Fulham's 14-year stay in the Barclays Premier League came to an end in crushing fashion at the Britannia Stadium, but manager Felix Magath is adamant he is the right man to lead the Cottagers back into the top flight.
Magath's future will inevitably come under close scrutiny after a 4-1 defeat to Stoke which confirmed the 60-year-old had failed in his mission to avoid the drop and in the process experienced the first relegation of his own storied nine-club career.
Magath made no excuses for the feeble manner of his side's demise, with goals from Peter Odemwingie, Marko Arnautovic, Oussama Assaidi and Jonathan Walters serving Stoke up the simplest of wins, with a late Kieran Richardson effort offering scant consolation.
But defiant Magath insisted: "I don't think to do anything else except stay at Fulham and build up a new team - that was the idea when I came here.
"It is clear we have to change something, I want to have success with Fulham in the next years. I will talk about the situation with the owner and we will start to come back."
Magath was damning in his verdict of his side's performance, accusing his players of lacking fighting spirit and being overwhelmed with nerves on such a big occasion.
"You saw no fighting spirit and therefore I think they felt too much pressure," added Magath. "I apologise for not managing the situation because I was convinced we would stay in the league but we are relegated."
If he stays - at least we will have much needed continuity.
May be he is the right man for the job - if he can build his own team, with Khan's backing.
He's just like Ali Mac - a poor quality manager who compounded our problems by making one seriously bad decision after another.
The whole organisation is in such poor shape we might as well take the opportunity of a complete change. The one big challenge that needs to be met this time is that Khan does his research properly on the qualities of the club manager. The last one that Ali Mac got right was Mark Hughes. How ironic.
Nogood "Captain Panics, isit" Boyo
It's nice that Magath wants to stay, but unless our management team is utterly inept (hold your comments), there's no way he's the best candidate to take us forward and build a Championship side.
i think he'll be good for us
and he's a well known manager and will help bring some well needed quality to our club despite us being in the championship
Quote from: NogoodBoyo on May 04, 2014, 05:01:08 PM
He's just like Ali Mac - a poor quality manager who compounded our problems by making one seriously bad decision after another.
The whole organisation is in such poor shape we might as well take the opportunity of a complete change. The one big challenge that needs to be met this time is that Khan does his research properly on the qualities of the club manager. The last one that Ali Mac got right was Mark Hughes. How ironic.
Nogood "Captain Panics, isit" Boyo
Wrong in my opion how can a made that has won the German league 3 times, saved 3 clubs from sure relegation be considered a poor quality manager, he just came to us too late, had to work with the poor performing players, and yes he has made 1 or 2 odd decisions (Burn yesterday), but i guess he was just trying something different and it did not pay off. I think in the long run and given the support he needs he wikll succeed
I think it is almost the worst news this weekend, not quite as bad as relegation being confirmed. While I blame the players for the lack of effort and desire to play for FFC this season, I might excuse them a little if like me they have no faith in the manager. Following team change after team change culminating in players being asked to play out of position, the final straw being Burn yesterday and the inability to select a team that might actually win a game and not concede so many stupid goals. If I were 1 of the players especially the Captain I would question Magaths integrity in team selection. I hope that in the near future that there are statements by some of the players regarding what they think of Magaths management skills.
Quote from: RaySmith on May 04, 2014, 04:50:37 PM
If he stays - at least we will have much needed continuity.
May be he is the right man for the job - if he can build his own team, with Khan's backing.
Perhaps he will bring in a squad of 25 German players, at least they will all be able to communicate(lol).
Quote from: Denver Fulham on May 04, 2014, 05:06:10 PM
It's nice that Magath wants to stay, but unless our management team is utterly inept (hold your comments), there's no way he's the best candidate to take us forward and build a Championship side.
I think you'll find it's our new owners that are utterly inept when facing this current season like they did. I hope (and I serverly hope) that they've learned their lesson now and will back Magath and his management team.
Jol: 10 points in 13 matches and everyone wanted him gone long before that
Rene: 10 pointd in 13 matches and was unceremoniously dumped
Magath: 11 points in 11 matches and you want him back, after three weeks of baffling awfulness with safety within grasp?
Quote from: alfie on May 04, 2014, 05:11:15 PM
Quote from: NogoodBoyo on May 04, 2014, 05:01:08 PM
He's just like Ali Mac - a poor quality manager who compounded our problems by making one seriously bad decision after another.
The whole organisation is in such poor shape we might as well take the opportunity of a complete change. The one big challenge that needs to be met this time is that Khan does his research properly on the qualities of the club manager. The last one that Ali Mac got right was Mark Hughes. How ironic.
