Fulham Pats Fan

The Next Brady

2010-04-02T08:42:00.000-04:00

Did I get your attention with the headline? I have been reading and hearing so much talk about Tim Tebow and the New England Patriots. Personally, I would love to see the Pats draft him. However, he wouldn't be my first choice to someday to take over the job as quarterback of the New England Patriots.

This quarterback is not in this years draft. Jimmy Clausen and Sam Bradford could be very good pro quarterbacks. In my opinion they will not be the quarterback that the "Next Brady" will be. Matt Ryan and Matthew Stafford currently playing will also be very good quarterbacks. I am looking for a guy who can take over the mantle of a "living legend".

This quarterback is currently playing College Football close to where Tom Brady grew up in Northern California. His name is Andrew Luck and he plays for Stanford. Next year he will only be a sophomore. His first year playing at Stanford he was a redshirt freshman. He is 6ft. 4 inches tall and weighs 235 pounds. He resides in Houston Texas and his father Oliver Luck was a former NFL quarterback with the Houston Oilers.

Now what makes this redshirt freshman the "Next Brady"? In my opinion it is the intangibles you just can't measure. Tom Brady is extremely intelligent and has excellent pocket presence. What separates Tom Brady from the rest comes down to his decision making. Drew Bledsoe had all the natural ability to be a great quarterback. The difference between Bledsoe and Brady are the intangibles. To me the intangibles are the difference between good and great quarterbacks.

I was watching an ESPN College Football show and they were touting Andrew Luck. Stanford was about to play Oregon. The hosts of the show kept mentioning you need to check out this redshirt freshman form Stanford. I had no plans on watching this game. I took their advice and sat down and watched the game between Stanford and Oregon.

Two players jumped out at me right away and they both played for Stanford. Toby Gerhart is a great running back and I would love to see the Pats draft him. However, it was the quarterback Andrew Luck that caught my eye right away. For a freshman his pocket presence was fantastic. He knew just when to release the ball and it was a laser to his receiver. He did this time after time in this game against Oregon. Stanford won this game in a shootout 51 - 42. I am not a stat guy to be honest with you. I go by the eye test. In this game he was 12 - 20 for 256 yards and 2 touchdowns. The eye test told me he was better than the statistics in this game. This team you could tell was more about the running game than the passing game. With all that said, Andrew Luck was extremely poised in the pocket and made great decisions.

Now, that was just one game. What would happen next week against USC on the road? I decided I needed to see more so I watched this game. Would Luck get rattled in this game against USC? In the beginning to be honest he was a little shaky. As the game went on he settled down. Again, he made good decisions when under pressure. Stanford beat USC 55 - 21. His statistics won't overwhelm you. He was 12 - 22 throwing for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns. Again though the eye test told me he was better than the statistics. After this game I thought he might be the "real deal".

Now, the next week Stanford would play California. Andrew Luck came back to earth and had a very bad game against Cal. He was 10 -30 and threw an interception in a 34 - 28 loss for Stanford. Again, he is only a freshman and every quarterback has bad games. The question is how would he bounce back.

The next game was against Notre Dame. Andrew Luck was 14 - 20 and threw for 198 yards. His completion percentage was 70%. Luck did bounce back and help lead Stanford to a victory against Notre Dame 45 - 38. To me a quarterback that has a short memory, and can follow up a bad game with a good game is extremely valuable.

Andrew Luck's statistics are not going to overwhelm you. He played in an offense that was geared more for the running game last year. What impressed me is the intangibles you just can't teach. Luck is an intelligent quarterback with great instincts for football. He knows when to make the right decision. He throws the pass just at the right time. He also can take a hit. After watching a good sample of games from Luck I realized he was a special quarterback.

I am in no hurry to replace Tom Brady. I am as huge a fan of Brady as they come. I even named my son after him. At some point though life goes on and the Pats are going to need a new quarterback. Why not replace him someday with someone that has those similar qualities that Brady possesses?

Andrew Luck is going into his sophomore season at Stanford. This will be he third year at Stanford as he redshirted his first year. When he decides to go into the NFL draft I hope the New England Patriots do whatever they can to draft Andrew Luck.

If you want to see for yourself watch this youtube video of Andrew Luck

Cottagers Confidential

2010-03-17T14:34:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone,

I just launched a brand new website called cottagersconfidential.com. It is about Fulham foootball club.

Please feel free to check it out at www.cottagersconfidential.com

Fulham Reserves beat Birmingham City 3 - 0

2010-03-17T08:00:00.012-04:00

The Fulham Reserves beat Birmingham City 3 - 0 at Montsur Park last night. According to the article, Reserves 3 - 0 Birmigham on Fulhamfc.com, the Fulham reserves came out strong in the opening 15 minutes. Fulham actually scored 3 goals in the first 15 minutes. Birmingham City at that point probably knew it was going to be an uphill struggle.

Danny Hoesen scored the first goal for Fulham. According to Fulhamfc.com, it stated that Wayne Brown then scored the second goal with a shot from the right of the Birmingham box that went in the near post. Then, Christopher Buchtmann took a corner kick that was headed into the net by Matthew Briggs. Before the teams had time to breathe the score was 3 - 0. The score did not change at all after that point. The game ended with Fulham winning 3- 0

According to the article on Hammyend.com " Fulham Reserves see off Birmingham" even though Fulham won 3 - 0 the writer could argue that Birmingham were the better side. That could possibly be true, but I am glad to see the Fulham Reserves won the game.

Finally, I am very interested in the progress of Fulham's young players of the future. Hammyend.com has a brilliant breakdown and analysis of each Fulham player during the reserve match. In the article on Hammyend.com "What I gleaned from the Fulham reserves tonight" the writer gives you his feeling on each player's performance. I would highly recommend reading this article if you are interested in players like Christopher Buchtmann, Wayne Brown, and Danny Hoesen. I will be following the progress of these players.

10 Things I think about Fulham Football Club this week March 15th

2010-03-16T07:34:00.006-04:00

The past week was a disappointing week for Fulham Football Club. Last Thursday, Fulham lost 3 - 1 against Juventus in the Europa League. Now, Fulham will have to win in convincing fashion this Thursday in the second leg at Craven Cottage. They will probably have to score at least 2 goals and probably hold Juventus scoreless. Fulham also lost on Sunday to Manchester United 3 - 0. They will need to bounce back next Sunday when they take on Manchester City at Craven Cottage. Below are the 10 things I have been thinking about Fulham.

1. I think the 3-1 loss to Juventus could have been a closer scoring difference. There is no question that Juventus dominated in the first 30 minutes. Maybe the Fulham players came out too tentative. They found themselves down 2 -0. Fulham rallied and scored in the first half to make it 2 -1. They also had a great chance to tie the game up in the first half. It took a great save to deny Fulham that second goal. In stoppage time they gave up the third goal. I think the third goal could have been prevented. They need to play better defense at the end of the half. Fulham should not be giving up any goals in stoppage time. Goals late in the half change games. The momentum now was completely with Juventus. If they don't give up that third goal, Fulham's chances on Thursday would be much greater.

2. I think the Juventus fans really don't care about the Europa League. I was shocked to see the small crowd that was at Turin. I could also see that a decent amount of the crowd were Fulham fans. I know Juventus are probably one of the greatest teams in the world. Their fans expect them to be in the Champions League. I get all of that. What I don't get is you only have a limited amount of games to see your team. Why wouldn't you go to this game?
3. I think it is great that Fulham fans sold out the game against Juventus. To me this shows just how important the Europa League means to Fulham and the fans. The Europa League to me is a reward for the hard work the team has put in the last couple of years. Both the team and the fans deserve this game. Hopefully with the crowd behind them Fulham can pull an upset.

4. I think Fulham were a different team against Manchester United with Danny Murphy in the lineup. Last week I wrote that I thought Fulham missed Murphy. I think this point was proven in the Manchester United game. I thought his passing was great and times I thought he controlled the first half of the match. I guess sometimes you don't appreciate a player until he is not there. I certainly appreciate Danny Murphy.

5. I think Roy Hogdson's changes in the starting lineup for the Manchester United game were effective. Stephen Kelly at right back I thought worked for the most part in the first half. Replacing Dickson Etuhu with Chris Baird in midfield seemed to work as well. I also liked having Clint Dempsey up front . Zotlan Gera being in midfield was another change Roy made. It is really good that Roy can move players around and the team can still keep its shape.

6. I think Clint Dempsey being back early is a huge boost. I was shocked to see him come in as a substitute during the Juventus match. I think it will take him a few more games to get back up to speed. I think he brings some added quality and goal scoring potential that the team needs now.

7. I think Fulham definitely have a chance against Juventus of advancing. Juventus have some injuries coming into the match at Craven Cottage. The goalkeeper Alex Manninger will be out. They are also coming off of a 3 - 3 tie against Siena. Fulham have an opportunity to advance. It might be slim, but it is there for the taking. With the injuries and the below average form from Juventus in their last match, hopefully Fulham can capitalize and come out strong. An early goal by Fulham and the game is on.

8. I think Fulham have a very good chance at beating Manchester City. Fulham have played Manchester City very tough lately. If Manchester City play how they played in the first half against Sunderland they will lose. I just don't think this is a team that intimidates Fulham. They have more talent than Fulham, but do they have the better team? I think we will find out this weekend.

9. I think Fulham fans should check out the reserves tonight against Birmingham City. The game is tonight at Motspur Park at 7PM UK Time. I would love the opportunity to see Christopher Buchtmann and see if he is the "real deal". Sine I am in the United States I can only read about it. This is a chance to see up and coming players for the team.

10. I think Fulham have a chance to match their league point total from last year of 53. They currently have 38 points. They need 15 points in the last 9 games. I just looked at the schedule and there are several games which I think they can win. Home games against Wigan, Stoke, Wolves and West Ham are all games the team should win. They can also potentially win at Hull. I know it will be tough, but if they could match that total to me it would be an incredible achievement.

Again, these are just 10 things I think about Fulham Football Club as of this week March 15th. It should be another fun week.

5 Things I think about the New England Patriots this week March 15th

2010-03-15T08:54:00.005-04:00

With free agency in its second week who would the New England Patriots sign? Also, who would be leaving the New England Patriots.These are the five things I think about the New England Patriots this week March 15th.

1. I think Leigh Bodden was the second biggest signing of the off season. I was convinced that the New England Patriots were going to lose their #1 corner. He was in Houston with the Texans having meetings. A funny thing happened and he decided to sign with the Pats. He has stated in interviews that he was interested in coming back before free agency began. Now with him back in the fold, the Pats can concentrate on other needs.

2. I think losing Ben Watson in my opinion is no loss. Ben Watson to me was like "Mike Mamula" was for the Eagles years ago. He was combine hero that had all the intangibles to be an impact player. The combine though to me cannot measure natural football ability. Ben Watson did not have "great hands". With a Tight End you need to have great hands. I think after awhile Tom Brady did not trust him. He had plenty of chances to thrive in this offense. In my opinion he is a huge disappointment.

3. I think Ladainian Tomlinson signing with the Jets believe it or not benefits the New England Patriots. He is not the player he used to be. The Jets would have been better off re-signing Thomas Jones. If they give LT carries that should go to Shonn Greene I think is a mistake. He is not an every day back anymore. He probably thinks he still is. He could become a major issue for that team. Good luck to the Jets.

4. I think signing Kevin Faulk was crucial for the The New England Patriots. As I stated last week having him back in the fold gives Brady stability on third downs. He is your "go to" guy in those crucial situations. I also think he will bring more leadership to the locker room. He will be like Troy Brown in my opinion finish his career with the Pats. He represents everything I love about the Pats. He is a hard worker and very dependable in game changing situations.

5. I think the New England Patriots are on their way to getting their locker room back. With the signing of 5 of their own players there has to be a signal in the locker room that the Pats actually pay their players. These signings should hopefully change the mood in the locker room. Vince Wilfork already has come out and has shown leadership with some comments this week. Since he got his contract maybe now he can flex his muscles and become that " Willie McGinest enforcer" in the locker room. Maybe the Pats of the Championship Days are not dead just yet? This is a step in the right direction.

Those are my 5 things I think about for the week of March 15th.

Analysis of "My 5 Keys to Survival for Fulham against Manchester United"

2010-03-14T13:32:00.009-04:00

I knew to win at Manchester United would take a special effort by Fulham. I was hoping that maybe they could get a point and just be competitive. Fulham were very competitive in the first half. It was the second half that Manchester United dominated. Fulham did lose 3 - 0 at Old Trafford today. I am going to now analyze below my "5 Keys to Survival for Fulham against Manchester United" which I wrote about on Friday.

1. I am hoping that Danny Murphy will be able to play. Danny Murphy did play in this game and played well. His passing in the midfield I thought was a big key in the first half. In the second half Murphy started to get frustrated and actually got a yellow card. Dickson Etuhu did not play as Chris Baird played in his place in the midfield.

2. Will Nicky Shorey play or will Paul Konchesky start? Nicky Shorey did play and Paul Konchesky sat ont he bench. Stephen Kelly actually played on defense as well. I don't think Konchesky playing would have made a difference. I wanted Shorey to play.

3. Defending well on set pieces for Fulham is a must. There certainly were a good amount of set pieces. I think for the most part Fulham did a good job on corners and free kicks. With the likes of Berbatov and Rooney to handle on these kicks, Fulham did hold their own.

4. If it is possible Fulham need to contain Wayne Rooney. This was the key to the match where Fulham failed. They could not contain Wayne Rooney. He was involved in all 3 goals and he scored 2 himself. At times I thought the defense did a good job on him. The problem is he is such a great player, and it doesn't take much for him to get an opening. In the second half he took over and to me was the difference in the match.

5. Mark Schwarzer needs to play at his "highest level" in this matchup. Mark Schwarzer I thought played well. He made several key saves especially in the first half. I don't think you can blame him on any of the 3 goals. Wayne Rooney and his teammates just were too much for him to handle in the second half.

In conclusion Fulham were actually successful on most of "my keys for survival". They were very competitive in the first half. The #4 key is what made the difference in the match. They were not able to contain Rooney and they looked tired in the second half. It is just one game. I think they also showed they can play with the best teams in Europe. I guess it is another thing to win against those teams.

Fulham go down 3-0 to a Manchester United Dominant Performance

2010-03-14T10:23:00.012-04:00

Going into the match I was hoping for Fulham to be competitive against Manchester United at Old Trafford. After just playing Juventus on Thursday it wouldn't be crazy to think Fulham could be tired. Well, Fulham were more than competitive in the first half. They definitely held their own. It was the second half where Manchester United dominated. They beat a tired Fulham club 3 - 0 at Old Trafford. Manchester United scored 3 second half goals to take over the match.

The first half began with Fulham starting strong with some possession. Clint Dempsey started off in the second minute with a shot. It didn't take Manchester United long to get into the game. In the 10th minute Wayne Rooney got loose in the box and was right in on Schwarzer. The save was made by the goalkeeper.

In the 14th minute , Clint Dempsey had a shot that just went over the net from just outside the box. The play at this point was going back and forth but, Manchester United were starting to get more control of the game. In the 25th minute Berbatov's header from Nani just went over the net. In the 30th minute a shot by Rooney was denied by a great save by Mark Schwarzer.

Nani was a constant pest for Stephen Kelly. He was involved in many plays. In the 34th minute Rooney put another header on net from a pass from Nani. There we a couple times that Manchester Players were looking for a penalty shot inside the box over possible fouls. I guess the referees did not see it that way.

The last best chance for Fulham came from Bobby Zamora In the 38th minute his flick of a shot just went over the net. He was fed a fantastic pass by Danny Murphy. Manchester United had one more chance . In the 44th minute a shot by Rooney that just went wide of the net. The half ended 0 - 0. Fulham deserved to be even Manchester United at the half.

The second half began very badly for Fulham. In the opening 30 seconds Wayne Rooney scored his first goal of the day from a nice pass from Nani 12 yards out. At this point the tempo of the game changed. Manchester United just took control and I could tell Fulham were getting tired. You didn't see that same spark you saw in the first half from the Cottagers.

Manchester United were starting to have more shots. In the 66th minute a Ferdinand shot just goes over the net off of a corner kick. In the 74th minute, a Rooney header just goes wide. Fulham were still hanging in there.

The best chance of the match came in the 75th minute for Fulham. Bobby Zamora had one on one with the goalkeeper, but at the last minute his shot was blocked by Vidic who flew back into the play. I was thinking at that point it is just not going to be Fulham's day. I couldn't have been more right.

In the last 10 minutes Manchester United scored 2 more goals. Berbatov made a great run and pass to Wayne Rooney. There was not much that Schwarzer could do as Wayne Rooney scored his second goal. This was followed up shortly after that by a Berbatov header that went into the net past Mark Schwarzer. This was set up by a great cross from Park. The game ended with Manchester United winning 3 - 0.

Fulham came to play but just ran out of steam in the second half. I got to watch why Manchester United in my opinion our the best team in the world. This team just keeps coming. The difference in the match is they created and scored on the opportunities they had in the second half.

The score doesn't indicate that Fulham were competitive in this match. Fulham have come along way. They are just not at the same level of Manchester United. Not many teams are at that level. I certainly think Fulham are still a top half of the table club in the league. I think by the end of the season they will still be at that position.

My 5 Keys to Survival for Fulham against Manchester United

2010-03-12T09:28:00.005-05:00

Fulham play on Sunday against Manchester United. The game will take place at 1:30PM UK time and 9:30 EST at Old Trafford. I usually mention prior to a match my "5 keys to victory" that I will be looking for in the game. In this game I am just hoping to get a point. After beating Manchester United earlier in the year at Craven Cottage 3 - 0, I have a feeling the score is going to be different. Alex Ferguson and his team are probably looking for some payback.

This time around Manchester United will not have the depleted defense they had in the first matchup. This time Vidic, Ferdinand, and the goalkeeper Van Der Sar will be playing. Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera will not have as easy time as they did in the first matchup. Wayne Rooney is playing at an extremely high level. Manchester United are also coming off of a huge win in the Champions League. All the signs lead me to hope for the best and expect the worst. Below are my 5 keys to Survival for Fulham against Manchester United.

1. I am hoping that Danny Murphy will be able to play. Every time Danny Murphy is out you can see the difference in the play of Fulham in the midfield. Jonathan Greening has done fair in his place. He just doesn't have the passing ability of Murphy. The midfield play of Fulham will be crucial in this match. I hope Dickson Etuhu can pick up his game .

2. Will Nicky Shorey play or will Paul Konchesky start? I happen to like the play of both players. Since Konchesky just played yesterday maybe you will see Shorey start. I think this is a key to the match as to me he is solid on defense. The back four will be tested probably from the minute the game begins until it ends.

3. Defending well on set pieces for Fulham is a must. As we saw last night a "free header" off of a corner kick resulted in the first goal. The third goal also came from extended play off of a corner kick. In many road games this year Fulham have not defended well enough on set pieces. Wayne Rooney can easily score off of a free kick or a corner.

4. If it is possible Fulham need to contain Wayne Rooney. The way he is playing right now I don't know if any team can contain him. The defenders as usual just need to be aware of him at all times. For some reason at Craven Cottage, Fulham were able to control him well. They will need to do the same if Fulham are to have any kind of chance.

5. Mark Schwarzer needs to play at his "highest level" in this matchup. Mark Schwarzer to me deserves all the credit in the world for the goalkeeping he has provided in the 2 seasons at Fulham. There have been several games that he was the difference in the match. This game is no exception. Schwarzer needs to be the difference in the match for Fulham to get any result.

Sunday will be very tough for the Cottagers. This year they have played well at times against the "big four". To get any kind of result, Fulham will have to play at an extremely high level.

The Return of Clint Dempsey for Fulham

2010-03-12T07:14:00.003-05:00

As I was watching the Europa League match last night I was pleasantly surprised by the return of Clint Dempsey. He came into the match in the 60th minute replacing Simon Davies. He had a limited impact on the play in the second half.

The bigger picture with the return of Clint Dempsey is Fulham gets back one of their "key players" for the end of the season. I was hoping he would be back by the end of the month. Dempsey has been out of action for around 2 months now.

Paul Konchesky also returned for Fulham in the Europa League. He had been recovering from an injury. In the last Europa League match Stephen Kelly played in his place. His return should also give Roy Hogdson a few decisions to make with his defense.

As Fulham head to Old Trafford on Sunday the team is beginning to get healthy again. John Pantsil should still be out, but could be returning before the end of the season. The only other injury concern could be Danny Murphy. He did not pass a fitness test before the FA Cup match against Tottenham. Let's hope he is able to go against Manchester United.

There is no question the return of Clint Dempsey can only help Fulham in the 3 competitions they are still in until the end of the season. Let's hope Dempsey is in the starting lineup against Manchester United.

Fulham lose 3 - 1 at Juventus

2010-03-11T17:26:00.003-05:00

I stated going into the match that I hoped for an away goal in this Europa League matchup at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin. I guess I was hoping the score was a little closer. Fulham lost to Juventus 3 - 1. The funny thing the score doesn't indicate the effort and play Fulham gave in the second half. Overall, Juventus were the better team in this match. Fulham still have a chance next week at Craven Cottage. It is going to be hard, but this team has surprised me many times this season. I wouldn't count Fulham out just yet.

The first 30 minutes were dominated by Juventus. In this time they scored 2 goals. First, In the 8th minute a Diego corner kick was headed in by Nicola Legrottaglie that got by Mark Schwarzer. In the 25th minute, off of a great run came a tremendous right footed shot by Jonathan Zebina, that just got in the corner of the net. After the first 30 minutes Fulham were down 2- 0.

