Monday Fulham Stuff (19/07/10)...

[WhiteJC]

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

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.

[WhiteJC]

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.

[WhiteJC]

http://hammyend.com/?p=7379
AJ flies out to see Steadman again
by DAN on JULY 18, 2010

Poor old Andrew Johnson. Since he was 'literally banjoed' out of our European run, the Fulham striker has hit the first hurdle every time he's tried to regain his place in the side.

Johnson aggrivated his knee problem in January's defeat at Blackburn and, despite returing to pre-season training, looks set for another lengthy spell on the sidelines after breaking down last week. He will fly out to America for another consultation knee surgeon Richard Steadman this week leaving Fulham desperately short of centre forwards as the new campaign draws ever closer.

It seems to be fashionable to lambast Johnson, who was Roy Hodgson's major purchase in the summer of 2008 after the departure of Brian McBride, for both his lack of goals and injuries. Johnson might have had the impact everybody was hoping for after his arrival from Everton but he remains sharp in the penalty area and formed a great partnership with Bobby Zamora up front. You can bet centre backs don't queue up to play against him – but it'll be a long, hard road back from his latest setback.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/lewington-tells-fulham-players-forget-manager-talk-980701?
Lewington tells Fulham players to forget manager talk

Fulham caretaker boss Ray Lewington has urged the players to focus on their game and not on the manager race.

Cottagers midfielder Simon Davies has admitted that it was "frustrating" that the club had not appointed anyone to replace Roy Hodgson yet. Lewington disagrees, however.

Lewington said: "The chief executive has said that he isn't going to tell anyone until the appointment has been made.

"He has said to us that he wants to keep it as tight as possible which means that he is not going to tell us or even give us a whisper.

"I don't blame him for that because it clouds everything so we just get on with our jobs. When they decide to let us know then he will let us know. We're not worried about that."

[WhiteJC]

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.

Home Friendlies

Wednesday 21st July 2010, 7.45pm - Derby County

Wednesday 28th July 2010, 7.45pm - Portsmouth

Tickets can be purchased via the AFC Bournemouth Ticket Office, in person 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and 10am-4pm on Saturday's, via the telephone on 01202 726325 or online via AFCB Direct.

RednBlack Shack

Don't forget to keep checking the RednBlack Shack for great online deals and help to raise money for the AFC Bournemouth Youth Team.


Read more: http://www.bournemouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=205192#ixzz0u6YYh6pR

[WhiteJC]

http://hammyend.com/?p=7383
Ray puts fitness first
by DAN on JULY 18, 2010

Ray Lewington chose his post-match comments after yesterday's draw at Bournemouth to remind the fans that pre-season is just that; preparation for the real thing.

Fulham's caretaker manager said he was most pleased with the return to match action of goalscorer Bobby Zamora and skipper Danny Murphy.

That's what pre-season friendly games are all about. The one thing you hope for in a pre-season friendly is that you suffer no injuries, to be brutally honest. We've come out injury free so that's great.

We looked a bit leggy in the first half but between the Brentford game and today we've trained and it's about where we are getting to, rather than where we are now. We looked better in the second half and could have scored a lot more goals.

[WhiteJC]

http://hammyend.com/?p=7388
Briggs on England duty
by DAN on JULY 18, 2010

It may have escaped your notice with the hoo-ha surrounding just who will succeed Roy Hodgson, but Fulham defender Matthew Briggs is likely to be representing England this afternoon.

The Academy graduate, who is very highly thought of down at Motspur Park and made his first appearance for the first team as a substitute at Middlesbrough in 2007, is part of the England under-19 squad currently in France for the European Championships. Briggs already has international honours to his name having been part of the England side that were runners-up at last year's competition and should start today's Group A opener against Austria at left back.

The game will kick-off at 5pm British time and you can catch all the action live on Eurosport. Noel Blake's charges complete their group programme with fixtures against Holland (on Wednesday, 5pm) and France (on Saturday, also at 5pm).

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=205204
Fulham - Johnson Shock!
His absence from the squads for the pre-season games can now be explained.

Andrew Johnson, who has not played since aggravating a knee problem against Blackburn, is back in the USA having another exploratory operation under the watchful eye of the renowned surgeon, Dr Richard Steadman.

Something tells me things are not what they should be but our best wishes, nevertheless go to Andrew.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=205204#ixzz0u6ZLIHet

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=205203
Fulham - Lewington Gives Nothing Away!
Perhaps Mr Al Fayed really is going to wait until Monday to announce who will be the manager our football club!

With speculation growing by the minute that it is Martin Jol, our caretaker boss, Ray Lewington, was giving nothing away down on the south coast as Fulham laboured to a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.

