Fulham FC heavy with Americans

By Luis Arroyave

Chicago Tribune

May 11, 2008

Fulham FC - America's team?

Probably not. When it comes to Premier League clubs, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have a significantly bigger following in the United States.

But with Fulham boasting an unheard of five Americans on its roster - captain and Arlington Heights native Brian McBride, former Fire defender Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, Kasey Keller and Eddie Johnson - the West London club now has a strong following among U.S. soccer fans.

On Sunday, soccer fans across the United States will be pulling hard for the club often referred to as 'Fulhamerica.' Fulham heads into the last day of the season 17th in the standings out of 20 clubs and can avoid relegation with a victory at Portsmouth. Losses or draws by both Reading and Birmingham also would keep Fulham in the Premier League next season.

Fulham is tied with Reading on points but owns the goal differential tiebreaker. Birmingham is one point behind both clubs. If Fulham loses and Reading or Birmingham wins, Fulham would finish in the bottom three and would be relegated next season to the Championship - England's second division.

Many have wondered whether the 35-year-old McBride would stay if the club is relegated to the Championship. Fire technical director Frank Klopas and former Fire coach Dave Sarachan both have said McBride wants to play for the Fire one day. There also were questions about Dempsey's future, but Fulham's leading goal-scorer has shown he belongs in the world's top leagues.

A few weeks ago, Fulham seemed destined for relegation. But with a 2-0 victory May 3 over Birmingham, Fulham moved out of the drop zone for the first time in more than four months and into the driver's seat.

'The manager has kept us focused and we went about our business in the same way,' McBride told fulhamfc.com. 'We focus on the game itself and not worry about the position because going into a game you can't be worrying about where you're at.'

'As you can expect, the atmosphere in the dressing room was very good after the [Birmingham] game, but we're not under any thoughts this is over. We still have a job to do and it's going to be a tough one.'

Title on line Sunday Manchester United and Chelsea both have 84 points heading into Sunday. Manchester United has the better goal differential and can win its second straight title with a victory over Wigan or a Chelsea draw or loss to Bolton. Chelsea would win its third Premier League title in four years with a victory and a Man U draw or loss.

No practice, no play When asked why he did not dress for Thursday's game against D.C. United, Fire defender Wilman Conde responded, '[Coach Denis Hamlett] told me I missed too many practices. He wanted to give someone who had been at practice an opportunity.'

Conde said he missed four days of practice with a stomach virus but did play in the reserve game Friday. After asking to be traded to New York in the off-season, Conde has spent much of the season on the bench.

'They told me they wouldn't let me go because I was one of the best players on the team,' Conde said. 'If things keeping going the way they have been ... they have no excuse to keep me. ... I didn't leave my family in Colombia to sit on the bench.'

The Fire has the best record in the league and is off to the best start in franchise history. The defense has allowed only three goals in seven games. Hamlett insists Conde is not starting because his current lineup has been doing so well.

Corner kicks According to the Fire, 'about 7,000' tickets have been sold for its exhibition May 21 against Poland's Wisla Krakow. The Fire also said 'about 5,000' tickets have been sold for the May 31 game against Poland's Jagiellonia Bialystok. Both friendlies will take place at Toyota Park.

larroyave@tribune.com

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