Player Transfer Gossip

Hitzfeld would be an interesting choice.

 

Sven, Hughes, Moyes, have all managed in the Prem. Bob hasn't. Thus he's a question mark. I'd rather see us appoint someone who will be a bit more of a known quantity. Why is this so hard for you?

It's not an insult to Bob. Doesn't mean I think he can or can't do the business. Over the last 2 years, his tactics have come to resemble Roy's quite a bit, so I actually think he might not be a bad hire and fit. But on the back of our last 2 years, there are candidates that are more of a known quantity "alledgedly" available to us and I'd rather we pursue them at this time.

 

I get that.. that's my point. Got a decent core squad, got a good locker room and feelings about the last season. So when better

Concerning Sven, anyone else have the idea that an extra 1.5 or 2 million paid on Sven's wages is that much less for players?

What's Hitzfeld's bill?

 

Fulham's hopes of luring Sven Goran Eriksson to Craven Cottage could be in jeopardy after the Swede revealed he is considering an offer to extend his contract as Ivory Coast manager.

The former England boss is reported to be one of a number of high-profile names on the shortlist for the Fulham job, which was vacated by Roy Hodgson who left to join Liverpool a fortnight ago.

However, Eriksson told Swedish broadcaster SVT: "They (Ivory Coast) were really pleased (with the team's efforts in the World Cup) and I guess that I can stay on if I want to. If so, it will be for four years until the next World Cup finals."

Eriksson, who has considerable international experience having led England at three major tournaments, took over as Elephants boss on a short-term contract before the World Cup.

The 62-year-old failed to guide the team through a difficult group in South Africa but it seems they are keen for Eriksson to stay on until the next World Cup in Brazil.

He added: "I'll make up my mind in a week or so. I have to do it soon since there are friendlies in August and qualifications for the Africa Cup of Nations in September and October."

Switzerland manager Ottmar Hitzfeld and United States boss Bob Bradley are also thought to be on Fulham's wishlist as they look for a manager with proven experience to succeed Hodgson, who guided the Londoners to the Europa League final last year.

Eriksson's relationship with Cottagers chief executive Alistair Mackintosh, who he used to work with at Manchester City, could work to his advantage but he says he is in the dark over the claims he is in line to take over at the west London club.

"I do not know, honestly. I do not think Fulham have decided what they want to do," said Eriksson.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... q7QdRe9-rA

 

WTH! If he's STILL saying they havent talked to him, then they arent talking to him.

So I wonder if they're talking to anyone ELSE on that supposed 'list'.. including Bradley who we SHOULD know was made of whole cloth here in the good old USA.

Anyone else remember the last time? There were 'leaks and sources'.

 

Three players he wants to bring with him? Please enlighten me, I'm new here. Did I see somewhere that this had something to do with Citeh boys?

 

For what it's worth, and for the sake of speculation:

Players Sven signed for Man City:
Rolando Bianchi (forward, 27, now with Torino)
Gelson Fernandes (midfielder, 23, now with St.-Etienne)
Geovanni (winger, 30, unattached after leaving Hull a little over a week ago)
Martin Petrov (midfielder, 31, just joined Bolton)
Vedran Corluka (defender, 24, now with Spurs)
Elano (midfielder, 29, now with Galatasaray)
Javier Garrido (defender, 25, still with al-Citeh)
Valeri Bojinov (forward, 24, just signed a permanent deal with Parma after being loaned there from al-Citeh all last season)
Felipe Caicedo (forward, 21, still with al-Citeh but spent all last season loaned out at Sporting and Malaga)
Benjani (forward, 31, unattached after leaving al-Citeh last month)
Nery Castillo (forward, 26, went to al-Citeh on loan and now back with Shakhtar)

Out of that group, I could certainly see him bringing in Garrido, who could be surplus at City with Wayne Bridge also there. Caicedo is an interesting prospect as well, young and talented and presumably not likely to get much a chance with Roque Santa Cruz and Bellamy and Adebayor and Tevez and Jo and Robinho presumably all ahead of him on the depth chart. And Geovanni wouldn't be a bad short-term pickup on a free if a bigger club were to offer a lot of money for Dempsey or Davies or Duff or Gera.

Dunno what goalkeeper he'd be trying to bring in; Joe Hart was his main guy during his year at City, but as I said upthread I'd be surprised if they let him go. Ivory Coast's starter, Boubacar Barry, isn't really all that good (plays for Lokeren in Belgium), and if America were going to sell Memo Ochoa then I have to imagine they could get more money than we'd be able to pay. So, no real idea here.

Man, this is fun to speculate about, even if it is just making shit up.

 

Ivory Coast manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is set to turn down the chance of a return to the Premier League with Fulham and stay with the African side.
Full story: Daily Mirror



I know this is not transfer Gossip but I'm sure your thinking WTF????


Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham says if he was not a football player he would like to build Lego for a living.
Full story: Daily Star

I'm sure he would fcuk that up too!!!

