Fulham Football Club News

• Nickname:Cottagers
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Martin Jol

• Ground:Craven Cottage
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Cottagers capture Davis

05 Jul 2007 - 13:38:37

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Fulham have completed the signing of Northern Ireland international midfielder Steven Davis from Aston Villa in a £4million deal.

The 22-year-old has penned a four-year contract with the Cottagers, having been allowed to leave Villa by manager Martin O'Neill.

Davis had already passed the 100-appearance mark for Villa, but fell out of favour following O'Neill's arrival at Villa Park and has been allowed to join former national team boss, Lawrie Sanchez, at Craven Cottage.

O'Neill had stated earlier this month: "He had a really good first season and found the going a bit more difficult this season just gone. It is almost like a second-season syndrome.

"His preferred position is central midfield. He doesn't feel comfortable out wide, so sometimes it is limiting unless you are going into games with a 4-3-3 system, giving Steven licence to go forward and not having to worry about any defensive duties.

"If you are playing 4-4-2, unless you have got a sitting holding midfield player who doesn't do anything else and allows the other midfielder to go and join in forward, then it is difficult.

"There is going to be a stage where some of the young players who have tasted a bit of the side and are then not getting in regularly, are either going to battle and get in the side or may have to go and look elsewhere."