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Morning Ticker: Fulham lands forward, Everton chasing Moutinho and Cesc squashes Madrid rumor

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Good morning everybody. While we await word on where Kenny Cooper is headed, and wait for an official announcement of the Chicago-Toronto FC trade that will send Brian McBride to the Chicago Fire, here are some stories from across the pond to get your day started.

Fulham signs Andy Johnson

Within days of former Fulham standout Brian McBride securing his next club comes word that the Cottagers have found a replacement in Everton striker Andy Johnson. Fulham’s $21 million move for the English striker shows that the Cottagers are serious about not wanting to deal with another relegation race.

Now the question is what does Johnson’s arrival means for American forward Eddie Johnson and American midfielder/forward Clint Dempsey. I think it can only help Dempsey and Johnson to have an accomplished goal-scorer on the team.

Everton has Moutinho bid rejected

Everton’s efforts to crack the top four in the EPL took a hit, at least a temporary hit, after its $22.5 million bid for Portuguese international Joao Moutinho was rejected by Sporting Lisbon. Reports seem to suggest that Moutinho will eventually wind up with the Toffees once a fee can be agreed to and if the deal does happen, Everton will look extremely tough heading into the new season. With Mikel Arteta sticking around and Tim Cahill recovering from surgery, Everton could boast one of the best midfields in the EPL.

As for forwards? Ayegbeni Yakubu is still the go-to striker, while young target forward Victor Anichebe showed flashes last year. Everton will need to sign a forward and Argentine striker Diego Milito is one name that has been linked to the Liverpool club.

Fabregas denies interest in Real Madrid

You know it’s a new week when there’s a fresh report about a superstar player being linked to Real Madrid. This time around it’s Cesc Fabregas, who became the subject of reports linking him to a potential move. Fabregas came out and denied any interest in a move to Real Madrid. That sound you just heard is Arsene Wenger stepping off the balcony.

These are just some of today’s stories (I’ll try to get to a few more around noon or so. Feel free to share your thoughts on these stories and any other of the morning’s top soccer stories in the comments section below.

Comments

  1. This is why there are so many foreign players in EPL. 22 million for AJ is a total joke. Look at his scoring record and justify that price. EJ passes the buck more than the ball and will never be a top flight player. Clint can play at this level, no doubt, but i see him squezzed for minutes with Bullard, Gera, and Davies.

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  2. I’ll be grinning from temple to temple if the Moutinho deal goes through for Everton. That would be one helll of a signing.

    Cahill surprisingly just joined the club in the U.S. for its friendlies and looks to be healthy enough to start when the season comes around.

    Everton’s midfield has always been small and this won’t change things. But this could potentially finally get Everton back in the top four.

    This also will probably shut down Everton’s big-money transfer traffic. No way does the club’s ownership be signing two big transfers in one year. Unfortunately.

    But a Milito signing would definitely be welcomed.

    Also, AJ isn’t worth 12 million pounds. You kidding?

    Hleb wasn’t sold for that much to Barcelona!

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  3. Betinho – I have come to know and like EJ over the past 6 months as well. He has just got to make something happen on the pitch or his career will crash this year. Where ever strikers luck comes from EJ needs to find it in hurry.

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  4. As a Fulham fan I am very happy about this and the other smart if not sexy signings the Whites have made this offseason.

    As a U.S. national fan I think this year at Fulham that E. J. will disapear to the reserves and then be loaned out and that Clints minutes will be reduced this year due the collection of competent midfielders that have that have been accumulated this off season. In Clints case I suggest he make hay while the sun shines or he could be relegated to a more or less off the bench role quite quickly.

    But then again Danny M. is getting up in years and Jimmy B. may still be sold so we shall see.

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  5. I think the old Crystal Palace striker is a great signing. I think if it weren’t for injuries, And Johnson would be England’s top striker. I am a big Andy Johnson fan! He might be an upgrade from McBride..

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  6. Andy – EJ missed “guilt edge” chances in Korea. Getting the chances is one thing putting it in the net is another and EJ – which is what he gets paid to do. I’m as hopeful as anyone that he “gets it”. I really like the kid. IMO he should be in a lower division developing. Considering the Fulham strike force a loan deal could be beneficial. He doesn’t seem to making the strides from traingin and limited PT like, for example, Adu was at Benfica. His progress seems to have reached a plateau.

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  7. Paul – It’s true. Dempsey did little more than drop a “deuce” after the hot start last season. He wasn’t sneaking up on teams anymore. I still think his playing out of position has hurt him. It’s hurt his form on the national team too. Here’s hoping the competition with Gera can see him get back his his better form.

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  8. Jeff and Gordo…. I am not an EJ apologist by any means but I can tell you that he looked very good on Saturday in the first half. He made many intelligent runs and looked a much player than Bobby Zamora… I am not saying that a good half in Korea during preseason warrants anything but it could be a sign that he is finally getting it. Give the kid a chance to learn. It always takes Yanks a bit of time to adjust (save Brian McBride). Clint scored only one goal in his first half season @ Fulham and came out like gang-busters in the beginning of 2007. Eddie is there to develope under Roy Hodgson…let him do just that.

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  9. Dempsey’s competition is going to be from Zoltan Gera.

