Premier League - Murphy: So proud of Fulham

Eurosport - Fri, 22 May 13:32:00 2009

Fulham captain and Eurosport-Yahoo! blogger Danny Murphy believes clinching a Europa League place would rate among the greatest achievements of his career.

2008-2009 Fulham Danny Murphy - 0

I'm very proud our achievements this season. We've finished higher than ever before and with more points. Everyone deserves credit from the management to the players to the medical staff and supporters because it would not have been possible without any of them. Everyone has a part to play. It's been difficult to pinpoint the exact reason why we have been so successful. I think really it is a combination of everything coming together.

The quality of players we have brought in to the squad has been important. Some of the signings have done fantastically well. Mark Schwarzer has probably been the best goalkeeper in the Premier League this year. We have worked hard at a pattern of play and the players have responded. They are willing to learn and work hard to get better.

I don't think we have any egos or attitude at the club either. Everybody has shown a desire to get better week in, week out. Clint Dempsey is a perfect example of that. In the second half of the season he was one of our best players despite not starting at the beginning of the campaign. We have also been a bit lucky with injuries, which has allowed us to keep a consistent team selection.

I'd like to think I've done a good job as captain and my performances have been helped by the role in many ways. The extra responsibility I've been given is something I think I have thrived on and enjoyed. I'm sure I'll get some credit but really it is the team philosophy and work ethic that has got us where we are. We don't have a particular style or a player we rely on - everybody has chipped in with goals and good performances at different times. It's been a real squad effort too, because the players behind the scenes have been pressuring hard keeping everyone on their toes.

I've had some fantastic highlights in my career but this year's achievement is special. It's a bit different to winning a trophy, but in a strange way we have shown a greater level of consistency and hopefully we will achieve European football. If we do, I would put that up there as one of the best achievements of my career. The trophies I have won were one-off occasions and are fantastic, but in terms of a prolonged, consistent run of form this has been right up there and it would cap a magnificent season if we can get the European place.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that it would benefit the club and the players. I've played in Europe for many years and it is a wonderful experience that improved me as a player and a lot of our players deserve that. I don't know what the club is going to do in terms of buying players. We are so careful in that area given the resources of the club and the last thing we want to do is stretch ourselves and find ourselves in a Leeds-type situation. The hierarchy will be very careful of doing that just because we are in Europe. We will have to cope.

We've seen teams do it in recent years and I think we will thrive on it. I know Tottenham will try to get a result at the weekend and they are very capable but we have to concentrate on making sure we achieve the Europa League place. It would be the icing on the cake to a wonderful season and one that I have enjoyed immensely.

Danny Murphy / Eurosport

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  1. He's a good little player Danny Murphy, but he­ should get his tongue out MICHAEL OWEN'S hoop. OWEN­ is a disgrace to his profession. GREEDY B@ST ARD

    From SHAUN, on Thu 4 Jun 11:46AM

  2. i'm so proud of the team this year. murphy has been­ been pretty inspirational but like he says its been a­ real squad effort. In my opinion Hodgson thuroughly­ deserves the title of manager of the season for the way­ he has improved the club so dramatically and also for­ how he conducts himself in a respectable manner. Lets­ hope that we build on this great season next­ year.

    best moment this season for me- gera's goal­ against united ...brilliant.

    second best moment- barca­ silencing the bridge ...funny

    From Ross, on Sun 24 May 2:40PM

  3. Speaking as an ffc fan, I would just like to say to­ Danny and the rest of the lads at fulham, that after­ the fantastic great escape of last season I did not­ think that I could feel more proud, how wrong I was.­ This season has been fantastic, Roy has been an­ inspiration to all of us, fans and team alike. Thank­ you so much from a very very proud fulham fan.

