Wednesday Fulham Stuff (02/10/13)...

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Jol resigned to Fulham chop as under-fire boss tells pals he expects to be sacked

Fulham boss Martin Jol has virtually resigned himself to becoming the Premier League's next managerial casualty.

The under-fire Dutchman has told close allies he expects to be sacked by the club's American owner Shahid Khan sooner rather than later.

Likewise, talk amongst about Jol's position is rife amongst the Craven Cottage squad - with many players under the impression his reign is close to coming to an end.


End of the road: Martin Jol has told close friends that he expects to be sacked by Fulham

Jol fears Khan wants a more high-profile manager at the helm, though the mega-rich businessman will be guided by the board over his next move.

Nevertheless, Sportsmail understands members of the Fulham hierarchy have also lost faith in the former Tottenham manager and see no future for him at the club.

Furthermore, senior figures at Craven Cottage have been annoyed at Jol's recent comments where he criticised supporters and intimated the club needed to invest more money into the playing squad.

Jol - whose side are currently in the relegation zone - will not be shocked if he is axed before the weekend clash against Stoke.
But if he is in charge for the encounter against Mark Hughes' side, defeat should seal his fate.

Supporters have turned on the Dutchman following a poor run that has seen them pick just one point from their last seven home games.

Martin O'Neill has emerged as an early contender to replace Jol in west London after his long-term assistant Steve Walford was spotted at Craven Cottage during the defeat to Cardiff on Saturday.

Former Manchester United No 2 Rene Meulensteen will also be considered, while ex-Chelsea team-mates Roberto Di Matteo and Gus Poyet could also be in the running.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2439926/Martin-Jol-resigned-Fulham-chop-manager-tells-friends-expects-sacked.html#ixzz2gX6FX1MH
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Rewind Report

Each week we take a look back through the archives to revisit a match against our most recent opposition. This week, it's a League Cup clash against Cardiff City some 15 years ago.

11th August 1998 Fulham 2-1 Cardiff City

Fulham came from behind to defeat Cardiff City in the last Craven Cottage meeting between the sides prior to the weekend's game, with Peter Beardsley and Dirk Lehmann (whose goal from the game was featured in the following matchday programme – pictured above) securing the victory.

Confidence was high as Kevin Keegan started a season as Fulham Manager for the first time, having taken a more hands on role at the tail end of the 1997/98 campaign following Ray Wilkins' departure.

Our season had begun solidly with an opening day win away at Macclesfield Town courtesy of John Salako's debut goal, but we were given an immediate respite from Division Two action as we faced Cardiff in the Worthington Cup – as sponsorship rights dictated it be named back then.

Fourth-tier Cardiff were the visitors, with the Bluebirds naming former Fulham midfielder Richard Carpenter in their starting XI for the First Leg tie, with another ex-Whites man on the bench in the form of Jeff Eckhardt. Keegan made just one change from the side that defeated Macclesfield, and it was a positive one as forward Beardsley came in for defender Matt Lawrence.

The first opportunity of note fell the way of the visitors as Christian Roberts hit an off-target shot within the opening minute, but Fulham soon began to find some rhythm, with Rufus Brevett and Salako causing problems down the left.

Yet it was Cardiff who struck first when Lee Phillips hit a ball forwards to John Williams who finished confidently beyond Maik Taylor to give his side a surprise lead.


Fulham responded brightly, though, and were pressing the Cardiff players hard as they probed for an equaliser. Beardsley saw his strike from 30 yards gathered by Bluebirds stopper Jon Hallworth, before Kit Symons had his header cleared off the line by Mark Bonner.

Cardiff were well under the cosh and couldn't quite make it to half-time with their lead intact as Beardsley struck two minutes prior to the interval. A cross from the right fell kindly into his path having ricocheted off a defender and the former England man made no mistake as he drilled his effort into the corner of the net.

The Welsh outfit emerged for the second half with renewed vigour, forcing Taylor into two saves, firstly from Scott Young, before future Aston Villa and Wales full-back Mark Delaney tested him with a long-range effort.

Cardiff's promising play meant it came as something of a surprise when the Whites took the lead through Lehmann shortly before the hour mark. Brevett played the ball in-field to the German striker who took it on his chest before thumping an effort beyond Hallworth.

Wayne Collins then got a head onto Salako's cross only to see the ball land on the roof of the net, before Kevin Nugent shot over at the other end. Beardsley saw an attempt deflect wide for a corner, before Carpenter sought a goal on his return to the Cottage but shot over after running at the Fulham defence.

The Whites won the reverse fixture at Ninian Park by the same scoreline a week later – Salako and Simon Morgan with the goals – to secure a 4-2 aggregate victory and safe passage to the Second Round.

