Fulham confirmed yesterday afternoon that Mahamadou Diarra had signed a one-year contract with the club, extending his stay at Craven Cottage until next summer.

The Mali midfielder, who joined on a short-term deal as a free agent in January, impressed Martin Jol with some powerful performances towards the end of the campaign as he built up his match sharpness. He became a regular in the first-team having initially been used as a substitute and formed a fine partnership with Danny Murphy in midfield. The 30 year-old made eleven appearances, scoring in the 3-0 win over Bolton in April.

The former Real Madrid and Monaco midfielder has taken up the option of extending his contract until 2013 under the terms of the initial deal which brought him to Fulham.

We have reached that part of the season were Fulham will be linked to every single player in the country whether true or not. But this story is an interesting one because I am not aware of Fulham being interested in Jodan Rhodes before. The 22 year-old has been linked to number of clubs over the past year and with his outstanding goal scoring record this year it isn’t hard to see why! He has scored a total of 40 goals this season for his League One side Huddersfield and, according to the Mirror,  is set to join Fulham on a 3.5m deal after the League One play-off next week. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jol was to target a new striker this summer and Rhodes certainly fits the bill considering the guy is just 22. Itis whether he can make the transition from League One to PL. This video shows all of his goals in a 6-0 demolishion of Wycombe earlier this season. The pundits there give him alot of praise so have a watch!

Jordan Rhodes v Wycombe

Chris wrote a very detailed report on Fulham’s Under 18s winning the Premier League Academy title last weekend – and the club have now posted some highlights on the offal from the final against Blackburn Rovers:

Roy Hodgson’s appointment as England manager surprised the seasoned hacks. They’ve responded with a curious detachment to the new man, talking up Harry Redknapp and raising quizzical eyebrows at his first selection, which also happens to be the squad that will go to Poland and Ukraine for the summer’s European Championships.

In search of a big story since most sane people lambasted the News International tabloid’s attempts to mock the new man, the media have talked up the Terry-Ferdinand choice into a statement on race relations. It patently isn’t. Neither player is the defender they were two years ago and Ferdinand clearly hasn’t been the same since his untimely knee injury on the eve of the last World Cup. There is quite clearly a problem between the two – as Terry’s alleged comments to Anton Ferdinand have understandably left Rio more than perturbed – and I wouldn’t have taken either. Hodgson might have well left both behind had Chris Smalling’s groin not played up. But that would have left a young England back five without the kind of dominant centre back you need at a major championship. Just a matter of days ago, Sir Alex Ferguson publicly questioned Ferdinand’s ability to play two games in five days. Perhaps the Manchester United manager wants his experienced centre back ready for the new domestic campaign, but Fabio Capello gambled on Ledley King’s fitness in South Africa and lost. It isn’t a risk worth repeating.

The choices Hodgson has made remind us of his pragmatism. Glen Johnson is picked ahead of Micah Richards – largely for his offensive ability and the manager’s confidence in him. Hodgson isn’t the first England manager not to fancy Richards, who can be impetuous, and obviously knows Johnson well from his ill-fated time at Anfield. He’s also gone with Andy Carroll up front, which is understandable given his penchant for a big-man, little-man partnership. Carroll may be much-maligned but he’s young, raw and has the physical attributes to pose problems for the three nations England will face in the group stages. Hodgson’s also been sensible and opted for Jermain Defoe – always likely to grab a goal or two – and the exciting Danny Welbeck as additional options given that Wayne Rooney’s petulance against Montenegro means he’ll be missing for the first two games.

Criticism has surrounded a couple of Hodgson’s midfield picks. Stewart Downing has been slated on the back of a difficult season at Anfield, but it’s hard to find a Liverpool midfielder who emerges with credit from Kenny Dalglish’s first full season. Downing’s a genuine left-footer, a precious commodity for England coaches past and present, and has excelled for the national side over the last eighteen months. He’ll cover every blade of grass, can play on either side and, the inclusion of Carroll, makes Downing a sensible selection. James Milner’s versatility and work ethic – another must for Hodgson – makes him a certainty for me, even if he might not have been a regular as Manchester City’s title chase went down to the wire. Aaron Lennon’s exclusion has been highlighted by many but the recently fit-again Tottenham winger would drive Hodgson to distraction with his lack of tracking back.

Credit should go to Hodgson for introducing a couple of new faces. John Ruddy’s inclusion is fitting reward for a fine season at Norwich and his calmness when he made his Everton debut back in 2006 after Iain Turner was sent off for deliberate handball nine minutes in marked him out as a strong character. Hodgson’s choice of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is more than a mere gimmick. Theo Walcott in 2006 this isn’t – Oxlade-Chamberlain’s had an impressive second half of the season for Arsenal and a coach like Hodgson will demand that the youngster fulfils every ounce of his potential. The new manager should also be commended for offering the promising goalkeeper Jack Butland, underused by Birmingham and a potential long-term successor to Joe Hart, a stand-by place.

Hodgson’s squad selection has also confirmed what sane football watchers have been saying for the last few years. England aren’t world-beaters and shouldn’t expect to make the semi-finals of major tournaments by right. There are perhaps two world-class players in the squad, with one unavailable for the two games that will shape England’s destiny. He has, in his own quiet way, managed to lower expectations. One senior football correspondent described this squad as ‘average’. What the self-styled experts forget is that Hodgson has been getting the best out of average sides for years. He took Fulham to a European final, lifted West Brom away from the relegation zone to mid-table and had been making waves on the continent for years away from prying English eyes. I’m fascinated to see what he’ll achieve with England.

As the 2011/2012 season has drawn to a close for our beloved Fulham Football Club, here are the inaugural Hammyend End of Season Awards, known simply as The “Hammy’s”.

