Sunday Fulham Stuff 18.07.10

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http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=809106&sec=england&cc=5739

Jol agrees terms with Fulham - reports

Martin Jol appears set to be announced as Fulham's new manager no later than Monday after the Ajax boss agreed terms with the Premier League club, British reports claim.


Martin Jol: Steered Ajax to the Champions League last season

Jol had assumed favouritism in the race to replace Roy Hodgson, as Soccernet revealed on Wednesday, and widespread reports indicate that the Dutchman has agreed to a deal worth around £1.5 million a year to swap Amsterdam for London.

The Fulham team leaves for a 10-day pre-season training camp in Sweden on Monday, so it's expected Jol will be unveiled before they fly out of England. In addition to agreeing terms with Jol, Fulham would have to negotiate a compensation package for Ajax, since the coach had a year to run on his contract there.

Even though Ajax will play in this season's Champions League, reports claim Jol was concerned the club's financial troubles could see its World Cup stars, including Martin Stekelenburg, Luis Suarez and Gregory van der Wiel, sold against his will. It's also believed Jol was keen to return to the Premier League, where he managed Tottenham with some success between 2004 and 2007.

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http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/880326/KONCHESKY-EMERGES-AS-REDS-OPTION.html

KONCHESKY EMERGES AS REDS OPTION


Hodgson reluctant to raid former club


KONCHESKY: Fulham full-back in action
By Chris Bascombe
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LIVERPOOL are trying to prioritise English recruits to fill more stringent UEFA criteria.

Fulham left-back Paul Konchesky has emerged as a possible target, even though Roy Hodgson is reluctant to raid his old club.

There will be no recognised full-back at Anfield once Emiliano Insua completes a £5million move to Fiorentina this week.

"A deal has been struck with Fiorentina," admitted Hodgson. "We wish him well for the rest of his career and thank him for his time spent at Liverpool.

"I am expecting him to join Fiorentina next week."

Konchesky, 29, has just a year left on his Craven Cottage deal and would be available for a cut-price fee of around £2m.

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http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/879987/JOHNSON-FLIES-OUT-TO-SEE-STEADMAN.html

JOHNSON FLIES OUT TO SEE STEADMAN

Fresh problems for Fulham forward


JOHNSON: More injury strife
17/07/2010

ANDY JOHNSON will fly to Denver this week for another consultation with renowned knee surgeon Dr Richard Steadman.

Johnson had been back in pre-season training with his Fulham team-mates and thought he was over his problems, but broke down last week.

Steadman, who performed surgery on his knee last February, will now conduct another exploratory operation on the £35,000 -a-week Fulham striker, who has not played for the club since aggravating the problem against Blackburn in January.

The 29-year-old former Everton and Crystal Palace forward will be in the company of Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who is visiting Steadman again after struggling to overcome tendinitis in both knees.

Hargreaves made just one appearance for United last season, as a substitute at Sunderland in May, and has no return date set.

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http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/880518/SOUTHGATE-ON-ENGLAND-SHORTLIST.html

SOUTHGATE ON ENGLAND SHORTLIST

Capello to groom six ex-internationals


SOUTHGATE: Candidate identified by FA

By Neil Ashton
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FABIO CAPELLO will recruit six former England internationals as part of the FA's target to appoint a homegrown boss in 2012.

The Italian coach has agreed to groom ex-England players for a shot at his job after the European Championship.

FA bosses have stipulated that the potential candidates must have a UEFA ProLicence to stand a chance of working with the current England chief.

Gareth Southgate, fired by Middlesbrough last season, is the highest-profile name on a short list of potential successors.

Southgate has always maintained national teams should be managed by people from their own country and that argument has added credibility after England's disastrous World Cup.

Capello will be the last foreign boss of the national team as the FA board attempt to find an Englishman capable of leading the country into a exciting new era.

FA chiefs are determined to appoint an English manager when Capello's contract expires in 2012 and have vowed never to go foreign again.

Despite FA backing for the Italian coach for Euro 2012, he is unlikely to stay beyond the terms of his existing contract.