    From alisondorsett, on Fri 22 May 9:45PM

  4. As a ffc fan for the last 40 years, and

    From alisondorsett, on Fri 22 May 9:38PM

  5. Can't think who'll get the player of the season­ award because each and every single player deserves it.­ Aaron Hughes has been solid in the back like Hangeland,­ Dempsey really has been outstanding, Davies has played­ well, Danny has been a captain fantastic and even the­ players that didn't feature so much such as­ nevland, etuhu, and Kamara were very good. Hope Hodgson­ gets manager of the season too cos it's no less­ than he deserves. But most of all I hope we can build­ on our success for next season. I don't think there­ needs to be too much activity in the transfer window­ too

    From michael, on Fri 22 May 4:50PM

  6. Congratulations Fulham
    You have really excelled this­ year and I hope you manage to get a spot in Europe
    I­ think that every single one of the fulham players have­ performed extremely well ( noteably danny murphy and­ brede hangeland )
    Best of Luck (Liverpool fan)

    From Wongy, on Fri 22 May 1:28PM

  7. How refreshing to hear positive comments and­ compliments from fans from other clubs. No doubt that­ in many ways Fulham should be front runners in a­ premiership 'club of the season'. Well done to­ all at FFC, excellent effort. The hardwork will be­ perhaps keeping our targeted players and consolidating­ as a top half of the table team

    From pfy1101, on Fri 22 May 1:07PM

  8. U are a great player Danny!!! Proud of ur contribution­ for Fulham. All the best

    From whitehartlane90, on Fri 22 May 12:56PM

  9. You surely did have the signing of the season in Mark­ Schwarzer. Clean sheets after clean sheets and an­ improvement from last year's performance and­ despite the fact you did sell Jimmy Bullard. Overall,­ the team played well this season with the addition of­ Andy Johnson and the consistency of the back four. ­ Congrats to Fulham - from a Boro fan.

    From tasgaha, on Fri 22 May 12:50PM

  10. Liverpool fan here Danny. Always liked Fulham, seem a­ geniune, family club and like you say, no egos there at­ all - just a hard working, commited side and a Europa­ spot would be justified. Nice one Spud :)

    From Matthew, on Fri 22 May 12:45PM

  11. Nearly relagated last season now there in europe WELL­ DONE

    From louissharpe, on Fri 22 May 12:30PM

  12. The most impressive thing for me about Roy Hodgson are­ his pre and post match interviews. Whatever the result­ he has been a true gentleman, with honest down to earth­ opinions and compliments for opponents. His last post­ match interview after the Newcastle game a fine­ example. Take note Rafa, Fergie, and Wenger (to a­ lesser degree) etc etc. I am not a Fulham fan, but hope­ Fulham can keep him and their better players and have a­ good run in Europe next season assuming they qualify.

    From Jacky C, on Fri 22 May 12:19PM

  13. spurs fan ere, just what 2say well done fulham

    From David V, on Fri 22 May 12:17PM

  14. Well done on a great season fulham. Roy has been an­ outstanding manager and his calm and patience has­ clearly rubbed off on the players. From almost certain­ relegation to a potential europa league place, probably­ the greatest turnaround of fortunes in the premiership­ this year? Good luck on saturday, home win thank you­ very much. COYW!!!

    From Some S, on Fri 22 May 11:40AM

  15. and postmanpat - he's done a lot more than you have­ done sitting at your computer criticising him

    From adam j, on Fri 22 May 11:23AM

  16. i understand that goatschees but still there is a­ difference between PP's column which is supposed to­ be unbiased and Murphy's which is a blog and­ entirely opinion based

    From adam j, on Fri 22 May 11:22AM

  17. Congratulations to Fulham and to murphy this season!­ now will you please come back to Charlton? WE NEED YOU!

    From James, on Fri 22 May 11:22AM

  18. AdamJ, post 12: PP is not a journalist! He's a­ pundit. He probably doesn't even write his column.­ I bet someone gives him a call and they chat and then a­ piece is written up using the gist of what PP has to­ say. That's how these things are always done. Blogs­ are different - they're actually written by the­ sportsmen I imagine.

    From , on Fri 22 May 11:10AM

  19. From a Toon fan, Fulham have been a breath of fresh air­ this season.
    Fatty ashley ought to look at the fulham­ blueprint for some tips on how to run a football­ club!
    And what a gentleman, and a class act they have­ in Roy Hodgson!
    Well done to all at Fulham Football­ Club, and good luck in Europe next season!!

    From cameron w, on Fri 22 May 11:00AM

  20. Post 13, it's a shame that you don't see­ playing consistently in the Premier League as an­ achievement. This is the best league in the world with­ world class players, staying in this league is an­ achievement. He's probably achieved more than you,­ unless you're Cristiano Ronaldo.

    From johnnymercyside, on Fri 22 May 10:54AM
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