Wednesday Fulham Stuff 10.06.15

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Fulham's U-20 World Cup Links: Part Four



With Emerson Hyndman currently competing at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, we trawled through the archives to find out which other players with Fulham connections competed at the tournament. In our concluding part, we look at the future Whites players who represented their countries at the previous four U-20 World Cups.


The tournament name was officially changed to the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the 2007 showpiece in Canada, where Marcel Gecov's Czech Republic team lost in the Final to Argentina. He came on as a substitute in that match, as goals from Sergio Aguero and Mauro Zarate earned the South Americans the trophy once again. That was Gecov's sixth appearance of the tournament, and he went on to sign for Fulham under Martin Jol four years later but couldn't really establish himself, featuring just five times. Chris James was on the Whites books when he went to the World Cup in 2007 with New Zealand, but he didn't make an appearance at the tournament, or for Fulham.

Matthew Briggs was a Fulham player when he went to Egypt with England in 2009 and he played twice as the Three Lions finished bottom of Group D. After making history when he became the Premier League's youngest-ever player, Briggs went on to make 29 appearances for the Whites before departing last summer.


Lewis Holtby was also present in Africa and he featured in every game as Germany reached the Quarter-Finals. He put his side in front in that game against Brazil – his second goal of the campaign – but a late double from Maicon sent the South Americans through. Holtby was brought to Fulham on loan by René Meulensteen in January 2014 and quickly won the hearts of the Whites faithful with his quality and passion, but he was unable to prevent the Club from being relegated at the end of the campaign.

Gael Kakuta had just spent half a season on loan at Craven Cottage when he featured at the Colombia tournament in the summer of 2011 as France finished third, with the winger featuring in all seven matches. He'd played seven times for the Whites after being brought in from Chelsea by Mark Hughes, scoring once in a 3-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Fulham Academy striker Corey Gameiro was in the Australia squad for the 2011 showpiece but didn't make an appearance. He did, however, feature in all three of their Group Stage matches two years later in Turkey, along with Ryan Williams and Adam Taggart. The latter pair are still Fulham players, while Gameiro now plays for Sydney FC after his Whites contract expired during the 2013 World Cup.


Larnell Cole was part of the England squad that finished bottom of Group E that year, with the midfielder making one start and one appearance from the bench. He joined Fulham half a year later from Manchester United, but injuries have hindered his impact so far.

Kostas Stafylidis enjoyed more success in Turkey, as he captained Greece to the last 16 where he scored a penalty consolation as they were knocked out by Uzbekistan. During his season on loan with Fulham in 2014/15, he made 44 appearances – a number bettered only by Marcus Bettinelli and Ross McCormack.

Kerim Frei was the final man with Fulham links to feature two years ago, with the winger featuring in all four of the host nation's matches as they were beaten by eventual winners France in the last 16. Frei burst onto the scene at Craven Cottage in 2011 and went on to make 33 appearances for the Club prior to his transfer to Besiktas.

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/june/09/fulhams-u20-links-part-four?

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International Round-Up



Patrick Roberts scored a stunner and also won a penalty as England's Under-18s defeated Russia 2-0 in Moscow on Monday.

After an even opening period, Neil Dewsnip's side turned the screw after the restart at the Arena Khimka.

Roberts won a penalty in the 63rd minute. The Fulham youngster collected the ball from Kyle Walker-Peters and skipped past several Russian defenders before being fouled in the box. Adam Armstrong converted the spot-kick to put the Young Lions in front.

Roberts doubled the advantage in spectacular fashion four minutes later, curling home from 25 yards into the far top-right corner to seal the victory for England, for whom Magnus Norman was an unused substitute.

"They had to be patient as Russia, to their credit, set up really, really well and their discipline was impressive," Dewsnip told thefa.com. "They made it really difficult to get through them, and although we tried, it wasn't easy.

"And then when we tried it and lost possession they countered very quickly, so that was a threat. But at half-time we reinforced the patient message and thankfully we got there in the end."

The two sides meet again on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Nikolay Bodoruv played 68 minutes of Bulgaria's 4-0 friendly defeat in Turkey. Second-half braces from Hakan Calhanoglu and Burak Yilmaz did the damage.

Finally, Lasse Vigen Christensen was an unused substitute as Denmark beat Montenegro 2-1.

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/june/09/international-round-up?

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Fulham flop set for shock Liverpool move?

Liverpool could be set for a shock move to name former Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen as Brendan Rodger's assistant manager, after the club chose not to renew Colin Pascoe's contract, report the Telegraph.

Rafael Benitzez's former assistant Pako Ayestaran is also reportedly in the mix, with Liverpool boards keen to shake things up after a poor season.

Rodgers kept his job following a talk with the board, and the early summer additions of James Milner and Danny Ings suggest there will be another summer of change at Anfield.

Meulensteen has been out of work since being sacked by Fulham after a poor period at the club which saw them sink towards the Championship.

Meulensteen's experience at Manchester United may not go down well with Liverpool fans, with Meulensteen's former comments regarding Rodgers not sounding too complimentary.

http://the72.co.uk/28920/fulham-flop-set-for-shock-liverpool-move/?

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Wednesday reject Lees bid



Sheffield Wednesday have rejected a reported £1.2million offer from Fulham for highly-rated defender Tom Lees. The 24-year-old joined the Owls for an undisclosed fee from fellow Championship outfit Leeds United last summer and the performances have been outstanding this season. The defender has made over 40 appearances for the club and was a pivotal part of the back four that equalled their best defensive record of 17 clean sheets this term. Fulham endured a difficult season in the Championship and were fighting at the bottom for long periods, eventually pulling away from the relegation zone to finish in 17th. Head coach Kit Symons is keen to bolster his defensive options but he will have to return with an improved offer for the former England U-21 international. Wednesday have offered Lees a new contract but the defender may be tempted at the prospect of playing for Fulham next season. Read more about Champi - See more at: https://www.clubcall.com/championship/wednesday-reject-lees-bid-1771776.html?#sthash.E8agpTVL.dpuf

Read more at: https://www.clubcall.com/championship/wednesday-reject-lees-bid-1771776.html?

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Wednesday Decline Fulham Bid For Lees

The Daily Mail is reporting that Fulham have had a £1.2million bid for Wednesday defender Tom Lees rejected.

