Wednesday Fulham Stuff (19/02/14)...

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Charlton Boss Powell Keen On A Move For Ghana Midfielder Derek Boateng

Fulham midfielder Derek Boateng is yet to get a move away.

Boateng is desperate for a loan move to keep himself in the thoughts of Ghana's World Cup selectors.

Charlton Athletic boss Chris Powell is keen on the midfielder.


http://www.afrikansoccer.com/2014/02/charlton-boss-powell-keen-on-a-move-for-ghana-midfielder-derek-boateng/?

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Magath lays into predecessor Meulensteen for having no philosophy at Fulham and 'destabilising' the team

Barely has Felix Magath had time to inflate the medicine balls at Motspur Park, and he is already making waves.

Following the replacement of Ray Wilkins and Alan Curbishley with his own support staff, the Fulham coach has now launched a stinging attack on his predecessor Rene Meulensteen.

In an interview with the German weekly magazine 'SportBild', Magath accused Meulensteen of having no structure to his philosophy, and of having 'destabilised' the team.


Making his mark: Felix Magath has made sweeping changes behind the scenes since arriving at Fulham and has now criticised predecessor Rene Meulensteen (below)


'My predecessor let them play very attacking football for four games. Then he suddenly rearranged the defence, and that destabilised the whole team,' said Magath, adding: 'my most important task is to bring in a clear structure'.
The 60-year-old made a point of saying that he is 'focused only on Fulham', but did admit that, had it not been for the infamous internal politics of former club Hamburg, he would not have come to London at all.

Magath had offered to take over at crisis hit Hamburg until the end of the season in order to save his old club from relegation, but he joined Fulham at the very last minute.


Gone: Magath had offered to take charge of former club Hamburg when Bert van Marwijk was sacked last week but he went to Fulham instead
It was a decision which German legend and serial provocateur Lothar Matthaus criticised earlier this week, saying that 'Magath messed a lot of people around (in his discussions with Hamburg)'.

Magath responded angrily today, saying 'I didn't mess anybody around. I played with my cards on the table, and was clear that I had other options, but there wasn't a universal support for me in the club.'

The Fulham manager also confirmed that he had offered to work at Hamburg without a salary, to soften the blow of departing coach Bert van Marwijk's €3m pay off. According to most media reports, though, this offer came with the catch 22 of a €1m reward for keeping Hamburg up.


Clear out: Ray Wilkins was also removed as Fulham's assistant manager this week
As it transpired, none of that came to pass, and England finally has its first taste of the old school of German coaching as Magath starts at Fulham. And he started in true 'Qualix' style, removing the players' day off to train for this week's game against West Brom.

'No one had a problem with that,' said Magath, 'West Brom are a direct competitor in the relegation fight, and this is probably the most important game in this club's history'.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2562846/Felix-Magath-criticises-Rene-Meulensteen-begins-Fulham-tenure.html#ixzz2tmlvdEWo
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