Shortly afterwards Fulham started to show some life and started to control the ball more. In the 36th minute, a direct free kick was taken by Simon Davies. The ball fell to Dickson Etuhu who richocheted a shot off of a Juventus defender that went past Manninger. The game was now 2 - 1 and Fulham had an important away goal.

Fulham almost tied the match in the 40th minute. Simon Davies had a corner kick that was headed by Brede Hangeland in the box and saved by Manninger again. This was Fulham's best chance to tie the match.

It looked like the match would end at the half 2-1 with Juventus ahead. The game went into stoppage time and Juventus were pushing forward. After a corner kick, a shot by David Trezeguet hit the the post but bounced right back to him. His second shot got by Mark Schwarzer and Juventus were ahead 3 - 1 to the end the first half.

The second half I thought Fulham controlled a good amount of the play and pushed forward. Unfortunately, many times in the second half Bobby Zamora was offsides. There was though a good cross by Zamora that went to Zoltan Gera. He headed the ball out of bounds.

I have to say the best news of the second half was the return of Clint Dempsey in the 60th minute. He came in and replaced Simon Davies. The last best chance of the night came from Juventus. in the 89th minute a shot by Diego was tipped over the net by Mark Schwarzer. The game ended 3 - 1 with Juventus winning the match.

Even though Fulham were outplayed tonight I thought they gave great effort. I think they showed especially in the second half that the club deserved to be in this matchup. It will be tough in the second leg. Regardless of the outcome it has been an great time watching Fulham play in the Europa League. I never would have imagined this happening 2 years ago.

Fulham U18's lose a heartbreaker on penalty kicks in FA Youth Cup

2010-03-10T12:09:00.005-05:00

Fulham lost on penalty kicks to Aston Villa last night at Craven Cottage in the FA Youth Cup Quarterfinals. At the end of regular time the game was tied 1 - 1. The game was then tied 2 - 2 after extra time leading to the penalty kicks.

Before the penalty kicks, the 2 Fulham goals were scored by Marcello Trotta. The Italian born striker scored in 39th minute and the 115th minute. Fulham were only able to score once on penalties out of four chances. Unfortunately it was not enough for Fulham's youth team as Aston Villa won on penalties and move on to the semifinals.

Please check out "Penalty heartache for Fulham's youngster's" at hammyend.com. This is a great account of the match for Fulham's U18's. There are definitely players in the Fulham's academy I will continue to follow.

Fulham back in Europa League tomorrow at Juventus

2010-03-10T09:47:00.003-05:00

Fulham will be back in action tomorrow in Turin Italy against Juventus. The kickoff is 3:05 EST from the Stadio Olimpico. The second leg will take place next Thursday at Craven Cottage. Roy Hogdson and Fulham will have their hand's full with this top Italian team.

Fulham will be without Danny Murphy who will be suspended for the match. Jonathan Greening should be in his place in the midfield. It will be interesting to see who Hogdson will go with in his starting lineup. Nicky Shorey and Stefano Okaka are both cup tied and can't participate in the match. John Pantsil and Clint Dempsey are still hurt and hopefully we will be seeing there returns later in the season.

There is a good article entitled "Europa League: Preview Juventus - Fulham" on goal.com. Everyone should check this out to get ready for the match. This game will be a tough task for Fulham. I personally will be happy if they get an away goal. These are exciting times for the Cottagers. After this match tomorrow, Roy Hogdson's team heads to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday.

New England Patriots are on the way to getting back to "even"

2010-03-10T08:59:00.005-05:00

Contrary to the media view I am happy with what the New England Patriots have been doing so far in Free Agency. According to ESPNBOSTON.COM, the New England Patriots are about to re-sign Leigh Bodden. This is wonderful news to me that they are bringing back last year's # 1 corner.

Since Free Agency began the New England Patriots have concentrated on re-signing there own guys. My contention is that the Pats needed to re-sign their players just to get back to even. If Bodden is back in the fold you would be bringing back 4 crucial players. The Patriots need to build back their core with there own veterans. Vince Wilfork, Stephen Neal, Tully Banta Cain, and now Leigh Bodden all coming back can only help the team moving forward.

I think the biggest problem the Pats had last year was their "locker room". I think a great deal of the issues of morale revolve around money. The Randy Moss comments regarding the New England Patriots and money show their is possibly a perception that the Patriots do not play their players.

With 4 of their own players getting good contracts this Free Agency hopefully this will change the morale in the locker room. The players need to know that management will pay them if they play well. Also, other free agents in the future can now see that the Patriots will pay for players.

If the media or Pats fans are disappointed they did not go after "high priced free agents" I think they took care of more important business first. The New England Patriots are taking care of there own. Before you can get better you need to get back to where you were when the season ended. The New England Patriots are on the way to getting back to even.

10 things I think about Fulham Football Club this week March 8th

2010-03-08T09:35:00.008-05:00

The past week was very interesting for Fulham Football Club. On Saturday, Fulham played a 0-0 draw against Tottenham in the FA Cup. Now, Fulham will go to Tottenham for the replay in a few weeks. March continues to be action packed as we now have an additional match. Here are my thoughts on the week gone by and moving forward.

1. I think the 0 - 0 draw was a lost opportunity for Fulham. It was a pretty even match against Tottenham in the FA Cup . I guess the result was probably justified. I thought Fulham had a few good opportunities to score, but there weren't enough of them. It will be tough to beat them in the replay at White Hart Lane.

2. I think Fulham played to "win" the entire game on Saturday. I already mentioned this prior but I have read criticism that "Fulham played 10 behind the ball against Tottenham". Danny Murphy not playing I think dictated how the game played out. There is no question that Tottenham were in the Fulham half a great deal. However, in the second half Fulham definitely pushed forward some and created opportunities. Finally, why would Fulham want to play for a tie and have another game in a replay on the road?

3. I think I will be following the reserves and academy teams of Fulham much closer in the future. I wrote about Christopher Buchtmann last week. I have always liked following progress of young players as they move up. I enjoyed reading information about Matthew Briggs who captained England's under 19 team last week. There are also strikers like Marcello Trotta and Danny Hoesen for me to follow their progress. Hoesen and Buchtmann actually scored goals in the last reserve match which Fulham won 2 - 0 over Stoke.

4. I think Fulham really missed Danny Murphy in the last match. As I have mentioned prior I think if Danny Murphy played Saturday maybe Fulham could have gotten a better result. Not seeing him in there really made me appreciate even more. He might be getting older but he is still a great passer and player. He will be missed again on Thursday.

5. I think Roy Hogdson will have interesting lineup decisions this week if Paul Konchesky is ready to return. It shouldn't affect the Juventus match but, might have some impact on the Manchester United match. Since Nicky Shorey can't play Thursday will he play against Manchester United? It will be interesting to see how Hogdson handles his lineup this week.

6. I think Zoltan Gera has done a great job right behind Bobby Zamora. He has been very solid the last few weeks. I hope Hogdson keeps this combination intact. They seem to work very well together.

7. I think the Tottenham fans were great this week. I want to thank them for coming to my blog this week. This is a very loyal fan base and I appreciate any feedback they have given me. It is always good to know what the other teams fans think. I came away this week with much respect for team and its fans. I wish them luck the rest of the season and also in the replay.

8. I think Eric Nevland is leaving Fulham this summer. According to Dan at Hammyend.com , he has confirmation that Eric Nevland will return to his old club Viking Stavanger this summer on a free transfer. Good luck to him going back to his former club.

9. I think I will be very happy if Fulham get any kind of result at Juventus this Thursday. I think it might be asking too much for a victory in Turin. Maybe getting an away goal would be good enough? Fulham will also be shorthanded without Danny Murphy. It will be fun though to see Fulham play Juventus.

10. I think Fulham should be happy with any points at Manchester United. After playing Juventus on Thursday, Fulham go to Old Trafford on Sunday. I think Fulham showed everyone that they can play with Manchester United when they played them at Craven Cottage. This is a different story on the road though. If they can pull out a point I will be very happy.

Again, these are just 10 things I think about Fulham Football Club as of this week March 8th. It should be a fun week.

5 Things I Think about the New England Patriots this week March 8th

2010-03-08T07:45:00.003-05:00

With free agency beginning on Friday their has been a tremendous amount of interest by the media. Who would the New England Patriots target in Free Agency? Would the Pats be able to improve their roster through free agency. These are the five things I think about the New England Patriots this week March 8th.

1. Vince Wilfork re-signing with the New England Patriots was a pivotal move for the Pats to rebuild there locker room. I am so happy that Wilfork finally signed. This move will hopefully have a positive effect in the locker room. Younger players can now see that the Patriots "do pay" their players for there performance.

2. Adalius Thomas should not be cut from the New England Patriots. I wrote about this last week. I think Thomas has been a huge disappointment. I did think he should be let go right before the season begins. I have thought about this a little more though. Is there any way the relationship between Thomas and Belichick be reconciled? If it can, and they work out their differences than he should not be cut. I do think he did not give it 100% last year. Belichick and Ty Law worked out their differences years ago. Law that next year played well in his last year with the team. If he is going to be difficult in the locker room again then he should be traded or cut.

3.The New England Patriots should not be blamed for not signing Julius Peppers. This player got a huge contract that was similar to Albert Haynsworth. Even if the Patriots were in the running I think it will be proven out that he is the next "Adalius Thomas". The Patriots needed to take care of there own players first. Peppers does not love football. I just don't think he would have been a great fit for the Pats.

4. The New England Patriots need to sign Kevin Faulk. I have been a critic of Faulk's in the beginning of his career. He did have fumble issues in his first couple of seasons. However, he has turned out to be a very valuable and reliable player. On third down he might be one of the best players of all time in making the big play on that down. The Pats need to bring him back.

5. The New England Patriots need to sign their own players first. The media over the weekend has been very critical of the Pats. The feeling I have been getting is that many members of the media think they should have gotten a "high priced" free agent and made a big splash. I think they did sign a high priced free agent. His name is Vince Wilfork. They also signed Stephen Neal and Tully Banta Cain. In my opinion before they can get better they need to get back to even. It is very important to re-sign Leigh Bodden and Kevin Faulk. Once they take care of their own then they should concentrate on improving the team with free agents.

Those are my 5 things I think about for the week of March 8th.

Analysis of "My 5 Keys to Victory for Fulham against Tottenham"

2010-03-07T09:38:00.013-05:00

Fulham played a 0-0 draw against Tottenham yesterday at Craven Cottage. I thought both teams played well. It is my opinion that this match was a lost opportunity for Fulham. Now it is time to analyze "My 5 keys to Victory for Fulham against Tottenham" which I wrote about on Friday.

1. It is imperative that Fulham score the first goal. Going into the match I thought if Fulham scored first they could set the pace for the rest of the match. Since there was no scoring at all, I think at times both teams set the pace and had advantages.

2. Nicky Shorey just needs to continue to play solid defence. I
do think Shorey played well along with the others on defence. Even though Tottenham had very good pressure during the match they couldn't breakthrough. The defense kept them in the game, and led to a few opportunities for Fulham.

3. Roman Pavlyuchenko and the rest of the strikers need to be contained. Pavlyuchenko I thought was contained pretty well. There always seemed to be a Fulham player right on him. At times there were several around Roman. There is no question he is very dangerous. I think he showed glimpses of his talent, but he didn't have the room to really maneuver. I actually thought Peter Crouch played well and almost put a header past Schwarzer. The Fulham defense did their job.

4. Fulham need to shoot often at Heurehlo Gomes. I think this "key" really hurt Fulham. The Cottagers had a few chances but not enough to get that "breakthrough goal". This is a credit to Gomes who I thought was very good in this game. He had a very nice save on a strike by Damien Duff in the second half. Also in the second half he made a nice save on a header from Zoltan Gera. Gomes was solid and obviously did not have any confidence issues. There just weren't enough scoring chances for Fulham to rattle the Tottenham goalkeeper. Again, you have to give credit to Tottenham. At times during the match they were in control, and in the Fulham half.

5. Fulham need to stop Luka Modric. Going into the match I thought this was the number 1 key to the game. Modric was dangerous during the match along with Wilson Palacios and Gareth Bale on the left side in midfield. Like I said prior, they put a considerable amount of pressure on Fulham but just could not breakthrough. I think Danny Murphy not playing really hurt Fulham. He really is a good passer and we could have used his ability in the midfield. Etuhu made a couple of horrible passes. Jonathan Greening I thought was steady, but did not push the ball up like Danny Murphy can. For the most part though Fulham did stop Luka Modric.

In review, Fulham played well and did perform positively on many of my "keys to victory". However, they did not win the match and only tied. They played well on defence and had a few scoring chances. They just did not have enough shots on net.

In closing Tottenham is a highly talented and skilled club. To beat them in the replay it is going to take a better performance with more scoring chances. I have also read some criticism on Fulham "playing 10 behind the ball." I do appreciate other views of the match. I happen to disagree with this opinion. I don't think Fulham were playing for a draw. I believe they were going for the win. They did create some decent chances in the second half. Danny Murphy not playing I think changed how Fulham played in this match. Both teams had injuries that probably affected how the match went. In the replay let's hope many of the injured players are back for both teams. I look forward to the replay.

Fulham 0 - 0 Tottenham at Craven Cottage

2010-03-06T11:15:00.007-05:00

If Fulham had won today against Tottenham they would have advanced to Wembley and the semifinals of the FA Cup. Today's game was home for Fulham at Craven Cottage. Unfortunately for Fulham the game ended in a 0 - 0 draw. This was a disappointing result for Fulham. They will now have to play the replay later this month back to White Hart Lane . The last time the teams played at White Hart Lane, Tottenham won the game 2 - 0.

The first half was pretty back and forth with not too many chances by either team. For the most part Tottenham controlled the play better especially in the midfield.In the 4th minute there was a shot by Modric that sailed over the net. For several minutes in the first part of the half Tottenham were controlling the play.

The best chance for Fulham came in the 19th minute. Bobby Zamora's shot was saved by the goalkeeper. It was a good chance just inside the box, but was handled by Gomes.

The other good chances for the half were by Tottenham. In the 28 th minute there was a decent shot by Kranjcar. In the 30th minute, a header by Peter Crouch is saved by Schwarzer. The announcers mentioned that Tottenham were looking dangerous but not doing enough.

For Fulham in the first half it was obvious that they did miss Danny Murphy. Jonathan Greening was on his place. To win this game they needed to do better in the midfield. At the half the score is 0 -0.

The second half opened similar to how it started. Fulham came out aggressive in the opening minutes. Fulham had the first real good chance of the second half. In the 46th minute a Simon Davies cross went to Bobby Zamora who headed the ball to Zoltan Gera. His header was saved by Gomes.

As like the first half, Tottenham shortly after the brief advantage by Fulham started to grab control again. In the 55th minute a shot by Kranjcar goes off of Nicky Shorey, but was in a dangerous area near the net. Shortly after that in the 58th minute a shot by Michael Dawson slices away from the net.

Tottenham had more of the play, but Fulham were definitely getting some chances. Damien Duff started to get some shots. In the 58th minute a shot by Duff just goes wide of the net. In the 64th minute a shot by Duff is again saved by Gomes. This shot was a very good chance for Duff. In the 77th minute a pass from Zoltan Gera leads to another shot by Damien Duff that goes wide of the net. The last real chance for Fulham was in the 85th minute with a Bobby Zamora run and a shot that goes very wide of the net.

As the match winds down the game ends 0 - 0 with a replay at home to Tottenham. This game reminded me some of the Boxing Day match. However, Tottenham I thought played at a much higher level tonight. To be honest both teams had there chances. Tottenham had 9 corners in the match to Fulham having only 2. Tottenham just couldn't break though the Fulham defense.

This was a disappointing result for Fulham. They have so many tough matches this month. Now, they will have a replay in the quarterfinal of the FA Cup. I think both teams played well. Like I mentioned prior I was impressed by the play for Tottenham Hotspur. I can see why they are in the running for a Champions League spot.

Fulham are definitely a tough team to beat at home. The question is can Fulham win at White Hart Lane? We will find out later this month.

Vince Wilfork Signs with the New England Patriots

2010-03-06T05:27:00.003-05:00

With all of the excitement yesterday of the potential of Julius Peppers or Anquan Boldin being signed with the New England Patriots their number 1 priority did sign. Vince Wilfork according to Adam Schefter signed a 5 year 40 milion dollar deal. The Pats also re-signed Tully Banta Cain and Stephen Neal.

The Pats needed to sign their own players first in my opinion. To me this is a good start in the right direction. They still need to sign Leigh Bodden and Kevin Faulk.

As I have stated prior Julius Peppers whether the Pats were really in it did not make sense to me. Vince Wilfork makes sense to me. Anquan Boldin would have been a good trade but Baltimore made the deal instead. I still think they can go after someone like Derrick Mason to help at wide receiver.

Yesterday was the first day of free agency. There is still a long way to go in the off season. I know it is tough for Pats fans but we need to be patient. We need to see how there roster shapes up before passing judgement for next season. I think judgement can be made after the draft.

My 5 Keys to Victory for Fulham against Tottenham

2010-03-05T07:39:00.006-05:00

The match tomorrow is the FA Cup Quarterfinals. Fulham host Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage. The match takes place at 5:20 PM UK Time and 12:20 PM EST. In the United States the game will be shown on taped delay on Fox Soccer Channel at 5PM EST. If Fulham can win this match they will go on to Wembley for the Semifinals. For me the season has already been a success. A victory tomorrow would just take the season to the "next level." Below are my 5 keys to victory for Fulham against Tottenham.

1. It is imperative that Fulham score the first goal. This is usually a key for every match, but I think tomorrow it is even more important. Last year Fulham got blown out at Craven Cottage against Manchester United 4 - 0. This was also the quarterfinals for the tournament. Fulham need to show Tottenham very early that they are "in it to win it." I almost felt last year the team was just happy to be there. An early goal will set the tone for the match and will put all of the momentum with Fulham. I would love to see an early strike by Bobby Zamora.

2. Nicky Shorey just needs to continue to play solid defense. Paul Konchesky is almost ready to return. He played a great deal in the last reserves match. I think it is important that Shorey plays. I think he has proved his worth on defense. With the likes of Defoe, Crouch, and Pavlyuchenko at Tottenham's disposal Shorey will be tested. I think there will be a time soon for Konchesky to return to the lineup. I am hoping for continuity and fitness reasons that Shorey plays.

3. Roman Pavlyuchenko and the rest of the strikers need to be contained. Whether he starts or comes off of the bench he has been hot lately scoring goals. In all competitions this year he has scored 10 goals. However, his form lately has been very good. Fulham's defense against Tottenham at Craven Cottage on Boxing Day did a great job of neutralizing Crouch and Keane. They will be asked tomorrow to step it up once again and contain Pavlyuchecko and his teammates.

4. Fulham need to shoot often at Heurehlo Gomes. In the Boxing Day match he was fantastic. If it wasn't for Gomes, Fulham could have won the match. Goalkeepers can be a position that can be affected by confidence. By shooting often at Gomes the idea is to hopefully rattle him early. This can also work against Fulham as it might build his confidence. I think it is worth it though as he has had confidence issues before. If you put him under constant pressure I think we could breakthrough. Bobby Zamora should shoot often whenever he has an opening.

5. Fulham need to stop Luka Modric. Number 5 is actually I think the key to the entire match. I have to give credit to Dan at Hammyend.com for his great article on "How to beat Spurs" . He beat me to the punch on the #1 key to the match. Dan at Hammyend.com stated "What Fulham can’t afford is to allow Modric and company to dictate play forcing Danny Murphy backwards." The Croatian born player has the ability to dictate the pace of the game and get the ball up to the strikers. Please check out Dan's article. It is a great breakdown to the game. There are comments to his article. You will see that the Tottenham fans are in agreement of Dan's breakdown and key to beating Spurs.

Tomorrow is a wonderful chance for Fulham to make this season even a bigger success. Let's hope Fulham fans leave Craven Cottage tomorrow very happy.

Christopher Buchtmann: Is he a player to watch in the future for Fulham?

2010-03-04T08:54:00.006-05:00

I was reading the article on Fulhamfc.com entitled " Reserves 2 - 0 Stoke" and the first name that jumped out at me was Christopher Buchtmann. He was making his debut with the reserves. Not only did he score a goal in the match, but based on the article he was very involved in the match for the Fulham Reserves.

According to the article, Reserves 2 - 0 Stoke, stated "Another making his first start for the Whites was midfielder Christopher Buchtmann, a January transfer window signing from Liverpool, and a player that impressed from the off driving forward with conviction and endeavour with display that bodes well for the future." The article has other information on the game and Buchtmann's play. If you are interested please check out the article.

Buchtmann as mentioned prior came to Fulham at the very end of the January transfer window from Liverpool for 100,000 pounds. According to his bio on Fulhamfc.com, he is on an 18th month contract that will have him with Fulham until June 2011. The German born player will be turning 18 at the end of April. Also, according to his bio he was named among UEFA's top 10 stars of the future in May 2009.

I remember reading about Buchtmann when the deal happened. His signing seemed to "fly under the radar ". This probably happened because the Chris Smalling transfer to Manchester United was around the same time. I was not happy that Fulham were accepting a transfer with such a promising player like Chris Smalling at first. It looks like to me Fulham might have been able to pick up a player that has the potential to be a "hot prospect " as well.

