Thursday Fulham Stuff (29.07.10)

[WhiteJC]

http://blogs.soccernet.com/fulham/archives/2010/07/mark_hughes_named_as_new_fulha.php?
Mark Hughes named as new Fulham manager


So Sparky has the nod, back at the helm of a Premiership club after being shipped out of Eastlands last December. With his impressive record in management and outstanding playing career, it needed a big man to fill Hodgson's shoes. Hughes looks the best equipped of those on offer to do it.

Fiercly competitive as a player and demanding much of his players as a manager, Hughes has just over two weeks to get Fulham fired up for the new season. The new manager's approach and team talks will be in stark contrast to his predecessor, while Whites fans will wonder if we are in for a change of style. Blackburn under Hughes could be a combative proposition, but then if we stop laying down in front of the oppositon next season on the road, who's going to complain?

Yet again it's to the board's credit that a transfer kitty around £15 million pounds is part of the package to entice Hughes down from the north-west. Craig Bellamy may well be top of the shopping list. Now there's a character unlikely to be universally welcome down at the Cottage.

Just for the record the Welshman served his country as manager in a 5 year spell before taking charge at Ewood Park. In four seasons he guided Rovers to three domestic cup semi-finals and 6th place in the 2005/6 season that saw them qualify for the UEFA Cup. He then had two years at Man City before the new owners decided to dump him and go for a stellar appointment.

Supporters will at least be delighted to see an end to the uncertainty over who took over, it's been a month now since Hodgson headed up to the Mersey. And the situation was starting to get to the players. Steve Sidwell's move from Aston Villa is in place, just requiring a nod from Hughes, so we could be in for an exciting run up to game one as Mark looks to spend the next slice of MAF's largesse.

We've hardly been out of the news since the start of the year, so with the arrival of Mark, what's your take on the next stage in FFC's remarkable journey?

[WhiteJC]

http://www.imscouting.com/global-news-article/Mark-Hughes-set-to-be-confirmed-as-Fulham-boss-by-weekend/9070/?
Mark Hughes set to be confirmed as Fulham boss by weekend

Mark Hughes is set to be confirmed as Fulham's boss by this weekend.

Cottagers owner Mohamed Al Fayed is said to have agreed to give the former Manchester City and Blackburn manager a three-year contract, according to the Mirror.

Al Fayed opted for the Manchester United legend over Sven Goran Eriksson after the Swede demanded a whopping £3million-a-year.

Hughes will be succeeding Roy Hosdgon, who replaced Rafa Benitez at Liverpool.

Hughes was fired, somewhat unfairly, from mega-rich Manchester City half-way through last season after a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/sven-goran-eriksson-out-of-race-for-fulham-post-14891507.html?
Sven Goran Eriksson out of race for Fulham post

Sven Goran Eriksson appears to have dropped out of the running for the manager's position at Fulham, a development which leaves Mark Hughes looking the most likely candidate at a club badly needing to replace Roy Hodgson, with the season only 16 days off.

The odds on Hughes leapt from 5/4 to 2/9 with William Hill yesterday and it seems the 46-year-old has gradually become more convinced that Craven Cottage is a big enough place to renew his career, seven months after his dismissal at Manchester City.

Eriksson had seemed to be a strong contender, considering the strong relationship he built up with the current Fulham chief executive Alistair Mackintosh. But it is understood that he now considers that proposition to be highly unlikely.



Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/sven-goran-eriksson-out-of-race-for-fulham-post-14891507.html?#ixzz0v38F4jzi

[WhiteJC]

http://hammyend.com/?p=7426
So. Mark Hughes, then?
by NICKW on JULY 29, 2010

Right, so Mark Hughes appears to be a done deal, if we are to believe the Guardian, Mail and Express (even if ESPN aren't quite so sure). Oddly enough, when I heard the news, I was neither terribly excited nor filled with dread. Just filled with a strange sense of apathy. Anyways, my two cents for what they're worth. (Well, two cents, obviously.....)

Yes, it could have been better. But at least the board have been ambitious in their pursuit for a new manager. Clearly Ottmar Hitzfeld was sounded out, but he turned the club down to finish the last two years of his career at international level with Switzerland. Martin Jol was always my personal choice, and was delighted to see that Fulham were trying so hard to get him, but in the end Ajax would not let him go. Reportedly, it would have taken some £8.4m to have persuaded Ajax to let go. I would have been happy with Sven Goran Eriksson too, and could see him being a good "fit" at Fulham for some reason. But Al Fayed clearly never really fancied him for the job.

