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Thursday Fulham Stuff 04.06.15

Started by Friendsoffulham, June 04, 2015, 09:16:35 AM

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Friendsoffulham

11 months after leaving Leeds, Ross McCormack linked with Premier League move



The Fulham striker, who left Leeds for the west London club last summer, has been linked with Norwich.

View image | gettyimages.com

Norwich City are weighing up a move for Fulham and former Leeds United front man Ross McCormack, according to the Daily Mail.

The 28-year-old has been in prolific form over the last two years and the Canaries are said to want him as their leading light up front when they return to the Premier League next term.

McCormack was sold by Leeds 11 months ago (almost to the day) to the Cottagers, who had just been relegated from the top division.

When the Scot left Leeds, of course, the money paid for him by Fulham was heavily scrutinised. That money, though, was largely dependent on the west London side achieving promotion to the Premier League.

In essence, then, it was top-flight money. And Norwich boss Alex Neil clearly feels McCormack is top-flight quality (according to the Mail's report).

SEE ALSO: Leeds flop who played just 49 minutes reportedly wanted by three clubs

In both of his last two seasons in the Championship, the ex-Leeds man has proven his class. He scored freely at Elland Road before adding 19 goals (17 in the league) for Fulham in 2014/15. In both cases, neither side would have stayed up without him.

Norwich are reportedly hoping they'll be saying the exact same thing this time next year

http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/06/04/11-months-after-leaving-leeds-ross-mccormack-linked-with-premier/page/1/

Friendsoffulham

Southampton line up Maarten Stekelenburg move?

Southampton are reportedly pondering a move for Fulham goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

The 32-year-old has fallen out of favour at Craven Cottage and was loaned out to AS Monaco last season.

Saints manager Ronald Koeman is thought to be in the market for a new stopper to provide cover for Fraser Forster, who will miss the first half of next season with a knee injury.

Veteran goalkeeper Kelvin Davis and Paulo Gazzaniga are currently the two options that the Saints boss has at his disposal.

According to the Southern Daily Echo, Netherlands international Stekelenburg is one of Koeman's main targets.

The former Ajax and Roma man still has two years of his Fulham contract remaining, which could open up the possibility of a season-long loan switch to the South Coast.

Stekelenburg has made 19 appearances for Fulham since joining them from Roma in 2013.

http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/southampton/transfer-talk/news/southampton-line-up-stekelenburg_226385.html

Friendsoffulham

Southampton mull over a move for Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg



First published 3 hours ago in Saints News Daily Echo: Photograph of the Author by Adam Leitch, Chief Sports Writer

Saints are weighing up a move for Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Ronald Koeman wants to sign a new keeper this summer to provide cover for Fraser Forster, who is set to miss the first half of the campaign as he recovers from a serious knee injury.

Dutch international Stekelenburg is one of the chief targets.

The 32-year-old is currently with Fulham, but it is understood that the London side are keen to move him on as they look to shift their focus and their bigger names with another season in the Championship ahead of them.

With Stekelenburg still having a further two years left to run on his Fulham contract, Saints are likely to have the option to either try and agree a permanent deal or a season long loan if they wish to press ahead.

Stekelenburg has spent the last season on loan at Monaco but made only seven appearances for the club, who decided not to exercise their option to sign him on a permanent basis.

The keeper made his name at Ajax, who he joined at the age of 15, breaking into the first team in 2002.

In 282 appearances with the Dutch giants Stekelenburg won two league titles and seven other trophies.

He moved to Roma for €6m in 2011 and spent two seasons in Italy before agreeing a four year deal to switch to Fulham in 2013.

However, things went badly with the Cottagers, as he slipped first out of the team and then out of the squad.

Monaco moved to take him on loan last season but he was largely a back-up and enjoyed little first team football.

Stekelenburg has a good reputation in Holland, and a fine pedigree with the Dutch national side.

He has won 54 caps for his country and was an ever present in the side that got through to the World Cup final in 2010, only to lose to Spain in extra time.

Saints are keen to bring in another keeper this summer after the unfortunate injury suffered by Forster, which is serious enough to keep him sidelined for a significant amount of next season.

With Cody Cropper having been released, Koeman only has veteran stopper Kelvin Davis and the inexperienced Paulo Gazzaniga at his disposal without his £10m man Forster.

As such he is keen to bolster that area of the squad, and bring in somebody who can compete for the first team spot rather than merely for the future or to provide extra back-up.

Saints are trying to press ahead with transfer plans and have yet to receive any further offer for Nathaniel Clyne after rejecting Liverpool's opening salvo of £10m.

Despite speculation over his future there has also as yet been no offer for Morgan Schneiderlin.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/13310978._/?ref=mac


Friendsoffulham

Norwich ponder McCormack swoop to boost squad for Premier League return



Norwich City are weighing up a move for Fulham striker Ross McCormack.

Manager Alex Neil wants to strengthen through the spine of his team and is sifting through potential transfer targets.
Ross McCormack scored 17 goals last season to help Fulham avoid relegation from the Championship

McCormack, aged 28, who cost Fulham £11m from Leeds in July 2014, was the subject of interest from Derby and Middlesbrough last season.

Fulham also face a continuing battle to hold on to 18-year-old attacking prospect Moussa Dembele who is continuing to attract attention from Everton and Italian side Genoa.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has returned to Fulham from his loan at Monaco. The 32-year-old has been considered by Southampton.

His former teammate Dimitar Berbatov is also keen on a return to England.