From the archives

Fulham FC matchday programme (v. Manchester City) – Friday 14th August 1998

'Kevin's Corner' – Kevin Keegan's Programme Notes

"Tuesday night's was a very good game of football and we certainly created some chances. We got some good quality crosses into the box and on another night might have scored more than the two goals. Again, we showed a lot of character to come back from conceding an early goal and it was nice to see Peter Beardsley get on the scoresheet and Dirk's was a great goal. It sets up the return leg nicely for Tuesday night at Ninian Park."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/october/01/rewind-report?

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Neil Kinnock kicked out of seat at Cardiff City match for wild celebrations
Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock was kicked out of his seat during a Premier League football match after upsetting fans with his wild celebrations.

Lifelong Cardiff City supporter Lord Kinnock "caused angry responses" by leaping up and down with joy when his team scored against Fulham.

Security staff had to escort him from his seat for "spoiling" the enjoyment of home fans at the West London club.

Lord Kinnock, 71, and his two grandchildren were among hundreds of Cardiff City fans sitting in the home stand at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground.

The former Leader of the Opposition jumped for joy when his team scored in the 12th minute of the first half.

Other Cardiff City fans said they saw stewards arrive and escort Lord Kinnock and his grandchildren from the Riverside Stand at the ground.

One fan posted on the club's fan forum: "Pleased to see Mr Kinnock sitting two rows in front of me in the stand.

"I am not sure if Neil has as much experience as me of sitting with the home fans but his celebration of our first goal led to him being escorted from the stand."

Lord Kinnock, former Vice-President of the European Commission, was later spotted going "bonkers" in another part of the ground when Cardiff City scored their injury-time winning goal.

It gave the Welsh team an historic 2-1 victory - their first away win in the top flight since 1962.

Hundreds of Cardiff City fans bought tickets in the home end at the stadium after their official allocation sold out.

Sarah Brookes, spokeswoman for Fulham FC, said: "Mr Kinnock was located in the home stand on Saturday and caused some angry responses when he and his family celebrated the Cardiff City goal.

"He was relocated in The Putney End, the away Stand, where there were a number of spare seats.

"We would always relocate away fans found in home areas, if seats are available, to ensure that Fulham fans located in home areas enjoy their matchday experience."

Lord Kinnock's office in London said he had been expecting to sit in the "away end" with other fans of the newly-promoted Welsh club.

Spokeswoman Jane Enright said it was just co-incidence that Lord Kinnock and his grandchildren were moved just after Cardiff City scored.

Lord Kinnock has been a fan of Cardiff City - known as The Bluebirds - since his coal miner father took him to his first match aged six.

He has previously been quoted before a big match saying: "Decorum will not come into it if Cardiff win."

Neil Kinnock was an MP in the Welsh Valleys from 1970 until 1995, first for the Bedwellty constituency and then for Islwyn.

He was Leader of the Opposition from 1983 until the Labour Party leadership election in 1992, making him the longest-serving Leader of the Opposition in British political history to date, and the longest never to have become Prime Minister.

Following Labour's fourth consecutive defeat in the 1992 general election Lord
Kinnock resigned as leader and resigned from the House of Commons three years later.

He became the European Union's Transport Commissioner and. He went on to become the Vice-President of the European Commission from 1999 to 2004.

In January 2005, he was elevated to the peerage becoming Baron Kinnock of Bedwellty.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/telegraphsportnews/10346461/Neil-Kinnock-kicked-out-of-seat-at-Cardiff-City-match-for-wild-celebrations.html

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Partnerships: Hodgson and Jol
by EJL

Martin Jol will go into Fulham's game with Stoke on Saturday knowing that only a win will likely be good enough to save his job. The Whites have won just one of their opening six Premier League fixtures, now totalling only three wins at home since the start of 2013.

Often when teams are struggling, like Fulham were last season, they rely on cliques or partnerships on the pitch to get results. Apart from the constantly disjointed right-flank of Ashkan Dejagah and Sascha Riether, there was nothing but an occasional moment of brilliance from Giorgos Karagounis or Dimitar Berbatov to carry them through games. Jol was the first manager to really take apart the 2010 Fulham team and attempt to mould his own squad and style, but the Dutchman has failed to find that grouped consistency that made Hodgson's sides so difficult to beat.

Under Roy Hodgson, the entire team was constructed around numerous sets of players that complimented each other perfectly. Firstly, the formerly named 'Thames Barrier' — consisting of Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes — played a significant part in the Cottagers only conceding 34 goals in the Premier League during the 2008-09 season — the fourth best defensive record in the division. Hodgson famously said upon appointment at Fulham that everybody in his squad was the same size; there was no commanding defensive presence to slug away in a relegation battle. Sure enough, he solved the problem by bringing in the 6 ft 5 Norwegian, forging one of the best centre-half partnerships outside of the top four in recent memory. Hughes provided the athleticism, pace and conservatism that Hangeland lacked, whereas the latter's sheer size, strength and aerial consistency compensated for the Northern Irisman's flaws. It was a running theme in Hodgson's system: start players that have one or two outstanding strengths and team them up with their near polar opposite.

