Niemi Retires

Discussion in 'Fulham FC News and Notes' started by andypalmer, Sep 3, 2008.

  1. andypalmer

    andypalmer Active Member

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    #1
    andypalmer, Sep 3, 2008
  2. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

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    When he hurt himself opening day last season, he never really came back. There was a timidity and rigidity about his positioning and "command" of the area, that wasn't present before. But there were times -- like when Cookie's CB pairing was Zat and Pearcey -- that he truly was Super Hero Niemi.

    Keller was an upgrade, and Schwartzer is one, but Niemi saved our bacon more than a dozen times I can remember, almost standing alone back there. Good career; good luck to the Finn.
     
    #2
    HatterDon, Sep 3, 2008
  3. Team_of_McBrides

    Team_of_McBrides New Member

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    Sad to see Niemi go. He pulled off some amazing saves in his day. Respect...
     
    #3
    Team_of_McBrides, Sep 3, 2008
  4. jmh

    jmh New Member

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    He was huge for the Whites just two short years ago; shame injuries took their toll so quickly. Best of luck to him.
     
    #4
    jmh, Sep 3, 2008
  5. jimsig

    jimsig Active Member

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    He will be missed on the pitch.
     
    #5
    jimsig, Sep 3, 2008
  6. BarryP

    BarryP New Member

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    Unfortunately I never saw Niemi in his prime. I wish him the best in his retirement.

    Does this leave us a little thin at keeper or do Stockdale and Zubwhateverhisnameis give us adequate coverage?
     
    #6
    BarryP, Sep 3, 2008
  7. dcheather

    dcheather Administrator

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    Best wishes to Niemi, who did indeed save our bacon a couple of times a few seasons ago.
     
    #7
    dcheather, Sep 3, 2008
  8. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

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    No, he was never in Roy's plans. If he hadn't been injured, he'd have gone to Liverpool early in the summer or Hull late in the summer. We've got two competent backups. That's as many as we've ever had.
     
    #8
    HatterDon, Sep 3, 2008
  9. jmh

    jmh New Member

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    Don, your man-crush on Stockdale is approaching the level of your man-crushes on Volz and and Heath Pearce. Stockdale has never played a game above League Two. We have no idea whether he's a competent backup in the Premier League.
     
    #9
    jmh, Sep 3, 2008
  10. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

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    Josh,

    Last year we started with Batista and Warner as our backups.
    This year we started with Stockdale and Zuberbuler as our backups. Which pair do you believe is better?
     
    #10
    HatterDon, Sep 3, 2008
  11. SoCalJoe

    SoCalJoe Well-Known Member

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    Bottom-line w/out the play of the Superhero we would have been relegated, period, exclamation point. I'm sure this isn't the way he would've wanted to go out, but how many players (regardless of sport) do? Thanks Antii, you were a credit to the club.
     
    #11
    SoCalJoe, Sep 3, 2008
  12. ohio4fulham

    ohio4fulham New Member

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    Good luck and best wishes to Niemi ...
     
    #12
    ohio4fulham, Sep 3, 2008
  13. jmh

    jmh New Member

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    Last year we had Kasey and Niemi as well as Warner and Batista. I think we were better off last year, to be honest.

    Which isn't the point I was originally making, of course, which is that we don't know enough about Stockdale to know whether or not he's competent at this level.
     
    #13
    jmh, Sep 3, 2008
  14. BarryP

    BarryP New Member

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    I hope that Stockdale and Zuberbuler are better but I am not certain they are. Stockdale just jumped a couple of divisions and wasn't everyone wondering why Roy even gave Zuberbuler a trial?

    My question for you is how many of us were moaning for a new goalie after after the first match last season? I think Kasey saved our hides last year and we were very lucky to get him. I hope the big Aussie goes injury free of course but if he doesn't Stockdale better be a gem in the making.
     
    #14
    BarryP, Sep 3, 2008
  15. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

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    My point was that we're arguably better off now than we were at this time last season. Keller was not with us at that point. Here's the lineup now

    September 2008 ------------------- September 2007

    1. Schwartzer ---------------------- Niemi .... Big edge to 2008

    BU. Zuberbuhler ------------------- Warner ... evens, but I'd go with Z

    Future. Stockdale ------------------ Batista ... evens with no quibbling

    Yes, we picked up Kasey and, who knows, we might pick up someone else in January. But based on what we have now and what we had then, I felt comfortable saying then, as I'm saying now

    How that got interpreted as a "man crush" on Stockdale is beyond me, but I've breathed the air in Brooklyn before, so I know what Josh suffers through on a daily basis, and I'll give him a sprout.
     
    #15
    HatterDon, Sep 3, 2008
  16. timmyg

    timmyg Well-Known Member

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    Well I personally miss the days of Lastuvka and Crossley...
     
    #16
    timmyg, Sep 3, 2008
  17. jmh

    jmh New Member

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    We didn't sign Keller in January, we signed him in August and he made his debut August 25th at Villa.
     
    #17
    jmh, Sep 3, 2008
  18. krhimself

    krhimself New Member

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    Word on the street is that he'll help out Woy in some capacity, probably something to do with scouting Finnish players. Not sure if that'll actually happen, however.

    Best of luck to Antti though, he saved our defenders' blushes on many occasions and served the club pretty well. Just a shame his injuries caught up to him and he had to bow out in this manner.
     
    #18
    krhimself, Sep 3, 2008
  19. richardhkirkando

    richardhkirkando New Member

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    Madison, WI
    After the first match last season, I posted a "We should sign Kasey Keller" thread on TIFF.

    <nick burns>By the way, you're welcome!</nick burns>
     
    #19
    richardhkirkando, Sep 4, 2008
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