Friends of Fulham

 
Sacking Claudio Ranieri is too little, too late for Fulham

The day after Fulham's crushing defeat to lowly Southampton, Claudio Ranieri was sacked and replaced with Scott Parker.

After essentially steering the Whites towards the drop, the decision to fire the Italian manager is simply too little, too late for Fulham.

Somehow, one of the most likable figures in football managed to turn the entire Cottage faithful against him by imposing an outdated style on Fulham, isolating key players, and revealing his out-of-touch nature with the modern game.

When Ranieri was appointed back in November, he was hailed by Shahid Khan as a "risk-free" appointment. He quickly engineered a debut win over the Saints, sparking optimism that Fulham could turn around their season.

But the Ranieri era peaked on that November day, some three months ago.

A switch to a three centre-back formation brought a first clean sheet against Newcastle and a narrow win over Huddersfield in December, but the momentum quickly died out.

As the festive period faded away, Fulham fell apart. Out of the club's nine games in 2019, a damning eight were losses — including an embarrassing FA Cup defeat to Oldham.

In addition, late points dropped were a constant feature of Ranieri's tenure, with the team suffering confidence-sapping heartbreak against Leicester, Wolves, and Tottenham.

Paired with terrible performances against Burnley, Crystal Palace, and West Ham, the Whites never looked likely of conjuring up any useful spirit.

Yet of course, just a month ago, there was the big anomaly: a plucky, spirited, roaring comeback against Brighton. That 45 minutes when the Cottagers scored four goals and stormed to victory featured Fulham's famous sustained attacking pressure — but this impetus was never recreated again under Ranieri. One gets the feeling that Fulham blew away the Seagulls in spite of Ranieri, not because of him.

And when Ranieri stuck with a negative, five-at-the-back system the following match against Palace, it was clear he had learned nothing from the only win of the new year.

In all honesty, Ranieri should have been sacked after the Manchester United home loss, which would have given Parker a chance to salvage the season with winnable matches against West Ham and Southampton.

In the end, Ranieri was given a terrible assignment in SW6. He entered a club that was leaking goals for fun with a Championship defence. He had to make do with numerous injuries that killed the squad, such as Alfie Mawson's terrible freak knee injury. There were just three signings in January: two left-wingers and an underwhelming, failed Premier League centre-back.

Few managers could be expected to salvage this mess of a club.

But in addition to all the obvious shortcomings and challenges Ranieri faced, the manager made countless situations worse at Craven Cottage.

He stunted the development of prized youngster Ryan Sessegnon, denting his confidence and making the 18-year-old a shadow of his former self.

He shunted midfield maestro Tom Cairney out to a wing position, where the captain was clearly isolated and out of sorts.

He chopped and changed his lineup and never returned to the winning formula that blew away Brighton from the start.

He constantly talked about fighting, experience, warriors, pirates, soldiers, and belief, while his team lost all confidence and respect for his leadership.

Claudio Ranieri came into a shambolic situation at Fulham and made it worse. Fulham fans are glad to see him go — they just wish the sack had come earlier.



https://tbrfootball.com/sacking-claudio-ranieri-is-too-little-too-late-for-fulham/

 
Johnson would be shrewd Fulham choice but problems run deeper than the manager

Fulham look like they're planning for the Championship already and while Lee Johnson would be a sound choice to succeed Claudio Ranieri, they have other problems too.


Fulham are eyeing Bristol City manager Lee Johnson as a potential successor for Claudio Ranieri, according to the Daily Mirror.

They report that the 37-year-old and Steve Clarke are both in contention for the top job at Craven Cottage after Ranieri was given his marching orders yesterday.

That move, with Fulham ten points adrift of safety, looks like a move taken to begin preparations for life back in the Championship.

Johnson has done outstanding work in the second tier with Bristol City over the last couple of seasons and they look a good bet to secure a play-off spot.

All of that has come while playing some very attractive football – the kind Fulham played to get promoted before completely abandoning it under Ranieri – and not having the biggest budget in the second tier.

Johnson's pedigree and room to improve would make him a prime candidate but there are problems at Craven Cottage that run deeper than the manager.

The club's recruitment was shambolic in the summer and worse in January and this is the second straight top flight season in which they will be managed by three different managers.

The Khans have overseen an amateurish and chaotic approach to life in the Premier League. An exodus of top talent is likely and loanees will return to their parent clubs, leaving a shell of a squad in need of yet another overhaul.

Getting Johnson would be a step in the right direction but there is plenty more for Fulham to do before they can be considered promotion contenders next season – in the very likely event they go down.



https://tbrfootball.com/johnson-would-be-shrewd-fulham-choice-but-problems-run-deeper-than-the-manager/

 
Hodgson questions Fulham's 'quite controversial decision'

Roy Hodgson has expressed his dismay at the sacking of Claudio Ranieri by Fulham.

Ranieri left the relegation-threatened Cottagers on Thursday after just over three months in charge of the Premier League club.

The Italian, who masterminded Leicester's stunning 2016 title success, oversaw just three wins in 16 league matches and leaves the club 19th in the table.

They are 10 points off safety with 10 games remaining but Crystal Palace boss Hodgson, himself a former Fulham manager, believes his old club have acted too hastily.

"I'm very sad, I'm very disappointed," said Hodgson, speaking at the London Football Awards, an event which supports Willow. "He has my empathy, my condolences.

"I think it is a sad situation for someone like him, with his CV, someone who won the Premier League as recently as two-and-a-half-years ago, one of the most miraculous championship wins we have seen in Premier League history.

"I find it sad after as little as two or three months he has been shown the door by Fulham. It disappoints me Fulham, a club I really like, I have so much time for, have found it necessary to make this quite controversial decision."

David Pleat, the former Tottenham and Leicester manager, was also surprised by the decision of Fulham chairman Shahid Khan.

He said: "It's disappointing because I like him as a person. He's a very calm, philosophical type of manager.

"You have to have a good chairman and a chairman that is responsible and understands the game enough to know that you can have bad times and bad games as well as good games.

"In football you don't just win every game – that doesn't happen – and Fulham were always going to be up against it because they got promotion with a group of players for whom the level was just a bit too high for them."



https://www.football365.com/news/hodgson-questions-fulhams-quite-controversial-decision

 
Chelsea Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Fulham

The Blues are looking to overturn their terrible recent away form by beating their local rivals on Sunday

Chelsea got back to winning ways with a 2-0 win over rivals Tottenham in midweek and now face another London derby match in the shape of a visit to Fulham.

Maurizio Sarri has eased pressure over his future at the club with the win against Spurs, though managerial issues are still likely to dominate the build-up after Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri was sacked on Thursday.

Chelsea have a full complement of players available, barring any late injuries in training, ahead of kick-off at Craven Cottage.

Eden Hazard was substituted in the 57th minute against Tottenham due to fatigue after playing 120 minutes against Man City in the Carabao Cup final. He is, though, likely to recover in time for Sunday's clash.

Suspensions

Neither Chelsea nor Fulham have any suspensions to contend with ahead of Sunday's match.

Chelsea Potential Starting Line-Up

Willy Caballero started in goal against Tottenham after Kepa Arrizabalaga's refusal to substituted in the Carabao Cup final penalty shootout loss to Manchester City.

Maurizio Sarri insisted that Caballero will start one of his side's next two games too as the club looks to move on from the embarrassing incident at Wembley Stadium.

Only Cesar Azpilicueta and N'Golo Kante have started every Premier League game this season after the Blues' number one was dropped on Wednesday.

Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri are vying for a place at left back, while Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic are doing the same on the left side of midfield.

The rest of the team is mostly predictable due to Sarri's lack of rotation, and he is likely to continue using a 4-3-3 formation, despite tweaking his tactics slightly over the past week.


Fulham Team News

Marcus Bettinelli and Alfie Mawson are both out of the match with knee injuries, but the Cottagers have no other concerns ahead of kick off.

TV channel & kick-off time

The match at Stamford Bridge kicks off at 2:05pm GMT (9:05 am ET) on Sunday and will be shown like on Sky Sports in the UK. In the US, the game is available on NBC Sports.

Best Opta Match Facts
   
    Fulham have won just one of their last 32 league meetings with Chelsea (D12 L19), beating them 1-0 in the Premier League in March 2006.

    Fulham have lost all nine of their Premier League London derby matches this season – they could become the first team in top-flight history to lose 10 such matches in a single campaign.

    Chelsea have lost two of their four away London derby matches this season (W1 D1). They last lost three away London derbies in a single Premier League campaign back in 2001- 02.

    Chelsea have lost their last three Premier League away games by an aggregate score of 0-12. They last lost four in a row on the road in December 2000 (a run of five).

    Half of Chelsea forward Pedro's Premier League goals this season have come in London derbies (4/8).



https://www.goal.com/en/news/chelsea-team-news-injuries-suspensions-and-line-up-vs-fulham/1anqjy9qorded14zef1g5onw50

 
Ranieri's replacements?

Claudio Ranieri has been relieved of his duties at Fulham Football Club (or vice-verse works too). In preparation for the event, I asked Fulham Twitter to send me their picks to replace the Italian at the helm of the football club and these are the five most popular choices analysed and evaluated with honourable mentions at the bottom.

Chris Wilder:

Wilder's Sheffield United squad have a completely British squad utilising a 352 where Oliver Norwood acts as the midfield anchor and is having an excellent season, creating seven goals and only Leeds' Pablo Hernandez has created more chances than the Northern Irishman that spent 2017/18 on loan at Craven Cottage prior to his permanent move to Sheffield.

Whilst Sheffield United don't play with the pizazz and polish of a Leeds or Norwich, also contending for automatic promotion from the Championship, Sheffield United have the second best defence in the division and are only outscored by Norwich and West Bromwich Albion thanks mostly to veterans Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick.

I admire what Chris Wilder has been able to do at Sheffield United, but also at Northampton Town before then as he won League Two in impressive style. It'd be fascinating to see what he could do with a larger budget but as a Sheffield born professional with seven years of his playing career spent at Sheffield United, I'm not sure he'd leave the club where he has more 'old-school' managerial responsibilities for us in the same division with someone with zero footballing experience giving him the tools to work with and happy to sack him if it doesn't work.

Oscar Garcia:

The man replaced by Slavisa Jokanovic at Watford, it was at Brighton where Garcia caught the eye for me at least. His possession based footballing style starved the opposition of the ball to the extent where they had the second tightest defence in the division. In his sole season at the Seagulls, he replicated Gus Poyet's unsuccessful play off campaign from the previous year despite a lack of goals beyond top scorer Leonardo Ulloa.