Capello has also agreed to name an experimental squad for next month's friendly at Wembley against Hungary.

Everton duo Phil Jagielka and Jack Rodwell, Arsenal starlet Jack Wilshere, along with Newcastle striker Andy Carroll and Fulham's Bobby Zamora, are all in the frame.

Capello agreed to various demands from the FA board following the shambolic World Cup and will help to groom his successor.

Yesterday he asked for the statistics on his Capello Index to be taken offline to avoid further embarrassment.

An FA statement insisted: "The index ratings had not been seen or approved by Mr Capello, were published without his knowledge and.. his representatives have taken immediate steps to have the material taken down."

One of the key complaints among England players during the disastrous World Cup in South Africa was Capello's lack of passion.

They believe the Italian was too detached from the English players and that was among a number of reasons for their lacklustre performances.

Capello and FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking will identify potential candidates in the coming months.

The FA board met last week and have stressed that Capello's potential successor must hold a UEFA ProLicence at the very minimum.


CAPELLO: Will groom successor
Incredibly, Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce is still in the frame after Capello backed him during the board meeting.

Despite reservations from a number of players during the World Cup about Pearce's ability, Capello seems convinced he has what it takes.

All the top nations appoint homegrown managers for the national team and England will follow suit after the European Championships.

Although World Cup winners Spain and finalists Holland have had foreign coaches in the past, their success has always been with a manager from their own country.

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Martin Jol turns his back on Ajax to join Fulham after irresistible offer from Mohamed Al Fayed

By ALEX MONTGOMERY Last updated at 9:23 PM on 17th July 2010

Martin Jol is on his way back to London and the Premier League as the new manager of Fulham.

The Dutchman has succumbed to Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed's considerable powers of persuasion and decided to quit Ajax for Craven Cottage.

Jol's appointment as Roy Hodgson's successor is scheduled to be confirmed on Monday and is a major coup for Fayed.

It had been felt Fulham could not compete with Jol's £2m wages at Ajax, but Fayed has made an offer the 54-year-old former Tottenham boss could not resist, including supplying the finance to compete for new players, while Ajax are considering selling two of their World Cup stars, Luis Suarez and Gregory van der Wiel.

One of the first of these arrivals could be Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has the same agent as Jol and is on his way out of Barcelona.

Jol's decision was greeted with surprise in Holland, where his team finished just behind Steve McClaren's FC Twente in the Dutch League despite a goal difference of more than 100.

'No one here can understand how you leave Ajax for a club like Fulham,' said a source in Holland. 'It is shocking to us. We recognise the English club want to progress, we accept they were Europa League finalists and we know they are right that Jol can maintain their run of success.

'But Ajax are a club with a reputation as one of Europe's greatest, past and present and in the future. To walk away from such a club at such a time is an extraordinary decision.'

Jol was a late entry for the job after Hodgson's move to Liverpool, with former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson and Switzerland's German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld the favourites while USA World Cup coach Bob Bradley was also in the frame.

But Fayed had his eyes firmly on the Dutchman, who was controversially forced out of Spurs in 2007 after guiding them to successive fifth places.

Jol has become increasingly frustrated by a lack of spending money and Ajax demands that they sell his best players.

The Amsterdam club have suffered what for them was a massive loss in excess of £20million last season and claimed the only way they can recover financial stability is by weakening the squad through player sales.

In the past two weeks, Jol has looked on as Ajax entertained a £20million approach from Bayern Munich for Van der Wiel while letting Denmark winger Dennis Rommedahl move to Olympiakos. It had been made clear that he could lose Uruguay hit-man Suarez in the next few days.

Jol, who kept the home he bought during his time at White Hart Lane, said: 'The board told me that everything was going to be all right. But it clearly is not. To me that is a big disappointment.'