Nogood "Captain Panics, isit" Boyo
065.gif
Wrong in my opion how can a made that has won the German league 3 times, saved 3 clubs from sure relegation be considered a poor quality manager, he just came to us too late, had to work with the poor performing players, and yes he has made 1 or 2 odd decisions (Burn yesterday), but i guess he was just trying something different and it did not pay off. I think in the long run and given the support he needs he wikll succeed
Magath OUT,
He is clueless and he will ruin us and ruin our youngsters, get rid now
Quote from: SouthfieldWhite on May 04, 2014, 06:05:33 PM
Magath OUT,
He is clueless and he will ruin us and ruin our youngsters, get rid now
can't tell of your joking SW? Your usually very reasoned in your posts and surprised at this one.
Putting aside the bizarre player selections, Magath clearly does not like the squad. He's a good manager as proven by his past record and I'd be happy to see what he can do given a couple of transfer windows where he can bring in his players. The most important thing is for the club to sit down with him and draw up a plan for next season asap.
Quote from: Putney on May 04, 2014, 06:14:15 PM
Putting aside the bizarre player selections, Magath clearly does not like the squad. He's a good manager as proven by his past record and I'd be happy to see what he can do given a couple of transfer windows where he can bring in his players. The most important thing is for the club to sit down with him and draw up a plan for next season asap.
Its a very poor squad.
When we rely on under 21s to give a spark, the situation is dire.
He has had no choice regarding any of these players.
Rene's sum total contribution was to bring youngsters who have a bad reputation as malcontents.
No one puts their hand up for the Mitro signing.
Lets see what Felix can do because up to now he has had to deal with a team that fades to black after 65 minutes.
No one could manage that.
There was never any doubt he would stay. When he joined he knew there was a squad to rebuild.
But he will be gone soon enough if we are struggling. There is such a big job to do after years of neglect because of Al wishing to sell the club. It depends how much money our owner wants to give for transfer fees and wages or how much he is allowed to.
So we have a new manager with no experience at all of life in this division or the type of football needed. We have a CEO who has taken compliments from the new owner but has failed in actually doing anything except nobody knows what he actually does. That seems to be the only argument fans have to support him. We have a playing staff of old players and a few kids.
I am sure there are going to be the usual fans who blame those of us whom predicted this demise since Hughes left and call us negative. But we aren't the ones crying because we predicted it. What we don't want is to predict a further slide because we still don't have the right people making the right decisions.
if not Felix who? Colin? Magath has proved himself in Germany, taking a 2nd rate team and winning the league, if he can do that in Germany why can't he do that with Fulham? If he stays with us then next season will be how we will judge him
Wrong decision. His team selection and positioning is just bizarre. He has zero experience in English football. He is not well liked so attracting players will be difficult. His so called strong point is his vigorous training technique yet our entire team look knackered after 60 minutes
Quote from: Lighthouse on May 04, 2014, 08:14:53 PM
There was never any doubt he would stay. When he joined he knew there was a squad to rebuild.
But he will be gone soon enough if we are struggling. There is such a big job to do after years of neglect because of Al wishing to sell the club. It depends how much money our owner wants to give for transfer fees and wages or how much he is allowed to.
So we have a new manager with no experience at all of life in this division or the type of football needed. We have a CEO who has taken compliments from the new owner but has failed in actually doing anything except nobody knows what he actually does. That seems to be the only argument fans have to support him. We have a playing staff of old players and a few kids.
I am sure there are going to be the usual fans who blame those of us whom predicted this demise since Hughes left and call us negative. But we aren't the ones crying because we predicted it. What we don't want is to predict a further slide because we still don't have the right people making the right decisions.
I think I agree. Whatever has been said about the squad has to be matched against failing to create a 'team', perplexing tactics, some very peculiar formations with key players out of position, down right weird substitutions and as head coach some explaining to do as to why many players still cannot shoot, pass, cross or take a legal throw in. I'll take the point about players having to rethink things and game time cures everything but the absolute basics will always be ............... well the absolute basics. For me the constant line that he spun about survival being everything and then dishing up negative tactics and not resolving our obvious weaknesses means he is not the man. What concerns me more is the very, very short list of Championship experienced managers who could take on 'the project', build the cohesion and then take it into The Prem. The last thing we need is another conveyor belt of managers. Damn I can't think of anybody unless we go in house now and nurture that selection. If he makes nine changes for the palace game and posts them well in advance I might just soften to him.
Well Admin, Bateman would not agree with you. That alone makes me think you are probably right. Lets hope so.
Do you think the over zealous training on the older players did them in
092.gif He has only been with Fulham a short while and had no experience of the Premiership, but to say he was a great Manager in Germany so he will be a good Manager in the Championship is ludicrous. I think we will need a Manager who understands this division and can get players with a bit of fight about them.
Otherwise I suppose we can look forward to Stockdale playing Centre Forward and Sidwell as a Central Defender next season and a different 11 every Saturday.
