Week 5

Tezza · Cult Status

Week 5

Football Academy · Cult Status

Fulham break even

Fans have hailed today as a 'historic day' in the history of Fulham FC as the club has finally shrugged off the shackles of its bank loan, writing off the remaining £3.1 million from a £6 million bank loan that has accumulated debts over a staggering 56 weeks. Fulham have been transformed since the takeover from AC Milan manager Luke Coakley took the reigns in the boardroom and his appointment of ex-Real Betis boss Adam Davies suggests stability is finally here for a club that has long been around the foot of the bottom tier of English football. Representatives from the club have played down talk of new signings now suggesting the board want a strict wage bill but have rubbished suggestions the reasoning is to make them a money spinner for the new owner.

Luke_C · Cult Status

Fulham release statement

Fulham chairman Luke Coakley today released a statement regarding the future of Fulhamafter a surprise win against league competition Southampton.

It has been a long road for Fulham FC but I am delighted to announce that the club is now totally debt free and looking forward.Previous mismanagement of the club meant Fulham were in a position that many thought was irreversible especially after Administration.

Great work and thanks go to Adam Goble and the previous manager David Davies-evans who reduced the debt dramatically. Together with my personal money and a player sale we are now in a position where we are debt free and now looking to add to the squad, albeit with a very minimal transfer budget this season.

We will stick to a tight budget however with the fans backing and the management of Adam Davies we look forward to a bright future.We will continue to use the loan market to its full potential while continuing to build a solid foundation behind those players.

Lastly we would like to congratulate Adam and the players on an excellent victory this week and hope this will be the first of many great games.

Stu · Cult Status

We are favourites tonight

How much have you enjoyed the start to this season?
"It was important for us to keep momentum going from last season. We finished well in both cups and we were already out of the race in the league so we finished as strongly as we could. It is us and Chelsea at the top with four wins from four and I said from last season that my aim now was the league. We got both cups last season and it would be nice to win them again but at Sevilla I only won two trophies in any season. My aim is to have delivered all three before I leave Manchester"

Are Chelsea still favourites for the league?
"They have been unstoppable in England. It was part of the excitement to join a team who might be able to break that hold they had in England. They have the experience in their team and a great manager and they are the league champions so they must be favourites over the season. If we only win one trophy this season I want it to be the league. This is my goal!"

What about Europe tonight?
"We play Genoa who have a new manager and new money but that takes time. I hope playing them first will make it easier for us. Of course we are favourites we won the tournament last season and Genoa are new to it all as we were a couple of seasons ago. Results havent been what Genoa must want in the league and we need to take advantage of that discontent and lay it on thicker with this result. If we win it puts us in a great position to qualify"

Do you have any comments as chairman of Napoli before we finish?
"I was disappointed with the cup result. A cup run and a play off finish would have been a perfect season because promotion has never been on the cards for our plan of this season. I try to watch their games when I can get away from Manchester and they miss consistency but this must be true for most of the teams at that level. I hope for the fans we can score more regularly because I know a high scoring draw is always more palatable than a low scoring draw as a football fan but I hope these things will come in time"

Liam · Cult Status

Liam Riste was questioned on Sevilla FC Television after his game against Celta Vigo, managed by his friend and also after his clash last night with Italian giants Juventus on his maiden game in Europe.

SFCTV: At the weekend, you went head-to-head with your good friend Dan. How happy were you with the result?
LR: I was very pleased to have netted six and also to have kept a clean sheet! Dan was pleased to have kept me at bay for 50mins but his team have a habit of dropping off towards the end of the game, and we banged in six. The clean sheet was a big positive as I had a slightly weaker defence out, but seems to show that I have improved it which was one of my targets!

SFCTV: Celta Vigo are bottom of the league and you haven't helped your friends' goal difference. What do you make of Dan's position?
LR: Well Celta Vigo stayed in La Liga last season, but the standard of teams that have come up has made it a much more daunting task to repeat the same feat. As for the goal difference, he expected nothing from the game and I just played the game to win by a good margin to keep Sevilla top of the league on goal difference.

SFCTV: There was some media regarding Celta Vigo last week about transfer deals. Do you have anything to say about this?
LR: Well I got a call from Dan telling me he had a deal collapse on him late on thursday, and he was set to sell a midfielder to Steve at Southampton the same week. I advised him that with the negotiation break-down, he would be foolish to continue with the deal as it would have hindered him. Even if it was the eleventh hour, the transfer was cancelled due to a broke link previous in the chain!
I was very disappointed and slightly annoyed that Steve decided to go public about it as it doesn't give Dan a good name, and he is a new manager but it wasn't his fault..!
The finger-pointing was inappropriate as Steve was made fully aware of what happened but I also think that the deal itself was massively biased in favour of Southampton in the first place. A young £4m player shouldn't go unneccesarily for under value, but for nearer half the value is a joke!
Whilst we are on the finger-pointing Steve, I am still yet to see that £700k for the rest of the Biondi deal we agreed whilst you were at Lazio? Any other smart idea's on how I receive that? I don't think people should think twice about dealing with Celta Vigo as deals are always collapsing, and there is nothing you can do about it. People should think twice about dealing with Journeymen managers who leave the club before fully completing a deal...