Striker Bobby Zamora tapped in the equaliser to earn Fulham a 1-1 draw in a friendly at Bournemouth on Saturday.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1295626/Martin-Jol-turns-Ajax-join-Fulham-Mohamed-Al-Fayed-meets-Dutchmans-wage-demands.html#ixzz0tykDYij9

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Begrudgingly the little toerag is still Fulham news!

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/880479/BULLARD-BREAKTHROUGH-FOR-CELTIC.html

BULLARD BREAKTHROUGH FOR CELTIC


BULLARD: On his way to Celtic

By John McGarry, 17/07/2010

JIMMY BULLARD is poised to be Celtic boss Neil Lennon's sixth summer signing after agreeing a sweetener to leave Hull for a season.

He could now be joined by Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni as the replacement for Artur Boruc.

Bullard's move took a huge step forward when he agreed a five-figure sum with the Championship side to come north to Glasgow.

Hull claimed Bullard was digging in for his £45,000-a-week salary to be paid in ADDITION to the £30,000-a-week he'd pick up at Celtic.

Now, having dropped those outrageous demands, the 31-year-old has cleared the way to join the Glasgow giants.

It's understood Celtic will pay half of the former Fulham midfielder's wages after fending off late interest from Blackburn and Bolton.

Meanwhile, Bullard could be joined at Pakhead by former Dundee keeper Speroni.

Preston's Andy Lonergan and Coventry's Keiran Westwood are also on the radar but former Dark Blues hero Speroni tops Lennon's wanted list.

[White Noise]

Lewington wants big-name boss

Published 19:51 17/07/10

By Pa Sports



Fulham caretaker boss Ray Lewington claims he is still in the dark over Roy Hodgson's successor, but is confident the club will be able to attract a "top-drawer" manager to Craven Cottage.

Ajax manager Martin Jol is now said to be the front-runner for the job, while others linked to the post include former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson and two-time Champions League-winning coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.

"We don't know if it's Martin Jol. It's just another name that has been plucked out of the air as far as we are concerned.," Lewington said: "What I do know is that they are going to try to go for a top-drawer manager. We are a big club and we should be attracting a big-name manager now."

Jol would represent a major coup if he made the move, as the former Tottenham boss would need to turn his back on the chance of Champions League football with Ajax this coming season.

But Lewington, who took charge of the Cottagers' second pre-season friendly on Saturday at Bournemouth, says he has no idea who Hodgson's successor will be, although he is confident the new Liverpool boss' legacy will enable the club to attract a manager of the highest calibre.

"I really don't know if I'll be in charge for the Sweden tour. All I know is that I'm in charge up until the new manager is appointed," added the former Watford boss.

"We go for the top now. Having had Roy, you need to bring in someone of that stature to match him."

Fulham's second pre-season friendly since Hodgson's departure saw the Cottagers struggle to a 1-1 draw with npower League One side Bournemouth at Dean Court.

Despite including nine of the players that lost to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final, the team's performance was a lot poorer than the one that saw them hammer Brentford 5-0 at Griffin Park on Wednesday.



Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Lewington-wants-big-name-boss-article529725.html#ixzz0tymWBSLk
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http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/85/england/2010/07/17/2030301/wenger-expects-gallas-and-silvestre-to-leave-arsenal

Wenger Expects Gallas And Silvestre To Leave Arsenal
Gunners boss also plays down talk of move for Fulham's Schwarzer.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expects defenders William Gallas and Mickael Silvestre to leave the Emirates, but has also played down talks of signing Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Both Gallas and Silvestre are out of contract at the Gunners and have yet to decide on their futures.

In recent times, Gallas has been linked to Serie A club Juventus, while Silvestre has been touted for a move to Spanish outfit Malaga.

It is believed Sol Campbell's future is also in doubt and Wenger has hinted the trio will leave the Emirates in the coming weeks.

"I believe that Gallas and Silvestre will sign somewhere else," Wenger told Sky Sports. "Sol Campbell is still in no man's land at the moment."

Arsenal have also been linked to goalkeeper Schwarzer but when asked about whether he was interested in such a deal happening, Wenger responded with "not really."

He added: "We are still looking at various situations, but I would not like to come out on any individuals."