The Guardian have a nice write up which hints as his tactical philosophy (https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/aug/21/saint-etienne-unshackled-from-lifeless-approach-by-oscar-garcia). Groomed in Spain, notably ex-Barcelona, the comparisons can be drawn between Oscar Garcia and former Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic – the inability to really hold down a position prior to 'arriving' at Fulham, the aesthetics of their footballing philosophy and even the clubs (both coached Watford, Maccabi Tel Aviv and both have success in the outer reaches of global football – Jokanovic in Thailand and Garcia in Austria).

Oscar Garcia would be fascinating appointment, and arguably a correct one for the footballing parallels this squad was built for and accustomed to. Though question marks will no doubt hover over the futures of the likes of Tom Cairney and Aleksander Mitrovic with relegation, there's enough there to replicate that style by looking back to those that were part of the promotion squad.

Graham Potter:

Under the radar, Graham Potter is having a really excellent first season at Swansea where he has harnessed an excellent crop of young players to play some eye catching, tidy football in a mid-table season. Though finishing mid-table isn't quite the most appealing characteristic, it's about where their playing squad belongs at this point in their rebuild following relegation whilst 9 of their 13 most used footballers this season are aged 24 or younger.

The Swans didn't even reach £10m spent in their first summer back in the Championship yet with Potter's coaching and some smart recruitment, Swansea are set up for the future with their cavalcade of prospects (including Dan James who was subject of £12m interest of Leeds in January). Potter has taken a tough situation and Swansea are 100% in a better place now than where they were when he took over and that is always a good sign of excellent coaching, this amongst some chaos and confusion in the upper management.

Graham Potter is a modern footballing man and a 'proper' football coach. He wants his teams to play good football, is happy to work with young players but brings all the values you want in the current footballing climate. Whilst he may not be 'keen' on leaving a club that offered him such a great opportunity, a bigger budget and life in London could tempt him. I think Potter has shown he's no fluke or novelty, he's a bright, young coach who will be in the Premier League soon enough, it'd be nice if Fulham were that club.

Slavisa Jokanovic:

I won't go on too long, but Slavisa Jokanovic was in the top 5 of Fulham Twitter's picks to be the next permanent Fulham manager. After the Ranieri experiment, it seems supporters may be showing their fickle side and saying "oh, it wasn't quite you." I hated the sacking at the time but to go into that side is another post for another day.
?We know what we get from Slavisa Jokanovic teams, it's passing, attacking football that saw us become one of the more entertaining, appealing and eye catching teams in recent Championship history. We saw improvement with each year despite the club forcing a rebuild level of player movement with each window and that's promising.

I don't see this happening, but I wouldn't hate it.

Lee Johnson:
?Perhaps aided by the 'Fulham' connection, his father Gary (current manager of Torquay United), grew up in Fulham and is allegedly a Fulham supporter. This has probably led to Fulham eyes more so than usual but his success already in his career before the age of 40 is commendable.

Lee Johnson got his first managerial job at Oldham at the age of 31, his first season was amidst a successful relegation battle. In his first full season, he rebuilt the squad and took the club to their highest ever finish in League One. He left Oldham for Barnsley in February 2016 where he stayed for a year before moving to Bristol City. Like at Oldham, Johnson has taken Bristol City from relegation contenders to play off pushers and this is despite a fairly frequent turnaround of players (since taking charge, he's had to deal with the losses of: Jonathan Kodjia, Tammy Abraham, Luke Freeman, Aden Flint, Bobby Reid and Joe Bryan).

Johnson's team impressed at Craven Cottage in our promotion campaign, displaying high pressing and quick interplay were rewarded making a squad that would ultimately go down as one of the most entertaining in the division as very ordinary. We were naturally quite disappointed when later that season we went to Ashton Gate and Bristol City played long ball, long throw and 'kick-em' football but I believe that to be a tactical decision against us (which was odd given performance earlier in the season). Johnson has dealt with adversity, receiving death threats and calls for his resignation but has won the Bristol City supporters around after the board kept faith (importantly). Lee Johnson also has an EFL Cup run to his name, a semi final no less that was ended by Manchester City and were a 92nd minute Sergio Aguero goal from a draw at the Etihad and a 96th minute Kevin De Bruyne winner from a draw at Ashton Gate – along this run, Johnson's side knocked out Watford, Crystal Palace and Manchester United.

In terms of availability, it's easy to sit here and say "why wouldn't he join Fulham?" But Johnson has been shown faith, they've let him work through hard periods and he knows he's backed by wealthy investors in the football club (not near Shahid Khan's billions but billions nonetheless). We chewed up and spat out the saviour to our time in the Championship because the players purchased for him were poor and didn't fit – so why would Johnson leave his situation for this?

Johnson is an intriguing option, and according to my Twitter feedback, is the popular option. I wouldn't be unhappy for sure, but whether he's the best option? I would have some doubts. Though to be fair, there's doubts for every manager – no one is truly 'risk free' – which is why you shouldn't throw away a good one for a poor run of form...

Honourable mentions:

Daniel Stendel (Barnsley), Steve Clarke (Kilmarnock), Dean Smith (Aston Villa), Aitor Karanka (unattached), Carlos Carvalhal (unattached), Nathan Jones (Stoke City), David Wagner (unattached).

And a couple from me not mentioned by others: Alex Neil (Preston North End) and Michael Appleton (unattached).



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2019/03/ranieris-replacements/

 
Scott Parker can 'do an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer' at Fulham, says Barry Hayles

Fulham caretaker manager Scott Parker can do a similar job to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United, says Barry Hayles.

Parker took the reigns at Craven Cottage until the end of season after Claudio Ranieri's departure on Thursday with his first game in charge against west London rivals Chelsea on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

Ranieri managed just three wins in 17 matches over a four-month spell and Wednesday's 2-0 defeat to Southampton left Fulham 10 points from safety in the Premier League, with 10 matches to play.

When asked if Parker could do a similar job to United caretaker boss Solskjaer, who has recorded nine wins from his first 11 Premier League games, former Fulham striker Hayles said: "I can't see why not.

"He's a young, fresh manager with new ideas. First and foremost he's got to sort out the backline.

(https://e0.365dm.com/16/05/768x432/scott-parker-fulham_3464540.jpg?20160511162027)
Scott Parker made 119 league appearances for Fulham from 2013 to 2017

"The way that Scott Parker played, he had a bit of bite, and I think this Fulham team have been lacking that throughout the season.

"Darren Moore was at a similar situation at West Brom. He went down with them and made them a good solid outfit who can maybe bounce back [to the Premier League]. So why can't Fulham do that too?"

Parker's appointment as caretaker manager followed Ranieri's dismissal and the Italian has faced some criticism, including from former Fulham defender Tony Gale, who questioned his "strange" selection policy.

However, he was defended by Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson, who said Ranieri "did nothing professionally" to deserve being sacked.

"I think the fans got him the boot really," Hayles added. "I went to a few games and there were chats of 'You don't know what you're doing' and all that. I think it was on the cards."



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11651493/scott-parker-can-do-an-ole-gunnar-solskjaer-at-fulham-says-barry-hayles

 
BAFFLED Claudio Ranieri's sacking as Fulham manager is 'crazy', blasts Ian Holloway on talkSPORT

The Premier League-winning boss has departed Craven Cottage after just 106 days in charge

Fulham have been blasted for their 'crazy' decision to sack Claudio Ranieri as manager after just 106 days in charge.

Ian Holloway has told talkSPORT the Cottagers' problems started long before Ranieri arrived and that the decision is harsh on the Premier League-winning coach.

Ranieri's Craven Cottage departure was confirmed on Thursday, following the previous day's 2-0 defeat away at Southampton, with first-team coach Scott Parker taking over as caretaker.

The Italian only took over in November after the sacking of Slavisa Jokanovic, but he has won only three of his 17 games in charge of the London side and now leaves with the club 19th in the table and a massive nine points from safety.

Despite failing to mastermind a turnaround, though, Holloway insists Ranieri wasn't given enough time and that Fulham's problems stemmed from a difficult adjustment from Championship to Premier League football.

Speaking on Friday's Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, the former QPR, and Blackpool boss said: "What can you do in that time?

"Crazy. I think it's crazy. It's a travesty that you can change managers so quickly.

"I think [Fulham's tough return to the top flight] has been more about their style of play.

(https://talksport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/07/GettyImages-962750792.jpg?strip=all&w=960&quality=100)
Fulham sealed promotion via the Championship play-offs last season

"Jokanovic did a brilliant job at Fulham, they dominated the ball when they got up out of the Championship. They were so good in that period, wonderful, you couldn't get the ball off them.

"But you can't do that in the Premier League and that was the problem, Jokanovic still tried to do that.

"They've had all sorted of issues. When you spend that amount of money when you first go up, you can cause a problem in the dressing room.

"If you are the players who have got Fulham up, and you see £100million worth of other players coming in, you're bound to think 'how much is he on, how much is he on'. You lose the balance of your squad and if they get into the team before you...

"You look at their midfield trio last season – Kevin McDonald Stefan Johansen Tom Cairney – you couldn't get the ball off them, they were absolutely fantastic.

"Now, are they going to be good enough to do that and dominate the ball in the Premier League? Probably not, but I would have given them a go at it.

"Ruben Nevez at Wolves has looked good enough, because Nuno [Espirito Santo – Wolves boss] didn't change anything. Yes, he may have added one or two, but not wholesale changes like at Fulham."



https://talksport.com/football/503196/claudio-ranieri-fulham-ian-holloway-talksport/

 
Replica Kit Sale

Whites fans are now able to take advantage of our replica kit sale, with great savings to be had on our Away and Goalkeeper Kits!

Pick up an 18/19 adult Away Shirt for £40 (RRP £55) with juniors now priced at £25 (RRP £40). Both Goalkeeper shirts are now £35 for adults (RRP £55), and £25 for juniors (RRP £45).

Don't forget all junior shirts can have the Fulham FC Foundation logo – as worn by the First Team in our 3-2 win over Southampton in November – applied free of charge when purchasing a shirt from the Stadium Store.

In addition, you can complete the look with shorts and socks also reduced, and personalisation also available to purchase.

Fans can shop now both instore and online.

All products are subject to availability.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/march/01/replica-kit-sale

 
Merson predicts Chelsea will thrash Fulham

Paul Merson has predicted that Chelsea will add to Fulham's woes by thrashing them in Sunday's west London derby at Craven Cottage.

Former Fulham and Chelsea midfielder Scott Parker will be at the helm for the first time after being installed as caretaker boss following the Whites' sacking of Claudio Ranieri.

