Fulham

[Lemmy]

Fulham have signed striker Bobby Zamora and full-back John Pantsil from West Ham for a joint fee of £6.3m.

Zamora, 27, had been at Upton Park since January 2004, but managed just 14 games last season, scoring one goal.

"I am looking forward to joining the rest of the team this week and preparing for the new campaign," he told the Fulham website.

Ghana international Pantsil joined West Ham in 2006 but started just seven league games for the Hammers.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said he was "very pleased" to add the pair to his squad.

"Bobby is a talented striker who not only has a desire to score goals but always looks to involve the rest of the team with his intelligent play," added Hodgson.

"I have no doubt that Bobby will play an important part for us and his quality has allowed us to strengthen our attacking options.

"John has a versatility that will provide us with more defensive options, which is extremely important to the strength and depth we have in the squad."

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Fulham | Zamora & Pantsil sign for Fulham

Zamora is a good addition to Fulham now that they don't have McBride.

[Lemmy]

Rangers have been told to meet Fulham's asking price for Steve Davis if they want to sign the player who impressed on loan at Ibrox last season.

"The last I heard Rangers reiterated their initial offer, which was refused by the club," Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said.

"Players have values. We paid a lot of money for him.

"If he's going to leave us, it will have to be because we've received the correct offer."

Hodgson was speaking after his side beat Celtic 3-1 in a pre-season friendly at Craven Cottage, Barry Robson scoring the Glasgow club's consolation from a free kick.

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan admitted his players took a while to get going following Friday night's friendly victory over Southampton.

"I think we had lazy minds from last night," he said. "We finished the game at 10 o'clock and we were up again this morning, at nine o'clock we were on the go again.

"So we had lazy minds for the first 20 minutes. But, once we cleared that, I thought we put a good show on."

Old Firm rivals Rangers were also in pre-season action on Saturday as they lost 1-0 to Schalke in Germany.

"This season I am looking for more maturity and consistency in his play.

New signing Andrius Velicka came closest to scoring for the Ibrox side when he hit the post with a diving header.

"I thought Andrius played well, as he did the other night when he came on against Sportfreunde Lotte," manager Walter Smith said.

"We have been happy with him, although we should remember he has a bit of a head start on the boys.

"He has been playing for a period of time now in Norway and I think that shows up a little bit."

Rangers have already lost Kyle Lafferty, Steven Smith and Barry Ferguson to injury for their first Champions League qualifier on 30 July.

Defender Carlos Cuellar has also been left out of their three matches because of a calf problem and Smith decided not to risk striker Kris Boyd against Schalke.

"We've had one or two problems on the injury front this week and it has been frustrating as Kris now has a hamstring injury," Smith told the Rangers website.

"It is actually just tight and, like a lot of the boys at the present moment, we felt as though it was better not to put him under the pressure of games."

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Rangers | Rangers told to pay up for Davis

[Lemmy]

Fulham will complete the signing of Sweden international Fredrik Stoor from Rosenborg next week.

Reports suggest that the fee for the 24-year-old defender, who appeared at Euro 2008, is about £2m.

The right-back will arrive at Craven Cottage after playing for Rosenborg in their Intertoto Cup tie against NAC Breda on Sunday.

Stoor began his career at Swedish club Hammarby IF before moving to the Norwegian outfit in 2006.

The defender, who has won eight caps for Sweden, said he was looking forward to playing in manager Roy Hodgson's side.

"This is very exciting and feels like a great challenge," he told Expressen newspaper last week.

"This is the toughest league in the world. It will be hard but I have the chance of becoming a regular."

Stoor will become Hodgson's eighth capture of the summer following the signings of Mark Schwarzer, Andranik Teymourian, Zoltan Gera, David Stockdale, Toni Kallio and West Ham pair Bobby Zamora and John Pantsil.

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Fulham | Fulham set to sign defender Stoor

I hope these new signings will improve Fulham and have them avoid a relegation battle

[Lemmy]

Hull City marked their first appearance in English football's top-flight by coming from behind to beat Fulham.

Substitute Caleb Folan side-footed home the winner after fellow sub Craig Fagan caught Fulham defender Paul Konchesky in possession in his own penalty area.

Brazilian striker Geovanni had brought the Tigers level before half-time with an exquisite curling shot round Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Hull had earlier fallen behind to Seol Ki-Hyeon's header.

A full house at the KC Stadium greeted the Premier League newcomers with a rapturous reception but it did not take long for Fulham to burst the bubble of euphoria.

Simon Davies let Hull off the hook when he planted his volley into the ground from Seol Ki-Hyeon's dangerous cross.

Hull were then denied the lead when Mark Schwarzer dived full-length to claw away Geovanni's header, and the Fulham keeper then combined with John Pantsil to block Ian Ashbee's follow-up.

Fulham had the honour of scoring the first Premier League goal at the KC stadium, as Hull's defending left a plenty to be desired.

Jimmy Bullard was given too much freedom to pick out his cross and he found Seol Ki-Hyeon, and the South Korean rose to plant a header wide of Boaz Myhil's desperate dive.