Wenger is yet to decide on his first choice 'keeper for the start of the season after Manuel Almunia missed the pre-season friendly win at Barnet on Saturday.

He continued: "At the moment, in pre-season, there is no No.1 - you have to give a chance to everyone to show how good he is. You cannot decide that today."

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oSOUmahVDU&eurl=http://www.footytube.com/video/afc-bournemouth-fulham-jul17-51900&feature=player_embedded#!

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http://blogs.soccernet.com/onthemove/archives/2010/07/latest_transfer_gossip_july_17_2.php

12.12 BST: Reader Brad has updated us on the latest transfer news coming out of New Zealand, with a couple of the All Whites' World Cup players apparently attracting Premier League attention:

"News from the New Zealand front. According to multiple media companies, Fulham are rather interested in striker Shane Smeltz, although no further details have been disclosed, and The Gunners are looking at defender Winston Reid, who scored the famous equaliser against Slovakia, but again, no more has been heard."

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http://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/129877-liverpool-fc-target-fulhams-paul-konchesky-to-replace-emiliano-insua.html

Liverpool FC target Fulham's Paul Konchesky to replace Emiliano Insua
by Richard Buxton. Published Sat 17 Jul 2010 23:16, Last updated: 2010-07-17


Fulham defender Paul Konchesky has emerged as a surprise target for Liverpool.

Roy Hodgson is planning to return to his former club in a bid to lure the 28-year-old to Anfield to fill the gaping hole in the left-back position set to be left by Emilano Insua's impending departure.

The Kop boss expects the Argentina international, 21, to complete his switch to Fiorentina next week after an undisclosed fee was agreed between the two clubs earlier today.

"A deal has been struck with Fiorentina," he revealed.

"We wish him well for the rest of his career and thank him for his time spent at Liverpool.

"I am expecting him to join Fiorentina next week."

Konchesky was strongly linked with a move to Merseyside in summer 2002 during his days at Charlton Athletic but moved to West Ham United in 2005 following a brief a loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur.

During his two-year stint with the Hammers he reached the 2006 FA Cup final where he scored against the Reds in the pulsating clash but was denied by Pepe Reina during the penalty shoot-out.

He also featured in 10 of Fulham's Europa League outings last season including their final defeat to Atletico Madrid in Hamburg.

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http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2010/07/17/2030289/ajax-manager-martin-jol-could-join-fulham-on-monday-after-al

Ajax manager Martin Jol could join Fulham on Monday after Al-Fayed offer - report
17 Jul 2010 23:54:00

Ajax boss Martin Jol is on the verge of returning to England as the new Fulham manager, according to the Daily Mail.

It is believed the Dutchman has been persuaded by Cottagers owner Mohamed Al-Fayed's offer and Jol could be named as Roy Hodgson's successor as early as Monday.

This would be seen as a major coup for Al Fayed as it was reported that Fulham could not match Jol's £2 million wages at Ajax.

But it now seems that he has made a sizeable offer to the former Tottenham manager with guarantees of supplying money to compete for new players.

The Mail has also claimed sources in Holland are shocked by the move especially with Ajax on the brink of the Champions League.

Jol emerged as a late entry for the vacant position at Fulham after the departure of Hodgson to Liverpool, with Sven Goran Eriksson, Ottmar Hitzfeld and USA coach Bob Bradley also in the frame.

It is also believed that Jol has become frustrated by the lack of spending money at Ajax and the likelihood of selling his best players such as Uruguayan international Luis Suarez and Holland's Gregory Van Der Wiel.

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http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/187524/Football-transfers-2010

ASTON VILLA: ROBBIE Keane, wanted on loan by Celtic for another season, is poised to open talks with Aston Villa this week about a £6million move from Tottenham to Villa Park. Fulham are watching the situation.