Signing of the season

There are several nominees for signing of the season; both Pavel Pogrebnyak and Mahammadou Diarra have excelled at times since their January (and February) arrivals. Pogrebnyak seamlessly replacing former England striker Bobby Zamora, and Diarra, who’s vast experience and quality has begun to really shine in central midfield alongside Danny Murphy and Moussa Dembele. For me though, the signing of the season is John Arne Riise, who joined from AS Roma last summer. Despite not scoring, the Norwegian has cemented the left back role as his own, whilst his marauding touchline runs have freed Clint Dempsey to have the run of the park without excessive concern for his flank.

Goal of the season

The first nominee is Pavel Pogrebnyak’s delightful rounding of Paddy Kenny against QPR from Moussa Dembele’s showboat backheeled through ball. Bryan Ruiz only scored two goals in his first season for Fulham, but they were both absolute peaches. The chip against Everton was good enough to have come out of Rory McIlroy’s golf bag, while the “scoop” goal against Bolton was technically sublime. Not being able to pick between the two Ruiz goals, my goal of the season is Clint Dempsey’s team goal, which crowned the 5-0 thrashing of Wolves. Capping a mesmeric twenty something pass move that any team would have been proud of, Clint smashed in a neat 16 yard finish following a one two with Mahammadou Diarra.

Bryan celebrates his goal against Everton

Match of the season

Was it winning in Liverpool for the first time ever? How about the 1-0 win away at Mark Hughes’ QPR? The 2-1 last minute win over Arsenal? No, the game of the season was undoubtedly the 6-0 demolition of Queens Park Rangers back in September. Welcome to the Premier League.

The Abdeslam Ouaddou Award for the Most Unpronounceable Name

Despite facing teams from the Faroe Islands, Ukraine, Croatia and Poland in our Europa League run, a few of the new faces at Craven Cottage have proved tricky for Diddy Hamilton and a fair few others to pronounce. From Pajtim (Pie-Tim) Kasami and Marcel Gecov (Getz-of) to Alex Kacaniklic (Catch-a-nik-lich) and Pavel Pogrebnyak (Pog-reb-knee-ak), it appears Martin Jol is intent on making commentators lives difficult. Pogrebnyak wins, purely for his ability to be mispronounced in the national spotlight.

The HammyEnd.com Award for best Fulham Fan Media

The past season has seen an upsurge in the number of intelligent, interesting and dedicated Fulham fan-based media. The increasing popularity of twitter has undoubtedly fueled this growth and enabled those that pre-existed to gain a wider reach. There is no specific winner here, but I’d like personally thank Dan Crawford, devoted editor of HammyEnd for encouraging contributions from an ever burgeoning range of writers. Other sites, like the excellent Craven Cottage Newsround and Fulham’s Finest have continued their stellar work. While finally, (and I may be biased here) Russ Goldman’s wonderful CottageTalk, a weekly online radio show / podcast, brings Fulham discussion to a wider audience, along with interviews with the likes of Aaron Hughes and Journalists such as the Press Association’s Simon Peach. If, like me, you have an insatiable desire for all things Fulham, now is very much a golden age.

The @Hammyend Award for Our Favourite Fulham Tweeter

The last season has seen an explosion in the popularity of Twitter as social media of choice for Fulham Football Club. We’ve had the immensely popular #fridayfulhamchallenge courtesy of the club itself including the naming of the @fulhamchickens. By my latest count, there are twelve first teamers currently active on twitter along with several wives. My nominees for Tweeter of the year are @sarahbrookes1, the ever informative and Rafa Nadal obsessed Fulham press officer, @Clint_Dempsey – #thatswhatsup, the irrepressible @WhiteNoise1879 and @joannataylormum, the popular other half to our beloved captain, Danny Murphy. Her constant willingness to interact positively with us fans, makes Joanna Murphy, my Fulham Tweeter of the Season.

Best Opposing Fans at Craven Cottage

Manchester United and Liverpool always bring loud, original and surprisingly polite away fans to Craven Cottage and this season was no different. Wigan deserve vast amounts of credit for staying loud all game, in particular the 15 minutes they sung “I’m a believer”, but for me, the loudest fans I have heard in some time, were those from Wisla Krakow. It felt as though every Polish person in London had descended on Fulham. I actually arrived at the game twenty minutes late and came through the Putney End turnstiles at the precise moment Andy Johnson opened the scoring, but such was the fervency of the Krakow support, I couldn’t tell who’d scored.

Best Opposing Player

This is a tough one to answer, and you’d think the drubbings at the hands of Manchester United and Swansea would give me the result. Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney among others picked us apart when the reigning champions came to town, while the midfield three of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Joe Allen and Leon Brittan played us off the park when we lost the Welsh outfit. However, it was Sergio Aguero, in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City who stood out for me. New to the English game, Aguero played sumblimely, just as he did that fateful evening in Hamburg two years ago.

The Gervasio Nunez Award For Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Refereeing decisions have come under the spotlight this past season, and we’ve suffered our fair share of misdemeanors. Nothing stands out for me, like the outrageous cheating displayed by Argentinean street urchin Gervasio Nunez, when, in Krakow, he got Moussa Dembele sent off for gently pushing his shoulder by diving around as if an anti aircraft gun had zeroed in on his nose. What’s more, in the reverse fixture he continued his antics. One particularly robust Dickson Etuhu challenge later and everyone was better off.

Kerim Frei tormenting Chelsea

Rookie of the Year

What a year for young talent at Craven Cottage. The investment in the Motspur Park academy is beginning to bear its fruits, and in Martin Jol, we finally have a manager who’s willing to give the youngsters a prolonged chance. All under 21, Neil Etheridge, Marcello Trotta, Pajtim Kasami, Matthew Briggs, Tom Donegan, Lauri Dalle Valle and Alex Kacaniklic have all seen first team action this season, with all but Briggs making their debuts. Rookie of the year honours have to go to Kerim Frei. The pintsized Swiss winger is as exciting a prospect as there is in the entire Premier League. From his debut against NSI Runavik, to his three Man of the Match appearances against Chelsea, Kerim has been a beacon of positive football whilst running at defenders along the left wing. He’s won two penalties, at Swansea and Chelsea, scored against Odense and enduced Johan Djourou into getting himself sent off. It may be a busy summer ahead for Kerim, who is tipped to make the 18-man Switzerland Olympic Squad.

