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Thursday Fulham Stuff (17/06/10)

Started by WhiteJC, June 17, 2010, 07:30:22 AM

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WhiteJC

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11681_6209922,00.html?
Swiss fret over Senderos
Defender suffers ankle injury against Spain

Switzerland are hoping Philippe Senderos will not miss the rest of the World Cup after suffering an ankle injury against Spain.

Senderos, who agreed to join Fulham prior to the start of the finals, was forced off during Switzerland's historic success over Spain in the first half.

The centre-back picked up an ankle problem after colliding with a team-mate and he is heading to hospital for scans on the injury.

Speaking after the 1-0 win over the European champions, Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeldexpressed concern about the severity of the problem.

Major blow

"Senderos has a sprained ankle and he may have a ruptured a ligament or worse," said Hitzfeld.

"He has to go to hospital to have some tests.

"It will be very difficult to replace him and it will be a major blow for my team if we were to lose him."

Steve von Bergen replaced Senderos against Spain and will be favourite to start Monday's game against Chile if his team-mate fails to recover.

WhiteJC

http://fulham.theoffside.com/team-news/world-cup-report.html?
World Cup Report

After today's Spain/Switzerland upset wrapping up the first round (is that what they're called? or is it legs?) of the group stage games, let's look back and see how our mighty Whites have faired at the World Cup so far.

Clint Dempsey started, played 90 minutes, and scored a goal in the USA's 1-1 draw with England.

Mark Schwarzer started, played 90 minutes, and made 4 saves in Australia's 4-0 loss to Germany.

Kagisho Dikgacoi started, played 90 minutes, received a yellow card and registered an assist in South Africa's 1-1 draw with Mexico.

Dickson Etuhu started and played 90 minutes in Nigeria's 1-0 loss to Argentina.

John Painstil started and played 90 minutes in Ghana's 1-0 win over Serbia.

Phillippe Senderos started and played 36 minutes in Switzerland's 1-0 win over Spain. He was substituted because of an ankle injury.

WhiteJC

http://www.fulham-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/fulham_to_throw_koren_a_lifeline_532676/index.shtml
Fulham To Throw Koren A Lifeline

Fulham are set to throw Robert Koren a Premier League lifeline after he was released by West Brom.

The Slovenia skipper, 29, is at the World Cup without a club but Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson is a long-time admirer. Koren, who is also interesting Newcastle and Celtic, played in Norway for Lillestrom when Hodgson was manager at Viking Stavanger. The player fell out with Hawthorns boss Roberto Di Matteo, who branded him "selfish" when Koren refused to shake his hand after being subbed against Scunthorpe.


WhiteJC

http://www.fulham-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/hunt_on_for_zamora_532675/index.shtml
Hunt On For Zamora

Aston Villa and Sunderland have joined Birmingham and Celtic in the race to sign Bobby Zamora.

Brum boss Alex McLeish has had a long-term interest in the Fulham striker. But he is waiting to see the full extent of Zamora's Achilles injury. That has let in Villa who can offer Europa League football - and boss Martin O'Neill is keen to boost his strike force. Sunderland have also expressed an interest in Zamora, 29, as have Glasgow giants Celtic recently.

WhiteJC

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Fulham-transfer-news-Roy-Hodgson-makes-bid-for-Aston-Villa-star-Steve-Sidwell-Exclusive-article470853.html
Fulham make bid for Aston Villa star - Exclusive

Fulham have made an official approach for Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell and slapped a bid in.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill has to sell-to-buy this summer after cut-backs by owner Randy Lerner.

And Sidwell is one of several stars including Curtis Davies, Nigel Reo-Coker, Nicky Shorey and Luke Young who may be sold.

Villa are looking to recoup around £3m and get his £50,000-a-week salary off their wage bill as Sidwell will be a free agent next summer.

And the Londoner is ready to return to the capital to revive his stalled career.

Premier League rivals West Ham and Sunderland also fancy the former Arsenal trainee.

But Craven Cottage is his likely destination after Fulham boss Roy Hodgson made an early move to get the ace.

And Sidwell is willing to take a pay-cut for regular first team football.