Many Wednesday fans will not be surprised by this decision following the 24-year-old's outstanding first season at the heart of Wednesday's defence. Lees was an important part in helping the current squad equal their best defensive record of 17 clean sheets since the famous days under former boss Jack Charlton.

Joining from rivals Leeds United last summer, he has been offered a new contract already by the club. Lees made 48 appearances for Wednesday last season, captaining the side for much of the latter part of last season too.

However, with Fulham manager Kit Symons keen to bolster his defence ahead of a desired promotion push next season after flirting with relegation last season. He has targeted the former England Under 21 international and made an opening offer, Fulham could be back with another bid. But with Wednesday now under affluent ownership the need to sell players like Lees is no longer there.

Read more: http://www.sheffwed.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=402203#ixzz3caxbd3Kz

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The Craven Corner: The areas Fulham must address in the summer transfer window



Fulham should look to sign a long-term partner for Dan Burn (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) The transfer window has begun and once again Fulham have been linked with pretty much everyone, but haven't managed to get anything over the line just yet. RELATED ARTICLES Fulham flop could be set for shock Liverpool move despite Manchester United links While it is still only June and very early days, I would expect the club to complete two or three deals in the next month, giving them the opportunity to have a strong pre-season. A new central defender seems a likely addition with reported bids for Richard Stearman of Wolves, Lewis Dunk of Brighton and recently Tom Lees of Sheffield Wednesday. Out of the three, I'd prefer Dunk considering his age and experience in this division. I do hope that Kit Symons is planning to bring in a partner for Dan Burn rather than a whole new centre-back duo. Furthermore, I hope that Symons does a deal for Michael Turner after an impressive loan spell at the club in the second half of the season. Turner is a seasoned veteran who formed a strong partnership alongside Burn. I wouldn't worry too much that Fulham's initial bids have been rejected on the basis that their valuations have been too low. It takes time to agree a fee and more often than not a club will submit multiple bids until a valuation is met. At the end of the day you wouldn't pay the asking price for most things, so it's always worth the wait to get deal especially with the increasing pressure of Financial Fair Play. One deal that I hoped would get a lot more coverage in the early days of transfer window would be for James Husband. He was solid acquisition on loan and he looks to be out of favour at his parent club, Middlesbrough. Boro took Fernando Amorebieta on loan in exchange so there could be a potential swap deal on the cards, which would work in Fulham's favour considering Amorebieta is one of the clubs highest earners. Husband looked the best option at left-back last season and considering he is still young, he could prove to be a very clever investment by the board. I'd be incredibly shocked if the club completely disregard this opportunity as he matches the profile of the player they discussed in their post-season interview. Finally, the Whites have been linked with Rotherham's Ben Pringle – a natural winger with a wand of a left peg. Signing Pringle would indicate a change in system for next season, but the club currently faces strong competition from Leeds & Ipswich Town it would seem. On a free transfer, it would certainly be good business. Fulham have also been linked with a move for Millwall goalkeeper, David Forde. While Forde may be considered a veteran goalkeeper, he would provide the mentoring that will be missed when Gabor Kiraly's deal comes to an end. This all depends on what Forde wants to do next year considering he could easily be a number one goalkeeper at a range of different clubs and may not fancy a more backseat role with Marcus Bettinelli at the club. The main piece of business that needs to wrapped up are the new deals for Moussa Dembele, Marcus Bettinelli, Burn & Patrick Roberts. All has gone quiet on that front, which is worrying considering they are the future spine of this football club.

Read more at: http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/fulham/the_craven_corner_the_areas_fulham_must_address_in_the_summer_transfer_window_1_4105432
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Fulham Winning Race for Pringle

Fulham are set to beat the Blues to the signature of former Rotherham midfielder Ben Pringle, TWTD understands.

Out-of-contract Pringle, who turned down a new deal with the Millers, was initially reported to be interesting Town, the Cottagers and a number of other Championship and League One clubs late last month.

We understand that Town made an offer to the 26-year-old but that Fulham - whose Premier League parachute payments give them greater financial muscle - subsequently made an approach and that as things stand Newcastle-born Pringle will join the West Londoners when his Rotherham contract is up at the end of the month.

Pringle signed for the Millers from Derby County in 2011 after a spell in non-league with Newcastle Blue Star, Morpeth Town and Ilkeston Town, having been with West Brom's academy as a youngster. While with Derby he spent a spell on loan with Torquay.

Pringle, whose set pieces led to both Rotherham's goals in their 2-0 victory over the Blues in February, made 154 starts and 14 sub appearances for Rotherham, scoring 22 goals, and helped them to promotion from League Two as runners-up in 2012/13 and League One via the play-offs in 2013/14.

Meanwhile, Stephen Hunt, who is still to be offered a new contract by the Blues, was fined £100, had three points added to his licence and was ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge by a court in Bury St Edmunds yesterday having admitted speeding at 89mph on the A14 at Newmarket in September last year.

Hunt, who is currently back in Ireland, pleaded guilty by post initially wanted accept a fixed penalty but was unable to do so as the letter had been sent to an old address in Kesgrave rather than his current home in Sutton Coldfield.

Elsewhere, former Blues striker Dean Bowditch, 28, has signed a new two-year deal with Championship new boys the MK Dons.

Blues academy product Sammy Moore, 27, who made one senior sub appearance for Town, has joined Leyton Orient after leaving AFC Wimbledon.

http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/27534/?

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Fulham midfielder charged for misconduct by FA for 'sausage boy' tweet



5 reader comments
A Fulham midfielder has been charged by the Football Association (FA) after he sent a tweet calling another player a "sausage boy".
The tweet, sent by Ryan Tunnicliffe, called Norwich City player Patrick Bamford the bizarre slur following Middlesboro's defeat to Norwich City at Wembley.
It said: "Happy that Middlesbrough didn't go up, just for the main fact that @Patrick_Bamford is a sausage boy."
The FA has since announced that Tunnicliffe was charged with "aggravated misconduct by reference to sexual orientation."
The 22-year-old has since deleted it from his account, but not before he was charged by the FA for the abuse.
Tunnicliffe now has until 11 June to respond to the charge

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/06/09/fulham-midfielder-charged-for-misconduct-by-fa-for-sausage-boy-tweet/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Pinknews+%28Pink+News%29

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What does Fulham need to do in the transfer window



Could Tom lees bolster the Fulham defense? - Michael Regan/Getty Images
Fulham need to improve this squad if they have any hope of challenging for a playoff spot this year. What are the key areas they need to build on?