Another example of Fulham's balance was exemplified in the centre of midfield. Dickson Etuhu's contribution towards getting the best out of Danny Murphy shouldn't go without praise. A 2008 summer signing from Sunderland, Etuhu came to Fulham with just a season's worth of Premier League experience under his belt and a fiery reputation. Similar to the strengths in Hangeland's game, the Nigerian added a physical and ubiquitous presence to Hodgson's new look midfield. His job was to break up attacks before they had a chance to bloom, collect the ball, give it to Murphy and let him 'do his thing'. Mark Hughes' attempts to convert Etuhu into a rampaging box-to-box midfielder were admirable, but it was his role as the enforcer that suited him best.

Those two pairs were Fulham's spine for a good three-and-a-half years. Other notable duos included Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera's exploits in the Europa League, and the connection between Zamora and Damien Duff — their trademark being a one-two coming in off the right-wing, sometimes leading to a goal (Everton 2009). The problem with Jol's time at the club has been failure to establish, or continue, successful partnerships.

Developing understanding has been toughest in the centre of midfield. Fulham fielded thirteen, yes thirteen, different midfield pairings over the course of last season. Those ranged from Moussa Dembele and Mahamadou Diarra — who started the Whites' first two matches against Norwich and Manchester United — to then loan signings Eyong Enoh and Emmanuel Frimpong lining up against Swansea on the final day of the season. To comprehend the sheer number of variations Jol used, Steve Sidwell, who started more games than any other Fulham central-midfielder, lined up alongside five different partners.

Partly down to the departures of Dembele and Danny Murphy, along with the incessant injuries of Diarra, the inconsistent midfield selection caused games to be won and lost in a matter of minutes. There was no similar harmony of playmaker and powerhouse for long spells until Enoh and Karagounis started together. But, of course, the following week a brand new and unbalanced midfield would wipe out any chemistry built the previous match. The standard and type of player that the club needed to bring in during the summer was painfully obvious. Fulham lacked, and still do, a central-midfield playmaker who can pass the ball well under pressure.

Bryan Ruiz, Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele were starting to show that said chemistry midway through the 2011-12 season, but the departure of the latter two saw the Costa-Rican struggle to work equally well enough alongside the remaining Fulham squad. Jol's attempts to accommodate Ruiz have stretched as far as deploying him in a wide midfield position — a role the Costa-Rican unsuccessfully played in for much of his debut season — causing the split of the aforementioned partnership of Dejagah and Riether.

Even this season, with Jol under immense pressure from fans and, more recently, the media, team selection is still too varied. The 2-1 victory over Everton in the Capital One Cup was supposed to be the turning point of Fulham's season, but instead of starting the same eleven that won the game, Jol made five changes for the following must-win match against Cardiff. If he survives the encounter with Stoke at the weekend and is given a vote of confidence by the board, his first port of call ought to be establishing the side that works the best. Hodgson proved that he didn't need luxury players like Dimitar Berbatov or Bryan Ruiz to make the team tick. Relying on favourites now rather than in-form players and maintaining the law of divine right would be Jol kicking the chair away.


http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=438

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Fulham Manager Martin Jol Expects to be Sacked, Martin O'Neill Linked With Soon to be Vacant Position

Fulham boss Martin Jol is reportedly readying himself for the sack according to the Daily Mail.

The Dutchman has apparently told his close friends that he expects owner Shahid Khan to swing the axe 'sooner rather than later' with a more high-profile boss being lined up to take over from the former Tottenham manager.

Some Craven Cottage supporters have recently turned on Jol and this source claims it will not be a surprise if he is out of a job before the West London side take on Stoke City on the weekend.

Former Celtic and Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is apparently an early contender to take over from Jol following speculation that his long-term assistant Steve Walford was present during Fulham's last gasp defeat to newly promoted Cardiff City on the weekend.

Jol took over at Fulham back in July 2011 and has guided the club to respectable ninth and twelfth placed finishes in his two full seasons in charge.


http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/10/01/fulham-manager-martin-jol-expects-to-be-sacked-martin-oneill-linked-with-soon-to-be-vacant-position/?

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John Collins calls for Fulham owner Shahid Khan to stick with manager Martin Jol

The one-time Cottagers man believes that the Dutch boss should be given time to get things right at Craven Cottage


CHRIS TURVEY
Former Fulham midfielder John Collins has urged the club's owner Shahid Khan to persevere with current manager Martin Jol.

The Dutch boss has had his future speculated on recently after his side took just four points from their first six games in the Premier League.

Jol's men are 18th in the Premier League, and have not won since their 1-0 opening day victory away to fellow strugglers Sunderland.

Jol is understood to be expecting the sack at Craven Cottage as a result and has expressed his fears to confidants privately.

