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.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
The Importance of Roy Hogdson to Fulham
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.
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.
Friday, February 26, 2010
My 5 Keys to Victory for Fulham at Sunderland
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.
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.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Fulham 1 - 1 at Shakhtar Donetsk and Move on in Europa League
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.
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.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
My 5 Keys to Victory for Fulham at Shakhtar Donetsk
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.
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
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Why would Bobby Zamora leave Fulham this summer?
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.
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.
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