Thursday Fulham Stuff (24/06/10)

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=202611
Fulham - Etuhu`s Dream Is Over!
Whilst the dream still exists for one of our players, John Pantsil, it died last night for another!

Dickson Etuhu, who had performed admirably for Nigeria in there group games could only help his side to a 2-2 draw against the plucky South Koreans.

Needing to win, Etuhu could only wince as the Everton striker, Yakubu, missed a sitter that would have put Nigeria ahead.

I was tempted to say better luck next time but with next time being four years away it doesn`t quite seem worth it.

However, we look forward to seeing the Nigerian born, but Peckham raised, Etuhu back in the white shirt of Fulham next season, once he`s had a deserved break!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=202611#ixzz0rkKr8NEM

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=202609
Fulham - Ivory Coast Player Watched!
The World Cup is where reputations can be enhanced, made or harmed.

Every four years players emerge who you`d not normally associate your team being interested in.

According to the gossip columns, Fulham are tracking one such player, the Ivory Coast midfielder,Cheik Ismael Tioti.

Tioti was part of the title winning FC Twente side and at twenty-four years of age is approaching his prime.

The gossip columns suggest that Roy Hodgson has been watching him develop over the past twelve months and that a bid, in the region of, £4 million could see a move materialise.

As usual though, there is a named rival for his signature - Birmingham City.

We`ll keep a watch in case anything happens on this one!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=202609#ixzz0rkL5zWdG

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=202615
Fulham - Sven Edging Ahead!
Lodged amongst all the other gossip locatable on the internet is one disturbing piece.

Attributed to the Daily Express, it implies that if (Sir) Roy Hodgson is lured to Anfield then Fulham Football Club favour employing Sven Goran Eriksson as his direct replacement.

Looking at our current poll, which we intend to let run for another twenty-four hours, this contradicts your current feelings that lean towards Mark Hughes.

A little worrying I`d say!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=202615#ixzz0rkLMgDNZ

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=202622
Fulham - Dempsey`s USA Come Top!
Prior to the fixture starting, Fulham`s Clint Dempsey had spoken about the possibility of settling any nerves with an early goal.

If that was the plan it went hideously wrong as, despite battering Algeria, the USA had to wait until injury time, in the second half, to get that vital winner that guaranteed them top spot.

But it should be pointed out that it was something akin to a miracle that Algeria held them at bay for so long with Clint having a good goal disallowed for offside in the first half and in the second he saw a lovely curling shot hit the post before he smashed the rebound high and wide.

Could the USA team emulate the success they had in the Confederations Cup last summer, if Clint has his way they could well do!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=202622#ixzz0rkLgZiRm

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=202634
Fulham - I'd Take Hughes
It's a difficult and very circumstantial subject to touch upon, but, it's one that is very central to Fulham right now.

I am of course talking about which manager will actually be taking us into the next season of footballing fun.

Assuming (Sir) Roy Hodgson does set off for pastures new, we will of course be left with a rather large gap to fill. Taking that into account, the media seem pretty certain that any potential race to take up the imminent vacancy will be won by either Sven-Goran Eriksson or Mark Hughes.

Whilst Eriksson does have his plus points, I certainly won't be one of the few to argue his cause, but, Hughes does seem like a very viable and plausible replacement for Hodgson.

As to what Mohammed Al-Fayed will want from a new manager, it is hard to presume. Of course he will be ambitious and will want to look for a brighter future for Fulham, yet, I'm sure he will realistically be looking for some stability too.

Our situation is, you could say, very similar to that of Middlesbrough's a few years back. Fresh from European defeat, Steve McLaren was picked up and 'Boro were left to fill what were at the time, very big boots.

McLaren's departure then triggered a downward spiral in events for the Northerners who now find themselves in the second tier of English football.

Hopefully, Mo will learn from that and will look towards the more experienced end of the managerial market, and, I believe Hughes would be the perfect man to take us onwards and upwards (or more realistically, stay where we are.)

He's a man that in truth, is difficult to assess. He's been out of the game for six or so months now and his last job was a particularly huge and scrutinised one. I, personally, feel he left the City job with his pride and dignity well intact, as, in all fairness, the blue half of Manchester were never going to achieve what their rich-beyond-belief owners thought they could.