Fulham have put in place their manager, their CEO, and their Chief Football Officer. They should have a clear idea of the kind of squad and system they want. Now they just need to build it. Who are they looking at? What do they need?

Defense

Fulham's defense was poor last year. I don't think that can be said enough. Some of that was a formation issue. In the diamond that Kit Symons ran, the only width came from fullbacks getting forward. That left the center back pair under immense pressure with only Scott Parker to shield them. At his age, that was asking too much. That being said, the center backs need to do better.

The most curious thing about the center backs was that Dan Burn only played 20 matches last season. Most of us thought he was going to be a big piece of the defense to build around, yet for some reason he seemed out of favor. I still believe he's worth building around. At his age, you can only expect him to improve, and Who Scored rated him as our best defender all year. But you still need someone to pair him with.

Fulham have been linked to Richard Stearman of Wolves, Lewis Dunk of Brighton, and Tom Lees of Sheffield Wednesday. The bid for Tom Lees has apparently been rejected, but that doesn't mean it still can't be finalized for a larger fee. All three players were part of very good Championship defences last season. I'd be happy with any being a partner for Burn. I would prefer Dunk or Lees as they are slightly younger, but any would be fine.

While Shaun Hutchinson is still around I'm not sure he's a viable championship player. Most of Fulham's bad performances seemed to come with him in the squad. Perhaps he's good enough to be your fourth option, but even that might be asking too much. To a lesser extent the same can be said of Nikolay Bodurov. His best attribute was that he was able to play a lot of games. But Fulham were bad in most of those games, so is that really a plus? I'm more than happy to have him as the fourth option, but not much more than that.

That means a third center back is needed. The good news is that he might already be around. Michael Turner played decently well in his loan spell from Norwich. He played pretty well at Norwich before then. At his age, he's unlikely to be someone that Norwich want to take back up to the Premier League. If they are willing to let him go at a good price, he'd make a great third option and a very good mentor to the likes of players like Burn and Tiago Casasola.

Center back isn't the only defensive position of need. Fulham could use some help at both fullback spots. On the left, I don't believe Sean Kavanagh or Kostas Stafylidis is the answer. They're both attack first kind of players, and in this squad defense is going to be more important. Either would make a fine left winger in a more defensive situation or as an attacking fullback in situations where a goal is needed, but I'm not ready to pencil either in as the every match starter.

Fernando Amorebieta is still around as a left back option, but for how long? I've always felt he's better as a center back or a left center back in a three man back line. Add in his injury problems, penchant for red cards, and high salary; and I think it's probably best to part ways with him. If Middlesbrough were willing to make the trade of James Husband for Amorebieta permanent, I'd be a very happy man.

The right side is actually somewhere I feel a bit better about. I think Jack Grimmer can do well there. I previously saw him more as a center back, but thought he did well as a right back last season. I think Tim Hoogland is also an adequate player there when healthy. While not a natural right back Bodurov can play there as well and Richard Stearman (if the transfer goes through) has spent time there.

Midfield

As big as the problems are in defense, the midfield might require more work to get right. The major issue in projecting it is that we have no idea what kind of formation Symons plans on using. The diamond reigned supreme last year, but how much of that was simply a way to get Bryan Ruiz on the pitch effectively? I expect Symons to revert back to the 4-4-1-1 that he used with the youth squads and that Fulham have seemed to favor in the past. If that's the case, there is a lot of work to be done.

In the center of the midfield four you have Emerson Hyndman, Scott Parker, Lasse Vigen Christensen, and Ryan Tunnicliffe. Is that enough? Can you play a central midfield of just Hyndman and Christensen and get away with it? Does Scott Parker have anything left? There are more questions than answers here. I'd love to see one more quality defensive minded midfielder brought in, but the upside of Hyndman and Christensen can not be overrated. That paring has the potential to be very special. It just might be to early to roll it out all the time.

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The wild cards here might be Thomas Eisfeld and Chris David. Both might be too attacking to play in the center of a 4-4-1-1, but if either can, they add needed depth. The question is, does the team see either as players for the future? Everyone was high on Chris David, but he was loaned off to the Eredivisie. Thomas Eisfeld has talent (he wouldn't have lasted as long at Arsenal as he did without it), but was he more of a Magath player?

Part of the problem with the diamond was that it kept Fulham narrow. As a result, we didn't get to see very much wing play last season. In a 4-4-1-1 that will have to change. Fulham do have a lot of wing options, but few are tested. As previously stated Kavanagh or Stafylidis can play on the wing if a little more defense is called for. Alex Kacaniklic is still a quality player and can start on either wing. But after that the cupboard is pretty bare. The club has been linked to Ben Pringle, and while another winger would be great. He's also a left sided player.

What are the other options? Adam Taggart can play wide, though we haven't seen him play anywhere really. George Williams had moments of first team brilliance before going out on loan and suffering a torn ACL. Can he be back to contribute at all this year? Ryan Williams is a natural wide player, though one without much experience. As previously stated both Eisfeld and David have played wide, but their futures are in question. Larnell Cole could possibly come out of hiding and contribute, but I wouldn't expect much. Ange-Freddy Plumain has done well with the U21's but might not be ready to contribute.

The wild card is Patrick Roberts. His natural position is wide right, and he has all the talent in the world. But is he ready? Having Kacaniklic and Roberts running at players from the wings could be a nightmare for teams to match up against, and in a perfect world that's what I'd like to see. That simply might be too much pressure for the young man though.

Forwards

The most important piece of business Fulham can do is to keep Ross McCormack. If Norwich do make a bid, it might be hard for him to turn down Premier League Football. If he leaves, Fulham really have no one to replace him. He's the perfect player to have in the hole under a striker. He's also versatile enough to play as the main striker or even out wide. If he's still here when the window closes, I'll feel much better about Fulham's chances.

Is Bryan Ruiz a forward or a midfielder? Is he a slightly more talented version of Ross McCormack with a far lower work rate? Regardless, I expect him to be gone. Hopefully, that means Symons won't have to build an entire system just to suit Ruiz's talents. I also expect Hugo Rodallega to be gone. He's good enough to play in this squad, but I don't feel he's good enough to play over younger players with much more upside.

