Sanchez on the Irish Connection!

With Fulham looking to get off to a bright start this season after the flirtation with relegation last season, the press conference held on Monday to present them to the media proved to be an interesting experience.

However, a few sentences from Lawrie Sanchez highlighted the thinking behind the signing of several of the new players.

Here`s what he had to say,

"I said the policy this summer would be to sign players who knew what English football was about."

"You don`t want somebody who has a language problem or needs to settle in."

"The Northern Ireland players I have signed - David Healy, Steven Davis, Aaron Hughes and Chris Baird - have been the cornerstones of what we did together at international level."

"Added to that we have Kamara, who has played at two other English clubs, and Konchesky, who played for England."

Clearly, Sanchez has gone into the managerial role with a defined plan. On paper it makes perfect sense, however, as one bright wag once told me, football isn`t played on paper, nevertheless, the first few weeks of the new season are certainly going to be interesting.

Here`s hoping Sanchez has called this one right.