If you look at this and analyze it, Fulham accepted a "rumored" 8 million pound transfer fee for Chris Smalling who is 20 years old. They brought in Christopher Buchtmann from Liverpool on a transfer fee of 100,000 pounds who is 18. To me this sounds like a good trade off for Fulham if the young German born player turns out to succeed eventually on the first team.

The big question to me is how did Fulham get this player for such a small fee? According to an article on goal.com entitled " German Starlet Christopher Buchtmann Leaves Liverpool for Fulham" it hints to what the reasons might be. The article by Mick Maguire states, "Buchtmann was widely regarded as the most promising prospect in Liverpool's youth ranks, and it is being speculated that attitude problems may be the reason for the sudden exit."

Whatever the reason Buchtmann was able to come to Fulham doesn't matter anymore. All that matters is how he progresses at Fulham. This is one player I will be following and checking his status with the club. It might only be one reserve game, but it sound like to me Christopher Buchtmann is player to watch in the future for Fulham.

Talking about the NFL Draft regarding the New England Patriots is useless

2010-03-03T08:54:00.004-05:00

I know many fans of the New England Patriots love to discuss the NFL draft and who are the New England Patriots going to take. I am telling you right now it is a "useless discussion" regarding the Pats. I am not going to fall for this talk again. Ever since Bill Belichick has been in charge trying to figure out who the Pats are going to draft is impossible. I heard a discussion on 98.5 the Sports Hub with Gary Tanguay and Scott Zolak regarding the draft. They had plenty of callers wanting to discuss who the Pats should draft. I couldn't take it anymore so I called in.

I told Gary Tanguay that this topic is useless because you can't predict what they are going to do. Does anyone really know what the New England Patriots are going to do in the draft? I am sick and tired of getting excited about the draft and being completely disappointed after the draft.

Let's just start with last year's draft. The Patriots had a pick in the early 20's of the draft. When there pick came what did the New England Patriots do? They traded down the pick twice to the second round. Now there was this huge need in linebacker. Did the Patriots draft a linebacker at the beginning of the second round? They ended up taking Patrick Chung a safety. I have to be honest with you I had never heard of him. I think he is going to be a good player, but at that point I was not aware of him. Linebackers like Clay Matthews Jr. and Rey Maualuga were in this draft. Why did they go after a safety with there first pick? Then they had 3 other picks in the second round. Did they draft a linebacker in the second round? The answer to this question is "no". They did end up drafting Tyrone McKenzie in the third round.

How about the 2008 draft? I was hearing all these names prior to the draft who the Pats were going to pick. They had I believe the 8th pick. Usually the media gets the pick wrong prior. This is the only case when someone in the media got the pick right. A day or 2 before the draft Michael Holley mentioned he had heard that the Pats were leaning towards Jerrod Mayo. The Pats ended up moving a few spots back in the draft, but ended up taking Mayo. Someone actually got it right.

The 2006 draft, the New England Patriots still had a huge need for linebacker. They ended up taking Laurence Maroney in the first round. Again I didn't see this coming. They also ended up moving positions in the second round to get Chad Jackson.

In 2005 the New England Patriots ended up taking a lineman in the first round that most experts had going in the later rounds. The New England Patriots ended up taking Logan Mankins from Utah. Again another player that no one in the media saw coming.

In 2004 the New England Patriots had 2 picks in the first round. They moved up to get Vince Wilfork which again was not on many experts' radar. They also drafted later in that round Ben Watson. At that time it didn't seem the Patriots needed a tight end. I didn't hear anyone predicting Ben Watson.

How about the 2001 draft and the first pick of the New England Patriots. The media were speculating that The New England Patriots were going to take David Terrell. They took Richard Seymour with that pick. If I remember correctly Ron Borges blasted the Patriots for that pick. How did that work out for the Pats? I think Richard Seymour was a great player for the Pats.

In many of these cases I think the Pats made good decisions on the picks. The big picture is, there isn't a fan or an expert who can predict what the New England Patriots are going to do in the draft. They might trade down or trade up. They could take a player that I think is not a need for the team. It is useless to discuss it. I would rather talk about free agents coming and going from Foxboro. After the draft is the time to discuss the Patriots draft picks. In the meantime, talking about the NFL draft in regards to the New England Patriots is completely "useless."

The New England Patriots should not cut Adalius Thomas now

2010-03-03T07:44:00.004-05:00

In a prior post I believe I mentioned that the New England Patriots should cut Adalius Thomas. I have changed my mind on Thomas being cut from the Pats. With free agency coming up why should the New England Patriots do him any favors? Bart Scott in the New York Post article "Bart Scott: Thomas' wants to join Jets if cut" mentions a desire of Thomas wanting to join the Jets if he is cut. The Patriots should not cut Adalius Thomas now.

Do I believe they should keep him on the team for next season? I absolutely do not want him on the New England Patriots next season. Michael Felger mentioned on Comcast Sports Net Late Night last night that he thinks the New England Patriots should not cut him now. I could not agree with him more. He should have to report to the OTA's and offseason workouts. Why should the Patriots give this guy what he wants. They have paid him very well and he has been a huge "bust". He could be the biggest bust in the history of the club.

I would cut him right before the first game of the year. There is no salary cap so why not keep him on the books until the season begins. This guy is the polar opposite from the "Patriot Way" Super Bowl teams. He shouldn't be on this team, but at this point he should stay.

I think it is worth it to the New England Patriots to keep him away from the Jets. Maybe with the Jets he would start to show the type of player he was with the Ravens. I would not give him the satisfaction to resurrect his career. He mailed it in from the first game of last year. I am not a vindictive person, but in this case I think he helped divide the locker room last season. Let him go through the off season with the New England Patriots.

Next season the New England Patriots need to bring in players that want to be there. They need to get there locker room back. In the meantime, Adalius Thomas should not be cut until the season begins.

What happens when injured players start returning for Fulham?

2010-03-02T11:53:00.003-05:00

The injuries started to pile up at the beginning of the New Year for Fulham. I think the team has been able to survive these injuries. The big question is what happens to the lineup when these injured players return? Don't get me wrong having these players back will be a huge help. I am just curious what Roy Hogdson will do.

1. Paul Konchesky could be the closest Fulham player to return from injury. As I mentioned prior having these players back is wonderful. In Konchesky's place Nicky Shorey has done a great job at defender. Do you just put Konchesky back in at his position when he is ready? Maybe, you have Konchesky only play the Europa League matches and have Shorey continue to play the League games and the F A Cup games. Again, this is a good problem to have when Paul returns. Shouldn't an injured player just get his job back when he comes back from injury? I am curious to see how Roy handles this.

2. Clint Dempsey it has been reported might have already started light training back with the team late last week. Clint had a knee injury and you have to be careful how quickly he comes back. I have to say Simon Davies has done a great job in midfield. I forgot how much I enjoyed watching him play when he is back to normal. Again I am assuming Dempsey will be back in the lineup when he is ready. But, do you ease him into play or does he just go back into the starting lineup?

3. John Pantsil seems the farthest away from injury. He might not be ready to return this season. Let's go with the assumption he is good to go say at the very end of the season. I would put him in as soon as possible. John Pantsil has showed me this year his value. I still think, him getting hurt in the Chelsea game changed the complexion of that match. He has been very strong on defense and has been able to push the ball up front. I do think Chris Baird though has done a nice job. He deserves more credit than he gets.

Before I end this post I have a different question I have been thinking about. What is going on with Chris Smalling? There have been opportunities for him to play and we haven't seen him lately. I believe he cannot play in the Europa League. I understand that but why isn't he playing in the league games? This is just something I have been thinking about.

To close it should be interesting to see how Roy Hogdson handles the return of injured players. It certainly can't hurt to have more healthy options.

5 Things I Think about the New England Patriots this week March 1st

2010-03-01T12:00:00.002-05:00

Since it is the off season I am going to limit this entry to "5 things I think" this week regarding the New England Patriots. With free agency beginning soon it should be an interesting week.

1. I think the New England Patriots should bring back Mike Vrabel. I think this is a "no brainer" for the Pats. Even at his age what he gives you in leadership and knowledge is worth it alone. He is a free agent and the Pats should bring him home.

2. I think the New England Patriots should cut Adalius Thomas. He has shown to me that he is just not a good fit with the Pats. It could be he just doesn't see eye to eye with the head coach. It is time for both sides to say goodbye.

3. I think it is a good thing the New England Patriots brought back David Patten. The Pats have nothing to lose here. He might be old for a wide receiver, but at least he knows the offense. He is also a veteran presence of the "Patriots Way".

4. I think if the New England Patriots sign Julius Peppers he could be the next Adalius Thomas. He has already been questioned by a teammate on his desire to play football. You need players who love the game. He could be another waste of money.

5. I think overtime should be each team has one possession. With talk coming out that the Competition Committee are considering changing overtime for the playoffs I thought I would put in my "2 cents". If they do change overtime please make it for the regular season as well.

These are my 5 things I think about the New England Patriots this week as of March 1st.

10 things I think about Fulham Football Club this week March 1st

2010-03-01T08:58:00.011-05:00

The past week for Fulham Football Club was historic . Fulham were able to tie Shakhtar Donetsk 1 - 1 in the Ukraine last Thursday. This result moved them on in the Europa League which they will next face Juventus. Fulham also picked up a valuable point in 0 - 0 draw yesterday at Sunderland. I guess these results could give me some thoughts this week.

1. I think the Shakhtar Donetsk result on Thursday is remarkable. Watching the first game at Craven Cottage I knew that Shakhtar was incredibly talented team. I didn't feel very confident going into Thursday's match. Roy Hogdson had Fulham very prepared for the match and it showed. The defense of Fulham was only broken once. For the most part the defense was tremendous. Fulham also took advantage of an opening when it showed itself. All it took was a free kick by Damien Duff and a header by Brede Hangeland to change the game. All Fulham fans should be proud of that game.

2.Was there another "lost in transaltion moment" with the Shakhtar manager after the Match on Thursday? After my entry a week ago I was curious how Mircea Lucescu would react in his press conference after the match. The transcript from his press conference has been removed from there official site Shakhtar.com. It has been replaced by a portion of this transcript which you can happily read from the press office of Shakhtar Donetsk. How do I know this? I went to the site shortly after the match and read the transcript. I went back to the site yesterday and it is gone with this replacement. The entry has the manager being very complimentary to Fulham. All I have to say is the original transcript had other comments regarding the match. I could also tell that the translation to English was difficult to follow. What I have learned from this experience that translating into English is not easy. What I have also learned though that it can also be an excuse for comments said. In the case of the Shakhtar Manager I believe there is a little of both from his last press conference on Thursday regarding the match against the Cottagers. Ask yourself why is the original transcript from the press conference gone from Shakhtar.com?

3. I think Stephen Kelly played a very good match against Shakhtar Donetsk.
I had mentioned in a prior entry that I thought Kelly did well in the last Europa League match. I had been critical of him so I want to give him the credit he deserves. I also think you can't blame him for the goal in the game. That was just a great move from Santos of Shakhtar. The whole defense in general was great, but I did notice Kelly.

4. I think getting any points on the road is important. I am a little disappointed by the draw at Sunderland yesterday. At some point you have to win games on the road. The really good teams all win on the road. To get to that level Fulham need to win away from Craven Cottage. However, it is important to get any points you can. All the points add up at the end of the year.

5. I think my expectations are too high for Fulham. I should have been more happy with the point. It is a long season and Fulham are going to have times when they are struggling. I guess I just see the month ahead with the difficult opponents and I am concerned. I want them to be in the Europa League next year. I think I might be shooting too high for this season.

6. I think the team has to be exhausted after the month of February. With all of the matches they played last month you would think they would struggle at Sunderland. They might have been tired but they still kept there shape and played well. What is amazing is that Hogdson used most of the same lineup at Sunderland. The only difference in the starting lineup was Nicky Shorey playing for Stephen Kelly. This is another reason why a point in Sunderland is well deserved.

7. I think Zoltan Gera probably has some sore muscles after yesterday's match. He was knocked around I believe 3 separate times during the match. What was great about his effort is he continued to play. I have to give him big credit. I am starting to like him right behind Bobby Zamora.

8. I think March could be an extremely tough month for Fulham. The month begins on Saturday March 6th against Tottenham at Craven Cottage in the F A Cup. Then, on Thursday March 11th Fulham play at Juventus in the Europa League. Three days later they play at Old Trafford On Sunday March 14th against Manchester United. Four days after that game they play Juventus again on Thursday March 18th at Craven Cottage. Three days later on Sunday March 21st they play Manchester City at Craven Cottage. The month ends on Saturday March 27 away to Hull. Is there any game in here that you pencil down as a victory? Maybe the Hull game but it is away. This month could be tough on the emotions.

9. I think the F A Cup match against Tottenham is a "statement game". This goes back to wanting Fulham to be thought of as a " very good club" each year. They need to win these types of games. Perception is a difficult thing to change. I would like Fulham not be thought of as that "nice small club". If Fulham can go to Wembley they could continue to gain some respect.

10. I think the podcast I heard regarding Fulham was very interesting. Thank you to Dan from hammyend.com for making me aware of this podcast. Timmyg at Fulham.offiside.com did a podcast with Don Hymel and Dan from Hammyend.com. This podcast kept me interested the full time which I think was slightly more than 30 minutes. To me they could have gone on for an hour. They discussed the Shakhtar match, the F A Cup and the complete month of February for Fulham. This is not "homer" radio. They critiqued the performances of the team and its players. I am not sure how often Timmyg does the podcast, but for me the three of them should do it more often. If you are a fan of Fulham you really should check out the podcast.

These are my 10 things I think about Fulham Football Club this week as of March 1st. Let's see what I come up with next week.

Fulham 0 - 0 at Sunderland

2010-02-28T09:43:00.013-05:00

Going into this match Fulham had only 1 win on the road this season. That was in the first game of the season against Portsmouth. They left the Stadium of Light with only one point today. Fulham and Sunderland played to a scoreless draw.

There was good news for Fulham fans as the game began. Bobby Zamora was in the starting lineup. He picked up an Achilles injury during the last Europa League match. The half was more controlled by Sunderland. However, both sides had a few decent chances to score.

Sunderland started the first 5 minutes of the match with good pressure in the Fulham half. It was though Fulham who had the first good chance. In the 6th minute Gera takes a good shot that goes wide of the net. In the 26th minute Simon Davies passes a nice ball to Bobby Zamora who heads it wide.

The Sunderland chances started with a Jones strike that went high over the net. In the 39th minute a free kick for Sunderland was taken by Darren Bent. His shot though was saved by Schwarzer. Kenwyne Jones actually had 2 more decent chances as Sunderland continued the pressure late into the half. The last chance for Fulham in the 44th minute was a free kick by Nicky Shorey. It was easily handled.

The half was physical with Zoltan Gera getting knocked around twice. Fulham and Sunderland ended the half 0 -0. To win the game we would have to see more out of Roy Hogdson's team in the second half.

The second half started with more pressure from Fulham. Early on a Simon Davies corner kick goes harmlessly in the box as there is a foul by Hangeland. Sunderland had the next 2 chances. In the 56th minute a nice shot by Alan Hutton is saved by Schwarzer. This was followed up in the 58th minute by a shot by Darren Bent which went wide of the net.

Shortly before that last shot Fulham's first change came when Danny Murphy was replaced by Jonathan Greening. In the 69th minute a beautiful left footed shot by Damien Duff just went wide. This was probably Fulham's best chance of the match. In the 73rd minute Simon Davies made a nice run but his shot was easily saved by Craig Gordon.

The end of the game saw a few more chances for Sunderland. In the 74th minute off of a long ball, a shot by Zenden hits side of the net. In the 80th minute a cross by Zenden goes right to Alan Hutton but again hits the side of the net. One of the best chances for Sunderland came in the 86th minute. Frazier Campbell's right footed shot in the center of the box goes high over the net. The final chance for Sunderland came in the 88th minute with a nice pass from Benjani that just missed Darren Bent.

The only other change for Fulham came late in the game with David Elm coming in for Bobby Zamora. Unfortunately for Fulham, Elm was not effective in Zamora's place. Bobby played decent but did not get any real good chances today.

Both teams deserved a well earned point. I thought it was a pretty even game with a slight edge to Sunderland. The game ended as it started 0 -0 from the Stadium of Light. Now it is time to move on to the F A Cup next week against Tottenham at Craven Cottage.

The Importance of Roy Hogdson to Fulham

2010-02-27T15:14:00.006-05:00

You need talented players to build your team. Unless you have someone to guide that talent it will go nowhere. Roy Hogdson took over a squad that 2 years ago that was fighting relegation to the Championship. To the present he has taken a team that is in the final 16 of the Europa League. To me this is an incredible accomplishment and I don't think he is getting the credit he deserves.

The big question is how did Hogdson accomplish this feat in 2 years? To me it all starts on defense. In American football if you have a strong defense you pretty much can be competitive in all of your games. I have a feeling that football in the EPL you can have a similar result with a strong defense. Hogdson brought in players like Brede Hangeland, John Pantsil, and Mark Schwarzer. Hangeland came in during the January transfer window of his first season. John Pantsil and Mark Schwarzer came in the following summer. Fulham now had 2 really good defenders and a top notch goalkeeper in Schwarzer. Defense is the first quality he brought to Fulham.

Hogdson also brought a work ethic and discipline that is shown every week on the pitch. His team is always in position and does not tend to beat themselves. The team keeps it shape which is difficult for their opponents to break down. This is a quality I admire. You are going to have to beat Fulham. They will not do it for you.

Roy Hogdson has also been able to get everything he can out of the talent he has at his disposal. Fulham do not have an unlimited budget like a team in the big four. He needs to find good players on a limited budget. For example, he got Mark Schwarzer for next to nothing. He also bought players like Bobby Zamora and Brede Hangeland. These players again were accomplished players but they weren't superstars at the time. Instead of acquiring talent Roy was building a team that is disciplined, plays a great defense and has an incredible work ethic.

As a fan all you can ask is that your club is put in position every week to win. Roy Hogdson has done this since January 2008. It blows me away how the media looks at Fulham. I listen to the commentary and I read the articles in the media. Just like the New England Patriots the media does not get it. They just see the names on the back of the jerseys. Someone needs to put those names in position to win and Hogdson does this week after week. It is a combination of the right players and the right manager.

How else would you explain how Fulham were able to beat Shakhtar Donetsk at Craven Cottage and then tie this team in the Ukraine. Shakhtar are more talented and play "beautiful football". Where did that get them in the end? Fulham moved on and Shakhtar are out. Shakhtar could not break down Fulham no matter how hard they tried. All Fulham did was take advantage of an opening when it was there. The free kick from Duff and headed in by Hangeland in the last game just shows me what Fulham is all about. They again won on defense, discipline and work ethic.

The importance of Roy Hogdson to Fulham to me is huge. Hogdson picks the players to play, puts them in position to succeed and just watches them play hard. If I were Chairman, Roy Hogdson would be manager for as long as he wants. I think the future is bright for Fulham Football Club. In my humble opinion Roy Hogdson has a great deal to do with it.

My 5 Keys to Victory for Fulham at Sunderland

2010-02-26T11:02:00.006-05:00

There is no rest for Fulham this weekend. They will be travelling to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on Sunday. The kickoff for the match is 3PM UK time and 10AM EST. The game will actually be shown on tape delay on Fox Soccer Soccer Channel in the United States at noon EST. Sunderland currently sit 14th in the League with 26 points. Fulham are currently 9th with 37 points.

Roy Hogdson and Fulham need to figure out a way to get another away win. Sunderland will again be desperate for a win as they want to get as far away from the relegation zone as possible. The question is what kind of shape and lineup will be on display for Fulham on Sunday? Below I will have my "5 keys to victory for Fulham."

1. Bobby Zamora is doubtful for the match so who will step up to take his place at striker. Zamora picked up an Achilles injury in the Europa League match. Who will Roy use at striker. I am hoping David Elm will get a shot at striker. To me he deserves another chance to show his ability. He seems to have a good touch up front. This striker position will be key on Sunday.

2. The return of Nicky Shorey is important for the defense. As I stated prior I think Nicky Shorey has been impressive on defense. Stephen Kelly was very good in the last match. This is nothing against Kelly. Shorey just gives Fulham a defender who can push the ball up better and is more natural at the position.

3. Fulham desperately need to score the first goal. Fulham have struggled so much on the road I think they need to play from ahead the majority of the match. If they can get off to a fast start they can dictate the game to Sunderland. Again, they are playing a desperate side right now. Zoltan Gera has been very good lately. I would not be surprised to see him score a goal early in the match.

4. Hogdson should use some fresh legs in this match. After a grueling match in the Ukraine a key will be how Hogdson uses his lineup. I already stated I think David Elm and Nicky Shorey should start. At some point during the match it might be good to use Jonathan Greening and Bjorn Helge Riise in midfield. Players like Danny Murphy and Dickson Etuhu might need some rest. They have worked very hard lately. I also would not be against Stephen Kelly coming in to spell someone on defense.

5. It is important to push the ball up to the strikers. Fulham always seem to be at their best when the defenders are pushing the ball up the pitch. Fulham need to dictate the pace of the match. Nicky Shorey has been great so far in moving the ball up. Fulham need to play like they are at Craven Cottage which is more aggressive.

Fulham are coming off of a grueling schedule lately. Sunderland on the road is game they need to win. If they want to move higher up the table Fulham need to win these games on the road. Let's hope our good form continues on Sunday.

