Locked: Summer 2007 ins and outs

I am remaining patient, but I do think it is important that Fulham have most all the new players in for the entire preseason training. I think practicing and playing together in the preseason builds teamwork, comradery and chemistry. It also allows for most all players to be on the same page when it comes to Lawrie's philosophies that he will be implementing for the squad this season.

I do think when July hits we will see some new signings. While all the new signings may not be in by the start of preseason I think it would be wise to get as many in as possible in order to start the season as strong as possible.

 

100% Spot on Tom.

 

An unsubstantiated rumor, but I've heard there's a whiskey shortage in the SW6, which could, or could not be, contributing to the delay in the Norn Iron signings...

 

You might be onto something nevzter. Please dig a bit deeper and report your findings as soon as you can...

 

Not my research, it came from a post on TFI.

 

Apologies, I must have looked right past it. Thanks for posting the info at least.

 

Errrrr yeah that was a pretty bad stretch, got my months mixed up. August, October, March, they all run together.

 

Aaron Hughes apparently didn't pass his medical, which is why he hasn't been signed yet. Knee problem

 

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hli ... ball_home&

Sky is reporting that Lee Chun Soo has turned down a Fulham offer because it wasn't good enough, and has gotten a better offer from another Premiership club.

Someone at the FFC forum is saying that he has in fact accepted the offer from Fulham and will sign next week after a medical... according to his Motspur Park source.

Two Koreans would be better than one Korean. Lee and Ki-Hyeon would both play well with Dempsey I think. Both can play the left wing or up front. And Ki-Hyeon can play on the rightside as well.

Cash flow from Korea would go up too.

 

Got a source for that?

 

Had no idea that Hughes wasn't fit. Still rate Seoul Ki-Hyeon over Chun-Soo. Hoping that deal is signed, secured and delievered soon.

 

Contrary to what people seem to be saying here, Seol Ki-Hyeon's Wikipedia page (this was confirmed by another soccer fan I talked to) says he's not left-footed; while capable of playing the left side, he's primarily a righty. That leaves me wondering why we're pursuing him, rather than someone who IS naturally left-sided.

 

That's what I thought, and I'm sure the move is more to appease the LG people than anything. I hate to sound like an American fanboy, but Beasley really is a good fit for us.

 

A left winger doesn't need to be naturally left-footed to be successful. One huge advantage to being right-footed is the ability to drift into the center of the field and deliver a shot with the dominant foot. Lest we forget that Ki-Hyeon provided quality service to Doyle and Lita from the left for the better part of Reading's season...oh, right and he will ONLY COST 1 MILLION QUID. That is a steal no matter how you look at it.

 

According to SteveB on T-F-I.com, moves for the following players are being held up because of wage demands:

Hyyppia
Mido
Ujafalusi
Lee Chun-Soo
Diomansy Kamara

Now, while I do think it is important that Fulham not pay over the odds for new players, I also feel it is necessary for Fulham to pay competitive wages to new players. If a team wants to get some quality players in, that club must be willing to pay for those players in wages.

I have said this for the better part of the last season and a half, but reading this makes me think that once again Al Fayed is playing with fire. If we do NOT pay some of these players, we will go down. The current team will NOT get the job done and we must pay some money to get some quality.

Perhaps the wage demands will decrease a bit with time, but if Al Fayed is unwilling to pay wages for experienced players like Hyypia and Ujafalusi, how can we ever expect this team to be competitive in a league where money is flying around?

I remain confident and patient, but reading things like this really gets me going and makes me believe that Al Fayed is not walking the walk as he said he would when the season ended.

 

I am pretty sure if you stuck a piece of coal up Fayed's arse you would have a diamond in two weeks time.
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I know he isn't rumoured to be in for Fulham, but his name was thrown out earlier in the thread.
From the BBC: "Celtic playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura seeks clarification on his contract amid reports he has a clause allowing him to leave the SPL champions for £1m."

Food for thought.

 

Seriously? That's an awfully low release clause for a player of Nakamura's caliber. (If I recall correctly, the one we got Bullard on was £2.75m, and that would probably have been signed while Wigan were still in the Championship.)

I know you don't *need* to have a left-footed player on the left side, especially if you have a guy who can effectively cut into the middle and rip a shot with his stronger foot. But if we've got McBride and Helguson, and may be pursuing other strikers who are strong in the air (e.g. Pandiani), it seems like it'd be advantageous to at least have the *option* to play a left-footed crosser out there.

That being said, if you can get a good player at a bargain transfer price, you've got to at least consider it.

Tom, I saw the post by Steve B that you quoted above and it makes me a bit nervous. He seems to usually be fairly neutral, passing on what he's heard without too much commentary, so to see him vent like that was a bit disconcerting.

 

Not nearly enough goals scored last year and I would rather rely on shooting from attacking wingers than great service for a header. I know it isn't one or the other, but Ki-Hyeon can put a decent ball in the box and he has a cracking shot.

Nakamura please...

 

http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/070626/1/49gf3.html

The Lee Chun-Soo deal is dead, and according to the report, Fulham offered 100K, which was well below what Chun-Soo was asking. If true, this is an asinine low-ball move with the LG deal beginning and the marketing potential for Fulham in Korea. As Chun-Soo's agent stated, 'we cannot wait around for Fulham to up their offer.' 100,000 pounds - what, did MAF allow the club to only use the funds they found in his couch cushions? An illusory offer by, what is in all accounts and purposes, at this moment, an illusory club. This story killed my transfer season myopia.

 

If Fayed passes on Chun-Soo and agrees to pay Mido's astronomical wages of 25,000 quid per match I will be livid. LS' head must be spinning.