Thursday Fulham Stuff (03/07/14)...

[WhiteJC]

 
What to do with Mitroglou?
   
It`s an intriguing question and one which, we hope, an answer materializes for shortly.

Our £12 million January acquisition, who failed to set Craven Cottage alight when he managed to hop of the treatment table, has had a far from memorable World Cup.

Now with Greece out of the tournament we expect something to happen with regards to where Kostas will be playing next season.

Today the insinuation is there that Fulham might b eon the verge of doing a one-year loan deal that would see Kostas Mitroglou move to the Turkish outfit Besiktas.

Managed by the former West Ham United player, Slaven Bilic, it`s inferred that that Besiktas would be prepared pay Fulham Football Club a fee of £1 million for the loan and also have an option to agree a permanent deal for the player come next summer.

We`ll sit back and see what happens shall we?


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=362490#ixzz36KdVg2xJ

[WhiteJC]

 
Away Days: Wigan Athletic

Every morning for 23 days we'll be providing a bite-size profile of our upcoming opposition in the 2014/15 Sky Bet Championship season. Next up is Wigan Athletic.


Date: Saturday 1st November (3pm)

Recent history: The Latics struggled in the early stages of the 2012/13 campaign as they juggled their league fixtures with UEFA Europa League exploits following their excellent FA Cup triumph earlier in the year. However, the appointment of Uwe Rosler sparked an upturn in form and culminated in a Play-Off place, only for Queens Park Rangers to crush their promotion hopes over two legs.

The manager: Uwe Rosler, appointed December 2013

Player to watch: James McClean, winger

Marathonbet odds for the title: 10/1

Head-to-head record: Fulham 18, Wigan 8, Draw 14

Previous meeting: Fulham 1-1 Wigan (Giorgos Karagounis; Franco Di Santo) Premier League, January 2013

By train: London Euston – Wigan North Western (approx. 2 hours)

Five who played for both: Ryan Tunnicliffe, Hugo Rodallega, Michael Brown, Jimmy Bullard, Geoff Horsfield


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/july/02/away-days-wigan-athletic?

[WhiteJC]

 
Ex-Fulham star heading to Roma?

Roma are lining up a swoop for former Fulham man Urby Emanuelson.

The Dutchman spent the second half of the 2012-13 season on loan at Craven Cottage after Martin Jol lured him away from the San Siro.

It was Jol, while managing Emanuelson at his boyhood club Ajax, who converted him from a left-back into an attacking winger.

It was seen as a coup when Fulham landed the 28-year-old but it fell flat with him starting just five Premier League matches and watching nine full fixtures from the bench.

The midfielder is now a free agent after Milan let his contract expire but Fulham's hopes of landing him faded when they sacked Jol last season and were later relegated.


Read more at http://talksport.com/football/ex-fulham-star-heading-roma-14070299509#dEQ1GM3GP5KVh4wp.99

[WhiteJC]

 
Ross McCormack submits transfer request
Leicester City, Fulham, QPR, West Ham United, Crystal Palace, Norwich City, Cardiff City, Celtic and Newcastle United target Ross McCormack has asked for a transfer away from Championship outfit Leeds United, according to Sky Sports.

McCormack netted an impressive 28 goals for Leeds United last term, however after refusing to go on a pre-season trip with the rest of the squad the 27 year old has asked to leave Elland Road. Following impressive displays last term there are no shortage of suitors for the forward with Leicester City, Fulham, QPR, West ham United, Crystal Palace, Norwich City, Cardiff City, Celtic and Newcastle United all being linked with the Scot.

Fulham have made a £7 million bid for McCormack however it is understood that Leeds owner Massimo Cellino is demanding £10 million for their star man which could deter any potential suitors. Reports also suggest that Norwich City are readying a bid following the sale of Robert Snodgrass to Hull City for £7 million.


http://www.first4lcfc.co.uk/blog/ross-mccormack-submits-transfer-request/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Let me go! Fulham target hands in transfer request at Leeds United

Striker McCormack signals his intention to leave Elland Road


Looking to leave: Ross McCormack wants out of Leeds United

Fulham target Ross McCormack has handed in a transfer request at Leeds United in an attempt to force through a move.

The 27-year-old did not travel with the rest of the Leeds team on their pre-season trip to Italy on Monday amid interest from the Whites and Norwich City.

Felix Magath is keen to strengthen his attack and McCormack is proven at Championship level after finishing top scorer in the division with 28 goals last season.

McCormack favours a move to Fulham over the Canaries and is believed to have told Leeds owner Massimo Cellino privately of his desire to leave the club.

And the forward has now made his unhappiness at Elland Road official by submitting the request to United this morning.

A deal for the frontman is expected to be concluded by Friday, with this latest development likely to be the tipping point.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/go-fulham-target-hands-transfer-7358113?

[WhiteJC]

 
Kay Voser: Fulham sign FC Basel defender for undisclosed fee

Championship club Fulham have signed Basel defender Kay Voser for an undisclosed fee.

The 27-year-old has agreed a two-year contract at Craven Cottage, with an option for a further year.

The former Switzerland Under-21 international began his senior career at Grasshopper Club Zurich and moved on to Basel in 2011.

Voser made 28 league appearances last season and featured eight times in the Champions League.

He is Fulham's fourth signing following their relegation from the Premier League.

Centre-back Shaun Hutchinson, striker Adam Taggart and right-back Tim Hoogland joined the west London club last month.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28136295

[WhiteJC]

 
Neymar at Fulham? Not while Felix Magath is manager as German says he'd rather have team players like Thomas Muller in his side
Fulham boss says he would not sign Neymar on a free transfer
Magath prefers players like Thomas Muller and Bastian Schweinsteiger
Ex-Bayern Munich boss says Phillipp Lahm should not play in midfield for Germany

It is a hammer blow for Fulham fans. Felix Magath has declared that he wouldn't sign Brazilian superstar Neymar, even if he had the chance to get him for free.

