Fulham rumours for January '06

Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

Yes, players are usually a little more expensive in January. However, I do not think Fulham would be able to pay a fee of around 7 million pounds for Bridge. That is what they paid Southampton in 2003. Now, his fee might have come down some, but not much.

 

RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

Thrilled to have a quality left back in Wayne Bridge, even if it is only for the remainder of the season.

I did read that Pompey rejected our bid for Taylor.

 

RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

If Bridge likes it at the Cottage, maybe he'll want to stay after the loan deal is up. It's sort of like when the Cardinals acquired Mark McGwire--he was going to go free agent but he liked St. Louis so much, he resigned with them.

Fulham has one big advantage over Chelsea--steady playing time. Also, he doesn't have to move his home. We're not that far from a spot in Europe if we go on a winning streak. If we at least made a run, Bridge might think it's worth staying if there is a possibility of European football.

BTW, I head a rumor that we might up our bid on Taylor to 2.3 million pounds. If we get both Bridge and Taylor, maybe we can sell Knight...

 

RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

 

RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

Today's dirt...

Fulham are keen to sign Middlesbrough striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who is out of favour at the club. (The Times)

Bristol City have taken Fulham's Adam Green on loan for the rest of the season. (Sky Sports)

Barcelona have received an offer from an unnamed English club for Argentinian striker Maxi Lopez, sporting director Txiki Beguiristain has revealed. Although Barca would not confirm the identity of the English bidder, both Fulham and, most recently West Ham, have expressed an interest in signing Lopez. (Sky Sports)

 

RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

Any idea how much Boro is asking for Hasselbaink? Another striker would not hurt, but I am thinking another central defender would help more than an aging Hasselbaink.

 

RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

Hasselbaink is a luxury player - plays when he is in the mood but is a liability when he is not. We can't afford to have this kind of player in our team - we have too many already. I agree, a no-nonsense center back is the order of the day. Any suggestions anyone? I know this will probably meet with derision, but I would take a chance on Darren Purse at Cardiff - I think he'd do fine as a back-up for Goma or Bocca.

 

RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

A mid can be a striker... but how often are the lauded strikers effective in the mid?

Collins John ... and Jeff Cunningham.. come to mind.

I think CC has learned a lot.

I am impressed with his strategy of "Quality where you can get it, otherwise attitude trumps!"

 

RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

According to SkySports.com, Fulham is very close to wrapping up a deal for Tottenham midfielder Michael Brown for 1.7 million pounds. It would be a good signing for us.

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid ... Brown+deal

 

RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

Today's JFH rumour:

From The Sun via the BBC: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is set for a shock move from Middlesbrough to Fulham.

Skysports.com?s verison of the story:

Fulham are rumoured to have offered Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink an 18-month contract in a bid to lure the striker from Middlesbrough. With the transfer window closing on Tuesday, time is running out for Chris Coleman to complete a deal for the striker whose Boro deal has just six months left to run. The 33-year-old is expected to countenance any offers having become increasingly disillusioned by his bit-part role on Teesside this season and a move to The Cottagers would solve Coleman's search for a proven Premiership goalscorer.

However, the Welshman may have to wrest Hasselbaink from a reluctant Boro manager Steve McClaren. While McClaren is unlikely to offer the veteran a new deal upon the expiry of his existing contract, the under-fire boss is wary of depleting a squad who are gearing up for a battle to avoid relegation. "I want Jimmy to stay because he is doing what he does best - being in the right place at the right time," said McClaren to The Sun. "It can't have been easy this last month. I've been playing Yakubu [Aiyegbeni] and Mark Viduka but Jimmy has never let us down. It has been an emotional period for him."

My comment: Andy Cole was useful when (at least early in the year) if we needed a goal, he'd punch it in. Maybe JFH can play that role coming off the bench. Should we start him, though, as he seems to want? Well, I can't see benching two from this list: BMcB, CJ, and HH. I have heard that JFH's autobiography is a really good book. If we get him, I might pick it up.

 

Re: RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

If we do get Hasselbaink, I would think he would jump right into the starting XI. He is a proven Premiership scorer and I assume that part of the move would be an agreement that he will get some solid playing time. While I like Collins John and Heidar Helguson, the pairing of McBride and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is very intriuging to me.

 

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

Fulham has loaned Zesh Rehman out to Norwich City for the rest of the season. I see this as a good move for Zesh to get some first team action on a consistent basis.

 

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

Fulham has offiicially signed Michael Brown to a three and a half year deal that will keep him at the Cottage until the end of the 2008-2009 season. The 29-year-old midfielder will battle for a spot in the center of midfield along with Papa Bouba Diop, Steed Malbranque, Claus Jensen (if he is ever healthy) and Simon Elliott.

Brown appeared in 34 matches last season before getting injured. He has only made 11 appearances this season for Tottenham and was down in Martin Jol's pecking order. That is not to say he is not a bad player as Tottenham's midfield is loaded.

 

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

In what I see as a very good move, Fulham has loaned keeper Jaroslav Drobny out to Dutch Eredivisie strugglers ADO Den Haag for the remainder of the season. Good to see he will get some experience and some first team action this season. I am not sure if he will be the future keeper of Fulham or not, but this can only help him.

 

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

I agree totally with Tom's editorial on the very successful January that Fulham had. In particular, the players brought in add some depth to a thin squad, and all have contributed already.

Simon Elliott was the one player that I did not think much of at first, especially following the Leyton Orient game, but he impressed me yesterday. He is GREAT on corners, something we needed (a role many thought Claus Jenson would bring if he could stay on the pitch). Every corner was a scoring chance--right in there, ready to be put in.

 

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

Set pieces were definitely where Elliot shined with the Crew. I, too, am happy to see that he seems to be getting comfortable with the pace of the Prem and think he will give the Cottagers some extra depth.

 

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

I still say he sucked on corners, esp right corners, with the Crew, Jux.

Perhaps I was only disappointed that Paule wasnt available for them.. he was excellent, but still I cannot have been imagining that, all season!

And, again, set pieces from a free and from corners are two different things.

And , BTW, I think the phrase "pace of the Prem" is either highly overused and over-rated, or else there's not many Europeans that have adjusted, either.

Given there's a distinction between speed of play, 'work-rate' and vision/reaction, but just WTF IS 'pace'?

Jeff Cunningham (there's that again) has 'pace', Collins John has 'pace'... now throw that in 'with a bag o' Crisps'!

Never mind, I'll just stand over here...
:?

 

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Petrov in? Looks serious!

When I said "corners", I should have said "set pieces", including both corners and free kicks. The goal was off a free kick, not a corner. That being said, his corners were very good, too, even though we did not score off of any of them.