Posts Tagged ‘Liverpool’

Fulham File Official Complaint on Rogers’ Pursuit of Dempsey

Posted: August 23, 2012 by Kyle Bonn in Breaking News
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Fulham have made a formal complaint to the Premier League about the tapping up of Clint Dempsey by Brendan Rogers and Liverpool, the Premier League has confirmed in a statement.

In the Goal.com exclusive breaking the news, one thing is clear though: this has NOTHING to do with the FSG post claiming Dempsey had been signed on the NESN website.  This is only a complaint that Rogers discussed their enquiry of Dempsey in public when asked by the media. The complaint was filed in July, and Liverpool have apparently already responded to it.

The Premier League stated:

“The PL has received a complaint from Fulham regarding comments made by Liverpool officials and is currently looking into [it].”

The same day the NESN story was accidentally put up, Brendan Rogers was questioned by reporters about the issue. He said the following:

“Clint is a player we’ve inquired about, it is as simple as that. Ian Ayre, our managing director, has spoken with the club to see what the position is. That is where we’re at. He’s a very talented player but we don’t like to talk about other clubs’ players.”

It’s a hilariously obvious quote, and if Rogers was trying to tap up Clint, which he clearly was, he could have at least hid it a little better. “We don’t like to talk about other clubs’ players” but you just did, revealing everything about your pursuit of the guy. Nice going, Brendan.

Fulham made it very obvious they weren’t pleased at ALL with Rogers comments or the story on NESN, which was hastily removed, so to hear this news isn’t a surprise at all.  We’ll see if anything comes of it.

Martin Jol also confirmed today at a press conference that still no bid has been made for Clint, and the situation remains the same.  He’s been excluded from the squad traveling to Old Trafford this weekend.

To sum this all up, a funny quote from Jol in the same press conference today when asked about the possibility of signing Maarten Stekelenburg:

“We never speak about players coming in or going out. We keep it to ourselves because we are not Manchester United.”

Or Liverpool.

Jol Says Dempsey’s Off, Rips Liverpool

Posted: August 17, 2012 by Kyle Bonn in Player/Manager
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Martin Jol has been forced to sell Clint Dempsey, and he’s none too happy about how things have gone down.

Martin Jol added a new chapter to the Clint Dempsey saga this morning, and it’s probably the penultimate one. He also tore into Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool for effectively brainwashing his star midfielder into wanting to leave, then not actually making an offer. Here is what the BBC has given us from Martin Jol himself:

“Clint was not involved over the last four weeks so he is not going to be in the squad [against Norwich]. He is not committed to the club. He wants to leave. I would like to keep him, but I think it’s impossible. It’s a sad and an almost embarrassing situation.”

Then, he took it to Liverpool and their handling of the situation:

“That was very disappointing. There was never an offer. Clint himself told everyone he was going to Liverpool before he came back so we really thought there was quite a firm interest in him. Even Brendan [Rodgers] told everyone he was interested in Clint Dempsey, but our people never had an offer on the table, so it’s almost embarrassing. If you have shown interest in a player, especially in England, you have to follow it up with an offer. They didn’t.”

Finally, he reassured Fulham fans it’s not completely over at this point, there’s still business to be done:

“I can assure you that our chairman is strong enough. At first we didn’t want to get rid of him, later on we had to change our position. But our view is that we won’t let Clint Dempsey go on the cheap, that’s for sure.”

Many have pointed out to me on Twitter, and I tend to agree, that Fulham still hold the cards in these negotiations. What is Clint going to do if no one ponies up what Fulham want for him? Sit out the whole first half? I guess stranger things have happened, but that’d be up there.

However, I can assure you that Jol and Rogers won’t be doing business much in the future after this blows over. In fact, from the sound of things, it seems like Fulham may even have a case against Liverpool for unsettling Clint. Don’t be shocked to see something in that department in the future.