Equally, however, it could have been a lot, lot worse. This is not the disaster that some fans are suggesting. Who else was available? Lee Clark – Fulham legend, but not proven in the Premier League. Same applies to Sean O'Driscoll. Whilst I believe that lower league managers should get their chance at the top level, clearly Al Fayed still has the reign of Lawrie Sanchez lodged firmly in mind, and is understandably determined not to go down that route again – perhaps why Dave Jones was discounted. Similarly, Jurgen Klinsmann and Slaven Bilic fell at a similar hurdle. Like Sanchez, they did pretty well at international level. At club level however, the former failed at Bayern whilst the latter has managed for only five games at club level, at Hajduk Spilt. Bob Bradley is a similar story – outside of the USA national team, he has managed Chicago Fire, MetroStars and Chivas USA. Rather a gamble to take.

Then there are the likes of Alan Curbishley – a good manager for a Fulham-level club, but one with some serious issues with numerous members of our playing staff; Stuart Baxter – a Hodgson-lite, it seems, with no experience of managing in England; Gianfranco Zola apparently expressed his interest, but was told thanks, but no thanks. Apart from that, who else was a viable option? Glenn Hoddle was mentioned in passing, but has been out of the game since 2006, and is concentrating on his academy. Would Manuel Pellegrini really have taken such a step down from the Bernabeu to Craven Cottage? It is clear that Fulham have taken their time to assess all the candidates, and to choose who they believe is the right man for the job.

What Fulham have got in Mark Hughes is a manager who has done well in the Premier League before, and has a point to prove that he can do so again. After doing well as the manager of Wales, he was a resounding success at Blackburn Rovers, leading them to three top-10 finishes in his four years there, including a 6th and a 7th. Deservedly so, he was hailed as being one of the best "up-and-coming" managers in the game, and all but a few years ago was heavily linked as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor at Old Trafford.

I'm not entirely sure where this belief that Hughes has his teams play Allardyce-esque football comes from. What what I've seen, his teams have been (mostly) solid in the centre, with emphasis placed on counter-attacking football down the wings. Admittedly, at Blackburn they came last in the disciplinary rankings for all of his four seasons there, but how much of that was already part of the footballing culture there before he arrived, I'm not sure. What is worrying, however, is that his teams aren't great defensively. Hopefully retaining Ray Lewington will help us keep some of the positional organisation and discipline that was such an important part of our game under Roy Hodgson.

Hughes got his move to Manchester City, where he was not the disaster that some people would have us to believe. He was sacked with Manchester City a respectable 6th in the league, having only lost once in the league all season (and that in Fergie-time at Old Trafford). Another negative thrown at him is that he wasted millions on average players at Manchester City (£22m for Joleon Lescott, anyone?). However, it must be emphasised that Manchester City do not play with the same financial constraints as everybody else, and as a result other clubs with take advantage of this when City come after their players. Whoever is at Manchester City will have to spend millions to get even the most average of players, that's just the way it is now. Perhaps Hughes is one of those managers who are far better at finding bargains than splashing wads of cash. The Manchester City and Blackburn fans I have spoken to say that he has a good eye for a bargain, as was amply demonstrated by his time at Ewood Park.

There's inevitably going to be much speculation now on which players Hughes is going to sign, and who will leave the club. Mark Schwarzer, Paul Konchesky and Bobby Zamora have all been heavily linked with moves away at some stage this summer, with the first two looking the more likely. Will they stay or go now that Hughes has been appointed? A deal for Steve Sidwell has been agreed, pending whether Hughes approves the deal, and whether Sidwell is happy to work with Hughes. David James is said to fancy playing at Fulham, and has been holding out until Schwarzer's future is resolved before committing himself to anything.

