Kasey Keller was pretty rubbish for Fulham towards the end of the season, despite the Cottagers staying in the Premier League after a last-day victory at Portsmouth. It was clear that the American was only a temporary number one, and The Guardian report that Roy Hodgson has pounced for Mark Schwarzer to guard the Fulham goal next season.
The Aussie keeper has spent the bulk of his career at Middlesbrough, winning a Carling Cup winner’s medal with the club in 2004 and generally being pretty reliable as far as catching crosses and shot-stopping is concerned. However, despite the overtures from Germany and Italy, it’s clear that west London was the unanimous winner.
“I felt the time was right for me to move on, ” said the 35-year-old Australian international. “Although I had other offers from some great clubs throughout Europe, it didn’t take long to make a decision about joining Fulham. I don’t think anyone can say anything negative about my stay at Middlesbrough, I fulfilled every contract I had with them.”
He’ll feel at home in England’s capital, especially if he ventures into a nearby bar where some of the staff will almost certainly be of the Australian variety, something that can’t be said of Middlesbrough. I can recommend a very good pub to Mark, just on the other side of the river Thames to Craven Cottage, it sells a cracking pint of bitter and even has an outdoor seating area overlooking the river.