Friday Fulham Stuff (12/07/13)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Transfers: 5 Players New Owner Should Buy To Show He Means Business

Fulham owner Mohamed Fayed is close to selling the club to Shahid Khan (above), with the proposed takeover expected to be announced by the end of the week.

Khan is the owner of American Football Team the Jackson Jaguars and will pay Fayed somewhere in the region of £150 to £200 million for the club, pending Premier League approval.

With an estimated fortune of £1.7 billion, Khan is twice as wealthy as Fayed and could significantly increase Fulham's transfer spending over the next few years.

Despite bankrolling the club's rise from the third tier of English football to the topflight after buying Fulham for £6.25 million in 1997, spending under Fayed has been relatively frugal recently.

All three of the London club's summer signings so far – Maarten Stekelenburg, Derek Boateng and Fernando Amorebieta – have arrived on free transfers.

The Egypt-born chairman has instead focused on improving Craven Cottage, and helping improve the stadium's capacity to an estimated 30,000.

However, now that Pakistan-born Khan is set to take over, we could be about to see a reversal in transfer policy at Fulham over the next couple of seasons.

Here, we take a look at 5 players the new owner should buy to show he means business.

5. Asmir Begovic

Fulham have signed goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg from Roma following Mark Schwarzer's departure from Craven Cottage to Chelsea, though the feeling is the Cottagers still need one more keeper this summer.

Stekelenburg joins rookie Neil Etheridge at the club, and the 23-year-old has yet to make a single Premier League appearance during his five year stay. Last season, he spent the whole campaign on loan at Bristol Rovers and cannot be expected to serve as a reliable deputy to Fulham's new signing.

Martin Jol needs to bring in a keeper capable of providing decent competition for Stekelenburg, and Stoke City's Asmir Begovic is one option.

Fulham could land the Bosnian shot-stopper for just £4 million, say reports, and considering the 26-year-old has been linked with moves to the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United in recent months, his capture would be something of a coup for the new owner.

4. Tom Huddlestone

Fulham could make a fresh bid for the Tottenham midfielder this summer after seeing their £6 million bid for the England international rejected in January.

The move might have gone through had it not been for the season-ending injury sustained to Sandro, and the Cottagers might have a better chance of landing their man this time round.

Huddlestone has been deemed surplus to requirements by Andre Villas-Boas, and only featured in 14 Premier League games last season. With the arrival of Brazilian Paulinho, contention for places in the Portuguese manager's midfield is expected to be even more fierce next season.

That could pave the way for the 26-year-old to seek pastures new, with Fulham expected to start the bidding at £5 million. Huddlestone's arrival would bring more creativity to Jol's midfield next season, and the Holland-born former Tottenham manager is thought to be a big fan, having first brought him to White Hart Lane from Derby County in 2005.

3. Stewart Downing

The Liverpool winger has been linked with a move to Craven Cottage this summer, with Fulham hoping to sign him on loan, but could instead have to buy him outright if their interest is serious.

The Reds aren't interested in a loan deal and are instead looking to sell the England international, a proposal which the Cottagers are taking into consideration.

Downing arrived at Anfield from Aston Villa two years ago in a big money deal worth an estimated £20 million, but Brendan Rodgers no longer sees the star as part of his long-term plans.

The Northern Irishman recently signed winger Luis Alberto from Sevilla, and the arrival of the 20-year-old could put Downing's place on the flanks in jeopardy.

Fulham could capitalise then and sign a winger who cost so much yet has so far failed to live up to his market value. Perhaps that could change at Craven Cottage the same way it has for Andy Carroll at West Ham.

2. Glenn Murray

The Crystal Palace goal-machine signed a new, three-year deal at Selhurst Park in March but could still leave if a big enough offer came in for him.

If Fulham could persuade their newly-promoted London rivals to sell the star, they would be signing a player who came just behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the European goalscoring charts last season.

