Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 23/03/21...

[WhiteJC]

The Scott Parker Stalemate
Sammy has his say on the current state of management purgatory we find ourselves stuck in.

It's been a long and frankly disheartening summer to be a Fulham fan. With well over a third of the break gone, FFC are currently rudderless, stuck with a manager on a long contract, who wants to leave for a rival side.

The longer Scott Parker remains at the club, the more difficult building a successful team next season becomes. So, what are the options?

Bournemouth's admiration for Scott Parker has been long-standing. Many times last season, Peter Rutzler from the Athletic told us on the podcast that the desire to bring Parker in was more than just fleeting love. The Cherries are determined to build another dynasty around a young, English manager in the manner of Eddie Howe, and they've long seen Parker as their man to do that.

In fact, an article by Oliver Kay in the Athletic suggested that it was only by winning the play-off final against Brentford last year, that Parker didn't move to Bournemouth last summer.

The permutations
Unlike last summer, Parker has two years remaining on his contract at Fulham, and also has a much higher stock value given the fact most neutrals seem to be of the opinion that he did a good job in the Premier League last season.

While most of us closer to the club realise that Parker was far from faultless in our eventual demise, there does seem to be a perception outside of Fulham circles that Scott did as well as he possibly could with a 'doomed' side.

If you've been paying close attention to Euro 2020 (particularly Group B), you're probably sick of the word 'permutations', but as far as I can see, these are the different options available if all parties are to move on.

1) Fulham and Parker agree on a mutual termination, Fulham pay some sort of limited severance pay, Bournemouth get Parker for free.
2) Parker resigns, forgoes his severance pay, Bournemouth get Parker for free (but maybe pay him a whack for taking a personal financial hit).
3) Fulham and Bournemouth agree on compensation. Parker goes directly to Bournemouth.

While most media reports have focused on option 1 being most likely, Peter tweeted last week that Fulham and Bournemouth are now in discussions for option 3. Clearly, this would be the best option for FFC in a perfect world.

My take
What's clear, is that this situation isn't benefiting Parker or Fulham. Scott is stuck in a job he no longer wants to be in, and Fulham can't move on until he is gone.

However, in my opinion, I'm in full agreement with the club's reported position that we shouldn't be agreeing to pay Scott Parker anything, just so he can leave and go to Bournemouth days later for free.

If I were in Fulham's position, I'd be thinking that ultimately, we have a manager of satisfactory quality to achieve what we want next season. Parker may have clear faults, particularly his attacking tactics, but he has already proved that he has qualities to get a club out of the Championship.

This season, with an arguably stronger spine than 19/20, and two more years of managerial experience under his belt, Parker has more than enough on paper to achieve automatic promotion with this team.

There is a risk of course that an unhappy Parker, stuck in a place he doesn't want to be, could be detrimental to Fulham. In reality though, has Parker got enough credibility in the bank to risk trying to get himself sacked? I'd argue not. I'd also argue that it's unlikely to be in Parker's DNA to do such a thing – of course, only the man himself knows whether he has that capability.

Fulham are stuck in a house they want to rid themselves of, but I don't think we should shoot ourselves in the foot financially just to make a quick sale that we might regret later down the line.

Conflating arguments
There are lots of things wrong with the club at the moment. The lack of clarity over what on earth Tony is doing (apart from pretending to be some sort of door) and the amateurish way this Director of Scouting position has been recruited are all things to be genuinely upset about. The communication and relationship generally between club and fans seems to be as low now as I can ever remember it.

However, I think Fulham should hold out in these negotiations with Parker. It's easy to pin the blame for this situation on the club because they are making such a mess in other areas, but ultimately we are stuck with a manager and a rival club that want to have their cake and eat it. If Parker wants to go, leave. If Bournemouth want Parker, pay. Is that really Fulham's fault?

I'm personally happy for FFC to play hard-ball for a few more weeks, even if ultimately it means more anxious waiting on Twitter.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2021-06-22-the-scott-parker-stalemate/

[WhiteJC]

Chris Wilder must choose next job carefully with Fulham and Barnsley vacancies expected

The former Sheffield United manager will be rated among the runners and riders for every Championship job that comes up the summer and beyond, but it needs to be the right move

It's surely only a matter of time before Chris Wilder brings a new club to Bramall Lane, but it's increasingly difficult to get a handle on the former Blades boss's standing in the game.

Perhaps a year ago things would have been different. Sheffield United fans will not need telling that Wilder's football was far from the dinosaur stuff that those looking at his background might assume, but the side's struggles in front of goal last season will have done nothing to win those people over.

