Bad News Leeds have sold Kasper Scmeichel to Leceister and have put in a bid for david Stockdale. We know David has been offered to Gillingham on loan but this move has obviously alerted other clubs about his possible availability.
Thanks for the heads up, Cottager. I didn't know that Stockdale had been offered to Gillingham, I thought that was Etheridge. I was afraid someone would make an offer for Stockdale, but I was expecting something from another Premier League team. If he's hoping to make the England squad for the Euro Championships next summer, he'll need to be playing regularly, but at Premier League level. I don't think he'll necessarily want this move. Of course, he is from Yorkshire so it's possible that he grew up supporting Leeds, which you would expect to be a factor in his decision. All that is if Fulham agree to sell him; I still hope that we won't.
I'm expecting him to go out on loan next season. He wants and needs first team football, but I'm sure Martin Jol said something about a good young goalkeeper in his press conference. I assume it was Stockdale he was talking about and not Etheridge - I'd be surprised if he let him go.
There's a precedent for the sale of a young English keeper in his mid-20s who is the 3rd choice for his country. And that precedent is the £6m paid for Ben Foster. We certainly should be looking for that or more if we decided to sell, seeing as how he's younger than Foster was and more in line to play at CC than Foster was at old Trafford. I'd be surprised if Leeds could afford him; unless the approach they've made is a loan move.
Captain, you are of course correct and thank goodness. Please put my slip down to a senior apoplectic moment at the thought of losing Stockdale.
I agree it should be a loan not a sale if he goes, but I really think we shouldn't do either. He should stay at Fulham and play, at least for some of the games. We're in the rare position that if we let one keeper play all the league games and one play all the cup games, it will work out more or less evenly, at least up until Christmas. And if we have to part with a keeper, then we should reluctantly let Schwarzer go, not Stockdale.
Further to my earlier faux pas, mixing Stockdale and Etheridge with a move to the Gills. Of course Stockdale moving to Leeds won't happen - 1. with Schwartzer recovering from his groin op, we need Stockdale in Europe; and 2. it would take a heck of an offer, to club and player, to tempt him away and Leeds don't have the whereforall in either case. Captain, I agree entirely with you if it comes to a choice between Stockdale and Schartzer . Please don't tempt fate though - forbid that the Arsenal get whiff of this.
So is Etheridge linked with Leeds, rather than Stockdale? We gave Etheridge a new contract a few months ago, I'd be surprised if we sold him. Loaning him out, however, is feasible. Is he still young enough to not be in the 25 man squad? It's always useful to have a young keeper as the number three, as they don't used a squad spot. Got to have a spot open for players like Eddie Johnson, right?
Stockdale will be England goalkeeper in a few years time, IMO. It would be really short sighted if they sold him. We need two top keepers if we are serious about progression in Europe and cups.
surlyc, it was me wot caused any confusion. It is Stockdale that Leeds are interested in; the Etheridge loan to the Gills has been agreed. Apologies. But, fret not, a Stockdale move to Leeds aint gonna happen.
Theres been rumors that Jol maybe interested in Kameni the Espanyol keeper, so I don't know where that would leave Stockdale. I was suprised Zuberbhuler got a new years contract if we were looking at keepers. I can see Jol letting Zuber or Schwarzer go if his plan is to get in a keeper of his choice. Thought I'd read that the Gillingham manager had denied the Etheridge story.
David Stockdale is possibly our best future prospect,Schwarzer cant last a lot longer, possibly 1 2 seasons at the most,then what, some keeper we have not heard of. We are allready desperate for a couple of quality backs. If these 3 positions are not filled properly,we could leek 2/3 times more goals than Blackpool did.
Jol has announced that David is NOT for sale but .... he would like to put him out on loan. This situation has arisen because of Stockdale insistance on getting regular first team games. Clearly the rumours that we picked up earlier were not without basis. Belated congrats to David on his marriage and Bobby Z and and Simon Davies. Must be something in the Cottage water.
Let's hope their marriage doesn't effect matters on the pitch, and we don't see any x-rated goal celebrations...
The press release on Tuesday saying that David is 'Not for Sale' was obviously inspired. Today a loan agreement with Leeds is about to be finalised. David of course was born in Leeds, the little Tyke.
These rumours will just not go away. Todays South Wales Post reports that Swansea are about to make a £3m bid for David. They're quite desparate for a keeper having lost De Vries to Wolves. I know Jol has been quoted as saying that "Stockdale is not for sale, although a loan period would be good experience". I know MAF has said "he (Jol) will get what he needs". But we're not raising cash from anybody we'd be happy to see go. Worrying.