Fulham 1 - 1 at Shakhtar Donetsk and Move on in Europa League

2010-02-25T13:48:00.012-05:00

This was a stunning result in the Ukraine. Fulham and Shakhtar end the game 1 - 1. More important though Fulham move on in the Europa League with an aggregate difference of 3 - 2. This tie could go down as one of the most important ties in Fulham's recent history. They now move on to the final 16.

Shakhtar controlled the majority of the match. Shakhtar had 17 corners and were constantly in the Fulham half. The difference was the brilliant defense of Fulham. Yes, that includes Stephen Kelly who played great. The combination of Hangeland, Baird, Hughes, and Kelly stopped Shakhtar Donetsk time after time. This was though a complete team effort.

The first half started pretty much with complete domination by Shakhtar Donetsk. They were constantly in the Fulham half and were passing the ball beautifully. The barrage started right from the 1st minute with a shot by Luiz Adriano.

In the 3rd minute a strike by Willian was tipped over the net by Mark Schwarzer. This was actually a tremendous save by Mark Schwarzer. Shakhtar were constantly moving forward. In the 14th minute Fernandinho had a nice shot that was saved by Mark Schwarzer. On top of the shots I can't even tell you how many corner kicks there were for Shakhtar. In the 26th minute Willian again missed a close shot that went wide. To Fulham's credit they were playing tremendous defense and they were well organized.

Fulham finally got the ball in the Shakhtar half. In the 33rd minute off of a set piece Brede Hangeland headed the ball past Andriy Pyatov. The ball was sent into the box beautifully by Damien Duff. Fulham now lead 1 - 0 and 3 - 1 on aggregate.

Shakhtar continued to control the ball until halftime. The home fans must have been shocked with the score. At the half Fulham lead 1 - 0.

The second half opened up similar to the first half. However, Fulham were beginning to control more of the ball in the second half. The first chance for Shakhtar came in the 52nd minute. Adriano's header went right to Mark Schwarzer. Shakhtar continued the pressure with Costa's shot in the 62nd minute, and then in the 68th minute a shot by Rakitskiy.

The dramatic ending to this match started in the 69th minute. A run by Costa just next to the net led to a beautiful pass to Jadson who put his shot by Mark Shwarzer. Now the crowd was really going crazy. Could Fulham hold on and go ahead in the Europa League? With a little over 20 minutes and stoppage time left Fulham led in aggregate 3 -2.

Shakhtar kept pressing forward which was leading to a few openings for Fulham to counter. Chris Baird in the 89th minute had a shot that went high off of a free kick. Then, in the 89th minute Zoltan Gera got loose on a counter and was one one on with goalkeeper. His shot went wide of the net.

We then go into stoppage time which was four minutes. Rakitskiy had another shot, but it was saved by Schwarzer. Fulham were able to eat up a good amount of the stoppage time by controlling the ball. However, just before the game ended Captain Danny Murphy was given a red card for a dangerous tackle. Fulham were playing a man down for about a minute. Then the nicest noise I have heard all season came out. The referee blew his whistle and Fulham tied 1 - 1. More important they move ahead in Europe on aggregate 3 -2.

I never thought a tie could be so sweet. Again, this was an incredibly important result for Fulham. The team and Roy Hogdson deserve so much credit for these 2 matches against Shakhtar Donetsk. Sometimes the most talented team doesn't win. Sometimes the better team wins.

My 5 Keys to Victory for Fulham at Shakhtar Donetsk

2010-02-24T11:40:00.005-05:00

The day of reckoning is tomorrow. Fulham play at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Final 32 of the Europa League. The game is at 6PM UK Time and 1PM EST. Fulham hold on to a slim lead in the competition. There are several questions going into this match. What starting lineup will Roy Hogdson go with? Will they play defensive and protect the slim lead? How will the referees effect this match? Which style of football will dominate? All of these questions and more will be answered after the game. Below are my 5 keys to victory for Fulham.

1. Stephen Kelly has to be at this best in this match on defense. I have been hard on him. However, he has looked out of place in several matches. Was he beat on the Luiz Adriano goal in the first match? With the attacking style of Shakhtar Donetsk, for Fulham to win he is going to have to be at his best. I will be watching Stephen Kelly.

2. Fulham can't afford to sit on the lead. Fulham hold a narrow 2 -1 lead going into the match. They cannot afford to sit back and let this team attack the entire game. It is imperative that the ball is pushed up to Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera. They need to attack and score. If they do decide to sit back I believe this is a recipe for disaster. Shakhtar have too much talent.

3. Fulham need to dictate their style of football on Shakhtar Donetsk. Shakhtar play a more wide open attacking football. Some could call it a "beautiful style" of football. Fulham need to play their physical brand of football. They need to force their will on Shakhtar. Players like Bobby Zamora and Dickson Etuhu can set that tone.

4. Fulham need to be aware of how the referees are calling the match. Unfortunately, the referees I believe will play a major part in this match. Fulham need to play how the match is being called. If the officials are letting them be physical they need to take that physicality as far as they can. If they are calling it close they need to be careful with their physical play. Physical players like Dickson Etuhu and Bobby Zamora have to be careful. Fulham don't need anymore red cards that effected the last Roma match.

5. Mark Schwarzer needs to have an exceptional game in net. I think he will be under constant pressure. He is a great goalkeeper. I have faith that he will be on his game.

I am sure there are other keys for the match but these 5 stand out to me. Shakhtar Donetsk are a very impressive team. This game will be a tough challenge for Roy Hogdson. If Fulham can control the game they have a chance. Let's hope for the best.

Former New England Patriot Player Mosi Totupu dies at 54

2010-02-24T07:59:00.004-05:00

I just saw this article on Profootballtalk.com regarding Mosi Tatupu. Former New England Patriot player Mosi Tatupi died at the age of 54 According to Profootballtalk.com per the Honolulu Star Bulletin "the cause of death is currently not known." Profootballtalk.com also reports that Tatupu "reportedly had been suffering from high blood pressure and other health issues."

I have been a fan of the New England Patriots since 1975. I was a huge fan of Mosi, and today is a very sad day. Mosi was not just a running back he was a true football player. He did run the ball, but he was a great blocker. He was also a special teams player. He is the type of player that gave you everything he had. He even had his own fan club called "Mosi's Mooses." When I think of players from the 80's Mosi's name comes up near the top.

Mosi after his playing days still lived Massachusetts. He was the running backs coach for Curry College. His son Lofa Tatupu currently plays for the Seattle Seahawks. My heart goes out to him and the rest of the Tatupu family.

Why would Bobby Zamora leave Fulham this summer?

2010-02-23T11:28:00.003-05:00

Why would Bobby Zamora leave Fulham this Summer? This is the question I am pondering today. I was on one of my favorite sites today friendsoffulham.com. I noticed one of the posts was regarding Bobby Zamora. The post on friendsoffulham.com was entitled " Who are we going to lose Zamora to in the Summer".

My first thought that came to my mind was why? I read the reasons in the comments behind the original post. The reasons I was reading from posters ranged from "Bobby Zamora doesn't like it here" to Fulham is a "small club".

The first reason "Bobby Zamora doesn't like it here" is an interesting question. I have seen some of the gestures he has made after scoring goals. Is that gesture meant for the fans or is it meant for his critics? I haven't read or seen anywhere that he is unhappy at Fulham. If he was so unhappy why did he want to stay at Fulham rather than go to Hull?

The second reason I read was Fulham could lose him this summer because they are a "small club". This reason to me is the real argument. In past the larger clubs would take the best players from the smaller clubs over the summer. They can offer more money and possibly European football. I can see why many people would automatically think Bobby Zamora will likely be gone this summer. A team in the "big four" or like Manchester City can cherry pick and get whoever they want.

I personally think he will stay this summer. First, he is under contract with Fulham. He is not free to just walk. Second, if he is happy with the club and flourishing in this system why would he want to leave? He is a key person in the club and scoring goals at a great pace. Third, if the club values him like I think they do, they should do everything they can to make sure he stays. They might be a "small club," but if the desire of the player is to stay and the team wants him to stay I think combined sides can make it happen. I would hope that Fulham would try to offer him a new contract to ward off new bidders this summer.

The "Brede Hangeland" saga this summer is a perfect example of what I just described. Every day from say June until the transfer window closed it seemed I read somewhere that he would be leaving to a bigger club. Arsenal was the club mentioned the most in regards to Brede Hangeland. Brede made it public he wanted to stay, but it was obvious he was looking for a better contract from Fulham. This saga continued the whole summer. Even when Hangeland went public with his desire to stay the media still kept saying he was in "play" with another team. What happened in the end? Brede Hangeland signed a new contract with Fulham and stayed with the team. There was a desire by both sides to make it happen.

In my opinion as long as there is a desire for both sides to continue to work together Bobby Zamora will continue to be a Fulham player.

New England Patriots putting in new field turf at Gillette Stadium

2010-02-23T07:58:00.004-05:00

When I read the press release from the New England Patriots I was a little surprised. From a press release yesterday on Patriots.com there will be a new field turf being placed down on Gillette Stadium. According to the press release from Patriots.com it states " The New England Patriots, the New England Revolution, and FieldTurf have jointly announced that Gillette Stadium will be resurfaced with FieldTurf Duraspine Pro, the new standard in artificial turf and the latest turf innovation from FieldTurf."

According to the press release, the field will be ready for The New England Revolution opener against Toronto FC on April 10th. The New England Patriots started using FieldTurf shortly after the New York Jets game in the 2006 season. I think I read awhile back that the turf had a shelf life of 10 years.

To be honest I am glad the New England Patriots are changing the turf. I actually hope this surface is more like real grass than what they currently have. I think the turf right now is actually too fast of a surface and reminds me of playing in a dome. What gives me hope about the surface is information from the press release. The press release states "the field is designed with international soccer in mind and is expected to meet and exceed the tenets of FIFA's 2 - star rating system."

Also, I wanted to give a quick update on the Vince Wilfork situation. He has been given the "franchise tag" by the New England Patriots. According to a press release by the New England Patriots, the organization placed the franchise tag on Wilfork and will continue to work on a long term deal.

10 things I think about Fulham Football Club this week

2010-02-22T10:48:00.009-05:00

Each week I will summarize my thoughts on the team . I will give you my "10 things I think." The past week was a huge success for Fulham. They beat Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday at Craven Cottage. They followed up with a victory on Sunday against Birmingham City. Roy Hodgson and the Cottagers have their work cut out for them to top last week.

1. I think Shakhtar Donetsk's players and coaches might have come into Craven Cottage a little over confident. They did start off a little slow. They are the defending UEFA Cup Champions. Fulham were fortunate to get an early goal on the Ukranian team. Shortly after the first 3 minutes Shakhtar controlled the rest of the first half. Going into the second half the game was tied 1 - 1. It took a great goal by Bobby Zamora early in the second half to gain control back to Fulham . I have a feeling Shakhtar will not be over confident this Thursday.

2. I think not having Nicky Shorey and Stefano Okaka available for the Europa League makes it much harder on Fulham to advance. Nicky Shorey has been very solid on defense. Stephen Kelly in my opinion has been below average. I am a little nervous seeing him out there in the Ukraine. Stefano Okaka not being available as a striker just hurts the bench and adjustments if needed. I think Stefano also needs more action. It is too bad these 2 players are not available.

3. I think even if Fulham do not advance the Europa League their play in the league is a success. I keep going back to 2 years ago. Look at how far Fulham have come. It seems like yesterday the Cottagers were fighting just to stay in the EPL. Roy Hogdson has done such a great job in a little over 2 years.

4. I think I actually miss John Pantsil. Until he got hurt in the Chelsea game he was holding his own with Drogba. He also could push the ball up and get everyone moving forward. Chris Baird has done a nice job except for his own goal yesterday. You could argue if Pantsil doesn't get hurt they might have pulled that game out against Chelsea.

5. I think there is a chance that Clint Dempsey might be coming back sooner than later. I keep reading reports that he might be coming back as early as next month. I find that hard to believe. If he could come back for the last 4 - 6 games to me that would be a huge bonus.

6. I think Alex MacLeish is a class act. I read his comments after the Birmingham City match. He was very gracious after the loss. These are quotes from an article on Fulhamfc.com called "From the other Side" . McLeish stated " We lost because of 2 pieces of inspiration from Fulham. The finishes were brilliant" he said. "That is the difference in quality that we need to aspire to." McLeish also discussed one of the Fulham strikers. He stated " And Bobby Zamora was the big difference. Today, My players had a hard games against one of the best strikers in the league."

7. I think Fulham can conquer America. I wrote about this last week. If you are interested please check out that entry. Fulham I think are the type of team that could be a huge draw in the States. America loves an underdog. I think Fulham fit that bill.

8. I think it is still possible to get into 7th position by the end of the year. I know it is a longshot but you never know. Aston Villa currently have 45 points in 7th position. That is 8 points ahead of Fulham. We would have to go on an incredible run including winning on the road. I know I am probably just dreaming.

9. I think it will take an incredible effort to move on in the Europa League. Shakhtar Donetsk look "scary good". If we get a good result on Thursday it would be incredible. This team has so much quality. I am sorry if I can't be more optimistic.

10. Bobby Zamora I think should be playing for England in the World Cup. I think his play over this year speaks for itself. I don't think I need to say anymore about this subject.

It was a great week for Fulham. I can't wait for Thursday.

10 Things I think about the New England Patriots this week

2010-02-22T09:22:00.010-05:00

In tribute to Peter King of SI.com who does an entry in his column each week " 10 things I think I think" I will do my own version each week. Since it is officially the off season you wouldn't think there would be much to talk about regarding the New England Patriots. I couldn't be more wrong.

1. I think Randy Moss is wrong regarding that the New England Patriots " really don't pay". He had several comments which were reported by Chris Gasper of the Boston Globe. I have talked about this in a prior entry. First of all they gave Randy Moss a very nice 3 year deal after the 2007 season. They also gave very good contracts to Tom Brady, Adalius Thomas, Richard Seymour, and Ty Warren. Over the years the Pats have paid close to the cap. To me the perception is not the reality.

2. I think Willie McGinest is right about the Vince Wilfork situation. On ESPNBoston.com, McGinest said "pay the man". He was referring to that he thinks the New England Patriots need to pay Wilfork. I agree with him. However, if Vince is looking for an "Albert Haynsworth deal" than I would understand if they don't come to terms.

3. I think if the New England Patriots can't come to terms with Vince Wilfork they need to franchise him and then trade him. The franchise deadline is coming up. If the New England Patriots and Vince Wilfork cannot come to terms soon the Pats need to do the right thing. Wilfork has played out his 6 year deal. You can get something for him in a trade. Both sides would then win in this situation.

4. I think the New England Patriots need to sign their restricted players first. Logan Mankins and Stephen Gostkowski are restricted players. These players are worth whatever the market value is for there services. They should try to come to terms with these players now. We have already seen what has happened with the Vince Wilfork situation. I think they need to be proactive much more with their own players.

5. I think signing Leigh Bodden is extremely important. Leigh's play was very solid last year. He is not Asante Samuel but he definitely got the job done. He knows the system and that is very important. Plus I have been reading online that he might want to come back to the Pats. There is no salary cap so they can afford to pay their own players. Please don't let him hit the free agency market. The Pats need to this now.

6. I think Tom Brady will play until he is 40 with the New England Patriots. There has been speculation last year in the media how long Tom Brady will play. I have heard him at least a few times say on "Dennis and Callahan" that he wanted to play another 10 years. Those statements were made about 3 years ago. I also think he will be with the Pats until his career is over. I can't imagine the Patriots not making sure he is Patriot for his entire career. It would be a very bad business move for the Kraft's to let him go somewhere else.

7. I think The New England Patriots need coordinators. In my opinion having no coordinators is ridiculous. Bill Belichick is going to be spreading himself too thin. He needs coordinators he can trust and be able to delegate those responsibilities to. With no coordinators how can the greatest coach in football be at his best?

8. I think the New England Patriots need to bring in veteran "character guys" on defense. Keith Bulluck and Kyle Vanden bosch are both available.They are veterans who can add leadership and can still play. If you sign them for a year you can buy time while you groom their replacements through the draft.

9. I think there is no way The New England Patriots are going after Julius Peppers. He is going to be too expensive and the Pats have too many of there own players they need to take care of.

10. I think the New England Patriots need to trade for Deion Branch. I have mentioned this in a prior entry. To me if he is healthy he is a wonderful number 2 or number 3 receiver. He already knows the system and could be a great stop gap until Wes Welker comes back.

These are just my opinions and I am sticking to them.

Bobby Zamora does it again! Fulham win 2 -1

2010-02-21T10:49:00.007-05:00

Bobby Zamora does it again with a late goal in the 90th minute. He hit a screaming shot that went past Joe Hart in the top of the net. Fulham get a dramatic victory over Birmingham City 2 -1. With the win Fulham are now at 37 points. That is the same total that Birmingham City currently have as well.

The game today did not start off very well for Fulham. In the 3rd minute Chris Baird heads the ball into Fulham's net past Mark Schwarzer. Birmingham take an early lead of 1 - 0. To be honest this was the only pressure Mark Schwarzer was under in the first half. Obviously the early goal started the tempo in Birmingham's favor.

Shortly after the own goal by Baird, Fulham started to control the game with some nice passing. However a pattern was showing itself during the first half. The defense of Birmingham City was impressive. They kept moving Fulham back farther.

In the 17th minute Brede Hangeland headed a ball over the net off of a corner kick. Shortly after that try Damien Duff took a long strike again that goes over the net. There is no question that Fulham were controlling the play but they could not get past the defense of Birmingham City. There always seemed to be a blue shirt defending in passing lanes. Scott Dan and Stephen Carr did a very nice job defending.

Later in the half Zoltan Gera made a couple of nice moves. He flicked a ball right to Simon Davies who's header could not get past Joe Hart. Also, Gera had a good run that sent a pass to Bobby Zamora in the box. Unfortunately for Fulham, Zamora couldn't quite get to the pass. This was a frustrating half of football to watch. Even though Fulham had the majority of the ball they trailed 1 - 0 at the half.

The second half began with Fulham trailing 1 - 0. Fulham started to increase the pressure and had a few chances in the beginning of the second half. Bobby Zamora has a left footed strike in the 53rd minute that went right to the goalkeeper. In the 57 minute Damien Duff's cross is again handled by Joe Hart.

Duff would make up for the last opportunity. In the 59th minute Damien Duff scores a goal right off the inside post and the game is tied 1-1. At this point with the game tied the pace changed as both teams had a chance to win.

Birmingham City increased their pressure and started to control more of the ball. James McFadden in the 64th minute had a strike that went right to Schwarzer. His next chance almost put Birmingham City ahead. McFadden had a beautiful strike that hit the crossbar. Mark Schwarzer might have tipped the ball to save it.

The game looked like it would end in a tie. As mentioned prior off of a free kick Bobby Zamora gave Fulham the victory. This was a pretty even game. I came away impressed by Birmingham City. They were excellent on defense and were always around a Fulham attacker.
Fulham should be very happy with this win. No one should be happier than Chris Baird who gave up the own goal in the 3rd minute of the match. Bobby Zamora completely bailed him out. If I was the England Coach I would put Bobby Zamora on my squad. He is playing with tremendous confidence.

Now it is on to the Ukraine. I wonder if Shakhtar Donetsk's manager was watching this match? I would think he must have seen it. Fulham should come into this match with confidence after this late victory. It should be a great game Thursday night.

Did Randy Moss show his true colors regarding the New England Patriots?

2010-02-21T08:48:00.007-05:00

It was late last night and I was done watching the Olympics. I turned on Comcast Sports Net New England. On their show Comcast Sports Net Central I saw some remarks Randy Moss had made at a charity event. These comments infuriated me as a fan. I think the Kraft's and the New England Patriots Management will not be happy with their number 1 receiver. Before I wrote about his subject I wanted to read more on exactly what Moss had said.

I got up this morning and read Chris Gasper's article on Boston.com that had quotes and details of Moss's comments. From the Chris Gasper article entitled " Moss anticipates out pattern after this year" the writer mentions the comments from Randy Moss at a Charity Event in Jupiter Florida. The comments were about his contract situation and how he believes the New England Patriots will not extend him a new contract.

Here is the one of the quotes from Randy Moss from the Chris Gasper article in Boston.com. Moss stated "It's the business of it man. You've got to understand the business of football," Moss said." There is not bad blood. There is no animosity on my side or their side. I think it is just the nature of the business of the NFL. You know the Patriots don't really pay, so when I got my second contract from them that was a blessing in disguise. I understand the business. I don't think they are going to re-sign me back. I'm not mad. I'm not bitter. It's just the way things are in the NFL, so like I said after this year I'll be looking for a new team."

This is a fantastic article by Chris Gasper. The article goes in to more details on his thoughts on the New England Patriots organization. Please read it if you get a chance.

My first thought is Randy Moss is finally showing his true colors. To be calling out the organization that the " Pats don't really pay" is a shot at the Kraft's and the entire organization. They have paid this player a tremendous amount of money. For me these comments are disrespectful.

Randy Moss to me was the beginning of the end of the dynasty as we knew it. The 2007 season and all of its records means nothing to me. It was a change of philosophy when they brought in Randy Moss. No matter how you break it down Randy Moss showed everyone he is a "me" player not a "team player". The team in 2007 became more about scoring than the fundamental of "team "that built those 3 championships.

If I were the Kraft's I would trade him now. You don't want someone on your team that says those words about the organization. Please trade for Deion Branch. If you have read his comments in a prior entry he seems to have fond memories of the organization and might want to come back.