UPDATE (12:00 PM EST): ESPN are reporting on Twitter that Clint Dempsey is refusing to play for Fulham…ever again.  In addition, Sky is reporting Fulham have fined Dempsey for refusing to play in this particular match.  We’ll continue to monitor the situation.

UPDATE (12:55 PM EST): Now, according to the Liverpool Echo, LFC have no more interest in signing Clint Dempsey. If he refuses to play, where will he go? According to Jol’s quotes he said Clint himself has said he was going to Liverpool. Not anymore, if this proves to be true. This is turning into a mess.

HEY! EVERYONE! WE SIGNED CLINT DEMP…..whats that? Oh, we didnt? Oh….

Posted: July 18, 2012 by Kyle Bonn in Breaking News, Transfer
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Oops

Somebody – and possibly a few somebodies – was probably fired from the web department at Fenway Sports Group this morning.

Chaos insued when their site ran a story claiming Liverpool had “added Clint Dempsey to a team that game (sic) within a game of winning the FA Cup.”

In case you were wondering, that “sic” part means, in journalism lingo, that yes, they did in fact make that typo, not me. I’m assuming that’s as good a tell-tale as any to the haste in which this story was put up on the FSG website.

Oh, and also the fact that, according to Fulham, they haven’t even received a bid for the 29 year old.

According to the London club, via their communications director Sarah Brookes:

“There has been no bid from Liverpool, or any other Club, for Clint and we would discourage any potential bids”

That’s a pretty darn definitive statement, especially considering they certainly weren’t forced to add that last part about discouraging bids.

I sent a request for a statement from Clint Dempsey’s agency, James Grant Sports Management, but haven’t heard anything from them.

Overall, this is just flat out a massive blunder by FSG. How does something like this happen? I don’t even know. Yikes.  There are still multiple reports that this is close to being completed, which would make this a case of where there’s smoke there’s fire.  We probably won’t know until everything’s completed, however.

For what it’s worth, Dempsey did not feature in the squad that played Lokomotiv Leipzig today.  Whether that’s because he’s barely trained (which is true) or some other reason more fitting for a conspiracy theorist remains to be seen.  But also absent from the friendly were Duff and Rodallega, so I wouldn’t read too much into that.

UPDATE – Brendan Rogers confirmed on Liverpool’s official website that they have indeed enquired about Dempsey, but no more than that.  This is not good at all for Liverpool. Suffice it to say Fulham are NOT happy about this statement.  Things could get ugly in the coming hours/days.  Could this be the end of the discussions? It remains to be seen.  But it’s clear Fulham officials are furious over this revealing of inside talks.

End of an Era: Danny Murphy to Sign With Blackburn Rovers

Posted: June 23, 2012 by Kyle Bonn in Player/Manager, Transfer
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Call the ambulance, the Fulham lifeblood is bleeding out.

This is without question the most difficult post I have had to do since starting this site.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a player who’s given more to the Fulham community than Danny Murphy. He leaves Craven Cottage a Fulham legend.

It’s being reported this morning/afternoon that the only thing between the Fulham captain and Ewood Park is a medical which will take place shortly (slash may have already happened).  Murphy, now 35 years old, is a free agent at the end of the month and, like Andrew Johnson and Pavel Pogrebnyak before him, has not been able to come to a new contract agreement with Martin Jol and the Fulham brass.

The move comes as a bit of a shock, considering he had these words to say in April:

I have spoken to the club [Fulham] a couple of times but there’s no great urgency with me because I’m happy and they are happy with me. I’d be surprised if it didn’t get sorted.

It’s a move that tells us a LOT about what Fulham/Martin Jol are thinking, as well as what Danny Murphy ultimately wants, for the sole reason that there’s only one possible scenario that makes any sense here.