Achievement of the Season

Congratulations to the Fulham Under-18s, who last Saturday became the Premier Academy League Champions. The final, played at Craven Cottage, saw the youngsters deservedly beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0. Manager Kit Symons has done a tremendous job, as has academy director Huw Jennings and all the backroom staff. We have now got to the final two years in a row, and can now call ourselves champions. A truly outstanding achievement that everyone involved with the club can be proud of.

Most Improved Player

Stephen Kelly, where have you been all my life? Originally fourth choice right back at the start of the season, injury to Zdenek Grygera, Chris Barid’s absence and Aaron Hughes’ preference for centre half eventually allowed Kelly the opportunity to grow into a very solid performer. Still not an attacking force, Kelly has matured into a remarkably consistent performer defensively, whilst improving offensively. He made himself first choice at right back and has been offered a new contract, albeit with the possibility of a new right back arriving and the return to fitness of Grygera.

Quote of the season

Something might be said for the translation when you hear your new centre forward proclaiming he can be “powerful and agile, like a beast”. However, this is exactly what our Ivan Drago lookalike, Pavel Porgebnyak, said to Russian Sports News Agency SovSport whilst awaiting his UK visa in Paris. A series of swashbuckling performances, including five goals from his first five shots on target, led us to soon forget about the sulky striker sent to Loftus Road on Transfer Deadline Day.

Who needs Zamora? When we've got The Pog.

Chant of the season

There was a defining moment of our season. January 31st saw Bobby Zamora, he of moody temper tantrums throughout the autumn, leave Fulham for pastures new, and Russian International, Pavel Pogrebnyak, join the Whites from VFB Stuttgart. Perfect then that on The Pog’s third appearance, he scored the winner in a 1-0 win over relegation candidates QPR at Loftus Road. Quite right that chant of the season is “Who needs Zamora, When We’ve Got The Pog”.

Ironman Award

Norway Captain, defensive rock, Viking, ironman…all apt and factual descriptions of Brede Hangeland. Not only did our behemoth of a centre back play every minute of every league game, he played in every other game bar one for the entire 54 match season. What’s more, his performances rarely wavered, despite several changes to his centre back partner.

Player of the season

There are really only two genuine candidates for player of the season, Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey. Especially since his move to central midfield on Boxing Day, Dembele has been especially superb. Albeit without goals (only two for the season), Moussa has been the creative spark behind our upturn in form over the second half of the season. His wonderful assist for Pavel Pogrebnyak’s goal at QPR is perhaps the standout moment, but his constant dribbling, successful passing and completed tackles have led Dembele to being well on his way to becoming an elite Premier League midfielder.

Clint Dempsey - Player of The Season

Player of the season though, should be awarded for play over the whole season. While Dembele was good throughout the first half, there is one man who has been truly outstanding across the entire term. Clint Dempsey this year passed Brian McBride to become Fulham’s all time leading Premier League goalscorer, and in doing so, passed 50 goals for Fulham and later 50 goals in the Premier League, all for FFC. Ending the year with 23 goals, 17 in the league, Clint finished in a remarkable fourth place in the Football Writers Player of the Year, and to be honest, was unlucky not to finish third ahead of Paul Scholes. It’s not just his goals that have cemented this award, but his play in general. Fearless and spirited, Clint can rarely be accused of lethargy, which for a man who’s barely had a summer off since his move to Craven Cottage five and a half years ago, is somewhat remarkable. He’s our longest serving player, and regardless of his employment tenure next season, Clint Dempsey is the rightful Fulham Player of the Season.

COYWs

On the day that Bolton Wanderers were relegated alongside Blackburn Rovers, the other side to be promoted to the top flight in 2000/01 had a carefree afternoon at White Hart Lane in front of them. Much of the credit for Fulham’s comfortable canter to the season’s finishing line had to go the returning Martin Jol, harshly sacked at Tottenham, who had inspired Champions’ League-qualifying form from a team troubled by relegation at the turn of the year at just the same time as Spurs’ push for the top four seemed to faltering.

Jol was given a rapturous reception by the Tottenham fans as he came out of the White Hart Lane tunnel for the first time since his undignified sacking, but Fulham didn’t really trouble their hosts until it was far too late this afternoon. Tottenham, who face an anxious to see whether they will make the Champions’ League as their qualification could be thrown into jeopardy should Chelsea win this year’s final in Munich on Saturday, were on easy street inside ninety minutes. Some careless defending from Stephen Kelly, who has had a superb season at right back, allowed Emmanuel Adebayor to pick up possession on the left wing and the former Arsenal striker, linked to a reunion with Thierry Henry in New York during the week, played a lovely one-two with Rafael van der Vaart before firing the return ball past Mark Schwarzer.

The home side were rampant. Schwarzer scampered from his line to make a vital save from Gareth Bale, who had motored forward from left back, and with news filtering through of West Brom coming from a goal down to lead Arsenal, the volume increased amongst the home fans. Somehow van der Vaart spurned a simple chance from close range after an expert Adebayor cut-back and Brad Friedel, the difference – along with Kyle Walker’s goalkeeping – when these two sides met at Craven Cottage, had to make two fine saves before the break to deny John Arne Riise and Moussa Dembele. Riise, will have to wait a fair few months for his first Fulham goal, despite running nearly fifty yards and unleashing a thunderbolt from his left foot.

Kyle Walker, who had injured a toe against Bolton, succumbed to the pain early in the second half and returned to the home bench on crutches – news that will worry Roy Hodgson, who will name the England squad for Euro 2012 on Wednesday. Spurs might have increased their lead but for some inept finishing: first Sandro inexplicably headed straight at Schwarzer when he met Aaron Lennon’s inviting cross from five yards and then Adebayor fired far too close to the Australian goalkeeper when one-on-one. They could have been punished for their profligacy when Dembele wriggled his way past a couple of challenges and hit the post from 22 yards.