However, Collins, who played for the club from 2000-2003, feels that Jol should be allowed more time to try and turn things round with the west London outfit.

Collins told talkSPORT: "It's far too early [to talk about sacking him]. Martin has proved he is a good manager.

"They are going through a sticky spell at the moment but you have got to give the manager time. He has signed a few players and they have got to bed in."

"It has been a disappointing start but there is a long way to go. They have been in the bottom four or five many times before and at the end of the season they are in the middle of the table, so it is quite a common theme for them."

Jol oversaw as many as 10 signings this summer, with high profile names such as Darren Bent, Adel Taarabt and Scott Parker arriving.

The former Tottenham Hotspur coach also made Sascha Riether's loan move permanent and sanctioned a deal for goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, who joined from Roma for around £5m.



Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/john-collins-calls-fulham-owner-2326305#ixzz2gX8W5rUG
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A Matter of Time
   
It`s hard not to feel for Martin Jol at the moment.

Every day when you open the sports pages of the daily papers there is the insinuation that the end of his spell at Fulham Football Club is nigh.

Today one tabloid runs with the inference that even Jol now reckons it is only a matter of time before the axe falls on him.

Although our new owner, Shahid Khan has been publicly supportive it`s being suggested, by this tabloid, the directors are not convinced that Jol is able to arrest the current slump that has seen us plunge into the relegation places.

Once again we can but wait and see!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=334211#ixzz2gX8kGeh2

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Premier League: Bryan Ruiz says Fulham players are backing Martin Jol


Bryan Ruiz: Backing boss

Bryan Ruiz insists Fulham's squad are firmly behind under-fire boss Martin Jol.

The Cottagers are without a win since the opening day of the Premier League season and are currently sitting third from bottom after a weekend home loss to Cardiff.

A section of fans barracked Jol following their latest defeat, and the Dutchman shouldered the responsibility for the loss.

However, Ruiz insists that the players are not looking for Jol to depart.

"We are all in it together. He's having a difficult time because everybody blames him for the results," the Costa Rica international told the Fulham Chronicle.

"But we're a team and we can and will change things.

"He means a lot to me because he gave me the opportunity to come here.

"He likes to talk to the players and to motivate us, especially when we have a difficult situation. It's a difficult situation, but the season is still young.

"Hopefully we will get a good result next week.

"It's going to be a difficult game. We know we need to win."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8951284?

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The Tony Gale Column

Saturday's result was a poor one, there's no hiding from that. I saw Cardiff City play West Ham United and Everton earlier in the season and I thought it would be three points for Fulham, all day long. Cardiff will be down there at the end of the season so to lose against them was very, very disappointing.

Losing Scott Parker early on to a calf problem was a blow. Scott's had his injury problems and I hope it doesn't keep him out too long. The older you get, the more you pick up niggly little injuries but I hope we see Scotty back soon because we need him in the middle of the park.

One positive from the game was Bryan Ruiz making an immediate impact after coming on. It was a great goal and I've been thinking about the best way we can get Ruiz, Dimitar Berbatov and Darren Bent into the side. If we haven't got the legs, we need to thicken it up in certain areas and a change of system could be the answer.

The way Liverpool line-up might just work. We could play three at the back, with Sascha Riether and Kieran Richardson as the wing-backs, with two holding midfielders and Ruiz tucking in just behind Berbatov and Bent. I'm sure Sascha will have played that wing-back role in Germany as it's a formation that's popular over there, and Kieran wouldn't find it a problem.

Morale is probably a bit low in the squad right now but you just have to get on with it. The experienced players will know that one good result and the season changes. Three points on Saturday will see Fulham shoot up the league table and we've got three very winnable fixtures coming up in Stoke City at home and Crystal Palace and Southampton away.

I was at Southampton against Palace on Saturday. Saints are in good form but they're a team that if you get at them early, they can fold. Palace are probably in a little bit of disarray at the moment so that game could come at just the right time.

As for Stoke this weekend, it's a massive fixture. I would say to the fans, don't get on the backs of the players and the Manager, because it doesn't help. I can understand the frustrations of the supporters – but blimey, we've been in worse situations than this down the years.

I saw Stoke against Manchester City and they played really well. But since then, they've had a couple of dodgy results against so-called lesser sides where they've maybe taken their foot off the gas. Mark Hughes' team will be on the ball this weekend, though, as it's a game he'll definitely want to win against his old club.

Don't be thinking it's the Stoke of old, mind; they play as Fulham did under Hughes in that they try to knock it about. But the beauty of Saturday's game is that Stoke are a side in transition at the moment; they're not quite sure whether to try and play it about or revert to type and play it long because they've had a couple of bad results. So I think we're getting Stoke at a good time and a win on Saturday can really kick-start out campaign.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/october/01/the-tony-gale-column?