It tells us the following:

1) Martin Jol wouldn’t give Murphy more than a 1-year deal, and Danny wants a 2-year deal for security.
2) Danny Murphy wants to play every game as many minutes as possible, and still thinks his body can handle the beating.  Unfortunately for him, not only Martin Jol, but every other Premier League boss, doesn’t agree.  This tells me that as much as I think he’s got a bit left in the tank (which I have said multiple times), no other Premier League team thinks he does, and that’s telling.  Maybe I’m wrong.
3) What Danny Murphy ultimately wants is to stretch out his career as long as possible to provide for his family, while getting as much playing time as possible.  If this means dropping a league to the Championship, then so be it.
4) Martin Jol is REALLY serious about getting younger that he’s even willing to risk allowing the captain, midfield glue, and fan favorite on the club to leave.

It’s also a risky move for the following reason: if Blackburn Rovers aren’t promoted after this coming season, you can pretty much kiss any chance Danny Murphy has of playing in the Premier League goodbye.  He’s not going to get signed by a team at 36 years old coming UP a league unless he somehow bangs in a Dempsey-like goal total from the midfield, which we all know isn’t happening.  But obviously that risk is worth it to Murphy to secure consistent playing time.  If he signed with Fulham, he’d be a first-choice midfielder no doubt about it, but Jol clearly thinks he would need ample rest, and Murphy doesn’t agree.

This is also a risky move by Martin Jol.  Letting Pogrebnyak and Johnson leave on free transfers is one thing.  Letting Danny Murphy go is a whole other animal.  Now, if the club struggles out of the gate next season, people have something directly to point to when criticizing the manager.  Immediate results are now needed to keep Jol out of the frying pan or fire.  It’s just the nature of the beast.  Let a legend walk, and you better damn well know what you’re doing or the fan base is going to ignite.  I’m not saying Jol doesn’t know what he’s doing; he sure has access to a lot more information than we do. But this is a move he cannot afford to get wrong, or it could possibly be one he never recovers from.

One last note, I’m expecting Brede Hangeland to move into the captain’s role. That would be the logical choice, as any time Murphy came off for a substitute it was Hangeland who received the armband.

Now that we’ve successfully dissected the move, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on Murphy’s Fulham career.

The Captain will no longer be directing the midfield at Craven Cottage.

Murphy signed for Fulham in 2007 after spells with Liverpool, Tottenham, and Carlton Athletic.  He’d been hailed during his time with Liverpool by assistant manager Phil Thompson as the “most tactically aware player that we have” and won the Reds’ Player of the Year award in 2002/2003.

His time with Fulham included many ups and downs, but during his spell at Craven Cottege, when he made 210 appearances and scoring 29 goals.  The most defining moment was his header goal against Portsmouth in May 2008 to secure Premier League status for the following season, completing “The Great Escape” that year.

His work rate and ability to direct on the pitch, as well as his leadership abilities off the pitch, have shown an incredibly unique combination perfect for the role of captain, and those qualities will be quite difficult to replace.

No player is above the team or the game, and Fulham F.C. will move on without Danny Murphy.  But it will be a very, very different place, and there no doubt will be a massive void which Martin Jol will have great difficulty finding a viable replacement.  We’ll miss Danny greatly, and like I said before, Martin Jol better damn well know what he’s doing.  As a fan I’m not angry or upset, but red flags are starting to pop up.  Fulham’s loss is Steve Kean’s gain.  Good luck to Danny, and we’ll miss you.

Fulham fan or not, what are your thoughts on Murphy’s departure? Was it time? Or should Jol have given him another year or two?

Fulham vs. Sunderland: Clint’s Cottage Climax?

Posted: May 4, 2012 by Kyle Bonn in Previews
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Is Fulham’s home tie with Sunderland the last time the Hammersmith End will see Clint Dempsey in a Fulham shirt?

Clint Dempsey.  One of the most well-liked players on the club.  One of the most coveted players on the club.  And someone who quite possibly could be playing his final match at Craven Cottage in home white.  It’s a sad reality that I haven’t exactly wrapped my head around just yet.  As an American, Clint’s a major – not the only, but a big – reason why I began to support Fulham.  To think that he could be moving on is heartbreaking to be honest.  But I know that Clint will always be a Cottager.  Always.  If he goes, I’ll support him wherever he chooses.  I’m a Clint Dempsey fan for life.

