fulham to bring in Premier League facilities

Fulham has been granted planning permission to increase the seat capacity at Craven Cottage to 30,000.

The Riverside Stand is to have a new upper tier, while planning consent also allows for the partial demolition and rebuilding of the western ends of the Putney and Hammersmith stands.

The proposals were approved by Hammersmith & Fulham Council's planning applications committee.

"Craven Cottage is the historic home of Fulham Football Club and this modest expansion, which will be carried out in a sensitive and sensible way, will allow the club to remain competitive in the top tier of English football while removing the existing, rather ugly, Riverside Stand," Council leader Nicholas Botterill said.

"Our residents will also enjoy a series of community benefits such as an opened up river walk and improvements at Bishops Park. We are the only borough in Britain to be the home to three top-flight football clubs and we are keen to work with all of them to get the best deal for our residents."

Fulham CEO Alistair Mackintosh added: "This is extremely exciting news and we are all delighted with this outcome. Craven Cottage is synonymous with Fulham FC and it is vital that the club is given every opportunity to develop the facilities available to ensure that it can continue to prosper and compete, and remain at its home for the long term. I am confident that an increased capacity and major improvements to the facilities can help us deliver the chairman's vision of long-term growth and self sustainability for this football club."



http://www.footballtradedirectory.com/news/2012/august/fulham-to-bring-in-premier-league.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Wigley's Aim

Fulham Football Club pulled off something of a coup in July when it was announced that Steve Wigley had joined the Academy setup as Head of Coaching.

Steve has an impressive history of nurturing young stars who would go on to represent their first teams at the highest level, and he admits he hopes to have the same degree of success at Fulham.

"It's always nice to look back and see that a lot of young players you've worked with have gone on to have good careers," Steve told fulhamfc.com. "If I was to say what's given me the biggest thrill and enjoyment it my career, it would be that.

"I worked in the Nottingham Forest academy when we produced people like Michael Dawson, Jermaine Jenas and Andy Reid. I was also Director of Youth at Southampton and it's been well documented that we were quite successful with the likes of Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale.

"The thrill for anybody that works in an academy is to sit in the stands on a Saturday afternoon and see the people that you've helped along the way. I'd like to think that in years to come that I could sit in the stands at Craven Cottage and see some people that have come through the Academy system while I've worked here."

Steve is a familiar face to several members of our academy team, having worked with them in the past, and it is no surprise that he shares the same footballing philosophy as his new colleagues.

"Everybody knows Fulham is a good Club – a Premier League club," he explained. "I'd worked with Huw Jennings before at Southampton and Malcolm Elias [Head of Talent ID and Recruitment] as well, so this was a good opportunity when it came up. I knew Kit [Symons] from my playing days at Portsmouth too so it was a nice fit if I'm honest.

"I just want to see the players improve. I don't set out to say that we've got to win the league because it's not about that. It's about how many players can we get through to the First Team.

"My goals are long-term because this is a long-term project and in this role that's how you should be judged. A Club of this size should be producing players on a consistent basis. Not one every four or five years; it should be producing players regularly. So for me, my long-term aim is to help the other members of staff within the Academy and the Development Squad to help push people forward.

"If we're in a position where people have been in the system and go straight through to the First Team then we've done our job."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2012/August/WigleysAim.aspx?

[WhiteJC]

 
Two Big Nights for Swans Fans

With four pre-season matches under their belt, Blue Square Bet South club Staines Town will next entertain squads sent down from both Fulham and Millwall in the coming days.

The Cottagers play at Wheatsheaf Park on Friday evening with a Lions XI visiting on Tuesday, August 7th - both games kicking-off at 7.30pm.

Swans manager Marcus Gayle has had plenty of 'game-time' now to assess the first activities of his brand-new squad and ahead of these next games, two or three further new faces can be expected, especially in the defence where maybe the most questions still remain.

With only four defenders signed on, Gayle will take the opportunity to look at two potential new signings on Friday with one very promising youngster from the Ryman League Premier Division and a young, but experienced player who has spent the last two seasons exclusively in the Conference Premier and Conference South - latterly as skipper of one of the Swans rivals last term.

One 'familiar' face set to play his fifth pre-season game will be full-back Adetayo Osifuwa, whose appearances thus far have been very promising and Gayle will be attempting to finally pin him down and get his signature confirmed on Conference registration forms for the Swans.

Ahead of Friday evening's match with a Fulham XI, excitement heightened as news from the west London club confirmed that 'want-away' international striker Clint Dempsey had been left behind to train with the youth side as his team-mates travelled to their pre-season training base in Switzerland. This means the in-demand USA international could make an appearance alongside his current training partners at Wheatsheaf Park.

One familiar face who is set to appear for Millwall on Tuesday will be popular youngster Jake Goodman, who appeared so consistently on-loan with the Swans last season.

Since the Swans hosted the Lions in the Second Round of the FA Cup in November 2009, relations between the two clubs have remained very strong and such players as John Marquis, Aiden O'Brien and Jake Gallagher have all benefitted from spending time gaining experience with Staines.


http://www.footballconference.co.uk/news/details.php?news_id=7626

[WhiteJC]

 
Ex-Chelsea star Gudjohnsen poised for Serie A move

Chievo Verona are lining up a move for former Chelsea and Tottenham forward Eidur Gudjohnsen, according to reports in Italy.

Gudjohnsen, 32, is currently a free agent after his release from Greek club AEK Athens.

The Iceland international, who joined Chelsea from Bolton in 2000, spent six successful years at Stamford Bridge, before moving to Barcelona.

After three seasons in Catalonia he signed for Monaco, but failed to settle in the principality, and enjoyed brief stints at Tottenham, Stoke City and Fulham, before transferring to AEK Athens last year.