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Jol rules out Fulham departure
The Fulham manager is preparing for the worst after the Cottagers' poor start to the season

That loss at home to Cardiff has made Fulham manager Martin Jol fear for his job, as the west London side have picked up just one point from seven home matches and currently sit in the bottom three.

Worryingly, the manager doubts getting the full backing from the club owner Shahid Khan, especially after that abhorrent loss at Craven Cottage - the home team started brightly, but soon afterwards were handed a blow when Steven Caulker fired the visitors to an early lead.

Albeit, Fulham equalised shortly before the first proceedings with a mouth-watering finish from Bryan Ruiz, but eventually lost with Cardiff scoring a late decisive goal.

Looking back at the loss, the 57-year-old manager said: "That worries me. It's not good for your health. I've got a thick skin. I could easily say 'get lost' but I won't do that."


The manager also explained that he understood the fans' frustrations, and hopes things getter better soon.

"It's a reality of the Premier League. They pay the money to come to watch us and express their feelings," added Jol.

The under-pressure boss also bemoaned the lack of money spent on the summer transfer causing his team's disastrous start, revealing that he studied last season's newcomers' investment on new players.

"We looked at West Ham, Southampton and Reading going up and the investment of those three clubs," Mackay said.

"West Ham and Southampton spent about £30m and Reading had £10-15m. To give us the best chance of being in the division we needed to get players that we felt could improve our squad.

"I can understand the criticism but they should realise that we are 20th in the table for spending money," he said.

"So I always have to look for the Berbatovs and the Bents and take them when they're bad and try to get the maximum amount out of them. That is not easy."

Choosing a new coach shouldn't be strenuous for the west London club with the experienced Martin O'Neill among the favourites for the job.

Write for GiveMeSport! Sign-up to the GMS Writing Academy here: http://gms.to/130seMa

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http://www.givemesport.com/386220-jol-rules-out-fulham-departure?autoplay=on

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Supporting Our Supporters



Fulham Football Club is delighted to announce two initiatives running throughout the 2013/14 season which are designed to recognise and reward our travelling supporters, starting at our forthcoming away trip to Crystal Palace.

Tickets for our match at Crystal Palace are released for sale at 10am on Wednesday 2nd October.


Free Travel


The Club will operate up to four free coaches at every away fixture in the Barclays Premier League, with a minimum of one coach departing from our established pick-up points at Craven Cottage and Motspur Park.

Travel reservations will continue to be made available at the same time as match tickets and places will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis to any supporters who have purchased a ticket for the game.


Juniors Go Free


The Club is also delighted to announce a groundbreaking promotion that champions the next generation of travelling fans.

Starting with our fixture against Crystal Palace on Monday 21st October, the Club will cover the cost of away match tickets in the Barclays Premier League for all our Junior Season Ticket Holders and Members.

Free Junior tickets must be obtained in conjunction with at least one Adult ticket and can be booked through our regular channels: over the phone, or in person from our Ticket Office.

Online applications for Junior tickets will become available later in the season.

Applications can be made for multiple junior tickets by linking the relevant Client Reference accounts using our Friends and Family feature.



Thank You


Winning football matches is very much a team effort and the Club would like to thank the many fans who already travel on a regular basis and provide such passionate backing for our players.

Club Captain Brede Hangeland said:

"Our fans have been tremendous so far this season and they are so important in creating a fantastic atmosphere on matchdays both at home and away. All of us in the team hope that we will see, and of course hear, fans of all ages cheering us on at away grounds up and down the country, because of this great incentive offered by the Club."

Visiting supporters are a vital part of the match atmosphere. We hope that fans of all ages will travel with us in record numbers, providing that all-important support throughout the season in the Barclays Premier League.

Notes

Both initiatives apply for Fulham FC away matches in the Barclays Premier League in the 2013/14 season, commencing with the fixture at Crystal Palace on October 21.
All Junior Season Ticket Holders are eligible to apply for a free away match ticket.
Junior Club Memberships are Fulhamites (aged 0–10 years) and Formation (aged 11–15 years). Applications for membership can be made online at fulhamfc.com, by calling 0843 208 1234 (option 2), or in-person from Craven Cottage Ticket Office.
Coach places and match tickets are both offered subject to availability. At selected fixtures tickets may be released for sale using Loyalty Points, or phased sales to Season Ticket Holders, then Club Members.
Supporters aged under 18 years must be accompanied on board coaches by a Parent or Guardian when using official Club travel. Conditions of use for match tickets are set by the host club and may vary from game-to-game. Where required supporters should bring photo ID on matchdays to confirm their eligibility to use match tickets.
Match tickets can be purchased in conjunction with this offer by calling 0843 208 1234, or in person from the Craven Cottage Ticket Office.
Coach reservations can be made by calling 0843 208 1234 (option 3), or in person from the Craven Cottage Ticket Office.
The Club reserve the right to alter the terms and conditions of this offer.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/october/01/supporting-our-supporters?

