Today’s Sun claims that Mark Schwarzer has told Fulham he’ll leave for nothing when his contract expires next summer should he not be allowed to move to Arsenal in this window. I’m sure ‘toughing it out’ on a lucrative contract until June will be really difficult.
The paper discloses that the Australian international is in dispute with the club about whether he submitted a transfer request and that Mark Hughes is only minded let Schwarzer leave if he manages to secure a deal for Shay Given.
Hughes still seems right to play hardball on this one to my mind. A replacement for Schwarzer won’t come cheap and, with the transfer window soon to close, fees always rise. That means Arsenal should be made to pay a fee that reflects Schwarzer’s status as the best goalkeepers in the league and his importance to Fulham. In my opinion, even £3m remains laughable.
As an aside read Simon Kuper’s excellent column on goalkeepers in the Financial Times. They remain football’s most underappreciated animal.
I still say we should just sell the ungrateful bastard. I have faith in Stockdale.
all he wants to do is move to a BIGGER and BETTER club. Its called ambition…look it up Fulham fans
When did Arsenal last reach a European final?
whats that got to do with anything……and WOW the europes version of the carling cup…amazing. When was the last time fulham finished top four and qualified for the champions league
1st point – Yes, Fulham are one of the smaller clubs in the Premier, however, that does not prevent players (or, indeed, managers) from showing an element of loyalty.
2nd point – Yes, if Schwarzer disregards loyalty and wants to leave to play for a club in the Champions League, we should definitely get rid. As soon as a player’s head is turned, and they choose to turn their back on our club, then either sell them or leave them to rot in the stiffs. Either way, it must be underlined that no person is bigger than the club.
3rd point – Shay Given would be a tremendous purchase for Fulham, yet I am encouraged with what I have seen from Stockdale thus far and would welcome the opportunity to give him a chance. To say I am torn, is an understatement. Nice position to be in though!
4th point – Nick Barton – Why do you need to be bitter towards a club that is so obviously smaller and less sucessful than Arsenal? As a ‘bigger and better’ club, with a significantly more high-profile manager, surely you could buy any player you want from any club and not have to rely on a cheap option, 37 year old at the end of his career….oh, hang on……..