I have little faith in the bloke and nothing I have seen since he came to Fulham has changed my mind and I have suffered under Ian Branfoot and Don MacKay. :(
Why would we want a manager who, in a must win game, plays a young left footed 6'7 Dan Burn at right back ? Magath is not right for the championship, he has no experience of this division and his team selection and formations are really odd.
Felix the Pheonix is the right man for the job. No one including Poyet or Pulis could have done any thing with the load of dross we have. We will have the fittest squad of players ever. If players can´t do a few extra press ups they are no good for us any way.
i am not so sure about felix anymore, just when I was warming to him, he plays burn at right back and having made the error, does not correct it by swapping him and hetinga. that schoolboy type error in the most important game of the season does not inspire confidence.... neither did leaving woodrow on the bench, woodrow has life and ability, bent seems to lack either and mitro is such a bad joke, his inability to move yesterday made his selection a farce.
Quote from: nose on May 04, 2014, 09:54:23 PM
i am not so sure about felix anymore, just when I was warming to him, he plays burn at right back and having made the error, does not correct it by swapping him and hetinga. that schoolboy type error in the most important game of the season does not inspire confidence.... neither did leaving woodrow on the bench, woodrow has life and ability, bent seems to lack either and mitro is such a bad joke, his inability to move yesterday made his selection a farce.
+1
Good point Mr Nose
Heitinga was having a more than heated discussion with Magath as the teams walked off at half time. I am not a lip reader but the arm waving from Heitinga seemed to indicate moving positions. That made absolute sense if that was the case even more so as we could all see the problem. The fact that the obvious tactical and right change did not happen was a huge management failing. Bent has been an absolute failure and yet he is brought on and as for the rest of it ............. sheesh.
Quote from: alfie on May 04, 2014, 05:11:15 PM
Quote from: NogoodBoyo on May 04, 2014, 05:01:08 PM
He's just like Ali Mac - a poor quality manager who compounded our problems by making one seriously bad decision after another.
The whole organisation is in such poor shape we might as well take the opportunity of a complete change. The one big challenge that needs to be met this time is that Khan does his research properly on the qualities of the club manager. The last one that Ali Mac got right was Mark Hughes. How ironic.
Nogood "Captain Panics, isit" Boyo
Wrong in my opion how can a made that has won the German league 3 times, saved 3 clubs from sure relegation be considered a poor quality manager, he just came to us too late, had to work with the poor performing players, and yes he has made 1 or 2 odd decisions (Burn yesterday), but i guess he was just trying something different and it did not pay off. I think in the long run and given the support he needs he wikll succeed
There's a world of difference between managing in the Bundesliga and the Prem. The German culture demands that managers are listened to, and their demands are acted upon. In the rather freer atmosphere in Britain, managers are required to have things like charisma. Even though players are of many nations in the English leagues, that laxity still exists as compared to the environment in which Magath made his reputation.
I said before that immediately after the Stoke debacle he looked like a sad, bewildered little man. He is out of his depth because he is outside his familiar culture. He is another mistake in what seems to be an interminable succession of ****-ups that have blighted this wonderful club these two years.
The last three games....
Bizzare choices and tactics. All the talent in the youth and he ignores them. He has just left me confused and angry. If the squad is so poor grow some balls play the kids. At least people would respect that.
Should be 6 changes minimum for Saturday.
And I dont condone abusing a player but I never want to see Bent in our shirt again.
Quote from: ron on May 04, 2014, 10:30:43 PM
Quote from: alfie on May 04, 2014, 05:11:15 PM
Quote from: NogoodBoyo on May 04, 2014, 05:01:08 PM
He's just like Ali Mac - a poor quality manager who compounded our problems by making one seriously bad decision after another.
The whole organisation is in such poor shape we might as well take the opportunity of a complete change. The one big challenge that needs to be met this time is that Khan does his research properly on the qualities of the club manager. The last one that Ali Mac got right was Mark Hughes. How ironic.
Nogood "Captain Panics, isit" Boyo
Wrong in my opion how can a made that has won the German league 3 times, saved 3 clubs from sure relegation be considered a poor quality manager, he just came to us too late, had to work with the poor performing players, and yes he has made 1 or 2 odd decisions (Burn yesterday), but i guess he was just trying something different and it did not pay off. I think in the long run and given the support he needs he wikll succeed
There's a world of difference between managing in the Bundesliga and the Prem. The German culture demands that managers are listened to, and their demands are acted upon. In the rather freer atmosphere in Britain, managers are required to have things like charisma. Even though players are of many nations in the English leagues, that laxity still exists as compared to the environment in which Magath made his reputation.
I said before that immediately after the Stoke debacle he looked like a sad, bewildered little man. He is out of his depth because he is outside his familiar culture. He is another mistake in what seems to be an interminable succession of ****-ups that have blighted this wonderful club these two years.