If McCormack is the second striker, you don't need much of a backup for him. He was an absolute iron man last season. But, in cases where he can't play Roberts, Taggart, David, Eisfeld, and Kacaniklic could all play underneath another striker. In some cases that would be more of a 4-5-1, but  I don't see that as a problem.

The question is, who is McCormack's partner? Is Matt Smith the guy you want to go to war with? Is Cauley Woodrow ready to start producing? Is Moussa Dembele ready to take the leap? Ideally I'd like to see Woodrow and Dembele splitting time with Matt Smith being the big target guy off the bench, but that's a gamble. I wouldn't be at all shocked to see someone new come in.

What needs to happen most

There is a lot of potential in this Fulham squad. But that potential could disappear in a heartbeat. The most important thing the club can do is give new contracts to Hyndman, Christensen, Bettinelli, Burn, Dembele, Woodrow, and Roberts. Locking those guys up and investing in a few key areas might just be enough to have the team challenging for a playoff spot. And it sets them up quite well for the future.

http://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2015/6/9/8752417/what-does-fulham-need-to-do-in-the-transfer-window

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Fulham: A Journey to Europe



WHEN ROY HODGSON TOOK CHARGE as manager of Fulham in December 2007, the outlook for the Cottagers was bleak. The west London side languished in 18th, two points from safety, having only managed two wins in a dismal campaign. The hope that Lawrie Sanchez could revive Fulham much in the same manner as his meritorious attempts to propel Northern Ireland from minnows-obscurity to Euro 2008 had been crushed by a series of sub-par displays and maddening results.

Sanchez had lasted only six months in the job, accruing a fairly miserable win percentage rate of 16.67% (four wins from 24 games), dismissed with the club teetering on the brink of banishment to the Championship. The board of directors at Craven Cottage sought out a man of vast managerial experience in Hodgson, his experience of the game all around Europe contrasting starkly to the overwhelmed Sanchez.

It was a surprise appointment for many despite Hodgson having established himself as a formidable coaching mind on the continent through stints with Inter, Copenhagen and Finland. The last club Hodgson had managed in England was Blackburn Rovers in 1998; he was sacked and Rovers relegated that season under caretaker Brian Kidd. Welcoming the 60-year-old back to the Premier League, Fulham tasked Hodgson with ensuring the club didn't follow Blackburn down the English league ladder.

Hodgson arrived at Motspur Park still bearing the scars of a Boxing Day hammering by Juande Ramos's Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. In that London derby, Fulham were as toothless and cripplingly disconsolate as they had been in a long, long time, with the squad looking as forlorn and lonely as their lone striker, Diomansy Kamara. The Fulham caretaker manager, Ray Lewington, could only hopelessly watch on from the dugout as Spurs comprehensively dismantled a side that looked bereft of ideas, tragically short of belief and visibly traumatised from a week when they had said their goodbyes to Sanchez. Lewington branded the Boxing Day massacre at the Lane a "humiliation".

The credulous corners of the Fulham faithful who had hoped for a dramatic resurgence under the well-travelled Hodgson were to be given a sobering wake-up call in their next game, on New Year's Day, at home to Chelsea. There was to be no electrifying renaissance from the start. Unfortunately, in Hodgson's first game in charge, it was the same-old story of torment for the men in white. Danny Murphy had given Hodgson the perfect start, with a penalty in the first-half. The Cottage dared to dream. However, in typically ruthless fashion, Chelsea brought the situation back to a haunting reality with goals from Salomon Kalou and Michael Ballack.

Undeniably disappointed with losing to goals from two set-pieces, Hodgson nevertheless praised the commitment of his players and there was a tentative harbouring of hope that relegation may yet be escapable. What lay ahead was an emotional rollercoaster, the likes of which have not been endured by many fans in the Premier League era. The scrap for survival is always defined by drama, tension and, in some cases, despair, but few can match Fulham's marvellous act of escapology.

Frankly, Hodgson's first three months in charge was far from a polished rescue act. Fulham lost the two games following the Chelsea defeat and by the time they arrived at Eastlands to take on Manchester City on April 26, the Cottagers had managed just three victories from Hodgson's first fifteen games in charge.

They were brushed aside at home by both Arsenal and Manchester United to the tune of 0-3 but after the defeat to Sir Alex Ferguson's men, Hodgson remained bullish in the face of mounting pressure: "Manchester United have a wealth of talent. 3-0 sounds like we've been outplayed but I don't think that was the case. We were not outclassed," he said. "I don't think five wins from our last ten games is an impossible task. It's a big task but not impossible." Little did he know it, his words were to prove oddly prophetic come the end of the season.

At the time, Fulham's talented squad did not equate to relegation battlers. The Northern Irish stable of Aaron Hughes, David Healy and Chris Baird was a remnant of the doomed voyage under Sanchez but were still good enough for the top flight. Healy was on his way to breaking the all-time goal-scoring record for the European Championships qualifiers, when he managed a haul of thirteen. Hughes had played Champions League and Premier League football with Newcastle United and Chris Baird had joined Fulham on the back of being handed Southampton's Player of the Season award.

Partnering Hughes at the heart of the Cottagers' defence was January recruit Brede Hangeland, the mountainous centre-half who had impressed with Viking FK in his native Norway under Hodgson. Bolstering the attack was £6 million signing Diomansy Kamara, while Danny Murphy and Clint Dempsey offered creativity, craft and guile from midfield. Jimmy Bullard also provided his usual mercurial talents. They were led by their immensely popular captain, Brian McBride, who proved to be the talismanic figure in the previous season with twelve goals to secure Fulham's status as a Premier League side.

It was McBride that precipitated the eleventh-hour charge from Fulham in their whirlwind climax to the campaign. The USA striker gave the travelling fans a much needed boost at the Madejski Stadium against Reading in a game that looked incongruous to the 33 league ties they had played up to that point. For much of the season their football had been a dour shade of grey, but on an a dreary spring afternoon in Berkshire, Fulham more closely resembled a side in the upper echelons of the top-flight rather than one scrambling desperately in the Premier League's basement of tortured souls.

Hodgson knew that three points represented only a fraction of what was required and that the task ahead of him was still unenviable, but he basked temporarily in the joy of a hard-fought victory. The previous week, following a dispiriting display in a 3-1 home defeat to Sunderland, Hodgson emerged for his press conference a visibly crestfallen boss: "I'm not giving up the ghost but you're looking at a manager who can't just put on an act. It'll be very hard now to lift the players. I only hope you will allow me to grieve for the result in a dignified way," he told reporters. At that moment, it seemed almost like the veteran coach – despite what he had said to the contrary – was on the verge of throwing in the towel.

