Season shape-up - Fulham

Hodgson must prove credentials in domestic-European balancing act

Last updated: 18th June 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Season shape-up - Fulham

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Fulham enjoyed an excellent season in 2008/09 to morph relegation concerns to European credentials. Below we look at what manager Roy Hodgson needs to do in order to bolster his squad and discover the correct balance between domestic commitments and participation in the maiden campaign of the Europa League.

What's happened so far

There have been persistent stories of the superb Mark Schwarzer and Brede Hangeland's desire to sign new deals but there has been limited activity to keep the administration staff busy in the contract department of Fulham football club.

Craven Cottage is currently basking on the banks of The Thames in the satisfaction of a job well done following an astonishingly successful 2008/09, which saw a spot in the maiden Europa League secured via a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League, and there has yet to be any major action.

But while boss Roy Hodgson would be forgiven for demanding a stewards inquiry into how he missed out on the LMA Manager of the Year award to David Moyes, he is intelligent enough to recognise that next year will provide an entirely different examination of his expertise.

The honest and upfront Hodgson will know that he faces a monumental task in balancing domestic commitments with European football - a challenge which has proved the undoing of a number of clubs who have, arguably, over achieved in the past - and the ex-Inter Milan boss is sure to be drawing battle plans for improving his thin squad's strength and depth.

Republic of Ireland international Stephen Kelly has arrived on a three-year contract from Birmingham and others are soon likely to follow.

Expect there to have been scouting trips to Scandinavia as the former Malmo, F.C. Copenhagen, Viking FK and Finland chief makes use of his years of experience, excellent knowledge and contacts to find cover for a first team which shifted away from a set 11 players on only rare occasions.

The likes of Nancy striker Marc-Antoine Fortune, who impressed on loan at West Brom last season, Senegalese midfielder Sekou Baradji, BSC Young Boys forward Seydou Doumbia and Birmingham target Oguchi Onyewu have all been linked, while more spectacular stories have suggested injured striker Ruud van Nistelrooy - who is available on a cut-price deal from Real Madrid, if reports are correct - is a target.

Closer to home and Wigan's Paul Scharner, Manchester City's Gelson Fernandes and Tottenham duo Didier Zokora and Gareth Bale have been mentioned.

Hameur Bouazza, Andranik Teymourian, Seol Ki-Hyeon could move on after going out on loan last term, while the likes of Eddie Johnson, Moritz Volz and Pascal Zuberbuhler may also depart.

Fulham are not awash with money, a stadium capacity in the region of 26,000 does not generate a wildly disposable income, and there will probably be fundraising player exits, but owner Mohamed Al-Fayed is not short of cash.

What they need

Securing Schwarzer and Hangeland, who are both understood to be on the radar of the top flight's Big Four, is a priority, while possible replacements and reliable squad players are also a must.

Fredrik Stoor has not lived up to expectations at full-back, and cover for Hangeland and Aaron Hughes is required at centre-half ahead of what will be a gruelling 2009/10.

Fulham's midfield was superb last season and was not at all weakened by the smart sale of the injury prone Jimmy Bullard to Hull City in the winter transfer window.

There will, though, be a need for cover as the excellent midfield combinations of Danny Murphy, Simon Davies, Clint Dempsey and Dickson Etuhu will not be able to play every game with the added fixtures of Europe.

The area Hodgson really needs to improve in his first XI is the attack. Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora formed a good partnership, but a goalscorer is needed and a replacement for Brian McBride, who left last summer, has yet to be discovered.

Erik Nevland shone in spells and Diomansy Kamara showed glimpses when returning from injury, however, expect attacking reinforcements.

What they'll get

It is likely that Hodgson will unearth a few gems, who are not exactly household names, with Scandinavia a probable source.

Copenhagen and Sweden left-back Oscar Wendt would fit that criteria, while also bringing UEFA Champions League and Uefa Cup know-how.

Gothenburg and Iceland defender Ragnar Sigurosson or Rosenborg's Vadim Demidov are also options, but Hangeland and Nevland's Norway team-mate Tore Reginiussen is a more realistic move after the Tromso star almost arrived in the winter.

The lure of the Europa League may secure the goal threat of Fortune, but Tony Mowbray's arrival at Celtic could be difficult to out negotiate, while Zokora could well accept an offer to move, but stay in London.