SFCTV: Ok... Did you see your opening night in Europe going better than it did?
LR: A 5-3 loss to Italian Champions Juventus is not a bad result really as I wanted to see how my team rated amongst the greats. I think the team battled hard, played well and gave a good account of themselves. With a little tweeking, we can be a bigger threat! Our group is hard but I would want to qualify further than the group stages, so we must get a win against Barcelona and at least a point against Utd now, which is a real challenge, but not impossible.

SFCTV: You have Real Mallorca this week, what are your plans for that game?
LR: Obviously I want to win. As always. The game against Juventus was my first loss as Sevilla manager and I want to bounce straight back and try and hold onto the top spot still... Valladolid are a very good team and having beaten Madrid and Barcelona, have to be favourites at this stage for the league crown. I just want to give them a challenge which is what we're doing in these early stages.

SFCTV: Ok well thanks for your time.
LR: No problem, cheers.

Bluebird99 · Cult Status

Davies-Evans laughs off "Riste Rant"!

Southampton manager Steve Davies-Evans was asked about Liam Ristes comments in the media today about further money owed as part of a deal he constructed whilst at Lazio.

"Yeah I had a call from one of the staff asking if I had seen the comments. I hadn't but he read it out to me on the phone. I had just buried my daughters hampster so was in the need of a "pick me up" and Liam didn't let me down. Firstly, It seems like Dan at Vigo has a puppet master or puppeteer which is surprising as I'm sure he's big enough to sort out his own deals, either that or the Vigo chairman is paying Liam as a consultant. Either way I imagine Sevilla fans are wondering why their manager is spending so much time worrying about other clubs. Also, if Liam is advising Dan to break off deals at the 11th hour, maybe people need to think twice about dealing with Sevilla also.

Secondly, I think that Liam is targeting his comments at the wrong person. I constructed a deal which he was happy with. The second part was that I was to purchase a player from him for £700k. I was then offered the chance to join Southampton. The first thing I did was email the FA Chairman and inform him so that he could carry on with this deal. I see there has been a breakdown of communication this week between them so I hardly think that is my fault. I would offer to give him the money but it has nothing to do with Southampton and I wouldn't expect us to pay it. I have spoken to the head of FA and he indicated to me that he had made clear instructions to Liam which he clearly hasn't followed. Seems like it's Liams fault this didnt go through.

Kiezen · Top Flight Player

Dan Merrick-Reed today has been questioned after this weeks result against Sevilla:

Q: Another loss this week are you troubled about the result?
We have had a tough run so far and we have faced alot of strong teams, obviously i am not happy about Sevilla keeping a clean sheet against us but they are not top of the league for no reason. We have up till now managed to score in all of our games but it seems liam has done alot of work to his squad and is obviously putting all his time and effort into this season.

Q: You are still bottom of the league with the worst goal difference so far does this worry you?
This league is one of the toughest with alot of stong teams obviously we do not plan on going down as we managed to stay up last season. This last game we did rest alot of our main players for next weeks game against Recreativo Huelva wich is a game we do need to win.

Q: Obviously we have to mention your run in with the Southampton manager this week can you add more light to the subject?
Ahh yes that well i will confirm that last week a deal was to go through with Southampton but at the last minute a seperate deal fell through which meant i couldn't at that time afford to let a CM go. I did ask another manager for some advice because i fail to see how a new manager can learn without asking a manager who has been around for some time. But hey is seems that asking advice can even get some people annoyed but i will learn how i see fit i'm sure im big enough to make that decission!
I will admit i was shocked that the fall through of a deal would make it to the sports pages as I have had an issue with the same manger when he managed Lazio, we had an agreed deal and the day before i was putting my team sheet in he had moved and I was left not knowing where I stood, not even a message saying the deal was or was not going through. I find it almost ammusing that I can be juged for my dedication towards a transfer from a manager who seems to have no dedication for a team!

Q: Well thanks for putting your side forwards and we wish you luck in your upcoming game and season.
Thank you.

-- Edited by Kiezen on Wednesday 19th of May 2010 05:30:41 PM

Ash · Cult Status

Spanish media today caught up with Real Zaragoza manager Ashley Harris ahead of this weeks game against Osasuna.

Q: You moved top of the Segunda last week with a win against Cadiz. Can you stay there?
AH: Well we certainly hope so! Its been a good start to the season and big praise must go out to my defence as we are yet to concede a goal in our opening 4 league games. Shay Given has been fantastic in goal and the lads in front of him have been doing a great job in keeping the amount of shots that Shay has to save down to a minumum. Its great that we have been keeping clean sheets and long may it continue! Top of the league is where we want to be but its early days and we need to avoid the overconfidence that may come with being top.

Q: Who do you feel are your main challengers?
AH: Its going to be close this season between us, Santander, Betis and Vilarreal for the top 2 spots. There all good teams with good managers so i certainly hope its gonna be an entertaining ride. How we do against those 3 sides may just decide where we finish come the end of the season.