Fulham are in discussions about a move for Brighton defender Lewis Dunk.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3110154/Ross-McCormack-interests-Norwich-boss-Alex-Neil-seeks-boulster-squad-Premier-League-return.html#ixzz3c57MyH4k



Friendsoffulham

Fulham bidding on Brighton defender Lewis Dunk



Fulham's defense was bad last year. Historically bad. Was it the system? The coaching? Or the players? Moves like this seem to imply that the organization believes that they players simply weren't good enough.

If that's true, and you're going to be shopping for new center backs, you could do worse than Lewis Dunk. He was the best player on what was a pretty good defense. Brighton and Hove Albion only conceded 54 goals last year. That's less than Brentford, equal to Ipswich Town, and only four more than Watford. He's durable, having played over 100 times for Brighton including 44 times last season. He's young. Dunk is only 23 years old. He still probably has close to a decade of football in him and could be reasonably expected to improve over the next few years. So not only could he help you on the pitch, his value could grow allowing you to turn a profit on him in the future.

The article mentions a £2M bid. Frankly this seems low to me, and I'd be very willing for Fulham to spend more. Assuming that Fulham does get money back for Bryan Ruiz, Maarten Stekelenburg, and Kostas Mitroglou; they should have funds to spend without any new investment. Which is good, because there needs to be some more investment. But adding one good centerback could make a huge difference. Between Nikolay Bodurov, Shaun Hutchinson, and Dan Burn; you should be able to find one player to partner with him.

The hardest part of getting him might be fending of Premier League clubs. Everton, West Bromwich Albion, and West Ham United are all said to be interested in him. Everton fans are particularly keen on the idea. Fulham can't win a bidding war with those clubs, but none of them are likely to pay more than he's worth. If the £2M bid is correct, they're already doubling what Transfermarkt says he's worth.

I'll leave you with this. Isn't this the description of a player you'd like to have?

http://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2015/6/3/8722193/fulham-bidding-on-brighton-defender-lewis-dunk

God The Mechanic

If the likes of Stekelenburg and Mitroglou aren't going to be at the club next season then they HAVE to be sold.  There's no point in spending what we did on them to let their contracts wind down, barely playing for us, with a string of loans until we let them go for absolutely nothing with a year left on their contracts.


BalDrick

Quote from: Friendsoffulham on June 04, 2015, 09:19:30 AM
Southampton line up Maarten Stekelenburg move?

Southampton are reportedly pondering a move for Fulham goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

The 32-year-old has fallen out of favour at Craven Cottage and was loaned out to AS Monaco last season.

Saints manager Ronald Koeman is thought to be in the market for a new stopper to provide cover for Fraser Forster, who will miss the first half of next season with a knee injury.

Veteran goalkeeper Kelvin Davis and Paulo Gazzaniga are currently the two options that the Saints boss has at his disposal.

According to the Southern Daily Echo, Netherlands international Stekelenburg is one of Koeman's main targets.

The former Ajax and Roma man still has two years of his Fulham contract remaining, which could open up the possibility of a season-long loan switch to the South Coast.

Stekelenburg has made 19 appearances for Fulham since joining them from Roma in 2013.

http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/southampton/transfer-talk/news/southampton-line-up-stekelenburg_226385.html
Gazzaniga is very good, wonder what the chances of a swap deal are? Would probably mean Betts stepping down to a #2 position, which might not be fair.
Cigarettes and women be the death of me, better that than this old town

Friendsoffulham

A Return to Scandinavia Beckons

It was a sad day when Brede Hangeland left Fulham Football Club.

The Norwegian centre-back had almost become part of the fixtures and furnishings before relegation hit us hard and he was sold to Crystal Palace.

But the move for the Scandinavian hasn`t really worked out with Brede being restricted to just 17 appearances this season.

Hangeland started his career at Viking Stavenger before moving to FC Copenhagen and it is a return to Viking that is seemed as the perfect option.

However his role at the club is still the subject of discussion.

At 33 years of age you`d feel that retiring from the game isn`t on the cards. It`s also suggested that the manager at Viking is under no threat, with it being implied that Brede may fullfil the sporting director role or as a development coach.

We wish Brede well.

Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=401695#ixzz3c61wDlfB

BalDrick

Quote from: Friendsoffulham on June 04, 2015, 01:38:24 PM
A Return to Scandinavia Beckons

It was a sad day when Brede Hangeland left Fulham Football Club.

The Norwegian centre-back had almost become part of the fixtures and furnishings before relegation hit us hard and he was sold to Crystal Palace.

But the move for the Scandinavian hasn`t really worked out with Brede being restricted to just 17 appearances this season.

Hangeland started his career at Viking Stavenger before moving to FC Copenhagen and it is a return to Viking that is seemed as the perfect option.

However his role at the club is still the subject of discussion.

At 33 years of age you`d feel that retiring from the game isn`t on the cards. It`s also suggested that the manager at Viking is under no threat, with it being implied that Brede may fullfil the sporting director role or as a development coach.

We wish Brede well.

Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=401695#ixzz3c61wDlfB

We wish Brede would come back to Fulham more like! A central defender of some note who might be able to teach our lot the art of defending
Cigarettes and women be the death of me, better that than this old town


gang

Brede was good until his injury problems, perhaps he needs to try brown paper and vinegar, but he is best remembered for what he was and for us to sign someone else.

BalDrick

Quote from: gang on June 04, 2015, 03:37:22 PM
Brede was good until his injury problems, perhaps he needs to try brown paper and vinegar, but he is best remembered for what he was and for us to sign someone else.
Don't mean sign him as a player, though he can, more as a defensive coach. He learnt at Hodgson's knee (metaphorically), must have lots our guys can learn
Cigarettes and women be the death of me, better that than this old town