Sunday Fulham Stuff (29.08.10)

[White Noise]

http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/premier-league-match-reports/2010/08/29/blackpool-2-2-fulham-fabio-capello-sees-luke-varney-star-102039-22521003/


Blackpool 2 - 2 Fulham: Fabio Capello sees Luke Varney star


Aug 29 2010

By Richard Gibson, The People


Fabio Capello spent a Bank Holiday weekend in Blackpool running the rule over an unlikely hero – but the Tangerines almost trumped him with one of their own.

England boss Capello dropped into a revamped Bloomfield Road to check on rookie Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale, who was set to be called into the squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland.

But Stockdale picked up an ankle injury late in the game and is now unlikely to figure.

Fulham striker Bobby Zamora is also doubtful after picking up a thigh injury.

Stockdale, 24, playing only his fourth Premier League match, was left ­helpless twice in five second-half minutes as Luke Varney created one and scored another just hours after signing.

During a testing eight days in which they were trounced 6-0 at Arsenal and eliminated from the Carling Cup by MK Dons, Tangerines boss Ian Holloway compared his transfer ­dealings to shopping in a Skoda garage rather than a Mercedes dealership.

But new banger Varney, snapped up on a season-long loan from Derby, polished up a treat on his debut.

The 27-year-old, whose previous services have been with Crewe, Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday, had Pool motoring towards a second win in three attempts since promotion before Preston old boy Dickson Etuhu rescued a point for Mark Hughes' Fulham three minutes from time.

Holloway said: "I needed some pace and he's got that, and the way he played he looked like he has been here all his life.

"Some players carry their kitbags here and there and sometimes it doesn't work but his game suits the way I play. We have scored two goals against Fulham and Manchester United managed that last week so, of course, I'm pleased."

Elliot Grandin dragged an early
effort wide as Holloway's side made an enthusiastic start to the club's first home game in the English top flight for 39 years.

With Charlie Adam dictating play in the middle of the field, Blackpool ­appeared the most likely team to open the scoring.

Indeed, they had the ball in the net in the 18th minute when an intricate team move saw Adam swing the ball into the area and Brett Ormerod head powerfully into the top corner from the penalty spot, only for the roars to be doused by a linesman's flag. But ominous signs were developing at the other end and only a last-ditch tackle by Ian Evatt prevented Moussa Dembele converting Zamora's pass.

Fulham thought they had taken the lead in the 25th minute when Damien Duff's right-wing corner was deflected in off a combination of the heads of Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland, but it was ruled out for pushing.

And even their 35th-minute opener had a whiff of injustice about it as Dembele appeared to take out Evatt deep into home territory in the process of a one-two with Duff.

The Belgian striker was, therefore, left with acres of room on the right to pick out Zamora, whose emphatic back-post header flew in. Blackpool ­responded with two long-range efforts from Adam, who ­panicked Stockdale with a 45-yard free-kick, and then dummied Danny Murphy before driving wide.

Undeterred, however, either by their near misses or Grandin's ­disallowed second-half effort after Varney's muscular aerial challenge on Stockdale, which left the goalkeeper nursing a twisted ankle, Blackpool turned the game on its head.

First, Varney's deflected effort was kicked into his own net by John Pantsil.

Then a cool finish in the 76th minute, after Ormerod slipped him in, looked to have added another chapter to Blackpool's fairytale – only for Etuhu to clip over Matthew Gilks late on after Dembele's second assist.

Fulham have not won away in 20 Premier League outings and Hughes admitted: "It is something we are aware of and something we want to improve on this year."

[WhiteJC]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12874_6345868,00.html?
Given lined up for Fulham loan
City keeper seen as replacement for Arsenal-bound Schwarzer

Fulham boss Mark Hughes is hoping to sign Shay Given on loan before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

The Cottagers' current first-choice keeper, Mark Schwarzer, has been the subject of two bids from Arsenal and the veteran Australia international is eager to join the Gunners.

Although Hughes is willing to let the 37-year-old go, he insists Fulham must first find a replacement and Given has emerged as his prime target.