If we look past his role at Manchester City then, we see a very respectable tenure at Blackburn Rovers. I would even go to the extent to say what he did at Blackburn very much reflects Roy's achievements here, minus a magnificent European run.

Mark Hughes took a relegation threatened side and made them top 6 candidates within a short period of time, and whilst there, he proved his eye for a bargain too.

He brought in the likes of David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz for a combined fee which falls well below £5 million pounds; much more creditable than what we paid for the lovable crock, Andy Johnson, for example.

I am not, of course, claiming Mark Hughes to be some sort of genius twin to Roy, but if we want to avoid a similar feat to that of Middlesbrough, I think we need to look at managers who share some attributes to our current legendary gaffer.

Roy has been one of the greatest things to grace our club in a fair while, so I really would say continuity is the key.

I would hire Mark Hughes any day. Anybody with me?


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=202634#ixzz0rkM0mjA3

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=202636
Fulham Offer Italian Trial
Despite rumours surrounding his job, Roy Hodgson seems keen to spend cheap on improving his squad.

It has emerged that he has offered 21-year-old Italian striker Mario Ramaglia a short trial set to start when pre-season comes around.

A virtual unknown, at least to me anyway, Ramaglia used to play for Napoli where he showed decent potential. He now plys his trade for Scafatese, a far lower ranked Italian League side.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=202636#ixzz0rkMGhgw3

[WhiteJC]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2559/rumours/2010/06/24/1992423/arsenal-close-to-deal-for-fulham-goalkeeper-mark-schwarzer-after-?
Arsenal close to deal for Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer after making £3.5 million bid - report

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to acquire Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer after coming back to their Premier League rivals with a £3.5 million offer.

The Australia international knows of the Gunners' interest in him and is keen to leave Fulham this summer, with Cottagers manager Roy Hodgsonbelieving the 37-year-old will depart, according to The Mirror.

Wenger believes that Schwarzer is the type of experienced backstop that will help improve his defence, but not impede the progress of young goalkeeping prospects the Gunners have.

Last year's first choice Manuel Almunia could be let go this summer as Arsenal are grooming Polish starlet Wojciech Szczesny to be the future number one.

Arsenal scouts attended Fulham matches at the end of the Premier League season and Wenger has personally attended his games in South Africa.

Fulham have already rejected a bid of about £3 million from Arsenal, but with the Gunners looking determined to buy Schwarzer, the Cottagers are prepared to lose their veteran goalkeeper.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/jun/23/world-cup-2010-bbc?
World Cup 2010: Something comforting about return to the BBC fold
Around the giant strobe-lit coffee table we were treated to an elite triangulation of senior punditry


Roy Hodgson, right, talking to BBC's Gabby Logan, has proved to be the best pundit on either channel. Photograph: Darren Staples/REUTERS

After the flapping, squawking, Carry On-style imbroglio of ITV's stewardship of England's bid – not, perhaps to win, but simply to exist without humiliation – at the World Cup, it fell to the BBC to curate the return to a brittle and ultimately fevered respectability. For the viewing hordes this was the first England game to fall outside the prime time hysteria of a Friday or Saturday night; and there was something comforting in this return to the quotidian, from the opening shots of Gary Lineker against a corporate-brochure Cape Town backdrop inside the BBC's strangely low-key African retreat, a studio that resembles the interior of a shi-shi suburban restaurant of the early 1990s, the kind of place that might affect a leather-quilted toilet seat.

Around the giant strobe-lit coffee table we were treated to an elite triangulation of senior punditry. Alan Hansen remains the heart of the BBC's coverage. No longer the rakish, vampiric presence of his early days, Hansen now seems desiccated, a gorgeously ruined husk. I'm not sure if he's even very interesting, but he is hugely constant and essential, like some immovable piece of austere parental furniture.

The standard pre-match time-waste was more elegantly handled than ITV's confusing rag-bag of fripperies. First up was Roy Hodgson pitch-side. Hodgson has proved to be the best pundit on either channel, relentlessly insightful and always courtly in his honourable 1960s East End bank robber-style brogue. Here he was the only person to call correctly England's formation, firm in the face of the BBC's insistence on some kind of diamond malarkey. The sole wrong turn came with an appearance by the great steaming Shakespeare-spouting ham that is Brian Blessed, a man who has if not the most annoying voice of all time, then certainly the most annoying voice yet.

