Thursday Fulham Stuff (11/05/16)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Season over; let the Fulham FC rebuilding commence

Finishing the season with a win, albeit against rock-bottom of the league and already-relegated Bolton, was certainly a nice way to end not to mention a clean sheet to boot.

The vast majority of us leaving Craven Cottage in the early afternoon though had, much like myself, probably spent the past 90 minutes debating who we were genuinely looking forward to seeing again come the first game of next season, and those who we would be hoping were deemed surplus to requirements by Jokanovic in the summer and depart at the earliest opportunity... Presumably to QPR as is standard in these instances.

While some will argue that the bigger worry is who we hold on to, outside of Dembele, and perhaps Cairney or Hyndman in midfield, no-one will be touting any of our defenders and I can't see many other unplanned departures. I don't doubt we will see a few contentious choices for release, but given his post-match interview I think it is clear that SJ sees the summer very much as a clean slate and a chance to shape a squad full of those players he sees as viable starters, rather than just one of the available bodies inherited from multiple managerial regimes before him.

Of course we have no idea how much Shahid Khan plans on backing his manager financially this transfer window, but a need to adhere to financial fair play regulations may mean we will need an end to the long-running Mitroglou and Stekelenburg sagas before we see any major outlay. It wouldn't be a Fulham pre-season without the usual quota of free transfers and loan signings anyway. I think more than how much we spend, it's just nice to be able to spend again should we find reason to do so.

The statistics speak for themselves, improve the defence while maintaining our attacking potency and we will improve. Dembele is a big part of that but I think people forget there was a time before the injuries that Woodrow appeared to have stepped up, he may well be a key figure next year whether the Frenchman is around or not. We have been looking for a left-back ever since Konchesky left, is this the season we sign one? Can Slavisa find another Madl to play alongside Madl? It all seems so simple but we all know with Fulham it never is.

The same question we have been asking all season has finally been answered – when will this season end? And now it has we can seek comfort in watching England. And that is what it's come to ladies and gents.
COYW!


http://www.shoot.co.uk/season-over-let-the-fulham-fc-rebuilding-commence/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Loan Round-Up

Jack Grimmer played the full 90, while Larnell Cole was introduced early in the second half as Shrewsbury Town lost their final game of the season 3-0 at Swindon Town on Sunday.

A Nicky Ajose strike either side of the break put the Robins in control of proceedings, and they wrapped things up through Jordan Young's late effort.

The defeat meant the Shrews finished the campaign in 20th position, four points clear of relegation danger.

Elsewhere, George Williams entered the action just before the hour mark as Gillingham were beaten 2-1 by Millwall in a thrilling game at Priestfield.

Aiden O'Brien tapped the visitors in front a matter of minutes before Williams' introduction, and the Lions then had Mahlon Romeo sent off on 86.

John Egan fired in an equaliser for the Gills in stoppage time, but Millwall took all three points when Lee Gregory converted a 98th minute penalty.

The result was moot in the end for the hosts, as they ended up finishing five points off the Play-Off places.

In Portugal, Kostas Mitroglou was on target as Benfica went one step closer to the Primeira Liga title with a 2-0 win at Maritimo.

Things didn't start well for the visitors as they had Renato Sanches sent off for two bookable offences in the first half, but Mitroglou settled the nerves with a clinical finish soon after the restart.

Anderson Talisca made sure of the points in the 83rd minute, with Mitroglou withdrawn moments later, and the numbers were evened up at the death when Maritimo's Fransergio was given his marching orders.

Benfica will win the league if they avoid defeat in their season finale at home to Nacional next Sunday.

In Denmark, Nikolay Bodurov played the full game as Midtjylland drew 1-1 at home to AGF, as Tim Sparv's own goal was cancelled out by Pione Sisto.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/may/09/loan-round-up?

[WhiteJC]

 
Parker Extends

The Club is delighted to announce that Scott Parker has agreed a contract extension, keeping him at Fulham until the summer of 2017.

In a letter to the fans after putting pen to paper, our Captain stated: "I'm delighted to have signed an extension with the Club. We are all confident that we can make next season a better one, so I do hope you'll join me and the boys again at Craven Cottage for 2016/17."

Join Scott and the boys at the Cottage next season by securing your new Season Ticket today!

Have a watch of the skipper's seasonal summary below:

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/may/11/scott-parker-extends?

[WhiteJC]

 
Parker extends Fulham deal
by DAN on MAY 11, 2016

Fulham captain Scott Parker has signed a new contract with the club – keeping him at Craven Cottage until next summer.

The former England skipper's current deal expired at the end of this season, which saw Fulham finish twentieth in the Championship, and there had been speculation that the 35 year-old could retire to concentrate on his coaching ambitions, having studied for his badges over the course of this campaign. But Parker's performances in the heart of the Fulham midfield have impressed head coach Slavisa Jokanovic as the Whites pulled clear of the relegation zone and he has secured another year.

Parker penned a message to supporters on Fulham's official website, saying:

I'm delighted to have signed an extension with the club. We are all confident that we can make next season a better one, so I do hope you'll join me and the boys again at Craven Cottage for 2016/2017.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2016/05/parker-extends-fulham-deal/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Rumour mill: Norwich City and Aston Villa interested in £12m Fulham striker Ross McCormack


Fulham's Ross McCormack (bottom) and Burnley's Dean Marney battle for the ball during a Sky Bet Championship match at Craven Cottage, London. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

Fulham striker Ross McCormack is being linked with a potential £12million summer move to Norwich City.

The Canaries do not yet know which division they will be playing in next season – ahead of tonight's clash with Watford at Carrow Road – but that has not prevented the Daily Telegraph from linking the Scot with City.

The 29-year-old scored 23 goals in all competitions for the Cottagers this season, with 21 of those goals coming from 45 Championship matches.

The Scotland international is also credited with nine assists during the campaign, with just two other players creating more in the second tier, Alan Judge of Brentford (11) and Johann Berg Gudmundsson of Charlton (10).

McCormack signed a new four-year deal with Fulham in February but the Telegraph reports that contract includes a £12m buy-out clause, having signed from Leeds for £11m in the summer of 2014.

Aston Villa, who have already had their Premier League relegation confirmed, are also being linked with the prolific forward.

The new deal followed a reported bid of £9m from Middlesbrough but Fulham resisted as they looked to make sure they stayed clear of relegation, eventually finishing 20th but 11 points clear of danger.

McCormack's record in England
McCormack has scored a total of 42 goals in 100 games in all competitions for Fulham, following on from prolific spells with Leeds and Cardiff.

He scored 58 goals in 158 games for Leeds and 30 in 91 for Cardiff, taking his tally with second tier clubs since joining Cardiff on a free from Motherwell in 2008 to an impressive 130 goals in 349 matches.


http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/rumour_mill_norwich_city_and_aston_villa_interested_in_12m_fulham_striker_ross_mccormack_1_4531776?

[WhiteJC]

 
Scott Parker: Fulham captain signs one-year contract extension

Scott Parker has been with Fulham since 2013 and has made 99 appearances for the club

Fulham captain Scott Parker has agreed a one-year contract extension to remain at Craven Cottage until 2017.

Parker, 35, signed for the Whites in 2013 and has made 99 appearances for the club in all competitions.

The midfielder said he was "delighted" to sign an extension and is "confident next season will be a better one".

The former England international missed the first 17 games of the season because of injury, while Fulham finished 20th in the Championship.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36267325