For the New England Patriots to get back to greatness they need to bring the "character guys" back like Deion Branch. It is time for the "me" guys like Randy Moss and Adalius Thomas to go.

Birmingham City up next for Fulham

2010-02-20T18:08:00.007-05:00

Fulham's next opponent is Birmingham City at Craven Cottage on Sunday. The game takes place at 3PM UK Time and 10AM EST. Birmingham City come in to Craven Cottage currently in 9th position with 37 points. Fulham are 3 points behind in 10th place with 34 points. This is an important game for Fulham. With their current road record they need to win as many home games as possible. Hopefully they will take some momentum from last Thursday's win against Shakhtar Donetsk and have a good showing.

The last match between the teams took place on November 21st. Birmingham City won the game 1 - 0 at St. Andrews. The winning goal came from Lee Bowyer. I will be curious to see who Roy Hogdson has in the starting team for this re-match.

Hogdson has a few more players available for this match than he had on Thursday. Stefano Okaka and Nicky Shorey were both cup-tied and could not play. These players will both be available on Sunday. There is also a chance that Paul Konchesky could be available on the bench. He would be a huge boost for Fulham on defense. To be honest I am hoping Nicky Shorey will be in the starting lineup. Since his loan deal I think he has filled in great on defense. Stephen Kelly has been a little shaky at best on defense. I am hoping for a big win on Sunday for the Cottagers.

"Lost in translation" after Fulham loss by Shakhtar Donetsk Manager?

2010-02-20T11:12:00.007-05:00

What is great about writing is I can get different opinions on my entries. I had the pleasure of being on the friendsoffulham.com website. This is a great site and I recommend it highly for all fans of the club. I decided to put my entry " Sour Grapes and Disrespect from Shakhtar Donetsk Manager after loss to Fulham" on their messageboard. I was curious how this entry would be received by the fans of Fulham. What I have learned from this entry is that their could be different perspectives on the comments by the Shakhtar manager. I welcome different opinions on everything I write that involves Roy Hogdson's team and their competition.

Some of the comments I was reading involved "lost in translation." Some of the members were saying in their comments that since the manager speaks another language that his comments from the translator could have been " lost in the translation." This is a possibility that could be true. When you are commenting about an event with 2 different languages the content could be perceived in 2 different ways. However, the comments are pretty consistent from what I have read on Shakhtar.com before the match by the press office of Shakhtar Donetsk. Again all of these comments are open to interpretation. Don't get me wrong as I mentioned in a prior post, Shakhtar's manager had some complimentary comments about Roy Hogdson's Cottagers. Also, to be fair in a prior article the press office on the Shakhtar official website had some nice things to say about Bobby Zamora as well.

Some other opinions I read by members involved that the comments were mild into comparison to Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourihno, and Arsegne Wenger. I can definitely see this perspective on the subject. My counter to this opinion is that Roy Hogdson is far more gracious in defeat than those 3 managers. I am also a fan of the New England Patriots. I am used to Bill Belichick blaming himself and his coaching staff for a loss. He would never say " we shouldn't have lost the game." He would tell the media after the loss that the New England Patriots need to make the proper corrections before the next game.

I guess I was hoping the Shakhtar manager to be more humble after the match. Fulham have come so far in the last 2 years I was just expecting something different from the Shakhtar manager. What I have learned is that there are different ways to look at comments. I stick by my comments and still believe that the Shakhtar manager was being arrogant. I am open to the idea that this is my opinion and there are other opinions on the subject. I thank the members of friendsoffulham.com and plan to return to the site often. We all have different opinions on Roy Hogdson's team. What is great though in the end we all support the Cottagers.

Sour Grapes and Disrespect from Shakhtar Donetsk manager after loss to Fulham

2010-02-19T09:26:00.004-05:00

After waking up this morning I was feeling pretty good about the Fulham victory last night. My mood changed when I read the comments by Shakhtar Donetsk manager Mircea Lucescu. In the article from the official Fulhamfc.com website entitled " From the other Side" Lucescu had some interesting comments about the game. In my opinion these comments come off as very arrogant and disrespectful to Roy Hogdson's Fulham team.

According to the Fulhamfc.com article Mircea Lucescu stated" It is a good thing we've got a second leg so we'll still have a chance," the Shakhtar manager explained." We've lost a game that we shouldn't have lost. A lack of practice coming into the game saw us concede the first goal. After that we had the game under control." This statement alone is complete sour grapes from the manager of an opposing team. His team lost the game and Fulham won it period. This manager should be more gracious in defeat and give more credit to Fulham and Roy Hogdson.

The Shakhtar manager then seemed to complain about the referees I believe. According to Fulhamfc.com article Mircea Lucescu stated " We hope the referees in Donetsk will facilitate a beautiful game and not what happened today, I'm not judging the referee - he had his own method of judgement which facilitated more physical football." This manager has the right to his opinion. I personally don't think this game was anymore physical than I see every week. If they think Bobby Zamora and his teammates are too physical than they should prepare better for the second leg. I have a feeling they are going to see the same style of play from Fulham.

To be fair Lucescu did say nice things about Fulham's defense and how well organized the team was last night. He did congratulate Fulham on its victory, but what he said right after that sounded like a "backhanded compliment to me. According to the Fulhamfc.com article Mircea Lucescu then stated" Fulham definitely had some luck and managed to take advantage of their chances but that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate Fulham's defensive strength." I have listened to many press conferences of Roy Hogdson. I have heard him complain about the officiating. However, I can't remember him giving backhanded compliments to the opposition. He usually is pretty complimentary to the other side in defeat.
This goes back to the title of my entry. I hate it when a team says "We shouldn't have lost the game. Shakhtar did lose this match. I don't care that they play beautiful football. They do play a great style of football. It didn't matter last night. The better team won last night period. Take your defeat and see if you can beat Roy Hogdson's team in the Ukraine. I tell you one thing Shakhtar better go back to practice and learn how to be more physical. If they don't, Fulham will move on in the Europa League. Just quit your "sour grapes and excuse making". Just come to play next Thursday and we will see who is the better club.

Big win for Fulham against Shakhtar Donetsk

2010-02-18T21:16:00.005-05:00

Going into this match I thought a win tonight by Fulham would be huge for their confidence. Their is no question that the priority for this season is the league and the F A Cup. Anything more they can do in the Europa League is a bonus. With this win now Fulham are playing with "house money". It will be a very tough task to win in the Ukraine next week. However, I wouldn't bet against Fulham finding away to move ahead in the Europa League.

Shakhtar Donetsk are a very gifted team. I left watching the match very impressed by this Ukranian club. I think that is what makes this victory even more significant. The most talented and skilled team doesn't always win. Sometimes it is a lucky bounce or a shot of the ball. Tonight though I will call this a victory by a team that is disciplined and found a way to win.

Fulham actually came flying out of the gate. In the first few minutes Fulham dominated. Danny Murphy sent a free kick in the first minute right to Brede Hangeland. He headed the ball, and almost got it past the goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov. The goalkeeper made a nice save.

In the 3rd minute Danny Murphy found Bobby Zamora who passed the ball to Zoltan Gera. He then scored the first goal of the game. This action was very early into the match. Shakhtar Donetsk at this point had not gotten there feet wet yet.

After about the first 10 minutes Shakhtar Donetsk started to settle in. They were starting to control the ball and the game was starting to be played in Fulham's half. In the 13th minute, Shakhtar Donetsk's first threat of the match came. Brede Hangeland had a ball taken away from him by Fernandinho. He tried a pass that was blocked by Aaron Hughes. Fulham dodged a bullet there, but you could tell the tone of the match was changing. A little later in the 31st minute Darijo Srna took a strong right footed shot that just went wide of the net.

The momentum and play at this point was with the Ukranian team. You could see that equalizing goal coming. In the 32nd minute Luiz Adriano was sent a ball through from Darijo Srna. He got by Stephen Kelly and put the ball past Schwarzer. The game was now tied 1 - 1.

There was another good chance by Fulham later in the half. Simon Davies tried to head in a great ball from Damien Duff. Unfortunately for Davies his header was slightly wide of the net.
The half ended 1 - 1 , but Shakhtar Donetsk controlled the majority of the half.

There was a completely different tone to the second half. Fulham started to control more of the ball in the opening several minutes. This led to the 63rd minute of the match. Brede Hangeland sent a pass to Zoltan Gera. He made a great touch pass to Bobby Zamora. He then scored on a booming right footed shot that got by the goalkeeper. The shot went right to the top corner and the keeper didn't have a chance. Fulham were now up 2 - 1.

Bobby Zamora wasn't done being dominant tonight. In the 70th minute off of a free kick from Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora's header went just wide. This was a major chance for Fulham to go up 2 goals.

After that moment Shakhtar Donetsk started to increase the pressure again. They were in the Fulham half for a good portion of the last 20 minutes of the match. Fulham's defense was strong to hold off the pressure. The best and last chance for the Ukranian team came in stoppage time. Mark Schwarzer made a beautiful save off of a shot from Fernandinho. This saved secured the victory for Fulham. The game ended 2 - 1 in favor of Fulham.

Whatever happens next week in the Ukraine, Fulham players and the fans should be proud of the victory tonight. It is the type of game you can build on. Just remember only 2 years ago Fulham were in a relegation battle. Tonight they beat a team that won the UEFA Cup last season. I would call that some serious progress.

I want Deion Branch back with the New England Patriots

2010-02-18T09:47:00.008-05:00

When Deion Branch was traded from the New England Patriots during the 2006 season it was a major blow to the team. You could argue if Deion Branch was on the team in 2006 he could have been a difference in the AFC Championship game that year. When I think about that particular game all I can say to myself is " Deion Branch wouldn't have dropped that pass in the second half." His chemistry with Tom Brady was very special.

Since he went to Seattle there is no question he is not the player he used to be with the New England Patriots. He has been injured fairly often. Also, the style of offense in Seattle might not have been the best fit for his skill set.

You might be asking why I am bringing up all of the old memories. Karen Guregian has a very interesting article on Deion Branch on Bostonherald.com which was quoted from on Profootballtalk.com. Guregian asked Branch questions about the possibility of being traded or released. The discussion of the New England Patriots came up in this article as well.

According to Guregian's Boston Herald article which is quoted on Profootballtalk.com, Deion Branch stated, "You know what, I talk to the guys all the time. I never wanted to leave, either."Branch went on to tell Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald which is quoted on Profootballtalk.com, " We just couldn't get the contractual part down. We just couldn't come to an agreement. And that stuff happens.... I still love coach Belichick, and if the opportunity presents itself to come back, I would love to be there. These entire quotes come from Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald and quoted from Profootballtalk.com

I am hoping the New England Patriots management saw this article today. I also hope they contact Seattle regarding a trade for Deion Branch. He would be a fantastic number 2 or number 3 receiver with the Pats. Based on the quotes he is not against coming back. I want Deion Branch back with the New England Patriots.

I am not buying the interest of Julius Peppers by the New England Patriots

2010-02-17T13:21:00.003-05:00

This is the crazy time in the NFL and the media is desperate for stories. For example, how does Sebastian Janikowski signing a contract with the Oakland Raiders become a story involving the New England Patriots? It is a story when Bianca Wilfork tweets and comments about the kicker being signed. Are you kidding me? This is a story that is in print and on television. I also read online that it is being reported by Chris Mortensen that San Diego might be shopping Antonio Cromartie. I next read on a messageboard by a fan of the New England Patriots wondering if the Pats could trade Laurence Maroney for Antonio Cromartie. These rumors drive me crazy. Maybe 1 out of 100 actually happens.

The latest rumor I am just not buying again for another year. A year ago Vic Carucci of NFL.com stated that the New England Patriots were interested in trading for Julius Peppers once he signed his franchise tag. Obviously this deal never happened.

Now today Carucci is writing on NFL.com once again about interest of the New England Patriots in Julius Peppers. Pat Kirwan also on NFL.com in a Live Chat with fans on Monday also suggested the New England Patriots have interest in Peppers. I am sorry I don't buy it this time.

Julius Peppers to me makes no sense right now for the New England Patriots. They need to re-sign Vince Wilfork and Tom Brady before they do anything else. They also have several other of there own free agents they need to take care of. I know there is no cap now , but do you really think the New England Patriots are going to sign Julius Peppers, Vince Wilfork and Tom Brady all to long term deals? It is not going to happen.

What is going on is the media especially in Boston is the need for a story. The New England Patriots don't tell them anything. So instead of finding real stories they latch on to story about Bianca Wilfork tweeting about a kicker and Julius Peppers having interest by the New England Patriots. This is the same story from a year ago that never happened. Again, I am not buying it this year.

5 Reasons Why I Think Fulham Can Conquer America

2010-02-17T08:02:00.010-05:00

This entry is in response to the great article I just read on EPLtalk.com. The article on EPLtalk.com is entitled " 5 Reasons Why Manchester City Can Conquer America". The writer discusses that Manchester City are considering a preseason tour of the United States. The writer mentions this could be an opportunity for Manchester City to become popular in the U.S. He then breaks down the 5 reasons why Manchester City can conquer America. The writer makes a very good argument for Manchester City in the U.S. Below I am going to give you the" 5 Reasons Why I think Fulham can Conquer America." If you want to read the reasons for Manchester City here is a link to the article. I think Roy Hogdson and Fulham have the potential to grow its fanbase in America. Please read below the link to see my reason for Fulham.

http://www.epltalk.com/5-reasons-why-manchester-city-can-conquer-america/15821#more-15821

1. Americans love a great manager of a club. In American football, baseball, basketball and hockey the manager or coach is under the microscope of the fans of their teams. For example I will use Bill Belichick the Head Coach of the New England Patriots. In my opinion he might be the greatest coach in NFL history. He is constantly under scrutiny and is a polarizing figure. Belichick though is a 3 time Super Bowl champion ,who whether "you like him or hate him" has the respect of the media and the fans as a great head coach. As a fan I know the Patriots are always going to be well prepared and be put in the best situation to win. Roy Hogdson has put his club in the best position to win every week. As a fan their is not more than you can ask from your manager. I think Americans would be intrigued by Hogdson's history with the team and how he dug them out of possibly being relegated in 2007 - 2008 season. They will also appreciate how he started to rebuild Fulham on defense. Americans love a team that plays strong defense in any sport I would argue. It is a major key to victory. What also makes Hogdson appealing is his personality. In interviews and during games the man seems under control and confident. Roy would be a huge hit in America.

2. Fielding a strong international squad. As stated in the EPLtalk.com article America is a melting pot of many nations. What is great about Fulham is that the team like the EPL in general have an international makeup to its squad. The strikers are Bobby Zamora fom England and David Elm from Sweden. In the midfield you have Damien Duff from Ireland, Danny Murphy from England, Clint Dempsey from the United States, and Dickson Etuhu from Nigeria. In the back on defense you have Chris Baird from Northern Ireland, John Pantsil from Ghana, Brede Hangeland from Norway, and Aaron Hughes from Northern Ireland. Finally you have Mark Schwarzer in goal from Australia. Americans tend to be attracted to players they can relate to. The makeup of this team has someone for every fan.

3. Americans love to get behind the underdog. I think Americans like to get behind a team that doesn't have all the money in the world to spend on players. I think Americans are attracted to teams that have a strong work ethic and have to try harder to work with what they have. A team like Fulham reminds me of the 2001 New England Patriots. They did not have the most talent, but they played together as a team. Another team I would compare them to is the Minnesota Twins in baseball. This team does not have a huge payroll, but year after year they field a team that contends for their division. I think Fulham can be a team that contends for a Europa League spot consistently each year. They are not going to be a Champions League Team. I know if Americans watched Fulham beat Manchester United earlier this year they would be hooked on this team. The underdog beat one of the best teams in the world. Americans definitely would be behind a team like Fulham.

4. An American Player on the team and a past that has had several Americans on the squad. This goes back to the melting pot theory. Americans can relate to a team that has one of their own on it. Clint Dempsey is a very good player for Fulham. He is I would say a star on the U.S. World Cup Team. As we go into the summer many Americans will be watching the World Cup. Since Clint Dempsey plays for Fulham it will give fans a chance to see a prominent Fulham player. This could very well attract new fans to the club.

5. Fulham selected Fenway Sports Group as exclusive North American Agency. The Fenway Sports Group I have written a few months back about. This sports marketing agency could be a huge help with the growth of Fulham. Their main responsibility is finding corporate sponsorships including on the jersey for the 2010 - 2011 season. This organization is closely affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox have to be considered one of the best marketers of there brand in American Sports. This marketing has helped the Red Sox funnel money to pay for players. There is no question that marketing has had a huge positive effect on the Boston Red Sox. The result is they have won 2 World Series titles in the last 6 years. I think this firm could potentially help market Fulham better and build its brand. This could help the team have more money to spend on players.

I think these are 5 very good reasons why Fulham could become a favorite in the United States. I do think at some point they need to plan a summer preseason trip to America again. Seeing the team in person would definitely help build fan interest as well. They did come several years ago for a summer trip.

Maybe you don't think it is important for a team to breakthrough in America? I certainly can see that. If you are a fan of Fulham you want to see them compete every year in the EPL. The more fans of the team can mean more money which can be used to upgrade the team. I am of the mindset the more fans the better wherever they come from.

UEFA Cup holders very confident coming to Craven Cottage to play Fulham

2010-02-16T13:37:00.006-05:00

Shakhtar Donetsk won the 2009 UEFA Cup against Werder Bremen 2 -1 last season. They come to play Fulham at Craven Cottage this Thursday Night at 8:05PM UK time and 3:05 EST. This is the first leg of the Round of 32 in the Europa League. The second leg will be played the following Thursday at home to Shakhtar Donetsk. This Ukranian club is definitely going to be a huge challenge for Fulham.

Shakhtar Donetsk finished their league last year in second place. They currently sit second in the Ukrainian Premier League. They are 2 points behind Dynamo Kiev halfway through their season. What is interesting is they have not played a league game since mid December. The Ukranian Premier League has a winter break. The team should be fairly fresh to face Roy Hogdson's Fulham squad.

The Ukrainian team actually has been training in England. According to the club's official website the team went to the F A Cup match that Roy Hogdson's Cottagers played on Sunday against Notts County. The article has some thoughts on Craven Cottage and also that some of the players were recognized in the crowd.

The article from the Press Office of FC Shakhtar on the official website also has some interesting thoughts on Fulham. According to the Press office of FC Shakhtar states " By and large the Shakhtar players agreed that our future rival hasn't amazed us by anything special. To play against them is possible,very possible. Of course, we shouldn't play relaxed and should concetrate fully." The article by the Press office of FC Shakhtar continues to go on and has some praise for Bobby Zamora and Fulham's defenders. Finally, According to the Press office of FC Shakhtar also has praise for the fans.

Based on the official website of Shakhtar Donetsk, it sounds like to me the Ukranian team is very confident going into the Europa league match. I am fine with Fulham playing a team that believes they should win. If Fulham want to move forward in the Europa League why not take on the champion. I am sure Bobby Zamora and the rest of the team are looking forward to playing this game. If Fulham win in the round of 32 it should give them more confidence heading into the last part of the season.

Why can't Fulham get players like that?

2010-02-15T13:06:00.005-05:00

If you are from Boston you might remember the annoying phrase former Channel 4 Sportscaster Bob Lobel would say about players that left Boston. When Jonny Damon left to go to the Yankees he would show highlights of him and say "Why can't we get players like that?" This was Lobel's way of saying he wishes that player was still with a Boston team. I can't tell you how much that phrase ticked me off. How ironic is it that I will be using this phrase to describe a former Fulham player.

Diomansy Kamara left on loan February 1st from Fulham to Celtic. I am a fan of Diomansy and was disappointed by the loan move. I really didn't understand why Roy Hogdson would allow this to happen. We had some injuries with our strikers and to let one of them go on loan did not make sense to me. Shortly after the loan deal was complete it was revealed that Andrew Johnson would be out for the rest of the season. This would leave Fulham short on strikers.

Kamara I have fond memories of him during the relegation battle in the 2007 - 2008 season. He scored 2 crucial goals against Manchester City that definitely helped Fulham stay up in the Premier League. He was often injured, but when he did play he usually made some kind of impact. I noticed his impact even in the Europa League recently. I thought teaming him up with Bobby Zamora would give Fulham 2 strikers that could compliment each other. I could see the potential for better chemistry with Bobby Zamora than the combo of him with Andrew Johnson.

This discussion brings us to what Kamara has done with Celtic since leaving Fulham. On February 7th, Kamara scored his first goal with Celtic in the Scottish Cup against Dunfermline. He added his first league goal on February 13th against Aberdeen. In only a few weeks with Celtic, Kamara has scored 2 goals. Not bad for a player that hasn't had much action this year for Fulham. I will leave you with this question. " Why can't Fulham get players like that?"

Later this week I will have a preview for Fulham's Europa League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk. This should be an interesting game for Fulham. I will be curious to see what kind of team Roy Hogdson puts on the pitch in this matchup.

Fulham take care of Notts County 4 - 0 in F A Cup

2010-02-14T11:03:00.019-05:00

Fulham in the first half started out sluggish. In fact the announcers kept mentioning they could not tell who was the Premiership club and who was the League Two team. Notts County were winning in the midfield early in the match. They were making more of the clean passes. Fulham were more kicking long balls to the strikers up front.