But pundit Merson sees no respite for relegation-threatened Fulham, who lost at Southampton this week, and has predicted that Chelsea will beat them 4-0.

In fact, Merson believes Chelsea have "turned a corner" after beating rivals Tottenham.

In his predictions for Sky Sports, the former Arsenal and England forward said: "Chelsea. How many? How many do you want?

"Chelsea have turned a corner, raised the bar and set an example. I expect them to go here and win this comfortably. These two are chalk and cheese.

"It looked like Fulham downed tools the other night, they didn't look interested, and looked like a relegated team.

"If they play like that against Chelsea, who are far better than Southampton, it's going to be a comfortable result."

Meanwhile, Merson has predicted that his former club Arsenal will draw 2-2 with Tottenham in this weekend's north London derby.



http://londonfootballnews.co.uk/chelsea/sky-pundit-predicts-chelsea-will-thrash-fulham-in-derby-clash/

 
Report: David Moyes and Wagner on Fulham's wish list to replace Claudio Ranieri

Premier League strugglers Fulham are reportedly eyeing Moyes, Wagner, Bristol City coach Lee Johnson and Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke.

David Moyes is among a number of front-runners to replace Claudio Ranieri at Fulham, as reported by the Express.

Ranieri has sacked by the Cottagers on Thursday after winning just three of his 17 games in charge, a record which leaves the West Londoners ten points adrift of safety in the Premier League with two months of the season remaining.

Scott Parker has taken charge on an interim basis but it seems that Fulham have already drawn up a list of potential full-time replacements.

Moyes, who has been looking to get back into the game after leaving West Ham in May 2018, is understood to be one name in their sights.

Steve Clarke is also under consideration, having done a fine job north of the border with Kilmarnock. The 55-year-old, a former coach at Chelsea, told the Daily Record this week that he will return to England once his time in Ayrshire comes to an end.

The Express also name-checks David Wagner, the highly-rated German who led Huddersfield Town to the top flight in 2017. Wagner has plenty of Championship experience and could be the man to help Fulham adapt to the second division with relegation looking a certainty.

The Mirror (1 March, page 69) has also thrown Lee Johnson's hat into the ring. At 37, he is one of the most exciting young managers in English football with his unfancied Bristol City side situated in the Championship play-off places.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/03/01/do-report-david-moyes-and-wagner-on-fulhams-wishlist-to-replace/

 
Claudio Ranieri wishes Fulham and Scott Parker good luck as he leaves training ground

Claudio Ranieri has visited Fulham's players and staff for the final time and wished caretaker-manager Scott Parker all the best for the future.

Ranieri, who was sacked by the club on Thursday after less than four months in charge, said his goodbyes at the training ground on Friday.

Parker has been placed in temporary charge for the remaining 10 games of the season, with Fulham 10 points adrift of safety in the Premier League relegation zone.

Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News as he left the training ground, Ranieri said: "I thanked all the players for their efforts. That is football and good luck."

When asked if Parker will do a good job as interim boss, Ranieri added: "I hope, because he is a very good guy. He is very attentive. I wish him all the best."

Ranieri replaced Slavisa Jokanovic at Craven Cottage in November but managed just three wins in his 17 matches.

Asked why he thought things had not worked out, the Italian said: "I don't know. In 2018, we did a very good job with some good points and after it was unbelievable.

"Every shot [against us] was a goal. For us it was very hard to get back. Also, when we scored early we would then concede a goal and draw or lose the match. This is football, it's okay."

Parker's first game in charge will be against his former club Chelsea on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, before fixtures against Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester City.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11651617/claudio-ranieri-wishes-fulham-and-scott-parker-good-luck-as-he-leaves-training-ground

 
Manager is 'best placed' to take Fulham job after Claudio Ranieri exit

Following the news that Claudio Ranieri was sacked by Fulham after managing just three wins in 17 games, Scott Parker was announced as the caretaker going forward.

While there's hope the former Cottager will be able to follow in the footsteps of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and turn things around dramatically, the likelihood is it will be a tough job and saving the club from relegation might just be out of most candidates' reach.

That being said, this hasn't stopped Fulham from already drawing up a list of potential men for the job, which, according to AS in Spain, includes Victor Sanchez del Amo.

The former Olympiakos boss had already been touted as Ranieri's potential replacement before the Italian was fired, and his departure will have done nothing to dispel the rumours.

AS explain Sanchez del Amo is the 'best placed' for the job, but don't say much else.

Having already fired two managers this season, it might be best for Fulham to wait and not rush into anything.

On the flip side, time isn't what the club is blessed with these days.

It's a tough situation, but maybe giving Parker one or two games to try and pick up some points with his ideas could be beneficial.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/manager-best-placed-take-fulham-job-claudio-ranieri-exit/

 
'Destined to manage at the top' – PL club eyeing Bristol City main man: Opinion

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson has been linked with a possible move to Fulham after the sacking of Claudio Ranieri.

The Premier League side are now looking for their third manager this season, after firing Slavisa Jokanovic who managed to get them into the top flight last season.

The Daily Mirror reports that Johnson, along with Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke, is one of the names being considered for the role after former Leicester City boss Ranieri was sacked just 106 days into his tenure.

Fulham are 19th in the top flight and on course for an immediate return to the Championship.

37-year-old Johnson has taken his Bristol City side to sixth in the current Championship table, with a real chance of making the play-offs at the end of the season.

He began his managerial career at just 31, taking over at Oldham in 2013. Is he ready to now make the step up to the top flight, or will it be one leap too far?

Our FLW panel discuss.

Louie Chandler

"I think he is.

"I don't think Fulham would be the right move for him, however. We have seen this season how trigger happy they can be and he will need a club with more patience.

"But he is clearly a brilliant manager who is destined to manage at the top."

Jay Taylor

"I think it would be a similar move as Huddersfield – accepting their fate and planning for next season.

"I think Johnson would be a great job at Fulham with the resources they undoubtedly have.

"Moving to the Premier League club now would be just to assess his side ahead of a return to the Championship."

George Harbey

"I definitely think he is.

He has done an excellent job at Bristol City, especially with the way he has coped without Bobby Reid, Aden Flint and Joe Bryan this season.

He's still young, and has a massive future in management."



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/destined-to-manage-at-the-top-pl-club-eyeing-bristol-city-main-man-opinion/

 
Scott Parker tasked with lifting gloom at Fulham as he plans return to Slavisa Jokanovic football

Scott Parker has already inspired Fulham to one unlikely turnaround this season. Even if it appears relegation is inevitable, the way he provoked their second-half fightback against Brighton shows he could be the man to restore some pride at Craven Cottage.

Trailing 2-0 at the break in a must-win game in January, it was Parker who delivered a rallying cry that revived Fulham for a blazing comeback to win 4-2.

Fulham now need Parker to galvanise them again after he was named caretaker manager on Thursday after Claudio Ranieri was sacked after just 106 days.

Parker's appointment was more than nine years in the planning. He started coaching during his time at Tottenham. John McDermott, the club's head of coaching and player development, pushed him into it and he trained youngsters like Harry Winks and Josh Onomah while doing his coaching badges in his spare time.

He did his Uefa Pro Licence course, a mandatory qualification for managers in the Premier League, during his time at Fulham. Since he hung up his boots in 2017 at the age of 36, Parker's path always looked likely to end up with him one day being a top-flight manager.

Parker joined Spurs as an Under-18 coach but after a year took up an offer to take a first-team role at Fulham under Slavisa Jokanovic. He stayed when Ranieri arrived and now takes over with Fulham 10 points from safety with 10 games left and facing a tough run-in.

He did his Uefa Pro Licence course, a mandatory qualification for managers in the Premier League, during his time at Fulham. Since he hung up his boots in 2017 at the age of 36, Parker's path always looked likely to end up with him one day being a top-flight manager.

Parker joined Spurs as an Under-18 coach but after a year took up an offer to take a first-team role at Fulham under Slavisa Jokanovic. He stayed when Ranieri arrived and now takes over with Fulham 10 points from safety with 10 games left and facing a tough run-in.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham/scott-parker-tasked-with-lifting-gloom-at-fulham-as-he-plans-return-to-slavisa-jokanovic-football-a4080226.html

 
Claudio Ranieri: 5 Managerial Candidates to Take Over at Fulham After the Italian's Departure

Fulham announced on Thursday that Claudio Ranieri would become their second managerial casualty of the season after a run of four consecutive defeat left them firmly in the relegation zone.

Scott Parker has taken over their reigns at Craven Cottage as their new caretaker manager, but Fulham's hierarchy will be wasting no time at all in starting their hunt for a new head coach in one last desperate attempt to avoid relegation back to the Championship.

Here are a handful of names which could be linked with the job as their search for a new manager gets underway.

Sam Allardyce
If you're in the aftermath of sacking your manager and still in the relegation zone, it's sod's law that Sam Allardyce will be linked with taking over in the dugout.

The former England boss guarantees effective football which more often than not works wonders for teams at the wrong end of the table, but Fulham appears to be too far gone for even Big Sam to rescue them from Championship football next season.

Combining the fact that Fulham's fate already seems to be set in stone, there seems little point in making an appointment which would go down like a lead balloon in the terraces at Craven Cottage.

Scott Parker
It's going to be a baptism of fire for Scott Parker as he prepares to take over as Fulham's new caretaker manager.

But given how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has turned things around at Manchester United, former Fulham midfielder Parker could be the perfect manager to start a new chapter in the club's history - even if that means going down to come back up.

There aren't many around who know the club quite like Parker, so who better to get the players - and more importantly the fans - back on side.

Slaviša Jokanović
It feels like just yesterday that we were thinking about potential managers who could replace Slaviša Jokanović at Fulham. But three months after the Serbian's departure, we're back to square one.

Managers returning to their former club after being sacked isn't unheard of, but for that to happen all within the same season is alien at the highest level of professional football.

That was until AS Monaco parted ways with Leonardo Jardim earlier this year, only to bring the 44-year-old back in at the Stade Louis II three months later following a disastrous spell in Ligue 1 without him.

Thierry Henry
Speaking of AS Monaco and disasters...

The former Arsenal striker was brought in by Monaco in between Jardim's two spells with the club, but it proved to be a nightmare in Henry's first managerial gig.

Having previously been linked with a job in the Championship with Aston Villa, however, a clean slate could be exactly what Henry needs to prove he has what it takes to one day become a manager at one of Europe's biggest clubs.

Steve Clarke
It might not be an appoint which will get the hearts racing at Craven Cottage, but there are few better suited to the Fulham job than former West Brom and Reading manager Steve Clarke.