Harry Redknapp sent on Jermain Defoe for the fading van der Vaart in response and it paid dividends. Lennon horribly miscued a shot but the ball deflected to the substitute, who underlined his worth to both club and country, with by scoring with his first touch from eight yards. A combination of Arsenal’s resilience and the careless goalkeeping of Marton Fulop mean that any celebrations after finishing four are very much on hold until Chelsea meet Bayern Munich next weekend. Fulham’s best football came in the last twenty minutes, but Friedel turned a Duff shot onto the post before saving superbly from Demebele, to preserve a clean sheet.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-2-3-1): Friedel; Walker (Nelsen 50), Bale, Kaboul (A. Smith 76), Gallas; Sandro, Livermore; Lennon, Modric, van der Vaart (Defoe 60); Adebayor. Subs (not used): Cudicini, Giovani, Kane, Saha.

GOALS: Adebayor (2), Defoe (63).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer; Kelly, J.A. Riise, Hughes, Hangeland; Diarra, Murphy (Kasami 67); Duff, Frei, Dembele; Pogrebnyak. Subs (not used): Stockdale, Briggs, Senderos, Gecov, Trotta, Sa.

BOOKED: Hangeland, Murphy.

REFEREE: Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent).

ATTENDANCE: 36,256.

Don’t be fooled. This afternoon’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur has plenty riding on it. The hosts will want to end their worrying end-of-season wobble and clinch a precious Champions’ League spot. Harry Redknapp will want to recover from the obvious shock of being overlooked for the England job by proving he can still do the business at the top level of domestic football. Fulham have a fair bit to play for too. Martin Jol must still be hurting from his cruel dismissal by Daniel Levy and his side have recorded top four form of their own since the turn of the year. Victory at White Hart Lane, something the Whites haven’t managed since 2003, could match the club’s highest-ever Premier League finish of seventh and help amass Fulham’s best ever top flight points total.

It would also ensure that the regulars down at Craven Cottage end a transitional end on a real high. Plenty of doubts abounded about Jol when he came in and promptly dismantled a settled central defensiveness partnership and loosened some of the shackles applied by Roy Hodgson. Regimented discipline was out, a very continental freedom of expression was ushered in. The likes of Moussa Dembele, given freedom to roam from midfield, and Clint Dempsey, who will miss out on the chance to cap a truly exceptional season with another goal due to injury, have flourished. Alistair Mackintosh’s most pressing job will be – together with Jol – to convince the dangerous duo that should remain at Fulham.

Younger talents have prospered as well. The emergence of Kerim Frei, with his boundless energy and unstoppable dribbling, and Alex Kacaniklic’s promotion to the first-team after a successful loan spell with Watford together with the undoubted potential of Matthew Briggs hint at some young promise prepared to mark its mark at the highest level. We might well see a bit more of them today. Jol’s freshening up of a side that sometimes seemed tired and one-paced is ever so welcome. Mixed in with the experience of Schwarzer, Hughes, Hangeland, Senderos (who for all the barbs has enjoyed an excellent fine full first-season in the side), Riise, Murphy and Duff it suggests there are exciting times ahead, especially if Fulham can conclude a permanent deal for the potent Pavel Pogrebnyak.

The chances of recording another away win to rival the recent victory at Liverpool must be slim, however. Spurs, with Aaron Lennon restored to full fitness and Luka Modric pulling the strings for the likes of Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart, have looked irresistible going forward at times this season. The chances of Emmanuel Adebayor signing off with a winner, Jermain Defoe firing a timely reminder to Hodgson or Louis Saha breaking Fulham hearts yet again must be high. Gaining something approach parity in midfield will be crucial and, for that, Jol will once again look to Danny Murphy, still the fulcrum of the Fulham midfield and unquestionably eager to prove a point against one of his old sides this afternoon.

Jol will receive a rapturous reception from the Spurs fans who remember just how close he got them to the Champions’ League. Many have said they’d welcome him back with open arms. But their shouldn’t be any scepticism about how well the Dutch coach has done at Fulham now. The side might have teetered a little close to the drop zone earlier in the campaign – and the memory of that agonising exit from the Europa League will take some time to fade – but there can be no doubt that his charges are heading in the right direct. Win, lose or draw this afternoon, Fulham will once again finish in the top half of the table – and Jol will have realistic ambitions of guiding them a little higher come August.

MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer; Kelly, J.A. Riise, Hughes, Hangeland; Diarra, Murphy; Kacaniklic, Frei, Dembele; Pogrebnyak. Subs: Stockdale, Baird, Senderos, Kasami, Duff, Trotta, Sa.

For the second year in a row, Fulham hosted the Premeir Academy League Final at Craven Cottage. Last year’s group of talented youngsters that lost to Everton included Kerim Frei and Marcello Trotta, now of the First Team, and current skipper Ronnie Minkwitz, amongst others.

Having been unable to make it last year, with my father, I went along to Craven Cottage to watch this year’s final. Fulham were up against a strong Blackburn Rovers side, which had topped the likes of Liverpool and both Manchester clubs to win the Academy League Group C.

As fans of the First XI, the chance to go and watch this talented crop of youngsters was too good to pass up. By charging just £3 for entry, there was a good turnout, with somewhere around 1500 people attending the game. Credit to, for Danny Murphy, who had led the entire First Team Squad in requesting their morning training session be concluded in enough time for them to take their seats in the directors box at Craven Cottage to lend their support.

Motspur Park is fast becoming a production line for good young footballers. There have been six academy debuts in the First Team this season (Frei, Trotta, Etheridge, Kacaniklic, Donegan and Dalle Valle) and with Martin Jol’s stated desire to lower the average age of the squad, more can be expected next season. So, with our amateur scouting hats on, we sat down to watch what was a very entertaining match.

Fulham lined up playing 4-3-3, or rather, the 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 hybrid that has been adopted by the first team in recent weeks, with 3 central midfielders and two wide men, who can both sit back as midfielders, and attack as auxiliary forwards depending on the situation. It is intrinsic in successful clubs, that the youth teams play the same formation and football as the senior team. Whilst not quite the tika-taka football that Barcelona teach at their famous La Masia academy, manager Kit Symons has his team playing attractive fast-paced passing football that does not sit out of place with Martin Jol’s overall vision for the club.