    Dempsey may be riding the pine this year. In the 2nd half of the season last year, Dempsey neither scored or set up teammates under Hodgsen.

    Gera is a quality midfielder and is already making waves with his play in preseason. Gera is much stronger, sets people up, and can finish on his own.

    I think Dempsey and EJ are both going to see the pine this year.

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  10. If Fabregas was interested in a club, I would have to imagine it would be Barcelona, Cesc is a ethnic Catalan, and we all know how deep Barca’s roots run with the Catalan community. However, Real Madrid is no cupcake, and with Arsenal’s “wage structure”, Cesc knows that if he wants to get paid well, it won’t be with Arsenal.

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  11. Simms: I am pretty sure the cutoff for the U-23s this year is January 1, 1985, hence the UNDER-23 part. Cooper was born in October, 1984.

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  12. Ives,

    Off topic question from someone who doesn’t comment often. I found out today that Kenny Cooper is only 23, why isn’t he competing in the olympics with the other u23s?

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  13. Thank God – I was wondering when Fulham were going to bring in a quality striker. I felt they’d been pretty timid in their signings for a team that escaped relegation on goal differential last year.

    This is good news in another way: It puts Eddie Johnson deeper on the bench. As a Fulham and US fan, I don’t want to see Eddie “Backpass” Johnson logging minutes for either side. If he’s on the bench at Fulham, he’s less likely to get called in for the US. Let Jozy and Kenny Cooper get the minutes at forward for the US.

    I think Dempsey will be okay; I think we’ll see him on the wing for Fulham. Bouazza is out of favor, so I think your wingers pretty much have to be Davies and Dempsey. Also, no other forward has completely nailed down the second striker spot at the moment.

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  14. There is a clause in Moutinho’s contract that if Sporting rejects any bid over 15m euros Moutinho will be paid 10% of that offer by Sporting. The offer must be on paper not verbal and presented before June 15 of any year. The agent involved in these negotiations is representing both Moutinho and Everton. The offer was not on paper and presented after June 15, but someone still wants to get paid. If Everton wants Moutinho they will have to offer more than 15m euros or wait for January for this strategy to work.

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  15. I think he’s worth it. He’s 27, he has only had one injury of note (last year, played 20 games) and played 30-37 games the prior 5 seasons. He’s scored 38 goals in 92 games and adds a nice number of assists. For a small club like Fulham, it’s a good signing and at current price levels…I feel like it’s about the right price.

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  16. Carl Setterlund,

    You just won the Dumb Comment of the Day Award! Congratulations!!!

    Carl sez: “When Fulham played teams like Everton and Villa…they always looked lucky if they ever strung together a good minute or two.”

    Let’s look at the results, Carl:

    Fulham lost 2-1 at Villa. Villa scored in injury time against a 10-man Fulham. Fulham strung together a pretty good 90 minutes that day. Shame about injury time.

    Fulham beat Villa 2-1 at Craven Cottage. Seemed to string together a pretty good 90 minutes that day, too.

    Fulham lost at Everton 3-0, getting thoroughly run off the pitch.

    However, Fulham beat Everton 1-0 at the Cottage. Again, they were able to string together a good 90 minutes.

    So in total, Fulham were able to play well for 270 of the 360 minutes against Villa and Everton. That’s a pretty good ratio, and far better than the “lucky minute or two” that you were witnessing.

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  17. Eddie Johnson should be shown the door. He did was embarassing last seaon, flopping around the pitch like a little bitch.

    There hasn’t been a more over hyped American player than EJ.

    Dempsey will likely stay, but Eddie’s days are numbered as they should be.

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  18. Ives,

    Its a bit misleading to call him an English National Team striker. So is David Nugent, neither are of the quality to get called up regularly.

    I think GPB12mm for him is bonkers, but he’ll do a job for Fulham. Still a good signing. Plus this means he’s done being linked to West Ham, Thank GOD!

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  19. While I am a big Fulham supporter… I really can’t act as excited as some… AJ is a “good” player but not worth 12 million pounds… Little strikers like him always have injury problems and I can just see him going out in the first few months. I do however think the signing helps Dempsey. EJ actaully looked very good in first half action on Saturday in Korea. He looked better than Bobby Zamora did actually.

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  20. Thank god for the Andy Johnson signing. This is exactly what Fulhamerica (if they can still be called that) need, just one player that can hold their own against the top 8 or so teams. When Fulham played teams like Everton and Villa, let alone Chelsea and Man U, they always looked lucky if they ever strung together a good minute or two.

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  21. Cesc will return to Spain eventually. Isn’t he Catalonian though? I don’t remember for sure. Just seems like a return to Barcelona would be more likely than Madrid. Then again, money talks.

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  22. Well, it just has to be good for Dempsey. For EJ, probably not so much. AJ is a horse and he works tirelessly which should make for a decent attack with Dempsey. It would be nice for Fulham to not have an April and May of nailbiting.

    Motinho…that seems a bit expensive to me and if they want more for him…I don’t know.

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  23. That is an excellent signing for Fulham. I hope that means more time for Dempsey on the wing and a loan deal for Eddie. With Fulhams signings he’s got to be 4th or 5th choice. Send him to the Colaship and let him play.

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