The 55-year-old moved back to Scotland after managerial gigs dried up south of the border, having last worked as a full-time head coach during the 2014/15 season before being moved into the backroom staff at Aston Villa.

He's spent the last 18 months with Kilmarnock and helped them fifth place finish in his first season in charge, arriving after the campaign had already started to replace Lee McCulloch in October.

Clarke's revitalised Killie are on course for a similar finish this season, but their manager could be convinced of a return to England if it means another shot in the Premier League.

Others
David Moyes - The former Manchester United manager was last on the books with West Ham in 2018.

David Wagner - Compatriot Jan Siewert took over the reins at Huddersfield Town earlier this year as the Terriers looked to find a way off the foot of the table.

Carlos Carvalhal - Professional football has been without the Portuguese manager's Cantona-esc phrases since the end of the 2017/18 season.

Gary Rowett - The former Birmingham manager's big break was meant to come at Stoke City but the Potters released him after the turn of the year, although he still has a big reputation in the football league.



https://www.90min.com/posts/6308449-claudio-ranieri-5-managerial-candidates-to-take-over-at-fulham-after-the-italian-s-departure?utm_source=RSS

 
Denis Odoi offers brutally honest answer about Fulham's struggles in the Premier League

The Whites are now on their third manager of the season after sacking Claudio Ranieri after defeat at Southampton

Denis Odoi has offered a brutal answer about Fulham's struggles in the Premier League - 'maybe we aren't good enough for this level at the moment'.

The side have only won four games all season and on their third manager of the campaign after Shahid Khan took the decision to sack Claudio Ranieri after defeat at Southampton left them ten points adrift of safety.

It's a campaign of stark contrast to the one they enjoyed last season - Fulham went on a 23-game unbeaten run in the second half of the season to charge into the play-offs and win them, beating Aston Villa at Wembley while gaining plaudits for their attacking style of play.

That led people to believe that the side could go further than just merely survive this season, but a horrid year has seen them on their third manager as they face immediate relegation back to the second tier.

Only four players played at St Mary's that played in the play-off final after a spending spree of over £100million saw 12 new signings come in, but Odoi isn't prepared to blame those new faces for their troubles, instead suggesting maybe they just aren't the players they were last season.

Odoi said: "The guys that are here that we brought in are guys with quality and guys that give everything. I am not going to blame them.

"Are we the players from last year? Maybe we are also not good enough for this level at the moment. I don't know.

"I am not going to say there are too many changes. That's not up to me.

(https://i2-prod.mylondon.news/incoming/article15250024.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Fulham-FC-v-Arsenal-FC-Premier-League.jpg)
(Image: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

"It doesn't matter who is playing. For the moment, it is not good enough in general whether it is four players from the play-off playing or one or ten."

It does look like a case of when, not if, Fulham are relegated this season and that in itself will lead to even more problems for the club during the summer.

They would do well to hang on to the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has proven he is more than capable of playing in the top flight, as well as Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon who fell right out of favour with Ranieri during his 106-day spell at the club.

Khan said that Fulham rejected over £100m of bids for players in January but it looks likely they won't be able to do the same during the summer, and while Odoi knows that's what football entails he is hopeful more quality will be brought in to replace those they lose.

He added: "I mean for one Mitrovic has shown that he has quality to play in the Premier League. I think obviously there are going to be teams that are interested in his services.

"Sessegnon has shown he is a promising talented footballer, so obviously teams are looking at him. It is what it is.

"I think three years ago when I arrived a lot of new players came in. The first year we played the semi-finals of the play-offs and then the second year we managed to get promotion.

"If players leave hopefully we get other players that have quality."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/denis-odoi-offers-brutally-honest-15901463

 
Brighton boss Hughton doesn't think Huddersfield and Fulham are already doomed

Brighton boss Chris Hughton has dismissed suggestions that fellow strugglers Huddersfield and Fulham are already condemned to Premier League relegation.

Bottom club Huddersfield are 13 points adrift of safety with 10 games remaining, while the Cottagers, who sacked manager Claudio Ranieri on Thursday, are three points better off.

After beating Fulham in midweek, Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl implied the bottom two clubs could not recover, leaving "five or six" teams competing to avoid 18th place.

But Hughton, whose side sit two points above the drop zone ahead of Saturday's visit of Huddersfield, feels it is wrong to write them off.

"I certainly wouldn't say that. I wouldn't say that anybody has gone," said Hughton.

"I think it's very unfair on the two teams that are down there to say that.

"I think everybody is fighting. I think there are a few other clubs that can get sucked into that.

"We are one team that are amongst a group of teams that if we don't get the results very much could fall into that."

Huddersfield, who were promoted alongside Brighton in 2017, recorded an overdue victory by beating Wolves on Tuesday evening.

It was a first success for new Terriers manager Jan Siewert and ended a 14-game winless run in the league which began at home to Albion on December 1.

Hughton thinks the West Yorkshire club's struggles are understandable and believes they will need to recreate the spirit shown at the end of last season under David Wagner to pull off another great escape.

"It shows how difficult it is for any team that comes into the division, so it doesn't surprise me," said Hughton.

"You're up against sides that have spent a lot of money and have more experience in this league.

"But I thought they were brilliant towards the end of last season and for where they are at this moment they'll need that again.

"They're on the back of a result which lifted them and they'll be looking for the same again."

After being in the relative comfort of mid-table for a number of weeks, Brighton's own league position has become concerning.

The Seagulls are the only club in England's top four divisions without a league victory in 2019 and could end the weekend in the bottom three.

Hughton, who wants his team to tighten up defensively, fears slipping into the drop zone may have a detrimental impact on the mentality of his squad.

"Psychologically it gives you a big boost not to be in that bottom three," he said.

"There are still plenty of games to go and there will be lots of twists and turns in the positioning in that bottom group.

"Sometimes it's about going back to basics but without losing what we have offensively because you only win games by scoring goals.

"But, yes, I think we have to get back to thinking about keeping clean sheets."



https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/brighton-boss-hughton-doesnt-think-huddersfield-and-fulham-are-already-doomed

 
Steve Clarke wanted by Fulham, Premier League side are big fans of Kilmarnock boss

Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke is a target for English Premier League side Fulham as they look to find a replacement for Claudio Ranieri, who was sacked this week after losing to relegation rivals Southampton.

The Daily Express reports the Scot is one of the managers on the Londoners' radar. Clarke held talks with Fulham in 2015 but decided to remain at Reading.

Despite the Cottagers ownership changing, there are still "influential figures" who rate the 55-year-old, according to the Express.

Clarke has won plaudits for his work with Kilmarnock, taking them from the Scottish Premiership basement to the upper echelons of the top flight and challenging for Europe.

His wealth of experience south of the Border - coaching spells with Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and West Ham as well as management gigs with Reading and West Brom - makes him a strong candidate.

Clarke this week reiterated his desire to return to England with his comments coming in the wake of a row over sectarian abuse aimed at the Kilmarnock boss during his side's recent William Hill Scottish Cup clash with Rangers at Ibrox.

The Rugby Park side would not want to lose Clarke, but would be well compensated due to the ex-St Mirren defender signing a new contract recently.

Fulham currently sit ten points adrift at the bottom of the English Premier League. Slavisa Jokanovic was tasked with leading the club into the top flight but despite spending more than £100 million on players he was sacked in November with the club bottom of the table. His replacement Ranieri managed just three wins and three draws in 17 games.



https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/kilmarnock/steve-clarke-wanted-by-fulham-premier-league-side-are-big-fans-of-kilmarnock-boss-1-4881741

 
Collins Column: The Ranieri Effect

Disasters aren't always about the results you get and the points on the board, although those figures aren't exactly kind to Claudio either, looking back at his tenure at Craven Cottage. Some things are a little bit more subtle. Jack J Collins takes a deeper dive into the reign of Claudio Ranieri.

---

Let's start by looking at the statistics here – and Ranieri's term at the club doesn't look as bad as first thought. Comparing his tenure to that of his predecessor, Slavisa Jokanovic, he won more games, got more points per game, scored at almost the same rate and conceded at a lower rate; which is, whichever way you look at it, a statistical improvement.

CR: P16, W3, D3, L10, S15, C32
SJ: P12, W1, D2, L9, S11, C31

But what people outside of Fulham will never be able to understand, and what we've come to learn ourselves from watching this Ranieri side, is that there are things that don't show up when you look at things in such a manner, which leaves no room for artistry, or style, or passion, or heart, or any of the things which are part of why this game is so beloved.

Footballing identities are hard things to build, and genuine starlets with the club in their hearts are even rarer in the modern game. Within 106 days, Claudio managed to all but erode the former, and decimate the confidence of the latter – leaving Fulham rudderless, devoid of the creative spark which we had grown to love; and isolating Ryan Sessegnon to the point where he looked so much a shadow of his former self that there were times where I thought I'd imagined his dazzling season last year.

The frustrating thing is that it all felt so avoidable – the insistence on five at the back against Palace when returning to four had paid such dividends against Brighton less than a week before; the orders on the full backs to check back instead of bombing on which left the Whites with a devastatingly obvious lack of width or options; the refusal to play a 10, leaving a player of Tom Cairney's technical ability floundering position-less.

His refusal to trust Sessegnon and Cairney, who not only are fan favourites but also represent (looking at it in the cold light of day) some of the club's best assets in a monetary sense is something that makes no sense in either the short term or the long-run – it alienated supporters and, you can imagine, the squad. Cairney's comments in particular stand out, actively questioning the manager's approach, which suggests a divide between philosophy of the management and the players themselves.

For a man who we expected to showcase at least man management skills, Ranieri's catenaccio-influenced obsession with keeping clean sheets blinded him to the obvious truth that this side's quality is better harnessed going forward and keeping the ball, as showcased during the Brighton game. Whilst he was brought in to shore the defence up, adding an extra man and basically refusing to allow any of that five to move forwards is not coaching brilliance, it's sticking a plaster over a gaping wound and hoping that it will heal. It didn't, and the plaster didn't work.

Whilst I have no doubt that he meant well, and was an affable character on the whole, his approach left Fulham stuck between stations and it is obvious that the flexibility needed to mould a squad is not something in Claudio's locker. But he has departed these lands, and for now at least, Scotty's at the wheel. He's learned under Jokanovic and Pochettino, and for a man with genuine football nous and the respect of the dressing room, there is something to be gained here.

Survival is too far away, I fear, but there is pride and respect to be salvaged from this season. A derby upset, a hand in the title race, some attacking football, the bond between the boys on the pitch and those in the stands restored. Floor the accelerator Scotty, we've not enjoyed being stuck in reverse.