Q: We can't let you go without asking your opinion on the Riste- Reed-Evans dissagreement?
AH: Well its certainly keeping me entertained! I believe that Dan was well within his rights to pull out of the deal as he is a new manager and is learning the game. To crticise him in the press was uncalled for and when i was new to management Liam gave me advice and this helped alot. I see nothing wrong with what's happenned as i have been informed by Liam that the deal was heavily in favour of Southampton and maybe it was a case of trying to take advantage of inexperience.

Thanks for your time.

Bluebird99 · Cult Status

"Inconsistent quotes anyone?" - Davies-Evans

After receiving what has been described as the biggest verbal slaying since Jade Goodey on Shilpa Shetty in Celebrity Big Brother, Steve Davies-Evans has managed to find enough energy to pull himself together and face the press outside his south coast home

Steve, managers at Celta Vigo and Zaragoza have been very criticle of your decision to criticise the Vigo manager for pulling out of a deal. What is your response?

SDE - Well I'll be honest, I can't stay long as I am just feeling too weak. The state that those words left me in this afternoon has left me shaking. I will try my best though. Apparently I pulled out of a deal with him? This isn't so. As I have already mentioned, I emailed the chairman of FA and gave him a list of deals that I had arranged with other managers on behalf of Lazio and asked him to fulfill those deals. That can be confirmed if anyone would like to ask Mr Richard Jenkins who did honour a deal that saw a Central Defender join Lazio that week.

Am I surprised that 3 friends have stuck together? Of course not. It's quite sweet really. I don't really care who people ask for advice but as 3 people have confirmed that it was a better deal for us and then for that deal to suddenly break down, does that not smell fishy to anyone else? Hmmmm. Unlike Liam at Sevilla, I'm not here to tell anyone how to run a club but what I will say is that if you are to deal with people, it's normally better for your first few deals to go without drawing massive attention to yourself. I guess that's experience but the boys will learn. Now you will have to excuse me as I'm still weak from that tongue lashing I received earlier and I need to rest up. Thank you and I look forward to See no Evil, Speak No Evil and Hear no Evils response to my bait.

paulh_85 · Cult Status

guys, as much as media of this sort is interesting, and having been in the odd situation like this myself, it certainly brings a bit of interest to the Media section.

however, can we stop with the comments about managers "thinking twice" about dealing with other managers. having been on the end of failed dealings myself, some of which were my fault and some were not, i know how frustrating it can be and i know it can cause tension between managers. However trying to influence other managers into not dealing with people is only going to be negative for the game. by all means have your say, then just get on with the game we all enjoy :)

thanks

Liam · Cult Status

Riste takes Davies-Evans' bait.

"After hearing that Steve had thrown some bait out there, I thought 'the early bird catches the worm'and felt I had best take a bite.
     I'm not surprised Steve has compared this 'verbal slaying' to Jade Goody on Shilpa Shetty as he seems the type to be watching Celebrity Big Brother! And as for his weakness to talk, I would like to take the time to wish him a full and speedy recovery on this serious illness. It's tugging at my heart-strings to hear he is in such a state.
     Steve was quick enough to email the chairman of the FA about goings on, but not as quick to let other parties involved know what's happening.
     As for being able to tell people how to run a club, I merely offered a friend advice when asked; but I can offer advice as I stay at clubs long enough to know how they run, unlike a different kind of club running done by some.
     I don't wish to put anyone off dealing with any manager as I have previously stated, 'deals are always collapsing', regardless of accident or deliberate intentions. Publication and name-calling however, is a different story with an intention of staining names..."

Spartikus47 · Cult Status

Play-up Pompey - The pressure is on you!

That was the harsh message ringing around the newsroom at Goodison Park today as Toffee's boss Mark Rolllings took his customary pre-match press conference ahead of the clash between the two sides Both sides were tipped to have successful seasons pre-season, but both have enjoyed very different starts. "Enjoyed" maybe an ironic way of describing Portsmouth's return to League One, after a string of poor performances have left them toiling towards the bottom of the table. By contrast Everton have enjoyed a robust, if not spectacular, start - claiming 10 points from a possible 12.

Rollings was in mood for niceties, and claimed Pompey boss Glenn Whitter was already playing for his future.

"They would expect to be a lot higher. Perhaps more worryingly they just aren't looking threatening. We have been relatively toothless ourselves over the last few weeks but have demonstrated a sturdy defence and determined attitude - Portsmouth however look broken. I would question the influence Whitter has in the dressing room. If we beat them this weekend then we would go 11 points ahead of them after 5 games...it doesn't make pretty reading."

Rollings also confirmed it was 99% certain that he had finally ended his search for a left back - a position he was known to be seriously concerned about.

"It looks like we have finally secured a deal. We just needed a solid, experienced defender who could play in a 3 or 4 man defence. I think we have our man but until he is training with us I will keep quiet as you never know. We welcome Aaron Ramsey this week and I am convinced he will completely revolutionize the way we play. Add to that Alejandro Torres Ramon next week and I think it is really starting to fit together. I predict we will be scoring a lot more freely after next week"