Incredibly, only those two La Liga megastars outscored the former Carlisle United man last season, who has been plying his trade in the lower reaches of English football for much of his career.

But he came to prominence last season, and the 29-year-old Englishman netted a scorching 30 Championship goals in 42 appearances.

That's precisely why he's been on Fulham's radar, with Premier League rivals Norwich and Aston Villa also interested.

Signing the prolific goalscorer would be a huge statement of intent from Shahid Khan though one that could admittedly prove difficult given the striker recently pledged his future to Palace.

But then, stranger things have happened in football.

1. Loic Remy

Another option up front for Fulham next season is Loic Remy.

The forward joined QPR from Marseille in January but is likely to be sold following his side's relegation to the Championship in May.

Despite interest from the likes of Arsenal, West Ham, Newcastle and Spurs in the France striker, the Hoops are yet to receive a single bid for the 26-year-old, who scored 6 goals in 14 Premier League appearances last season.

Remy has a so called "relegation release clause" in his contract, allowing a move for £6.8 million, but so far, potential suitors have been put off by his £75,000-a-week wage demands.

However, those wages could now fall into Fulham's wage demands given that they are set to be taken over by a man who was ranked by Forbes last year among the world's richest 500 people.

And the Cottagers could take advantage of the apparent total lack of interest in Remy by snapping him up this summer, and beating the likes of Arsenal to the signature of the Frenchman really would show the new owner means business.



Read more at http://whatculture.com/sport/fulham-transfers-5-players-new-owner-should-buy-to-show-he-means-business.php#Y4TwptHgAOO0Kpfr.99

[WhiteJC]

 .
EXCLUSIVE: Former Fulham star John Pantsil trains with English side Millwall

Ghana defender John Paintsil has started training with English side Millwall in a bid to keep himself fit, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively report.

The right-back, who was recently left Israeli outfit Hapoel Tel Aviv, will train with the club as he fights to get a team.

The move is meant to keep the defender fit as he his agents continue to trawl the market for an opportunity for the Ghanaian to sign for a club.

He has not been offered a trial at Millwall but just a mere chance to keep himself fit in case a club should ask about his fitness.

Pantsil will train with Millwall's first team until he gets a club.

The right-back played for English sides West Ham, Fulham and Leicester City before returning to Israel last year to the club where he started his European career.



http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/exclusive-former-fulham-star-john-pantsil-trains-with-english-side-millwall/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Who is Shad Khan? Lowdown on the man tipped to buy Fulham

There looks as if there'll be a new face in Premier League boardrooms next season as Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed closes in on the sale of his beloved Cottagers.

The former Harrods boss is set to complete a deal to sell the west London outfit to US billionaire Shahid (Shad to his mates) Khan for the princely sum of £150 million. So, apart from the fact he boasts a killer moustache, just what do we know about Shahid Khan?

The Pakistan-born billionaire is one of the world's richest men who, according to Forbes is as of March 2013, worth  $2.9billion [£1.92billion] give or take a few cents, ranking him at 179 in the top 400 of America's wealthiest men.

Khan moved to America aged 16 to attend college where he later gained an engineering degree from the University of Illinois.


New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft, left, talks with Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan
Picture Getty Images

The 62-year-old made his fortune from car parts business Flex-N-Gate.

Khan's first venture into sports ownership was thwarted by Stan Kroenke, now a major shareholder at Arsenal, who stepped in when Khan planned to buy the St Louis Rams.

However, Khan's hopes of owning a NFL team were soon realised when in 2011 he bought the Jacksonville Jaguars at a cost of around $760 million [£503 million] and, in doing so, became the first non-American to own a NFL side.


Khan, who is married with two children, lives in Florida but looks certain to be spending a lot more time, and hopefully for Fulham fans, a lot more money, in London.



http://metro.co.uk/2013/07/11/shad-khan-is-set-to-be-the-new-owner-of-fulham-but-who-is-he-3878594/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Are Fulham on the verge of mega-riches?