It was fellow relegation-threatened Reading who produced a listless performance, plunging the manager Steve Coppell's future into darkness after they were booed off by incensed sections inside the Madejski. Fulham could have made it even worse had it not been for the woodwork. Hangeland saw a header thunder off the crossbar in the first half while Bullard's wonderfully curled free-kick met the same fate. But this time there was to be happiness on the road, instead of the usual despair. The Londoners recorded their first away win in two years, thanks to captain-fantastic Brain McBride's 24th-minute strike and a goal from super-sub Erik Nevland. Was that token away victory enough to buoy the men in white? Not exactly. They suffered a home defeat to Liverpool in their next game, before that fateful afternoon in Manchester.

David Marsh, an ardent Fulham fan and chronicler of their fortunes, recalled: "To win 3-2 in those circumstances defied belief but that is exactly what it gave the players and fans. All of a sudden we thought we could maybe get a result against Birmingham and Portsmouth would have the distraction of the FA Cup for the final game of the season. This was tempered by the fact we had not had a run of results like that for years and we still needed other teams to play their part."

That says it all. Fulham's extraordinary act of resilience in defeating City 3-2 from being two goals down was an achievement deemed beyond the squad, by most observers. The turning point in that game was when Diomansy Kamara entered the field. An enigmatic, inconsistent talent, who spent much of his time fiddling on the periphery of games, was to be catapulted into Fulham folklore for his decisive contribution to that win over City.

The Citizens had roared into a two-goal advantage courtesy of Stephen Ireland and Benjani, but Kamara's introduction on 64 minutes dramatically altered the course of Fulham's season. Firstly, Kamara took advantage of the ineptitude of Vedran Corluka to sneak in and slot the ball through the legs of Joe Hart. 2-1, the comeback is on. Then, the equally hapless Sun Jihai scythed down Nevland and Danny Murphy buried the penalty to make it 2-2.

A frantic finale ensued, when City squandered opportunities to crush the Fulham renaissance. But it wasn't to be. This was to be Fulham's day. City's stunning capitulation was complete when Kamara gathered Murphy's perfectly weighted through ball, advanced and finished with devastating aplomb to complete a most unlikely victory. There it was; suddenly Hodgson could breath and Fulham spotted the light of survival at the end of what had been a harrowingly dark tunnel for so many weeks.

The Great Escape wasn't complete yet, however, as Fulham had to contend with a tricky game away to Portsmouth. Fratton Park was always a difficult place to visit, but Murphy's gravity-defying header in the 76th-minute confirmed the club's survival, transforming the players from crestfallen troops to heroes and legends.

The coach was not prepared to rest on his laurels and made a point to act swiftly and decisively in the transfer market to ensure the stress and tension of a relegation battle was not felt in the following season. Hodgson moved early and shortly afterwards brought in Mark Schwarzer on a free and Zoltán Gera for the same outlay shortly after, while Bobby Zamora and John Paintsil arrived from West Ham for £5 million.

****
ZGZoltán Gera arrived in 2008 and was integral to some of Fulham's finest moments over the coming three years

****

A Cottage that had been darkened dramatically over the course of Sanchez's doomed spell had been exalted with a wave of optimism, instigated by their eleventh-hour heroics in the scrap for survival, creating a momentum that carried the club to their highest-ever Premier League finish of 7th in 2009. It was a remarkable turnaround, made possible by some astute business in the transfer market and a methodology of coaching that became increasingly engrained in the players, with the Hodgson factor truly taking shape as his tenure continued.

"Hodgson's approach was built around defensive solidity and drilling the players in playing very simple, unadventurous roles within the team. Simon Davies spoke about how strange they found it just repeating the same things again and again in training but that eventually it clicked. Hodgson had them passing in triangles and not moving too far up the pitch. Attacking and attractive it was not but it meant we conceded just 34 goals in 2008-09 (Arsenal conceded 37) in finishing seventh, having let in 60 a season for the previous two," Marsh explained.

His tactics concentrated on short passing and moving quickly to close down and regain possession when it was lost. Fulham rarely created a host of chances under him but they became quite effective at counter attacking a nicking games by a single goal. Hodgson made the players keep it straightforward; they became very good at doing the simple things well and journeymen like John Paintsil could look like world beaters in the company of team like Chelsea. He created an efficient machine where new players could be easily slotted in and everyone felt confident in their ability to do their bit.

His style was never wholly popular because fans always gravitate to the 'I pay to be entertained' line and feel that even a club of Fulham's stature should always aspire to mix it with the big boys. They never really did that under Hodgson. While they had the odd reasonable result against the top four, they were mainly set up to beat the clubs they were expected to perform against.

The success of the approach Hodgson had pioneered decades before in Sweden was always finely balanced at a club with Fulham's resources. Indeed, there was a sense before he went to Liverpool that it was running out of steam. It takes time to for players to get used to it, as two wins and nine losses in his first 16 games at Fulham demonstrated, but it enabled him to make the team greater than the sum of its parts and punch above its weight. Fans rejoiced at getting to see him bring the best out of players like Paintsil, Zamora, Simon Davies and Zoltán Gera and he definitely saw quality where other managers did not.

At Liverpool his players hated being restricted to simple roles and being repeatedly drilled in basic systems but you can see with the England team that Hodgson can get top flight players to keep it simple; his record with the national side compares with all but the very best managers.

Whatever Hodgson preached at Fulham in the 2008-09 season, it worked. They won 14 matches, drew 11 and lost 13. What is telling of the Hodgson system was their scoring stats: 39 scored in 38 games was distinctly unspectacular, but they only conceded 34. Hodgson's vision centred on an ultra-organised defence, making it as tight and compact as possible and becoming incredibly difficult to break down. Hodgson was meticulous and active in training at Motspur Park, getting involved at every opportunity and becoming more of a participator in the act of improvement rather than observer.

While the Europa League can often be viewed as an entertaining distraction for some clubs, it provided some of the finest memories: "It was, for most fans, the most joyous and extraordinary experience we have had in football. If following your club is first and foremost about the camaraderie with your fellow fans then it is likely the Europa League run will ever be bettered for Fulham supporters. We had shocking luck all the way though and some terrible refereeing decisions but overcame some of the best teams in the game and did it with style and a buccaneering spirit you rarely saw in our league form," Marsh recalled.

