We have constant postings on who we should sign in the Jan window, but who would other 606rs like to see go. Me ~ Riise, Senderos, Richardson, Briggs, Sidwell, Berbatov, Ruiz, Rodallega, Taarabt & Bent. I have not included Jol as i hope is is gone by then. With some under 21 players, a couple of signings and a couple of good lonees,we may have a team with enough enthusiasm to secure our prem survival,then hopefully we can build.
Am I the only one still in Ruiz's corner? Played in the right position (behind the striker), I think he's good. He's not without fault, but so many posts on here suggest he is completely without merit. I'd keep him if the manager intends to play him in the right position. I definitely think it would be a mistake to sell him before we find someone who can do what Murphy used to, as Ruiz is the closest we've got to someone who can play incisive forward passes to create a goalscoring opportunity. Similarly, it's too soon to write Bent off. He needs a run in a team that plays to his strengths. I think Sidwell is better than he gets credit for on here, but he isn't the right partner for Scott Parker. We don't need to ship him out, but we do need someone to take his place in the starting eleven.
You might get your wish re. Riise but Jol seems keen on keeping Richardson......................... 28/11/2013 By Lyall Thomas Fulham are ready to let John Arne Riise leave the club in January. The 33-year-old defender appeared close to leaving Craven Cottage in the summer after falling behind Kieran Richardson in the pecking order. He ended up staying but has barely featured in the Whites’ woeful start to the season, making only three league appearances. Martin Jol, Fulham FC manager Riise fell out of favour under Jol. And manager Martin Jol expects the former Liverpool man to move on in the new year. Jol said: “John is such a good guy and a good player, so he deserves to play. “I can’t give him that [left-back] space because I feel Kieran is more energetic and I need a bit of energy. “Riise is not playing and I feel he is at an age where he should be, and that is his idea as well. “He is a left-back who can only play at left-back and I want players on the bench who can play in different positions.” Riise, who has won 110 caps and scored 16 goals for Norway, has played 80 times for Fulham since his move from Roma in the summer of 2011. He had a seven-year spell at Liverpool in which he was a Champions League winner in 2005. http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/former-liverpoolfc-man-riise-set-to-leave482721
We’re stuck with Taarabt and Bent contractually. For the rest, - if they wouldn’t be in the 25 man squad when we make new January signings, get rid now (no point in having them on paid ’gardening leave’ - if they have a market value to raise money for the January window, sell By that process of elimination, we keep Matt Briggs.
You can't be serious? You want to get rid of TEN players half way through the season? Without Berbatov/Ruiz/Rodallega/Bent, who will we play up front? And at left back, without Riise/Richardson and Briggs? I'd say maybe 1 or 2 players from the U21's could come through, and maybe we will sign a few players on the cheap in January, but it's not the right time or place for an overhaul. Realistically I'd keep these players from the current crop: Stekelenberg Stockdale Riether Hangeland Amorebieta Kasami Parker Boateng Dejagah Kacaniklic But that doesn't mean these 10 should be the only ones left come February 1st. The 'canon fodder' can remain until the end of the season, when hopefully the majority will either be released or sold. In reponse to 58, realistically our only senior player with 'significant' sell on value at the moment would be Kaca, and at a push, Kasami. We'd struggle to get 5m tops for any of our other players.
I was being tongue in cheek Bandit. Although my first âifâ is legitimate. We are currently operating on a 24 man squad and if we make more than one new signing in January some will have to drop out. Riise is an obvious candidate so does that mean Jol is only looking at two new signings? Any more than that, what is the point of keeping whomever gets ditched on the payroll? In fact my second âifâ has a wee bit of legitimacy as well when you look at Roscâs list, with players whose contracts expire next summer highlighted - Riise, Senderos, Richardson, Briggs, Sidwell, Berbatov, Ruiz, Rodallega, Taarabt and Bent. And the other contracts ending in the summer - Kaca, Duff, Hughes, Kara, Zverotic, Riether, Etheridge Of that âout of contract groupâ Kaca is the only one Iâd renew. So thatâs quite a bagful weâd potentially be letting just drift away. Obviously, as you say, we canât dump them all in January but some selective pruning would make economic sense (not only in making some transfer money available but also freeing up payroll money). Doesnât leave much âcannon fodderâ to be sold in the summer either, and their market value will be reduced by then. Although of the three candidates Ruiz is the only one that, realistically, there would be any chance of completing a January sale.