Both teams started brightly, with highly touted £500,000 January signing, Ryan Williams, miskicking Fulham’s best early chance from twelve yards out. The lively Hugo Fernandez had the best of the early chances for Blackburn, but consistently failed to test Connor Roberts in the Fulham goal. Roberts incidentally was on the bench for Everton in last season’s final.

An all-international midfield of German, Ronnie Minkwitz, Dane, Lasse Vigen Christiansen and Israeli, Omri Altman, all looked very comfortable of the ball. Minkwitz, skipper of the team, played the Danny Murphy role at the centre of the three, linking play in an almost metronomic manner. Christiansen, playing in the Mahammadou Diarra role, played short and long passes in an intelligent and equal measure. While it was the exciting talent of Altman, playing the Moussa Dembele role of creative midfielder, who looked the most comfortable with the ball at his feet. Indeed, were it not for a good last ditch block, Altman would have scored in the second half.

Following their relegation to the Championship, Blackburn are likely to be considering several of their Under-18s for senior action sooner rather than later. In striker Curtis Haley and midfielder Raheem Hanley, they have two players to keep an eye out for. It was a mark of the fine job done by Fulham’s defence though, that these two and the ever-lively Fernandez were consistently kept at bay.

Another January signing, Jack Grimmer, fresh from first team action with Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League, marshalled the defensive line with the experience of a wily veteran. His loud Scottish twang was audible in the stands as he constantly barked orders to right back Alex Brister. Josh Pritchard, playing centre back in the absence of injured Josh Passley, displayed some excellent passing range perhaps indicative of his usual positioning as a right back or midfielder. Irish left back Sean Kavanagh, one of the technically superior players on display, came the closest to opening the scoring in the first half, his deflected free kick ricocheting back of the outside of the post.

Kavanagh hits the post

As the first half expired, left-winger, Buomesca Tue Na Banga, or “Mesca” as he is known, flashed a shot inches wide. It was then he, and right-winger Williams, along with centre forward Cauley Woodrow, who set about making the difference in the second half. Woodrow, who’s blond hair and intelligent combative style reminds you of a Pavel Pogrebnyak, looks a fine prospect. When watching young players, work ethic, technique and footballing intelligence are all good indicators of future success, and Woodrow has all three. It was no surprise then, that it was he who opened the scoring after an hour, latching onto a superb low cross from Mesca.

As the match wore on, Mesca and Williams swapped flanks and continued to exude confidence and class, whilst possessing an unflappable willingness to run at defenders. It doesn’t matter at what level you’re playing, fast, direct running will always scare defenders. Just look at the impact Kerim Frei has had on international players like Johan Djourou and Branislav Ivanovic this season.

Mesca has lightning strapped to his boots, his pace only slightly let down by a need to improve final ball quality. Williams on the other hand looks more polished. A traditional right-winger, he has both the pace and the technical ability to deliver a cross and pass, that alone, will make him a valuable commodity going forward.

Celebrating William's goal

It was Williams, from a delightful Mesca run and cross, that showed the composure to tap home the decisive second goal ten minutes from time. Another Australian, Corey Gameiro, then replaced Woodrow, and was almost immediately rewarded with a goal; only a goal line clearance from Blackburn captain Ryan Edwards denied him.

In the closing stages, Blackburn had midfielder John O’Sullivan sent off for a second bookable offense. A shame as O’Sullivan had been one of the few Blackburn players to stay committed to the end, when others heads had dropped. Indeed, Raheem Hanley was then lucky not to pick up his own second yellow card for a foul worse than O’Sullivan’s, but by then, referee Mr Nunn perhaps felt sympathy for the Northerners, who, having lost the FA Youth Cup Final to Chelsea on Wednesday, had endured a torrid week.

As the last few minutes elapsed, Fulham kept the ball, passing well and frustrating the forlorn visitors. Fulham were champions. The final whistle blew and it became official, Fulham were the best Under-18 side in the country and a trophy was coming to the Craven Cottage cabinet.

Jack Grimmer was the first to receive his medal, smiles beaming from nearly everyone inside the stadium. Nobody wore their smile with more pride than Minkwitz; leading your men to victory is the dream, and for Ronnie, it was one that had come to reality.

Champions

To see Fulham lift a trophy is something that we all dream of. When you consider the teams entering the Premier Academy League, and the value clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea, who we beat along the way, place in their youth development systems, this triumph really is one we should be proud of.

When watching youth football, it is normally the case that one or two players stick out from the crowd as being a cut above and ready for the next step. It is a mark of the job that Kit Symons has done, that one to eleven all looked impressive, both as individuals and as a team.

That being said, there are several members of this team that can expect to receive promotion come pre-season and into next year. Despite being perhaps the hardest position to emerge in as a youngster in a man’s game, central midfielder Minkwitz looks set to have a good future and learning off Danny Murphy will do him no harm. The same for Woodrow, who I’d send to Russian lessons once a week in order for him to learn directly from Pogrebnyak on the art of leading a forward line.

Wingers Mesca and Willams are both impressive, with Mesca even being handed a squad number this season. Of the two though, I’d wager Williams will be seen first. With Frei and Alex Kacaniklic both playing on the left, Mesca will need to improve his delivery to make serious inroads.

The player that I’d promote first though, is Jack Grimmer. At centre half he belied his age. He is listed as a midfielder and reminds me of Chris Baird. The ability to learn off the likes of Baird, Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland will undoubtedly lead to good things for the Scot, who will one day surely go on to represent his nation’s senior team.

Having picked out those five players, I am not serving to refuse promotion to the others. Altman and Christiansen in particular already have quality in abundance. Given the appropriate seasoning and experience, they will one day be lead to senior professional football, I hope, at Fulham.