Villa centre-back Davies, 25, is set to join Spurs later this summer once they have raised funds by offloading the likes of Robbie Keane and Jermaine Jenas.

Sidwell has made 23 Premier League starts for Villa since a £5million move from the dark side in July 2008.

WhiteJC

http://football.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/05/13/why-fulham-fear-losing-roy-hodgson-after-europa-league-exploits/
Why Fulham Fear Losing Roy Hodgson After Europa League Exploits

No sooner had the tears dried following their painful Europa League final defeat to Atletico Madrid than thoughts turned to Fulham's future.

Having overachieved so magnificently the last two seasons, the inevitable question is how the club can move forward and build on the success that has made them the unlikeliest of household names around Europe.

And, more pressingly, there are the growing concerns that, having finally got the recognition he deserves in his homeland, manager Roy Hodgson will be a target for clubs with deeper pockets and bigger reputations than Fulham.

So far the signs are encouraging for Fulham, with Hodgson maintaining there has been no contact with any other club and that his future remains in west London.

"There has never been any question of my future as far as I'm concerned," Hodgson told Sky Sport News. "It has always been speculation and I have had no contact with anybody.

"So it's all pure speculation and as far as I'm concerned I am planning for next season. It has never crossed my mind. I still have a contract with the club and no one has told me otherwise. No one has told me they don't want me at the club."

Proof, if you needed any, that Hodgson is a born diplomat, as well as a gifted coach.

At 62, the manager can hardly afford to wait and attach his name to a medium to long term project. Hodgson remains ambitious and has made no secret of the fact he craves the chance to take on one more big job.

Fulham's success is double-edged. It has thrust Hodgson towards the top of the managerial A-list and his name will now be mentioned in connection with just about every senior vacancy that comes along this summer.

On the other hand, the manager is wise enough to know he is onto a very good thing thing with his current club and if he can see a way to build on the progess of recent seasons, there would be a compelling case to stay unless he receives the kind of offer that would tempt any self-respecting manager. An offer, for example, from England or Liverpool.

Rafa Benitez's future looms large over Fulham with Hodgson's name repeatedly mentioned among the favourites to succeed the Spaniard if his faltering relationship with the Merseyside club finally descends into a full-scale breakdown.

Were Hodgson offered the job, it is impossible to see him rejecting the chance to cap his career with, arguably, his most prestigious ever job.

Similarly with England, although the chances of Fabio Capello leaving his current post appear far slimmer than Benitez moving on.

Things can change, however, and if England flop in South Africa, who knows what Capello's relationship with his players, his employers and the country's supporters will be like. Will the Italian have the stomach to continue the fight?

The key to Hodgson's future could lie in the commitments he receives from club owner Mohamed Al Fayed this summer.

Long gone are the days when the Egyptian was happy to bankroll Fulham's spending above the club's means and Hodgson has operated on a budget commensurate with the club's standing as a mid-ranking Premier League side.

Al Fayed, though, has just sold the Harrods store for £1.5bn, although there has so far been no sign that he intends to invest heavily in Fulham.

"That's a question for Mohamed Al Fayed," club director Michael Cole said. "He's carried out a brilliant deal for the sale of Harrods. What he does now is for Mohamed Al Fayed.

"He has no plans to sell Fulham. Just because you sell your house doesn't mean you also sell your car. Because you sell your house for a lot of money, you might even upgrade your car. Who can say what will happen?"

Were Al Fayed to offer Hodgson the kind of transfer budget that would allow Fulham to compete effectively for a top seven finish, the case for the manager to stay would be compelling.

After all, the expectations at Fulham combined with his success at the club means he has one of the least pressured positions in the top-flight.

However, there are offers Hodgson simply couldn't turn down. Events at Anfield and in South Africa will be monitored with an unusual level of interest on the banks of the Thames.


WhiteJC

http://football.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/05/18/the-year-that-was-a-look-back-at-fulhams-2009-10-campaign/
The Year That Was: a Look Back at Fulham's 2009-10 Campaign


Not even the most optimistic of Fulham supporters ever imagined that a season that began in Lithuania at the end of July would end in the Nordbank Arena, Hamburg, in mid-May with Roy Hodgson's side tantalisingly close to lifting a European trophy.