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http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/187521/Bobby-Zamor-back-in-business-at-Craven-Cottage

BOBBY ZAMOR BACK IN BUSINESS AT CRAVEN COTTAGE

BOBBY Zamora showed why Martin Jol will be desperate to keep him when the former Tottenham manager takes over at Craven Cottage next week.
Jol has agreed to quit as Ajax to return to the Premier League as new Fulham boss.
Zamora's first appearance since hobbling out of Fulham's Europa League Final defeat to Athletico Madrid in May provides an early boost for the Dutchman.
England hopeful Zamora, wanted by Birmingham and Aston Villa, marked his comeback from ankle surgery with a goal to at least preserve Fulham's unbeaten pre-season record.
Fulham were trailing to Anton Robinson's stunning 20-yard volley when Zamora tapped home from close range 19 minutes before half-time after outmuscling Bournemouth goalkeeper Shwan Jalal.
Zamora was replaced by Eddie Johnson during the interval and Fulham never posed the same threat without last season's top-scorer.

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http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/transfers-whats-happening-at-your-topflight-club-2029327.html

Fulham

Key signings: Jonathan Greening (West Bromwich), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal, both free).

In the pipeline: Robbie Keane.

What they need: A centre-forward and a ball-winning midfielder.



Arsenal

Key signings: Marouane Chamakh (Bordeaux, free), Laurent Koscielny (Lorient, £8.5m).

In the pipeline: Joe Cole, Mark Schwarzer.

What they need: Experienced and reliable goalkeeper, ditto in midfield, and a back-up central defender.

Aston Villa

Key signings: None.

In the pipeline: Aiden McGeady, Scott Parker.

What they need: Players to bolster their threadbare squad.

Birmingham City

Key signings: Ben Foster (Man Utd, £6m), Nikola Zigic (Valencia, £6m).

In the pipeline: Nathaniel Clyne, Moussa Dembele.

What they need: An attacking midfielder to feed towering Zigic.

Blackburn Rovers

Key signing: Hugo Fernandez (Union Deportivo Cornella).

In the pipeline: James Beattie

What they need: A target man.

Blackpool

Key signing: Dekel Keinan (Maccabi Haifa, free).

In the pipeline: Malaury Martin, DJ Campbell.

What they need: At least nine players if Ian Holloway's team are to cope.

Bolton Wanderers

Key signings: Martin Petrov (Man City) and Robbie Blake (Burnley, both free).

In the pipeline: Jack Wilshire (loan), Paul Scharner.

What they need: A centre-forward, and a quality defender.

Chelsea

Key signings: Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool, £5.5m) and Matej Delac (Inter Zapresic, £2.7m).

In the pipeline: Fernando Torres.

What they need: Need to gradually rebuild, and buy promising younger players to replace ageing team.

Everton

Key signings: Jermaine Beckford (Leeds, free), Joao Silva (Desportivo Das Aves, undisclosed) and Jan Mucha (Legia, Warsaw, free).

In the pipeline: Nedum Onuoha.

What they need: Cover at centre-back, a Landon Donovan lookalike.

Fulham

Key signings: Jonathan Greening (West Bromwich), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal, both free).

In the pipeline: Robbie Keane.

What they need: A centre-forward and a ball-winning midfielder.

Liverpool

Key signings: Milan Jovanic (Standard Liège, free), Jonjo Shelvey (Charlton, £1.7m).

In the pipeline: Maynor Figueroa, Joe Cole.

What they need: An experienced left-back and cover everywhere.

Manchester City

Key signings: Yaya Touré (Barcelona, £28m), David Silva (Valencia, £25m), Jérôme Boateng (Hamburg, £11m).

In the pipeline: James Milner, Edin Dzeko, David Suarez.

What they need: A world-class striker and an experienced centre-back.

Manchester United

Key signings: Javier Hernandez (Chivas, £6m), Chris Smalling (Fulham, £10m).

In the pipeline: Mario Balotelli, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

What they need: An attacking winger, and a right-back wouldn't go amiss.

Newcastle United

Key signing: James Perch (Nottm Forest, £1.5m).

In the pipeline: Dan Gosling.

What they need: Two defenders, a midfielder and a striker.