Despite the club playing Championship football next season, Magath sees no role at Craven Cottage for one of the best players in the world.

The Fulham manager appeared on Germany's major TV channel ZDF after Argentina's victory over Switzerland, to give his own expert view on the World Cup. Talking to former Bayern Munich star Hasan Salihamidaic, the German coach said that he didn't like players like Neymar.


Star of the show: Neymar has been one of Brazil's key men - but he would not get in Felix Magath's team

Going alone: Neymar scores a lot of individual goals - according to Magath

'I like team players. Players like Neymar, where it's all about the individual scoring goals... I don't know,' said Magath, before breaking into sheepish grin, 'I probably wouldn't even take him for free'.

Salihamidaic's reaction was one of visible shock, and the Bosnian couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Even as a tongue-in-cheek remark, it was a bold claim from Magath, who faces the mammoth task of reshaping Fulham's squad for the Championship following their relegation in May.

He did offer optimistic Fulham fans a glimmer of hope though, saying: 'If Neymar wins the World Cup with Brazil, then maybe I'd consider it.'

Happily for the Craven Cottage faithful, Magath's infamous love of the transfer market has not disappeared entirely. Asked which World Cup stars he would like to bring to Fulham, Magath said he thought Manuel Neuer had been outstanding, and that he'd always welcome Thomas Muller.

With those two transfers under his belt, perhaps Fulham wouldn't even need Neymar to guarantee promotion next season.


Making his mark: Magath will look to lead Fulham back to the Premer League at the first attempt

Magath was also full of praise for Bastian Schweinsteiger, saying he was the 'right man' for Germany's midfield. He claimed that the Bayern Munich player was a superior choice to Real Madrid's Sami Khedira.

'Khedira can't play the same leading role at the moment,' he said.

The Fulham boss then laid into Germany coach Joachim Low, saying that he had to stop playing captain Phillipp Lahm in midfield.

'Phillipp wants to play there, but it's not about that. It's about the team. For this team, he is more urgently needed as a left back. Benedikt Hoewedes can't fulfil that role properly at the moment'.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2677892/Neymar-Fulham-Not-Felix-Magath-manager.html#ixzz36KfkK9EW
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[WhiteJC]

 
Bryan Ruiz, Fulham, And Unhealed Wounds

Ben Weeks mournfully watches Fulham's outcast Bryan Ruiz make a difference at the World Cup...


"Maybe they don't need me. They need Bryan Ruiz, believe me."
We'll never know, but I think Martin Jol was probably right on both counts when he said that last season.

I told myself I wouldn't open this can of worms again, but the – admittedly limited – potential of Bryan Ruiz remaining at Craven Cottage, paired with his captaincy of a Costa Rican team who have progressed to the World Cup Quarter Finals provides ample opportunity with which to re-open some of the wounds for fans of Fulham, beautiful football and/or immaculate shiny hair.

Without arguing for the umpteempth time about whether it was his lack of physicality, lack of desire or Martin Jol's failure to utilise him properly, this tournament has made abundantly clear what many were well aware of from his time at FC Twente, or else from the flashes of genius too rarely seen by the Thames – the continued questioning of whether Ruiz possesses the necessary talent required to succeed in the Premier League is essentially scandalous.

There's a phenomenon we are probably all familiar with here in England:  we deride – sometimes fairly, sometimes unfairly – a certain type of player who plays a certain way, regardless of the rest of their skill set. We call them 'luxury footballers', in the pejorative sense. Luxury here is not used in the same way that Guylian might be termed a 'luxury chocolate' or business class as 'luxury travel' but rather in the sense that you might refer to owning a convertible in England – nice enough to show off occasionally, but ultimately a bit pointless.

Rather the antithesis of that Martin Jol argument for Bryan's necessity, then.

It's not that we should ignore all of the traits that are irritating about Ruiz – he's still a bit lazy, his defensive contribution is negligible and physically he really ought to be more imposing. However, it is key that Fulham & Magath, or more likely whichever club in Spain or Holland he ends up at, recognise and utilise, rather than patronise, the elements of his play which have made him a success again in Brazil.


http://thepremierleagueowl.com/bryan-ruiz-fulham-and-unhealed-wounds/

[WhiteJC]

 
Voser Joins Fulham

Fulham Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Kay Voser from FC Basel on a two-year deal, with an option for a further year. The fee is undisclosed.

The 27-year-old defender signed for Basel in 2011. During his three seasons at the club, he helped them to three Swiss Super League titles and one Swiss Cup.

He started his senior career at Grasshopper-Club Zurich, making more than 120 appearances between 2005 and 2011.

Last season, Voser made eight appearances in the UEFA Champions League which included two group match victories against Chelsea.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/july/02/voser-joins-fulham?

[WhiteJC]

 
PSV return unlikely for Bryan Ruiz

Having spent the latter half of the season on loan at PSV, Costa Rican captain Bryan Ruiz is unlikely to return at the club.

PSV Eindhoven technical director Marcel Brands had hoped for the capture of the former FC Twente man but that now appears unlikely partly because of his performances in Brazil and partly because he is contracted to his parent club Fulham for two more years.

Reports in De Telegraaf say that the 28 year old used his loan stint in Eindhoven to get fit for the World Cup in Brazil and wants a move to Spain rather than a return to the Eredivisie.

The striker has so far scored two goals in the tournament including the winner against Italy.

The Boeren will now look to strengthen in three different positions i.e. a striker, an experienced midfielder and a left sided central defender.



http://www.football-oranje.com/psv-return-unlikely-for-bryan-ruiz/?