Fulham summer 2018

Bingo.

I think Fredericks improved a lot in his time with Fulham. And I think he's still got room for improvement. Speed doesn't slump, and he got better and better harnessing it to his soccer skills. No one's irreplaceable, and I wasn't to upset when he went to West Ham. But make no mistake, Christie isn't as fast as he was, although he may be a better overall footballer. But there's no replacement for pace.

 

Blown away seeing Schurrle in a Fulham kit. Sign Mitro and add some defensive depth and we should be in good shape.

 

I actually got to see his 3 goal display at the cottage in Dempsey's last game with Fulham and my only trip to see the Whites. I'm trying to get that out of my head.

 

Some interesting news bits for today...

First K-Mac has signed a new two-year deal with an option for a third year. Good news.
http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/july/27/kevin-mcdonald-new-contract

Second, there are reports that Fulham are in talks with Porto regarding Mexican national Hector Herrera. Herrera plays the same position as McDonald. Depth and coverage perhaps? But I'm not a fan of it - partially because he's a mortal enemy of US Soccer and partially because he has a 35m pound release clause. The article below mentions that Porto would possibly accept a 20+m pound offer. But I feel that obtaining Mitro is more important now and a better use of transfer dollars.
http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/07/fulham-make-herrera-offer/

 

Numerous reports out that Mitro has left Newcastle's side in Portugal, where they played a 0-0 draw against Porto today, to fly to the UK, supposedly to come to SW6 for a medical after the clubs supposedly agreed on a transfer fee.

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...le-accept-fulhams-20m-aleksandar-mitrovic-bid

There are conflicting reports about us possibly signing CB Alfie Mawson from Swans. One American outlet says we're "in the pole position."

http://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-t...to-sign-swansea-defender-alfie-mawson-sources

But a more recent post from a somewhat dubiously named website, "madaboutepl.net" claims he's going to Burnley.

https://madaboutepl.net/2018/07/burnley-favourites-to-sign-swansea-citys-alfie-mawson/

Most all agree Wet Spam is out after having been in for the last 24 hours or so.

I'm more optimistic about the Mitro reports, but I'd attempt a cartwheel if both he and Mawson arrived on the same day. Mawson was somewhat like Ryan Sess in that he was a dark horse candidate for inclusion in England's World Cup squad by Gareth Southgate. Getting Mitro back would be huge, of course, but I'd be tempted to try a cartwheel if we got somebody like Mawson.

 

Perhaps I should start stretching to prep for the cartwheel...

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...ham-move-with-swansea-talks-at-advanced-stage

 

Oh, and, as an aside (not really), KMac has been extended. The good news keeps on coming. Hopefully there'll be more before the day is out.

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/july/27/kevin-mcdonald-new-contract

 

Mitro deal is OFFICIAL!

Mitro Returns https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/july/30/aleksandar-mitrovic-returns

 

I must say that I've not been this excited about Fulham in many years!

 

at what point do we become concerned that we're basically the same team as last year and how does that translate to Premiership level? I do think they can score goals, but could become a poor-man's Liverpool, leaving the back susceptible to counters that we can't defend.

 

Eh, we'll be more different than you think.

Kalas, Piazon, Norwood, Ojo, Targett are all gone and not coming back (though Targett miiight). Fredericks left.

I dont know if Bettinelli will be our starting GK. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ayite, Fonte, Cisse, and Woodrow (remember him?) leave permanently or on loan.

There's probably 1-2 more players coming in, and 2-3 going out, by the August 9 deadline.

 

A poor man's Liverpool? I think I'd take that in a heart beat. Best I can tell, they've only been relegated twice, the last time in 1954. Took them 9 years to get back into the First Division, where they've stayed ever since. And they did make it to the Champion's League final. If they'd had Marcus in goal instead of Karius, they might have done better.

 

I'm confused? What team do you want? Tottenham? Arsenal? Stoke? The beauty of last year was even though it didn't show right away, our team continued to play their style. All year (on this forum and other places) we heard, this dude is shit, why isn't this one playing, we need a #9 (OK Don was partly right about that) but in the end we saw Slavisa and the boys stick to their guns and play some of the best football on display at any level in England!

Why wouldn't we want THAT team back? Even if it means they get destroyed by Man City, even if it means we go back down. I love this club because its original, family oriented and now, Thank Slavisa, were back to playing a beautiful game of football ever time we step on the pitch.

Regarding the summer transfer window, I have had a blast talking smack to all my friends this summer as I think Fulham has absolutely killed it. Mitro, Seri, Schuerrle, Cairney, Macca, Sess!, Fabri and maybe more to come. Man...I thought I would come back and see nothing but fucking rainbows and hearts on the forum.

Cant wait for the year to kick off, can't wait to go back down to Finn McCools in the morning and enjoy a good bit of banter, honestly I cant wait to get beat by Tottenham playing our game, with our team.

Peace,
Coach K

 

If we can get this and the Mawson deal done, I think we’re good to go.

 

I'd say we still need a LB wether that's target or someone else. As things stand though, assuming mawson, were in pretty good shape and should easily stay up.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

Another goalless outing for Fulham against Sampdoria today... bleh.

Americans de la Torre and Fossey got a lot of praise though.
https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/fulham-sampdoria-live-match-updates-14969385

 

After watching the Championship for the past few seasons I don't feel like there is much difference between the top 25% of the Championship and the bottom 50% of the Premier League. Could the Fulham that saw out the last half of 2017-18 be competitive with Southampton, Huddersfield, Brighton & Hove, Watford, West Ham, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Newcastle? Sure. Lots of people said Wolverhampton was a Premier League quality team in the Championship and we beat them 2-0. We haven't lost anyone that I feel is a key player from last season, so I don't see why we can't compete for a mid-table finish. Certainly we could do worse than that but I don't see us in any danger already.

We've done pretty well with bringing in new people and keeping key players. The only thing we haven't been able to do is win pre-season matches. That is slightly concerning, especially the lack of scoring, but we've been trying out a number of younger players and done all but 30 minutes without Mitrovic - so I'm not going to read too much into that.

More can be done to put Fulham in a better position, but I'm not worried. There is no guarantee of success, but we also aren't doomed to failure.

 

The Chairman has put his money where his mouth is in terms of wanting the club to be 'sustainable' in the Top Flight. Add those two defenders (can't say I saw much of Swansea last year), but was bummed to see Targett go back (fingers-crossed he's back), and that is the best window I can remember. Will that translate to the pitch? Who knows, but I trust the gaffer to maximize the talent at his disposal.

 

I can not more strongly agree with the right honourable gentleman's opinion, nor can I state it more eloquently. I would even suggest that the 50% figure might be generous. Everton, Burnley and Leicester City don't scare me much, either. Lump Cardiff in with Wolves, plus new managers at Arsenal and Chelsea and, SHA-ZAM, you've got a recipe for an underdog story like '94-'95 Blackburn or '15-'16 Leicester City.
Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

 

Don't know what effect, if any, this will have on our chances of bringing Targett back, but you won't find too many assists better than this pair from him against our Saturday opponent, Celta Vigo, at Saint Mary's. I think Sparky would be an idiot to get rid of him, but, hey, never say never.