Stoke City

Key signing: Florent Cuvelier (Portsmouth).

In the pipeline: Victor Obinna (Inter).

What they need: Defensive midfielder, a forward to inject pace.

Sunderland

Key signings: Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul, undisclosed), Simon Mignolet (Sint Truidense, £2m), Ahmed Al-Muhammadi (ENPPI, loan).

In the pipeline: Sol Campbell, Nedum Onuoha.

What they need: A centre-back, and a midfielder to replace Lorik Cana.

Tottenham Hotspur

Key signing: Sandro (Internacional, £6m).

In the pipeline: Luis Fabiano, Joe Cole.

What they need: A top midfielder.

West Bromwich Albion

Key signings: Steven Reid (Blackburn), Pablo Ibanez (Atletico Madrid, free), Gabriel Tamas (Auxerre, £800,000).

In the pipeline: David N'Gog.

What they need: A stronger defence.

West Ham United

Key signings: Thomas Hitzlsperger (Lazio, free), Pablo Barrera (UNAM Pumas, £4m), Frédéric Piquonne (Lyon, £1m).

In the pipeline: Loïc Rémy.

What they need: Full-backs, a centre-half, a midfielder and a striker.

Wigan Athletic

Key signings: Mauro Boseli (Estudiantes), Antolin Alcaraz (Bruges, both undisclosed).

In the pipeline: David N'Gog.

What they need: A goalscorer and a couple of full-backs.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Key signings: Steven Fletcher (Burnley, £6.5m), Stephen Hunt (Hull, £3m), Steven Mouyokolo (Hull, £2.5m), Jelle van Damme (Andelecht, £2.5m).

In the pipeline: James Beattie.

What they need: A midfielder and a couple of strikers.

James Orr

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http://www.teamtalk.co.za/premier-league/6268357/Cole-offered-bumper-Reds-deal-Report

Cole offered bumper Reds deal - Report

Roy Hodgson has reportedly offered Joe Cole a bumper £90,000 a week in a bid to make the midfielder his first signing as Liverpool boss.

Hodgson is working with under a strict budget at Anfield and most of the transfers his summer are likely to be outgoing ones, with Emiliano Insua the latest fringe player set to be moved on.

Hodgson has vowed to fend off any interest for Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, however, and although Javier Mascherano could move on, his aim is to strengthen his first XI.

Cole has already attracted interest from Arsenal and Tottenham this summer and the Reds may face a battle to lure him north, but the News of the World claims his representatives have met with Liverpool officials.

The Merseysides hope a significant signing on fee and the promise of guaranteed first-team football could persuade Cole to sign the three-year contract on the table.

It is also claimed Hodgson could make a move for Fulham's Paul Konchesky to replace the outgoing Insua.

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http://www.caughtoffside.com/2010/07/18/fulham-to-choose-new-boss-next-week-two-experienced-names-in-the-frame/

Fulham to Choose New Boss Next Week: Two Experienced Names in the Frame

Having lost Roy Hodgson to Liverpool the west London club have a tough decision to make. Having made solid progress under the vastly experienced Croydon born boss Fulham now seem set on opting for two foreign bosses with great track records, but who should they opt for?
Sven Goran Eriksson has been there and done it all over the world although his managerial record since leaving the England post has been patchy at best. In his one season at the City of Manchester Stadium the Swede worked wonders, achieving a ninth place finish, which was a marked improvement on the two previous seasons when Man City had flirted with relegation. Perhaps more importantly he helped his side to two derby victories in one season, the first time this had been achieved since 1970.
He then got the sack, a decision that the supporters were rightly unhappy about, and then followed a poor stint as Mexico boss and an ill fated association with Notts County. The 62 year old then found himself as Ivory Coast coach for the 2010 World Cup, and that too didn't go quite according to plan with the African nation crashing out at the first hurdle. Eriksson does however fit the profile the club may be looking for. And he could be seen very much as a Swedish version of Roy Hodgson.
Option two is Martin Jol. A manager with a little less in the way of experience but someone who has had real success in the Premier League. In three full seasons as Tottenham boss the Dutchman managed to guide the north London club to two fifth place finishes and but for a dodgy meal the night before the last game of the season, he may well have secured a Champions League spot. He was, like Sven, rather harshly dumped by the Premier League club and after a brief spell out of the game he accepted the position at Hamburg and in his first, and only, season he guided the club to fifth spot in the Bundesliga and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup.
He then left to take the Ajax job and came within a whisker of helping the Amsterdam side to their first domestic title in six years.
The Cottagers have a tough decision to make, but arguably both targets are well capable of continuing the good work that Hodgson put in.