Mercifully we were soon in the hands of the incumbent commentary A-lister Guy Mowbray, and hearing him shout "Jermain Defoe scores. England have the breakthrough they so desperately need!" in his special deep Important Moment Voice. There is no doubt BBC commentators no longer have the egomaniacal zeal of the John Motson-Barry Davies era. Motson lost his way the moment he became "John Motson", a self propelling personal brand. You feel Mowbray will never become "Guy Mowbray". He is simply a guy, although he did yell "Into pants when and where it most matters: Jermain Defoe!" which sounded like an admiring commentary on the Spurs man's disco-centred off-field exploits (but may in fact have been something about "pouncing").

Mowbray was squired by Mark Lawrenson, who gets more appealingly louche as he eases into a joke-free late period. Their double act is promisingly waspish. "It's called tackling Guy," Lawrenson pouted. "Oh, I'm with you." "I've noticed," came the weary reply.

Half-time was almost surreally upbeat, and perhaps even a career watershed for Alan Shearer, fidgety pre-game in crisply pressed hospital porter tunic. Shearer has previously settled into a hectoring style, coming on like the relentlessly badgering mouthpiece for some disgruntled local residents' association. "They're passing with purpose, they're passing with pace," he riffed here, and he seemed unexpectedly happy, bathed in the tangerine glow of late afternoon sun.

Still, things remained fraught and as the game wore on we were treated to increasingly frazzled close-ups of the England players, faces gnarled and mealy, drained of their usual romping, thoroughbred sheen. It was a little disturbing and you wonder if there isn't a case for pre-watershed facial pixelation during tight passages of play.

"Three minutes!" Mowbray bawled as the added time board was hoist. And for a while at the final whistle it all went slightly squiffy. "The shackles were off!" Gabby Logan yelped, having collared a wild-looking Fabio Capello. "Eh?" he snarled, wandering off. "They looked happier, they looked energised," Shearer beamed, leonine with kindly glee. The BBC have England again on Sunday – and it kind of feels right.

[WhiteJC]

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/blog/dirty-tackle/post/DTotD-Dempsey-hit-in-the-face-bleeds?urn=sow%2C250854
DTotD: Dempsey hit in the face, bleeds

Before the goal that made every injustice the U.S. suffered in its previous 180 minutes of play irrelevant, there was yet another opportunity for outrage when Clint Dempsey got smashed in the face by Algerian defender Antar Yahia. Though the hit went unnoticed by the ref, it left Dempsey with a bloody face. And when you make Clint bleed, all you do is make him angry.


"If this is my blood, everyone here is in a hump load of trouble. Yes, a hump load."
Photo: Reuters

[WhiteJC]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/arsenal-stay-fulham's-schwarzer-928081?
Arsenal stay in for Fulham's Schwarzer

Arsenal are reportedly closing in on Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

The Australian stopper has become a strong target for the Gunners who have returned to Fulham with a new bid of around £3.5million.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger wants an experienced keeper to pull together his potentially youthful defence (depending on who he releases and re-signs) and even sent scouts to watch the 37-year old in action for Australia in South Africa.

The Cottagers rejected a £3million deal from the Gunners for Schwarzer but he has apparently told Fulham he is keen to leave, especially if manager Roy Hodgson signs with Liverpool.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2559/rumours/2010/06/24/1992471/fulham-manager-roy-hodgson-flying-back-home-to-finalise-deal?
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson flying back home to finalise deal to become new Liverpool boss - report

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is flying back to England hoping to seal the deal to become Liverpool's next manager.

Hodgson was the most likely candidate to replace England manager Fabio Capello if the Three Lions had crashed out of the World Cup on Wednesday and the Italian was forced to resign.

The Cottagers manager has been the Reds number one target to replace Rafael Benitez, who left Anfield to lead Inter Milan next season, and Liverpool made an official move for Hodgson last week, according to The Mirror.