You would hope that those working within the game might have a bit more of a sophisticated understanding than that and appreciate that United's problems last year extended far beyond the manager alone. But the sad truth is there are a lot of chairmen out there whose knowledge is not much better than your average pub punter.

Still, if Scott Parker departs Fulham for Bournemouth as expected and West Brom are successful in their pursuit of Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael, the bookies will be getting odds out on vacancies at Craven Cottage and Oakwell faster than Fat Tony could flood the town with booze.

Our meta-bet would be that Wilder will be featured among the top three to six runners and riders for both jobs – as he will be with every Championship vacancy until he actually takes a job.

Reports have suggested that Wilder was in line for the West Brom vacancy but the club's sporting director Luke Dowling could not sign-off from the board – leading him to quit in protest.

It's bizarre, then, that prior to Dowling's departure they seemed keen on former Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner, the prospect of whom proved even more unpopular with the fans. He eventually joined Swiss champions Young Boys in any case.

All of which leaves Wilder in a bit of a strange situation. At the same time you have some people talking up Wilder's England credentials, (mostly Blades fans, of course), you could also find West Brom and now Fulham and Crystal Palace fans being sniffy about the idea of him taking over there.

If you were listing off the leading English managers working in the game today, Wilder's name would sit alongside Dean Smith, Graham Potter and Sean Dyche. And yet West Brom don't want him – despite only being on the hunt for a new boss because Sam Allardyce turned them down?

We are not going to sit here and push the nonsense line that there are no opportunities for British managers. The Premier League has been a global destination for managers for so long that if anything the six British managers currently in place in the top flight amounts to over-representation.

But there is a bit of an image problem for Wilder to overcome if not on the pitch then off it, with his reputation for being outspoken reportedly hugely off-putting to a certain type of chairman.

The right club would make the most of that characteristic bluntness and determination, and if a club is willing to hand the reins over and let Wilder build everything in his own image – as United humbly did in the early years of his tenure having exhausted all other approaches – then his track record suggests he will bring them success.

The outstanding point on Wilder's CV is that he is a specialist in winning promotion, so it wouldn't be too surprising if his next shot at the Premier League came in the form of a leading Championship club rather than straight in at a struggling club.

There's no shame in that, and Wilder will be keen not to Do A Curbishley and let pride stand in the way of his next opportunity. But it needs to be the right job, at the right time – and to hell with the cynics who dismiss him out of hand.



https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/chris-wilder-must-choose-next-20872694

[WhiteJC]

Scott Parker edging closer to Fulham exit

Fulham manager Scott Parker is edging closer to a departure from Craven Cottage this summer.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by Sky Sports, who claim that the 40-year-old and the Cottagers are currently finalising the mutual termination of his contract, ahead of Parker's expected move to Bournemouth on the 1st July.

The report goes on to state that the former England international has already put together his backroom staff in anticipation of taking over at the Vitality Stadium, with the Cherries incumbent manager Jonathan Woodgate looking set to leave the club at the end of the month.

With the uncertainty surrounding Parker's future in west London swirling for a number of weeks now, the fact that Fulham appear close to finally closing the 40-year-old's chapter at the club is sure to have left both Shahid and Tony Khan feeling rather relieved.

Indeed, it had been reported that the relationship between the Fulham hierarchy and the coach had broken down significantly following the club's relegation from the Premier League last term, with Parker having made comments during the season regarding the actions of Tony Khan in relation to the club's transfer business, with the manager labelling the director's involvement as "frustrating."

However, with the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder now looking extremely likely to be on the way to Bournemouth at the end of the month, Khan can now begin to turn his attention to appointing Parker's successor, with recent reports claiming that Swansea City's Steve Cooper is under the consideration of the Fulham bosses.

Whoever the new manager ends up being, however, one thing is certain – Khan will be expecting a swift return to the Premier League next season, and anything other than achieving this feat would represent something of a disaster for Fulham, and likely result in the unknown manager's sacking.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-fc-transfer-rumours/fulham-scott-parker-bournemouth-manager-news-transfer-the-championship

[WhiteJC]

'This could be a smart signing' – Fulham star attracting interest from Norwich City: The verdict

This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo is attracting plenty of interest this summer.

Reports from the Sky Sports Transfer Centre (Monday 21st, 16:02) revealed that Norwich City had joined the hunt to sign the central defender, joining Arsenal and Newcastle United in his list of potential suitors.

While Fulham ended up getting relegated, the 23-year-old looked very impressive at Craven Cottage leading to speculation over a move back to the top flight.

Adarabioyo reportedly has a release clause of £10million after suffering relegation, so would he be a good signing for Norwich?