Yesterday was a proud day for everyone at Fulham Football Club, and special mention to Fulham Deaf FC who also won their league. With several academy products likely to be involved at White Hart Lane this afternoon in the final Premeir League match of the season, the future is most definitely White.

COYWs

Fulham Team: 1. Roberts, 2. Brister, 3. Kavanagh, 4. Christensen (15. Sambou 87 mins), 5. Grimmer, 6. Pritchard, 7. Williams (14. Banya 89 mins), 8. Minkwitz (c), 9. Woodrow (17. Gameiro 82 mins), 10. Altman, 11. Na Bangna
Subs: 14. Banya, 15. Sambou, 16. Tankovic, 17. Gameiro, 18. O’Reilly
Blackburn Team: 1. Dilo, 2. Wylie, 3. Beesley, 4. Hanley, 5. Edwards (c), 6. O’Connell, 7. Cotton (14. Cham 69 mins), 8. Lennahan (15. Boland 45 mins), 9. Haley, 10. O’Sullivan, 11. Fernandez (12. Payne 82 mins)
Subs: 12. Payne, 13. Urwin, 14. Cham, 15. Boland, 16. Mason

Thinking Inside the Box by Louis Saha
Vision Sports Publishing (272 pages), £14.99

Louis Saha loves scoring against Fulham. He’s done many times for Manchester United, Everton and he might sign off at White Hart Lane with the winner in our last game of the season for Tottenham this afternoon. Of course, the elegant French forward used to love putting the ball in the net at Craven Cottage too. It was under the tutelage of Jean Tigana, Christian Damiano and Roger Propos that Saha finally fulfilled the potential most of France had heard about since he shone as an eye-catching youngster at Clarefontaine  - shooting Fulham to the promised land of the Premier League, with 32 goals in a fine season, and topping the top flight scoring charts in 2003-04 before leaving for Old Trafford under something of cloud when Manchester United came calling.

Saha’s ill-advised comments as he sought a move that undoubtedly benefited his career might still rankle with a section of Fulham’s supporters, but reading through his memoir, initially released in France last summer and critically lauded for its honest appraisal of race relations (which is in now vogue following the Front Nationale’s strong showing in this month’s Presidential elections), you can’t help but admire him. The striker admits that he had written around 150 pages before realising that he wanted to write a different autobiography from the type footballers usually publish. He decided to turn journalist, interviewing his compatriots, fellow players and managers, to give the fans an unseen insight into the life of a professional footballer. The result is a compelling read that strays far from the pitch and touches on the frustrations of both an injury-ravaged player and a man who has a lot to say.

Saha’s interviews elicit empathy for Patrice Evra, the Manchester United full-back provides the book’s foreword, who cuts a forlorn figure on a Italian platform as tries to get to Sicily to join his new club, and almost gives up before being offered support and shelter by a stranger from Senegal. There is a revealing one-on-interview with Sir Alex Ferguson, which follows a painful chapter as Saha reveals the agony behind his failure to be passed fit for the 2006 Champions’ League final, and a chapter written by his wife Aurélie, on how she came to London at nineteen, life as a football’s spouse and the women ‘wannabes’ who get so much press attention. Saha compares the spirit of 1998, when France won their own World Cup to the dismay of 2010, with his own frustrations about missing the 2006 final sandwiched in between.

Saha’s searing honesty is in sharp contest to the guarded memoirs released by his fellow players while they are still picking up their pay cheques. English professionals, like many of the squad that have been to the last few major tournaments, have ‘written’ autobiographies that stick rigidly to what happened on the pitch, decrying a few managers, and passing on the tamest of anecdotes from their team-mates, knowing that they still need to forge a career. Saha talks candidly about his life and profession, writing revealingly about the moment when he nearly lost it all, setting aside what has previously described as ‘the Professional Sportsman’s Personal Sacrifice contract’ and foolishly riding a motorbike prior to Fulham’s first Premier League home game against Sunderland in August 2001:

She was sleek and black with knobbly bits here and there. She was oh, so sophisticated. I loved her charm, her feline shape and sassy ass which made my jaw drop. Once I’d seen her in the magazines she was always on my mind. For months I waited, eager to devour her as a wolf waits for a sheep to stray from its flock. Did I own up to my obsession? Of course I said nothing to my family; especially not my father as he is so serious and wouldn’t have understood. I told my girlfriend and our conversation was electrified. I felt small but gave in to temptation. When I removed the packaging, I let out a little whimper. I was not licensed to drive my beautiful KTM Duke and had less experience with motorbikes than an eight-year-old. I remember how I rode her with a great big smile on my face; my dreads whipped by the wind as I went no more than 20 or 30 miles an hour. What a loser!

It was, Saha admits, ‘a lesson in temptation’. And he learnt quickly as his friends Manu and the former Arsenal and French international forward, Sylvain Wiltord, accompanied his now-wife to A&E to watch the NHS surgeons surgeons try and patch up Fulham’s star man, who had bagged a brace at Old Trafford, only days earlier. Somehow Saha managed to score the crucial second as Tigana’s side picked up their first Premier League points, but it was a little too close for comfort.

Now 33, Saha gives little indication that’s he ready for the pipe and slippers of retirement. His form since joining Tottenham on loan in January – he’s scored four crucial goals and created plenty more – arguably should have persuaded Laurent Blanc to take him to Poland and Ukraine, but it’ll certainly ensure that there will be plenty of suitors should David Moyes not decide to extend his contract at Everton beyond the summer. There are plenty of Fulham fans – myself included – who feel he’d be the perfect foil for the potent Pavel Pogrebnyak, especially if Saha – who sighs as he says ‘I’ve nearly been great’ – still has a point to prove.

Great, like legend, is a word overused in modern sport. Saha’s been most impressive as a man, unfailing polite and friendly, as well as articulate and confident in discussing France at the crossroads with Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight last week. In a book I’d recommend you all read, he shares his pride at his nine year-old son correcting his English. Even if the title’s a play on his predatory instincts inside the penalty area, long may ‘King’ Louis continue thinking outside the box. It’s very refreshing.

