Ryan Williams has signed a new two-year contract until June 2016, with the Club holding an option to extend the deal by a further year. The 20-year-old spent the 2013/14 campaign on loan at Oxford United, and impressed during his time with the Sky Bet League Two outfit. Featuring 42 times in all competitions, the Australian winger scored eight goals for the U’s as they finished the season in eighth position – one place off the Play-Offs. Source: http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/may/13/williams-contract-extension
Disappointingly Muamer Tankovic's contract is not being renewed. Muamer Tankovic has confirmed he will be leaving Fulham when his contract expires this summer. The 19-year-old was handed his first-team debut by Rene Meulensteen for the FA Cup win against Norwich in January and went on to make a further five appearances for the Cottagers. However, Tankovic has failed to feature since Felix Magath succeeded Meulensteen at the helm in February. And the young Swede has confirmed he will me moving to pastures new next season. He said: "Thanks to the academy people who took care of we when I first came and thanks to the fans who have been there for me! I am sorry it ended up like it did....but it is what it is and life moves on." Source: http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tankovic-confirms-fulham-exit-7115048
Damn it. This better not be the start of a huge upheaval of youth prospects. We're short in fire power up top and Tankovic would have provided that. Good news on Williams though I suppose.
I think Tank was actually offered contracts but wouldn't sign. Probably why Magath was so reluctant to use him.
Gutted about Tankovic every time I read about us giving a youth player a contract I always think it's to short, our youngsters are so highly rated that we should have them all tied down on four year contracts. The reality is out of the 10 -15 promising youngsters we think we have only 3 or 4 will make it to regular first team football, unless they are all tied down we may be losing the ones who will make there is a good chance Tank may have been one of the 3-4
At the end of the day if a player wants to leave you cannot stop them. Very gifted player but clearly has other plans. Yes a loss but it opens the door for others. My guess is he saw how good pat Roberts and dembele were and thought he chances were fairly slim.
Don't think so froggy, although he may have rightly wondered why he wasn't getting game time. Personally I believe he should have, ideally at No 10. I think we have to be careful not to get carried away with the Roberts/Dembele mania. Absolutely wonderful both of them but they have a little way to go yet before they're ready to perform week in week out at (even) Championship level. Right at the moment the Tank has both the strength and experience (remember he is in the full Swedish squad) over both of them. However, as FI said the Club made more than one offer and if he thinks he can do better so be it. Wouldn't be surprised if he ends up at a premiership club - Liverpool?? Meanwhile here's a little clip of what he was capable of: [video=youtube;z_yiCnhBnRA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=z_yiCnhBnRA[/video]
I think financially it's better for us if he stays in the PL as the compensation we get will be higher.
One of those gray areas when it comes to possible compensation, FI. He was on a 'professional contract' and arguably has been 'released', so nothing? And if some is due he's only been with us for a couple of years so can't see there being much on the table. This is a prime example/reason why our whole contract policy with young players for the last 2 years has been so annoying.
"64.3 Subject to the provisions of this Regulation 64, any Club which makes an offer in accordance with Regulation 64.2 of re engagement to a Contract Player who is an Under 24 Player and which is in the opinion of the Board not less favourable than the Player's current contractual terms, shall be entitled to a Compensation Fee in respect of the loss of the Player's registration, should the Player sign for another Club." I think that means that as long as the deal we offered Tankovic was better than his current contract, and I imagine it was, then we will get compensation. How much we get will be decided by us settling with the club he chooses to sign for or by the Professional Football Compensation Committee. The compensation would depend on lots of factors but the fact that he has senior appearances for us and for the national team would come in to consideration. Also how much we paid to get him, how much we spent on his training, tutoring, living arrangements and a couple of other factors. Considering Norwich were awarded £1.75m for Jed Steer who was older and had no senior appearances for them, I think we could actually be awarded a decent amount for Tankovic. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2541403/Aston-Villa-told-pay-1-75m-goalkeeper-Jed-Steer-joined-Norwich-City-summer.html It's true though regardless of this that the club's contract policy is extremely frustrating and we could well see ourselves in the same situation again in the near future with other players.
It's a shame about Tankovic, but it does sound like the decision was his rather than the club's, and as someone says above perhaps this is why Magath hasn't been using him. Let's not lose sight of the excellent news about Ryan Williams. Am I right in thinking he's a left-winger? He's one of the players that I'm hoping is going to play a big part in the first team next season, particularly if Kacaniklic gets the big move that is rumoured to be coming.
Captain you are spot on. We have to focus on the players who want to be at Fulham and as such Williams staying is good news. Good luck to Tankovic and hope he doesn't regret it!
He's a right winger Captain. Maybe he could do a job on the left but has spent all season on the right. He has been impressive for Oxford this year but that's at League 2 level. I'm not convinced he's ready for regular Championship football just yet.
My season ticket holding friend at Oxford wasn't wildly impressed with Williams. He has his moments, apparently but can also be rash in the tackle (I know he was sent off at least once and maybe more). He said he was definitely not Premiership standard and thinks League 1 might be his level, which doesn't really suit us. He's also a bit older than the really useful crop of youngsters so may not progress much further. Of course, this is just my mate's opinion but he has seen him very regularly over the course of an entire season and he does know his football.
I remember posting in the players out on loan thread a video for Oxford's goal of the month for November I think it was and Williams had a hand in all 5 goals, scoring three and setting up the other two (or vice-versa). I remember him being in very good form back then. Oxford were flying back then and dropped off fairly rapidly in the new year (after their manager left) so Williams dip in form coincided with that. He did get sent off once, on the final game of the season for an off the ball incident which Ryan was adamant at the time that the lad went down way too easily. Obviously your mate knows more about Oxford's season than I do but I've seen a lot of comments on social media to suggest that Williams performed solidly for them this season. I agree though League 1 is probably where he is at so maybe another loan season could do him well.
Oh yes, he didn't say he would never make the Championship grade but more League 1 at the moment (but he did think Premiership was a step too far). So as you say another year on loan might do the trick.
Is Marcello Trotta still in contract? I think given a chance he could be a big player for Fulham in the Championship next season, seems to have done well on loan at Brentford, albeit in League 1, but I still think he'd have something to offer in the Championship and be a good option to have.
I'm not so sure. Brentford may be keen, but I still think Felix might give Trotta his chance before letting him go. He has his critics on this board, mostly people who rated him in our youth teams and don't feel he's developed as expected, but he seems to have the knack for popping up with a goal or two. We could do with a poacher, and he'll get first team chances in the Championship that he wouldn't in the Prem.