For the supporters, watching their team mix it with the likes of Juventus and Roma felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity. The team played with heart and passion on their way to the club's first ever major European final, giving the fans the greatest season of their lives.

It all started in July – when many of the Premier League's top players were busy sunning themselves – when Fulham travelled to Lithuania to play Vėtra in the Europa League third qualifying round. The mileage may have been draining but Fulham were satisfied with a comfortable 3-0 victory, before repeating that score-line to complete an emphatic 6-0 aggregate score.

The next test was considerably trickier: a playoff against the Russian side Amkar Perm. A 3-1 win at the Cottage put Fulham on the cusp of the competition proper, but they managed to hang on by the skin of their teeth in the away leg, losing 1-0 and praising their luck after a slew of Amkar chances went begging. The group stage beckoned.

Fulham were faced with a fascinating yet tough group, comprised of Roma, Basel and CSKA Sofia. Trips to Italy, Switzerland and Bulgaria was the reward for their hard-work in the qualifying rounds. The chance to travel to the Olympic Stadium in Rome was a tantalising prospect for fans who, just over a year earlier, had been dreading the indignity of the Championship.

In the first game, away to Sofia, Hodgson made it clear that the Premier League was his priority, with Pantsil the only first-team regular in the starting eleven. The game finished 1-1 after Kamara levelled the scoring to ensure Fulham's maiden group stage voyage didn't end in defeat. A Murphy goal gifted them the first three points of the competition against Basel at Craven Cottage. An encouraging start was almost made even better when Roma visited the Cottage in the third fixture.

Brede Hangeland had headed the home side into the lead and Fulham managed to hang on right until the death, when Marco Andreolli scored in the 93rd-minute. Refereeing decisions marred the trip to the Olympic Stadium when Paul Konchesky was sent off harshly, reducing Hodgson's men to ten and making the task of beating Roma virtually impossible. Having led 1-0, Fulham lost 2-1 and Hodgson found it difficult to conceal his frustration: "I can't always be happy, not in the face of injustice."

However, their train was not to be derailed as a couple of spirited performances against Sofia and Basel – producing 1-0 and 3-2 victories – guaranteed a place in the knock-out rounds. In the league, Fulham were far from the miserable, relegation-threatened entity of two years previously. In December, they had thrashed Manchester United 3-0 in what remains one of their most impressive displays against a top side.

They faltered, however, around Christmas, losing five games in a row and denting the confidence ahead of their showdown with Europa League holders Shakhtar Donetsk in the last-32. However, a recurring element of Fulham's season was not letting their highs and lows in the league deter their journey in the Europa League. Zoltán Gera fired them ahead against Donetsk after just two minutes. However, Donetsk were a team of genuine quality and pedigree, and they showed exactly why they were the holders, suffocating Fulham with a flurry of quick passing moves and a thoroughly deserved equalizer through Brazilian striker Luiz Adriano. 1-1 at half-time.

The scoreline didn't make for the worst reading but anyone watching the game would have remarked in the gulf between the two sides. Donetsk were intelligent and relentless, and Fulham simply couldn't keep the ball. Hodgson decided to act. Noticing that Shakhtar were extremely dangerous in and around Fulham's penalty area, he pushed the defensive line up significantly and re-established a foothold in proceedings. Then, Zamora sent the Cottage into a frenzy when he hammered a ferocious drive from 25 yards into the net via the crossbar. A 2-1 win and a tactical triumph for Hodgson, who had been brave with his risky high-line. Fortunately, it worked, and Fulham had an advantage to bring with them to Ukraine.

In the return leg, Hangeland struck to extend Fulham's advantage and despite Jádson equalising for Donetsk, Hodgson's men clung on admirably and proceeded to the last-16. This Europa League distraction was rapidly becoming a point of real interest. Their reward for vanquishing the holders was even more enticing; a battle with the mighty Juventus.

Admittedly, the Bianconeri were not a premium force in Italy at the time, but they were nevertheless a club of significantly greater stature than Fulham. The first-leg had seemingly ended Fulham's tournament, a 3-1 defeat in Turin providing a dampening anti-climax to pre-game excitement. However, at Craven Cottage, Fulham pulled off an extraordinary turnaround in a night that will live long in the memory for fans and neutrals.

"I will never see a better game at Craven Cottage than the visit of Juventus. We could barely land a glove on Shakhtar Donetsk at home, so sublime was their football, but we prevailed in the end but Juventus was several levels higher. I arrived late at the ground so missed their goal which put them three up on aggregate but the Fulham fans were in buoyant and positive mood all game. It is bizarre to relate but there was an eagerly expectant air around the ground even after their goal in the 2nd minute. For some reason we always felt we were still in the fight. We had seen such great play from Fulham so far that season that we always felt we had goals in us in Europe," Marsh told me.

"Zoltán Gera and his joyous goal celebrations, Bobby Zamora and his tireless fighting for the cause and Clint Dempsey and the chip from nowhere made it the loudest game of football many can remember at The Cottage and it is the most damage I have done to my vocal cords at football. And Dempsey meant that. He was that sort of player. Cocky, selfish, tactically naive and not troubled by the sense that his circus tricks might ever make him look an idiot, it was the logical conclusion to a game like that. After Juventus it felt like we could take on anyone and the good wishes from fans across the country is something we had never experienced before," he continued.

They had done it: Fulham had beaten Juventus. Their confidence was reaching near unbreakable heights at this point, believing that they could take on anyone. David Trezeguet had increased Juve's advantage early on but Zamora – a heroic performance yet again – slammed in an equaliser before a red card for Fabio Cannavaro changed the complexion of the match entirely.

Simon Davies fired in a spectacular second, after an expertly constructed move, and Fulham were dreaming once again. Then, Fulham won a penalty. Murphy wasn't playing so up stepped Gera who fired it in to bring Fulham level on aggregate. The noise around the ground was deafening. Fulham were on the cusp of something truly special. But naturally, the best was saved for last. Clint Dempsey, collecting the ball on the edge of the area, produced a sumptuous dink to score Fulham's fourth and see them through, prompting eulogies of the greatest night in the club's history.

Understandably, Hodgson was beaming in his post-math interviews, claiming that he was "on top of the world". Fulham, a team who had straddled the oblivion just two seasons earlier, in danger of falling off the English football map, had staged a stunning revival to knock out one of the greatest club sides in the world.

