Bodurov Signs

[Two Ton Ted]

He's rubbish. A bloke told me on the internet.

[beijing ben]

So we sign an international defender who has won titles and has experience in the Champions and Europa Leagues for our coming season in the Championship and people STILL find a way to complain about it?

I think it's a decent signing, as good as what we can hope for. I was more about the suggestion that Matthaus knows his stuff. He was a fantastic player, but he is not 'all there'.The way the Germans i know have told me and from watching his exploits post playing career, he is considered a bit of a joke in Germany. But as for Nikolay, potentially a very good signing...

[Deanothefulhamfan]

No way should he start ahead of Hutch who is probably the best CB we have at the club at the moment.

I think he will play alongside him, although in actual truth I would not start him against Ipswich, and use the pairing of Hutch and Burgess which has been very effective pre season.

Either way an experienced player added to the squad is not a bad thing... welcome aboard

[Zu-Meister]

Dan Burn has to start. Formidable in the air, only defender experienced in the championship and did very well there. Vocal, has leadership qualities. Dont know what magaths planning for him. Im hoping he hasnt taken part in most of the pre season games because magath already has him down as a starter.

[TonyGilroy]

Dan Burn has to start. Formidable in the air, only defender experienced in the championship and did very well there. Vocal, has leadership qualities. Dont know what magaths planning for him. Im hoping he hasnt taken part in most of the pre season games because magath already has him down as a starter.

Why?

Who are we, sitting in front of our keyboards, to be judging the strength of players we mostly haven't seen play and certainly haven't seen train.

Building the new team and devising tactics is down to Magath and his advisers (who do not include US).

Once we've seen how they do we can either purr with appreciation or snarl with disgust.

Until then though......................

[Zu-Meister]

Dan Burn has to start. Formidable in the air, only defender experienced in the championship and did very well there. Vocal, has leadership qualities. Dont know what magaths planning for him. Im hoping he hasnt taken part in most of the pre season games because magath already has him down as a starter.

Why?

Who are we, sitting in front of our keyboards, to be judging the strength of players we mostly haven't seen play and certainly haven't seen train.

Building the new team and devising tactics is down to Magath and his advisers (who do not include US).

Once we've seen how they do we can either purr with appreciation or snarl with disgust.

Until then though......................

weve seen a fair bit of dan burn, think hes got it. still young too. but his experience in the league is quite important.

[Ordar]

If theres a guaranteed CB starter, its Hutchinson. He looks miles better than the rest. Fantastic signing it seems

[Arthur]

I fear Fekix is up to his old tricks and collecting players that will never play for the club he signs them for.

If Amorebieta leaves (as he may well do), we would have six centre-backs, two of whom - Donnelly and Burgess - have yet to play a competitive game and another - Arthurworrey - who probably needs more games at a lower level.

If Bodurov never plays for us, it will be because Burgess and/or Donnelly are able to make a seamless transition from U18s football to The Championship. It may happen (and, if it does, great)... but I wouldn't want to bet my house on it.

I think Magath is taking a sensible view and guarding against the fact that, however much of a prospect Burgess or Donnelly is, playing at centre-back is a physically demanding position and our two outstanding youngsters, despite their ability, may still need another year-or-more before they are strong enough to cope.

[TonyGilroy]

weve seen a fair bit of dan burn, think hes got it. still young too. but his experience in the league is quite important.
[/quote]

I also liked what I saw of Burn but have no idea what our best CB partnership is from the players we have and maybe those we are about to sign.

None of us have a valid opinion on this YET.

[Zu-Meister]

weve seen a fair bit of dan burn, think hes got it. still young too. but his experience in the league is quite important.

I also liked what I saw of Burn but have no idea what our best CB partnership is from the players we have and maybe those we are about to sign.

None of us have a valid opinion on this YET.
[/quote]yeah i agree. theres a reason magaths the coach. im just saying from what ive seen. which is match days.

[Lighthouse]

Nikolay Bodurov was one of the most content men in Austria after completing his move to Fulham on Friday afternoon.

The Bulgarian defender penned an initial three-year deal with the Whites having trained with his new teammates throughout the week, and he was delighted to get the deal over the line.

Speaking from the team's hotel in Innsbruck, Bodurov told fulhamfc.com: "I'm very happy to have signed. It's a moment that I've wanted for a long time. It's a dream of mine.

"I see a good team here – the training camp has been good so far. Everything is very professional here and I think that we have everything we need to have a very successful season."

The 28-year-old also emphasised his desire to play under Fulham Manager Felix Magath, stating: "He's a very good coach who has had many successes in football, and for any footballer I think it would be a great pleasure to work with a coach like him.

"I'll be fighting for a starting position in the team, but everything is down to the coach. I'm here to work and train and show what I have and what I can do."

[Craven Mad]

He's been given number 6. Don't know if anything can/should be read into that?

[Riversider]

Worth noting, that at 180cm Bodurov is very short for a centre back !
Just saying.

[sunburywhite]

Worth noting, that at 180cm Bodurov is very short for a centre back !
Just saying.

Never worried Sanchez, he loved small players

[God The Mechanic]

Worth noting, that at 180cm Bodurov is very short for a centre back !
Just saying.

Cannavarro was shorter, he was a bit alright!  Apart from one glorious night :D

[Lighthouse]

Timing is everything. Richard Money was short but did ok when he played there. Anybody remember the away game at Pompey where Paul Parker was outstanding in the air. It takes more than just being tall.

[K33NY]

Never ever heardof the guy, is he good?

[MasterHaynes]

Welcome Nikolay, if Lothar Matthaus picked you for the national team then you must have something about you. Good luck. COYW

Hoping that this guy is good and the fact that he is a regular at international level would suggest that but, despite Matthaus being a fantastic player, he is a complete fruitcake, something i think we don't realise outside of Germany.. Anyhow, i think we definitely needed a bit more experience in central defence with the prospect of Amorebieta leaving and hopefully Nikolay is it. Still need a central midfielder and probably a goalkeeper too...

Bulgaria are ranked between Morocco  & Oman worldwide and regionally betwen Israel & Macedonia not sure that is any endorsement for a starting place ahead of Burn, Burgess or Grimmer. I fear Fekix is up to his old tricks and collecting players that will never play for the club he signs them for.

Agree with you about the current state of Bulgaria. They have a very inexperienced side right now so to be in that squad doesn't necessarily mean quality but at least he is playing at that level.. With regards to Felix, does he actually have that reputation?

Unfortunately he does, creating large squads where ever he has been, has piced up some very good players among them Dzeko the most notable one. These articles don'y really highlight it but at his last season at Wolfsburg there were 7-8 players signed that never made the bench but they do reflect with what we have seen so far this summer
http://arunfoot.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/felix-magath-buyingselling-of-players.html
http://www.thefootballexpress.co.uk/tag/felix-magath/

[Riverside]

He's been given number 6. Don't know if anything can/should be read into that?

Mmmmm
When the squad numbers came out I wondered whether 6 and 9 we're being held back for anyone .
We now have the answer for 6  .
What about 9 ? Surely we have too many CFs already  ?

[rweller86]

hutch is left footed but prefers the right side apparently. every preseason friendly thats where hes been. and often uses right foot

A centre back using both feet...