BBC SPORT | Football | Premier League | Hull City 2-1 Fulham

What a joke. Fulham manage to screw up after leading the game, yet again. Seems like it will be another ridiculously difficult season for Fulham.

[Lemmy]

Sunderland have made an offer for Fulham striker David Healy, according to the player's agent.

The record-breaking Northern Ireland forward had been linked with a move to The Black Cats as part of an exchange deal with Dickson Etuhu.

That idea appears to have been shelved and Sunderland have now submitted an offer which Fulham are considering.

Healy, 29, is Northern Ireland's record international goalscorer but has struggled to impact at club level.

He had spells at Preston North End and Leeds United before moving to join his former Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez at Fulham.

Healy, who started his career with Manchester United but only made three first team appearances, played 30 premier League games for Fulham last season, scoring four times.

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Sunderland | Sunderland submit bid for Healy

[Lemmy]

Brede Hangeland's first-half goal gave Fulham their first win of the season against a disappointing Arsenal.

The giant defender stabbed in Jimmy Bullard's cross from close range after 21 minutes.

Emmanuel Adebayor headed Bacary Sagna's cross against the post shortly afterwards, but Arsenal rarely turned possession into clear chances.

Bobby Zamora almost added a second after the break as Fulham's commitment earned a deserved three points.

Arsenal were unsettled by Fulham's physical approach, and it was clear how much they missed the composure and class of the injured Cesc Fabregas in midfield.

But for Fulham, it was the perfect response to their disappointing opening day defeat at newly promoted Hull City.

Arsenal were able to recall Kolo Toure and Robin van Persie - but Fulham's record signing Andrew Johnson was still sidelined by a thigh injury.

BBC SPORT | Football | Premier League | Fulham 1-0 Arsenal

Holy fuck

[Benfica7]

Originally Posted by Lemmy

Brede Hangeland's first-half goal gave Fulham their first win of the season against a disappointing Arsenal.

The giant defender stabbed in Jimmy Bullard's cross from close range after 21 minutes.

Emmanuel Adebayor headed Bacary Sagna's cross against the post shortly afterwards, but Arsenal rarely turned possession into clear chances.

Bobby Zamora almost added a second after the break as Fulham's commitment earned a deserved three points.

Arsenal were unsettled by Fulham's physical approach, and it was clear how much they missed the composure and class of the injured Cesc Fabregas in midfield.

But for Fulham, it was the perfect response to their disappointing opening day defeat at newly promoted Hull City.

Arsenal were able to recall Kolo Toure and Robin van Persie - but Fulham's record signing Andrew Johnson was still sidelined by a thigh injury.

BBC SPORT | Football | Premier League | Fulham 1-0 Arsenal

Holy fuck

You didn't think it could happen.

[Lemmy]

Not in my wildest dreams would I think that the Cottagers would beat Arsenal, especially after losing to Hull

[Benfica7]

Originally Posted by Lemmy

Not in my wildest dreams would I think that the Cottagers would beat Arsenal, especially after losing to Hull

They lost to Hull?

[Lemmy]

Yep, what a joke

[Benfica7]

Originally Posted by Lemmy

Yep, what a joke

Wow that is sad.

[Lemmy]

It just comes to show how inconsistent Fulham are. Last season, Fulham had a lot of games in which they were winning but manage to lose the points. It is really frustrating as a Fulham fan.

[Lemmy]

A last-gasp Danny Murphy goal secured a dramatic Carling Cup win for Fulham against League One Leicester.

Murphy hit a 25-yard drive two minutes into injury time that took a heavy deflection and flew in.

Fulham had taken an early lead when Zoltan Gera's shot hit Michael Morrison and beat goalkeeper David Martin.

But Paul Dickov rammed in and Andy King curled home from 18 yards for Leicester before Jimmy Bullard's 25-yarder levelled it and Murphy won the game.

The late drama was desperately harsh on Leicester, who more than matched their Premier League opponents at Craven Cottage.

BBC SPORT | Football | League Cup | Fulham 3-2 Leicester

It's ridiculous that Fulham were having difficulties against a team that got relegated from the championship

[Benfica7]

Originally Posted by Lemmy

A last-gasp Danny Murphy goal secured a dramatic Carling Cup win for Fulham against League One Leicester.

Murphy hit a 25-yard drive two minutes into injury time that took a heavy deflection and flew in.

Fulham had taken an early lead when Zoltan Gera's shot hit Michael Morrison and beat goalkeeper David Martin.

But Paul Dickov rammed in and Andy King curled home from 18 yards for Leicester before Jimmy Bullard's 25-yarder levelled it and Murphy won the game.

The late drama was desperately harsh on Leicester, who more than matched their Premier League opponents at Craven Cottage.

BBC SPORT | Football | League Cup | Fulham 3-2 Leicester

It's ridiculous that Fulham were having difficulties against a team that got relegated from the championship

You guys are a good club but are just not playing like one

[Lemmy]

I still think that Fulham made a mistake in selling Luis Boa Morte to West Ham. He and Bullard would be make a great partnership.