You Whites.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2019-03-01-collins-column-the-ranieri-effect/

 
Chelsea vs Fulham could be Maurizio Sarri's FINAL game after Kepa Arrizabalaga 'shambles'

MAURIZIO SARRI could be sacked if this weekend's game against Fulham doesn't go Chelsea's way.

That's according to former Blues and Celtic midfielder Craig Burley, ahead of Sunday's west London derby.

Sarri's authority as Chelsea manager was badly undermined by Kepa Arrizabalaga during last Sunday's Carabao Cup final.

The goalkeeper refused to be substituted against Manchester City with a penalty shoot-out looming.

Kepa and his manager publicly put the situation down to a misunderstanding following the defeat.

But Chelsea subsequently fined the £71.6m stopper one week's wages and dropped him for Wednesday's win over Tottenham.

Burley labelled the situation at his former club 'shambolic', and said he wouldn't be shocked if Sarri was sacked.

"This saga - and it was a short saga - should be left in the past now," he told ESPN FC.

"It was dealt with quite shambolically to be quite frank. The PR there was not good.

"And I don't know if Kepa is going to play against Fulham. I thought he would be dropped [against Tottenham] and he was.

"Caballero might get another game because their next opponents Fulham are struggling, but who knows?

"But you just get the feeling at the moment that every game could be the last for Sarri.

"We just don't know because they got a very good result against Tottenham.

"Now they go to Fulham where they're absolutely expected to win but the pressure is back on for Sarri because Arsenal and Man Utd are winning."



https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/762800/Chelsea-news-Fulham-Maurizio-Sarri-Kepa-Craig-Burley-ESPN-latest?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-star-football+%28Daily+Star+%3A%3A+Football+Feed%29

 
Where Claudio Ranieiri's Fulham reign ranks among the Premier League's shortest managerial stints

Management in the Premier League is tough, and for some it's so tough that they barely get their head around the gig before it's over.

In the two-and-a-half years since winning the Premier League, Claudio Ranieri has been sacked twice, by both Leicester City and Fulham. His spell at Fulham lasted just 106 days, one of the shortest reigns in Premier League history – excluding caretakers.

But who holds the shortest, most inconsequential Premier League managerial stints? Read on to find out who is keeping Ranieri company in an unwanted section of the record books.

8. Claudio Ranieri

Club: Fulham

Number of league games managed: 16

Days in charge: 106

The magical tinker man who won the Premier League with Leicester in 2016 sadly kicked the bucket at Fulham just a few months after it all began.

Ranieri took over in November with the club looking to improve their chances of Premier League survival following the sacking of Slavisa Jokanovic.

As boss at Fulham, Ranieri managed three wins in 16, but leaves the club in 19th in the Premier League with to near-non existent chances of staying up  – they are currently 10 points off Southampton in 17th-place.

Along with 11 league defeats came a FA Cup third-round exit at home to League Two side Oldham.

7. Tony Adams

Club managed: Portsmouth

Number of league games managed: 15

Days in charge: 106

The former Arsenal stalwart won just two league games in charge at Portsmouth, earning 10 points from a possible 45 overall.

With a point-per-game ratio of 0.67, Adams' time on the south coast will be remembered as totally anathema to his proud playing days.

6. Colin Todd

Club: Derby County

Number of league games managed: 16

Days in charge: 98

The doomed Derby boss managed to win four games while in charge of Derby in 2001; he was swiftly sacked and the Rams were relegated that season in 19th spot.

The former Nottingham Forest defender managed a points average of 0.88 per game over the course of his 98 days at the helm.

5. Terry Connor

Clubs: Wolverhampton Wanderers

Number of league games managed: 13

Days in charge: 91

Initially named caretaker following Mick McCarthy's departure in 2012, Connor was soon named official Wolves manager for the remainder of the season as the club tried to fight off relegation.

But in his 13 games in charge Connor managed to gain just four points, failing to win a single match as Wolves finished 20th and returned to the Championship.

4. Bob Bradley

Club: Swansea

Number of league games managed: 11

Days in charge: 85

Bradley was seen as America's finest active manager for a while before he got his somewhat surprising move to Wales in 2016. The coach had been in charge at a number of MLS clubs before a relatively successful stint in charge of the US men's national team between 2006 and 2011.

After a job in charge of Egypt and a nomadic set of European clubs, Bradley was appointed manager at Liberty Stadium.

In taking over the hot seat, Bradley became the first American manager to work in the Premier League, though his tenure didn't last long, as he lost seven of his 11 league games.

The Swans were 19th when Bradley was sacked 85 days after being given the reins.

3. Frank de Boer

Club: Crystal Palace

Number of league games managed: 4

Days in charge: 77

Frank de Boer was seen as an accomplished manager off the back of his successful spell at Ajax, where he won four consecutive Eredivisie titles – the first manager to do so in Holland's top flight.

But that's where the good stuff ends. Although De Boer was in the mix for the vacant Spurs job, Tottenham ultimately went with Mauricio Pochettino, while De Boer went to Inter Milan in 2016 but was sacked after 14 games.

Things at Selhurst Palace... were even worse. Appointed as the manager in June 2017, the Dutchman was tasked with changing the image and style of Palace over a period of time, but he was out of a job 77 days later.

He departed after four-straight league defeats without scoring, though he did win one game in the League Cup.

2. Rene Meulensteen

Club: Fulham

Number of league games managed: 13

Days in charge: 75

The Dutchman was Alex Ferguson's right-hand man at United but was totally exposed when in the hot seat himself.

He managed just three league wins before he got the axe and was replaced by Felix Magath (who was also pretty terrible).

1. Les Reed

Club: Charlton Athletic

Number of league games managed: 7

Days in charge: 40

Reed was in charge of Charlton for seven games in 2006, but was actually at the helm in south-east London for just 40 games, making him the record-holder for the least number of days in charge of a Premier League football club.

Reed, who replaced Iain Dowie, registered one win, while his side were dumped out of the League Cup by League Two side Wycombe.

The media attacked him frequently, nicknaming him "Les Misérables" and "Santa Clueless". Reed was replaced by Alan Pardew.

Honourable mentions:

Steve Wigley

Club: Southampton

Number of games managed: 14

Days in charge: 107

Narrowly missing out on the worst eight, Wigley managed Southampton during what was a tumultuous time on the south coast. The Englishman was in charge of Southampton for 14 league games, winning just one, before ultimately getting the sack.

Jacques Santini

Club: Spurs

Number of games managed: 11

Days in charge: 154

The Frenchman left his role as France manager (announced during Euro 2004) for the Tottenham job, but while he guided France to the quarter-finals, his time at Spurs was fairly awful.

Santini's Spurs won three games in 11 league matches, and presided over the worst goalscoring start to a Premier League season by any Tottenham outfit; they had scored just six goals by the time he was sacked in early November.

A mix of personal problems and suspected disagreements over the running of the club with then Sporting Director Frank Armesen led to Santini tendering his resignation.

A job in charge of Auxerre followed but he hasn't managed a club since.

Sammy Lee

Club: Bolton

Number of games managed: 11

Days in charge: 170

Sammy Lee, as in 'Little Sam', was installed as permanent boss at Bolton following the sacking of 'Big Sam', Sam Allardyce.

Lee had been Allardyce's assistant at the club for his 371-game reign, but his own managerial stint wasn't quite as successful as the man whose team once had JayJay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff in it.

The former Bolton player Lee won just one of his 11 league games, and like a few others on the list, was made to walk with his team in 19th. A tendency to always look on the bright side as the bad results kept rolling in didn't help.

Stints in the coaching staff at Liverpool, Bolton and Palace have since followed.



Read more at http://www.squawka.com/en/news/the-eight-shortest-managerial-stints-in-premier-league-history/1084524#LWhKdBsCgl770hPL.99

 
'Sir Alex found the time to send a long detailed message, which is truly inspirational': Scott Parker reveals Ferguson sent him a good luck text as Fulham's caretaker boss gets to work

    Scott Parker has revealed he received a message from Sir Alex Ferguson
    Parker was named as Fulham's caretaker boss after Claudio Ranieri's sacking
    He took training for the first time on Friday ahead of the game against Chelsea
    Fulham are 10 points from safety with 10 games left to play in the top flight

Scott Parker wants the Fulham job on a full-time basis - and revealed he received a shock message from Sir Alex Ferguson detailing how to nail the role.

Parker has replaced Claudio Ranieri at the Craven Cottage helm, appointed caretaker manager on Thursday following the Italian's sacking.

The former England international admits he would like the role on a permanent basis - but knows the remaining 10 games of the season will likely determine if he can secure the job.

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/01/13/10455806-6760501-image-a-22_1551446382613.jpg)
Scott Parker oversaw Fulham training for the first time since being named caretaker manager

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/01/13/10456424-6760501-image-m-27_1551446396864.jpg)
The former Fulham midfielder will take charge of his first game against Chelsea on Sunday

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/01/13/10456428-6760501-image-a-26_1551446394227.jpg)
Players were put through their paces as they look to avoid Premier League relegation

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/01/13/10456426-6760501-image-a-28_1551446406274.jpg)
Star striker Aleksander Mitrovic smiles as he looks to dent Chelsea's top-four hopes

Parker says a text message from Manchester United legend Ferguson could help his challenge.

'I don't have many friends but yesterday my phone was pinging all the time,' said Parker. 'Sir Alex (Ferguson) found the time to send a long detailed message, giving me advice on how he sees things, which is truly inspirational.

'It's definitely an audition. On a personal note this is something I started working towards seven years ago when I was a Spurs player.

'I've got an ambition to be a manager. My main focus at this moment in time is getting the team together, finding some stability. 

'It's been a whirlwind 24 hours but I'm really looking forward to it. As a young person in this position, I'm very grateful.'

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/01/14/10458082-6760501-image-m-3_1551449209908.jpg)
The former Charlton midfielder smiles as he takes his first press conference as Fulham boss

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/01/13/10455890-6760501-image-m-39_1551446507200.jpg)
Midfield duo Tom Cairney and Kevin McDonald use each other to stretch out their legs

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/01/13/10455770-6760501-image-m-38_1551446497473.jpg)
Luciano Vietto jumps on the back of Ryan Babel during one exercise in Friday's session

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/01/13/10455776-6760501-image-m-41_1551446659957.jpg)
Calum Chambers and other Fulham's defenders have a tough task keeping Chelsea at bay

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/01/13/10455832-6760501-image-a-36_1551446488420.jpg)
Ryan Sessegnon will be hoping he can improve upon his disappointing Premier League season

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/01/13/10455778-6760501-image-m-35_1551446480731.jpg)
Parker was placed in charge of the first team after Claudio Ranieri's dismissal on Thursday

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/02/00/10476574-6760501-image-a-16_1551485702281.jpg)



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6760501/Scott-Parker-reveals-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-sent-good-luck-text.html

 
Chelsea's Sarri wary of Fulham reaction following Ranieri sacking

Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri is wary of a reaction from Claudio Ranieri's sacking when he takes his side to Fulham on Sunday.