According to reports, Fulham could be the next Premier League club to be bought by a billionaire.

The West London club is expected to announce imminently it's overtaking from long-standing owner Mohamed Al-Fayad by US billionaire Shahid Khan in a deal worth a reported £150 million.

The 62-year-old car manufacturing mogul is ranked 491st on Forbes' rich list and already owns American football outfit the Jacksonville Jaguars and is looking to expand into the English 'soccer' market.


At last valuation in 2012, the Pakistani-born American was worth an estimated fortune of $2.5 billion – of course that's nothing compared to arch-rivals Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich who is worth $14.6 billion but it does surpass that of Al-Fayad's $1.2 billion.

Could Fulham become the next mega-rich upstarts in the Premier League? Well, Fulham would still not be on a level playing field with Chelsea's resources and certainly nowhere near Manchester City's – City's owner Sheikh Mansour supposedly has access to up to £1 trillion in his family's oil funds – he is personally worth a mere £15 billion.

But, given that both Chelsea and City have gained access to the top four in English football to begin with and then have gone on to progress on to the Premier League title and, in Chelsea's case European titles, there is certainly reason for optimism that an injection of more resources can work wonders for the club.

Abroad, clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and, more recently, AS Monaco are on the up and up as well as a handful of Russian outfits and it's clear to see that these clubs are building projects that have the potential to dominate both domestic and continental competitions for the foreseeable future.

The old guard – the usual suspects – of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Liverpool, and both Milan clubs may eventually find themselves unable to attract the best talent and subsequently may lose their hold on competitions like the Champions League. Fulham may well in the years to come be major contenders.

There are, of course, down sides to this new wave – the spiralling debt crisis, the pressure to succeed on the pitch, the complications of added commercial deals and partners and the depersonalization of the club that the fans know and love into something of a globalized brand and corporation.

If it wins trophies and buys top talent, however, I doubt there'll be too many complaints emanating from Craven Cottage.



http://hereisthecity.com/2013/07/11/are-fulham-on-the-verge-of-mega-riches/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Ghanaian target hails Jol

Rabiu Mohammed has hinted that he would be open to a summer move to Fulham after praising manager Martin Jol.

The 23-year-old Ghana international midfielder, who has eight caps for his country, is expected to leave Evian for around 3 million euros and Fulham officials are believed to have already held talks with the French side regarding a potential deal. Portuguese giants Benfica are also believed to have opened discussions with Evian, while Marseille have been credited with an interest in Mohammed. However the Cottagers now seem to be in the driving seat for his signature after the player said "Fulham have a good manager" when being quizzed about where his future might lie this summer.



Read more at: http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/ghanaian-target-hails-jol-1606355.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
A Buyer?
   
Blimey, things are moving fast!

With the press decreeing yesterday (Wednesday) that Fulham Football Club was, quite probably, up for sale, it is being suggested today that a buyer might have been found already.

It seems that discussions are under way for the club to be bought by the US billionaire Shahid Khan

Khan, sixty-two years of age, is listed as the 491st richest person in the world and it is being implied that a £150 million deal is being put in place for Khan to succeed Mr Al Fayed.

Also, the press is implying that an announcement of an impending deal could be announced tomorrow.

But what do we know about our possible new owner?

Well it seems that the Pakistan born Shahid Khan moved to the US at 16 and has prospered ever since. He is currently the owner of the American football side the Jacksonville Jaguars and the gossip suggests he`s looking for a London base for his NFL franchise.

If the takeover is to take place then, here at Vital Fulham, we`re hoping it is a quick and painless one. Our initial fear is that any prolonged haggling over the deal may have an adverse effect when it comes to strengthening the depleted squad this summer.

However, we would appreciate your thoughts on the subject matter!



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=324696#ixzz2YncScRSz

[WhiteJC]

 
Ghanaian Midfield Target
   
Interest fuelled by a strange kind of quote?