Congratulations to the Fulham Under 18s, who this afternoon won the Premier Academy League with a 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Craven Cottage.

A full match report will appear on HammyEnd in due course, but in the meantime, here are some photos I took at the match.

COYWs

The teams walk out in front of the Johnny Haynes Stand's roof redevelopment

Pre-match huddle

O'Connell is booked for a foul on Ryan Williams

Captain Ronnie Minkwitz

The excellent Jack Grimmer

Sean Kavanagh's free kick hits the post

Manager Kit Symons

Celebrating Cauley Woodrow's opener

Ryan Williams, Cauley Woodrow and Mesca celebrate the first goal

Celebrating Ryan Williams' goal

O'Sullivan after being sent off

Full time

Champions

Champions

Post match interview for the skipper

Fulham striker Pavel Pogrebnyak has been named in Russia’s preliminary 26-man squad for the European Championships.

Russian coach Dick Advocaat included the 28 year-old forward who has scored six goals in eleven games since joining the Whites on a short-term deal from VfB Stuttgart at the end of January. Fulham are hoping that a deal to keep Pogrebnyak, who recently tipped his club manager Martin Jol as a potential successor for the unpredictable Advocaat, at Craven Cottage can be concluded by tomorrow. He will be keen to do make up for lost time in Poland and Ukraine, having missed the Euro 2008 finals – where Russia reached the last four – through injury.

Advocaat has sprung some surprises in this announcement – dropping former Everton midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Zenit St Petersburg winger Vladimir Bystrov, who excelled under Guus Hiddink at Euro 2008. Advoocat, who will leave the national team post to take over at PSV Eindhoven after the tournament, included uncapped pair Magomed Ozdoyev and Vladimir Granat in his squad, which must be trimmed to 23 players by the end of May. The Russians start their championships against the Czech Republic in Warsaw on June 8, before playing Poland and Greece in Warsaw.

Advocaat’s squad will come together for a pre-Euro 2012 training camp next Sunderland and play three friendlies against Uruguay in Moscow on 25 May in Moscow, Lithuania in Nyon four days later and Italy in Zurich on June 1st.

RUSSIAN PRELIMINARY SQUAD FOR EURO 2012

Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (PFC CSKA Moskva), Vyacheslav Malafeev (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Anton Shunin (FC Dinamo Moskva).

Defenders: Aleksandr Anyukov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Aleksei Berezutski (PFC CSKA Moskva), Vasili Berezutski (PFC CSKA Moskva), Sergei Ignashevich (PFC CSKA Moskva), Vladimir Granat (FC Dinamo Moskva), Yuri Zhirkov (FC Anzhi Makhachkala), Dmitri Kombarov (FC Spartak Moskva), Roman Sharonov (FC Rubin Kazan), Roman Shishkin (FC Lokomotiv Moskva).

Midfielders: Igor Denisov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Konstantin Zyryanov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Shirokov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Denis Glushakov (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Magomed Ozdoev (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Igor Semshov (FC Dinamo Moskva), Marat Izmailov (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Alan Dzagoev (PFC CSKA Moskva).

Forwards: Andrey Arshavin (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Aleksandr Kerzhakov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Artem Dzyuba (FC Spartak Moskva), Aleksandr Kokorin (FC Dinamo Moskva), Roman Pavlyuchenko (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Fulham FC).

Martin Jol is considering offering Zdenek Grygera a new contract – but wants the Czech defender to get back to full fitness before making a final decisionabout his Fulham future.

The 31 year-old enjoyed a great start to his Craven Cottage career after joining from Juventus on a free transfer towards the end of the summer transfer window, but his season ended early when he ruptured cruciate knee ligaments against Tottenham in November. Having only signed a short-term contract until the end of the season, the versatile defender’s future is up in the air – although Jol admits he feels the club should help him return to fitness before deciding whether to extend his contract.

I feel we owe it to him to keep him here and get him fit, and then we can make a decision, or he can if he has other offers.

The main thing for him is to get fit. That won’t be until the middle of July and then we can make a decision. He did well from the first match, which is very unusual [for a player new to English football].

I was very happy with him. He can play left-back, right-back or centre-back, but it’s not a minor injury. It isn’t easy to come back to full fitness if you’re that age.

Martin Jol has insisted that neither Moussa Dembele nor Clint Dempsey are available for transfer and that Fulham have not received an offer for either player.

The two midfielders have had excellent seasons at Craven Cottage, with Dempsey leading the club’s scoring charts with a 23-goal return and Dembele having been superb since he reverted to a deeper midfield role, and media speculation has linked them with a move away from Craven Cottage as they both have only a year to run on their current contracts. Jol, however, reiterated that the club has no interest in selling their best players and he wants to strengthen Fulham’s squad during the close-season.

There are no clubs who have come in for bids. Even if they put a bid in they are not for sale. Of course you worry because I want to keep my best players. If we can do that and add two or three, we could have a very good squad. I feel they still will be here.

Cynics will recall that Jol also told journalists that Bobby Zamora wasn’t for sale either.

Clint Dempsey and Dickson Etuhu will miss Tottenham trip through injury

Clint Dempsey and Dickson Etuhu will miss Fulham’s final game of the season at Tottenham on Sunday through injury.

Manager Martin Jol confirmed during yesterday’s pre-match press conference that Fulham’s top scorer has been ruled out of season-ending London derby through injury. The American midfielder has scored 23 goals during a remarkably potent campaign and the media have already written up his absence as confirming that Dempsey will be leaving Craven Cottage in the summer:

Clint is injured so he won’t play on Sunday. He’s got a problem with his left abductor so he won’t be involved.

Fulham will also be without Etuhu, another player rumoured to perhaps be on his way come the summer, after he injured his knee during training. Swedish winger Alex Kacaniklic, who has such an impressive second half of the season since returning from his loan spell at Watford, will have a late fitness test after being withdrawn from Friday’s training session as a precaution after complaining about a hamstring strain.