Asked about the situation, Lewington coyly replied,

"I cannot comment on Martin Jol because we do not know if he is going to be the new manager or not. All I do know is that they are going fro a top-drawer manager."

Well we should know tomorrow then shouldn`t we!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=205203#ixzz0u6ZYty7D

[WhiteJC]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=809211&sec=england&cc=5739
Jol driven by unfinished business in England

Martin Jol's determination to succeed in English football is the reason why he has said 'yes' to becoming the new Fulham boss.


Soccernet revealed on Wednesday that Jol had leapt to the front of the queue of candidates and, since then, talks have advanced - though Fulham have been surprised at Jol's willingness to quit Ajax, one of Europe's most prestigious clubs, in favour of Craven Cottage.

Sources close to Fulham have confirmed to Soccernet that negotiations to bring Jol to Fulham remain ongoing, but are expected to be resolved within the next 48 hours.

His wife's love of London has certainly played a role in the return and Jol has retained his family home in the English capital since his Spurs exit in anticipation of such a move, which he was sure would arrive one day.

The Dutchman rejected the chance of a move to the Midlands after leaving Tottenham, and instead switched to Germany with Hamburg, and then back to the Netherlands with Ajax, as he waited patiently for a job offer in London.

Jol believes he has unfinished business in England; having taken Spurs to two successive fifth place finishes in the Premier League, he was confident that he could have led the club into the top four.

His appointment comes as a major coup for chairman Mohammed Al-Fayed and will be confirmed on Tuesday at the latest.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/40878/Lewington_expects_quality_appointment.aspx?
Lewington expects quality appointment

Caretaker manager Ray Lewington believes Fulham will appoint a top-quality new boss to replace Roy Hodgson.

Lewington was placed in temporary charge of the Cottagers following Hodgson's departure to Liverpool last month.

A string of top names have been linked with the Craven Cottage job in recent weeks, including former Spurs boss Martin Jol, ex-England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and veteran German Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Jol is the favourite for the role and Lewington fully expects a quality name to get the job ahead of the new Premier League season.

"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," he said.

"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.

"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.

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

[WhiteJC]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/dutch-football-stunned-jol-quitting-ajax-fulham-981481?
Dutch football stunned Jol quitting Ajax for Fulham

Dutch football has been rocked by Martin Jol's decision to quit Ajax for Fulham.

It had been felt Fulham could not compete with Jol's £2m wages at Ajax, but Cottagers chairman Mohamed Al 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.

"No one here can understand how you leave Ajax for a club like Fulham," a source in Holland told the Mail on Sunday. "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."

[WhiteJC]

http://www.bournemouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=205240
Jalal: Zamora's hand was in my face
AFC Bournemouth 'keeper Shwan Jalal was happy with the Cherries performance against Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

The Cherries drew 1-1 with the UEFA Europa League finalists after Anton Robinson scored to give AFC Bournemouth the lead, before Bobby Zamora's controversial equaliser.

Zamora challenged Shwan Jalal for a high ball in the box and after the Cherries 'keeper had been pushed to the floor, Zamora slotted the ball home into an empty net.

Jalal told afcb.co.uk...

'It was very challenging against a very good Premier League side. Their movement and the way they handle themselves is excellent and to come away with a draw proves how far we have come as a team.'

'I was disappointed with the goal. I felt Bobby Zamora's hand in my face and it was just one of those things. It was a good job that it was just a pre season game and the referee realised that he made a mistake and said afterwards that he couldn't see the incident properly from where he was. I never like conceding a goal no matter if it's a competitive game, a friendly or in training, but I'm please with the way I reacted from it.'

'It's my first full 90 minutes of pre season, we got a draw against a Premier league side and I was happy with my performance.


Read more: http://www.bournemouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=205240#ixzz0u6bGbFP8

[WhiteJC]

http://blogs.soccernet.com/fulham/archives/2010/07/fulham_fc_-_where_next_for_the_europa_league_runners-up.php?
Fulham FC - Where next for the Europa League runners-up?

After a decade in the top flight and the most memorable achievement in the club's long history, pushing Atletico Madrid to the limit last May, the question for all Fulham fans now has to be, where do we go from here? The appointment of Roy's successor is imminent, summer transfer activity has been quiet. Are we really London's 'smallest' Prem club, mid-table safety the limit of our ambition?

A new blogger for this site and a new dawn for the club I've watched across all four divisions since the days of Johnny Haynes. I was there last May in Hamburg, right behind that goal as the dastardly Diego toe-poked home to break our hearts. But what a thrilling ride the club gave us en route to a major European final, the famous names of football forced to bend the knee to humble little Fulham. Success has cost us our manager, and the smart money says Martin Jol is next in line to progress the club even further.