So now that we’ve gotten that out of the way and cast a horribly depressing shroud over this preview post, we might as well get into the nitty gritty of the standalone match.

State of Fulham:

The Cottagers just came off one of the most roller-coaster trips to Merseyside ever, getting thrashed by Everton at Goodison Park, then turning around and winning for the first time all-time at Anfield against Liverpool.  The Reds played horrible and the Toffes played exceptional, so they’ve seen the spectrum.

The Cottagers are just four points away from their highest Premier League point total ever (53 in the 08/09 season).  It’s been a season of change and a season of future promise for the club that deserves to be capped with a strong finish.  However, these games really don’t have a lot of meaning, and I would love to see some youngsters get some playing time.  Martin Jol recently said he wants to get younger but he also isn’t going to hand the team to undeserving youth, so here’s the perfect time to give Alex Kacaniklic, Kerim Frei, Pajtim Kasami, David Stockdale, etc the chance to prove they belong.

Craven Cottage is a fortress, and a 9-5-4 record at home this season with a +9 goal differential shows how they’ve taken advantage of most opportunities at home.  This should play into the match as well.

State of Sunderland:

In 11th place with 45 points, the Black Cats have an equally dismal road record this season as Fulham at 4-5-9 with a -9 goal differential (which oddly enough happens to be the EXACT opposite of Fulham’s home record stated above. Statistical anomaly alert!) and coming to a place like the Cottage should prove to be anything but easy.  They played Fulham at the Stadium of Light earlier this season to a horribly boring 0-0 draw.

Speaking of horribly boring draws, Sunderland has drawn in 5 of their last 6 matches, including 3 0-0 draws. YAWN.  The only non-draw during that span was a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Everton (where have we heard that befo……..ohhhhhhh….)

They could have a mass exodus during this transfer window, which is just as similarly important to them as it is to Fulham.  Nicklas Bendtner could be moving on (although he did say a return to Arsenal is pretty unlikely).  Stephane Sessegnon has been linked with PSG and Arsenal and could be on his way out, with it rumored he’s not happy in the Sunderland area of England.  Asamoah Gyan, on loan to UAE side Al Ain who just won the Pro League title with Gyan’s help, has made it look like he’s going to stay there.  Youngster Ryan Noble, on loan to Hartlepool United, has said he might want to stay there. Unfortunately on this note, Martin O’Neill was told he has to sell before he buys, so that could pose some problems replacing these exits.

Prediction:

This seems like a pretty easy fixture, given both Sunderland’s poor away and recent form.  However, Fulham never make the easy ones look easy, do they? I’m going to go out and say 2-1 to Fulham, but 3-1 could be likely as well.  Then again, don’t be surprised with a draw, seeing as the Black Cats sure do love their draws.  You have a prediction?

Final note:

I would like to ask all those going to the match a massive favor.  Because I won’t be there, I have to garner support on the interwebs.  Please, for the love of god, cheer Dempsey as loud as you can every time he gets the ball.  I don’t care if every Fulham fans leave without a voice.  That’s how it should be.  If he does in fact leave, I want his last time at the Cottage in a home white to be one of the most memorable days of his life.  Make his REALLY rethink leaving, if he’s leaning that way.  And if he’s leaning towards staying, remind him what staying would mean to us fans.

Folks, you have to realize, if Clint Dempsey decides to stay with Fulham, it means we’ve turned a corner.  It means we’ve become a desirable club where the positives outweigh the lack of Champions League football.  It means we have some of the best fans in the league – which we do – but we need to show it.  Please, cheer your lungs out for the man.  He’s given more to this club than we could ask for, and let’s make him know we appreciate it.