Diego Forlan's 116th minute winning goal was agonising and ensured Atletico Madrid left Germany as winners of the first ever Europa league but didn't diminish the achievement of a club more often regarded as a quaint antidote to bigger, flashier Premier League rivals rather than a genuine force.

Hodgson's work means that stereotype no longer holds true as Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk, Hamburg and Wolfsburg – all beaten on Fulham's thrilling journey to the final – will attest.

The demands of a gruelling 63-game season on a squad that remains short on numbers inevitably meant that the Cottagers were unable to match last season's success in finishing seventh but they again demonstrated that on their day, and particularly at Craven Cottage, they are a match for anyone in the Premier League.

A YEAR BY NUMBERS
Table: 12th (9th at Christmas / 12th at Easter)
Points: 46
Goals For: 39
Goals Against: 46

Manager rating: 10
Admired across Europe, Hodgson's reputation at home was tarnished by his frustrating spell at Blackburn in the late nineties until he took charge at Fulham in December 2007. Not any more. The success of the last two seasons means the manager is now regarded as one of the grand old men of English football and if Fabio Capello were to leave the England job after this summer's World Cup, Hodgson would be the favourite to replace the Italian.

High point of the season: Clint Dempsey's 82nd minute chip would have been memorable in any game but when it completed a four-goal recovery against Juventus, it became part of Fulham folklore.

Low point of the season: The sight of Forlan's shot deflecting past Mark Schwarzer off the thigh of Brede Hangeland will trigger a collective wince at Craven Cottage for years to come.

Derby Highs: Fulham 3 West Ham 2, May 2, 2010.
Derby Lows: Fulham 0 Chelsea 2, August 23, 2010

Player of the year: Bobby Zamora. The striker started the season with a desperately unhappy relationship with the club's supporters yet would have deservedly ended the campaign with a place in England's provisional 30-man World Cup squad were it not for an Achilles injury.

One who will be lucky to be back next year: Diomansy Kamara. The Senegal forward made little impact during the first half of the season before moving to Celtic on loan for the remainder of the campaign. Kamara has one year left on his contract but has already said he would like to stay in Glasgow and it's hard to see Fulham blocking a move if Celtic offer close to the Cottagers' £3m asking price.

Highest Attendance: 25,700 v Arsenal, September 26, 2009
Lowest Attendance: 20,831 v Stoke, May 5, 2010

He's off: Chris Smalling. The young centre back couldn't break up the central defensive partnership of Aaron Hughes and Hangeland but has shown enough promise to land a £10m move to Manchester United. Good business all round.

Wishlist for next season: Owner Mohamed Al Fayed's primary concern is that Hodgson's success doesn't prompt offers from bigger clubs and that the manager remains at Craven Cottage. Whoever is in charge next season will want more bodies on board. Hodgson's worked wonders coaxing performance after performance out of his players but can't do that every year and the squad needs new faces in all departments.

Future prospects: Much will hinge on Hodgson. If he stays, there is no reason why Fulham can't establish themselves at regular top ten finishers. If he goes, though, the new manager would have a big job matching the standards set over the last two years and meeting the revised expectations at the club.

WhiteJC

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=221564
Teymourian says my priority is to play for European teams
Tehran Times Sports Desk

Former Fulham midfielder Andranik Teymourian reiterated that he has received offers from Iranian teams Persepolis and Steel Azin but playing in an European club is his priority.

Free agent Teymourian is reportedly a target for Sheffield United in the summer transfer window. He said, "They have announced their readiness to sign me. However, I need time to think about it."

"My agent is studying my offers from English, Spain, Germany as well as Iranian teams for the time being. Perseolis and Steel Azin have also contacted me but they have to wait. As I have already said I would rather continue my football in Europe," the 27-year old player said

WhiteJC

http://www.eatsleepsport.com/fulham/gera-rumours-dismissed-1070338.html
Gera rumours dismissed

Zoltan Gera's agent claims the Fulham forward has no desire to move to Fenerbahce as he is content with life in England.
Reports in Turkey had suggested a summer raid was on the cards for the Cottagers midfielder, but Flipovic Vladan says they would be wasting their time.