The game changed in the 22nd minute with a goal from Simon Davies. It was a right footed shot from a nice pass from Danny Murphy. The shot got by Notts County Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Fulham almost went up 2 goals with a nice run by Damien Duff. This led to a strong shot off of his left foot. A nice save was made by Schmeichel to keep the game 1 - 0. A couple of decent shots came after that from Bobby Zamora and Dickson Etuhu.

Notts County had one of their best chances in the 39th minute from a shot by Craig Wescarr. It was a nice save by Mark Schwarzer to keep the game 1 - 0.

The second goal of the game came from a wonderful flick by David Elm right to the foot of Bobby Zamora. Zamora then made a left footed shot that got by the keeper. Fulham were up 2- 0 at the half.

The second half began with Notts County again coming out strong. In the 50th minute Ben Davies took a nice shot that just slightly missed the net. A little later a shot by Lee Hughes was right on net but saved by Schwarzer.

The best chance early in the second half was by Nicky Shorey off of a set piece. Unfortunately for Shorey his shot sailed high over the net. As the half went on Fulham were starting to control the play more.

In the 73rd minute Damien Duff made it 3 - 0. It was a low left footed shot in the penalty area. This goal made the game comfortable at this point. Roy Hogdson decided to put in Jonathan Greening, Bjorn Helge Riise, and Stefano Okaka as substitutes. This was an indication that possibly Hogdson wanted some rest for Danny Murphy, Damien Duff and Bobby Zamora.

In the 79th minute Stefano Okaka scored his first goal for Fulham. This was a right foot shot that got into the net. The score then became 4 - 0 in favor of Fulham. He got behind the defenders and made a nice low shot to score the goal.

This was a game that the score does not show how tough Notts County played. In the end though Fulham showed who was the Premiership Club and who was the Division 2 squad. It is now on to the next round of the F A Cup.

Bill Polian's influence on the change in the game

2010-02-14T09:13:00.008-05:00

In my mind the 2003 AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts has to be one of the greatest games in Pats history. It is also the game that I believe indirectly changed football today. This was a game that the Pats shut down Peyton Manning and his high powered offense.

The defensive backs hit the receivers hard throughout this game. They were in their face at the line of scrimmage and when they caught the ball the hits kept coming. I actually remember a hit by Rodney Harrison hitting Marvin Harrison which caused a fumble. Ty Law had 3 interceptions in this game and Peyton Manning looked totally confused. Up to this game Peyton Manning had been lighting it up in the playoffs against the Broncos and the Chiefs. This style of defense was aggressive and was the trademark of the New England Patriots dynasty.

After the game I started to hear complaints from the Colts about how the Patriots were making hits that were illegal . Bill Polian was front and center complaining about the Pats. To me looking for excuses is bad sportsmanship. The Colts needed to look at themselves and admit the better team won that Sunday.

Instead Bill Polian and Tony Dungy made sure with the competition committee that the "10 yard rule of defensive holding" would become a point of emphasis moving forward. You could still hit a receiver at the line of scrimmage and you had 10 yards to stop hitting him. The problem here is that defensive backs since this emphasis have become less aggressive at the line and in the field of play. In my opinion this emphasis has changed how defenses defend the pass. To me they are more worried about the flag than hitting the receiver.

The result has been more wide open offenses like the Colts being even more effective. If you look at the teams in the Super Bowl they are both led by their offenses. What happened to the dominant defenses? Right now they do not exist.

Has this "point of emphasis" benefited Peyton Manning and the Colts? In my opinion they have and it has changed football as we know it. It used to be "defense wins championships". Now it is the best offense wins championships. The Patriots changed their makeup I think for the worse when they decided to become a passing team in the 2007 season. The Pats to me thought "if we can't beat them we might as well join them. " The team that won 3 Lombardi trophies is not built around defense anymore. It has been built around offense.

It all goes back to an AFC Championship game when a general manager decided his team was cheated out of a victory. He was going to make sure the rules were going to change. Bill Polian and the rest of the competition committee certainly changed football forever. My question though is the game better now? I certainly don't think so.

Fulham play Sunday in the FA Cup at Craven Cottage

2010-02-12T16:13:00.005-05:00

The next game for Fulham is this Sunday February 14th, at 3PM UK Time and 10AM EST. The game will be home at Craven Cottage. The opponent on Sunday is League Two Team Notts County. A win on Sunday will put Fulham into the quarterfinals of the tournament.

According to Fulhamfc.com there is a good chance we will see a similar lineup for the team that they used against Burnley. Roy Hodgson gave a quote about the starting team. Hogdson said " There is no reason for me to envisage great changes to the Team, certainly for the game on Sunday." Also, according to Fulhamfc.com, Zoltan Gera and Paul Konchesky have come back to training. This is a good sign for Fulham.

After the FA Cup match on Sunday, Fulham play on Thursday February 18th in the Europa League at 8:05PM UK Time and 3:05PM EST. The game is against Shakhtar Donetsk at Craven Cottage. This should hopefully be a good week of football for Roy Hogdson and Fulham.

The Vince Wilfork contract situation with the New England Patriots

2010-02-11T11:16:00.013-05:00

Last year before the season began their was a great deal of media speculation regarding the contract situation of Vince Wilfork. Vince never held out and showed up for training camp on time. He actually played out his entire rookie 6 year agreement. The next situation for Vince Wilfork is will the New England Patriots franchise him? Starting today the team has the ability to put the franchise tag on Vince Wilfork.

I have been hearing speculation that Vince might have been offered a new contract with the New England Patriots before last season began. Gary Tanguay stated on his show on Comcast Sports Net the other night he had heard that Wilfork was offered a contract around 20 million plus guaranteed. In his column entitled " Will Patriots play tag with Wilfork?" Tom E. Curran on CSNNE.COM wrote that he had heard whispers that last August the Patriots were offering $20 million guaranteed and the negotiations ran aground.

I called into the radio show with Andy Gresh on 98.5 the Sports Hub. I asked him if he had heard anything regarding The New England Patriots offering Vince Wilfork a new contract. Andy mentioned that he had heard the New England Patriots and Vince Wilfork were close to a new contract agreement at one point. He believed that this offer happened before the last season began. He then said "Something happened and it blew up".

I would hope that both sides could come back to the table and work something out that benefited both parties. I believe if the New England Patriots franchise Vince Wilfork the situation will only get worse. I will be monitoring this issue closely.

David Elm breaks through with first goal in Fulham victory

2010-02-10T13:46:00.005-05:00

David Elm was the last summer transfer to be added for Fulham for the season. He is 6ft. and 3 inches tall. He looks tall and a little lanky up front. I remember reading more about his brother Rasmus Elm as a very good prospect for Fulham. Rasmus is 21 and ended up going to AZ in the Netherlands.

I had been waiting for months to see Elm get a shot with the first team at Fulham. My thought was if Roy Hogdson signed him at some point he needed to play at Craven Cottage. In the F A Cup against Accrington Stanley I watched him play. I thought he might have a decent first touch as he made some nice passes. I knew I needed to see how he would react in the Premier League.

In Fulham's loss to Aston Villa I thought David Elm showed good effort and hustle. He almost scored his first goal against Aston Villa, but he was offsides when he shot the ball into the net. The Aston Villa game was a horrible loss for Fulham. The team looked out of sorts, but Elm seemed to be one of the only bright spots.

Move forward to last night at Craven Cottage against Burnley. David Elm in the 23rd minute headed a pass to Danny Murphy who scored the first goal of the game. It did look like he was offsides but he was not flagged for it. Next, later in the first half Bobby Zamora's shot was deflected off of the goalkeeper. David Elm was right there to kick and score his first goal in the Premier League.

I think time is needed until the end of the season to make a complete judgement on David Elm. His contract is up with Fulham this summer. According to Sky Sports there is an option for both sides to agree on a 2 year extension. We should have all the answers we need by May.

Fulham beat Burnley 3-0 at Craven Cottage

2010-02-09T17:06:00.006-05:00

This ended up being a very good week for Fulham. They were able to take 7 points from their last 3 matches. The latest match tonight was a 3 - 0 victory against Burnley. Fulham now have 34 points and currently sit 9th in the table.

In the first half, Fulham's first goal was scored by Danny Murphy in the 23rd minute. The goal was set up from a pass from David Elm. The second goal was set up by a shot on net by Bobby Zamora which ricocheted off of Brian Jensen. David Elm took the deflection and scored the second goal of the game in the 31st minute.

In the second half, Bobby Zamora is pulled down in a very dangerous area outside of the box. Bobby Zamora then scores the free kick on a low drive that got past Jensen in the 54th minute. Other action in the second half involved a couple of good opportunities for Stefano Okaka to try to score his first Premier League goal. In the 77th minute Okaka was one on one with Jensen and his shot was blocked. In stoppage time Bjorn Helge Riise sent a great cross to Okaka. Unfortunately for Okaka his shot went wide of the net.

Overall for Fulham this was an important win to get some momentum going into the FA cup Match against Notts County and then their Europa League Match against Shakhtar Donetsk. The match tonight saw Fulham have 52% of possession while scoring three goals. I am sure Roy Hogdson will be happy with this result.

The Negative and the New England Patriots

2010-02-09T09:24:00.006-05:00

The negative and the New England Patriots seem to go hand in hand in this region that I live. The media in this region use the negative approach very often. I was reminded of this approach recently during columns by Dan Shaughnessy regarding Manning being better than Brady. I don't have a problem with being negative when it is warranted.

The approach I take with the New England Patriots is to be objective. When the team deserves to be criticized I certainly do not have a problem letting my opinions known. When the team has done something that deserves praise I will share that view as well. I am a diehard fan of the Pats , but by no means am I a "Pom Pom Footy Pajama" follower of this team. I actually think more fans are more the former than the latter. I think Pats fans love there team, but will criticize them when they deserve it. Michael Felger has said on his radio show on 98.5 the Sports Hub, why can't fans be more objective? I am a fan that is objective.

The perception in the print media and the broadcast media by several seems to be that fans of the New England Patriots are just followers. I have heard this theme on many radio shows and read this in the print media. Tony Massarotti who I happen to enjoy reading and listening to has been extremely outspoken of Pats fans not being more critical of there team.

In my opinion he couldn't be more wrong. I listen to his show and hear many fans being critical of the Pats. There are also many Pats fans websites where fans are posting there opinions on the Pats. For example, I would argue that I have read and heard on the radio, support for Vince Wilfork against the management of the New England Patriots. I have also heard many fans not happy with Bill Belichick's approach to not having any coordinators. I completely agree that this philosophy is wrong. Does that mean that I am not a loyal fan? No, it means that I am an objective fan. I am just not completely negative enough for the local media.

Why does the media want the fans of the New England Patriots to be more negative? I have actually heard Tony Massarotti claim that you can't be a real fan if you can't criticize your team. I agree that you should be critical as a fan but to what extent? My theory is that Massarotti and other media members that feel similar to him want Pats fans to be more like Red Sox fans.

The teams fanbases I would argue are very different. The Red Sox fans are very critical and are very outspoken. There is nothing wrong with that. The Sox fan base is built up from generations of disappointment over decades. The negative has been passed on from generation to generation. It is easy to criticize the Red Sox. The games are much more frequent and the manager's daily moves can be broken down on a moment's notice for criticism. Personally I am tired of the daily grind of negativity with the Red Sox.

The New England Patriots are only 4o years old. The fanbase does not have the generational disappointment of the Sox fan. Yes, the Pats went to a Super Bowl in the 80's but even then the Pats weren't a respected franchise. Everything changed when Bill Parcells became coach and a year later Bob Kraft bought the franchise. Before these changes the New England Patriots were a laughing stock of an organization. The fanbase really did not see much success until the Parcell's version of the New England Patriots.

With this combination of new ownership and a Super Bowl winning coach a new era was born for the fanbase of the Pats. The franchise took it to the next level with the success of Bill Belichick in the last decade. This fanbase I believe is so happy to be associated with a winner they have taken that approach. The Pats fan expects to win and not to lose. This is more of a positive outlook on there team. The Red Sox fan tends to be more negative and expecting the worst to happen.

In my opinion the Pats fan is more of "glass is half full" fan. The Red Sox fan tends to be more of a "glass half empty" fan. There is nothing wrong with either approach. The fanbases are both rabid and deserve respect. The media should understand the differences between the bases. There is nothing wrong with being objective and positive. There is also nothing wrong with being negative. We all are fans who care.

I think the negative in the media could be a generational situation. Your older writers such as Bob Ryan, Dan Shaughnessy, Nick Cafardo, and Ron Borges tend to focus more on the negative in my opinion. Being negative doesn't make you objective. Younger writers such as Mike Reiss and Albert Breer to me are more objective on the Pats. They both have been critical of the New England Patriots, but also have written positive articles on the team.

I was brought up to be more positive in life. I also take an objective approach as well. I don't focus on the negative. I guess the "middle ground" is to be objective as possible. I just wish this approach was taken more on the New England Patriots and there fans by the media.

Bobby Zamora and Simon Davies Returning to Action for Fulham

2010-02-08T12:00:00.007-05:00

According to Fulhamfc.com, Bobby Zamora and Simon Davies should be available for Tuesday's game. Fulham host Burnley at Craven Cottage tomorrow at 8PM UK Time and 3PM EST. Zamora was out for Saturday's game against Bolton due to an illness. Simon Davies has been fighting to come back from an injury. Fulham will now have an extra striker and midfielder available for the match.

Also according to Fulhamfc.com there is a quote from Roy Hogdson on the two players. "Bobby's fine and has recovered from his sickness." said Hogdson. "He's back in contention as is Simon Davies, which is good.

The Cottagers currently sit 10th in the table with 31 points and Burnley are currently in 15th with 23 points. This is a crucial game for Fulham if they want to move up the table. Bobby Zamora will be needed up front to help out with the lack of scoring.

The return of Simon Davies helps in midfield with the injury just suffered by Kagisho Dikgacoi on Saturday. According to Fulhamfc.com, Digkacoi could be out five or six weeks.

Charley Casserly Talks Tom Brady Contract

2010-02-07T15:36:00.007-05:00

Charley Casserly, the former NFL General Manager was just on the pre-game show for the Super Bowl with James Brown on CBS. The topic of the New England Patriot starting quarterback Tom Brady's contract was discussed. He was comparing Tom Brady's last contract extension which paid him 12 million a year to Peyton Manning's contract. This amount is less than what Peyton Manning was making at the time which was 14 million a year.

Tom Brady is in the last year of his current contract. Mr. Casserly had a very strong opinion on his next contract extension. He said" he shouldn't take less again. He doesn't deserve it. He should be paid just as much as Peyton Manning if not more. He's got 3 Super Bowl trophies."

The subject of Tom Brady's contract will be talked about in the media in this upcoming season. This is a story that will not go away until Tom Brady signs a new deal. The question is will Tom Brady get the same type of contract as Peyton Manning this time?

New England Patriots are the Team of the Decade

2010-02-06T13:26:00.004-05:00

Last night on the NFL Network, the series The NFL Presents was on the decade of the 2,000's. This was really a great hour of fantastic moments, players, and moments of the decade. In this hour NFL Films presented the Coach of the Decade, the Team of The Decade, the Player of the decade, and the Play of the decade. Where would the New England Patriots show up in this decade show?

The show was narrated by Tom Selleck. It started with some great moments of the past decade along with some great players. The show then focused on the "Coach of the Decade". To me there should be no discussion who is the coach of the decade. I guess NFL Films agreed with me as Bill Belichick was named "Coach of the Decade". There have been some great coaches over the decade. Bill Cowher and Tony Dungy deserve to be in the conversation. But, there is one clear cut winner who has won 3 Lombardi trophies and that is Coach Belichick.

Next, the focus was on the "Play of the Decade". I was really hoping the play of the decade would center around the tuck rule. To me that play changed football and catapulted the New England Patriots ahead in the decade. To my chagrin the "Play of the Decade" I could not watch. This play was the David Tyree miracle catch in Super Bowl XLII. I understand the significance of this play. That doesn't mean I have to like it.

The next category was "Player of the Decade." NFL Films named Peyton Manning as there player of the decade. I certainly can understand this pick. I do disagree with it as I believe Tom Brady should have been named the "Player of the Decade". NFL Films did make it clear that they thought Brady was close to Manning. Tom Brady's playoff record is 14 -4. Peyton Manning's playoff record is 7 - 8. Again, just based on the records in the playoffs I would have put Brady ahead of Manning.

The final category was "Team of the Decade." This category meant the most to me personally. I don't think it is close, but I have heard arguments from the media that if the Colts win tomorrow they should be at least in the discussion. NFL Films agreed with me as they named the New England Patriots "Team of the Decade". For a decade it really should be the team that could be considered a dynasty as that team. The New England Patriots have won 3 Super Bowl trophies over the course of the decade. They have also been to an additional Super Bowl and AFC Championship Game. The Colts or the Steelers I am sorry to say do not come close. They are great picks at the 2nd and 3rd teams of the decade. There can only be one team , and that is the New England Patriots as"Team of the Decade".

Fulham fortunate to get a point in 0 - 0 match at Bolton

2010-02-06T12:21:00.004-05:00

Roy Hogdson is probably very happy to leave Bolton with a point. Fulham and Bolton ended the game 0 - 0 at Reebok Stadium. Fulham were given a blow before the game as Bobby Zamora was out in today's match. On the broadcast they mentioned that Zamora was out with a sickness. I am sure there will be more news on Zamora later this week.

In the first half there were not many chances by either team. However, Bolton had a good chance for a goal. Mark Davies took a shot that was deflected off the goal by Mark Schwarzer. The first half ended 0 - 0.

In the second half, Bolton seemed to control the ball better than Fulham. Late in the game in the Johan Elmander of Bolton had a good shot that missed. In the last minute before stoppage time off of a corner kick, Kevin Davies of Bolton headed the ball into the net by Mark Schwarzer. The goal was not allowed as Davies was pushing off. Honestly, Fulham were very fortunate for the foul as Schwarzer was clearly beat. The game ended 0 - 0.

On the positive for Fulham, Nicky Shorey really seemed to push the ball up and was solid on defense. It was great to see Dickson Ethuhu come back in as a substitute. He will be a big help in the midfield The final moves were Stefano Okaka and Chris Smalling as substitutes late in the game. Chris Smalling actually came on as a striker. Okaka I thought had a very nice run late in the game.

Again, it is good to get a point and come back home for the next match against Burnley. It should be interesting to see who will be the strikers starting in this upcoming match.

Fulham play Bolton Tomorrow at Reebok Stadium

2010-02-05T16:43:00.005-05:00

Fulham play tomorrow at 3pm UK time and 10am EST. They are away against Bolton at Reebok Stadium. Bolton currently sit 16th in the league with 21 points. They are right outside the relegation zone. Bolton will probably be desperate for a win. Fulham currently sit 10th in the league with 30 points.

With all the recent injuries to Fulham I am hopeful that Simon Davies and Zoltan Gera might be available for the game. On the Bolton side we could see the additions of Vladimir Weiss and Jack Wilshire who both came to the team via loan. I am actually disappointed that Fulham did not get Jack Wilshire on loan. I think he is a player with potential. It will be interesting if he plays tomorrow. There other loan addition Stuart Holden from the U.S. will probably not be fit to play.

Tomorrow will also be interesting to see who are on the starting team for Fulham. I will be curious if Stefano Okaka or Erik Nevland start up top with Bobby Zamora. Also, on defense the addition of Nicky Shorey seemed to answer the issue at left back while Paul Konchesky has been hurt. This is a game Fulham can win. They have been horrible on the road and could really use a victory tomorrow.

Fulham Striker Andrew Johnson out for the rest of the season

2010-02-05T10:55:00.004-05:00

According to the official Fulham website Fulhamfc.com, the club is confirming that Andrew Johnson will not be available for the rest of the season. This statement was made after surgery for Johnson was performed by Dr. Richard Steadman. The release from Fulhamfc.com also states they expect Johnson to be available for the latter part of preseason training. This training is in preparation for next season.

This is a blow to Fulham as it leaves them short a striker for the rest of the season. At the end of the transfer window Fulham let Diomansy Kamara go out on loan to Celtic. It will be interesting to see how Roy Hogdson fills the void of Andrew Johnson.

Going into the Bolton game tomorrow Mr. Hogdson has few choices at striker. Recently brought in Stefano Okaka could be an option up front. He did start in the last game against Portsmouth. Erik Nevland or David Elm could be additional options for Hogdson tomorrow. Bobby Zamora should be available to go. It is obvious though he is struggling a little coming back from injury.

Moving forward for the rest of the season I think the striker position is still up in the air. I am hopeful that Roy will figure out a combination that works from week to week for Fulham.

I Don't Think Marshall Faulk is Over Super Bowl XXXVI Yet

2010-02-05T07:44:00.005-05:00

I listened to an interview on 98.5 the Sports Hub in Boston yesterday. Marshall Faulk was being interviewed by Michael Felger. This interview was taped earlier before the radio broadcast. Mr. Felger teased the audience prior by saying that the interview was interesting and had its uncomfortable moments especially when the topic of Super Bowl XXXVI was brought up. In that game Marshall's Rams were upset by the New England Patriots.

The first question that was asked by Michael Felger was "if he was over Super Bowl XXXVI yet? There was a pause and he went into his feeling about the game. He didn't come out and say the New England Patriots cheated, but he was certainly hinting about it. He mentioned how no team was able to figure out there redzone plays all year until the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. The Spygate II controversy revolves around the final practice for the Rams prior to the Super Bowl. In this practice the Rams went over there red zone plays.

Matt Walsh, a New England Patriots employee at the time allegedly had taped this practice. As we know now Mr. Walsh stated to Commisioner Roger Goodell that he never taped this practice. He also mentioned this in interviews after talking to the commisioner.