The team at FLW have their say...

Jacob Potter

This could be a decent addition to the Canaries back-line.

Norwich certainly need additional depth in their defence as they prepare for life back in the Premier League.

Adarabioyo has really impressed me whilst on loan with Blackburn Rovers, and he probably deserves a chance to impress in the top-flight.

If he can build on those impressive showings heading into the new season, then it'll be a shrewd bit of business by Daniel Farke's side.

He'll have a point to prove at a higher level than the Championship as well, and at the age of 23, he's got plenty of room to develop at senior level.

He ticks all the boxes for Norwich heading into the summer.

Adam Jones

At just 23 still, Tosin Adarabioyo has even more more room for improvement and would be a good signing for Daniel Farke, as the defender looks to avoid two successive relegations.

Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale suffered this fate with AFC Bournemouth and then the Blades – but if Adarabioyo does well and the Canaries are still relegated – he may be faced with yet another move.

The defender will now want to settle down after loan spells away from former club Manchester City in recent years – and so there will be no shortage of motivation for him to do well if he opts to move to Norfolk.

It's clear a centre back is needed after Ben Gibson returned to Burnley with his loan spell at Carrow Road coming to an end – and his regular appearances in the Premier League last season will be of great benefit to a Norwich side who want to stay up next year.

With Arsenal and Newcastle United already in the race, they will need to move quickly and may even need to trigger his £10m release clause very quickly if the Canaries want to secure his signature.

The Premier League season is coming down the tracks quickly so this move could help to set the tone for the rest of their window.

Ned Holmes

This could be a smart signing for Norwich, for me.

Tosin Adarabioyo was a regular fixture in the Fulham backline last season and though Scott Parker's side were relegated, he didn't look particularly out of place at top flight level.

Grant Hanley and Ben Gibson are good options for Daniel Farke but adding Adarabioyo looks to be a smart move.

The defender is understood to have a £10m release clause in his contract, which looks a great price for a 23-year-old centre-back with a bright future.

Norwich have been very smart in the transfer market in recent years, this move would be them continuing that.




https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/this-could-be-a-smart-signing-fulham-star-attracting-interest-from-norwich-city-the-verdict/

[WhiteJC]

DoF has Fulham midfielder on list in case of star's departure – Most expensive option

Here's Fulham midfielder Andre Zambo Anguissa getting linked to Napoli once again.

A couple of weeks ago, we'd already seen a suggestion in the Italian media that the Serie A side should go for the 25-year-old, as former Napoli player Salvatore Bagni said the Cameroon international would be a good acquisition for them.

Now it seems that tip has been followed, because according to newspaper Tuttosport, Anguissa is indeed one of the options that the Italian club have for the summer market.

The outlet writes that director Cristiano Giuntoli has set a list of three names who could replace midfielder Fabian Ruiz in case he's sold, and the Fulham player is among them.

Napoli's options are said to be Sampdoria's Morten Thorsby, Bordeaux's Toma Basic and Fulham's Anguissa.

They set the names in a list from the cheapest to the most expensive, meaning they would have to spend more in case they go for the Cottagers' player.

Anguissa has also been recently linked to Milan, with his agent offering him to the Serie A giants, meaning an Italian battle for his signing could go a long way in helping Fulham get a better fee from any potential sale.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/dof-fulham-midfielder-list-case-stars-departure-expensive-option/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham: Tosin Adarabioyo could leave in cut-price deal

Fulham could see Tosin Adarabioyo depart Craven Cottage on a cut-price deal this summer.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by Football League World, who claimed that the 23-year-old centre-back could leave west London for as little as £10m in the summer transfer window due to a release clause in his contract.

It is reported that this clause is only active until 14 July, meaning that if any of Newcastle United, Arsenal or Norwich City – all of whom have been linked with a move for the former England under-19 international – wish to make a move for Adarabioyo at a reduced price, they will have to do so quickly.

Fans should be concerned

While the news that the £10m release clause in the former Manchester City man's contract at Craven Cottage is only active for a matter of weeks could be viewed as a good thing, the fact that Adarabioyo has a clause in his contract for such a small fee should be enough reason for Fulham fans to be concerned.

Having impressed for Scott Parker's side last season, as well as currently being valued by Transfermarkt at £10.8m, should a club go on to activate the 23-year-old's release clause this summer, it would be something of a disaster for the west Londoners ahead of their upcoming Championship campaign.

Indeed, over his 33 Premier League appearances last term, the £27,000-per-week centre-back helped his side to keep nine clean sheets, as well as averaging 1.3 interceptions, 1.1 tackles and 5.8 clearances per game. These metrics saw Adarabioyo earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.92, ranking him as the Cottagers' ninth-best performer in the top flight.