You wouldn't keep hold of Riether? I know his form has dipped this year but he's considerably been our best defender for the past two years.
Actually thought about that for a while Bandit. In the end it was an age thing and by the time season 2014/15 starts my thinking was in favour of a younger person like Josh Passley from the U21s. On the more immediate possible 'OUTS' in January: In this morning's press conference, Jol very strongly hinted at two new signings in January. Implying that they were 'pretty much in the bag'. That pretty much automatically implies, of course, that he, himself, will still be with us then.
Trabzonspor are after Berbatov, allegedly. "Club president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu has revealed that the Fulham striker is on their winter transfer list and, thanks to extra investment from businessman Ali Agaoglu, they are looking to make a big splash in the market. Speaking to Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, Haciosmanoglu is quoted as saying: "Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov has been on our agenda. We want better and better quality and are endeavouring to add that to our squad. We are pleased with our team, but there are weaknesses and we will supplement with whatever we need to do." "Businessman Ali Agaoglu has promised us a star." Source: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9048496/
Kacaniklic, Zverotic and Riether are all under contract until 2015. Not sure that really changes the point being made, but as Kaca and Zverotic are both young enough for sell on value we'd be fools to let them walk for nothing!
Papers are saying that JAR could be joining up again with Riise the Younger: "He could join his brother Bjorn Helge at Lillestrom and said: “I see it being fun to end my career playing with my brother.” Source: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/446128/Fulham-s-John-Arne-Riise-heading-home
Belgian papers say Anderlecht are showing an interest in Bryan - on loan!! Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad has learned that Anderlecht are considering a January bid for Fulham forward Bryan Ruiz. The Belgian giants seem ready for heavy winter recruitment, having already shown interest in FC Porto star Steven Defour. Meanwhile, they are also looking to reinforce their attacking department with Fulham forward Bryan Ruiz. With the Costa Rican struggling to prove his worth at Craven Cottage, he could jump at the opportunity to leave Fulham in search of first team football. Anderlecht are hoping to sign the player on a six-month loan as they are not in a position to purchase his contract outright. And with Ruiz set to take part at the 2014 World Cup with Costa Rica, this could be a perfect opportunity for him to get much needed playing time. A loan with an option to buy would be okay, I guess.
For whatever reason it hasn’t worked out for Derek Boateng and now he’s looking for a loan move in January. ”Boateng who was brought in by sacked coach Martin Jol is now looking for at least a loan move away from the London-based club to brighten his chances of catching the national team flight to Brazil for the big soccer fiesta. “It is every players dream to play in the World Cup and I want to go to Brazil to help my national team, (but) I cannot go to Brazil while I continue to warm the bench at Fulham,” he said. “I was signed by Martin (Jol) and he is no more with us, so I have started speaking to Fulham and hopefully they will understand me and allow me to go on loan.” “Scott (Parker) and the other players are doing well, and I don’t think I can be guaranteed a permanent place with the starting lineup.” “I know this request won’t cause any problem for both parties.” Source: http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/derek-boateng-wants-to-leave-fulham-to-make-ghanas-world-cup-squad/
The latest rumour about Dimitar Berbatov is that Newcastle have targeted him for a January move. The Mirror, who first ran the story, claim that Ashley will not be making any big signings and with little transfer money available to Pardew, Newcastle will once again look at shorter term deals as they did with the loan of Loic Remy in the summer. Also Berbatov is famously revealed to have fallen in love with Newcastle United and Alan Shearer as a kid, and his mother told the world, how her teenage son wore a United shirt bearing Shearerâs name to bed each night. please log in to view this image
Ah ha, one 'pouter' for another. Berba however, through a "source" says that he's heard all these rumours and he's going nowhere: "Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov has made his position clear to the west London club as a result of several inquiries being lodged - notably from West Ham and Newcastle. The player has given them and all others an immediate thumbs down. He has made it clear to the club's management he wants to stay and help score the goals to ease the club from relegation danger. A source said: "He's a target but has no desire to go anywhere." http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/premier-league-news/37319-berbatov-scuppers-loan-advances.php