The Blues have enjoyed a mini-resurgence in performances, including in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Tottenham, to make Sarri's position less precarious.

But there has been a managerial change at Craven Cottage ahead of the west London derby.

Sarri said about compatriot Ranieri: "I'm really very sorry. But I know very well his character, so I know very well that we will see him very soon, on another bench.

"Usually when there is change of the coach there is a reaction. And so we have to front (face) also the reaction.

"Then it's very difficult for us to prepare the match, because we don't know the new system, the new ideas. It's a very difficult match, I think."

Sarri is yet to decide whether to restore Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, after dropping the Spaniard for the Spurs win.

Willy Caballero started instead as Kepa was punished for his refusal to be substituted with penalties looming in last Sunday's Carabao Cup final with Manchester City. City won the shootout 4-3.

Kepa and Caballero are set to share goalkeeping duties on Sunday and in next week's Europa League last-16 first leg with Dynamo Kiev.

The 60-year-old Blues boss added: "The Kepa situation now is closed. Kepa is our first (choice) goalkeeper.

"But we are very happy for Willy, because now we know very well he's able to play also in a very difficult match.

"I'm sure in one of the two next matches Kepa will be on the pitch."



https://www.itv.com/news/2019-03-01/chelseas-sarri-wary-of-fulham-reaction-following-ranieri-sacking/

 
Fulham v Chelsea
SUN 03 Mar 2019   Premier League
Venue: Craven Cottage


TEAM NEWS

Fulham forward Andre Schurrle, who scored a hat-trick for Chelsea at Craven Cottage in 2014, is a doubt to face his former club due to illness.

Long-term absentees Alfie Mawson and Marcus Bettinelli remain out.

Head coach Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea have no injury concerns, with Kepa in contention to replace Willy Caballero in goal.

Defender Davide Zappacosta is available to make a first appearance since 18 February following illness.

---

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

@Wilsonfooty: So Claudio Ranieri was the reluctant winner of the race to be the first Italian manager sacked by a west London club this season - at times it looked like a close run thing.

Fulham fans turned on Ranieri during Wednesday's defeat at Southampton, and inaction from the Khan ownership was no longer an option; Scott Parker takes over for now.

For 18 months Parker was something of a fringe player at Chelsea - think somewhere between Ross Barkley and Danny Drinkwater. Imagine the pressure he would heap on Maurizio Sarri should he somehow conjure a win for Fulham.

That's not likely, however. The last time any side failed to score at least twice in a game against Fulham it was still 2018, and that team was Huddersfield. Say no more.

---

VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT

Fulham caretaker manager Scott Parker: "It's mixed emotions, what with sitting where we are in the league and Claudio losing his job.

"But the flip-side is one of excitement. I appreciate the opportunity and I'm really looking forward to it.

"It's definitely an audition. On a personal note this is something I started working towards seven years ago when I was a Spurs player.

"I've got an ambition to be a manager. My main focus at this moment in time is getting the team together, finding some stability."

Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri: "The Kepa situation now is closed. Kepa is our first [choice] goalkeeper.

"But we are very happy for Willy [Caballero], because now we know very well he's able to play also in a very difficult match.

"I'm sure in one of the next two matches Kepa will be on the pitch."

---

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

I don't think the change of manager will make much difference to the outcome on Sunday, simply because Chelsea are a better team.

Prediction: 0-2

---

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

    This is the 50th top-flight fixture between Fulham and Chelsea. The Cottagers have won only three of the previous 49 (D16, L30).
    Fulham's current run of 17 games without victory versus Chelsea is their longest top-flight winless streak against any opponent.

Fulham

    Fulham have lost seven of their past eight Premier League games, conceding at least twice in every match.
    Their four league victories this season all came at home against teams in the bottom six prior to this weekend: Burnley, Southampton, Huddersfield and Brighton & Hove Albion.
    They have lost all nine of their Premier League London derby matches this season, and could become the first team in top-flight history to lose 10 such matches in one campaign.
    The last time the the Cottagers hosted Chelsea in the Premier League, Fulham forward Andre Schurrle scored a hat-trick for the away side in a 3-1 victory.

Chelsea

    Chelsea's win against Tottenham was just a third in seven league matches, drawing one and losing three.
    They have lost their last three Premier League away games by an aggregate score of 12-0.
    The Blues could lose four successive away league matches for the first time since a run of five from October to December 2000 under Claudio Ranieri.
    They haven't gone four away league matches without scoring since December 1991.
    Chelsea have the same record after 27 Premier League matches as last season under Antonio Conte (W16, D5, L6).
    Pedro has scored eight Premier League goals this season under Maurizio Sarri, already double his tally in 2017-18 under Conte.
    Half of Pedro's league goals in 2018-19 have come in London derbies.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47346960

 
Fulham caretaker-manager Scott Parker reveals Sir Alex Ferguson advice
Former England midfielder hopes he can emulate the success of Manchester United caretaker-boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Scott Parker has revealed he received an 'inspirational' message from Sir Alex Ferguson congratulating him on his appointment as Fulham caretaker manager.

Parker was placed in charge of Fulham until the end of the season when Claudio Ranieri was sacked on Thursday, less than four months after replacing Slavisa Jokanovic at Craven Cottage.

The former England midfielder faces an imposing task to keep Fulham in the Premier League, with the west London club 10 points adrift of safety with 10 games remaining.

"I don't really have many friends, but yesterday the phone was pinging away," Parker said.

"I had some amazing text messages. Sir Alex text me late last night, which was pretty incredible really.

"To think that he spent the time to write a long, detailed message giving me some advice on how he sees things was truly inspirational really, and I know it sounds a big comment, but it's the truth."

Parker's first game in charge comes against his former club Chelsea on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, with challenging match-ups against Liverpool and Manchester City to follow later this month.

Ferguson's former club Manchester Untied have benefited from the caretaker appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has gone unbeaten in the Premier League since taking charge in December, and Parker hopes he can emulate the Norwegian.

Asked if he can have a similar impact to Solskjaer, Parker said: "I hope so. I really hope so.

"I hope I can bring an energy. I hope I can transmit my passion to the team.

"There's more to the game than just passion and drive, I get that, but that's a key fundamental in any top football club."



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11651767/fulham-caretaker-manager-scott-parker-reveals-sir-alex-ferguson-advice

 
Scott Parker transcript: Every word from his first press conference as Fulham caretaker boss

Here's what the new caretaker manager had to say in his first press conference at Hotspur Park

Sum up the emotions of getting the job?

It' mixed to be fair, in the sense that Claudio Ranieri has walked and the circumstance are what they and seeing where we are in the league.

He came in and was open arms with me and helping and I like to think I helped him at time, but on the flip side it's one of excitement, I appreciate the opportunity that the owners have given me and I'm looking forward to it in that sense.

It's a big job but I'm looking forward to it

What have you said to the players?

I had a meeting today and I think the main focus for this team over the course of the last few months and weeks, there has been a disconnect, certainly with the fans, and I tried to explain at times there's certain things you can't guarantee as a player.

Whether that is Mitrovic scoring a goal, whether that is Chambers making passes successfully, you can't guarantee that.

If there's one thing you can guarantee as a football player is you leave a passion and desire on a football pitch that is seen, it doesn't lie and that's the message I've given to the players.

There's a bigger picture in the detail of the work and tactics but at this moment in time I want our fans to look at a team of players at the end of 90 that have given everything and if they do that the result will be a by-product.

That's been the main focus and message in this short period of timing.

Is this an audition for beyond this season?

It's definitely an audition and on a personal note, this is something that I started seven years ago as a Spurs player doing my coaching badges.

It's a passion of mine, I had a year at Spurs which was invaluable to me coaching players and being around players and then my short period here was the same.

I have a dying ambition to be a manager, certainly at this present moment in time my main focus is trying to get the team together a little bit, a little stability, take a deep breath and work from there.

Any former managers been in touch?

Yea, literally, I don't have many friends but yesterday the phone was pinging away.

I had some amazing texts, Sir Alex text me late last night which was pretty incredible - to think he spent the time to write a long detailed message giving me some advice on how he sees things was truly inspirational.

It sounds a big comment but it's the truth.

We all understand the football world, there's times when it's despair or there's times when things are going well and you get a promotion and you see the love, certainly over the course of 24 hours the phone has been pinging.

What has Claudio said to you?

We all know what Claudio is like as a man - a true classy man in every sense and he came in this morning and addressed the players and we had a ten minute conversation in a room.

I thanked him for his time and effort with me and likewise the same, this is football and Claudio said to me we all understand how it works and when you've been involved in the game so long you realise the ups and downs and in this next part of my career certainly you understand these things happen and you haven't go the security you do as a player.

As a man he was a class act.

Chelsea first game and then City and Liverpool - think of the start?

The situation doesn't lie, it's a tough situation and regarding those games this is a bunch of players that last year were one of the best teams in the Championship, albeit they went up via the play-offs.

This was a team that went through a hard season in the Championship for these moments and, okay, it's a tough ask, but I know sitting in this position I'm relishing this opportunity against these top teams, players and coaches and the players will be too.

What do you think is realistically achievable?

I suppose yesterday when I got told the news, even over the course of the last few months and you look at the situation we're in, I think my main focus is to get a balance back and like everything, when you're involved in relegations and you're losing a lot of matches things can go off on different tangents and I feel that's where we are - as a club, as fans, players and ownership we need to regroup and I know if we do that, results will be a by-product from that.

I'm not going to sit here and say we can get out of it, I realise the task ahead is very difficult, but it's not mathematically impossible so certainly it's something we'll strive to do.

Think you can have the same effect as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer?

I hope so, I really hope so.

I hope I can bring energy and transmit my passion to the team and I think there's more to the game than that, I get that, but that's a key fundamental in any top football club or player.

I'll be trying to transmit that.

Feel that passion may have been missing at times?

Yes, definitely.

I feel like at times this year we've been easy to play against and I feel that's why the fans have pulled away a bit.

I've sat there every week in the dugout, I've seen it with my own eyes at times, I can see the reason whys and this year at times I think we've been a little easy to play against.

We need to change that and need to address that and try do that in the coming weeks.

Own style and be own man, who can you draw most inspiration from?