[WhiteJC]

 
Could things get Mutch worse?

by barryhaylesgoalmachine.

First of all please forgive me for the appalling pun in the title but I just couldn't help myself. If someone had told me before the start of the season that after 6 games we would be 3 points behind Manchester united then I would have expected a fairly positive and trouble free set of opening results accompanied by a rather upbeat atmosphere around Craven Cottage. What in fact we now have a club in crisis where the majority are keen to see a change in management and feel that Jol has had his last chance to shape a group of players who at times barely resemble a team.

The fact that the last home win in the league was on April 1st is probably the most worrying statistic especially for a club who have primarily based their success on good form. While a home defeat to Arsenal is forgivable, a draw at home to West Brom is disappointing and a loss at home to newly promoted Cardiff is unforgivable. Everyone was expecting to kick on from last Tuesdays come back against Everton and re establish ourselves as a force at home but yet again this just didn't happen.

Admittedly in the first few games we had looked sluggish going forward but this weekend in defence we displayed an equal level of incompetence that had not been previously as evident. Hangeland had one of his worst games in a Fulham shirt and seemed a shadow of the towering giant we are used to. As club captain the Norwegian appears far less vocal on the pitch since the arrival of Parker and seems to have delegated the responsibility despite continuing to wear the armband. With Parker being subbed after only a few minutes on Saturday it may not be as much of a surprise that as a team we lacked any form of organisation or routine when defending set pieces as well as in most other areas of the pitch.

Were it not for a rare piece of genius from Bryan Ruiz just before half time I suspect that the reception that greeted the players as they left for the break would have been as inhospitable as it was at the final whistle. It must have been a rather humbling moment for Kacaniklic to be subbed before half time for "tactical reasons" but he can draw strength from the fact that it could have been any of 5\6 players that may have been hauled off for Ruiz at that stage. The Costa Rican showed signs of the form that many of us have always believed he is capable of and in his post match comments spoke about the desire to fight and play for his manager although at this stage it all seems the case of to little to late.

Many gave Jol credit for a substitution that made an instant impact although it was another of his changes that perhaps prevented us from grabbing a winner. Having replaced Darren Bent minutes before, we were presented with a chance when Richardson broke down the left and drilled a ball across the 6 yard box. There is no doubt that it was exactly the type of opportunity the England international thrives on but in contrast his strike partner Berbatov, who remained on the pitch, didn't even make it in to the six yard box to contest the ball. In fact despite being the last minute, the closest to reaching it was Sacha Reither.

It is true that the strike from Mutch is just something that you can't legislate for in football given its quality and the fact it was an unstoppable strike but what you can legislate for is the abject and limp performance that had engulfed the previous 90 minutes.

What struck me more than anything was the work rate of our visitors and their willingness to fight for every ball. The trait is exactly what we used to see week in week out at Craven Cottage but now non existent among the current crop of players. It is all very well injecting more creativity and flair in to a side but when that comes at the expense of the basics that have served us so well in maintaining our Premier League status then perhaps is time to go back to basics.

I haven't gone to much in to the Jol out argument in this blog as I have a few thoughts I would like to put in a bit more detail. What is for sure is that performances like Saturday are unacceptable and as a team we are displaying no sense of balance, stability or understanding. The atmosphere around the club, both at Craven Cottage and on social network among fans at the moment is poisonous and something has to give. Whether or not Martin will still be at the helm come next game is unlikely although I personally believe the problem doesn't end there. If Martin Jol is unable to motivate players who in many cases specifically joined to play under Martin Jol then whoever is next in charge has a major job on their hands.

I usually finish the blogs with a positive and uplifting look towards next game although forgive me for not being to optimistic at the prospect of Mr Ambition coming back to Craven Cottage with a smug look plastered across his face.

COYW .....



http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=442

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham, Norwich and West Ham target Jiloan Hamad wants Premier League move
SWEDISH star Jiloan Hamad is wanted by four Premier League clubs, according to the player's agent.


Jiloan Hamad is attracting interest from the Premier League [GETTY]

The Malmo midfielder's impressive performances in the Allsvenskan has attracted interest from Fulham, Norwich and West Ham, who could pick up the 22-year-old on a free transfer in January.

Hamad's agent, Ferhat Cifci, confirmed despite interest from other European countries his client's desire is to test himself in England.

"There are four clubs in England's Premier League who are showing great interest in Jiloan," he told told Sky Sports.


The promising midfielder has been a huge hit in his native country [GETTY]


Hamad was superb in their Europa League fixture against Hibernian in the summer [GETTY]

"There is also interest from clubs in Germany and France, but Jiloan's first choice is to play in the Premier League.

"He is a free agent in January and he is one of the best Bosman signings around and we are working on that at this time."

