I don't think we gave Boateng a fair crack - pre-season I thought he looked good, he was my MOTM against Betis. I've hardly seen him play in the prem- I remember he had a bad away day and that seemed to end it. i
How many players do we genuinely expect to arrive in this window? We currently have 24 players in our Premier League squad, i.e. only one available spot. If we add the left back, central midfielder and winger that we generally seem to agree we need then at least two players need to leave. The favourites for this seem to be Boateng and Senderos. If we do sign the players in the positions identified though, I would say the exits should actually be Boateng and either Richardson or Riise. We don't need 4 left backs in the squad. I've made myself a jazzy spreadsheet to let me analyse our squad quickly and what strikes me immediately is our central midfield 'options' and our lack of genuine wingers. We have 7 players in our squad I would term central midfielders, 3 of which are attacking midfielders (Dempsey, Taarabt & Kasami), yet it's a position I am very keen to strengthen. We lack quality there, not bodies. We only have three genuine wingers in our squad (Kaca, Duff & Dejagah), yet 5 players who can cover there (Dempsey, Taarabt, Zverotic, Richardson & Kasami). We need players for whom winger is their first choice position rather than just somewhere we can fit them. In fact, this process has just highlighted to me more the lack of real quality in our squad.
Very good point regarding midfield. Richardson can play left winger. Thought he started his career in that position and has played a couple of games together with Riise as a left winger.
Lazio have turned down the chance to sign Fulham defender Philippe Senderos, according to the Corriere dello Sport.
I agree on us having too many players who can cover positions but not actually play them to the level required. In the PL players need to be excellent in their position to play consistently well in it. On the AM's - in the PL I think this position has evolved and Mourinho's favouring of Oscar illustrates this. Pat Nevin highlighted his work-rate and tacking ability. Having a player there who will muck in with the other two midfielders behind, rather than watch like Ruiz, Taraabt or Dempsey, is essential for a club like us. Kasami is one who I think could do this, but he has to understand this is not a luxury stroll around the park position. He's the third man in midfield when we don't have the ball and the second man up front when we do. The only players who can stay in their 'zone' are the keeper, two central defenders and the holding midfielder. The wingers should stay wide but be shuttling back and forth. Left back and CM are still where my concern is - left and right wing not far behind along with a striker. We really don't have any inspiring options at left back and it's more depressing when contrasted with the right side where Dejegah and Riether work so well together. I'd say left wing is more pressing than the right because we can't rely on Kaca at the moment. Maybe he will develop into the player we hope but for me his first pick status is purely on structure and the team. Right wing we've got Dejegah who I'm comfortable with as a starter, but no like for like back up.
http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/fulham-fc-transfer-news/39275-fulham-boss-in-demand.php#.UujKXBDFKM8 Rene might be on his way out too.
Well, at least it gives him another reason to keep us up. To be honest, he's not had enough time to prove himself for me to be too upset if this happens - just so long as they don't let Ray Wilkins take over. We've played that game back in the 90s, and it wasn't pretty. Actually, it was very pretty and technically adept, just totally ineffective.
Nothing he's done would make me sad that he's leaving to be honest. Came with a massive reputation for being a great coach but being a great manager is a different kettle of fish. Can see Curbs taking over come the end of the season.
Yep, agree. If we go down he will be the token sacrificial lamb and we have an experienced man to take us into the rigours of a Championship season.
The man with the astrakhan coat who sits in the stand with his homburg between his legs? You're having a laugh!
No, no, no. I stood through a season of Ray Wilkins as manager back in the 90s and I never ever want to do so again! Curbs doesn't set my pulse racing as manager, but he's a better choice than Wilkins. I'm very happy to have Wilkins on the coaching staff, but not as the number 1.
Drat! Should have saved my story in the "Formation" thread about Butch for here. Separate from that, the man is a Blue, through and through. Did you know he still does community work for Chelsea? Nothing at all wrong with community work but we have an excellent 'Foundation' programme at Fulham and we are after all his employers. Many, many, many days ago you chided me Captain, when I made a rather flippant suggestion that we bring him in as one of a duo to replace (I think it was) Roy. Doesn't really matter who it was, I conceded to you then and I doubly concede to you now.
I think you're all being very mean. Ray looks lovely and cuddly. Just like everyone's favourite Uncle. Uncle Fester, that is.
Seems that Adel will be leaving us... Serie A giants AC Milan have confirmed that Adel Taarabt has arrived in Italy to undergo a medical ahead of a proposed loan switch. The QPR playmaker is set to cut short a season-long deal at Fulham in order to head for the San Siro.
As ever, Cottager, you are gracious to a fault. Ray's Chelsea connections don't bother me at all, it's just his track record when he's actually in charge of a team - got QPR relegated, under-achieved with us despite us being richer than than the rest of the league - is so much worse than his record as a number 2 (Chelsea, Milwall with Dennis Wise, etc).
Taraabt seems fairly convinced the deal will go through. Here he is at Milan airport wearing a Milan scarf.
Horror of Horrors. Mino Raiola is in town and Pajtim Kasami is being linked to Hellas Verona. Source: http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/pre...php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter Let's hope the fax machine breaks down again>
