Saturday Fulham Stuff (19/06/10)...

[WhiteJC]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/hodgson-declares-no-problems-stopping-fulham-917451?
Hodgson declares no problems stopping with Fulham

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has refused to be drawn on the vacant manager's post at Liverpool.

Hodgson has been linked with the job since Rafael Benitez left Anfield but has declared his contentment with his current job at Craven Cottage.

Hodgson, who is working as a pundit for the BBC at the World Cup in South Africa, said: "I'm Fulham manager. I'm perfectly happy at Fulham."

Hodgson, who took Fulham to the Europa League final where they lost to Atletico Madrid, added on BBC1: "To be honest there's a lot of speculation but I can't enlighten you."

[WhiteJC]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Aston-Villa-star-Steve-Sidwell-demands-Fulham-reassurances-before-agreeing-to-move-article475745.html
Villa star demands Fulham reassurances before agreeing to move

Steve Sidwell wants assurances Roy Hodgson will remain as Fulham boss before completing a £3million move from Aston Villa.

Mirrorsport revealed on Thursday that Fulham have made an approach for the Villa midfielder, who cost £5m from Chelsea in July 2008.

Sidwell is one of several Villa players available for transfer as the club look to sell-to-buy.

He is willing to take a drop in his £50,000-a-week wages to sign for the Cottagers and wants to return to London.

But Fulham boss Hodgson is the hot favourite to take over at managerless Liverpool. And Sidwell wants guarantees about the future of Fulham before agreeing to leave Villa Park.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2010/6/19/1525366/cottagers-daily-rumor-mill-has
Cottagers Daily Rumor Mill: Has Manuel Pellegrini Signed A Deal To Become The New Liverpool Manager?

Is it possible that Manuel Pellegrini has signed on to become the new Liverpool manager? Richard Buxton of Click Liverpool actually had a twitter message about Manuel Pellegrini and Liverpool. Buxton states in his tweet that there is a report from Chile that Pellegrini has signed with Liverpool this morning. Then, Richard Buxton of Click Liverpool followed up his tweet with an article entitled "  Manuel Pellegrini set to be unveiled as next Liverpool FC manager - Report" 

I also have a report from Prensafutbol. According to this article, Pellegrini signed to become Liverpool manager this morning. If this story is true this is huge news in the football world.       

Below is a translated into English excerpt from this Prensafutbol article. The article discusses Pellegrini's agent having talks with Liverpool.
On Thursday, the representative of Pellegrini, Marco Piccioli, had said that "we are evaluating the operation and will soon have a new meeting to better define the final details of the contract." This meeting was finalized this morning, with the signing of the link between the former coach of painting 'merengue' and champion of the Champions League in 2005.

There has been no official word from Liverpool. At this point these articles are speculation. There has been so many rumors regarding this job. I think we are just going to have to wait and see what happens next with this Liverpool managerial saga.   I will be following this story and will have an update when more information is available.   

[WhiteJC]

http://www.teamtalk.com/fulham/6213294/Senderos-facing-up-to-World-Cup-KO
Senderos facing up to World Cup KO

Switzerland centre-back Philippe Senderos' World Cup could be over after he sustained an ankle injury in the victory over Spain.

The Fulham defender has been ruled out for their remaining two group matches, against Chile and Honduras, and there is some doubt as to whether he will be available should they reach the knockout stage.

"Victim of the same injury as Alex Frei, an ankle sprain, Philippe Senderos is officially out of the two matches against Chile and Honduras," a team statement announced.

"The doctor Cuno Wetzel has left the door open to a return for the defender for a potential last-16 match.

"But by indicating that his injury is more serious than that of Alex Frei, the doctor has ruled out practically any hope."

The Swiss are also missing West Ham's Valon Behrami, who has a thigh problem.

[WhiteJC]

http://hammyend.com/?p=7295
An interesting move
by DAN on JUNE 19, 2010

Admist all the fretting about England's abject display last night, you might have missed an announcement Fulham put out about their Development Squad:

FFC can confirm that the Club's Development Squad will not compete in the Barclays Premier Reserve League for the 2010/11 campaign.