Marcello Trotta and Alex Smith secured the goals that ensured Fulham’s reserves finished the season in second place after they won 2-1 at West Bromwich Albion this afternoon.

The Italian teenage striker, who enjoyed a fine spell on loan at Wycombe earlier in the campaign, has been a prolific scorer for the second string this year. He put Fulham ahead with his sixth goal in a red-hot three-match scoring streak and, although did briefly bring the Baggies level, full-back Alex Smith restored Fulham’s lead in 39th minute.

The reserves finished three points ahead the southern section winners Aston Villa after an impressive closing run of seven games without defeat.

The club have confirmed that the Premier Academy Under 18 League Final between Fulham and Blackburn Rovers will take place at Craven Cottage this Saturday, kicking off at 2pm.

The Whites, who won the Group A title for the second successive season, booked their place in this year’s final with a 2-1 win over Leicester City at Motspur Park last weekend. Kit Symons’ side now face Rovers, who beat Newcastle 2-0 in the other semi-final on Saturday.

Fulham’s youngsters will looking to end another excellent campaign in style and we’d encourage those of you in need of your football fix to head down to the Cottage on Saturday. Tickets are priced at £3 for adults and £1 for concessions (those aged under 16 and over 65).

Martin Jol’s post-match interview with Sarah Brookes took place on the pitch at the Putney End on Sunday and the accompanying video captures the post-match lap of honour after the final home game of another exceptional season:

Herenveen wingers Narsingh and Aissaidi are reportedly on the verge of a £10m move to Fulham

This morning’s newspapers suggest that Fulham are about to conclude a £10m deal to sign Herenveen’s exciting wingers Luciano Narsingh and Oussama Assaidi, who are both poised to sign five-year contracts with the Premier League club.

The Eredivisie side, who turned down several serious approaches from teams both in Holland and abroad for the pair during the January transfer window, have been forced to sell their two stars after both players confirmed that they wouldn’t be extending their contracts at Herenveen. With their deals due to expire next summer, Narsingh and Assaidi have generated great interest from across Europe.

Ajax are believed to be very keen on signing Narsingh, a Dutch under-21 international, who came up through their youth academy. According to reports in the Dutch press, Ajax are hoping to talk to Mino Raiola – the young winger’s agent next week – although a British tabloid claims that a deal to bring the versatile and pacey wide man to London is already in place. Narsingh, who was handed a first call-up to the Dutch senior squad by national team coach Bert van Marwijk for the February friendly against England at Wembley, scored twelve goals and made 22 more in 44 appearances for Herenveen this season. He is expected to be part of van Marwijk’s Euro 2012 squad even though he has yet to make his debut for the senior side.

Martin Jol has also moved quickly to finalise a deal to sign Narsingh’s Herenveen team-mate Assaidi, a Moroccan international who has had a big impact since joining the club from De Graafschap on the final day of the August 2009 transfer window. The 23 year-old left winger, who can also play up front, really shone in his first full season in the Eredivisie, scoring ten goals and adding fourteen assists, under new coach Ron Jans, whose influence is credited with ensuring that Assaidi rebuffed an approach from PSV Eindhoven. Aissadi scored ten goals in 23 league appearances this season as Herenveen finished fifth, just a point off qualifying for European football.

What these moves – should they go through – would mean for the Fulham future of Damien Duff as well as the first team chances of Kerim Frei and Alex Kacaniklic, so impressive in the second half of this campaign, remains to be seen.

Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy has laughed off speculation linking him with a shock international return as part of the England squad that travels to Poland and the Ukraine for this summer’s European Championships.

Some pundits have suggested that, after Muphy and new England boss Roy Hodgson had worked so closely together during the latter’s time at Craven Cottage, that the Fulham captain might replace one of the previous star names, although Murphy himself wasn’t having any of it.

I have not thought about that for a long time. My only thought when I heard he got the job was pleasure for him. I know what a gentleman he is and what a knowledgeable man he is and the players will certainly go into the Euros knowing what he wants from them. They will be well organised.

Ray (Lewington) is a terrific coach as well and together they – them two and Mike Kelly – turned Fulham into nearly a Europa League-winning team. He will do his country proud. I think he is a terrific coach, an absolute gentleman and I am really pleased for him.

Fulham pair Stephen Kelly and Damien Duff have been named in the Republic of Ireland squad for this summer’s European Championship finals in Ukraine and Poland.

The call-ups by Giovanni Trapattoni, although not entirely unexpected, are a fitting reward for the duo’s energetic end to the domestic campaign. Kelly and Duff have dovetailed down the Fulham successfully since the former Newcastle winger made his return to the starting line-up in March. Kelly has had a terrific season, usurping Chris Baird as Jol’s first choice at right back after the cruciate injury suffered by Zdenek Grygera, and only last week was offered a new contract in recognition of his outstanding performances.

Kelly could well be a key member of the Irish defence at the tournament, where the Irish are drawn against Croatia, Spain and Trapattoni’s native Italy in Group C. Duff might face combination from his opposite number at Craven Cottage yesterday afternoon – the Sunderland teenager winger James McClean, who has been in sensational form since being handed an opportunity to impress new Stadium of Light boss Martin O’Neill.

The big story from today’s announcement is that the omission of Wigan midfielder James McCarthy, who asked to be left out as his father is currently battling cancer.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD – GOALKEEPERS: Shay Given (Aston Villa), Keiren Westwood (Sunderland), David Forde (Millwall).

DEFENDERS: John O’Shea (Sunderland), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Sean St Ledger (Leicester City), Darren O’Dea (Celtic), Stephen Kelly (Fulham), Kevin Foley (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

MIDFIELDERS: Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Keith Andrews (West Bromwich Albion), Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moskva), Darron Gibson (Everton), Keith Fahey (Birmingham City), Damien Duff (Fulham), Stephen Hunt (Wolverhampton Wanderers), James McClean (Sunderland).

STRIKERS: Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Shane Long (West Bromwich Albion), Jonathan Walters (Stoke City), Simon Cox (West Bromwich Albion).