I'm surprised that Murphy may have chosen Blackburn. The Championship is not an easier option as they will play more games and time to recover can be hard with an Saturday/Tuesday schedule. I think Murphy was outstanding last season, he may have lost the speed (he never had ) and energy to last the 90, but his intelligence of passing and organisation will be lost. I suppose the worrying thing about losing a number of first team players, is that it may take time to gel new players into Jol's system, so we will get another transitional season. And will the following season bring about the same scenario with out of contract problems again to senior players like Hangeland ?
Couldn't believe they actually REWARDED him in January with a NEW CONTRACT. You just know if he managed to get them mid table this year they would have pulled the plug and claimed they weren't reaching for their aim of top four. MAF may be outspoken but when compared to the Venky's he is a blessing. Regarding Murphy, it isn't his on field attributes that I think the club could miss rather than his off field. He would have been instrumental in pushing the youngsters in the right direction. I can imagine a lot of the academy guys look up to Murphy.
As you say CC - the one against Utd when he nicked the ball from Scholes is probably my favourite http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_mX78spgE8&feature=related As to the future, I'm sure we'll be fine player for player. it's his leadership especially on the pitch that we'll miss most. I used to get 'jangly' when he'd constantly have a go at Chris Baird but the bottom line was that he could organise/change things during a game. I'm not sure who can now do that. Hangeland has been deputy Captain of late and has to be the obvious choice and while I have the utmost regard for the big fella, I can't help but feel he's too quiet on the pitch.
And there we differ, roscafre. I think Jol has already shown what a good manager he is. My worries are more about how much Murphy gives us that no one else (so far) in the squad has been able to replicate, they're not about whether Jol is up to the job. I'm sure that he is. That said, the Premier League gets harder each year and we have to keep moving forward just to stand still (not that we want to stand still). Replacing Murphy is going to be even more important than replacing Pog, Dempsey and Dembele (if the last two end up leaving).
Funnily enough, I was wondering the same, fulhamish. Or, if Clint does move on the less-alliterative but equally intriguing Captain DemPele. Perhaps the prospect of the added responsibility/honour might tempt one or other into signing a new contract.
Logic in this Captain. Would take a tad of diplomacy on Jol's part to broker it with Hangeland though and I'd want him to agree a new contract with the big man before trying. On Danny, it seems as though Hughes was desparate to sign him - http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/9779982.Blackburn_Rovers_fight_off_QPR___s_late_Murphy_bid/
I this idea a lot - I know there's an argument for Hangeland but a new deal and captain's armband for DemPele would be a much stronger statement of intent and in many ways embody what it is Jol is trying to do at Fulham. There's a thoughtful take on Murphy's departure on Cottagers Confidential: http://www.cottagersconfidential.co...ture-may-be-saddening-but-perhaps-jol-dembele
It's official. http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2012/June/MurphyDeparts.aspx I can't think of another Fulham player in recent years - since Simon Morgan, in fact - who I've been sadder to see leave the club.
Very few football players these days give themselves the chance to establish themselves as 'legends' for their clubs due to either greed, petulance or poor performances. Murphy however has risen above all points mentioned and can be considered a legend for the club alongside other greats. A Captain through our most successful years in the PL, leading us to the EL final and keeping us in the PL with his goal. I know what you mean when you say this exit is rather upsetting Captain. To make things worse it is not only sentimentality that convinced us that he deserved to stay but his undoubted quality. He was one of the first names on the team sheet last season as there looked to be no obvious replacement. Jol has certainly rolled the dice on this one.
Although in many ways it's good that he's moved on while we all still hold him in such high regard rather than him hanging around for a year or two while people start to murmur that his legs have gone and he's not the player he once was. Always good to leave the crowd wanting more, don't they say? It's just a shame that it was all still shrouded in uncertainty at the end of the season so we couldn't give him a proper send off in May. It would be nice to get a home draw against Blackburn in one of the cups to give him a proper reception.
The fact we had already seen Murphy's contract extension as a given shows just how good he was for us last season. Yes there were games where he seemed a little off the pace but what else can you expect from a 36 year old? Maybe he can do what Ruiz did at Twente? Ala come back at the start of the season to say goodbye to the fans. Hopefully we will get a glowing reception from him in his first press conference at Blackburn.
I liked Murphy as a player, as a Captain as an example to the younger players. Good luck to him. I will miss seeing him run out at the Cottage.
Looks as though Rangers managed to get Danny a few quid a week extra too. http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.u...rn_Rovers_fight_off_QPR___s_late_Murphy_bid/? Itâ believed Rangers came in with improved personal terms over the weekend with Blackburn then matched⦠Good for Danny
I don't get it. Why would it offend Fulham fans so much if one their players went to QPR? I was under the impression they don't regard QPR as real rivals.
Au contraire. I consider QPR as our rivals as I think most fans do. I didn't really care about their future until Hughes took over though.