Next season FFC will deliver a programme for the Club's 18-21 year-old players, including competitive football, loans to other clubs and occassional tournaments. All Development Squad friendly fixtures will be played behind closed doors next season.

Whilst the Development Squad has performed admirably in the Barclays Premier Reserve League in recent years, the Club feels that a tailored Club campaign, arranged around First Team fixtures, will not only benefit Development Squad players, but will also allow Roy Hodgson greater flexibility with regard to the Premier League's new squad rules.

Suspending involvement in a reserve competition that Fulham were doing quite well in may surprise a few, but I reckon this is a smart move. Anyone who's been to a Premier League reserve game will know that there are played at half pace and just aren't the place to judge a young player's potential. Too often the bloated size of the squad means that up and coming talents, who have impressed in the youth team, don't get a run in a meaningful fixture.

It will be interesting to see precisely what the programme for the boys in the 18-21 year-old age bracket and how much we learn about their development as the games will take place behind closed doors. And don't read anything into the reference to Roy Hodgson in the last sentence – I've been fooled by the offal before.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/villa-midfielder-sidwell-wants-hodgson-assurances-ahead-fulham-move-918241?
Villa midfielder Sidwell wants Hodgson assurances ahead of Fulham move

Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell won't consider moving to Fulham until he has assurances Roy Hodgson will remain as manager.

The Cottagers have approached Aston Villa about midfielder Sidwell, 27, who has been told he can leave Villa Park this summer as boss Martin O'Neill looks to raise money for new players.

But chief Hodgson, who led Fulham to the Europa League final, is being linked with the vacant Liverpool job.

If Hodgson moves to Anfield, former Chelsea ace Sidwell will want to know who will be in charge next season.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/birmingham-turn-fulham-striker-zamora-918311?
Birmingham turn to Fulham striker Zamora

Birmingham City are weighing up a new move for Fulham striker Bobby Zamora.

After pulling out of a deal for Palermo forward Fabrizio Miccoli, the Birmingham Mail says Brum are set to return to the negotiating table for Zamora.

Blues had been checking on the seriousness of Zamora's heel injury, which hampered him towards the end of last season and cost him a World Cup place with England.

It is believed the diagnosis is good and that Zamora doesn't require major surgery.

Whether Alex McLeish now mounts a move for Zamora, a different kind of player to Miccoli of course, remains to be seen.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2010/06/19/1984195/west-ham-united-emerge-as-rivals-to-birmingham-city-to-sign?
West Ham United emerge as rivals to Birmingham City to sign Fulham's Paul Konchesky - report


West Ham United have reportedly emerged as favourites to sign Fulham full-back Paul Konchesky amidst rumours of an improved £2 million bid from Birmingham City.

The report in The Mirror comes in the wake of another recent rumour afoot that Brum boss Alex McLeish was set to return with an improved offer for the player after Fulham rejected a £1.5 million bid.

29-year-old Konchesky was born in Barking and played for the Hammers from 2005-2007 and it is thought he would prefer a move back to familiar surroundings.

With just one-year remaining on his Fulham contract the player is said to favour a fresh challenge and has told the club he does not want to re-sign.

Joining West Ham in July 2005 for £1.5 million Konchesky made an impact over 45 Premier League and cup appearances, seeing West Ham to a ninth-place finish and the 2006 FA Cup Final.

However, he lost his place in the first team during 2006-07 as West Ham narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship and eventually left in July 2007.

After signing a four-year deal with Fulham following a £3.25 million transfer he rubbed salt into West Ham's wounds by scoring from 35-yards in a 3-1 defeat in January 2009.

And while The Mirror insists that Birmingham City are still favourites to secure his services his personal preference is to move from South to East London.

Another intriguing aspect of the transfer saga is remaining cross-boardroom tensions between Upton Park and St.Andrews given David Sullivan and David Gold's former tenure at Birmigham.

[WhiteJC]

http://hammyend.com/?p=7291
Happy birthday, Brian McBride
by DAN on JUNE 19, 2010

Perhaps the gutsiest footballer I've ever had the privilege of seeing play celebrates his birthday today.

