Locked: Summer 2007 ins and outs

Very true. We all know people are attracted to the big time and bright lights. Soccer is far from being a sport about loyalties to clubs.

I guess the best FFC can hope for is to become a "feeder" team and strong in the UEFA Cup and domestic cups.

 

I hope Fulham never becomes labeled as a feeder club. That title is reserved of other minnow clubs, not Fulham.

If Fulham is able to crack the top ten in the two to three seasons it would be fantastic for the club and they could surely attract some talent with a finish like that. Villa, Blackburn, City and Middlesborough aren't that far ahead of Fulham in my opinion. Fulham is about a solid central defender and a quality winger away from some of their positions in the table.

 

My rant was mainly targeted to the transfer rumors in general. Seems like all I keep reading about from the non Top 4 clubs is throwing all your money at one or two players in hope they would come play for you.

They obviously don't follow the NBA, or else they would see the Lakers as a great example of relying on only one or two solid players.

 

Southampton reject Fulham's offer

Southampton have rejected an offer for Chris Baird


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 721641.stm

 

Every team outside of the top 4 is a feeder club and even though that sounds awful, its the truth. Its a sad part of what the sport has become in England.

 

I guess I look at that the premier league with a "glass half full" mentality. I hope for the smaller to accomplish something great, knock one of the larger clubs off their pedestal or upset them in a pivotal match.

When you honestly look at the EPL, I guess I would have to agree with you mike. No one really aspires to play for Aston Villa, Pompey, Reading, Middlesborough, etc. as their career ambition. They look to win silverware with one of the big four or go abroad and see if they can achieve their aspirations.

 

Being a Fulham fan is about savouring the victories no matter how small they are - Tegana's promotion, returning to the Cottage, beating Chelsea/Man U/Liverpool/Arsenal, not being relegated - I have many happy memories of being a Fulham fan, and the thing that I hang out for is that one day we will win the FA cup and I will be there to watch it.

 

I'm not sure if this is the point you were trying to make, but the Lakers won three straight championships by relying on two solid players. 2/5 ≈ 4/11, but I think those two can carry a basketball team more than four players can carry a soccer team.

 

Great post Don, the first part anyway.

(side bar: I've actually figured out how to use the edit button, apologies for the double posts earlier)

It would seem that Lawrie is quite comfortable with the NI players. I know he is familiar with the, but come on LS...3/4 of the players we are linked with are from NI.

 

Great insightful post Don! To answer your questions:

1. It seems as though the only real targets we are looking at are Northern Irish players. I am sure Lawrie and company have other targets, but we are NOT hearing much about them.

2. Being the wishful thinker, I am okay with letting Christanval go. I would like to think we will be getting a slew of new defenders this summer and Christanval would be surplus to requirments for the team. However, this could come back to bite us in the butt if we do NOT get any new defenders.

Now for my question to everyone else..........as Don mentioned we have been linked to a number of Northern Irish players like Steven Davis, Chris Baird and most notable David Healy. Rumours have been swirling since Sanchez's appointment that these players would surely be coming to Fulham. What happens when one or all of these players spurn Sanchez and Fulham and go to other clubs? What will that say about Sanchez and his abilities in the transfer market when he can't even get his own players to come to the club? Will it just show that money is the big factor for these players or will it tell us something different about Sanchez? With it becoming a real possibility that all of these players could go elsewhere these are questions that will likely come up in the not too distant future.

 

I think teams that can consistently make the UEFA Cup can keep their players and bring in good talent.

I see 5 groupings of EPL Teams.
1. Consistent Champions League
2. Consistent UEFA Cup / Challenge for Champions League
3. Consistent Top Half / Challenge for UEFA Cup
4. Consistent Mid Table
5. Lower Third / New Promotions

Fulham's Goal should be Group #3. Doing that, they can keep all but their most incredible young talent.

 

George Burley is an idiot!!! We offered 2.5 i think it was for some dude i've never even heard of, and he goes off on what a poor offer it was and how they're hanging on to their guy....what a dumb a!!!!

 

How about this for a twist, if it has not already been mentioned. Whether they sign for Fulham or go on to sign for more money for another team, Sanchez will be considered a champion of N. Ireland and will have fulfilled a promise to promote N. Ireland players regardless of where they end up.

Sanchez could still feel indebted to his National Team. This may be his way of providing a mea culpa.

 

what about Wayne? I like him...although we have Demps too...but I say snatch him up if the price is right.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hli ... eady+to+go

 

Agree.

---- Routledge ------ Dempsey --------- Bullard -------- Richardson


I'd say, just with that midfield alone, nearly guarantee 1 goal a match.

 

this board really slows down when TOC is offline.

 

I whole heartedly agree. The Bullard loss was huge last year. If you can get Routledge back and add somebody on the right side or even keep Brown around, that sir, is a force to be reckoned with.

 

Dogg I am back to waste all of the forumites meaningful time. It is just a bit busy in the office today.

FFCinPCB...

Love the midfield that is put together. Richardson would fit brilliantly into that side and goals would be guaranteed to come. Would be an underrated midfield at the start of the campaingn, but by the end everyone will know who they are.

Tom...

I most certainly hope Sanchez can sign at least one of the NI players to at least save face. They are a talented bunch, but I doubt that the lot of them have the quality to be in the starting XI. For the most part the NI players were quite successful under LS, but when they compare his style to the style of their respective clubs they may realize that they could do better under another manager. If LS can't land any of them...I will be a bit worried. Odds are that he is shopping around though.