There`s no doubting that the midfield is an area where we need to strengthen and the news that Giorgis Karagounis has signed on for another year will benefit us but I still feel we need some fresh blood in the engine room.

Therefore, looking towards potential buys it`s interesting that a Ghanaian midfielder, going by the name of Mohammed Rabiu appears to be expressing an interest in coming to Craven Cottage.

Rabiu, twenty-three years of age, is on the books of the French side Evian but is quoted in the press as having remarked,

"Fulham have a good manager."

Now whether the quote has any significance and is a prelude to a possible purchase we`re not sure, but it is a quote that appears to show he fancies a stint at Craven Cottage.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=324697#ixzz2Yncd2B6r

[WhiteJC]

 
How Much?
   
It`s noticeable so far this summer that our spending has been somewhat on the frugal side.

We`ve specialized in bringing in players who, to put it plainly, haven`t broken the bank.

Therefore, I`m reluctant to buy into the speculation that Fulham are interested in bringing the Dnipro winger Evgen Konoployanka to Craven Cottage when it is also being inferred that the transfer fee alone could be a cool £10 million.

His agent, Barry O`Connor, may well be drumming up interest in his client by remarking,

"Many clubs know what Evgen can offer."

But with the club being up for sale and, so we`re told, negotiations being ongoing, can anyone see us splashing out this kind of cash on one player?


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=324698#ixzz2YncnjkJB

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham ready to make £5m move for Liverpool defender Coates

Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates, 22, is wanted by Fulham.

The Uruguayan, who would cost around £5million, has been further marginalised by the arrival of Kolo Toure.


Out in the cold: Sebastian Coates could be pushed further down pecking order by Kolo Toure

Toure, Liverpool's first summer signing on a free transfer from Manchester City, replaces Jamie Carragher, who retired. Martin Skrtel's future is also in doubt.

Coates arrived 18 months ago from Nacional with a tremendous reputation but has looked out of his depth at Premier League level.

He has made virtually no impact at Anfield, save for one memorable bicycle kick he scored against Queens Park Rangers.

The 22-year-old has fallen behind homegrown youngsters in the defensive pecking order.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2361239/Fulham-ready-make-5m-Liverpool-defender-Sebastian-Coates.html#ixzz2YndCZuMj
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[btings]

whatculture.com is the UK version of Bleacher Report, I guess?

[zschwartz]

whatculture.com is the UK version of Bleacher Report, I guess?

I guess, just a terrible list.

Huddlestone is already at Sunderland it appears and Remy may be imprisoned. Throwing another 5-10 million on a keeper immediately after signing Stekelenburg would be ridiculous even though Begovic is quality. Doubt Glenn Murray would want to watch from the bench after being promoted into the premier league (?).  Genuinely poor suggestions, the sort of stuff that would have us fast-tracked to being QPR 2.0.

Downing is the closest thing to reasonable and even that reeks of an uninspired gamble by a mid-table side. Poor suggestions.

[JBH]

whatculture.com is the UK version of Bleacher Report, I guess?

You mean they also talk a load of bollox 065.gif

[WhiteJC]

 
50 Moments That Made Fulham

8. Bobby Moore arrives at Fulham - 1974



In March 1974, Fulham pulled off one of the most impressive pieces of transfer business in our history when World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore was convinced to swap a claret and blue shirt in East London for a white one in the South-West of the capital.

With a record (at the time) 108 caps for his country – 90 as captain – and having made the best part of 650 appearances for West Ham United, Moore was approached by his former England teammate and good friend Alan Mullery, who had been sent by Manager Alec Stock to Upton Park on a mission to bring Moore back with him.

"I signed him – can anybody believe that?" Mullery told fulhamfc.com at an event to mark the 20th anniversary of Moore's death in February. "I said to him 'why don't you come for the last two or three years of your career. Come and enjoy it – we've got some good players and they'd love to have you.'

