This was posted on the friends of Fulham forum and makes interesting reading, if correct then Hyndman, Bettinelli and Roberts need to be tied down to new contracts if we could do that then it would have been a great transfer window
I notice Dembele is listed as expiry in 2016 but I'm pretty sure he signed a new one earlier this month to 2017??? A lot of players we will want to get rid of seem to be out of contract at the end of this season which is good news like Kiraly, Fazlic, Chihi and Fotheringham
Thanks for this Cookie. The number that have contracts ending summer 2015 isn't as bad as at first sight given that, Gabor Kiraly, Elsad Zverotic, Adil Chihi, Mark Fotheringham and Dino Fazlic will surely be shipped out (if we can't do it earlier!) What I hadn't realised was the number of young defenders, Burn, Buatu, Stafylidis, Grimmer, Richards, Passley, Arthurworrey, Sambou and (the not so young) Hoogland [Possibly, Donnelly?] who also have contracts ending this summer. I'd keep them all but there's the strong argument for bringing in defensive experience if we reallly are going to push on next season and since there's got to be a limit to the squad size, Kit could have a headache in the offing.
Great post Cookie lad! Can we not keep the best and sell the rest? Knowing us, we'll sell the wrong one and he goes on to be an England regular and captain, win a few Premiership titles and possibly a world cup.
Thought with Grimmer signing a new contract would be a good time to bump this thread for people to look at, interesting that although Ruiz and Rodders are both out of contact this summer they both have a one year extension option, wonder if we can trigger these to then get a transfer fee
The jury is out on whether Kostas Stafylidis will get a permanent contract - according to Kit. “The left-back was dropped for the 5-1 home hammering by Bournemouth[/B] on Friday, but appeared anyway as a 72nd minute sub after Fernando Amorebieta was red carded on his comeback. Stafylidis, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, is a rare success from Felix Magath’s recruitment drive last summer. The Greek international has been all but ever present over 42 appearances until Friday, and judging by Kit Symons’ cautious tone, the 21-year-old still has much to do if he is to remain next season. He said, “He’s a young player, and he’s having to adapt to a new environment in a very different league with a very different style of play. He’s done quite well. We’ve asked him to adapt and change his game slightly and do different things. He’s tried to take it on board and put into practice.” “We like to press when we haven’t got the ball,” added Symons. “We want him to get out to the wide player quickly and engage him. Since Sunderland, he’s done that quite well. He’s been playing in the team that tells a story and done well to hold down a position.” “Time will tell on decisions (over his future) and he needs to keep working hard and playing well from now until the end of the season.” Source: http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-defender-must-wait-news-8800838
I think this could well be Kit's way of keeping him on his toes and making sure he plays for the contract(if he actually wants to stay at Fulham).
Kit: "We like to press when we haven’t got the ball,” added Symons. “We want him to get out to the wide player quickly and engage him. Since Sunderland, he’s done that quite well. He’s been playing in the team that tells a story and done well to hold down a position.” That's what he is doing and the diamond formation or with Ruiz and Kaca not tracking back, have left him exposed!!
I agree. Criticisms of Staylidis and Grimmer as full backs aren't necessarily fair given the system they are being asked to play in.