Negotiations between Hodgson and Liverpool have stalled as the Fulham boss is currently working as a BBC pundit at the World Cup.

However, Hodgson is returning to England to complete his move to Liverpool, with club officials planning to announce the deal within the next two days.

Liverpool have talked to numerous candidates including Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill, former Real Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini and Alex McLeish of Birmingham City.

Reds legend Kenny Dalglish and managing director Christian Purslow were given the responsibility of finding a new manager and the two decided that Hodgson was the best choice for Liverpool.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/fulham-offer-eriksson-bumper-transfer-kitty-succeed-hodgson-928801?
Fulham to offer Eriksson bumper transfer kitty to succeed Hodgson

Ivory Coast coach Sven Goran Eriksson is Fulham's favoured choice to replace Roy Hodgson.

The Daily Express says Fulham will attempt to lure Eriksson to Craven Cottage if Roy Hodgson decides to jump ship by promising a bumper transfer kitty funded by last month's sale of Harrods.

Chairman Mohamed Al Fayed banked £1.5 billion from the sale of his flagship Knightsbridge store in early May. But he is understood to be prepared to provide significant funds to lure Eriksson.

Hodgson is hot favourite to land the vacant position as Liverpool manager. But he is also leading the candidates to succeed Fabio Capello as England boss should he be relieved of his post.

Understandably, he is waiting until after the World Cup to make his decision.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.imscouting.com/global-news-article/Arsenal-make-increased-bid-for-Fulham-keeper-Schwarzer/8481/?
Arsenal make increased bid for Fulham keeper Schwarzer

The Gunners have been linked with Schwarzer for several weeks and it is understood that Arsene Wenger had an original offer turned down.  At the time, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Woord said, "We certainly have made an inquiry for him (Schwarzer) and they (Fulham) are not prepared to sell him, so we have gone away."

However, the Daily Mirror reports this morning that Arsenal have returned with a renewed bid.  Wenger believes that Schwarzer could provide the experience and solidity which was often absent at the back for Arsenal last season.  However, Schwarzer is equally not a long-term prospect and would not hinder the progress of young Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who is highly rated at the Emirates Stadium.

There are big question marks over the Arsenal futures of both Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski , both of whom looked suspect in goal for Arsenal at times last season.  Schwarzer on the other hand enjoyed an excellent season, playing 52 games as Fulham reached the Europa League final.  The Australian stopper has also been on World Cup duty in South Africa.

[WhiteJC]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_40
Australia 2-1 Serbia

Australia produced a rousing second-half display to knock Serbia out of the World Cup - but it was not quite enough for the Socceroos to sensationally earn a place in the round of 16.

A Tim Cahill header and a searing long-range strike from substitute Brett Holman ensured that at one point Pim Verbeek's side were two goals away from snatching second place in Group D.

However, that berth was ultimately claimed by Ghana, who lost 1-0 to Germany to finish level on Australia with four points but who go through by virtue of their superior goal difference.

As the clock ticked down it seemed as though the momentum of the contest had swung firmly in the favour of the green and gold but their hopes of emulating their exploits in 2006 by progressing from their group were effectively ended when substitute Marko Pantelic pulled a goal back for Serbia after 84 minutes.

In the end it was a disappointing night for both sides, with the Socceroos left to rue the damage done to their campaign by the 4-0 thrashing they sustained in their opening game against Germany.

And in many ways it was even more agonising for Serbia, who finished the match one goal away from snatching second place away from Ghana.

A draw would have taken Serbia on to four points and above Ghana on goals scored.

That almost happened in the dying seconds of what ended up as an absorbing end-to-end contest but Pantelic smashed a cross from the right wide of the target.

Many people had tipped Serbia to be a surprise package in the tournament - a school of thought given further weight after they defeated Germany in their second game.

And in the first half at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit there seemed little doubt that they would win the contest after producing a performance of attacking intent against an off-colour Australia.

Milos Krasic operated on the right flank, directly in front of the bulk of the Australia supporters during an opening 45 minutes that saw them boo him every time he touched the ball.

They were incensed by what they thought was a blatant attempt to win an early penalty after the CSKA Moscow player went down in the Socceroos area as he tussled with Carl Valeri.