"Everybody knew Bobby Moore and the player he was and, consequently, he came. I played two years with him before leaving in '76, and then [George] Bestie and [Rodney] Marshy arrived, so it was the three geniuses at the Football Club!"

The number four was symbolic when our new centre-back made his debut for the Club: it was the number he wore on his back, and it was also the amount of goals we conceded in a comprehensive home defeat by Middlesbrough. He would sport eight and 10 as well in the 1974/75 season, before wearing his famous number six shirt for the first time in a 2-0 win away to Crystal Palace on the 16th April 1974. From then until he left, the number six jersey at Fulham was his and his alone.



It's no coincidence that his first full season at the Club is one of our most memorable and historic, as the Whites reached the FA Cup Final for the first time. We did it in typically Fulhamish fashion too, playing a record 11 times en route to Wembley Stadium, with Moore starting each game.

Poetically, the opponents for the Final were Moore's former employers from the Boleyn Ground. The Hammers were a division above us but we went into the match with little fear having knocked them out of the League Cup earlier in the season, while top flight sides Everton and Birmingham City had proven beatable in the FA Cup Fifth Round and Semi-Final, respectively.

Moore played admirably in front of those 100,000 spectators on the 3rd of May, but the team unfortunately failed to match the performances that had seen them reach the Final in the first place, as a quickfire Alan Taylor brace saw Fulham dreams dashed. It was to be Moore's final appearance at the famous stadium – one where he led England out as captain on numerous occasions.

There was 11-game period at the end of the 1975/76 season and beginning of 76/77 where he was absent owing to a loan spell at American team San Antonio Thunder. That spell aside, though, Moore was an ever-present in the Fulham team following the Cup Final and ended his Whites career with a fine appearance total of 150. He paraded the Jules Rimet trophy prior to his final game at Craven Cottage (a 6-0 rout of Leyton Orient) before bowing out in a 1-0 defeat away to Blackburn Rovers a week later.



Les Strong played alongside him in the Fulham defence throughout his time at the Club, and the former left-back admitted it was a privilege to work with, and learn from, Moore.

"For me, he was the best," Strong said. "I was only a young lad, 21, and the small amount of success that I had was all down to Bobby, I feel. Just to see him at the Club was fantastic.

"Technically, as a full-back, you shouldn't be too far advanced of the centre-half, but with Bob I'd be on the halfway line, he'd knock me one ball and I'd be an attacking player. People would say that I was a fantastic attacking full-back, but once he left I don't think I went over the halfway line!

"It was fantastic to play with him and it was a real pleasure. He was well known to be a really immaculate person – you'd walk into his wardrobe and everything would be pristine, so I just used to get his shirts and tie them in knots, tie his shoelaces together and knock his pennies over, and it used to drive him mad!"

After leaving Fulham, Moore went on to play a handful of games in America and then Denmark, before spells managing Oxford United, Hong Kong outfit Eastern AA, and Southend United. He would later work as a pundit and journalist, before his untimely death from cancer in February 1993.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/july/12/moments-that-made-ffc?

[Azeedo]

whatculture.com is the UK version of Bleacher Report, I guess?

I guess, just a terrible list.

Huddlestone is already at Sunderland it appears and Remy may be imprisoned. Throwing another 5-10 million on a keeper immediately after signing Stekelenburg would be ridiculous even though Begovic is quality. Doubt Glenn Murray would want to watch from the bench after being promoted into the premier league (?).  Genuinely poor suggestions, the sort of stuff that would have us fast-tracked to being QPR 2.0.

Downing is the closest thing to reasonable and even that reeks of an uninspired gamble by a mid-table side. Poor suggestions.

I agree with you these are actually players we can get now without the new money, most of these players are left overs.  If we are getting money we need to look at better prospects.

[WhiteJC]

 
C.S. Cartaginés Preview



The Whites' first pre-season friendly of the summer takes place on Sunday when Fulham face C.S. Cartaginés in the opening game of our Costa Rican tour at the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José. Here's all you need to know about our opponents...