I've had so many managers in my short career, there's all different things from different managers, good and bad, and I include the top ones I had a long the way that I've built up my own little ideas and philosophy of how I want to play and like I said, I've been under leadership of top managers really and took a bit of everything.

London derby - start against former club, how different does that feel as a manager?

I don't think it feels different in the sense I understand what is at stake and that it's a London derby against a very good football team.

In that sense it won't be different, but will be is you're standing on the outside hoping your 11 players on the field can transmit what you've put into them and sometimes you're powerless in that sense, but you like to think the work that goes in before it, you can get the outcome you want.

Any injuries?

The injuries are the usual - Alfie Mawson is still recovering from a knee injury, he may be back in April. Andre Schurrle is recovering from a virus and Marcus Bettinelli is more long term.

Scott Parker the manager

It sounds quite weird to be fair.

It's been a whirlwind 24 hours so looking forward to it and excited.

Your opportunity now?

It's a big opportunity for me, at the same time I understand the role and what is needed and my focus is the football club and the team and trying to pick up some results along the way.

Not bad getting a new job and having Sir Alex text you?

Yeah, there were loads of people in touch yesterday, congratulating and giving support which was amazing.

As a young manager or young person in this position in this present moment it's great.

Realistic player - what can you expect from this job this season?

I am a realist, I understand the situation, I've been in football a long time and I'm not silly to think I'm in a position here as just caretaker.

I look at Darren Moore who has done exceptionally well, but I don't want to keep repeating myself or that it's the go-to thing, but it's the truth, at this moment in time all I can focus on is the games ahead and try give the team as much support as I can and show my quality to the team and give them the detail they need and hopefully get results from that.

Been on the bench this season, most though Fulham would be fine pre-season, what went wrong?

It's like anything, when you're in a position we're in and lose games, everything that you feel is straight thinking, whether you're a manager, coach, player, becomes a bit blurry and as a player I was involved in relegation, I understand how it works and I feel that's where we are.

It's a time to regroup and take our breath and take our time a little bit.

We have some quality players, at the beginning of the season would you have predicted this? No, but certainly over the last few months things are a bit blurry in the players eyes and that's down to no one in particular, that's down to the fact you're in the best league in the world playing against the best players.

Things become difficult from that, things that are straight forward decisions, opportunities, all of a sudden become like they're massive and confidence becomes low, and that's where we are in a nutshell.

Do you have an advantage over Chelsea?

We're playing against a top class team, its a difficult game but like I said to the players, it's what they've worked for last year, go out there and express their quality and the most important thing is to make sure the 25k fans clap them knowing they gave everything.

How will you feel on Sunday?

It will be tough and it will be trying to get my message in the two days I have prior and over the course of the coming weeks. I want to give the players a real clear idea of what I expect, what the club expect and what the fans expect.

If I can can do that and they can translate that, I can't promise we'll win games but we'll be in a better place for sure.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/scott-parker-transcript-every-word-15907575

 
Why Fulham are right to take a risk on Scott Parker

Claudio Ranieri's time as Fulham FC manager lasted just seventeen games. Only three were won. The 'sure thing' failed miserably. It has been some remarkable fall from grace for The Tinkerman, who was lifting the most unlikely of Premier League titles just a few years ago.

Perhaps the only thing that shocked me more than Ranieri getting sacked so soon was the replacement being named as Scott Parker. On the face of it, it came from left-field, but when you delve deeper, it makes perfect sense.

Parker, now aged 38, spent five great seasons at Craven Cottage. He was the base that teams were built around. The fans love him. He loves the fans. What does Fulham have to lose? Absolutely nothing.

The Cottagers are ten points away from Premier League safety. With just ten games left, it certainly looks as though Fulham will be heading back down to the Championship next season. If there's any situation to take a gamble with their appointment, now is the time. Parker has never managed before, so in all honesty, this could go from bad to worse, but at least they're giving themselves the slimmest of chances; rather than just watching the club sink back down into English football's second tier.

Fan favourite? Check. Intelligent and forward-thinker? Check. A willingness to learn? Check. Parker ticks all the boxes. In that regard, I liken him to Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appointment, albeit on a smaller scale. If anyone can boost morale inside that Fulham dressing room, it's Parker.

Looking at the upcoming fixtures, it's not going to be easy and Parker is certainly being thrown in at the deep-end. Three of their next four games are against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City. It's unfair to judge him on results against those, rather games against Cardiff City, Newcastle and Bournemouth should be the ones you keep an eye on. By that point, the Englishman would have had time to settle in and begin to adapt the squad into one that fits his playing style.

Nobody is expecting miracles. It'll just be nice for Fulham fans to have belief. Their last two Premier League managers have been uninspiring and quite frankly, pretty boring. Parker is an exciting and bold choice. It'll certainly get bums on seats and lift the spirits for the short-term in the very least. It's always nice to see fresh opportunities given rather than the same old managerial merry-go-round names getting yet another shot. Sam Allardyce or Parker? For me, that's an easy one.

Now, this probably won't come as a shock to Fulham fans, but they'll probably still go down. This appointment also works in that aspect. Parker won't be on hefty wages, which is important given the huge gulf in money when dropping down to the Championship. If the positives signs are shown before this season's end, there's no doubt the ex-midfielder will get the chance to try again next season. That would allow him to learn without the pressures that the Premier League brings. With an extremely talented squad at his disposal, I certainly wouldn't bet against Fulham bouncing straight back...



https://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/articles/why-fulham-are-right-to-take-a-risk-on-scott-parker

 
Scott Parker reveals the demand he's made of his Fulham players after being named boss

The caretaker boss had a meeting with his players this morning on his first day in the job

Scott Parker has revealed the demand he's made of his Fulham players - to make sure the fans know they've given everything at the end of 90 minutes, no matter what the result.

That is something the side have been lacking massively this season, with the players at times not looking like they've strolled through a match playing at 75 per cent inside of the 100 per cent that their new boss is asking for.

As a player the 38-year-old was known for his no-nonsense approach which saw him gain adulation from fans of every team he played from, from Charlton Athletic to Newcastle United and all the way back to London again.

The same can't be said for the current squad at Fulham, many of whom fans believe haven't given their all this season as they fall further adrift at the bottom of the table.

But speaking at his first press conference as caretaker boss of Fulham, Parker wants his players to change that and leave everything on the pitch for the fans to see.

He said: "I had a meeting today and I think the main focus for this team over the course of the last few months and weeks, there has been a disconnect, certainly with the fans, and I tried to explain at times there's certain things you can't guarantee as a player.

"Whether that is Mitrovic scoring a goal, whether that is Chambers making passes successfully, you can't guarantee that.

"If there's one thing you can guarantee as a football player is you leave a passion and desire on a football pitch that is seen, it doesn't lie and that's the message I've given to the players.

"There's a bigger picture in the detail of the work and tactics but at this moment in time I want our fans to look at a team of players at the end of 90 that have given everything and if they do that the result will be a by-product.

"That's been the main focus and message in this short period of timing."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/scott-parker-fulham-demands-players-15907918

 
Scott Parker demands more passion from Fulham players

Newly-appointed Fulham caretaker manager Scott Parker believes displaying more passion will help his squad overcome a disconnect with the club's supporters.

Parker, who spent the final four seasons of his playing career at Craven Cottage, replaced Claudio Ranieri on Thursday as the Italian was sacked less than four months after replacing Slavisa Jokanovic.

Fulham are 10 points adrift of Premier League safety with 10 games remaining, and with games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City to come in March, their chances of survival appear bleak.

"There are certain things as a football player you can't guarantee, whether that's (Aleksandar) Mitrovic scoring a goal, whether that's Calum Chambers making passes successfully, you can't guarantee that," said Parker, who has been given the job until the end of the season.

"But if there's one thing you guarantee as a football player, it's that you leave a passion, you have a desire on the football field, that is undoubtedly seen."

"Of course there's a bigger picture in the detail of the work and there's tactics but at this moment in time, I want our fans to look at a team of players at the end of 90 minutes that have literally given everything and if they do that, I know ultimately the result will be a by-product from that."

Parker was renowned for his professionalism and passion during a playing career in which he represented four other London clubs, including Tottenham, where he served as a youth coach last season.

The former England midfielder's first game in charge comes against another of his old clubs, Chelsea, live on Sky Sports on Sunday, when he hopes to begin to prove to the Fulham hierarchy that he is worthy of the role on a permanent basis.

"It's definitely an audition," Parker said.

"On a personal note this is something which I started seven years ago when I was a Spurs player, I started to do my coaching badges, it's a passion of mine."

"I've got a dying ambition to be a manager, certainly at this present moment in time, my main focus is trying to get the team together a little bit, trying to get a little bit of stability, take a deep breath and work from there really."



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11651923/scott-parker-demands-more-passion-from-fulham-players

 
'Catastrophic': Bristol City fans fear Lee Johnson is Fulham bound

Lee Johnson has led Bristol City into the Championship play-offs but could he take over at Premier League strugglers Fulham?

Lee Johnson is reportedly in contention to take over at Fulham...and deservedly so.

The Cottagers put Claudio Ranieri out of his misery on Thursday, sacking the veteran Italian with the club ten points adrift of safety in the Premier League. According to the Mirror (1 March, page 69) Johnson is one of the main candidates to take over at Craven Cottage.

And he certainly feels like a good fit. More so than David Moyes or Steve Clarke, who have also been linked by the Express.

Johnson is a manager famed for turning a team into a unit greater than the sum of its parts while playing some of the most attractive, attack-minded football in the Championship. The new Slavisa Jokanovic, anyone?

Understandably, however, Bristol City fans are desperate to see Johnson stay at Ashton Gate for as long as possible.  The 37-year-old has a lot to learn, with the Robins still prone to an alarming dip in form, but there is no doubting the incredible job he has done at Ashton Gate.

The chirpy Cockney led City to the EFL Cup semi-finals last season, beating Manchester United along the way, and they are currently in the play-offs – ahead of much fancied Derby County, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa no less.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/03/01/do-catastrophic-bristol-city-fans-fear-lee-johnson-is-fulham-bou/

 
Chelsea must be wary of Fulham after Ranieri exit - Sarri

(Reuters) - Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has warned his players to expect a reaction from relegation-threatened Fulham following the departure of Claudio Ranieri.

Fulham, 19th in the standings, sacked Ranieri as manager on Thursday following a dismal run of results and appointed Scott Parker as his caretaker replacement.

"Usually, when there is a change of coach, there is a reaction. And so we have to front the reaction," Sarri told reporters on Friday.

"Then it's difficult for us to prepare the match to know their new systems and ideas. They also have opportunities to save themselves, so we'll have to play a very difficult match, a derby."

