If you’re a United States Soccer Supporter, then that man is the one you want to kiss right now after his goal secured Fulham FC/USA’s Premiership status for the 2008/09 season, and so far has kept 5 Americans (and one Kiwi named Simon Elliot) in England’s top flight.

Danny Murphy’s 76th minute winner at Fratton Park (the team’s first) was enough to secure goal differential over Reading, who drubbed Derby away at Pride Park 4-nil.

Hahnemann, Convey, Lewis and Feilhaber as of now are set for relegation to the Championship and a decent little golden parachute.

As of now you ask? Think Seattle (big name signing), D.C (old team), San Jose (old, old team) or L.A. (home town & college) might be looking to make some adjustments?

Some of these guys might have a little stipulation that changes contract status if the team was relegated.

image via Fulham FC

US National Team stud Clint Dempsey has just re-upped his Premiership contract with Fulham through 2010.

After making his initial transfer in January 2006, Dempsey kept the Cottagers in the Premiership last year with his winner at Liverpool and might have the chance to do it again this weekend as Fulham faces Portsmouth and are just out of the Relegation Zone by Goal Differential over Reading.

Dempsey has scored 6 Premiership Goals this season in 28 matches.

image via DailyMail

With all the Hicks/Gillett/Parry/Champions League Semi-Finals worries running around Anfield, you gotta give to Rafa. He’s been smart about his selections and getting the most out of an above-average squad, finding away to shield the squad from all the outside BS.

If his decision is to rest Fernando Torres for Tuesdays Champions League match at home, it could have two different effects this weekend in their match away at Craven Cottage.

If Torres plays against Fulham USA, he’s have the opportunity to tie the record for most goals scored by a foreigner in his debut season which was set by Ruud Van Nistelrooy of Man Utd in the 2001/02 season. As it stands, Torres has hit the back of the net 22 times this season, with most coming in front of the Kop.

If Torres doesn’t play and you’re a Fulham fan, then you’ve got to be just a little more excited about your chances to get some points out of this match, especially since it was Clint Dempsey’s winner against Liverpool that kept them up last season.

Sorry Neil Warnock and Sheffield United. Maybe this year it will be Steve Coppell and Reading.

image via Football-Wallpapers

Since returning from injury, Brian McBride has continued to show why he might be the most important man at Craven Cottage, today heading past Tim Howard and Everton (for their first loss in 2008) in the second half.  With a work ethic that is very rarely matched, the ability to hold the ball up while support makes their way forward and a professionalism that is first class, McBride is the type of player that every coach wishes they had, even at 35 years old.

Now with 23 points in 30 matches, Fulham is only 5 points behind 14th place Reading (remember it’s a 20 team table and the bottom three go down to the Championship).

image via NJMG

Looks like Los taught Billy the Badger some 909 Twinnie-Twin-Twins moves.  I gotta give it to Los, whether it’s the shovel or this, he’s always looking out for his friends back home.

Team America, aka Fulham, took a massive leap in their effort for Premiership survival with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa.  This is the first win in thirteen games for  our boys from Fulham, and their first win under Roy Hodgson.  Hopefully all the recent transfer activity will keep the Cottagers up this year, and keep an increasingly large American population employed in the Premier League.

image via CNN.net

It’s been a long recovery road for Fulham’s Brian McBride, but after his first unscathed 90 against a young Cardiff City, things are looking brighter for Craven Cottage’s danger man.  After dislocating his left knee cap August 17th against Middlesbrough, there was no time table as to when he’d be back leading Fulham.  Now it shouldn’t be too much longer until we see him back with the first team.

image via PaulStalteri.com

Former Clemson Tiger and Canadian National Teamer Paul Stalteri has signed with Fulham USA, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.  With Alan Hutton arriving from Glasgow Rangers and Pascal Chimbonda still laying claim to the right back position, Juande Ramos deemed Stalteri expendable, similar to Wayne Bridge’s Fulham loan deal.  That’s like 37 new players for Fulham during this January signing period, so hopefully they’ll find a way to stay up.