What do you think? Will we ever have another season like it? Or are you happy to claim a few famous scalps at the Cottage along the way while steering clear of the relegation scrum? Some of us might settle simply for another win on the road! It's been a year since the last one after all. Liverpool fans please note, Roy's ultra-cautious approach to away matches - don't say we didn't warn you.

In the countdown to the big kick-off we'll be assessing the new manager, scrutinising the club's transfer dealings, bringing you lots of informed feedback from inside the club, talking to the players, filing match reports - and generally looking to cover anything and everything that encapsulates the Superwhites.

Much as I love Fulham FC and our lovely compact ground down by the Thames, I do also have a competitive streak in me when it comes to games and life in general. So as we celebrate 10 years at the top, I pose this question to the Fulham family. What can we realistically expect to achieve this season? Are most of us happy just to follow the friendliest club in London regardless of results? Is the Premiership in fact in danger of devaluing itself with the Champions likely to come only from two or three clubs at most?

[WhiteJC]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6269073,00.html?
Cottagers move for Jol
Fulham hoping to land ex-Spurs boss

Sky Sports News understands that Fulham are holding discussions with Ajax with regard to making Martin Jol their new manager.

The Craven Cottage side are currently managerless after the successful Roy Hodgsonmoved to Anfield this summer to replace the departed Rafa Benitez.
Fulham have been linked with a host of big names with the likes of Jol, who had three years at White Hart Lane, along with Sven-Goran Eriksson, Bob Bradley and Ottmar Hitzfeldall reportedly in the frame.

It now seems as though 54-year-old Dutch coach Jol is the man they want and are reportedly locked in talks in order to agree a compensation package for his services.

When caretaker manager Ray Lewington was questioned on Saturday whether Jol had become the front runner for the position he refused to get drawn on the speculation.

Neither Fulham nor Ajax have confirmed the clubs are currently in discussions over Jol's future.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2010/07/18/2031381/fulham-discuss-compensation-with-ajax-as-martin-jol-edges-closer-?
Fulham Discuss Compensation With Ajax As Martin Jol Edges Closer To Premier League Return - Report

Martin Jol appears to have taken a step closer to becoming the new Fulham manager as the Premier League club entered into discussions over compensation for the Dutchman with Ajax.

The London-based outfit were left without a manager as Roy Hodgson departed for Liverpool and Sven-Goran Eriksson, Ottmar Hitzfeld and USA coach Bob Bradley were all rumoured to be candidates for the position.

The former Tottenham Hotspur boss has emerged from the field as favourite for the role however, as Goal.com UK exclusively revealed Eriksson had dropped out of the running.

Sky Sports News now reports Fulham are attempting to reach an agreement with Ajax over a compensation package for Jol, which could see the former Hamburg boss unveiled at Craven Cottage over the coming week.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.afcbournemouth-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/july_17_afc_bournemouth_11_fulham_538419/index.shtml
AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Fulham

AFC Bournemouth played Fulham in their latest pre-season friendly in their build up to the new season.
On a pleasant July afternoon a decent enough crowd turned up to see the Cherries take on Premiership Fulham at Dean Court in a pre-season friendly.

The match started brightly enough, especially when the Cherries took the lead in the 10th minute when a half volley from Robinson found its' way through a crowd of players and in to the back of the net off the left hand upright. No more than the Cherries deserved at this stage.

Symes made an early exit - probably just a knock, but not worth taking any chances at this stage of the pre-season build up. New signing Harry Arter came to replace Symes.

Noticeable were Robinson and Bartley who were making their presence felt in the heart of midfield with their industry and running.

The Cherries suffered a scare in front of goal when the ball bobbled about and was scrambled clear, this just before Zamora appeared to foul Jalal to equalise for the visitors (26th min).

Both sides had periods of pressure, but nothing came of possession.

AFCB (first half): Jalal, Cummings, Pearce, Garry, Purches, Bartley, Robinson, Feeney, McQuoid, Symes, Pitman
Subs: Arter (for Symes, 14 mins)

The second half followed the usual pattern of pre-season friendlies as both sides made a multitude of changes. Again both sides had spells in possession, without createing too many clear cut chances.

Jalal was called more in to action during the second period, making a number of fine saves. When Fulham did break through they hit a brick wall in the shape of Garry and Pearce.

At the other end, the most notable chance AFC Bournemouth had came from a free kick conceeded by the Fulham keeper who clearly handled outside his area. Hollands took the freekick which led to a corner. From the resulting corner, the ball fell to Pearce whose header had to be cleared from under the Fulham cross bar.