The game on Sunday is Chelsea's third in eight days after their penalty shootout defeat in the League Cup final by Manchester City and Wednesday's win over Tottenham Hotspur.

"On Sunday, we played for 130 minutes and 95 minutes on Wednesday. So we need to value the recovery because we ran for 15km on Sunday on average, and the average in the last match was 12km," Sarri added.

Sarri said striker Gonzalo Higuain needed to improve his fitness to get back to his goal-scoring best, recalling the Argentine's form at Napoli under his management when he equalled an Italian Serie A record 36 goals in a season in 2015-16.

"He (Higuain) needs more acceleration because now he is a little more resistant, without the acceleration that he had in Naples, for example," Sarri said.

"He needs to improve his physical condition, especially for the acceleration, and then he will be able to score, of course."

Chelsea are sixth in the table, two points behind fifth-placed Manchester United but with a game in hand.



https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-england-ful-che-sarri-preview/chelsea-must-be-wary-of-fulham-after-ranieri-exit-sarri-idUKKCN1QI5AX?rpc=401&

 
Gonzalo Higuain could finally make his Chelsea mark against Fulham

Chelsea travel to West Midlands rivals Fulham on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League and it's a big opportunity for Gonzalo Higuain to lay down a gauntlet at Craven Cottage.

The 31-year-old striker moved to Stamford Bridge in January on loan and was tasked with reshaping a lacklustre forward line.

He's made seven appearances so far for the Blues and shown some excellent qualities in holding the ball up, but has not quite hit the ground running like supporters may have wanted.

His only two goals so far came against bottom of the table Huddersfield and he was left out of the starting XI by manager Maurizio Sarri in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

Chelsea are now preparing to face a fragile Fulham side that sit 19th in the table and are staring relegation to the Championship in the face following the sacking of Claudio Ranieri.

Higuain should be licking his lips at the prospect of facing a poor Fulham defence that have conceded 63 goals in 28 league games so far.

The Argentina international is a fox in the box that should certainly be able to get on the scoresheet and make himself a hero in a local derby.

A couple of goals under his belt could be the perfect springboard for Higuain to kick on from now until the rest of the season.



https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/analysis/gonzalo-higuain-could-finally-make-his-chelsea-mark-against-fulham/

 
Realistic, Dream and Wildcard options for Fulham in their hunt for a new boss including this PL veteran

Fulham opinion: Who should be the man to replace Claudio Ranieri?

When Fulham first spent over £100million (h/t Standard) during the summer window, few would have tipped them as relegation candidates. However, a little over six months later, the Cottagers are relegation candidates, having sacked their second manager of the season, Claudio Ranieri.

The former Leicester City boss was appointed in November after Slavisa Jokanovic struggled to make an impact, but the 67-year-old failed to do much.

While the former Chelsea boss won his first game in charge, that's only the first out of 3 wins in 17 games played in the 106 days he was in charge.

Things went from bad to worse, with them getting knocked out of the FA Cup by League Two side Oldham. While Scott Parker has been appointed as the caretaker manager, the hunt for Ranieri's successor is on and here are a few options.

Realistic: Steve Clarke
The Scottish Daily Star has reported that Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke is on top of Fulham's list, with the 55-year-old impressing in the Premiership. However, while Clarke has done well at Kilmarnock, it's his Premier League experience that Fulham can really use.

The former West Brom and Newcastle United manager has managed in the English top-tier to varying levels of success before moving on. Even if Fulham get relegated, Clarke can be a success since he has the experience of managing in the Championship as well.

Clarke was appointed as Reading's manager in December 2015 and successfully led them out of the relegation zone. That combined with his experience as an assistant to the likes of Sir Kenny Dalglish, Roy Hodgson and even Rafael Benitez will prove to be good for Fulham.

Clarke was previously linked with a move to Craven Cottage in 2015 (h/t Telegraph), and maybe this could finally be his chance.

Unrealistic: David Moyes
The former Manchester United and Everton boss is not what the Cottagers need at the moment, especially if the club intend to stay in the Premier League. Currently out of work at the moment, after another unsuccessful spell at West Ham United, the Scotsman was touted to be the next great thing.

However, Manchester United and the unrealistic expectation of replacing Sir Alex Ferguson was thrust upon the former Everton boss and he buckled under pressure. Things went from bad to worse, with spells at Real Sociedad and Sunderland before he arrived at West Ham.

While he was a success at Everton, the 55-year-old has struggled to replicate that at other clubs but if Fulham get relegated, then Moyes would be a good option.

Dream: Sam Allardyce
It's the kind of scenario that few managers want to be a part of but it's one that Sam Allardyce dreams of every day. A relegation specialist if there ever was one, the 64-year-old has specialised in doing the impossible for his sides.

The likes of Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and even Blackburn Rovers all have him to thank for surviving when the odds seemed against them.

That's what Fulham need and while their drop is all but confirmed, if there is one man who could change that, it's Sam Allardyce.

However the former Everton manager has already rejected the chance to help Huddersfield survive and he said (h/t Independent) that even he can't save them. So Allardyce is merely a dream option for Fulham.

Wildcard: David Wagner
The former Huddersfield boss has been out of a job since he resigned earlier in the season. However, despite that, the 42-year-old is still highly thought of, after his incredible performance last season to keep the club in the Premier League.

Despite a much smaller budget as compared to the other Premier League sides, Wagner and Huddersfield performed a masterclass to stay in the top-tier last term.

But unfortunately, the same issues played a big role in their downfall this season, and the Terriers currently sit at the bottom with relegation all but confirmed.

However, if Fulham do get relegated, few managers would do as well as Wagner would and his exciting brand of attacking football will suit the club. Moreover, appointing him now would make the transition next season much easier.



https://soccersouls.com/realistic-dream-and-wildcard-options-for-fulham-in-their-hunt-for-a-new-boss-including-this-pl-veteran/

 
Khan must appoint David Wagner

Fulham currently find themselves in a spot of bother in the relegation zone, with Claudio Ranieri's recent sacking only adding to the disappointment at Craven Cottage.

Claudio Ranieri won only three of his 17 games as manager after taking over from Slavisa Jokanovic, and he's now left them 10 points from safety with 10 games left.

The Cottagers have appointed Scott Parker as caretaker manager with former first-team coach Stuart Gray joining as his assistant. But, fans will be more focused on who Shahid Khan will decide to appoint at the end of the season, with relegation to the Championship looking a certainty at this moment in time.

Indeed, the manager who Khan simply has to go all out to secure is former Huddersfield Town boss David Wagner.

Of course, relegation hasn't officially been confirmed, but Fulham will find themselves back in the Premier League by 2020 if Khan appoints David Wagner at the end of the season following potential relegation. He performed miracles last season to first take Huddersfield into the Premier League and then keep them there against all odds.

He also managed to create an extremely tight bond with the players in the Championship, despite bringing in 13 new faces prior to the start of the 2016-17 season. Indeed, the Cottagers have failed to get the best out of a number of their summer signings after spending big prior to the start of this season, so he could definitely sort out that mess.

Wagner promotes an attractive, attacking style that could definitely bring excitement back to Craven Cottage, and his experience from securing promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs during his time at Huddersfield could prove invaluable as the Championship is arguably one of the most competitive leagues in Europe.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/khan-must-appoint-david-wagner/

Cottage Talk: View Of The Opposition - Alex Goldberg Breaks Down Chelsea
Take a listen to a podcast that focuses on Fulham Football Club.

This episode is an interview with Alex Goldberg, who is a Chelsea supporter, and has a popular YouTube Channel entitled "The Byline".

During the intervew, Alex shared his views on Chelsea since the teams last played, and shared his thoughts on the upcoming derby on Sunday between Chelsea and Fulham. We ended the show with Alex sharing his prediction. This is our preview show for this match.


You can also listen to the show by following this link...
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2019/3/1/18246793/cottage-talk-view-of-the-opposition-alex-goldberg-breaks-down-chelsea

 
Scott Parker is planning for the long-term at Fulham as he considers caretaker role an audition

The 38-year-old is eyeing a permanent role should his spell at Craven Cottage prove successful

Scott Parker is taking a long-term view at Craven Cottage after being named Fulham caretaker boss in what he is seeing as an audition to becoming a permanent manager.

The 38-year-old has been given his first job in senior management by Shahid Khan after the owner sacked Claudio Ranieri on Thursday after a 2-0 defeat at Southampton left the Whites ten points off safety in the Premier League with only ten games remaining.

It's about as tough a first job as you get and Parker has made it clear that he is fully aware of the size of the task he has on his hands in west London for the final ten matches.

He wants to restore some pride and heal the divide between players, club and fans and in doing so Parker is also taking a long term view to make sure he leaves the club in a better place, although he also sees it as an audition for a permanent gig.

Parker said: "Obviously I'm a caretaker but my affiliation with this club has been a long while now - four years (as a player) and now back as a coach.

"Of course there is a short term - in my position who is to know what happens in 10 games time, but I will be taking a long term view in that whatever the outcome is personally, I leave this club in a better place.

"That means planning pre-season or anything else long term that could help the club I will be giving my advice on that.

"It's definitely an audition and on a personal note, this is something that I started seven years ago as a Spurs player doing my coaching badges.

"It's a passion of mine, I had a year at Spurs which was invaluable to me coaching players and being around players and then my short period here was the same.

"I have a dying ambition to be a manager, certainly at this present moment in time my main focus is trying to get the team together a little bit, a little stability, take a deep breath and work from there."

Getting a job like this has been seven years in the making for Parker after he started his coaching badges back when he was at Tottenham Hotspur.

During his time at Fulham as a player he helped coach the Academy side while he was appointed Spurs' U18 manager last year after announcing his retirement for playing.

He completed his UEFA Pro License, which you must have if you wish to manage a club in any top tier of any European nation's league permanently, a year-and-a-half ago, meaning should this spell as caretaker boss go well Parker has all the qualifications to manage in England.

But despite this being his first job as manager of a senior side, he is fully aware of how different this will be to his playing days.

He added: "I started off as a Spurs player under John McDermott who helped me and has been incredible in that sense. And then finished my Pro licence about 18 months ago as well, and the FA again have been brilliant in that sense.

"Obviously they have been very supportive of young English and British coaches. It's been something I have worked hard to do, I've been passionate about, and I want to be good at it really.

"I realise it is totally different to playing. You can play as many games as I have as a player, I've played for my country, but ultimately this is a different skill set.

"And there are certain elements which I knew a few years ago before I started I would be very good at, and there are certain areas which I thought 'ok, I am going to need to work on that' and that's what I've done over the course of time."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/scott-parker-planning-long-term-15909470