****
RHRegardless of your opinion on Roy Hodgson as England manager, there can be no denying the feats he accomplished at Fulham

****

Suddenly, the fans started to truly believe that Fulham could go all the way to the final. What a rollercoaster it had been, from planning for life in the Championship to embarking on an exciting European odyssey. From the hellish relegation scrap, they were traveling to iconic stadia on the continent like the Stadio delle Alpi.

Their next adventure was a tussle with the reigning Bundesliga champions, Wolfsburg. It was an absorbing encounter at Craven Cottage and Fulham deservedly walked away 2-1 winners, with Zamora and Duff amongst the goals. A late away goal courtesy of Alexander Madlung's impressive header put the tie on a knife's edge. Any anticipation of a nerve-shredding evening in Germany was soon dissipated by the superb Zamora, who struck after 20 seconds to silence the Volkswagen Arena and send Fulham through to the semi-final.

"When we kicked off this campaign I don't think anyone would have expected that we would be in the semi-final come the end of April. It's a fantastic journey. We've had to do it the hard way. I'm delighted that we've done it and I think we did with some style and panache," Hodgson said of his side's progress. He was right, too. While Fulham may not have been the most attacking team to watch in that year's Europa League, Hodgson's players were beguiling in that they were fiercely disciplined, unwaveringly organised and acutely aware of their own responsibilities. It may have been a painstaking process, but Hodgson's vision for this side had been transmitted perfectly. He knew exactly what he wanted from the players and they knew exactly how to satisfy.

Their next challenge was a considerable one: a semi-final showdown with Hamburg, who were gunning to reach a final to be staged in their own back yard. The first-leg was an even affair and ended goalless. Nobody could really complain about the result but perhaps there was a tinge of lament that Hodgson's men had failed to snatch an away goal, inevitably intensifying the pressure of the return leg.

And yes, it proved to be another emotionally exhausting evening; one that started disastrously after Mladen Petrić's astonishing free-kick fired the Germans into the lead, giving them an away goal that had eluded the Premier League side. Petrić's goal was one of the finest in the competition that season. In goal, Mark Schwarzer looked a portrait of concentration, knowing that the Croatian had a penchant for spectacular set-pieces. However, he was utterly helpless as the ball zoomed past him, straight into the top corner.

Once again, however, the footballing Gods were smiling on west London. Davies, with twenty minutes remaining, latched onto a typically impeccable through ball from Murphy, juggled it round the defender and poked it into the bottom corner. Belief. Seven minutes later, a corner from the right was headed down into space and, with the Hamburg players failing to react sufficiently, Gera lashed home the all-important second, sending Fulham to the final.

After eighteen games and 25,000 miles travelled, Hodgson and his troops found themselves in their first-ever European final, facing off against Atlético Madrid. The remarkable European adventure was about to reach a thrilling climax, with a major European honour on the line. The final was once again demonstrative of Hodgson's capacity to make bold tactical decisions during a game.

Fulham had been overwhelmed by the occasion – not to mention the considerable quality of the opposition – in the opening period, looking every bit as nervous as Hodgson on the touchline. Sergio Agüero and Diego Forlán looked dangerous every time they came forward and, after the Argentine found his South American compatriot after 11 minutes on the edge of the area, the English coach feared the worst. Luckily, the Uruguayan's shot flicked off the far post and the Cottagers breathed again.

Reprieve? Not at all. Atlético didn't look like a side who had languished in La Liga mediocrity that season (they finished 9th under Quique Sánchez Flores). Los Rojiblancos attacked with speed, fluidity and confidence. However, there was a sizeable slice of luck involved with their opener. Agüero had scuffed a volley, but the ball fell straight to an onrushing Forlán who, like every striker worth his salt, anticipated the potential rebound and fired home the loose ball before Schwarzer could react. However, Fulham's run had been characterised by an undying resolve and they once again refused to wilt in the face of high-calibre opponents. With forty minutes gone, Gera fed Davies and the Welshman smashed in the equalising volley at the far post. Fulham had been vastly inferior, but they were level.

At half-time, Hodgson took action. Forlan may have scored but Fulham's boss knew that the real threat came from the excellent Agüero, whose darting runs behind the defence and between the back four and midfield had bamboozled Dickson Etuhu. Davies and Duff were instructed to tuck in, making things narrower and providing assistance to a struggling central midfield.

Fulham's second half efforts were valiant and they unquestionably nudged themselves back into proceedings. However, it is almost impossible to keep a player of Agüero's quality quiet forever and, deep into extra-time, with the scores still locked at 1-1, the Argentine picked out Forlán with devastating precision from the left. The striker made no mistake in grabbing his second goal of the evening and destroying Fulham's European dream in the 116th minute.

After all the ups and downs, the ecstasy and the pain, Hodgson's men had come up just shy. As Forlán and the men in red and white wheeled away in celebration, the Fulham players collapsed with exhaustion. What a slog it had been, from that qualifying round ten months previous, to this point. It had been a journey thick with over-achievement and footballing romanticism, but there could be no denying the enrichment of spirit within this squad of players. Hodgson had taken a side shattered by the terrors of relegation and transformed them into a side worthy of any Europa League final. No matter what was thrown at them, Fulham responded, and responded with conviction and heart. Their efforts in the Europa League, and their miraculous avoidance of relegation two seasons earlier will long be remembered by any neutral.

Hodgson had done wonders for his reputation. Hailed as a leading man-manager with bundles of tactical acumen, he won the LMA Manager of the Year Award two days before the Europa League final by a record margin. Perhaps almost inevitably, the big clubs began to circle and when he was offered the chance to further his career with Liverpool, it proved to be an irresistible offer. Though the fans were disappointed he left, Hodgson will always be remembered as a Fulham legend, and perhaps their greatest ever manager. When I asked David Marsh if he was the club's greatest ever coach, he summed the Fulham experience under Hodgson in wonderfully eloquent style:

"Roy Hodgson is the finest manager Fulham have ever had on a number of levels. He saved us from a fate that would probably have been much worse than our current scenario because our chairman was looking to sell the club and investment would probably not have been forthcoming to take us back up. He gave us our highest ever finish and the Thursday night delight of European football and in so doing lifted us from the depths of despair to a level which transformed the way we see our club.

