Monday Fulham Stuff (21/06/10)...

[beijing ben]

Interesting points JC but look at the thread immediatly beow yours and that will be the norm if Roy goes. BZ, Schwarz, Hangeland, Duff, Gera and even perhaps Murph could all headi for the exit door, Murph to do his coaching badges. The next chapter as Beijing Ben says could be a return to the dark days of aspiring to 17th. I don't think any other manager in the Prem has as much influence on the playing staff. I don't mean in a success, trophy laden way but in working for an honourable man the players have excelled and had two wonderful seasons. Many of them probably never thought they would be in Hamburg playing in a european final. Roy goes and we get a transistional period. We get the new ways, the new approaches and probably the new players. Hughes might slot right in of course and I think I would applaud that move but Sven makes us a team of fancy dans and a media circus. 

We would be incredibly lucky to get anyone who could repeat what Roy has done. I think Hughes could keep us up for sure and would be more than happy to have him there. Sven has disaster written all over it. To compare the premiership with the NFL is ridiculous for me. There are a limited number of jobs available. No relegation. Anyway, let's just hope Roy stays...

[WhiteJC]

http://www.teamtalk.com/fulham/6218244/Short-hoping-for-Premier-favours?
Short hoping for Premier favours

Boss Craig Short hopes to use his Premier League contacts to bring some exciting young talent to Notts County for the forthcoming season.

Short has spoken to two players and has made enquiries about players at Manchester City, Fulham and former club Blackburn.

"We have been talking about the loan option because these clubs have some very exciting players playing reserve-team football and they are never going to break into these big sides," Short told the Nottingham Post.

"They need to come out and get some experience. There are some very good players out there. They are good athletes and have great ability because they train with great players every day. So that is an option for us.

"They know they can trust them at a club like this. They know we will look after them. I have spoken to Blackburn, I have spoken to Manchester City, because I know Brian Kidd, and also contacted Fulham."

[WhiteJC]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2010/06/21/1987321/fulhams-roy-hodgson-keeping-liverpool-on-hold-until-england?
Fulham's Roy Hodgson keeping Liverpool on hold until England manager situation reveals itself this week
Sven-Goran Eriksson is first choice to succeed Hodgson at Craven Cottage

Roy Hodgson is not willing to commit himself to Liverpool until after England's game against Slovenia on Wednesday, Goal.com UK can confirm.

It is understood that the Fulham manager is the first choice of the Football Association to replace Fabio Capello should England fail to make it out of the World Cup group stages and the Italian falls on his sword.

Although Liverpool have lined up Hodgson to succeed Rafael Benitez at Anfield, sources close to the 62-year-old say he would prefer the challenge of being the England boss.

Hodgson is believed to view the England position as a more stable role and one which he believes he is ideally qualified for, given his 34 years in management and experience of managing Switzerland and Finland at international level.

The FA see Hodgson as an attractive candidate because, unlike novice international bosses, he would be able to hit the ground running.

Yet with Liverpool ready to appoint Hodgson when he returns from his BBC pundit's position in South Africa later this week, there is only a small window for Soho Square to act.

Less than three weeks after removing an escape clause from a contract which expires in 2012, Capello is expected to resign should England fail to secure a place in the last 16.

Hodgson's misgivings about the Liverpool job are based purely on the uncertainty in the boardroom.

Owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have put the club up for sale and Hodgson has told friends that there are "a lot of issues not just around the team, but also the ownership".

The Fulham boss is aware that the current regime are able to offer him only "limited" security and certainly not beyond their own tenure on Merseyside. A change of ownership would immediately put his future in doubt.

Nevertheless, Hodgson is willing to take up the reins at Anfield should England progress into the knockout stages of the World Cup, which would likely end any uncertainty over Capello's own position.

Hodgson is confident he can work with the resources at his disposal better than many other big-name managers and recognises that he will have to wheel and deal in the transfer market and work on a restricted budget given the club's £350 million debts.

Meanwhile, Fulham have already begun to explore the possibility of lining up a replacement for Hodgson.

Goal.com UK can also confirm that Sven-Goran Eriksson is the London club's top target, followed by Mark Hughes.

Both managers have worked with Fulham chief executive Alistair Macintosh when he held a similar role at Manchester City.

Eriksson, whose contract as Ivory Coast boss expires at the end of the World Cup, is believed to have had a very good working relationship with Macintosh at Eastlands before both men lost their jobs in the summer of 2008.

[WhiteJC]

http://football.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/06/21/why-roy-hodgson-is-right-to-play-the-waiting-game-with-liverpool/?
Why Roy Hodgson is Right to Play The Waiting Game with Liverpool

Roy Hodgson can hardly be blamed for waiting a few days to see if the job he has long coveted will suddenly fall into his lap.

