If Cottager58 is pushing his favourite, is it time for me to say 'Rhoys Wiggins' again? Rhoys Wiggins. There, done it. Too early to panic, Rocky. Let's wait until Jol gets the team back into training (early next week, I understand). It may be that things start happening then. Maybe.
Rhoys is the chap from Bournemouth, Captain? And you suggested a double approach for him and Ings - I'm sure I read somewhere that we had already gone in for Ings, but possibly it didn't come off. The point you make about waiting until Jol gets the team together makes absolute sense. The only thing that worries me is why then have they premeptiously (is that a word?) let Etheridge go on loan - bearing in mind Schartzer will off to Asia in January. My thinking is also around the early Euro games - 1. what better time to give newcomers a feel for the club/team 2. in Euro we have to , in advance, list a squad of 25 and of those 8 must be 'local'. At present we'd be hard pushed to name 2 'locals' up front and 1 at fullback.
Morning, Cottager58. Yes, RW is at Bournemouth. Round here there are still rumours circulating about Danny Ings, with the assistant manager making 'I hope he stays, it would be better for him in the long run' remarks. It may be that once Jol has got his feet properly under the table at Fulham we make another bid. Apparently there are two other Premier League teams interested in Ings. I'm still hoping that we get him - before we were linked with him, he was rapidly becoming the player I looked forward to watching on my occasional trips to Dean Court, and I think he may well develop into a fine top class striker. As for goalkeepers, I don't think the Asian Cup is happening this year - it's a four yearly event, like the World Cup or European Championships. Apparently Schwarzer has had an injury, so I'd be surprised to see him playing in the initial European games. Maybe the club is going to delay Etherington's loan until the start of the league season, or maybe (as some have suggested on this board) we've already lined up the signing of a new keeper. Generally though I agree with you, I'd rather see new signings made early in the summer to give them the chance to bed in and to make them available for the European games.
I went to 20 Fulham games last year, and Salcido played in most of them. I don't share the opinion that he is that terrible. There also seems to be an interesting double standard with regards JP. Does anyone remember Salcido's first few games? Everyone was raving about him. The reason for that is that he is just as much a confidence player as JP and will not have been ignorant of the fans perception. Salcido's head went down and so did his play. When JP played he displayed similar lack of positioning and ability to read the game; both players as confidence players and look terrible when their heads go down. The only difference is Salcido is under contract whilst JP is not.
Quite right Bidley. I don't think confidence could've had much to do with it as Hughes continuously picked Salcido as his performances continued to be poor. JP never had a run of poor performances like that. As Jol didn't buy Salcido he'll look at him from a neutral standpoint. We'll see what happens, but we have to say goodbye to our John and I for one will miss him.
Salcido fans r u for real. No fair play to you for supporting him. I know where i stand. I think he was dropped...Chelsea away...Briggs played then got knackered. Ok he came back but more so because we didn't have an out and out left footed player. There are better out there. JP again average for me. Played well one week lost it the next for me. For sure he got forward. true fans player but we always seems to take these FB's to our heart, it is one of those positions esp if you sit pitch level.
Cottage, you are right about the FBs being more exposed to fans than other positions. So it might be a contibuting factor in my highly negative perception on Salcido - from a good viewpoint in the stand Haynes. I still feel a bit sorry for JP's predicament - on the other wing to me, but I hope not to be using double standards.
Maybe we could play 4 keepers and 7 outfield players and ask for a change in the rules roscafre! There are some interesting comments about full backs here. I suppose it's true cc that they play near us - maybe that's why we hate linesmen so much! Also at Fulham in particular we provided one of England's full backs for our only World Cup win didn't we. I still think there are few of us who have watched Salcido play live in a game that defend him, and the reason is obvious - there's often a big hole where he should be in the left back position. Whatever you say about JP, Konch, Briggs, even Kelly, they understand their primary function.
qote There are some interesting comments about full backs here. I suppose it's true cc that they play near us - maybe that's why we hate linesmen so much! Also at Fulham in particular we provided one of England's full backs for our only World Cup win didn't we. Yes and it should have been both of them!
Jim Langley was such a great character. I've told the story before, but when we were kids I remember sneaking into Harrod's Sports Ground where Fulham trained and watching. As the eldest I had charge of my sister, a toddler at the time and I remember how great Jim was with her. She would've been about 3 and I don't think I've ever asked if she remembers.
Wasn't he just. Among other things, the TV pundits of today make me smirk when they talk as if Dulap invented the long throw in - they should dig out some archives of our Jim. Come to think of it so should our current fullbacks.
We've been linked with Ryan Bertrand, the Chelsea left back. 21, left-footed and a converted winger. Available for about £5m, and is a local lad from just over the river. Seems like a decent attacking prospect: anyone seen him playing for the U-21s?