Summer '08: Ins and Outs

oops, didn't mean to make two posts!

 

I'm with you there. Generally, I'd rather sign high-wage players on free transfers than low-wage players for big fees. Last summer I really wanted us to sign Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka - I'm sure that the fees of Baird, Cook, Kamara, etc could have covered their wages, and one of those two certainly would have been more useful to us.

That said, I doubt Elmander goes for £11m. Maybe €11m, though.

Arshavin in particular really made a name for himself in the UEFA Cup, and he's done well to drive his value up even more in the Euros. We should consider looking at some players on Rubin Kazan. They came out of nowhere to dominate the Russian league early on this season...I wouldn't mind plucking a couple of their defenders, before the rest of Europe catches on. If Fulham isn't considered a step down, at least.

 

We offered Steed that amount. If he would've signed, him and Boa would've been on 40k+. We CAN sign a couple of quality players if we get them at the right price.


London is the reason why many would WANT to come here. Also, all you have to do is show somebody the rubbish that goes on at "better" teams and make them realize that we're the better pick.

 

I'm not a big fan of Jagielka (maybe because I'm never exactly sure how to pronounce his name) but I agree with you about Distin. 11M Euros seems more realistic for Elmander but even that is more than I'd want to spend on him if I were Roy.

 

I'm a fan of Jagielka as well. He's a player who is cool under pressure, even when called to duty in an unusual position on the pitch.

I'll never forget that match against Arsenal where Jagielka replaced Kenny in goal for the Blades. He looked better than most regular keepers I've seen when thrown into that situation. Paddy Kenny was about twice his size, so seeing him in Kenny's shirt made him look like a kid in goal taking Arsenal's best shot.

Jagielka's versatility is his best asset. He can play several positions and play them well.

 

1. Say it quick... "Jag - e - yell - ker" often said as "Jag - yell - ker" by lazy southerners like me
2. I agree with HDL and Don on the subject of this player.

 

Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka would have been great additions to Fulham last summer but neither of them wanted to come to Fulham.

Why come to the 5th best team in London when you can go to a top 10 Everton and a top 10 Portsmouth?

 

Perhaps they just did not want to play for Sanchez! If players can see that Roy is going to bring in quality to surround them then perhaps Fulham can push up the best team in London rankings.

 

It becomes a recruiting game (There is the college football fan in me coming right out.). If you are Fulham, then it seems that you need have a manager who can sell himself and the club to players who have multiple offers on the table.

Tigana had that ability...for a bit of time. Sanchez never had it, choosing to move largely in personnel circles and players he already had a relationship with as a coach. Hodgson strikes me as much more worldly-wise. It isn't going to be difficult for him to reach out and make that sales pitch to potential talent. He doesn't need to have a previously-established comfort zone to sell himself and Fulham.

 

I agree, solely based on the way he has conducted himself in interviews, his demeanor and the way in which he chooses words and his phraseology, not to mention the results he got out of the club, convinces me of what you are saying.

He is a confident man, without being arrogant. He is calming, smart, and wordly, but at the same time not elitist. He would seem to me to be exaclty the kind of guy who could make a prospect feel comfortable and excited about coming to Fulham, when all else ($$'s) are about the same.

 

I totally agree, which is why I think Fulham will move up a little bit in the standings this season... but not go as high as some would like because teams like Portsmouth, Everton, and even Blackburn are still really attractive clubs. Harry Redknapp is still at Portsmouth. David Moyes and Everton will be just as good next year. Blackburn now has Paul Ince who is a very popular man at the moment.

Buying players doesn't happen in a Fulham vacuum. Fulham must compete with the 16 other teams that finished ahead of them this year for the same group of players. Not an easy task.

 

It's possible (probable?) that Distin and Jagielka were offered big signing bonuses too. I don't think Sanchez expressed any interest in either, from what I remember.

 

I think Fulham was linked with both of the players at some point.

 

All you have to do is look at his coaching resume and realize he's something special as far as English managers go. His whole career, except for brief moments at Bristol City and Blackburn, has been abroad. He's coached in all the Scandanavian countries, Switzerland, and Italy. He has connections out the wazoo. Nobody dislikes him. People like Sven-Goran Ericksson are his closest football friends.

Fulham is very lucky to have this guy. He's the perfect fit in so many ways.

 

Pretty good. Accented, but decent vocabulary.

 

I'd gathered this is exactly what Hodgson meant when he talked about building a platform. He seems to realize this will most likely have to be done in stages and with the wins will come the players and opportunities. But the club are most likely not jumping from 17 to 10 in one season.

If he shows the progress we think he will, hopefully he'll be given the time to do his thing.

From the accounts in the papers, it sounds like he's done just that with Schwarzer and Smalling.

 

My hope, using your insighful comments to support this assertion, he can build that 'platform' where we can move up a bit each year, so say, in 3 years time, we can become an attractive 'small club' and perhaps outperform our size and budget contraints and maybe beat a 'Big 4' club from time to time and hold our own consistently with the rest. Given what I've seen so far in this league, I would take that all day long.

 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... 340994.ece

First time I have heard his name. What do you all think? Certainly in our price range not sure if he can replace McBride however. I'm also not certain this is a very authoritative rag.