Fulham FC and DC United on July 26 at Everbank

[bencrix]

Who is having it both ways? Spurs fans?

You really can't buy glory, whether you are Spurs (once in a lifetime) or Madrid, Chelsea, Man City, PSG, Monaco, various Russian clubs, etc. No one does it.

It took Man City years of profligate spending to reach the EPL trophy and blunder through UCL campaigns. Chelsea has financed a long history "almost" finishes. The UCL run was unexpectedly won on the backs of "old" club legends, not expensive new acquisitions.

What quality these clubs have is earned from years of struggle. Money is a *huge* advantage, but it doesn't win trophies.

[Gamblor]

I'd love to see a Swansea or a Southampton-style revival of FFC. I'll consider it absolutely amazing work if we're back to playing low-table, relegation worry-free football in the Premiership within 5 years.

Easier said than done. Swansea got lucky by having two of the best managers in Britain in Martinez and Rodgers. Now that Rodgers is gone, they may just become another lower table side (set to finish somewhere between 12th and 16th this season). Southampton has a ridiculous academy that is the envy of every side in England. They've produced a crazy amount of talent like Bale, Oxlade-Chamberlin, Luke Shaw, Lallana, and Theo Walcott in recent years...and have James Ward Prowse, Callum Chambers, and Sam Gallagher as up and coming players already playing well in the senior side.

Fulham do have some good youth talent though. Perhaps the Championship will be a good way to get that young talent some experience that can be built upon in the future. They will probably go from one of the oldest teams in England this year to one of the youngest next year.

I won't disagree it is a very, very daunting task, but its probably what FFC need to aspire to be.

[CityLife]

What quality these clubs have is earned from years of struggle. Money is a *huge* advantage, but it doesn't win trophies.

PSG has won the French League the past 2 years, was runner up 3 years ago, and finished 4th-4 years ago. Prior to that they finished:

14th in 2010
6th in 2009
16th in 2008
15th in 2007
9th in 2006

Want to guess when they were bought by middle east oil money? The year before they jumped from 14th to 4th.

Manchester City are about to win the league this year, won it 2 seasons ago, and were runners up last season. They were bought in 2008. Prior to that, they had finished:

10th in 2008
9th in 2007
14th in 2006
15th in 2005

I would hardly say jumping from a mid/lower table team to winning the league in a few years is "years of struggle"

[Gamblor]

^ +1

Although be careful with the PSG analogy. Some of their history has to play a part in the mid-table years...

[Tacachale]

Hopefully, his investment in Fulham going south won't hurt his spending with the Jags.

Seriously doubt that.

Without personally knowing Mr. Khan's personal finances and long range plans, nobody but him can say that with any certainty.

I think what we're saying is, he hasn't had to spend a bunch of outside money on the Jags, NFL teams take in a ton of money. What he's done is invest the Jags' money back into the team (rather than just holding onto it like some sports teams do). I imagine Fulham FC's similar, but even if he does has to pump some outside money to get them back into the EPL, it's most likely not going to be money he would have put into the Jags.

[JaxByDefault]

Fulham USA boards are going collectively apoplectic at the pairing of the FFC match with the Carrie Underwood concert and concerns about "limited seating." There's also extreme anger that FFC hasn't reached out to international Fulham Faithful (club members) or current/past Craven Cottage seat holders in regards to the match. Several people got hotel rooms in JAX when the match was announced who are now worried that the concert portion will make tickets very expensive.

Also, any place in the urban core that wants to declare themselves an/the official Fulham supporters bar for the match, I'll put it on every Fulham forum I'm on/moderate!

[fsquid]

I'll admit, having to watch the match with a bunch of underaged girls is making me think about skipping the game.  Plus, I can't imagine knowing even 3 players on that field after players jump ship.

[CityLife]

^You may get to see Moussa Dembele in the Fulham shirt again. Not that Moussa Dembele though, a 17 year old with the same exact name. Pretty random.

[JaxByDefault]

Even if Dejagah, Kasami, and Parker don't leave (which they probably will), they're not likely to be in the FFC squad traveling to JAX because of rest periods following World Cup duties.

Supporters are also taking to twitter to ask the club why there are no plans/announcements about a supporters section at the JAX friendly. The Jags should have just announced all of the pieces of this event at once -- a ticket holder concert event with an FFC friendly. The problem is that news of the FFC match leaked out months ago in the soccer community -- with no mention of it being a Jags/concert event.