History

Cartaginés play in Costa Rica's Primera División and host their home games at the Estadio Jose Rafael Fello Meza Ivankovich, in Cartago, which has a capacity of 13,500 spectators.

The club's nickname is Los Azules (the Blues), but they are also known as Brumosos (the Foggers) and Cartagos. They are the oldest club in the country, having been founded on 7th July 1906 by Willie Pirie, a group of Costa Ricans of English descent that lived in Cartago.

In 1923, Cartaginés took part in the National Championship Finals against Libertad, winning 2-1 to land the title. Two other league titles were won in 1936 and 1940.

Some believe Cartaginés' failure to win the title since 1940 is the result of a curse set on the team by a priest at the Basílica de Los Ángles. In 1940, players stormed the Basilica on horseback to celebrate their championship win. Others credit the lack of titles to the curse of "el muñeco" - a strange voodoo-like doll that was supposedly buried under Cartaginés' stadium turf to bring bad luck to the club.
Last season

Cartaginés enjoyed a superb second half of the 2012/13 campaign. After a poor Apertura term in which they finished in 11th place, a new generation of fans and a new board of directors breathed fresh life into the club and saw them finish second in the Clausura league to reach the Finals of the Torneo de Verano for the first time in 17 years.

In the Play-Offs they took on Deportivo Saprissa and sealed a 1-1 draw away which put them through to the Final on away goals after a 0-0 draw in the second leg. However, the club were not able to beat Herediano. They went behind early in the first leg, but came back to win 3-1, then lost skipper José Villalobos to a red card before going down 2-0 in the second to force extra-time with the sides level on aggregate. A goal on 99 minutes put Herediano ahead before Andrés Lezcano levelled against in the 109th, although Cartaginés fell to their opposition 5-4 on penalties.

Winning their first Copa Costa Rica game against Escazuceña 3-1 last Sunday, they play the second leg a day or so before Fulham arrive.

Manager

The current manager is Javier Delgado, who has been in charge since January 2013. A former Costa Rican international defender, Delgado is immensely popular with the Cartaginés fans after completely changing the mentality of the team and the players upon his arrival. The current chairman is Daniel Vargas Aguilar.

Players

Striker Randall 'Chiqui' Brenes is one who graduated from the Cartaginés academy and has made a real impression. Goalkeeper Luis Torres and defender Carlos Johnson (who has just signed a new three year deal with the club) were called up to the Costa Rica squad for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, so won't be in action against the Whites.

Current Squad:

Goalkeepers: Luis Fernando Torres, Wardy Alfaro, Alejandro Gómez.
Defenders: Pablo Herrera, Andrés Sanabria, José Villalobos (Captain), Andrés Flores Acuña, Esteban Sirias, Carlos Johnson, Diego Ramírez.
Midfielders: Paolo Jiménez, Néstor Monge, Eduardo Valverde, Gabriel Leiva, William Fernández, Leandro Silva, Randall Alvarado, Félix Montoya, Kevin Vega, Danny Fonseca.
Forwards: Randall Brenes, Andrés Lezcano, Rodrigo Garita, Bryan López, Erick Scott, Terencio de Oliveira.

Magic Numbers

30 – The number of managers, including Delgado, that have been in charge at Cartaginés since the club's foundation.

33 – The number of times Delgado represented Costa Rica at international level.

41 – The total goals scored by Claudio Fabian Ciccia during the 2002/03 season. This remains a club record.

64 – The amount of points Cartaginés won in both league competitions last season.

360 – The amount of games Danny Fonseca Brava played to become the club's record appearance maker in February. He has since added to the tally.

Photos courtesy of Andres Quesada Fotografia. www.cartagines.net.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/july/12/cartagines-preview?