Hamad has netted 11 times this season for table-topping Malmo, who are four games away from winning the Swedish title and securing a place in next season's Champions League second qualifying round.

The Swedish international confirmed in the summer talks had be held between the Hammers and his agent over a potential move to east London.

Hamad has chalked up 148 appearances during his five-year stay with Malmo scoring 28 goals in the process.


Hamad has six international caps to his name [GETTY]



http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/342220/Fulham-Norwich-and-West-Ham-target-Jiloan-Hamad-wants-Premier-League-move

[WhiteJC]

 
Five unexpected managerial revivals to cheer Martin Jol
Cheer up Martin Jol, you've made our list of written off managers who overcame the derision to surge back to prominence.

Fulham's Martin Jol is the man who currently finds himself at the sharp end of 31/50 favouritism in bwin's next manager to go betting, but he'll know as well as anyone that you can't keep a good gaffer down, as our five unexpected managerial revivals illustrate.

Martin Jol
Plucked from relative obscurity to assist Tottenham boss Jacques Santini and then promoted to replace him, Jol delivered successive fifth places for Spurs before being ousted in favour of Juande Ramos after a poor start to the 2007/08 campaign.
He was given a go at Hamburg – whom he took to the UEFA Cup semis and another fifth place – the following season, before moving to Ajax where he improved their previous season's points total by 17 points and lifted the Dutch Cup.

Steve McClaren
The enduring image of McClaren's time in the England hotseat is of the rain teaming down upon his umbrella as his Three Lions side became the first to fail to qualify for a major tournament in 14 years.

He next surfaced at FC Twente, managing them to a second-placed Eredivisie finish in his first campaign before leading the club to its first ever League title at the expense of Jol's Ajax in 2009/10.

Alan Pardew
After steering Reading to the Division One title and then West Ham to the Premier League, the former Crystal Palace star was one of the game's brightest managerial prospects, but his eventual sacking at the Boleyn Ground was followed by a miserable spell at Charlton.

Just over two years later he was drafted in at Newcastle after the unpopular sacking of Chris Hughton, but overcame fans' misgivings before leading the Magpies to survival, followed the next season by an incredible run to the brink of the Champions League places.

Paul Ince
Saving Macclesfield from relegation and winning League Two with MK Dons were among the achievements that persuaded Blackburn to take a risk on appointing Ince, whose lack of readiness for top level management was highlighted when a fan took a picture of his notebook during a game.

It simply read 'SHOOT' and the former England international lasted just 21 games at Ewood Park.

A return to Stadium:MK followed by a spell at Notts County failed to revive his fortunes, but despite attempting to tender his resignation at Blackpool over the summer he has led them to the edge of the Championship play-offs.

Rafael Benitez
After winning the Champions League at Liverpool few should have been in any doubt that the Spaniard was a manager of rare gifts, yet following Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan proved an impossible task and he lasted a mere 25 games at San Siro before beginning a two year hiatus.

He proved that was a mere blip when taking over at Chelsea – a club where he was hated from his Liverpool days – and delivering his detractors a Europa League trophy and Champions League qualification.

Martin Jol - next manager to leave his post @ 31/50



- See more at: http://bwinbetting.com/leagues/premier-league/unexpected-managerial-revivals,45849.html?#sthash.DQLIVus4.dpuf

[WhiteJC]

 
EXCLUSIVE: Former Man Utd assistant Rene Meulensteen talks to Fulham

FULHAM owner Shahid Khan has had talks with former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen, throwing fresh doubts over the future of manager Martin Jol, whose team have suffered four defeats from their last five league games.


Doubts have been cast over the future of Fulham manager Martin Jol (above) [GETTY]

Khan met Meulensteen, 49, last week and it is believed the Dutchman has made it clear he wants the job if Jol goes.

Meulensteen, who has left Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala after just 16 days in charge, was yesterday in China talking to clubs, but is also interested in the Sunderland vacancy.

He spent five years with Sir Alex Ferguson and was popular with the players at Old Trafford.


Rene Meulensteen (right, with Robin Van Persie) said he would like to manage Fulham [GETTY]



http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/433706/EXCLUSIVE-Former-Man-Utd-assistant-Rene-Meulensteen-talks-to-Fulham

[WhiteJC]

 
Martin O'Neill has the experience and drive required to rejuvenate a flagging Fulham side

Steve Stammers explains why the former Celtic and Sunderland would be well at home at Craven Cottage

As he trooped off the pitch at Craven Cottage on Saturday, Martin Jol looked dejected, forlorn and more than a little pale. And his body language afterwards as he reflected on his Fulham team's 2-1 defeat to Cardiff was, let's say, a few degrees below up-beat.

His outfit had looked disjointed and, the likes of Steve Sidwell apart, there was precious little passion or momentum in Fulham's play. There is increasing speculation about his future and, if he does go, there will be more rumour about his replacement.

It should be Martin O'Neill.