The Manchester City keeper has seen Joe Hart reclaim first-choice status after returning from last season's loan spell at Birmingham.

City boss Roberto Mancini would like Given to stay and provide competition for Hart but at 34, the Ireland international wants regular first-team football.

That could come at Craven Cottage, where former City boss Hughes succeeded Roy Hodgson this summer.

"Mark Schwarzer has made it clear that he would like to go to Arsenal so we are trying to look at other options," said the Fulham manager.

Quality player

"I'm always interested in quality players and Shay Given is a quality player. Make of that what you will.

"But I have said that if we can't get anyone else in, Schwarzer will have to stay."

Hughes signed Given from Newcastle for a cut-price £8million in January 2009 and he soon proved his class in the City goal.

However, Given lost out to Hart in the battle to start the season as City's first-choice keeper and the new England number one looks set to hold onto his place having been in sparkling form.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/42881/Striker_Zamora_an_England_doubt.aspx
Striker Zamora an England doubt


Fulham boss Mark Hughes claims striker Bobby Zamora is a doubt for England duty after picking up a knock against Blackpool.

Zamora, who earned his first international cap in the recent friendly against Hungary, was expected to be part of Fabio Capello's squad for the upcoming Euro 2012 double-header against Bulgaria and Switzerland.

However, he picked up a thigh problem during Saturday's 2-2 draw at Bloomfield Road and is a major doubt for international duty.

Hughes said: "Bobby went really stiff at half-time. He thought it was just a bang on the muscle and went out again. But he could not shake it off.

"I think he must be a doubt (for England) unfortunately. He was really looking forward to getting a chance.

"I will imagine he will go and be assessed by the England medical team and we will receive the information as quickly as we can. But at the moment he looks doubtful."

[Lighthouse]

From CaughtOffside -   

Roy Hodgson is preparing the ground for a substantial bid for Fulham forward Bobby Zamora as the Anfield boss continues to look to bring in signings to boost the strength of his Liverpool squad. It is rumoured that the Merseyside club could offer double the fee the west London side paid West Ham for his services back in the summer of 2008.

Having secured the signing of Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles to help deal with the loss of Javier Mascherano, Hodgson now wants to bring in another attacking option. Having failed to seal deals for Swedish international Ola Toivonen and West Ham forward Carlton Cole, the club will now turn to 29 year old England international Zamora.

The former Tottenham man has been in astounding form over the past 18 months and has managed to net 22 goals in his last 51 starts, and as a result forced his way into Fabio Capello's England set up. An offer of £9.6m could be made by Liverpool but Mark Hughes is sure to fight off such a move but he may find that such a move from the Anfield club could prove very tempting for Londoner, especially as it would see the player reunited with the manager who arguably helped get his career back on track.

The strong physical presence of Zamora could work well alongside the guile and prolific ability of Fernando Torres and could go some way to resolving the lack of effective striking options at the club.

[Mr Fulham]

From CaughtOffside -   

Roy Hodgson is preparing the ground for a substantial bid for Fulham forward Bobby Zamora as the Anfield boss continues to look to bring in signings to boost the strength of his Liverpool squad. It is rumoured that the Merseyside club could offer double the fee the west London side paid West Ham for his services back in the summer of 2008.

Having secured the signing of Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles to help deal with the loss of Javier Mascherano, Hodgson now wants to bring in another attacking option. Having failed to seal deals for Swedish international Ola Toivonen and West Ham forward Carlton Cole, the club will now turn to 29 year old England international Zamora.

The former Tottenham man has been in astounding form over the past 18 months and has managed to net 22 goals in his last 51 starts, and as a result forced his way into Fabio Capello's England set up. An offer of £9.6m could be made by Liverpool but Mark Hughes is sure to fight off such a move but he may find that such a move from the Anfield club could prove very tempting for Londoner, especially as it would see the player reunited with the manager who arguably helped get his career back on track.

The strong physical presence of Zamora could work well alongside the guile and prolific ability of Fernando Torres and could go some way to resolving the lack of effective striking options at the club.

No way. They aren't able to pay the Meireles money - they're doing deferred payments...

There's absolutely no way they'd meet our valuations for Zamora.