Karagounis should not preclude signing a new midfielder. If it does, then Jol should get no blame: it is because AliMac & MAF have made no money available. In any event, I love the effort Karagounis gave us and he is a good squad player. No one is under the illusion that he is a long-term fix, but maybe this will give the club a safety net that will encourage them to try some youngsters in the first team squad. The key for me is that it is a one year deal; at the end of the day, retaining an old player on a one year deal is not the same as signing new players over the age of thirty. Lets not forget the club thought Murphy had agreed a one year deal before he went to Blackburn for the two year deal, and there were plenty of times last season where we missed Murphy's veteran presence.
It's been mentioned on the fof forum that last season Karagounis was only on 11k a week which is a lot better than I was expecting. I'm a big fan thought he was decent last season but unless he is going to be a starter I have an issue with having a 36 year old being a squad player and on the bench when we supposedly have one of the best academy's around
he's 36 and can only do 60 mins (many say the same of Scott Parker) at best - its suicide for the club if they are serious Karagounis is our playmaker for a full season.
I'm quite happy with the news- yes he is old and can't do the full 90 mins but I don't think he is going to be a starter. Good option to have for less important matches and a good influence to have on younger players in the squad. You can't fault his attitude and dedication.
That Sascha Riether tweet says it all. Welcome back indeed. Guess I disagree Nick, for, as you say, the man is all passion which is something we need and a born leader. I can see Jol using him wisely not as our main midfield playmaker - we'll still make another signing for that. Kara's signing has the added advantage that it makes for good competition for places.
I love how some people add 2 and 2 together and get 63! Kara will be good for the squad, we're not building a team around him for goodness' sake.
Oh NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who's got the 63 Shirt then, I bet he is too old! Come on guys, glass half full please
Not happy about this. I love Kara and appreciate all he did last season, but a stop gap has now become a solution. He's clearly been re-signed due to our failure so far to identify central midfielder's. For people criticising others for assuming Kara will be a starter next season, where are the assurances that he won't? I bet not one of us thought Kara would participate in as many games last season as he did. I wouldn't put it past Jol to start him in most games next season. I understand Kara turned down the chance to join Panathinikos to come back to us, would he really be doing that for a sub standard wage and a bit part role?
We're short of central midfielders Karagounis is a very good one, good enough to be shortlisted for our player of the season last year Karagounis is, by all accounts, a great character for the younger players to look up to and learn from What's the problem? If he starts lots of matches, he'll do a decent job. He may not finish many (any?) of them, but that was the same with Danny Murphy in his last season. He can still do a job, and signing him doesn't stop us also giving opportunities to youngsters or signing a more established player in the same position. As for the choice between us and Panathanaikos, lots of players want to be in the Premier League. It's debatable whether it's the best league in the world to play in, but I don't think anyone holds the Greek league up as a rival to it! It's entirely conceivable that our cut price wage package is more than he was offered there. I think this is undoubtedly good news.
I think all you just said regarding the Greek league becomes irrelevant when the player in question is Greek and has played the majority of his career there. He obviously would have been tempted by the offer on the table.
But, unless I misunderstood you, you were suggesting our wages weren't comparable. It may well be that a low Fulham wage is still a lot more than he was being offered elsewhere. I know Panathanaikos would be a homecoming for him, but footballers tend to be more interested in playing at a high standard than going home. He's got all the time in the world to live back in Greece when he retires. Anyway, that was a side issue. You suggested that us re-signing him was bad news. I just don't see how that's the case.
Aside from Riether's tweet, has anyone seen anything on this in the papers or online? I can't find a trace- the Aussie team Victory have been linked with a move for Kara in the last 24 hours http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/aucklan...all--flores-signs-one-year-deal-with-mariners
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892...re-fresh-huddlestone-move-as-they-close-in-on Another Huddlestone rumour. No quotes, but we live in hope...
[video=youtube;QbWpLXpdVXc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbWpLXpdVXc[/video] Jol says he hopes to have one more player join us for the pre-season tour (probably Sako?) and "one or two coming back".
With the Paulinho signing, I think it is now or never for any move for THudd. I think he is exactly what we need, especially if we resign Kara as an insurance against injury. With Sako, we do need competition for Kaca on the left. I don't want to see Frei out on the left again (does him no favours) and Duff can't be covering both wings. £4m is too expensive for Sako, but £2.5m plus add ons seems fair. Then we just need to look for a left back (maybe on loan?) and we've hit pretty much every big need.
Agreed, but there are loads of rumours about Sunderland being in talks with Spurs... I hope we're not being priced out of a move. Which isn't at all unlikely.
I'm not sure Hudd is the answer to our MF issues, slow in possession, career of injuries etc. Having said that he's in our range price wise and would do a job and is a step on the current crop. I'd also suggest an urgent need for a striker, if Berbatov misses a serious length of games were are the goals coming from?
One thing that excites me about Hudd possibly coming in is his old relationship with Aaron Lennon. If Frei and Kaca are kept and played in the right positions then Hudd should be able to put them in behind the opposition in the same way he did for Lennon.
Fulham and Benfica are in a tussle to sign Evian Ghana midfielder Rabiu Mohammed ''officials of the two clubs from England and Portugal respectively have held discussions with Evian over the potential sale of the Ghanaian international. The 23-year-old is one of Evian’s most important players but are struggling to keep him at the club next season as stellar European clubs make enquiries about his availability. The Ghanaian, who has been capped eight times at senior level, is expected to cost Fulham around £2.6m.''