With Fulham hoping to secure an immediate return to the top flight next season, losing one of the club's brightest starlets – whom Tony Mowbray dubbed an "exceptional talent" – for less than his current market valuation would not be a good way to kick off the new season for the Cottagers, nor would it look well on the club's hierarchy for allowing the clause in his contract in the first place.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-fc-transfer-rumours/fulham-transfer-news-scott-parker-tosin-adarabioyo-newcastle-united-arsenal-norwich-city-the-championship

[WhiteJC]

Steve Cooper to Fulham: What do we know so far? Is it likely to happen?

While it's hardly been a lightning-quick start to the transfer window, there has been no shortage of drama on the managerial merry-go-round.

A number of the Championship's biggest teams are still searching for a new boss, while some of their second-tier rivals appear at risk of losing theirs.

Both Fulham and Swansea City are in the latter camp, with links now emerging between Swans boss Steve Cooper and the west London club.

We've examined what we know so far, to investigate whether or not it is likely to happen...

What do we know so far?

Sky Sports has indicated that Fulham and current manager Scott Parker are in the process of mutually terminating the 40-year-old's contract, which is set to run until the summer of 2023.

It is said that Parker is lined up to take charge at Bournemouth, while it seems the west London club are hoping to raid a Championship rival for their new boss.

According to The Sun, Fulham are eyeing Cooper as their replacement for the outgoing coach and are happy to pay the £3.5 million compensation needed to prize him away from the South Wales club.

The Welshman is understood to be their first choice target and appears to be out of the running for the Crystal Palace job as the south London club have reportedly ripped up their shortlist and are assessing new candidates.

Is it likely to happen?

It certainly looks as though Fulham are going to push hard to get him, whether or not he will make the switch remains to be seen.

Cooper would likely have more resources to work with at Craven Cottage – with a squad that has recently been playing Premier League football and finances boosted by parachute payments.

The £3.5 million compensation does not appear to be an issue for the west London club as they prepare for the departure of Parker, which seems to be growing ever closer.

Keep a close eye on this one because it could just be a matter of time.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/steve-cooper-to-fulham-what-do-we-know-so-far-is-it-likely-to-happen/

[WhiteJC]

2000/01: Low-Key Key Games

Everyone has a favourite game from 2000/01. Blackburn away is largely the pick of those that didn't technically secure anything, while cementing promotion and the title against Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday, respectively, hold wonderful memories.

But with Fulham winning 30 of our 46 league fixtures that year, there are plenty that may not spring to mind quite as readily, so we've selected five victories that proved crucial on our way to the Division One title.

Birmingham City 1-3 Fulham (Friday 18th August 2000)

After a fifth place finish the previous season, Birmingham went into 2000/01 as one of the favourites for promotion. Hosting fellow challengers Fulham in just the second game of the campaign looked a tasty encounter, and so Sky Sports nabbed it for live television coverage in its Friday night slot.

The sub-plot to the evening was a home debut for Geoff Horsfield. A real favourite during his time at Craven Cottage, the arrival of Jean Tigana paved the way for the burly striker's move to the Midlands, landing the Club £2.25m – a record sale at the time.

Often a clash between two supposedly evenly matched sides would have a cagey opening, but Fulham were in front with just 40 seconds played when John Collins crashed in his first for the Whites after Darren Purse was unable to clear.

The Blues centre-back was not enjoying his Friday night, with his short pass taken off the toes of the last defender by Louis Saha just after the half hour mark. There was only one outcome when that happened.

Things got even worse for City when their big money signing Horsfield went off injured.

Speaking in his next programme notes, Chris Coleman said: "It was good of you all to give Super Geoff a standing ovation when he got stretchered off. It was a tough old collision with Maik Taylor, and we all know Geoff's not one to shirk a challenge. But don't feel too sorry for him – when I watched the game on TV I saw him laughing after I got booked for pulling his shirt!"

Horsfield's replacement – the Brazilian forward Marcelo – immediately set up Danny Sonner to pull one back, but Fulham retained their two goal advantage at the break when some opportunistic thinking from Sean Davis saw him pop a quick free-kick into the corner.

Blues introduced a 20-year-old Andrew Johnson at the interval to try and add some attacking impetus, but it was the Whites who went closest to another goal when Lee Clark hit the post.

Afterwards, Birmingham manager Trevor Francis said his team had just lost to the best side he'd come up against during his five years as boss at St Andrew's.