Brian McBride's story is legendary, his relationship with the Fulham fans endures and he's still playing. The former US international, also fondly remembered at Preston North End and Everton on these shores, turns 38 but continues to put in the hard yards on and off the pitch. He's booked in to visit a children's hospital next week and admitted that he finds watching the current American national side more difficult than playing for them. than when he's on the pitch.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premiership/busted-flush-set-for-another-shuffle?
BUSTED FLUSH SET FOR ANOTHER SHUFFLE

So, Steve Sidwell looks set to slink softly off towards the Villa Park exit. But, with Fulham thought to be favourites to secure his signature, is Sidwell a worthwhile signing or is he, in fact, a busted flush?

A successful spell with Reading marked him out as a player of aptitude and top-level potential. Developing through the Arsenal youth team, Sidwell found himself unable to break into the first-team and, following loan-spells at Brentford and Brighton, he eventually joined Reading in 2003. Establishing himself as a prominent figure at the Madjeski, he was increasingly pin-pointed as one of the finest players outside the Premiership and thus found himself included in the Championship team of the year for the second consecutive season in 2005/06. This was also Reading's Championship winning season and probably Sidwell's zenith; the crux of the side, scoring 10 league goals from midfield.

With his contract due to expire the following year, Sidwell attracted the advances of a plethora of clubs. However, despite Sidwell rejecting a contract extension, Reading kept hold of their asset for the Premier League campaign, resigned to the fact he could well leave on a free at the end of the season... and, of course, he did. If those last two years we're his zenith, he was now to reach his nadir. Joining Chelsea on a free transfer (cue many a raised eyebrow) he was never likely to fully infiltrate a midfield boasting truly world class pedigree. With beautiful old hindsight, he could probably look back at the move as a mistake, a step too far; particularly since clubs perhaps more suitable in stature (but still prestigious clubs, where Sidwell could potentially prosper) showed acute interest.

Making only 15 appearances, he inevitably found himself superfluous at Chelsea and 'did one' (the technical term, I think) to Villa in 2008, joining for £5million. Ah, phew, it's all going to be alright, yeah? This is the move where Sidwell can resurrect his career and finally become a Premier League regular, a formidable force, a midfield maestro... oh. Indeed, Sidwell hasn't really been able to force his way into the Aston Villa starting line-up; illustrated by the fact he has only made 23 league starts in two years at Villa Park. Despite some notable performance – scoring on his league debut against Wigan, and after only 31 seconds in the entertaining 3-2 victory against Everton – he has been largely underwhelming. Thus, he now looks set to make a premature exit, as Martin O'Neill seeks to re-coup some of the £5million outlay, take unnecessary baggage off the wage-bill and secure funds to strengthen his squad.

Which leads us to the mysterious land of now. At 27-years-old, Sidwell has been mostly living off the clout garnered at Reading. Unable to hold-down a first-team place for three years, Sidwell is out of favour and, hence, he is something of a gamble. Moreover, you wonder what exactly his impact would be. Despite this, Sidwell to Fulham could be practical move for both. He would, of course, have to work hard to establish himself in a strong and consistently improving side, but you still get the feeling he could do so.

A combative midfielder, capable of getting box-to-box, if he realised his early potential, Fulham could benefit from a sturdy team-player. Certainly, Roy Hodgson seems to have a knack at reviving players and squeezing out the best bits, but whether Hodgson himself will still be at Craven Cottage is a major question. Given it's very unlikely Villa will recoup the full amount they paid, a fee of around £3million is probable. In todays market this represents reasonable value, but not if he is simply set to fix his buttocks on the bench again.

[Tonywa]

http://hammyend.com/?p=7291
Happy birthday, Brian McBride
by DAN on JUNE 19, 2010

Perhaps the gutsiest footballer I've ever had the privilege of seeing play celebrates his birthday today.

Brian McBride's story is legendary, his relationship with the Fulham fans endures and he's still playing. The former US international, also fondly remembered at Preston North End and Everton on these shores, turns 38 but continues to put in the hard yards on and off the pitch. He's booked in to visit a children's hospital next week and admitted that he finds watching the current American national side more difficult than playing for them. than when he's on the pitch.

A true hero and a model professional.   Compare and contrast Sir Brian's attitude to playing with that of those overpaid whatisits who disgraced teh Enland shirts last night.

Tony Watts