A creditable draw in the end which will leave Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall happier of the two management teams.

AFCB (second half): Jalal, Cummings, Pearce, Garry, Bradbury, Robinson, Hollands, Arter, Feeney, Partington, Stockley
Subs: Ings (for Arter), Nelson (for Feeney), Stevenson (for Garry), Struthland (for Ings)
Andy Burton, Portsmouth

[WhiteJC]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jul/18/fulham-martin-jol-manager-ajax?
Fulham confident of appointing Ajax's Martin Jol as their manager
• Club believe Dutchman can be tempted from Netherlands
• Money likely to be made available for signings

Fulham are confident Martin Jol will be appointed as their new manager within days, after the Dutchman signalled he is willing to leave Ajax and move to Craven Cottage. Negotiations with Jol and Ajax continued tonight and although Fulham will travel to Sweden tomorrow for a pre-season training camp without a manager, the club are hopeful that Roy Hodgson's successor will be in place for the friendly against Halmstad on Thursday.

Sven-Goran Eriksson, the former England manager who took charge of Ivory Coast at the World Cup, had also been in the running for the position, but Jol was top of the club's shortlist.

Fulham held positive talks with the 54-year-old Dutchman before the weekend and it now appears a matter of when and not if he will be welcomed as their new manager, with the London club putting together an attractive financial package to match his salary at Ajax as well as providing assurances that money will be available for signings.

Jol's appointment at Craven Cottage is likely to be welcomed by Fulham's supporters in the wake of Hodgson's departure to Liverpool. Although Jol's three‑year spell in charge of Tottenham Hotspur ended in 2007 with him being sacked and replaced by Juande Ramos, he came close to bringing Champions League football to White Hart Lane and was a popular figure with the club's fans as well as the players because of his management style.

His interest in the Fulham position has been greeted with surprise in the Netherlands, where many had expected him to stay on at Ajax for at least another season, especially as they are preparing for a Champions League qualifier. Jol took over only last year but he has become increasingly frustrated with the constraints that have been placed upon him because of Ajax's financial problems.

Gregory van der Wiel, the Holland right‑back, is set to join Bayern Munich and there is speculation that Luis Suárez, the prolific centre-forward who was part of the Uruguay team who reached the World Cup semi-finals, will also depart, with little of the money raised likely to be available for players.

Jol has always talked warmly of his time in England, including his spells as a player in the 80s with West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City, and the period he spent in charge of Spurs. His name was linked to Fulham not long after his dismissal at Tottenham but Jol withdrew his interest in the post and later took over at Hamburg. Fulham's latest pursuit of Jol, however, looks like being more successful, with the club optimistic that an agreement can be reached over the next few days.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1295774/Martin-Jol-named-new-Fulham-boss-fending-Sven-Goran-Eriksson.html?
Martin Jol to be named as new Fulham boss after fending off Sven Goran Eriksson

Martin Jol is set to be named as Fulham's new manager later this week after the club opened talks with Ajax on Sunday night.

The 54-year-old former Tottenham coach has had preliminary talks with Fulham but will meet again later this week to finalise a deal.

Fulham are not expected to make an announcement ahead of their pre-season tour to Sweden today but Jol will join the squad before the weekend.

Jol, who managed Tottenham between 2004 and 2007, was preferred to Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson while Lee Clark, Ottmar Hitzfeld and Slaven Bilic were also considered.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1295774/Martin-Jol-named-new-Fulham-boss-fending-Sven-Goran-Eriksson.html?#ixzz0u6dRoCCv

[WhiteJC]

http://www.teamtalk.com/fulham/6269237/Cottagers-in-talks-with-Jol-Report?
Cottagers in talks with Jol - Report

Fulham are reportedly holding discussions with Ajax over the appointment of manager Martin Jol, as they seek a replacement for Roy Hodgson.

The Craven Cottage side are currently managerless after the successful Hodgson moved to Anfield this summer to replace Rafa Benitez.

Fulham have been linked with a host of big names with the likes of Jol, who had three years at White Hart Lane, along with Sven-Goran Eriksson, Bob Bradley and Ottmar Hitzfeld all reportedly in the frame.

It now seems as though 54-year-old Dutch coach Jol is the man they want and are reportedly locked in talks in order to agree a compensation package for his services.

When caretaker manager Ray Lewington was questioned on Saturday whether Jol had become the front runner for the position he refused to get drawn on the speculation.

Neither Fulham nor Ajax have confirmed the clubs are currently in discussions over Jol's future.