I have to agree with Bandit. I am sure Hooper will score goals this season but it is the SPL and my Granny could score goals up there - and she's been dead for over 25 years. It's not a like for like comparison with the Premier League - maybe with league one or the Championship for some of the teams (Aberdeen, Hearts, etc). Celtic are the standout team by a mile. Remember Healey? I think the same would apply. Good when there isn't much class about - average when there is.
The Darren Bent saga continues in the papers. We have apparently refused to meet Villaâs valuation : âSo far, Fulham boss Martin Jol has lodged two bids with Villa for Bent, who has scored 25 goals in 64 appearances for the club, the second of which was worth £5m, but the west London club are refusing to go any higher than their last offer.â Source: http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/08/04/darren-bent-set-to-remain-at-aston-villa-after-fulham-refuse-to-meet-6m-asking-price/ And, Newcastle have apparently agreed terms with the player: âJoe Kinnear has revealed that Newcastle have agreed a deal with Aston Villaâs Darren Bent and warned that he is ânot letting goâ despite reported interest from Fulham. The director of football says the Magpies are now talking to the Villans about a deal and feels they are in pole position to sign the former Sunderland forwardâ Source: http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/newcastle_have_thrashed_out_a_deal_with_fulham_target_bent_and_wil_talk_to_villa_1_2316728
No big loss IMO, and at Newcastle he would get even less gametime than he would here. Of course it's no big loss if we actually secure another target.
Did you see the quotes from the Palace chairman? Described Bent and Chamakh as 'incredible' players. Well I suppose they are compared to the likes of Carlton Cole and Kevin Phillips.
To be fair, Chamakh got something like 8 goals in his first 10 games for Arsenal. Then Van Persie got fit again, Chamakh lost the central striker role, playing wide or as sub to accomodate RVP, and his confidence fell away. I've always thought he was a player who could flourish again if he gets a consistent run as a team's main striker. If Palace do sign him, maybe we'll find out. None of which is to say that I think we should go him.
Chamakh struggled at WHU last season. He looks poor to me. Wenger doesn't loan people out who are decent IMO.
Taarabt has always reminded me of a raw Eric Cantona when he was at Leeds. He's got the potential of being world class if he sorted his head out and knuckled down. I'd like to see him at the Cottage on loan, and his presence and competition may bring the best out of Ruiz. I'd like to see Taarabt play behind Berbatov. This would leave Ruiz at a loose end....does anyone think he could replace Danny Murphy as our creative central midfielder. He looks lost out wide, but I've always thought he's better in the centre with more options, plus he can thread a decent murphyesque defence splitting ball. Granted defensively he's about as effective as Dickson Etuhu was offensively - but we have plenty of DM partners to cover for him. On another note, gutted to see Bardiniho leave. If only Taarabt could inherit his attitude.
I must be the only one who thinks Ruiz is best on the left - the few times he's been played there at the cottage I thought he looked more dangerous - he gets a bit more time and space than in the middle - one his two magnificent chip goals came from him picking it up on the left and advancing in
Was going to mention this, Chamakh has lost whatever quality he once showed at Arsenal, a lot like Arshavin. West Ham had Carrol out for long spells last season yet WHU still refused to play him.
I agree, but what he's lost most of all is confidence. If he can somehow get that back (and I'm not holding my breath) he could be dangerous. Maybe.
Strikers that rely on confidence are very risky. I think Owen was a lot like that, which is why every injury setback affected him mentally as well as physically. Form is only temporary and as soon as a few missed chances occur, the last thing you want a striker to do is lose confidence and see his head drop.
Isn't Number 10 the inside left position - or am I just being old fashioned. I've also suggested it silky. As well as the times you mention, he played deep left in the away game to Arsenal (Fulham's best performance of the season in my view)and was brilliant. I think that was also his favoured position at Twente.
Jol confirms more to come - "Jol also revealed that other deals remained in the pipeline as he looks to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season, stating: “All I can say is we have several doors open. But the new Chairman is not here to burn his money; we have to find a healthy way to do our business and we will find the right players. Asked about the possibility of permanent deals for three players who spent time on loan at Fulham last term, Jol said: “Eyong Enoh did a good job for us but the option to buy him was £3m which is too much when he’s not even playing at Ajax. Stanislav Manolev did well but he was a back-up player and Urby Emanuelson will be very expensive. I’m happy to get Fernando Amorebieta and Derek Boateng in on free transfers and we’ll try and find another one or two players.” Those comments were posted on the Club's official site. Elsewhere he told reporters that he was still optimistic about the Darren Bent deal - Jol said: “We don’t speculate on things which are not 100%, but with Darren Bent hopefully I can tell you something about him, or another player, by the end of the week." “We have got several doors open so for us it’s only about making a decision and getting the player.” But Jol appeared to rule out a move for Pablo Osvaldo, suggesting the highly-rated striker is too expensive. Jol, who has been linked with the Roma star, said: “Players like Osvaldo will be a lot of money so we will never do it.” Source: http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/jol-hoping-to-seal-deal-for-striker-bent And according to the Mail one of those 'other' players is Walter Gargano although Sunderland are now showing interest - "The Uruguay midfielder is available for around £6m having failed to secure a permanent move to Inter Milan despite spending the season on loan at the San Siro." Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2385108/Sunderland-boss-Paolo-Di-Canio-interested-Fulham-target-Walter-Gargano.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Something from the Home front: According to the newspaper 'Corriere dello Sport', the errors committed by the defense of Rafael BenÃtez's Napoli in the game with FC Porto in the Emirates Cup has ​​'sounded the alarm'. Philippe Senderos, Fulham's central defense, will be in the reckoning of Naples, they say.
Another 'on the way out' rumour. According to the Times we've agreed to sell Frei to Galatasaray. If it's true, I'm sad to see him go, but his is the one position where we've got lots of quality. Depending on the fee we get, this isn't a disaster.
Apparently Cardiff are interested in Huddlestone now. It does seem as if we've moved on from him now, doesn't it? He'd be a safer prospect than Taarabt, albeit a less exciting one. Is it greedy to still hope for both?