[WhiteJC]

 
FULHAM READY TO BID £5M FOR LIVERPOOL DEFENDER SEBASTIAN COATES

Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates could be set for a move to Fulham.

The Uruguay international has not made a major impression on the Reds' first-team since his arrival from Nacional.

The arrival of ex-Manchester City defender Kolo Toure suggests that, even after Jamie Carragher's arrival, his prospects of regular game time will not improve.

Cottagers boss Martin Jol is preparing a £5m bid for the 22-year-old, according to reports in the Daily Mail.


http://www.offthepost.info/blog/2013/07/fulham-ready-to-bid-5m-for-liverpool-defender-sebastian-coates/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+offthepost%2FTLAa+%28Off+The+Post%29

[WhiteJC]

 
Why speculation about Kerim Frei probably won't go away
By rich on July 12, 2013

This from my friend Lewis:

The Turkish FA recently voted to maintain their quite strict rules on the number of foreigners allowed in any matchday squad/starting XI (I think it's six in the former, four in the latter). Fenerbahce have tended to favour these rules which is interesting, but the other big clubs are obviously very anti-quotas as they feel it holds them back in Europe. Galatasaray have millions to spend, but no-one to spend it on.

Anyway, all of this means competition for players who elect to play for Turkey or have Turkish citizenship is very high. It explains why Kazim-Richards played in the quarter-finals of the Champions League once. And also means Frei will be getting some seriously good offers from Turkish clubs to persuade him to move over. Would be surprised if he doesn't end up at one of the big three before the end of his career.


http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/why-speculation-about-kerim-frei-probably-wont-go-away/?

[WhiteJC]

 
U21 Fixtures Announcement

Tickets are still available for the Fulham FC Under-21s' trip to Sutton United on Saturday 13th July (3pm) and can be bought on the day.

Sutton United v Fulham XI 

Fulham FC's Under 21s play a pre-season friendly at Borough Sports Ground on Saturday 13th July (3pm kick-off).

Ticket prices: £10 Adults / £6 Concessions (aged 60 and over; students on production of a valid student ID) / £2 Under 16s.

Tickets can no longer be bought online, but can be purchased at the ground.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/july/11/u21-friendly?

[WhiteJC]

 
Boateng wants dream start after Ukrainian nightmare

DEREK Boateng is desperate to hit the ground running at Fulham and put his Ukrainian nightmare behind him.

The ball-winning midfielder finally completed his move to Craven Cottage at the third time of asking this summer after his contract at Dnipro was cancelled.

Boateng revealed the heartache of being away from his three young kids during his two-year stay in Eastern Europe.

However, the 30-year-old will be reunited with his family following his move to London.

He told the Chronicle: "I wasn't happy there. I was living alone without my family, which was very tough for me. I explained it to Dnipro several times, but they didn't understand.

"I really love my family and want them beside me all of the time. They give me more energy and power to keep going. I cannot survive without them. I only got to see my kids when they had vacation in school. I would see them for two weeks and then they would go. It was really tough.

"Fulham were interested a few years ago. There was a misunderstanding with Dnipro. Fulham really wanted me to come but they said no. I wanted to go. I always had Fulham in my head – that was the club I wanted to play for.

"It's a big relief for me to finally be here. This is the third time they've come in for me, so I thank god it's happened.

"I called my family and told them 'it's over now'. I can have fun and play my football.

"They will be coming to join me after our pre-season tour. After football you have to have a life, and my family means everything."

Boateng's journey to SW6 has taken him via Greece, Sweden, Israel, Germany and Spain.

But the Ghana international, who faced Fulham twice in the Europa League in 2011/12, admits he's always dreamed about playing in England.

He added: "Every footballer wants to play in the Premier League.

"I always wanted to come to England because of the language, the game and the type of player I am.

"I like to get the ball from the defenders and move it forward. I like to tackle and will do my best for the club."

Fulham continue their preparation for the start of the new campaign with two pre-season matches at Craven Cottage in August.