Hodgson is on the list of admirers of Leeds' Fabian Delph, while a full-time deal for loanee Giles Barnes could be agreed with Derby amidst rumours that Inter striker Robert Acquafresca is soon to arrive in West London.

Espanyol goalkeeper Carlos Kameni, a long-term Premier League target, could provide back-up for Schwarzer when finally making a move to England.

A permanent deal for Inter's Olivier Dacourt, who arrived on loan last season, would prove a frugal transfer for continental nous and should be easily negotiated with Hodgson's stance at the Giuseppe Meazza, if other targets cannot be secured.

Fan's view - Paul Cook

I think we need a speedy winger, someone like Jermaine Pennant. Plus, I would love to see Tom Huddlestone wearing the white of Fulham. I think he would bring so much to our team and show the creativity which we sometimes lack. Other than that, I just think we need to bring in some good squad members as, at the moment, if we get an injury to a key player we would struggle a little. Hopefully bright things ahead for us.

Who will be the men to arrive at Fulham? Who will leave Craven Cottage? Let us have your thoughts using the form below.

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Comments (3)

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Dan Mac (Fulham fan) says...

For a start it was an amazing season, didnt expect that we would finish where we did in the end, even though this might even be are undoing in the long run, i hope not. For a start we do need cover in all possisions to cope with the season domestically and in europe. I would like to see a goal scorer at the club that could avarage 15goals. We havent had a top goal scorer ssince Saha and Zamora just doesnt do it in the premiership. We also need a centre mid, Murphy is class but he isnt getting any younger and we lack depth with only Dickson the only strong candidate to partner him with Dacourt leaving along with hopefully Andranik. Someone along the lines of a reo cooker who looks to be out of favour at Villa would be brillant to work the midfield and a Huddlestone to create would be awsome. Maybe another centre back as well, as again not enough cover for Hangeland and Hughes, so overall just strengthening the core of the team.

Posted 16:39 18th June 2009

David Dear (Fulham fan) says...

Getting Schwarzer and Hangeland tied down to new contracts is absolutely essential if we are to be as successful next season. We need to lose alot of the deadwood though because they can't be helping our wage budget - Bouazza, Baird, Kallio, Eddie Johnson, Stoor, Seol, Andranik & co. I'd like to see Onyewu come in as backup to Hughes and Hangeland, he didn't have the best time at Newcastle when he was there, but frankly, who has done well at Newcastle recently? I also like the looks of Aquafresca too, get him in! Thats Hodgsons Inter Milan link coming in handy. RVN is a nice link too, if we got him it would be immense.. but if we couldn't offer Bullard enough money to stay, I dare say we could get RVN on board with our wage structure.. I'd question the number of right-backs were signing at the moment. Stoor, Baird, Volz, Pantsil, Omozusi (who I really rate) and now Kelly? I'd like to see Omozusi given a chance because he looked really good a couple of seasons ago for us.. I'd also like to see Volz brought back and playing in midfield like he did under Coleman too. Useless defender but going forward he's a useful squad player with bags of enthusiasm, and a top bloke!

Posted 16:02 18th June 2009

Lol F (Fulham fan) says...

Ensuring the contracts of Schwarzer and Hangeland is crucial. For the first time in many a season we go into pre-season without the need to overhaul the first team. Players on their way will be squad players such as Stoor, Bouazza, Seol, Collins John, Eddie Johnson, Volzy, Julian gray, Dacourt, Leijar, Andreaason, Andranik..... Its quite a list of players not used and perhaps not needed meaning plenty of space for new players to have time to bed in to accompany young players coming through such as Chris Smalling and Wayne Brown. One thing for sure we need left sided midfielders with Gera, Davies or Dempsey all taking turns playing out of position. Gareth Bale, Chris Brunt, Jamie O Hara being linked. Another forward is needed and with ROy's Inter link, their young forward, Aquafresca who achieved a reasonable tally on loan, would be a useful addition. We've yet to spend the money from Bullard and Andreasson from winter sales and our prize money from hitting 7th, worth £8m more than Hull's finish, which will help boost our summer kitty.

Posted 13:11 18th June 2009
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