The Hungarian's representative has made his comments in the face of speculation claiming officials from the Turkish giants had travelled to London last week to discussion a possible deal.

"Gera is contracted to Fulham and a club change for him would only be possible within England, or maybe to a western European team," Vladan told www.origo.hu.

"I don't think there's any chance of him moving to Turkey."


WhiteJC

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-West-Ham-Fulham-and-Blackburn-chase-Bristol-City-hot-shot-Nicky-Maynard-article470781.html
West Ham, Fulham and Blackburn chase Bristol City hot shot

Bristol City hot-shot Nicky Maynard could be heading to the Premier League this summer.

Former Crewe trainee Maynard, 23, is in demand after banging in 21 goals last term.

City have already rejected a recent £3.75million bid from relegated Burnley.

And now the top-flight trio of Fulham, Blackburn and West Ham are all keeping tabs on the marksman.

Maynard has two years left on his contract at Ashton Gate after joining from Crewe in July 2008 for a club-record £2.25m.

Maynard scored 35 goals in 57 appearances for the Alex.

WhiteJC

http://www.tribalfootball.com/parnaby-strikes-one-year-deal-birmingham-912711?
Parnaby strikes one year deal with Birmingham

Birmingham defender Stuart Parnaby has signed a new one-year contract.

Parnaby's previous deal expired this summer, and he had ended the season awaiting manager Alex McLeish's verdict on whether he would be awarded an extension.

But the Barclays Premier League club have confirmed the 27-year-old former England Under-21 full-back will stay for another 12 months.

Parnaby has made 50 appearances for Birmingham since joining from Middlesbrough in 2007.

os5889

I'm not putting a whole thread for this so..


On My Birthday,, In South Africa Sun City Hotel,, what a team spirit we got here!! i love you all guys... but we must do it again Against Australians,, it shall be well with ghana...

(From Jonny P's facebook)


WhiteJC

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11681_6210349,00.html?
Fulham kick-off at Bolton
Cottagers fixtures released for 2010/11 campaign

Fulham had an excellent season last term and next year they begin their campaign away at Bolton on 14th August.

The Cottagers then face a tough test as they host Manchester United on 21st August, before travelling to newly-promoted Blackpool a week later.

Roy Hodgson's men had a great run in the Europa League last term, and their league form dipped slightly towards the end of the season - they face another difficult run-in next year as they finish with a home tie against Liverpool on 7th May, before a trip to Birmingham and a final-day clash with Arsenal at Craven Cottage.

Fulham take on West London rivals Chelseaat Stamford Bridge on 10th November, before the reverse fixture on 12th February.

They host West Ham on Boxing Day, and on New Years Day Fulham make the short journey to White Hart Lane to play Tottenham.

Now the fixtures have been announced, the process of selecting games for live TV coverage begins.

This season Sky Sports will show 115 live matches from the Barclays Premier League. We expect to announce the first batch of live matches in a couple of weeks followed by the first selections from the Football League and the Scottish Premier League.

As soon as any live television fixtures are confirmed they will be announced on Sky Sports News and on skysports.com.

WhiteJC

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2010/06/17/1980968/fulham-make-an-official-approach-for-aston-villa-midfielder?
Fulham make an official approach for Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell - report

Fulham are believed to have made an official approach to sign Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell.

It has been reported that manager Martin O'Neill will have to sell some of his players in order to raise the funds required to replenish his squad, and the former Reading man is expected to be one of the faces leaving Villa Park.

The midfielder made a move to the Birmingham-based club in 2008, after a rocky season at Chelsea. But the 27-year-old has made only 23 starts during his time as a Villan, and is believed to have recently been told that he can leave the West Midlands club.

The ex-Reading player has one year left on his contract with the club, and The Mirror reports that Villa are looking to raise about £3 million from the sale of the out-of-favour midfielder.

Now the Cottagers are reported to have lodged an early interest to secure the services of Sidwell, amidst potential interest from West Ham United and Sunderland.