First up is Spanish side Real Betis on August 5 at 8pm before the Whites entertain Italian outfit Parma on August 10, kick-off 3pm.

Tickets for these matches are on general sale, priced just £10 for adults and only £5 for under 16s when purchased in advance of the day of the matches.

Family packages are also available to buy, for further information visit www.fulhamfc.com/tickets

The Whites first home game in the Premier League is against Arsenal, secure your seat for all 19 home games from £449 adults (less than £24 per game) at www.fulhamfc.com/seasontickets



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What have Fulham achieved under Mohamed Al Fayed?

If the latest rumours are to be believed Fulham's owner Mohamed Al Fayed is on the look-out for a potential suitor to take over at the West London club.

The news might come as a surprise to many, even though there have been hints in the last few years that the Egyptian was looking to wind down. Here, Sports Mole takes a look at just what Al Fayed has achieved in his time as Fulham chairman.



Just as the Cottagers have become part of the furniture in the Premier League, so has Al Fayed at the club. Only the fans of the club and followers of football in the lower leagues can really remember a time without the Egyptian being in charge, such has been his influence over the past 16 years.

Back in 1995 Fulham were on the verge of dropping out of the Football League. With huge debts and seemingly no hope, no-one could have predicted what was about to happen. Along came Al Fayed in May 1997, the successful Egyptian mogul and owner of Harrods, who decided to take a chance and bought the club for £30m from then chairman Jimmy Hill. There was to be no looking back.

Fulham fans could excuse his somewhat ambitious claims that the club would reach the Promised Land in five years, for they were just delighted that there was any future at all. Of course, he meant what he said and it was proven in just four years that Fulham would return to the top flight of English football after an agonising wait.



In the old division two - now League One - money from a wealthy owner made all the difference. The other sides simply could not keep up as Fulham left an Egypt-sized hole behind them as they powered their way into the second tier under the guidance of manager Kevin Keegan.

Fulham were free-spending, but Al Fayed remained prudent with his money as he has to this day; he would not splash out for the sake of it. When Keegan left to take over England, Al Fayed appointed Jean Tigana to take the club to the next level. Tigana, backed by Al Fayed to bring in the likes of Louis Saha, achieved Al Fayed's initial ambition by winning the first division in 2001.

His next claim? To turn Fulham into the "Manchester United of the south", no less. To try to make that happen the Egyptian dipped into his pocket again to bring in new faces for Tigana. Some - Edwin van der Sar and Steed Malbranque - were a success but others, such as the £11m signing of Steve Marlet, would lead to Tigana's demise and ultimate sacking in April 2003.

Al Fayed reverted to prudence with Chris Coleman at the helm and his lofty ambitions turned to just consolidating the club in the top flight for as long as possible. Suddenly in 2007, after a miserable run under Lawrie Sanchez, Fulham's luck looked to have run out. They were floundering in the relegation zone and looked destined for the drop. Roy Hodgson was appointed in December and miraculously kept them in the Premier League.

Hodgson would go on to become Fulham's most successful manager, taking them agonisingly close to a famous Europa League victory in 2010. But it was Al Fayed's initial nous to appoint him that was just another in a long line of excellent decisions in charge of the club.



Al Fayed's backing might not have taken the club to the lofty heights he promised, but they remain an established Premier League club.

In many ways, Al Fayed was the original 'sugar daddy' of football. Of course, with the biggest clubs now owned by billionaires and not just millionaires, the Egyptian's outlay pales in comparison to the likes of Roman Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed. But even with that taken into account it is clear to all that Al Fayed's backing put Fulham where they are today.

Having sold Harrods in 2010 the signs were that he would soon look to find a new backer for Fulham. With this looking increasingly likely his decision to essentially write off the club's £212m debts into equity mean that should he step down the Cottagers will be a very enticing proposition for the new owner.



http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/what-have-fulham-achieved-under-al-fayed_93140.html