Reports from Turkish papers say it's a done deal and others suggest that he has been training at Motspur Park - http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1134466/Schwarzer-future-murky-at-Fulham
. Jol has been dropping hints to the press - http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/transfer-talk/news/jol-hughes-is-a-wonderful-talent_61014.html
Our main problem is not defense. Our main problem is that our CM consistently leave our defense exposed, are never available to take passes out of defense and sit so deep that our strikers have to come deep to find the ball. A new (young) CB would improve our team, no doubt. But the main issue is that the opposition has free reign to run at our CBs and that we can never link play together and we end up passing back to Schwarzer to punt the ball long. A new striker (a la Bent) would play well off Berbatov. But unless we solve the CM mess we watch every week, we could have Messi up front and it wouldn't matter.
I can see us going for a couple of loan deals and one or two signings. Then look at getting a new spine of the team in the summer.
I honestly wouldn't mind us picking up a player like Palacios on loan. I don't think we need a superstar to improve our play dramatically (although it would be nice!), we just need some experienced CMs who can stay calm and get the ball to Berbatov...
In the list of players available there is one missing - Frank Lampard. The papers are full of he's surplus to requirements etc. It might be an ambitious call and wages etc may be an issue but we are missing an experienced, talented central midfielder and Frank fits that bill - he could have a swansong with us for 3 or 4 seasons and the club have brought in older talent and made good use of them - from Georgie Best, Bobby Moore and Alan Mullery through to Danny Murphy. I know people don't think he would come to a club like us - but they would have said that about Berbatov. Frank wouldn't have to move, his family could be settled, he would be our lynchpin and centerpiece of the team, not warming the bench or the odd cameo for a bigger club- I think it would make so much sense. Our early season form showed what we could do, then the loss of Danny has been exposed in the last month or so - so let's reach for the stars
I keep hearing he's moving to QPR to play for uncle 'Arry, which seems quite likely. I certainly don't think he'd move to us, not because we're a step down but because he hates Fulham fans as a whole. last season at the cottage I think we spent half an hour teasing him about his weight gain (he was looking a bit chubby). I'd be shocked if he ended up with us.
I'm not so sure about that, Ronnie. I think most footballers put aside stuff like their own attitude towards a particular club or set of fans when they are looking for a move. If he thinks that Fulham would suit him better football-wise than QPR, I could see him coming. Of course, there's the wage factor as well which may send him to QPR rather than us, despite Harry's comments about the excesses of previous regimes at Loftus Road. I've never particularly liked Lampard, who has always seemed to me to be one of those multi-millionaire footballers who gets offended when people suggest that maybe he isn't the most deserving candidate for riches and comfort in the world. That said, I can see what Fred means: he ticks a lot of the boxes that we're looking for. We could do a lot worse - and he could do a lot worse than us - as a short term fix. I think I'd rather we went for someone younger, hungrier and less demanding on the wage bill, though.
27/12/12 Fauozi Ghoulam (St Etienne) 21 year old left back who is under contract until 2016 but apparently has been told he can leave if the right offer comes along. Valued at £2.5m. The downside is that he is likely to be off to the ACON in January with Algeria.
I fear Cottager that the only one of your list we are likely to get is BENT 7/8 million, we could get a couple of quality defenders for that. I feel that after the 1st match in February anger and frustration, or praise and pleasure will be the main theme on this forum.
Bent would be a good buy - he scores goals wherever he has been and fans love goals. We do need a defender and a midfielder as well, though and quite how much money we have is open to question. If it were Bent or a creative midfielder, I'd go for a midfielder.
I seem to recall talk of Raul Garcia of Atletico and Douglas of Twente. Both quality players. I'm guessing Raul Garcia would only be a loan. Players like Will Hughes may be too desirable; we can't be spending 10m on potential talent. It's a real shame we didn't tie up Nacer Chadli in the summer, he looks class. Apparently Everton are sniffing him up now, anyone know what went wrong there?
If I remember correctly, spoony, the Twente chairman hiked the asking price at the last minute and we refused to be 'blackmailed'. So the deal fell through.
A couple of years ago we were rumored to have been interested in Charlie Austin. I think he is only about 23/4 and this season has scored 20 + could be worth a punt for 2/3m