Norwich City 0-1 Fulham (Monday 28th August 2000)

Don't remember this one? Can't really blame you. In a season where Fulham played with style and flair, this was a game when grit and determination was needed to get the three points.

That said, the goal was still a thing of beauty. In the 88th minute, Louis Saha cut in from the right and fed Sean Davis, who then played the slickest of one-twos with John Collins before tucking a smart reverse pass in towards Luis Boa Morte.

The on-loan Southampton man slid a first time strike under the onrushing Canaries goalkeeper David Marshall to get his second goal for the Club, coming just two days after his first in a 4-1 victory over Stockport County.

It was a rare moment of quality in what was a bad tempered game. Eight players were booked, with a few of those as a result of a melee between pretty much everyone on the pitch after an altercation between Barry Hayles and Darel Russell.

That one day of rest after Stockport was the reason for some lethargy in the display, according to Jean Tigana: "One of the main reasons that we found the Norwich game so hard was that our players had not had enough time to recover from Stockport. There was definitely a lack of freshness in the legs."

Carrow Road was only our fourth league outing of the season, but having cruised to stylish victories in the opening three, it was pleasing to see us show we could grind out wins when called upon.

Bolton Wanderers 0-2 Fulham (Saturday 30th September 2000)

As the end of September approached, only three clubs boasted an unbeaten record in Division One: Fulham, Watford, and Bolton.

Sam Allardyce's side were brilliant in 1999/00, reaching the Semi-Finals in the FA Cup, League Cup, and Play-Offs. It was form they continued the following season, winning six and drawing two of their opening eight fixtures.

It meant that Boa Morte's bookending brace secured arguably our most impressive victory of the campaign so far. The first came after just 11 seconds, despite the fact that Bolton had kicked off, when he beat Jussi Jääskeläinen to prod home.

Jääskeläinen was the home side's star man at the Reebok Stadium, although Barry Hayles did strike a post in the 70th minute with the goalkeeper beaten.

All the time that we were just one goal to the good, Bolton were a threat with the attacking players in their side, so it came as a relief when Boa Morte wrapped things up with five minutes to play, netting the rebound after Jääskeläinen had saved his initial effort.

It was a statement-making win, with Boa Morte taking his chance in the starting XI after Louis Saha had been ruled out through injury.

"You always get confidence from scoring goals, and I think all the team gets confidence from it too, which then makes everyone want to find an opportunity for one another," Boa said afterwards.

"I felt sorry for Louis to be injured, but that's football. Sometimes it will be me injured or Barry injured."

West Bromwich Albion 1-3 Fulham (Saturday 9th December 2000)

Having drawn our last two away matches, a win at the Hawthorns against an in-form West Brom outfit was most welcome.

The Baggies were sitting third in the Division One standings ahead of the game, but any confidence they had took an early hit when Sean Davis nabbed a rare headed goal, flicking in Bjarne Goldbaek's corner at the near post.

In an eventful first half, Barry Hayles had a goal bizarrely ruled out before the Baggies twice threatened an equaliser when Richard Sneekes smashed the crossbar and Maik Taylor saved Neil Clements' venomous free-kick.

That was all before the 28 minute mark, which saw Davis grab his second in stunning fashion, winning possession and crashing a brilliant shot in off the underside of the bar from 30 yards.

Albion halved the deficit through Des Lyttle's second half tap-in, but debutant Andrejs Stolcers came off the bench to wrap things up late on.

For Davis, that afternoon represented something of a sliding doors moment.

"I was a bit of a naughty boy, I got caught going out in the week," he explained. "The whole team, to be fair, went out, but I was the only one who got caught!

"So I had a lot to prove, but Tigana kept me in the side and I scored two goals. If I hadn't scored or played well that day it could have been a totally different season for me."

Fulham 2-0 Queens Park Rangers (Saturday 10th March 2001)

When Fulham welcomed QPR to Craven Cottage, we were on what was – by our own high standards – a sticky run of form.

The previous eight games had yielded just 12 points from a possible 24, but a 2-0 victory over our local rivals was the first of five wins from six which would confirm promotion.

After Louis Saha headed against the bar, a youthful Peter Crouch had a couple of half chances for the visitors, but it was the Whites who went in front through a Saha penalty after Steve Finnan was fouled as he chased up Lee Clark's shot which had come off the woodwork.

Not for the first time this season, Fulham had to be patient as we waited for an opportunity to kill the game off, and Clark demonstrated all the composure in the world to coolly angle a low shot inside the far post in front of the Hammersmith End in the 90th minute, to secure a first double over QPR in 70 years.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/june/2000-01-Low-Key-Key-Games/