Intrigue

Fulop left out of Black Cats senior party

Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop will spend the next few days on reserve team duty despite Craig Gordon's broken arm.

The 27-year-old Hungary international was among a 17-man party which headed for Scotland as the senior squad set off for Portugal.

Fulop has made no secret of his desire to leave the Stadium of Light in the search for regular first-team football, although his position looked to be unclear last week when it was revealed Scotland international Gordon has suffered a recurrence of a lower arm fracture in training.

But amid speculation England veteran David James could be a short-term target for manager Steve Bruce as he decides whether or not to entrust youngsters Trevor Carson and recent arrival Simon Mignolet with the goalkeeping duties for the start of the Barclays Premier League season, the former Tottenham man was not among the group of players who flew out to the Algarve.

So fantasy managers might get James at Sunderland and/or Fulop at another club. Veeery interesting.

Gone til November

Scotland, Sunderland GK Gordon 'out until October' - USATODAY.com

The Scottish Football Association says Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is set to be out until at least October after breaking his arm.

Gordon underwent an operation on Thursday after fracturing his bone during preseason training for English Premier League club Sunderland.

Sunderland only said Gordon would miss the start of the season in August, but the SFA went further, announcing that the 27-year-old 'keeper "is expected to miss the first four games" of Scotland's qualification campaign for the 2012 European Championship.

The fourth qualifier is against Spain on Oct. 12.

Is Fulop still a buck?

Fulop makes Man City switch

Once more into the breach!

Manchester City have signed up Hungarian international Marton Fulop on loan from Premier League rivals Sunderland to resolve a goalkeeping crisis threatening their bid for a Champions League qualifying place.

The 26-year-old joined up with his new, short-term team-mates at training on Wednesday after the deal was finalised...

"I'm ready to play, if I'm selected. I came here to do a job and I'm confident that I can do that. I feel good, and we need a win to get that fourth-place spot, which is so important for the club...

The Hungarian is expected to play against Aston Villa at home on Saturday. City have three games remaining and are sixth in the league, a point behind fourth-placed Tottenham and Villa and one ahead of Liverpool.

And thus we double the number of double-match keepers for a buck... well, Begovic for a buck and Fülop for a buck-sixty. Choose wisely.

Oh, and don't search Y! for "Fulop" as the umlaut doesn't register as a "u". Search for Sunderland keepers.

Manchester City seek emergency loan of Marton Fulop

UPDATE: from the BBC:

Manchester City will be given special dispensation to sign a goalkeeper on an emergency loan deal until the end of the season, BBC Sport understands.

Shay Given will miss City's last three games after dislocating a shoulder in the 0-0 draw with Arsenal on Saturday.

Stuart Taylor is also out and Joe Hart is on loan at Birmingham, which leaves only the inexperienced Gunnar Nielsen.

Spokesmen for Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool said they had "no comment" on the Premier League ruling.

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from The Guardian:

Manchester City want to sign Marton Fulop from Sunderland to take over from the injured Shay Given on an emergency loan deal until the end of the season.
Fulop, the Hungary goalkeeper, has fallen out of favour at the Stadium of Light and heads a list of targets drawn up by City to fill the void left by Given dislocating a shoulder in Saturday's 0‑0 draw at Arsenal...
City need permission from the Premier League to allow them to bring in another goalkeeper outside of the transfer window. The club have made an official request, backing up their claim with medical statements, and will find out tomorrow if they have been successful. However, it is understood that the Premier League is likely to be sympathetic as they fit the criteria for an emergency deal.

Fulop is 1.6 in the Y! game and could be a great bargain, with two home matches this week.  However, I'm likely to stick with the even cheaper Begovic (for a buck) home to Everton and at Fulham.  Pending Europa Cup results, of course.

In other Sunderland-related news:

Sunderland are appealing to the Football Association over the red card shown to Alan Hutton following his altercation with Jozy Altidore in the win at Hull City.
A spokesperson has confirmed they "are appealing the severity of the sanction" following Hutton's dismissal in Saturday's 1-0 win. The defender was embroiled in an altercation with the Hull City striker at the end of the first half that resulted in the referee Lee Probert dismissing both players.
Followinga challenge between the duo, Hutton sparked the incident by throwing the ball at Altidore, who responded by headbutting the Scot, causing facial injuries. Hutton is now due to miss the final two games of this season, at home to Manchester United and at Wolves, as well as the first of next term.