 

Fulham to unveil manager by weekend
By Zain Alvi | 14th July 2010

It didn’t take Roy Hodgson long to jet off to Liverpool after incredibly guiding Fulham to the Europa League final in May. Ever since then, the Cottagers have been looking for an adequate replacement and a few weeks ago, former West Ham boss Alan Curbishley declared that his odds of landing the position would be very low in a highly competitive race to the Craven Cottage hotseat.

At that time, former Manchester City boss Mark Hughes and former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson were the two main contenders for the position. According to the Daily Mail, United States coach Bob Bradley and Switzerland boss Ottmar Hitzfeld also joined the never-ending list of names in the running for the coveted role at the beginning of the week.

Bradley, whose successful run as the manager of a rapidly developing American side has brought him a lot of attention ever since the men in red, white, and blue ended an impressive World Cup campaign in South Africa, has the opportunity to reunite with Clint Dempsey in West London. Furthermore, he can facilitate his talented son Michael Bradley’s move to the Premier League by bringing him to the Cottage as well. Most importantly, his contract in the Premier League will be worth significantly more than his current deal as the U.S. head coach.

Hitzfeld is a name who needs no introduction, having led both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund to Champions League glory. The 61-year old, who speaks English fluently, can also offer a great fit to a Fulham side that certainly needs a wise leader who has excelled while managing at the highest level in the past.

Eriksson is still perceived to be the front-runner, though, as the Cottagers have reportedly set their sights on bringing the Swede in before their pre-season tour begins on Monday. The main bottleneck is reported to be Sven’s high basic wage demand, which is definitely negotiable by the end of the week.

http://www.premiershiptalk.com/2010/07/ ... y-weekend/

 

Johnson backs Bradley for Fulham manager's job

LONDON (AP) — Fulham's American striker Eddie Johnson believes U.S. coach Bob Bradley would be an ideal candidate for the Premier League club's vacant manager's job.
Bradley, who led the United States to the round of 16 at the World Cup, has been linked with the Fulham post since Roy Hodgson joined Liverpool last month.

Bradley, who has coached the Americans since December 2006, has a contract running through the end of the year and hasn't discussed his future since returning from South Africa.

"Bob could do a good job at Fulham," Johnson said. "If you look at the statistics then it's plain to see that he has done a good job with the U.S. They did well in the World Cup, won their group and played really well and that's all down to him.

"He's a very similar manager to Roy," Johnson added. "He plays attractive football but also organizes his team in a defined shape that is hard to play against. They are similar in a lot of ways. The training sessions are very similar and their style on the pitch is."

Bradley is already familiar with the west London club, which reached the Europa League final last season.

"Bob was always keen to come over to Europe to see how the game was over there and he has been over to Fulham's training ground a couple of times and has seen how Roy coached Fulham," Johnson said. "I think that made their styles similar."

The 26-year-old Johnson, who was omitted from Bradley's World Cup squad, has rejoined fellow American Clint Dempsey at Fulham after spending part of last season on loan to Greek team Aris.

"The fans have always been loyal to the American players who have come here," Johnson said. "It's tough for an American to come over here to do well and Clint has done that. He's one of the top players in the Premier League."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2 ... 5458_x.htm

 

Fulham blow as Ottmar Hitzfeld rules himself out of running to replace Roy Hodgson as boss

Ottmar Hitzfeld has ruled himself out of the running to replace Roy Hodgson at Fulham.

The 61-year-old has announced he intends to retire from management when his contract as Switzerland coach expires at the end of the country's Euro 2012 campaign.

Hitzfeld, who won the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, said: 'I've now got another two years in Switzerland – and they will be my last two years in management.'

The German was understood to have held informal talks with Fulham and was on a shortlist of candidates including former England manager Sven Goran-Erikkson and Ajax boss Martin Jol.

Erikkson is still hopeful of a return to the Premier League, but told Swedish broadcaster SVT last night there was also a possibility he could resume his role with the Ivory Coast.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... ds-newsxml

 

So if Jol brings in Keane, does that mean we're gonna offload a striker? (Besides Kamara)

 

I'd love to see Keane partner Zamora but I doubt it happens.

Looks like we've landed Sidwell, though.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Sidwell-agrees-deal-Fulham.html#ixzz0tsqsjF00

 

like the Sidwell deal, and it's cheap, good stuff.

 

What's with the Daily Mail's reference to Sidwell 'flop' at Villa?

 

I think maybe that's just referencing the fact that he was usually the odd man out when everyone else (read: Young, Milner, Downing, Petrov) was healthy. (One of the few starts he made after Stewart Downing got back into the starting lineup early in December was the 7-1 thumping that Villa took from Chelsea.)

 

Looks like we'll definitely need another forward. AJ's out again. This is likely the end of his career as a Premiership player.

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/879987/JOHNSON-FLIES-OUT-TO-SEE-STEADMAN.html

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... mands.html

I love the little tidbit about Zlatan to Fulham...Daily Mail is always good for a cheap laugh.