And according to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, Chievo Verona are preparing to offer Gudjohnsen a deal to bring him to Serie A for the forthcoming campaign.



Read more at http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/120802/ex-chelsea-star-gudjohnsen-poised-serie-move-177816?#Obm87Fxb1lFVca2m.99

[WhiteJC]

 
Blackburn Rovers rival Fulham Huddersfield Town ace Rhodes

According to reports Blackburn Rovers are chasing Huddersfield Town striker Jordan Rhodes.

It is understood that are battling Premier League outfit Fulham for the 22-year-old.

It is believed that the Cottagers had a £2 million bid rejected last month.

However, it seems Rovers are now ready to enter the fray as boss Steve Kean seeks to shore up his front line the injury to new signing Leon Best.


Read more at http://www.clicklancashire.com/sport/blackburn-rovers-fc/1213111-blackburn-rovers-rival-fulham-huddersfield-town-ace-rhodes.html?#Gf65pwZRWVhvqGXB.99

[WhiteJC]

 
Positive Mindset

The Club's Director of Sports Medicine and Exercise Science, Mark Taylor, speaks to fulhamfc.com to explain the reasons behind the Team's trip to Switzerland and discusses how the players have taken to training in the Alps.

Mark Taylor - Director of Sports Medicine and Exercise Science

What was the thought process behind sending the boys to Switzerland Mark?

The players are based in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The change of environment certainly creates a very positive mindset within the playing group.

We are surrounded on all sides by the Alps, with fantastic scenery and lovely clean air. The training pitch is 4,000 feet which means they have to physically adapt to the altitude. As to whether it's long lasting when the players get to ground level remains to be seen, but they certainly enjoy it.

While we're here, they find it a little bit harder to train which increases the physical demands on their bodies. Daily cycling sessions on the steep alpine hills and numerous pool sessions increase their aerobic capacity and progress the intensity of the training.

Are these sessions more intense compared to what they are used to?

The intensity of the sessions is perhaps a little higher because sessions are longer and the players are focused. Being located in a dedicated training camp certainly allows the players to focus on their pre-season fitness and the intensity of the sessions is evident.

The pre-season trip also allows the Manager and coaching staff to get more technical and tactical time with the players in a fantastic environment which keeps the players focused, receptive and motivated.

We have a modern training ground here and a classical Swiss hotel with a wonderful gymnasium which means the players can work on site as well.   

We monitor players before, during and after sessions. Being with them 24/7 means we are able to prepare and recover the players for the Manager's daily football sessions.

If anybody has any issues during the sessions we can react immediately and make sure that they're prepared for the next session. The players remain focused and improvements are seen every day as a result.

How have the players responded throughout the trip?

We are seeing a very positive response from the players. We have set them tasks such as challenging bike rides that have required team work, leadership and problem solving. The first ride didn't go too well as players arrived at different times but they made amends and made sure they all came in together the next day as a team. The younger players have started to develop a bond with their senior team mates as a result.

Our training location in the Alps has 320 days of sunshine so nobody wants to stay inside a gymnasium or treatment room, everyone wants to be out on that lovely pitch and working on their fitness to ensure our first game against Norwich has a positive result.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2012/August/PositiveMindset.aspx?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham deny silly Dembele talk

Fulham have labelled talk of midfielder Moussa Dembele's imminent departure to Real Madrid as "ludicrous".

Los Merengues appeared to be in the running to sign the Belgium international after his agent, Jan de Visser, told reporters on Wednesday the Spanish champions had expressed an interest in acquiring Dembele's services.

However, the Cottagers have dismissed the notion of selling the 25-year-old, who was a key performer for Martin Jol's side last season, helping them to a respectable ninth-placed finish in the Premier League.

A spokesman for the west London outfit told ESPN: "We have not had any approaches for Moussa Dembele and none would be welcome."

De Visser, who represents the Sports International management agency, had earlier claimed Real were amongst a number of clubs to have made an approach for Dembele.

He told De Telegraaf: "Real Madrid have contacted us and asked about the possibility of signing Moussa Dembele. They are not the first big club who have contacted us this summer for him."


http://www.football411.com/story/0,22162,14287_7957434,00.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Second bid lodged for Huddersfield's Rhodes as Blackburn linger

With a bid in the region of £2 million being refused in late July, Fulham have returned with an increased offer to Huddersfield Town in order to tempt their striker, Jordan Rhodes, to the Premier League.

Sky Sports reported that Fulham's initial bid was deemed drastically too low by the Championship club and Martin Jol is hoping that this new offer, believed to be around £4 million, with £2 million in add-ons, will force Huddersfield's hand. Many, however, remain sceptical as to whether this amount will be enough.

Huddersfield are loathe to lose their star striker, especially seen as they have just gained promotion to England's second tier and view Rhodes as an integral part of any potential success. The club are also considered financially secure and are certainly under no pressure to sell.

Blackburn Rovers remain interested in the player too, given the news that new singing Leon Best will miss the start of the season. They've been told in the past, though, that Rhodes is simply not available - yet this hasn't stopped either Fulham or the Lancashire side clearly expressing an interest in the forwards' services.



http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2012/8/2/3214998/second-bid-fulham-for-huddersfields-jordan-rhodes-blackburn?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham reject Manchester United offer for Dembele

According to reports Manchester United will have to increase their bid for Fulham attacker Moussa Dembele.

De Telegraaf claims United have had a £7 million offer for the Belgian turned down by the Cottagers.

It is understood that United will face competition from Real Madrid, with Dembele's agent, Jan de Visser, revealed the Spanish giants' interest this week.



Read more at http://www.click-manchester.com/sport/manchester-united/1217202-fulham-reject-manchester-united-offer-for-dembele.html?#tKpBlEUMC53DW1eK.99