The Irishman is based in the Home Counties, has an impressive track record and may just be tempted into one last try at Premier League management. He is the master at galvanising teams that are struggling. He has wit, humour and a shrewd football brain.

What he did at Leicester was little short of remarkable. Twice he won the League Cup and twice the club - for all their limited resources - played in European football.

True, there was more potential at Celtic to succeed but he took them to the UEFA Cup final in 2003 where they were more than a little unlucky to lose to Jose Mourinho's Porto.

He then led Aston Villa to three successive sixth place finishes in the Premier League and on the way unearthed the talents of Gabby Agbonlahor and spotted the promise of Ashley Young, then at Watford.

As CV's go, that is not bad. And the man who loves a challenge could well find his latest one down by the River Thames.

Be sure of one thing - Fulham will play with more gusto and rhythm than they did last Saturday. O'Neill will have his men motivated and organised. He did it at Leicester, Celtic and Villa.

His next stop may be Craven Cottage. Jol looks a little disheartened at the moment. For all his efforts to infuse new blood into the squad, the club remain rooted in the relegation zone. If he and Fulham part company, the door will be open for O'Neill. He might well decide to take advantage of any offer. His track record suggests he will succeed.



Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/martin-oneill-experience-drive-required-2327372#ixzz2gZm2v5j2
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[WhiteJC]

 
Sharing the blame around

One question I imagine Martin Jol is asking himself a lot is "why have my players stopped defending?"

It's all well and good everyone going "Jol out" all day every day but as per the post-sacking player interview cliche, there's an element of the players having let him down, too.

One by one:

Stockdale is an inexperienced top flight goalkeeper, so no blame to him here.

Sascha Riether is, if you listen to the message boards, the second coming of Cafu, so he can't be to blame.

Amorebietta (can a song to the tune of De La Soul's "Eye Know" be worked in here at some point?) was an important player for the fabulous Athletic Bilbao.

Brede Hangeland was Sir Roy's main man at the back.

John-Arne Riise has been an important player for Liverpool and Roma. Kieron Richardson played for United and Sunderland and was generally well thought of along the way.

Then before them you have players like Scott Parker, England's player of the year quite recently and every club's dream combination of effort and ability.

Steve Sidwell is not everyone's cup of tea but he's had a good track record and our dive only started when he got suspended last year. Georgios Karagounis is old but experienced.

You would think that whatever training or tactical brain farts the coaching team is wafting their way, these players with their collective know how would still have the experience and ability to defend. Bad coaching or man management can't single handedly destroy the intellectual faculties of all these people.

So what's happened to these people? Have they all got too old at the same time? Is the team structure really ruining their competence? I don't buy it completely. Hangeland was in a back four under Roy Hodgson that would've seen how to shut down the best. He is a bright man; he would know the difference between now and then. He could use this knowledge to work with teammates to make things better. Parker's seen it all and done it all. He can recognise a team struggling and a team doing well. Can't he diagnose this team's shortcomings and personally decide to help out at the back or something?

Or are they all just running around like headless chickens because they haven't got a precise framework to work with?



http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/sharing-the-blame-around/

[WhiteJC]

 
The competent man theory

I think the reason some of us have been reluctant to go around shouting "JOL OUT!" towards the birds in the sky has been a perhaps misguided notion that he is a good football manager.

And if he is a good football manager then what we're seeing is an aberration.

Because really, the team's last few seasons have established Fulham as a mid table club. The spending has been a bit thin on the ground but the players all look reasonable enough.

So we sit here stroking our chins with our eyes closed and our heads shaking gently, whispering 'patience, fans, patience!', because we know in our souls that any football team can have a bad run of form, and really it's just part of football's great randomness: the ship will be on course soon enough, as long as nobody panics*.

(*yes, I know that we've been bad since last year, about all kinds of other indicators, too).

And as long as a competent football manager is in charge then this is exactly what will happen. The team, whether it takes a week or a month, will soon find its mojo and start winning again. We've all seen it happen in football. Confidence is hard to find when you're down, but all it takes is a bit of something and soon we'll be flying.

Those of us sighing 'calm down, angry men' did so because we assumed Jol knew what he was doing, that we were seeing a downswing, an aberration. Personally, it hadn't occurred to me that Jol could be in top flight football for so long, doing relatively well, if he were not a competent manager.

This is exactly what we've been asked to believe, that someone who could lead Spurs to relative success, who could hold down positions at Hamburg and Ajax, who could do all this and keep a decent reputation within the game... we've been asked to believe that this man is not a competent football manager? And we've been asked to believe this by people who, with all due respect, don't always know what they're talking about.

Absent better information, as we all are, it remains very tempting to ignore everything we see, all the numbers we read, and assume that Martin Jol is a good manager and Fulham will rise again.

But at some point you can't ignore everything, can you?



http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/the-competent-man-theory/