Listening to this interview brought back all of the controversies that I heard over two years ago. Marshall Faulk was also complaining in this interview how the New England Patriots Secondary was covering the Ram's wide receivers.

My thoughts on this interview is Marshall Faulk is just making excuses and reasons to justify the loss. At some point he needs to look himself in the mirror and admit to himself that his team just got beat. The New England Patriots were the better team that day. I have also heard Kurt Warner mention in interviews similar excuses for this loss. These players just don't get it. It is time for them to move on.

Andy Johnson to have exploratory surgery today

2010-02-04T08:00:00.003-05:00

According to the London Evening Standard, Andy Johnson will be having exploratory knee surgery today. He has flown to the United States to see Dr. Richard Steadman. The surgery will take place in Colorado.

The London Evening Standard has a quote from Roy Hogdson. "There is a risk that he will be out for the rest of the season, but there is also some optimism" Hogdson said. Dr.Steadman is known for his help with Alan Shearer and Michael Owen.

If Johnson is out for the season hopefully the addition of Stefano Okaka in the transfer window will lessen the blow. We should hopefully get some news today if Johnson will need further surgery which could end his season. I am sure Roy Hogdson is hoping for the best, but fearing the worst.

Fulham Win Ugly at Craven Cottage

2010-02-03T16:51:00.005-05:00

Fulham win 1 - 0 at Craven Cottage against Portsmouth tonight. This was an ugly win for the Cottagers. For most of the first half Portsmouth had the better control of the game. There weren't too many difficult saves for Mark Schwarzer, but Portsmouth definitely were pushing forward more than Fulham. The right back position was a real problem tonight for Fulham.

Stephen Kelly in the first half made several mistakes. The best scoring chance in the first half for Fulham was by Stefano Okaka. Unfortunately for the former Roma Striker he could not score on his shot at net.

Fulham played much better in the second half. Ironically, the play picked up when Stephen Kelly was replaced by Kagiso Digacoi. The goal of the game came from Jonathan Greening. A pass came to him which was deflected off of a Portsmouth player. He had a great opening to the net and scored.

The defense held on in the last 15 minutes to secure the win. Again, this was an ugly win which Fulham did not play well. It does not matter because in the end Fulham got the 3 points they desperately needed.

Must Win at Craven Cottage Tonight for Fulham

2010-02-03T13:35:00.012-05:00

Fulham play tonight against Portsmouth at Craven Cottage at 8pm UK time. The game is on in the United States on Setanta Sports at 3Pm EST. Portsmouth currently sit at the bottom of the table. Fulham have slipped recently in the table down to 11th.

On paper Fulham should be able to win this game comfortably. However, Fulham have lost there last 5 league matches. They also have several injuries that are causing havoc with the first team lineup. Let's hope the additions of Stefano Okaka and Nicky Shorey lessen the blows of these injuries tonight.

With upcoming matches against Bolton and Burnley, the Cottagers have a chance to jump back into the top half of the table. The game tonight against Portsmouth really is a must win. Stoke is only a point behind and several teams are right behind them. A win tonight will take the pressure off the Cottagers at least for a week.

Zoltan Gera is now injured for Fulham

2010-02-02T13:51:00.004-05:00

Last year Fulham were pretty injury free for the most part of the season. What a difference a year makes with that statement.

According SkySports.com, Zoltan Gera picked up a knee injury in training. The list of injured players keeps growing. He joins the list of injured that includes Clint Dempsey, Paul Konchesky, John Pantsil, Andrew Johnson, and Simon Davies.

On the positive front Fulham have added Stefano Okaka and Nicky Shorey in the transfer window. I guess we will find out tomorrow if these 2 players are added to the starting lineup against Portsmouth.

Bad Personnel Decisions Derailed the New England Patriots 2009 Season

2010-02-02T10:46:00.007-05:00

As I get ready for the Super Bowl I wanted to reflect back at the season that just happened. This year did not end up with a Super Bowl victory which I had hoped for from the New England Patriots.

The 2009 New England Patriots season was a disappointment. Why did this team not perform better this season? The expectations going into the year were very high. I would say many media outlets were making the New England Patriots favorites to win the Super Bowl before the season began. What is the main cause for the New England Patriots to not live up to the Super Bowl expectations?

In my opinion the New England Patriots were derailed by bad personnel decisions that can go as far back as a few years ago. I believe the greatest coach of all time is Bill Belichick. He is also the man who is making the personnel decisions as well. I know Nick Caserio and Scott Pioli before him were directors of Player Personnel. I believe that Bill Belichick has final say over any personnel decision. The buck stops at Belichick's feet. I think Bill Belichick the talent evaluator did not give Bill Belichick the best players to succeed this year.

I will break down my thoughts on the bad personnel decisions that effected of all 3 phases of the game. Before I do that let's start with the off season. The first domino to fall was the trade of Matt Cassell and Mike Vrabel. The fact that Vrabel was a part of the trade in my opinion was a huge mistake. When he was traded to Kansas City I felt major changes were on the horizon. Then, look at the New England Patriots Draft last year. I personally think they got some young players who can help in the future. My problem is the "trading down" to get more picks and better value. I would rather have Michael Oher, or Clay Matthews Jr. rather than trading down into the second round to get Pat Chung and later Darius Butler. I would rather trade up to get a better player like the Jets did a few years back to get Derrel Revis. The offseason bad decisions came into play to effect the 2009 football season.

Let's start with the offense. I call the offense this year "the curse of Jabar Gaffney". Not re-signing Jabar Gaffney caused too much of the offense to go through Welker and Moss. In essence there was no third option. Whether you liked him or not Jabar Gaffney became a very dependable player for the New England Patriots. The biggest personnel blunder was the signing of Joey Galloway. Galloway was not a suitable replacement for Jabar Gaffney. The team also traded for Greg Lewis who did not even make the team. With the running backs I did like the addition of Fred Taylor. However, I would have taken the money allocated to him and got more help on defense. How about the train wreck which are the tight ends. They signed Alex Smith and Chris Baker. Alex Smith did not make the team and Chris Baker definitely was not much of a touchdown maker. All of these personnel decisions left the offense flat this year.

Now lets talk about the defense. As I mentioned before trading of Mike Vrabel was a very bad personnel decision. I think he still has 2 - 3 productive years left. To replace Vrabel they made another trade and it was for Derrick Burgess. In my mind he was a bust. According to Bill Belichick he was a very productive player for the New England Patriots. I will give this one to Belichick because he knows much more about football I believe than anyone on this planet. They signed Tully Banta-Cain. He actually turned out to be a pleasant surprise. He had I think 9 1/2 sacks which is great. However, I think he was average against the run. The additions of Shawn Springs along with Leigh Bodden to help out the secondary were decent.

The next 2 terrible defensive personnel decisions really affected the entire defense. Adalius Thomas has turned out to be a very bad decision they made back in 2007. They gave this guy a ton of money to be an impact player. His impact last year was very negative in the locker room. His production on the field was mediocre at best. The trading of Richard Seymour before the season started was in my opinion an awful personnel move. This move not only made us weaker on the line, but it definitely effected team chemistry in the locker room as well. Maybe Richard did not live up to his contract. He still would have made a difference last year in pressuring the quarterback and stopping the run.

The third phase of the game is Special Teams. Do you think the New England Patriots made bad personnel decisions here that effected this unit? The answer to this question is absolutely yes! First, Kelly Washington was one of your most valuable special teams players. They did not re-sign him. Oh by the way he can also play a little wide receiver. Larry Izzo who at one time made the pro bowl with the New England Patriots was an elite special teams player. The team did not re-sign him and he ended up with the Jets. These 2 moves along with not having a suitable punter hurt this unit.

In concluding, the bad personnel decisions in all 3 phases derailed this team. The offense was inconsistent because of "the curse of Jabar Gaffney". The defense could not rush the passer because Mike Vrabel and Richard Seymour were not on this team. Also, Adalius Thomas was a non-factor on that side of the ball as well. Finally, Special Teams were missing 2 elite players from that unit from a year ago.

As I said in the beginning the New England Patriots in my opinion have the greatest coach of all time. Unfortunately, this great coach did not have the players to get the job done.

Shorey and Okaka join Fulham

2010-02-01T09:26:00.004-05:00

According to the Fulhamfc.com, Stefano Okaka has officially joined Fulham on loan until the end of the season. The former Roma Striker and Italy under 21 international should help up front since a rash of injuries and a loan have depleted Fulham's striker's.

Also, Fulhamfc.com have confirmed that Nicky Shorey has officially joined Fulham on loan until the end os the season as well. The former Aston Villa defender should help out in the back with injuires to John Pantsil and Paul Konchesky.

Next, the official site of Fulham also mentions that Diomansy Kamara has joined Celtic on loan from Fulham. I was a fan of his play and he could be missed.

Finally, Hammyend.com is reporting to an entry from Sky Sports News that Fulham are making a last minute offer for James Beattie of Stoke. Since the Transfer Window is closing at 5PM in the UK we should know if this offer was accepted shortly.

Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston

2010-01-31T12:22:00.005-05:00

Mike Reiss in my opinion is the best writer covering the Patriots right now. He is currently working at ESPNBoston.com. If you want the latest information you need to read his columns.

I just had the pleasure of being at my congregation's Sports Breakfast. The keynote speaker was Mr. Reiss. His knowledge on the Pats is vast. He is well known for his blog when he worked at the Boston Globe called"Reisse's Pieces. Recently he has moved over to ESPN Boston to write on their site, but also to be a part of the entire ESPN family. You might have seen him on First Take on ESPN 2 or maybe on NFL Countdown on ESPN.

He started off speaking about his background starting at Patriots Football Weekly for 2 years. He mentioned that his dream job was to be working for the Boston Globe. Before his dream job he went to work for the Metro West Daily News. This is the first time I really saw his blog. After getting his experience he finally got his shot at the Boston Globe. He did not though cover the Patriots at first. He was covering high school sports.

At the Globe he asked them if he could still write his blog about the Patriots. They allowed him to start writing his Reisse's Pieces blog again. He eventually got to cover the Patriots full time. Mike was showing up everywhere from radio to television.

The Boston Globe in 2009 went up for sale and the paper's survival at the time was an uncertainty. Mike then got a great opportunity to be a Patriots writer on a new website called ESPNBOSTON.COM. As I mentioned, this has opened up opportunities for him on all media levels that ESPN offers.

Being from my hometown of Framingham where I grew up it was great to hear his story. More important to me as a Pats fan is his knowledge of football and the Patriots. I would recommend to all fans to check out Mike Reiss regularly on ESPN Boston.

Finally, I learned what it means when a reporter says information is "off the record". He did open the floor to questions. He did ask me not to publish details on my blog which I will not. I will say this is that he is very fair on the Pats. He will criticize them when it is warranted.He will also praise them when they deserve it.

Aston Villa beat Fulham at Craven Cottage 2 -0

2010-01-30T11:59:00.004-05:00

This was a disappointing loss for Fulham. They have now dropped to currently 11th in the table. Aston Villa scored twice in the first half to win the game 2 - 0. Two goals by Gabriel Agbonlahor were the difference in the game.

It was pretty obvious in the second half that Fulham were going to have a hard time penetrating the very tough defense of Aston Villa. Fulham's defense was a little shaky especially in the first half on both goals. The best chances for goals in the second half were both by David Elm. He actually was offsides on a shot that went into the net.

The other encouraging note in the second half was from Danny Murphy who was back in form. He actually had a few nice passes and was controlling the ball.

Let's be honest though this game was controlled by Aston Villa and there defense. Fulham just could not figure a way through to get to there net. Again, this was a very disappointing loss.

The injuries are really starting to show up. Without Andy Johnson, Clint Dempsey, Paul Konchesky and John Pantsil you are seeing problems up front and in the defense. At one point in the season Fulham's defense was rock solid. They are just not at top form right now partially becuase of injuries. They are also having a tough time scoring goals.

We have only a few days left in the transfer window. According to many published reports Stefano Okaka had a medical with Fulham yesterday. Again the media is reporting that he will probably be reporting to Fulham on monday if everything went well with the medical. I have not heard of any other targets lately in the transfer window. It would be nice though if Fulham could get some defensive help before the transfer window closes.

Fulham now have a must win at home on Wednesday against Portsmouth. Let's hope for a better performance from Fulham in this mid week game.

Fulham vs. Aston Villa on ESPN 2 in the U.S.

2010-01-29T09:55:00.002-05:00

Fulham vs. Aston Villa tomorrow at Craven Cottage will be televised on ESPN 2 at 9:55 AM in the United States. This is great news for Fulham fans in the U.S. that the game will be shown in HD. This is the second game ESPN 2 is showing Fulham. Earlier in the season Fulham were on ESPN 2 against Hull at Craven Cottage.

There is also news on EPLtalk.com that Fox Soccer Channel is now available in HD. Unfortunately for me I am not seeing this channel in HD yet on Comcast. Fox Soccer Channel was supposed to go live in HD starting March 1st. I am hopeful that Comcast will be adding this channel shortly.

Another Channel begins broadcasting March 1st. That channel is Fox Soccer Plus. This is the sister station of Fox Soccer Channel. This station will be picking up the games from Setanta which stops broadcasting in the U.S. as of March 1st. I am hoping that Comcast will be picking up this station along with the HD version.

Corwin Brown added to Patriots Coaching Staff

2010-01-29T09:04:00.005-05:00

According to Adam Schefter who was just on WEEI said that Corwin Brown will be added as a defensive coach on the Patriots staff. He is a former defensive back for the Patriots and most recently was fired as the defensive coordinator for Notre Dame. He also had a spell on the Jets coaching staff.

He was a good player for the Pats and speculation on WEEI is that he could fit in as a defensive backs coach. There has been no word yet from the Patriots to confirm Brown as a coach for the team.

There is also no news on who will be named Defensive Coordinator for the Pats. Speculation in the media has Matt Patricia and Pepper Johnson as the frontrunner's for the job.

Young strikers in Reserves for Fulham

2010-01-28T13:53:00.003-05:00

I just read an interesting article on fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk. The article was titled "Do We Really Need A Striker". The article was making a good argument that maybe Fulham does not need a striker in the transfer market. It gave examples of players already on the squad and possible position changes . What really got me interested was the information regarding the strikers in the reserves.

I believe that it is very important to build homegrown talent. I think that is why I am disappointed by Chris Smalling going to Manchester United. The young strikers mentioned in this article are Danny Hoesen and Marcello Trotta. Danny Hoesen is a Dutch Striker and Marcello Trotta is from Italy. According to the article these 2 players have been doing well in the reserves.

I was trying to find information about these players online . I was able to find a few articles about both. I think grooming young talent is very important for Fulham. I am curious if anyone out there knows more about these young players. If you do please feel free to comment on my blog.

I will be following these players in the future to see if they come up through the system. A great team needs homegrown talent along with transfers.

Vince Wilfork Speaks

2010-01-27T11:27:00.004-05:00

I just listened to Vince Wilfork who was a guest on WEEI's Dale and Holley Show. The subject of his contract came up. Vince Wilfork just finished up his 6 year agreement with the Pats. He will be a free agent, but the Patriots can still franchise him. As they were talking about his contract Vince mentioned he is looking for a long term deal or he wants to be free. It was pretty obvious during the interview that he will not be happy if the Patriots franchise him.

I have talked about Vince prior and it is time for the Patriots to give him a long term deal. He has given 6 years to the Patriots. He deserves in my mind to be paid at the top of his position. He is a player that has made it clear he wants to play for the Patriots. It is now up to the team to do the right thing by Vince.

The CBA uncertainty is just an excuse in my mind. Vince Wilfork and Tom Brady need new contracts this offseason. These 2 players should be the priority before they sign anyone else.

Tough Loss at White Hart Lane

2010-01-27T07:45:00.002-05:00

I guess I am an optimist. I really believed that Fulham would be able to get some kind of a result at Tottenham yesterday. Fulham lost 2 - 0 at White Hart Lane. To me this was a very disappointing loss. Fulham only have 1 win on the road this season. For a team that is still in the top half of the table to me this is unacceptable.

Fulham got down a goal midway in the first half with some poor play on defense. Peter Crouch was in the right place at the right time to score his goal. Last season if Fulham were down a goal at the half I still felt they would be able to come back. They proved that they could come from behind and pull out a victory. Right now I do not have that optimism if Fulham are down at the half.

In the beginning of the second half Fulham were starting to control the play somewhat. That all changed on yet another set play. The second goal ricocheted off of Bjorn Helge Riise to get by Mark Schwarzer. Now down 2 - 0 Fulham were pretty much done at that point. They did make some changes by putting David Elm and Diomansy Kamara into the game. Unfortunately, there impact did not result into a goal.

If you want a good analysis of the game please go to hammyend.com. This site does a wonderful job discussing Fulham's problems on the road. I highly recommend this site for any Fulham supporter.

Fulham are back at Craven Cottage this Saturday against Aston Villa. Lets hope for a better result than the game just played at Tottenham.

It is official! Chris Smalling to Manchester United starting next season

2010-01-26T12:21:00.004-05:00

According to the Fulham Football Club Official website, Chris Smalling will be leaving Fulham at the end of the current season and then join Manchester United. Terms of the transfer were not given at this time. He still needs to pass a medical and final terms need to be agreed upon according to the statement on Fulhamfc.com.

Chris Smalling to Manchester United?

2010-01-26T07:54:00.002-05:00

According to Sky Sports, Fulham have accepted a bid for Chris Smalling from Manchester United. Smalling is a 20 year old defender and was very impressive in his first Premier League start against Chelsea. The amount of the transfer was not detailed in the story.

It was reported by several media outlets prior that Arsenal were very interested in Chris Smalling. It looks like Manchester United beat Arsenal to the punch. There so far has been no comment from Fulham.

As a Fulham supporter I will be very disappointed if this story is true. This player was up an coming and very young. Unless his contract was coming up I don't understand why Roy Hogdson would accept this transfer bid. I am sure more information will come shortly on this story.

Brett Favre blows it again in an NFC Championship Game

2010-01-25T14:14:00.004-05:00

It shouldn't be a surprise to me that Brett Favre throws an interception to blow the game against the Saints. If Brett Favre didn't throw an interception in the 2007 NFC Championship against the Gianst in overtime maybe the Patriots have there 4th Superbowl trophy. I really don't think the Pats lose to the Packers in the Super Bowl.

I felt bad for the poor Vikings fans, but they should have seen this coming. The writing was on the wall. Anybody who listens to Michael Felger on 98.5 the Sprts Hub knows the history of Felger and Favre. He has said on more occasions than I can remember how overrated Brett Favre is as a quarterback. Felger is a lifelong Packer fan and has lived through the pain. When the Vikings picked up Favre in the beginning of the year he predicted how this story was going to end. He stated that Favre would throw an interception at the worst time to blow a big game for the Vikings.

Favre has had an awful playoff record after beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl in 1996. In 2001 he threw a ton of interceptions against the Rams in the NFC Championship Game. The Rams ended up going to the Super Bowl. In 2004 Brett Favre threw a terrible interception to lose the playoff game against the Eagles. That year the Eagles went to the Super Bowl. As mentioned prior he threw an interception in overtime in 2007 NFC Championship Game.

I have had enough of Brett Favre. He cannot be included as the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Don't we have enough proof? Michael Felger couldn't have called it any better. After the game he said on Comcast Sports Net that Brett Favre pulled a "Crap Sandwich" to blow the game.

Bjorn Helge Riise and David Elm impress in FA Cup

2010-01-24T10:40:00.004-05:00

Fulham were tough to watch in the first half of there game against Accrington Stanley. Fulham ended up winning the game 3 - 1 against the league two foe. Now Fulham move on to the next round. We should find out there opponent shortly.

The two positives to come out of the game were the play of Bjorn Helge Riise and David Elm. I know the competition they were playing wasn't Premier League level. Regardless, both players had flair and make me want to see both of them more often.

Riise actually sent a wonderful cross to Gera for the third and final goal for Fulham. David Elm came into the game as a sub in the middle of the second half. He is a big presence up front. More important though it seemed he had a great touch on many passes. With all of the injuries Fulham have I would love to see these 2 players get a shot against a Premier League team. Tuesday would be a great time to start against Tottenham.

Jets fans are similar to Red Sox fans before the World Series Victories

2010-01-24T08:10:00.006-05:00

In November for 2008 I was away with my family in Denver Colorado. The Patriots game was not being shown on local television. As a diehard fan I needed a place to watch this game. I ended up going to the ESPN Zone in downtown Denver. It is a quite a place and for the serious sports fan is much better than the CBS Scene.

The Pats were playing the Dolphins in Miami. I sat at the bar and was surrounded by fans of other teams. Ironically I was sitting right next to a Jets fan who was in Denver on business. He was watching the Jets play the Titans. As we watched our games we started to talk about our teams. What was remarkable about this Jets fan was his passion for the team and it was not obnoxious. The way he spoke about the Jets sounded very familiar to me.

All this guy wanted was his team to get to the Super Bowl and win it. He talked about what it was like to be a Jets fan. The Jets have not gotten to the Super Bowl since Joe Namath won it in the late 60's. Most Jets fans now probably weren't around for that Championship. His angst and desire for the Jets to win a championship reminded me of Red Sox fans before 2004.

The Jets have only gotten to the AFC Championship game 2 other times other than today after there Super Bowl win in the sixties. The most recent team was the Bill Parcells coached Jets of the late 90's. They played against ironically the Denver Broncos and lost. Think about the fact that they had only been to the AFC Championship game twice other than today since the sixties.