The Fulham manager's star has never been higher than right now on the back of transforming the Craven Cottage outfit from relegation certainties to European finalists in the space of just two-and-a-half years.

That, plus his background of success overseas, made him Liverpool's number one choice to succeed Rafa Benitez, who is now at Inter Milan, one of Hodgson's former employers of course.

But while the Anfield position remains one of the highest profile in the game, the club's complicated ownership issue means it is by no means as appealing as it once was.

The same could be said of the England job of course, with Fabio Capello preparing to fall on his sword should the Three Lions fail to beat Slovenia, an utterly unthinkable scenario just a few days ago.

Hodgson has already said the national team post is the only one for which he would abandon Fulham without a single qualm, although whether England's travails in South Africa have removed that particular rider remains to be seen.

But the 62-year-old is already a vastly experienced manager at international level, having steered an unfancied Switzerland side into the last 16 of the 1994 World Cup as well as adding a stint with the Finland national team to his CV before heeding Mohamed Al Fayed's emergency call from Craven Cottage in December 2007.

He and England seem to be a far more compatible match than Liverpool despite both jobs bringing with them expectation levels that far exceed any relation to recent achievement.

Al Fayed has gone on the record saying he would give Hodgson "anything he wanted" to stay at Fulham and the passport-seeking Egyptian has millions of potential transfer money burning a hole in his pocket following his lucrative disposal of the Harrods department store.

But he has already seen one manager, Kevin Keegan, depart to try to lead England to glory and Hodgson, a patriotic character, would not turn down the post if it were to be offered.

The chances are it will not be, at least not in the short space of time that exists this summer for Liverpool to make an appointment. Liverpool will probably get their man as soon as Hodgson's television punditry commitments in South Africa are fulfilled.

How odd it is, though, that they wouldn't actually be their new man's first choice.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/hughes-lined-succeed-hodgson-fulham-923161?
Hughes lined up to succeed Hodgson at Fulham

Mark Hughes is being lined up to replace Roy Hodgson at Fulham.

The News of the World says Hughes has been out of work for six months since his dismissal by Manchester City. But he has been earmarked as the successor to Hodgson at Fulham.

The former Wales chief is ready to return to work and knows that a really high-profile job is unlikely to be available once Hodgson takes up the vacancy on Merseyside.

Following their run to the Europa League final last season, Fulham want to build on the progress made under Hodgson. And owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, who sold Harrods for £1.5billion to Qatar Holdings last month, is willing to provide a new boss with transfer cash.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/fulham-edging-closer-deal-villa-midfielder-sidwell-923041?
Fulham edging closer to deal for Villa midfielder Sidwell

Fulham are closing in on a deal for Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell.

Despite concerns over the future of manager Roy Hodgson, owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, who sold Harrods for £1.5billion to Qatar Holdings last month, is willing to buy big this summer.

The News of the World says Fulham have already signed Switzerland defender Philippe Senderos from Arsenal and are close to securing Aston Villa midfielder Sidwell in a £3million deal.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11681_6218370,00.html?
Prem eyes on Gilberto
Brazil ace linked with summer move

Skysports.com understands a number of Premier League sides are keen on bringing former Arsenal ace Gilberto Silva back to England.

Silva, who has impressed during Brazil's first two games at the World Cup, could be on the move this summer.

The 33-year-old is currently plying his trade at Panathinaikos, but the Greek club could decide to offload the midfielder to ease their financial problems.

The likes of Fulham, Blackburn, Everton and Liverpool are all thought to be monitoring Gilberto's situation at Panathinaikos.

The Premier League clubs could face competition for Gilberto's signature with a host of top Serie A, Primera Liga and Bundesliga sides all tracking the South American.

[Tom]

Interesting points JC but look at the thread immediatly beow yours and that will be the norm if Roy goes. BZ, Schwarz, Hangeland, Duff, Gera and even perhaps Murph could all headi for the exit door, Murph to do his coaching badges. The next chapter as Beijing Ben says could be a return to the dark days of aspiring to 17th. I don't think any other manager in the Prem has as much influence on the playing staff. I don't mean in a success, trophy laden way but in working for an honourable man the players have excelled and had two wonderful seasons. Many of them probably never thought they would be in Hamburg playing in a european final. Roy goes and we get a transistional period. We get the new ways, the new approaches and probably the new players. Hughes might slot right in of course and I think I would applaud that move but Sven makes us a team of fancy dans and a media circus. 

We would be incredibly lucky to get anyone who could repeat what Roy has done. I think Hughes could keep us up for sure and would be more than happy to have him there. Sven has disaster written all over it. To compare the premiership with the NFL is ridiculous for me. There are a limited number of jobs available. No relegation. Anyway, let's just hope Roy stays...

+1 and 100% agree with you Ben.