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/18/2957036.htm?site=sport&section=football

Wenger 'not really' keen on Schwarzer
Posted July 18, 2010 18:00:00


Unlikely gunner ... Mark Schwarzer (File photo) (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
Mark Schwarzer's mooted move to Arsenal is looking unlikely after manager Arsene Wenger indicated the club was no longer interested in the Socceroos shot stopper.

Arsenal has been linked with a four-million pound ($7 million) move to sign the 37-year-old from Fulham after reportedly having an initial two-million pound ($3.5 million) bid rejected.

Wenger was asked after Saturday's 4-0 friendly win at Barnet if he was interested in signing Schwarzer but replied: "Not really. We are still looking at various situations, but I would not like to come out on any individuals.

"At the moment, in preseason, there is no number one - you have to give a chance to everyone to show how good he is. You cannot decide that today."

Schwarzer is believed to be very keen to make the cross-London switch and join one of the Premier League's biggest clubs.

But despite months of speculation and an impressive showing at the World Cup in South Africa, his hopes look set to be dashed.

Schwarzer is one of several top goalkeepers to have been linked with the club since reports Wenger was keen to sign a new first-choice number one following erratic performances from Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski last season.

Fulham is reportedly set to announce former Tottenham manager Martin Jol as its new manager following Roy Hodgson's move to Liverpool.

Jol is likely to officially sign on in the coming days and could play a key role in whether Schwarzer's future lies at Craven Cottage.

Meanwhile, Schwarzer's Socceroos team-mate Brett Holman is reportedly on the radar of Scottish giant Rangers, which is chasing the midfielder on a season-long loan.

- AAP

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http://www.bournemouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=205192

Thoughts after the Fulham game...

As all my in-laws are Fulham season ticket holders and were down here - I broke the habit of a life time and went to a friendly!

Thought we were excellent today considering no Pugh, Cooper, Fletcher, Hollands in starting line up and the fact we changed the rest of the side after the break...

I think Eddie seriously wants to go 4-5-1 and ape the world cup with Arter playing the clever prompting role off the forward.

Certainly for the two away games anyway.

I think this might work if Arter is forceful as well as clever. Today he certainly looked the latter more than the former but against Hangeland and Hughes it's hard to judge. The midfielders need to gamble and get in the box too and they looked today as if they had worked on this.

We were tidy and played football all game and Feeney was the main attacking threat often making Konchesky look poor. Symes looked cumbersome and a yard short before he went off on 30 mins but laid the ball back well for Robinsons 25 yard blast to open. A much better goal than Zamora mugging Jalal for the equaliser. There would have been a riot had it been a league game!

Back four looked solid and Robinson was the best player on the pitch by a country mile. Stockley has matured without threatening too much, Purches was tidy as I remembered him but still backs off wingers too much and allows them to cross. Garry superb and Cummings put in a shift although blowing a bit...

Second half was the litany of substitutions that reminded me why I don't go to friendlies....

Call me old fashioned but I hope Eddie sticks to the 4-4-2 we know and love here.

It was all very pretty but a bit too continental for my liking..... Much more solid in defence though and great to see us out play some very good players for long periods.


