Boyce

Team Information
Nation - England
Year founded - 1879
Status - Professional
Reputation - National
Chairman Status - Enjoying Life at the Club
Favoured Personnel – Simon Morgan, Chris Coleman and Luis Boa Morte
Fierce Rivals - Chelsea and QPR
Other Rivals – Brentford and Barnet
Finances - Okay
Estimated Value - £35.5m (Loan Debt: £33m)
Stadium – Craven Cottage, South West London
Stadium Capacity – 24,510 all seater stadium with under soil heating.
Reserve Stadium – Motspur Park, London
Training Facilities - Top training facilities
Youth Facilities – Good youth facilities + Youth academy
Continental Competition – None
Media Prediction – 14th
Squad Average Age - 27
Squad personality – Professional

Finances
Transfer Budget: £3,375,000
Balance: £322,444
Wage Salary: £324,741 per week

Expectations
Board Expectations: The team is expected obtain a safe mid-table position in the Premiership this season.
Fans Expectation: Expect the team to stay clear of relegation.

Affiliated Clubs
None

Home, Away and Third Kits


Overview
Formed by a group of church-goers in 1879, the name Fulham was adopted in 1888 and the club had various home addresses before settling in at their current Craven Cottage base in 1896. The Cottagers entered the Football League in 1907 and had to wait over 40 years before securing their top-flight place, spending three seasons in Division One before a return the Second Division. Their second spell in the First Division was more successful. Talisman Johnny Haynes, who made 594 league appearances for the club between 1952 and 1970 and earned 56 England caps, helped Fulham survive at the top for the majority of the 1960s. Legendary figures Bobby Moore, George Best and Rodney Marsh were signed by the club in the mid-1970s, but even though their combined talents could not bring about a return to the main stage Fulham soon gained a worthy reputation for their attractive style of play. The 1980s and 1990s proved testing and Fulham's league status was threatened before new chairman Mohamed Al Fayed financed a staggering revival. The Harrods owner's dreams came true in 2001 when Fulham took the First Division by storm to secure promotion to the Premier League.

The Squad - Ratings
Jan Lastuvka – 8/10 (On loan)
Antti Niemi – 9/10
Philippe Christianval – 7/10
Liam Rosenior - 6/10
Carlos Bocanegra – 9/10 *Star player
Zat Knight – 8/10
Ian Pearce – 5/10
Moritz Volz – 8/10
Franck Queudrue – 8/10
Papa Bouba Diop – 10/10 *Star player
Simon Elliott – 7/10
Alexey Smertin – 8/10
Mark Pembridge – 5/10
Michael Brown – 7/10 (Captain)
Jimmy Bullard – 8/10
Simon Davies – 8/10
Clint Dempsey – 9/10
Wayne Routledge – 7/10 (On Loan)
Tomasz Radzinski – 8/10
Claus Jensen – 10/10 *Star player
Heidar Helguson – 7/10
Brian McBride – 9/10
Collins John – 8/10
Vincenzo Montella - 9/10

Injuries to start off with:
Simon Elliott – Torn calf muscle, out for 3 to 4 months.
Mark Pembridge – Torn calf muscle, out for 4 months.
Vincenzo Montella – Dislocated shoulder, out for 2 months.

Recommended Line-up and Tactic Discussion

Fulham have many class individual players as seen by the ratings above but to get the team to play well together on the game is rather difficult, well that’s my opinion anyway. I always use a 4-1-3-2 formation with Fulham that sees wingers getting forward and the CM dictating the play, also two forwards up front so the formation not defensive in any way.

Claus Jensen and Papa Bouba Diop are most likely going to be the most important players. Bouba Diop will be the DM and will defend set plays because of his height, break up opposition play around the area and also start attacks. His losing down must be set to full. Claus Jensen is the other important player as he will be the playmaker, he has a great range of passing and can hit a shot or two so he will be vital in midfield.

The two forwards I like to play are McBride and Montella, a little man, big man combination. Brian McBride who is a class act in the air should be set as a target man, with target man supply set to aim for head. This way Brian can flick the ball on etc to Montella who has a high finishing attribute.

The defence should all be set to ultra defensive as the tactic can be vulnerable to counter attacks, especially from the big sides. The full backs however should be allowed to make runs sometimes.

Youth Prospects

Liam Rosenior – Versatile wing back who can play anywhere down the right wing and the left wing, should be used to his best ability however on the right back position however can be just as useful occupying the left hand side. Closing down is his speciality.

Ricardo Batista – Goalkeeper, currently on loan at Wycombe and will no doubt be the next Ricardo, flying saves and great reactions aswell as reflexes. Make sure you are not tempted to sell him as he can be good back up for Antti Niemi.

Collins John – 20 years of age and will later in the game be an international for Holland. A good finisher with the feet and the head, however should be used as back up for the first few months.