It was haftime and the Jets were up 10 -3. What was interesting is the Jets fan was very nervous. He was expecting his team to blow this lead and lose in the end. Again, he sounded like a Red Sox fan who has seen his team blow the World Series. I was actually confident at halftime
the Pats would beat the Dolphins.

In the end the Jets beat the Titans 34 - 13 and the Pats beat the Dolphins that day as well. More important than the victories I got to share a few hours with a fan of the Jets. I realized after this day that the Jets and there fan base have been through much. These fans are loyal and deserve to go to the Super Bowl.

As a Pats fan I have seen the Pat go to 6 Super Bowls and win 3 of them. They have also gone to 7 AFC Championship games and won 6 of them. Honestly, step back for a second and think what it must feel to be a fan of the Jets. The Jets fans are very different than any other fan base in New York. They are a passionate bunch that just wants to see there team win. This fan base is nothing like the Yankee fans or Giant fans. I honestly are pulling for these fans today. Good luck to them and the Jets fan I met in Denver.

FA Cup Match tomorrow

2010-01-22T14:10:00.002-05:00

Fulham play tomorrow at 10am EST. in the Fourth round of the FA Cup against Accrington Stanley. The game will be televised in the United States on Fox Soccer Channel.

According to Sportingpreview.com, Simon Davies might return tomorrow for Fulham. With all of the injuries Davies return could be a huge help. I also mentioned prior that the Mirror is reporting that Bobby Zamora might be on the bench tomorrow. The Mirror also stated that he could return on Tuesday against Tottenham.

I am looking forward to the next 5 days for Fulham. It should be interesting to see who returns to the pitch.

"Slush Fund" for the Patriots?

2010-01-21T11:58:00.003-05:00

Listening to Sports Tonight on Comcast Sports Net last night I heard something very troubling regarding the Patriots. The discussion was about having weapons for Tom Brady. Randy Moss is under contract for around 6 million next year. Tom E. Curran was hinting that his salary was a fairly significant amount. Michael Felger then mentioned that there is no salary cap and basically intimating that the salary shouldn't be an issue. Tom E. Curran then made a statement that upset me as a Patriots fan. According to the interview Tom E. Curran is hearing that the Patriots might want to have a "slush fund" in case there is a lockout in 2011.

You can imagine as a Pats fan this is not an idea I want to hear the team could be considering doing. I don't want to think the Patriots are not going to re-sign or sign free agent players because they are looking to save money in case there is a lockout.

The Patriots have the second highest average ticket price in the NFL. Parking is $50.00 if you want to park at one of the Patriots lots. Are you kidding me that management is even considering doing this? As a Pats fan I hope this "slush fund" theory of Tom E. Curran's is not true. If it is true, how competitive will the Pats be the next couple of years?

Bobby Zamora coming back from injury early?

2010-01-21T07:44:00.002-05:00

According to the Daily Mirror, Bobby Zamora could be making a shocking return early from an injury. Bobby Zamora dislocated his collarbone against Stoke on January 5th. Speculation at the time was that the injury would have him out of action for 2 months. According to the article in the Mirror the injury did not require surgery.

Also, The Mirror article suggests that he could be on the bench this weekend against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup. It is also mentioned in the article that Zamora expects to be back next Tuesday against his former club Tottenham.

If this news is true, fans of Fulham should be very excited. With the recent injury spell on the team, having Zamora back early would soften the blow.

There are also rumors in the media that Bobby Zamora could be a transfer target of his former team West Ham. I would be very surprised if Roy Hogdson would accept a transfer deal for Zamora.

Clint Dempsey Update

2010-01-20T08:08:00.002-05:00

Clint Dempsey's season looks like it is not over. According to the Fulhamfc.com, Clint Dempsey sustained moderate damage to a ligament in his right knee. Also according to Fulhamfc.com, after the results of the scan he does not need an operation. This is very good news for Clint Dempsey.

Fulhamfc.com also states that he should be able to return to the team before the end of the season. Based on this information he should also be able to play for the U.S. in the World Cup.
Life without Clint Dempsey should not last the entire season. This is great news for Fulham fans.

Life Without Clint Dempsey

2010-01-19T15:07:00.003-05:00

I have to be honest and tell you I became a Fulham fan when Clint Dempsey came to the team. I had always been interested in the EPL but could not find a team to follow. Clint Dempsey helped me become a fan of Fulham. I can also say my love for the team now goes way beyond Dempsey. His signing to Fulham just gave me the opportunity to really get into this football team.

Moving forward whether Clint is out for the season or not I still see a positive outlook for Fulham. The injuries have caught up to Fulham, but I do see some talent on that bench that can fill in. Bjorn Helge Riise what I have seen of him could be a decent replacement for Dempsey. Diomansy Kamara I feel can possibly fill the shoes of Zamora while he is out.

Lastly, the manager is is a big reason I feel confident that Fulham will be able to match there 7th place position of last year. He has built a team that is solid on defense. The goals are also starting to come until Zamora got hurt. I think Fulham will survive life without Clint Dempsey.

The Jets are the lesser of two evils

2010-01-19T14:36:00.003-05:00

As a Pats fan this Sunday will be difficult to watch the AFC Championship Game. When the Jets play the Colts at 3PM on Sunday who do I root for? Unfortunately the two teams can't end in a tie. What am I to do as a Pats fan? I will watch and I have made the difficult decision of who to root for.

The Jets are the lesser of two evils. I am hoping they win on Sunday. I will list my argument with myself below. Trust me it will be difficult on Sunday.

First, Peyton Manning having a chance to go to another Super Bowl is reason alone to root for the Jets. In my mind Tom Brady is the better quarterback. I base this on Brady's overall record in the playoffs and the Super Bowls. If Peyton is to win another Super Bowl it will help the argument that actually Manning is better. Overall, Peyton does not have a real good playoff record. I don't want this fact to change.

Second, In my mind the Patriots are the team of the decade. They have won 3 Super Bowls and that trumps every other team for the decade. If the Colts win another Super Bowl they will be in the argument as the team of the decade. Pats fans will here that the Colts have won the most games in the decade. I really can't handle the fans of the Colts even being in the argument.

Third, Tony Massarotti might have it right. If the Jets go on to win the Super Bowl it could push the Pats to do whatever it takes to get back to the big game. Maybe Patriots Management need a swift kick in there behind to make some moves this off season. I have a feeling the Jets winning it all would be the kick they need.

On Sunday it will pain me to root for the Jets to win. For me though the Jets winning is the best case scenario on Sunday.

Okaka Deal is looking dead

2010-01-18T10:17:00.002-05:00

According to Sky Sports, Fulham are probably not going to be bringing in Stefano Okaka on loan from Roma. The 20 year old could have been a temporary replacement for Bobby Zamora. Now, Fulham are potentially going to be without Clint Dempsey as well as he injured his knee in the Blackburn game.

Also, according to Sky Sports, Okaka is carrying an injury. This could be a big part of the reason he would not be joining Fulham right now. The fact that he could not step in right now to help might have been a concern for Fulham. We will have to wait and see if Fulham pursue another striker as the Transfer Window gets closer to the end.

Tom Brady's contract on the radio

2010-01-18T08:47:00.003-05:00

On Saturday I was listening to Andy Gresh on 98.5 the Sports Hub. Whether you like Andy or not he is very knowledgeable and engaging regarding football topics. The topic on Saturday was Tom Brady's contract which I earlier in the week had an entry about. What I found interesting and shocking was the tone of the discussion.

I thought the discussion would center around how the Patriots need to re-sign him now. I was shocked to listen to the discussion leaning towards should we potentially trade Tom Brady. In my opinion the discussion to trade Brady is laughable. Tom Brady is only 32 years old. In quarterback terms he is still in his prime.

I think on the low end he should have at least 3 high quality years left before we see a drop off. Brady was coming off of major surgery last year. When you examine his last year performance injuries should be factored in. It is pretty well known that it could take you until your 2nd year back from knee injury to get back to normal. I feel very confident that next year we will see the Brady we know.

One of the callers was Art from Walpole. I have heard this gentleman several times and he has often been very critical of Brady. In this case he mentioned that he was unsure how much longer Brady plans on playing. If Art has listened to Brady comment about his future before he would have heard Tom mention on several occasions that he plans to play past 40. I think Art needs to listen to the radio more than calling all the sports radio stations.

It blows my mind that a discussion of Brady being traded or not re-signed is a radio topic. Tom Brady in my opinion can be quarterback of the Patriots as long as he wants to be.

Bad Loss for Cottagers

2010-01-17T16:31:00.002-05:00

Fulham lost 2 - 0 to Blackburn at Ewood Park. If a loss wasn't bad enough Fulham potentially lost a key player to an injury for a significant amount of time.

According to the BBC, Clint Dempsey suffered an knee injury that might leave him out of the lineup for some time. The BBC has this quote from Roy Hogdson. "The initial prognosis for Clint is not good. It looks like cruciate knee ligament damage and if it is it will keep him out for a while."

Last year Fulham really did not have to deal with many injuries. This year unfortunately the injuries are starting to show up. These injuries are also coming to significant players. The test for the rest of the year is how Fulham rebounds and reacts to these set backs.

Up Next Blackburn

2010-01-16T15:44:00.002-05:00

Fulham play away tomorrow at Blackburn at 10AM EST. The game will actually be shown on delay at 5PM EST on Fox Soccer Channel. The last time the 2 teams played, Fulham won 3 - 0 at Craven Cottage. I have a feeling this game will be much tougher for the Cottagers.

Fulham will also be without Kamara, Davies, Zamora, and Pantsil. I will be very curious to see who Roy puts up front in the place of Bobby Zamora. If I had to take a guess I would say it would be Erik Nevland. This game is a must for Fulham as they have only 1 win on the road.

Stefano Okaka is now not a sure thing for Fulham

2010-01-15T15:50:00.006-05:00

According to Sky Sports on Friday, Fulham are still considering a move for the 20 year old striker from Roma. "If it was to happen it would be a loan, but as I say we are looking into the situation." Hogdson told Sky Sports News.

In the article it quotes Roy as saying, "At the moment I can't give you a definitive answer on whether we will be loaning him or whether we will not be." Based on the article if Stefano Okaka wants to play for Fulham he is going have to show the club he is anxious to play for them.

What looked so promising 7 - 10 days ago now is up in the air. Hopefully this situation will be resolved shortly.

Dean Pees not returning as Defensive Coordinator

2010-01-14T17:25:00.004-05:00

According to the Providence Journal, Dean Pees will not be returning as the Defensive Coordinator of the Patriots. His contract was expiring at the end of the month. He had been the defensive coordinator for the Pats for 4 years.

I am sure there will be more details to come on this story. In my opinion, I hope Belichick finds a replacement from outside the organization.

The Jets Roster vs. The Pats Roster

2010-01-14T16:21:00.002-05:00

The topic for today's show on Felger and Massarotti's Show on 98.5 the Sports Hub was the Jets. Felger was asking his audience if would you rather have the Jets roster or the Patriots roster.

This discussion was a continuation from yesterday's show which Bob Ryan was a guest. I really respect Bob Ryan, but when it comes to football I don't see some of his points. He stated on the show that he believed the Jets will probably win the division the next 3 years. In my opinion this is a knee jerk reaction to one playoff game.

When the discussion started I called up the show. Felger was arguing that the Jets roster as of right now is better and has more talent. I won't disagree with that statement if you talk about there defense compared to our defense. When you go to the offensive side of the ball I think there is a huge advantage with the Pats.

When I got on the radio I was concerned more about after this year and who projects better in the future. I think the Jets made a decision last year that they would go for it and brought in high priced free agents. The Jets definitely upgraded there talent. In the last 2 years the Jets have added via free agency Bart Scott, Alan Faneca, Calvin Pace, Damien Woody, Kris Jenkins and Lito Sheppard. All of these players have really helped close the gap between the Pats and the Jets.

My argument though is everyone of these players are coming up to 30 or older. In the case of Faneca and Woody they are both going to be 34. The Jets could start to see in the next few years a drop off from several of there high priced players.

Mike and Tony although made a very good argument regarding who the Jets have drafted the last 3 years. They have added through the draft Derrell Revis, Dustin Keller, David Harris, and Mark Sanchez. I personally think the whole key to the Jets team will be Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan.

Honestly, the talent of the teams might have slanted in favor of the Jets right now. However, winning the division the next 3 years in my opinion will still be the Pats. We still have the coach and the quarterback. Those 2 factors will always give the Pats an advantage in the division.

Tom Brady's Contract

2010-01-13T13:39:00.003-05:00

Last night on Comcast SportsNet New England the Late Edition the topic of Tom Brady's contract came up. Michael Felger asked Ron Borges if it is a guarantee that Brady will re-sign with the Patriots. Tom Brady is signed thru 2010. Ron Borges answered the question of a guarantee of Brady re-signing with the Pats by saying no. He claims to have spoken to Brady's representation last weekend. He mentioned that Brady's reps went to the Patriots to discuss a new contract over the summer. According to Borges nothing came out of the talks this summer.

I think this is an issue worth following in the upcoming season. Brady has never gone into a final year of a contract with the Pats before. I personally feel this issue with his contract will be resolved hopefully before the beginning of next season. The Pats certainly do not want this issue to go into the season.

I don't want to hear the CBA Excuse from the Patriots

2010-01-12T16:46:00.004-05:00

If a new CBA is not agreed upon soon, the next season will be an uncapped year. The Patriots have an opportunity to not just re-sign there own players, but make moves in free agency to rebuild this team. The Patriots are not reloading they are rebuilding.

The one excuse I have heard for the reason the Pats have not made a deal with Vince Wilfork is the uncertainty of the CBA. As pointed out by Michael Felger today on his show on 98.5 the Sports Hub, the CBA situation is just an excuse the Patriots have been feeding us in regards to signing players like Vince Wilfork. They want to wait until they know what the new CBA is moving forward.

In the meantime, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, Tony Romo, and Demarcus Ware get signed to new deals. Teams like the Steelers, Giants and Cowboys are giving new deals to there talent. There is no reason the Patriots cannot do the same. Even with this CBA uncertainty I believe business still needs to get done.

The Patriots have lost some of there most talented players over money. I can point to Deion Branch and Asante Samuel as just 2 players the Pats eventually lost. What is troubling about both of these players is that they were draft picks that were groomed right here in New England.

In both situations, if the Pats had been proactive and approached them earlier before there deals were getting close to running out they might have been able to hold onto them.

Personally, I would rather keep the talented players in our system rather than have to replace them on the open market. In Asante's case the Patriots have not fully replaced him at corner. Leigh Bodden is not bad, but he is not close the player Asante has become. In Deion's case he was replaced by Randy Moss. You could give Randy Moss the money, but you cannot give it to Deion Branch?

The Pats have recently signed some of there less expensive players to team friendly deals. At some point you need to pay your high priced players a fair amount. Are the Pats going to pay these players this offseason? If they don't pay these players Pats fans should not accept the CBA excuse.

It is time for the Pats give Vince Wilfork a long term deal

2010-01-11T08:02:00.005-05:00

Now that the season is over I will give my opinion on Vince Wilfork. He played on a 6 year rookie deal with the Pats. A six year rookie contract is not even allowed anymore in the NFL. It is time for the Pats to fork out the money for Wilfork. Without him on your defense the Pats would be in even more trouble defensively.

He has been a stalwart for six years and has done his job tremendously. He deserves to get paid. If you are going to pay Adalius Thomas a big contract to come here why won't you pay a big contract to one of your own? I don't want to hear any excuses regarding the CBA. With an uncapped year looming they can afford to pay him the money.

There are several players on this team right now that could be gone. If they decide to get rid of Adalius Thomas and not re-sign Ben Watson you can allocate part of that money to Vince. This man is still one of the only leaders you have left on this team.

Vince last year did not sit out of training camp. He came in and did his job. The crazy thing about this situation is that Wilfork wants to stay here on a long term deal. He has made his feelings publicly his desire to stay.

The Patriots management have many decisions to make this off season. If they want to change the culture back to what it was they need to sign Vince Wilfork. If they decide to franchise him this is a big mistake. Again, this guy is on a contract that is illegal moving forward in the NFL. How unfair would it be to control him for another year. The only reason to franchise him would be to give a negotiation between the parties time to come to an agreement. If the Pats act in good faith with negotiating a long term deal I could accept an interim franchise tag. It just better be a short term decision.

I am a diehard Pats fan for over 35 years. I live close to Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place. I want to see the team's success to continue. The first step in coninuing the process forward is signing Vince Wilfork.

Fulham agree to loan deal with Okaka

2010-01-11T07:40:00.002-05:00

According to Skysports.com the 20 year old striker has not agreed to terms yet with Fulham. Skysports is saying though it is just a formality.

According to the article he will be at Fulham until the end of the season. Also, according to Skysports Roma and Fulham appear to have reached an agreement on the loan.

Okaka's agent Domenico Scopelliti is quoted from calciomercatoweb.com He stated " If the player will reach an agreement with Fulham, he will go to England on loan for the next six months, with an option of extending his stay for the following year".

This is good news for Fulham as they need a striker to help out with the injury loss of Bobby Zamora. The injury for Bobby could have him out up to 8 weeks.

Wow, Was I wrong about the Pats!

2010-01-10T17:10:00.003-05:00

That was the worst beating I have seen against the Pats in the Belichick Era. The knee jerk reaction would be the defense let them down. In this game it was not about the defense. I put this loss square on the shoulders of Tom Brady.

Yes, the defense gave up a horrific run that gave Ray Rice his first touchdown. Besides that run the defense played OK. They were put in bad situations from turnovers by Tom Brady. Mr Brady had 3 interceptions plus a strip sack that led to a touchdown. Before you looked up the Pats were down 24 - 0.

You have to give the Ravens credit. They wanted the game much more than the Patriots. They beat them up and took advantage of all the mistakes. It was a horror show. I could not wait until the game ended. I never would have imagined the Jets and the Ravens would come out of Wild Card Weekend victorious.

The only bright light in this game was that Julian Edelman scored 2 touchdowns and played very hard. It is time to look forward to next year. Based on what I saw today I hope I see many changes from the 2009 Patriots.

Will Wes Welker be out next season?

2010-01-10T12:21:00.002-05:00

According Charley Casserly on the NFL Today, we shouldn't expect to see much of Wes Welker next season. He stated to get used to seeing Julian Edelman is Wes Welker's place.

I don't know where he is getting his information, but I have a feeling we will see more of Wes Welker next season than Mr. Casserly thinks. He shouldn't underestimate Welker's determination to come back from this injury.

Jozy Altidore vs. Stefano Okaka

2010-01-10T09:56:00.002-05:00

Cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com has a great article charting the progress of Stefano Okaka. Please check it out. It breaks down Okaka's participation this year for Roma. It also mentions at the very end his desire that Fulham should have gone after Jozy Altidore when he was available over the summer.

I know he is currently with Hull and has not scored a goal. Trust me, Jozy can play and score goals which he has done on an international level. Last year in the Confederations Cup he played against the likes of Italy, Spain, and Brazil. He more than held his own in these games. He does not have the greatest first touch in the world, but he is big and physical. I could see him in a few years being on the level of Bobby Zamora. He would have been great with Fulham. He already has great experience with Clint Dempsey on Team USA.

In regards to Jozy Altidore or Stefano Okaka it is tough to judge which player could be the best fit for Fulham. I don't know enough about Okaka to make a judgement. I do have faith in Roy that if he is interested the kid must have serious talent. I hope he does come on loan. Unfortunately, I think Fulham missed the boat on Altidore. Maybe after this summer's World Cup the world will see that he can really play. At that point it will definitely be too late for Fulham.

NFL Matchup

2010-01-10T08:35:00.003-05:00

This morning I watched the NFL Matchup Show with Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge. They were breaking down the Ravens offense against the Patriots Defense. They were showing examples of how the Ravens should run the ball extensively against the Patriots today.

The first example was the first matchup between the teams in week 4. They were showing Ray Rice gashing the Patriots on a big run. The example was showing how our linebacker Gary Guyton was not flowing to the ball quickly and caused the big run.

The second example was from last week when they showed Jerrod Mayo not flowing to the ball quickly and causing a big run. They both believe that the running backs for the Ravens should have a huge game.

My feelings on our run defense are as follows. If the Ravens decide to run the majority of the time they will lose today. The Pats will be fine against the run. As a fan I know the Pats have a game plan to take away a team's strength. The Ravens strength right now is there run game. I believe the Pats will load the box to take away the run. They will force Joe Flacco to beat them. In both examples given by NFL Matchup the Pats were focused on taking away the passing game. The Pats were more focused on taking away Joe Flacco and Matt Schaub.

I wish Hoge and Jaworski showed an example of the Jacksonville game where the Pats focused on the running game and forced the Jaguars to have David Garrard to beat them. How did that game end up? I think the Pats won pretty easily. I don't see this game as a slam dunk, but I do see the Pats winning and moving on to the Chargers.

Fulham vs. Portsmouth Postponed

2010-01-08T14:00:00.002-05:00

The Fulham game on Saturday has been postponed due to weather. There has been no news as of yet when the game will be played. As a fan I am disappointed there will be no football on Saturday. I was hoping Portsmouth would get this bad taste out of my mouth from the last loss. It looks like the taste will be with me a little longer.

Also, there is no update on Stefano Okaka potential loan deal with Fulham. Once there is new information I will update the site.