But it had little impact on Krasic's performance as Serbia, with swift, precise passing, kept their dogged opponents on the back foot.

Mark Schwarzer was clearly Australia's best player as he palmed an early Krasic strike around the post and made a sensational one-handed save to thwart Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.

Raddy Antic's side occasionally had only themselves to blame for not taking the lead, as Krasic really should have found the net after collecting an inch-perfect threaded pass from Zdravko Kuzmanovic and rounding Schwarzer, but he shot over.

Australia, with their tall target man Josh Kennedy a peripheral figure, created precious little in the opening half; Cahill, returning after suspension, headed wide while Kennedy at least drew a save from Vladimir Stojkovic with a weak effort.

It looked as though Verbeek's tenure as Australia boss was going to end tamely but his side showed great spirit after the interval, even if opportunities initially remained at a premium.

Jason Culina shot wide from long range, while Marco Bresciano drew two saves from Stojkovic, the second of them a rasping effort from 20 yards.

However, the complexion of the contest changed irreversibly when Cahill brilliantly headed Australia in front from a right-wing cross.

Germany had taken the lead against Ghana by that stage - and when Holman's sensational long-range strike defeated Stojkovic the atmosphere generated by the considerable Australia following was sensational.

Serbia, who failed to reproduce their first-half form, pulled a goal back through Pantelic after a rare error from Schwarzer, who spilled a long-range strike from Zoran Tosic.

Antic's team wanted a penalty for a handball against Cahill but they only had themselves to blame for failing to score a second when Pantelic missed.

[WhiteJC]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_39
Ghana 0-1 Germany

Germany set up a World Cup last-16 contest with England as Mesut Ozil's stunning strike proved enough to earn victory over Ghana, who also qualified from Group D.

Ozil settled an entertaining affair in the second half with a wonderful, dipping volley from outside the box to ensure it would be the Germans who face Fabio Capello's men in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

In a game that swung from end-to-end, at breakneck speed at times, Ghana wasted some fine chances, but the African side go through as group runners-up, thanks to Australia's surprise victory over Serbia, and they will now face USA in Rustenburg on Saturday.

Going into the game Ghana only needed a point to be sure of progressing, but they came up against a German team desperate to put their shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of Serbia in their last match behind them.

Knowing a win would set up a clash with old rivals England, Germany played with great tempo and after Cacau shot at Richard Kingson, Lucas Podolski went close with a deflected volley that flew narrowly wide of the target.

But Ghana weathered the early storm and eventually asserted their own style on proceedings. They were content to let Germany have a lot of the ball and hit them on the break when they won it back and their pace soon began to cause problems.

Asamoah Gyan should have done better with a shot that was superbly blocked by the tireless Bastain Schweinsteiger before Kevin-Prince Boateng played in Gyan, only for the striker's touch to let him down at the crucial moment.

After Ozil rolled a tame shot at Kingson from the right-hand side of the Ghana box it was the Africans who twice went close again when Gyan's goal-bound header from a corner was cleared off the line by Philipp Lahm and then Boateng glanced across the face of goal from Andre Ayew's centre.

Germany knew raced out of the blocks after the interval, aware that Serbia and Australia were goalless at the break and a Serbia goal could send Germany out.

After Asamoah spurned a rare Ghana break into the Germany half by shooting at Manuel Neuer, Ozil produced his match-winning moment.

The gifted playmaker had endured a frustrating evening up to that point, but when the ball fell to him just outside the penalty area, he set himself up and then crashed a glorious left-footed effort past Kingson's fruitless dive.

Now Ghana had most to lose and they tried to hit back immediately as Prince Tagoe's goalbound header at the far post drew a superb block from Jerome Boateng - the German defender who was playing against his brother, Kevin, in a first for the World Cup.

Ghana continued to press and Gyan's backheel exquisitely set up Ayew only for Lahm to get in a last-ditch goal-saving challenge, and Germany eased through the closing stages without looking unduly troubled.

Even after the final whistle blew, there were some nervous moments for Ghana as they waited for the result from Nelspruit, but in the end they had done enough to secure Africa's first place in the next round.