WhiteJC

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/407458-liverpool-fc-prepares-for-life-under-roy-hodgson-with-12m-transfer-kitty?
Liverpool FC Prepares for Life Under Roy Hodgson with 12m Transfer Kitty

At last, the fog surrounding the next manager at Liverpool FC is clearing up. If sources close to the proceedings are to be believed, the appointment of Roy Hodgson as a Liverpool FC coach seems only a matter of time.

The Mirror and sources close to Fulham are supposed to have had a meeting with Roy, and the Fulham coach has iterated the fact that an offer from Liverpool FC was just un-put-down-able.

The 62-year-old had, for quite sometime now, been the centre of discussion in regard to vacant managerial position at Liverpool FC. After the departure of Rafael Benitez from the helm, only two serious contenders were considered for the post: Kenny Dalglish and Roy Hodgson.Hodgson seems to have just piped his closet rival, King Kenny, for the coveted post.

The factor that really made the ex-Inter Milan coach a favorite for the spot was really his fantastic Europa league campaign with Fulham, a team that were relegation contenders when Hodgson took over. The favoritism showed toward Hodgson's appointment by Christian Purslow, the Managing Director of Liverpool FC, also seems to have played a critical role in the process.

There are a few negatives and positives about this appointment. Hodgson's record as a coach has, however, not been very impressive. Even after his wonder run with the Craven Cottage outfit, Roy's winning record has been a mere 39 percent, approximately.

It is understandable, though, that Fulham are not expected to win too many matches given their reputation and mid-table mentality. However, Hodgson has never boasted of a brilliant win record with any team in his career, and the only time he did better than a 50 percent win record was with Copenhagen in 2001.

On all stands, Roy Hodgson has been a very respectable coach only with average teams.

The condition at Liverpool FC is quite bizarre though. The club is ineligible to play the Champions League this season to attract major talents to the club, nor does the club have the financial muscle to buy them out. In such a paralysed state of affairs, Hodgson seems to fit the bill perfectly, being known to have made the best of cheaply available talent in the market.

With all due respect to Dalglish, his brilliant coaching era was also marked by some expensive buys, something which the Reds cannot exactly afford at the moment.

There has also been news that Roy could be handed a 12m GBP transfer kitty when he takes the helm this summer. While whether or not the kitty is really handed over remains to be seen, the only positive that emerges from Hodgson's imminent appointment is the fact that the club will at least be under a some guidance as opposed to the chaotic, manger-less status that the club is in at the moment.

Whether it be a modest choice in the form of Roy Hodgson or an ambitious one in the form of Ottmar Hitzfield (who was strangely not even considered by the club even as a nomination), it is no exaggeration that the club needs new owners who would be ready to inject huge amount of cash into it very soon, and without it just blaming the coaches would just be plainly unjust.

It is very clear that with Roy Hodgson's appointment just days away, Liverpool FC are into a process of rebuilding its lost stake—a process which can really show promise only after the present owners finalise their departure. In the meantime, Liverpool is going to need a huge support from the players and fans alike to get behind whoever takes charge of the Red brigade from Merseyside.


WhiteJC

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1287368/THE-INSIDER-Steve-Sidwell-set-leave-Aston-Villa-Fulham.html?ITO=1490
THE INSIDER: Steve Sidwell set to leave Aston Villa for Fulham and Manchester United must up the stakes to land Simon Kjaer

Steve Sidwell
Aston Villa to Fulham - The Insider says: 4/5

The transfer has been in the pipeline for some time with Fulham keen to bring in younger English players where possible.

They have expressed an interest in Sidwell since last summer and that has grown with the former Reading midfielder's lack of game time at Villa Park.

He had expected to play more following Gareth Barry's departure but James Milner's emergence as a central midfielder has put paid to that.

Ironically, both could now leave with Milner expected to tie up a deal with Manchester City on his return from South Africa.
Villa are also looking to offload Nigel Reo-Coker and Curtis Davies to help fund new transfers but they could find it difficult to attract people if they become known for selling their better players.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1287368/THE-INSIDER-Steve-Sidwell-set-leave-Aston-Villa-Fulham.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0r7PzseBq