Yea them Germans are crap at football 66 and all that
Yes, his record before Fulham is very good. Yes, the players have been very poor.
That's why he was brought in.
His record at Fulham shows he has failed to sort out our defensive frailties. The team has been changed every week, often for no obvious reason. His selections and substitutions have been poor. The team look even less fit than under Jol. They certainly look less motivated than under Rene.
His record is not significantly better than Jol's that had 95% of posters on here calling for Jol's sacking. If he had taken over from Jol directly (rather than after the Rene interlude) with his current record he would be our second sacked manager of the season.
Magath has yet to do anything at Fulham to inspire confidence.
I have no faith in Felix. The team selection and tactics lately have been so poor. And to those who say that Felix had success at previous clubs I say so did Jol and look what happened there.
We need a manager with experience of the championship. And I would like a new owner too although can't see that happening.
I'm not even sure what to thin about the manager. Normally I've got an opinion about it but I've lost the will to live and think no one could sort this current squad out, suppose next season will be a different situation if they're all moved on.
Quote from: Admin on May 04, 2014, 04:47:03 PM
Magath was damning in his verdict of his side's performance, accusing his players of lacking fighting spirit and being overwhelmed with nerves on such a big occasion.
"You saw no fighting spirit and therefore I think they felt too much pressure," added Magath. "I apologise for not managing the situation because I was convinced we would stay in the league but we are relegated."
Unless this has been taken out of context, it seems he is willing to blame the players for his own ineptness in picking a squad with the correct tactics, and the last paragraph indicates that he had no idea what he was doing, convinced? How could one be convinced when it was a must win game? The only nerves I saw out there was Burn, who had no idea how to play in that position, with or without fighting spirit.
Agree with Tony (above).
His management beggars belief in my eyes. The team now needs a manager who knows the division we will be in. There are a few about who would do a good job. I hate to say it but I would even settle for Allardyce when West Ham sack him. Second point, whoever the manager is, I expect him to know enough to prevent a drop into the 3rd division and build for a future challenge at the top.
My feeling is that Felix does not want to be here next season. He is saying he wants to stay but may just be negotiating for a final year pay off of his contract. Like the guy but too many unexplained team selections.
Quote from: jarv on May 05, 2014, 12:31:20 PM
The team now needs a manager who knows the division we will be in. There are a few about who would do a good job. I hate to say it but I would even settle for Allardyce when West Ham sack him.
The statement about needing a manager who knows about the Championship appears quite frequently but I would like to know what this means. Does it mean one committed to long ball, kick-and-rush stuff? That the only way to get out of this division is to kick your way out? We didn't do that with Tigana. If we had a manager experienced in getting out of the Championship, then we'd quickly have a chorus of those claiming we need a new manager suited to keeping us in the Premiership. I think this is a red herring.
Neil, I like the Tigana analogy!
Burn - right back
Need I say more?
Quote from: Neil D on May 05, 2014, 12:46:25 PM
Quote from: jarv on May 05, 2014, 12:31:20 PM
The team now needs a manager who knows the division we will be in. There are a few about who would do a good job. I hate to say it but I would even settle for Allardyce when West Ham sack him.
The statement about needing a manager who knows about the Championship appears quite frequently but I would like to know what this means. Does it mean one committed to long ball, kick-and-rush stuff? That the only way to get out of this division is to kick your way out? We didn't do that with Tigana. If we had a manager experienced in getting out of the Championship, then we'd quickly have a chorus of those claiming we need a new manager suited to keeping us in the Premiership. I think this is a red herring.
I always used to joke that you get Dave Bassett in to get promoted and then sack him as soon as you go up.
I'm not sure if he's the right man anymore.To be honest I'm not sure what to think about anything where Fulham is concerned.This season has just been one epic fail after the next.
A lot of you are saying we need a manager with championship experience, but there are successful managers in the championship with no experience in the league. Take a look at Uwe Rosler at Wigan or Oscar Garcia at Brighton.
I do think Felix would get us promoted (if he didnt upset the squad too much) but in the long run I dont think its a wise decision. He'll be off back to Germany again in a year or two and pretty much every club hes left behind he has done so in a not so tidy fashion. Players seems to despise him. Not to mention he seems to have lost the tactics completly from time to time.
Im just worried that in two or three years time we'll be back right where we were when we got relegated.
Just dont see Felix as the type of manager or person that says "Right, im 60 years old and im off to Britain to build Fulham up from the ground and to strive towards mid table security in the premiership in a 5- year period". Just dont see him being that kind of manager.
Compare him to a younger, british manager who is acustom the leages and the football culture and actually sees Fulham in the same way Moyes saw Everton, Lambert saw Villa, Martinez saw Wigan and so on. Felix already has made a name for himself and dont think he'll be a good appointment in the long term.