[WhiteJC]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_38
USA 1-0 Algeria

Landon Donovan's dramatic stoppage-time goal secured a narrow victory over Algeria and fired the United States into the last 16 of the World Cup as group winners.

The US were on the brink of going out of the competition when Donovan followed up a sharp save from goalkeeper Raid Ouheb M'bolhi in the 92nd minute to smash the ball home.

Until that moment it had been a story of inspired saves from M'bolhi, poor American finishing and a lineman's error, which denied Clint Dempsey a goal in the first half.

But Donovan's late intervention delivered a deserved victory, which pushed England into second place in Group C on goals scored following their 1-0 victory over Slovenia.

The Algerians, who would have been going out even with a draw, had captain Anther Yahia sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the dying moments.

The first meeting between the teams came alive after five minutes when an Algerian long ball was totally missed by Jay DeMerit on its way through to Rafik Djebbour, who chested it down before volleying against the bar.

Moments later, at the other end, a long-range strike from US striker Hercules Gomez was pushed aside by M'bolhi.

Watched by former US president Bill Clinton, the Americans became more dominant as the half wore on and should have taken the lead after 20 minutes when Dempsey's effort was harshly ruled out for offside.

First Donovan's shot was brilliantly saved by M'bolhi but when the ball rebounded to the attacker, he quickly squared it to Dempsey, who turned it into the net, only to see his celebrations thwarted by the linesman's flag.

Dempsey went close again before Jozy Altidore missed the clearest opening of the half, blazing wastefully over the bar from five yards.

Algeria, who qualified for the finals via a play-off victory over Egypt, showed plenty of promise in their build-up play, only for most of their attacks to fizzle out on the edge of the penalty area.

The second half began in a similar manner with the Americans on the front foot and once again it was Dempsey who could have broken the deadlock.

Fed by Altidore, his first effort crashed back off the post, and his second was slashed wildly wide with left foot.

Knowing that a victory would send them through, US coach Bob Bradley threw on attackers Edson Buddle and Benny Feilhaber, whose low shot was saved by the legs of M'bolhi.

With the Americans committed to attack, Algeria began to threaten on the break and Karim Ziani flashed a low shot wide when well-placed inside the box.

But just as the Americans appeared to be running out of steam, the winning goal finally arrived.

Altidore raced clear down the right and crossed for Dempsey, whose point-blank effort was parried by the goalkeeper. The loose ball rolled into the path of Donovan, who made no mistake from six yards to send the American players and fans into raptures.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Liverpool-set-to-tie-up-deal-for-Roy-Hodgson-to-become-new-manager-in-next-48-hours-article490241.html
Liverpool set to tie up Hodgson deal

Roy Hodgson flies back from the World Cup today, hoping to tie up a deal to become Liverpool's new boss.

The Fulham manager was favourite to succeed Fabio Capello if England had lost yesterday and the Italian was forced to quit.

Hodgson is Liverpool's No.1 target to replace Rafa Benitez and the Anfield board rubber-stamped an official move for him last Friday.

Talks have been held up by Hodgson's role as a BBC TV pundit in South Africa.

But with the experienced boss due back in London this evening, club officials expect to make an official announcement in the next 48 hours.

Liverpool have interviewed several candidates for the job, including Martin O'Neill, Manuel Pellegrini and Alex McLeish, with Reds legend Kenny Dalglish and MD Christian Purslow holding secret meetings over the past three weeks.

But they swiftly settled on Hodgson as the best candidate and have been waiting for him to return to thrash out contract details.

Yossi Benayoun's intended departure to Chelsea should be completed by the end of the week, with the £5million fee added to an initial transfer kitty of £15m.

And with £35m-rated Javier Mascherano agitating for a move, with both Barcelona and Inter Milan interested, Hodgson could have nearly £50m to spend.

[Tom]

I am so sick of this liverpool b#llshit! Roy is not going anywhere people!!!

[finnster01]

Don't forget his wife is a scouser and we all know about who wears the real trousers in the house...

[Tom]

Don't forget his wife is a scouser and we all know about who wears the real trousers in the house...

He isn't going anywhere finnster! He is not going to jump on a sinking ship, he is smarter than that. We are building something special here and he knows that.