Summer '08: Ins and Outs

Kitson and Yakin as the current rumors go.

I have my concerns with Yakin (Age and consistency). But after taking a closer look I see his form over the past year, for his club and country, has been excellent. I could see the point from those who think he'd make a fine addition.

I would be pleased with Kitson in a Fulham shirt. Good replacement for McBride who will go all out for Fulham. He's the only forward on that Reading side who proved he could do the job without Sidwell's presence.

 

Gera is an attacking midfielder who can play forward if called upon.

I think his key contribution to us will be as a creator of chances for our forwards. Hopefully, we'll have strikers around who will make the best of what Gera can give a club.

That is one of the sad aspects of the Kamara injury. I was looking forward to seeing how Gera and DioK would work with each other at a higher level.

 

Doesn't Dempsey bring us the same as well? I've had a chance to see two games the last few days on FSC reruns with Fulham from earlier in the season (Blackburn at home last night), let's call if BTA (that is Before The Addiction) and it looked to me like they had Dempsey filling in as either a forward or as an attacking midfielder, sometimes it is hard for me to tell.

 

Maybe the problem is that EJ is miscast as a target striker? :?:

Silly question about ZOLTAN!: How do you pronounce his last name? I had been thinking of it in my head as if it were "geh-rah" but in FIFA 2008 the commentary pronounces it "gear-uh." Not important, just curious.

Regarding Nicky Maynard, mentioned a few posts ago, Sky reports that Ipswich have made a bid for him.

Any links about the renewed Kitson rumors?

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 486806.stm

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... 372619.ece

http://www.fulhamweb.com/-7677-/Premier ... n_dave.htm

Here are a few. They are not saying much other than they reported offer price seems to have jumped from 2.5 to 3M over the last week.

 

You're right: Dempsey can play in an attacking mid/forward role. So can Yakin if he joins.

Roy might indeed be seeking that kind of versatility. With this kind of player, he can start with a 4-5-1 for example and adjust during the match depending on score and circumstance. It gives you more options beyond the three substitutes available to you. Roy would almost be like an offensive coordinator in football with a hybrid player like a Reggie Bush, Roger Craig, or Charlie Garner: you're not limited by formation or style. You can change on the fly when it becomes necessary.

 

The same person who started the Sverkos rumor mentioned that the Kitson rumors were fabricated by his agent, FWIW.

I have no problem with Kitson, but I highly doubt he's one of the players we're looking at.

 

Yeah, that's one thing I like about the 4-5-1 - if you've got the right personnel, a minor shift in mentality from your wide players and all of a sudden you're playing a 4-3-3.

 

I don't think he's good enough to be a regular. But he might be useful in a reserve role. Mpenza comes at a defense with speed and quickness. I can see him coming on somewhere late in a match and putting the pressure on a tiring defender.

Just depends on how much Roy wants to spend to shore up the forward positions. He could bring in an Mpenza-type for depth. This would free up additional funds to attract a up and coming talent in Europe or further afield.

 

Are you describing EJ or Mpenzea?

 

Mpenza. It'll be a disappointment if EJ reaches 30 and finds he's had a career similar to Mpenza's. He has the potential to be so much more as a player.

 

Mpenza might be useful, but probaly not better than what we have. Most of his career can be described as "good in Belgium, mediocre everywhere else". Who does that remind you of?

 

Jean-Claude Van Damme?



I'd consider signing Mpenza if you needed a body on the depth chart. Hodgson may not need that once we enter the season. But you never know: his plans may fall through.

 

ok, given all the talk that has been going on with transfer rumors, what do you all think we need most in terms of upgrades:

CB, striker, center mid, or left winger?

and who would be your top choice for our number 1 acquisition need that is actually in the realm of possibilities?

 

Djibril Cisse. I'm fine with our center mids and CBs (though I certainly wouldn't complain if we signed Simunic), a left winger would be nice, but we do have several guys capable of playing the position. I see us playing a lot of 4-2-3-1, so the biggest need IMO is a striker who can do everything.

 

According to SkySports.com Fulham has had a bid rejected for 24-year-old right back Frederik Stoor. Stoor is a Swedish international and could bolster the defense for Fulham in a major way.

I would also like to say it's about time we have a manager that understands that to improve the defense we must get some new players. Roy understood that last January and got the likes of Hangeland and Stalteri to come on board. He has not stopped there and is rumoured to be after other defenders. I like this approach from Roy. He obviously knows what he is doing and I have no doubt he will have a solid team ready for the start of the regular season in August.

 

Great call - I think he'd do well in White.