Read more: http://www.bournemouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=205192#ixzz0u1cvAEhL

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http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2010/07/18/i-want-to-take-centre-stage-in-rangers-midfield-just-like-my-idol-gazza-insists-steve-davis-86908-22421788/

I want to take centre stage in Rangers midfield... just like my idol Gazza, insists Steve Davis
Jul 18 2010 Mark Guidi, Sunday Mail
STEVE DAVIS grew up idolising Paul Gascoigne as the Englishman turned on the style for Rangers.
The hat-trick against Aberdeen at Ibrox to clinch eight titles in a row. The inspirational display against Hearts in the 4-3 Coca-Cola Cup Final win in 1996. The goals against Celtic.
Davis still doesn't tire of watching re-runs of those glory moments.
Now the Gers midfielder hopes to get the chance to make his own impact from the middle of the park, like Gazza did almost 15 years ago.
The 25-year-old has often been played wide right since moving to Ibrox from Fulham in 2008.
But Walter Smith will deploy the Northern Ireland star in his favoured central position this season.
Not that being shunted out wide has hindered Davis' displays for Gers as he was inspirational in helping them win the SPL and Co-operative Insurance Cup last season.
He was also named PFA Player of the Year and has now added the coveted Sunday Mail Starcheck Award to his list of prizes.
A Rangers player hasn't landed our accolade since German keeper Stefan Klos back in 2007 And Davis said: "I'm proud to win the Sunday Mail award. The fact a Rangers player hasn't done it for so long makes it a bit more special.
"Brian Laudrup and Terry Butcher have also won this prize and I grew up admiring players from that era.
"Butcher was part of the Rangers revolution under Graeme Souness in the 1980s.
"Walter Smith then took it on and managed to persuade Laudrup and Gascoigne to join the club. They helped win Nine-in-a-Row and were top players.
"Gazza was my idol. He was a great character on the pitch and tried his best to entertain the fans. He always played with a smile on his face and that was great to see.
"Rangers were the team closest to my heart when I was a kid and to see Gascoigne playing for them was truly memorable.
"He was part of a special period in the history of Rangers.
"We're trying to do our bit in this era and we have the chance to go for three-in-a-row.
"It won't be easy but the challenge is there and we will accept it.
"I enjoyed last season and was happy enough with aspects of my game but felt I could have chipped in with more goals.
"Maybe if I get the chance to play in central midfield I can do that.
"It's where I want to play and I've made no secret of that.
"You have the chance to be more involved in that area - to influence the game more.
"I'd like to be given the chance to do that. We'll see what happens."
Davis will fly to Australia on Tuesday with Gers for a pre-season tour and hopes one or two new faces are on the flight with him.
Kris Boyd, Kevin Thomson, Nacho Novo, DaMarcus Beasley and Stevie Smith have all left the club - so the squad is bare. Thomson was the only player sold - with the rest moving on at the end of their contracts.
And Davis - whose deal runs for another two years - said: "I'm sure the manager would have preferred to keep a few of those players.
"But his hands were tied and we are down to the bare bones. There's no doubt our squad is weaker.
"I hope the gaffer gets money to strengthen because Celtic will be out to make life as difficult as possible.
"They have added a few new players already and will be determined to win the title back."
Last season, Smith felt it was unfair to keep asking the same players to produce the goods over the course of a gruelling campaign of European and domestic football.
He will probably have to ask them to do it again for the next 10 months. But it's a risk - and Smith knows it.
Is it fair to ask Davie Weir to play another 38 SPL games at 40? Can he really expect Kenny Miller to chip in with another 21 goals? Will Mo Edu be able to come off the back of a World Cup and not spend a significant amount of time on the treatment table?
Davis knows the squad face a tough test but isn't about to start complaining.
He said: "Every player will be tested and pushed to the limit.
"That's just the way it is when you play for a top club.
"We all know the financial situation at Rangers. There's nothing the players can do about it.
"I won't moan. I'll play my football and try my best for the management, my team-mates and the supporters.
"We are all determined to claim another title next season.
"I've won six trophies and been to the UEFA Cup Final since I joined Rangers. I want more and more.
"There's no better feeling when you supported the team as a boy and get the chance to make thousands and thousands of people happy."