Final final note:

It’s my birthday for this fixture, so let’s get a win for that too :)

Liverpool 0-1 Fulham: The Merseyside Curse is Broken

Posted: May 1, 2012 by Kyle Bonn in Postgame
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Fulham congratulate each other on the only goal of the match, sinking Liverpool at Anfield 1-0

They’ve done it.  Martin Jol…er…Billy McKinlay’s side have won in Merseyside for the first time since….too long ago for me to do the research.  And they’ve won for the first time ever at Anfield.  It was an interesting match, with not much riding on it, but nonetheless, one of the monkeys is off the Cottagers’ backs, which is always important going into next season looking for big things from the Black and White Army.

The good:

-The defense – they played bend-not-break defense, and it worked to perfection.  They came close to breaking a few times but someone was always there to bail out whoever was having a hard time.  It helped that the Liverpool strikers and midfielders were in about as poor form as you could be, as an on-target Andy Carroll may have sunk Fulham (so would a minotaur or soccer fairy, but all 3 are mythical creatures so we don’t have to worry).  The central defense pairing was as good as ever, and they continue to make the case why Martin Jol should never, ever break them up so help me God.  Also, John Arne Riise continues to show his worth in the attack as well, being a major player in the goal.

-The midfield – Danny Murphy was back in the starting lineup, and he was the captain at its best.  It’s amazing to me how just being in his proximity on the pitch makes everyone else around him better.  Kacaniklic was also his usual youthful, energetic self, and he helped set up the goal, among other great things.  He’s a beautiful chance creator, and one that hopefully continues to stick around Craven Cottage and the first team.  As one of my wonderful Twitter followers so eloquently put it: “Jol, please lock Kacaniklic into a room by himself until he signs.”  I concur (not that I condone kidnapping.  If you get caught Jol, you know nothing of this post or that tweet).

-The work rate – It continues to impress me every time Fulham get a positive result how much they work until the final whistle.  The two who come to mind are Danny Murphy, obvious as captain, and Pogrebnyak.  Both men work tirelessly no matter where the ball is.  The defense is another that works so hard.  I really want to give a ton of praise to management, because it’s obvious the players buy into whatever Jol and McKinlay are laying in front of them, and the players are inspired to perform well for the leaders.  It’s something whose importance cannot be overstated.

The bad:

-Clint Dempsey’s finishing – Oops! Dempsey missed a couple of sitters, one on a horrible back header by Skirtel.  I’m not going to harp too much on it because not only did it not have an affect on the outcome, but Clint’s allowed a bad game or two every now and then.  And he didn’t have an overall bad performance, just those two instances.

-The late injuries – It may be nothing, but Pogrebnyak came off with a back problem that looked like it may have been nagging him for about 10 or 15 minutes before he came off.  Also, Dembele may have an upper leg injury.  Hopefully they’re nothing really, but they’re something to keep in mind.

Man of the Match: This one is easy: Brede Hangeland.  HOW on EARTH no bigger club has picked him off our squad for a hefty fee is beyond me.  The Norwegian is quite possibly the most valuable body on the pitch day in and day out for Fulham, and one of the most consistent as well.  He had a phenomenal match, making a goal-line clear on a ball that beat Schwarzer, and also saved the day later in the match when Andy Carroll (I think) made a break down the side and into the box with no one else between him and the keeper.  Again, I will also reiterate his work rate. Impressive.

I think this match tells us less about our club, however, than it does about the ‘Pool.  Kenny Dalglish’s side has a lot of thinking to do before they face Chelsea.  Obviously they were playing very few regulars, but it’s still been established that they’re clear underdogs going into this FA Cup final, and they will have to play exponentially better than they did today to even have a chance.  It’s been an odd season for the Reds, and this weekend’s tie has a lot to do whether it will be a memorable one or one they’d rather forget.

Interesting note: Thanks to HammyEnd.com for this one, that goal today was Fulham’s first at Anfield since 2006 (Collins John).

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