"He was also about the best match in terms of personality and temperament you could get in a Fulham manager. A South London boy he was polite, un-showy and blessed with a quietly confident footballing brain. He was also very intelligent but wore it lightly and would drop in the odd literary or philosophical reference into interviews and delight us with his extraordinary vocabulary. We all remember when Andy Johnson was 'literally banjoed' out of a game in the Europa League.

"Hodgson always gives real detail in his interviews instead of the cliché ridden nonsense of most managers and it made fans feel like they could see what he was trying to achieve.

"Roy Hodgson is also a gent of the old school and we all miss that in the game. He is kind, supportive and a decent human being – rare qualities in his chosen profession. He has earned everything he has achieved in football by graft and intelligence."

Those last three words are a perfect summation of that Fulham side. Their intelligence came from Hodgson's immense understanding of the game, but their graft had always been there. Hodgson just brought it out better than anyone else. He was, for the club, better than anyone else, too.

With special thanks to Richard Allen and David Marsh for their expert insight.

http://thesefootballtimes.co/2015/06/09/fulham-journey-to-europe/

[Friendsoffulham]

Swansea accept Fulham's Jazz Richards bid



HITC Sport understands from sources close to the club that Swansea City have accepted an offer from Fulham for defender Jazz Richards.

As revealed by HITC Sport last month, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers had made enquiries for Richards, but now Fulham are in pole position to land the full-back after agreeing a fee for his services.

Richards enjoyed a successful spell on loan at Fulham last season, making 14 appearances at Craven Cottage, and Kit Symons had made him one of his top targets this summer.

Symons is looking to rebuild his squad at Fulham after a difficult first campaign in charge with the club just narrowly avoiding relegation.

SEE ALSO: Fulham and QPR eye Wales defender

The 24-year-old is in the final year of his contract at Swansea and the Welsh club are ready to let Richards move on.

Richards is keen to find a new club as he looks to be playing regular first-team football after finding himself behind the likes of Kyle Naughton and Angel Rangel at the Liberty Stadium.

Will Jazz Richards be a good signing for Fulham?

http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/06/10/swansea-accept-fulhams-jazz-richards-bid/page/1/

[HatterDon]

Fulham flop set for shock Liverpool move?

Liverpool could be set for a shock move to name former Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen as Brendan Rodger's assistant manager, after the club chose not to renew Colin Pascoe's contract, report the Telegraph.

Rafael Benitzez's former assistant Pako Ayestaran is also reportedly in the mix, with Liverpool boards keen to shake things up after a poor season.

Rodgers kept his job following a talk with the board, and the early summer additions of James Milner and Danny Ings suggest there will be another summer of change at Anfield.

Meulensteen has been out of work since being sacked by Fulham after a poor period at the club which saw them sink towards the Championship.

Meulensteen's experience at Manchester United may not go down well with Liverpool fans, with Meulensteen's former comments regarding Rodgers not sounding too complimentary.

http://the72.co.uk/28920/fulham-flop-set-for-shock-liverpool-move/?

Fulham FLOP? Really? I thought his sides against Liverpool and Man U played the best football we saw all that season [with the exception of the away to Palace]. Good luck to him.

[God The Mechanic]

We had 25% possession, 3 shots on target and 1 corner in the Man Utd game.  It was effective, but it definitely wasn't entertaining or expansive.

Don't forget he dreadful performances he managed either - two games at the very end of his reign where we got one point is hardly anything to brag about.

[fulhamben]

We had 25% possession, 3 shots on target and 1 corner in the Man Utd game.  It was effective, but it definitely wasn't entertaining or expansive.

Don't forget he dreadful performances he managed either - two games at the very end of his reign where we got one point is hardly anything to brag about.

but you could at least see what his vision was. cant say the same about felix or even kit yet. i believe we would have put up a better fight under him in the prem and last year

[HatterDon]

We had 25% possession, 3 shots on target and 1 corner in the Man Utd game.  It was effective, but it definitely wasn't entertaining or expansive.

Don't forget he dreadful performances he managed either - two games at the very end of his reign where we got one point is hardly anything to brag about.

What I remember most was United's inability to penetrate what turned out to be BY FAR the easiest defense to bridge in the Premier League. That and watching the United "faithful" going crazy was, to me, pretty entertaining.

[Craven Mad]

We had 25% possession, 3 shots on target and 1 corner in the Man Utd game.  It was effective, but it definitely wasn't entertaining or expansive.

Don't forget he dreadful performances he managed either - two games at the very end of his reign where we got one point is hardly anything to brag about.

What I remember most was United's inability to penetrate what turned out to be BY FAR the easiest defense to bridge in the Premier League. That and watching the United "faithful" going crazy was, to me, pretty entertaining.

+1 to this

[God The Mechanic]

We had 25% possession, 3 shots on target and 1 corner in the Man Utd game.  It was effective, but it definitely wasn't entertaining or expansive.

Don't forget he dreadful performances he managed either - two games at the very end of his reign where we got one point is hardly anything to brag about.

What I remember most was United's inability to penetrate what turned out to be BY FAR the easiest defense to bridge in the Premier League. That and watching the United "faithful" going crazy was, to me, pretty entertaining.

That doesn't mean we played entertaining football. 90+ defensive headers from Burn isn't entertaining football.  The frustration it caused may have been awesome, but to suggest Rene was managing entertaining football at the Cottage really isn't that accurate.

Are we forgetting the dross we served up at Hull, Sunderland, Sheffield United?  Rene got one point from two games (granted against decent teams) by playing 7 defensive minded players - if that was what his vision was for the rest of the season I'm glad we didn't see much more of it.  His record was dire - as have been those of all our managers over the last 2 1/2 season - three wins in two and a half months.

[Berserker]

I think Rene was beginning  to come good when he was sacked, and of course having his mate Wilko with him have put a downer on things. I liked the Rene but circumstances were against him at Fulham

[F(f)CUK]

I think Rene was beginning  to come good when he was sacked, and of course having his mate Wilko with him have put a downer on things. I liked the Rene but circumstances were against him at Fulham

:plus one:

[Woolly Mammoth]

I think Rene was beginning  to come good when he was sacked, and of course having his mate Wilko with him have put a downer on things. I liked the Rene but circumstances were against him at Fulham

Yes I also liked Rene, and I thought he was beginning to turn things around when he was replaced, which was a shame, we will never know for sure, but I would have thought in the long term Rene would have been good for Fulham.