Fulham - Stockdale Here to Stay!

Back injury or simply hoping for his transfer request t be granted, it`s fair to say that Mark Schwarzer wasn`t missed up at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

Now I don`t want to disrespect Schwarzer`s contribution since joining us but if he is to leave Craven cottage then so be it, we need to move on and on Saturday the performance given by David Stockdale showed that the promise he showed in his younger days was a justifiable reason to purchase him.

After some great saves on Saturday, Stockdale was an obvious target for the media seeking a few words from the young keeper. David didn`t disappoint.

Speaking about his performance he had this to say,

"I just hope I`ve shown the gaffer today that I am capable of doing a job for him and given him something to think about."

Naturally David would like to see his run in the first team continue but with the more experienced Australian still around, David shows just how mad these keepers are implying that he`d like Mark Schwarzer to stay, commenting,

"I`ve played alongside Mark for two years and he`s improved my game no end."

"I`d rather he stayed but you hear the rumours about Arsenal and that`s not the sort of thing that comes along very often in you career."

A lot can happen in a week in football and with the Arsenal keeper looking far from as safe as houses at Anfield yesterday, Schwarzer (if a fee can be agreed) could well be history by the time our next fixture rolls around, a fixture against Manchester United next Sunday.

It`s a fixture Stockdale, as you would imagine, is looking forward to, even more so with his father-in-law being a staunch Leeds United supporter and looking forward to United being beaten again at Craven Cottage, on keeping the Old Trafford side at bay, David remarked,

"I`d fancy that if I was picked."

"Keeping Rooney out wouldn`t be an easy thing to do. He hasn`t scored for a while but you saw last season how good he is."

"I`m from Leeds and my father-in-law is a huge Leeds fan. He won`t talk to me if I let United win."

Looking into the crystal ball there`s a strong indication that Stockdale will be between the sticks next weekend and that we`ll be looking at a new goalkeeping era at Craven Cottage with a youngster between the posts.

It`ll make a nice change compared to all those veterans we`ve seen in recent years will it not?



Vital Fulham on:

Vital Fulham on:

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.