Much of the transfer speculation will doubtless focus on Manchester City players, such as Craig Bellamy, Roque Santa Cruz, Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha. Personally, I cannot see these players making their way to ply their trade at Craven Cottage, at least, not all of them. For a start, Fulham only have £20m to spend – the club cannot afford to buy them. Secondly, their wages are quite simply out of our league. If Fulham were to get any of them, my guess would be that they would be loan signings. The new rules regarding 25-man squads will mean that City will be paying for players to literally do nothing. Whilst I'm sure they can afford it, it wouldn't surprise me too much, for instance, if there was an offer to pay 50% of some players' wages if they might come to the club on loan until January, or even the end of the season.

This is going to be an interesting couple of months for us Fulham fans. What changes will Hughes make to the management staff, playing staff and style of play? How well will Hughes and the players gel? And, perhaps most importantly of all, how will the start of the season pan out? ¬Sure, after waiting for what seems like ages, it would have been nice to have got a genuinely world-class manager. Hughes is probably as good as Fulham could possibly expect to get at this moment, with the possible exception of Jol. Personally, I am actually more interested than excited in how this appointment will develop. And I fear that is part of the problem people are having with this appointment.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.football.virginmedia.com/page/Football/Headlines/0,,12555~2105066,00.html?
Fulham to unveil Hughes

Mark Hughes will be unveiled as Fulham's new manager today, according to widespread media reports.

The Cottagers have been on the lookout for a new boss since Roy Hodgson left Craven Cottage to join Liverpool at the start of the month.

Their attention was first focused on Ajax boss Martin Jol, but when the Dutch side refused to let the former Tottenham boss leave, chairman Mohamed Al Fayed was forced to look elsewhere.

Hughes has been without a job since being sacked by Manchester City last December and replaced by Roberto Mancini.

He began his managerial career with Wales in 1999 and took them to the brink of qualification for Euro 2004, eventually losing a play-off to Russia.

In 2004, he was appointed by Blackburn, where his achievements included an FA Cup semi-final and a place in the UEFA Cup.

He joined Manchester City in 2008, but the job description changed radically soon after when the Abu Dhabi United Group took over the club, making them the richest in world football.

Despite a massive influx of players, Hughes could not do enough to satisfy the new owners and was eventually sacked last year.

He will take over a Fulham side who enjoyed a season of unexpected success last year.

Under Hodgson, they reached the Europa League final, where they lost to Atletico Madrid in the first major European final in their history.

Sven-Goran Eriksson and Ottmar Hitzfeld were also believed to have been on Fulham's shortlist.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.surreyherald.co.uk/surrey-sport/afcwimbledon/2010/07/29/former-fulham-midfielder-set-for-dons-deal-86289-26950779/?
Former Fulham midfielder set for Dons deal

TERRY Brown wants to keep youngster Reece Jones at AFC Wimbledon.

The former Fulham midfielder has been training with the Dons since impressing in a trial game last month, and looks set to be handed a contract with the club during talks over the weekend trip to Devon to take on Tiverton and Exeter City.

Dons boss Brown said: "I'm delighted with Reece. His first touch is exquisite and we would like to keep him.

"If the squad gets bigger it will be with younger players. We're not in a position to offer big money but we might get youngsters to supplement what we have that live with their mum and dad.

"I wouldn't expect him to play too many games but we would stick him in if we get injuries."

[WhiteJC]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23861156-fulham-set-to-appoint-mark-hughes.do?
Fulham set to appoint Mark Hughes

Mark Hughes will be unveiled as Fulham's new manager today, according to widespread media reports.

The Cottagers have been on the lookout for a new boss since Roy Hodgson left Craven Cottage to join Liverpool at the start of the month.

Their attention was first focused on Ajax boss Martin Jol, but when the Dutch side refused to let the former Tottenham boss leave, chairman Mohamed Al Fayed was forced to look elsewhere.

Hughes has been without a job since being sacked by Manchester City last December and replaced by Roberto Mancini.

He began his managerial career with Wales in 1999 and took them to the brink of qualification for Euro 2004, eventually losing a play-off to Russia.

In 2004, he was appointed by Blackburn, where his achievements included an FA Cup semi-final and a place in the UEFA Cup.

He joined Manchester City in 2008, but the job description changed radically soon after when the Abu Dhabi United Group took over the club, making them the richest in world football.

Despite a massive influx of players, Hughes could not do enough to satisfy the new owners and was eventually sacked last year.

He will take over a Fulham side who enjoyed a season of unexpected success last year.

Under Hodgson, they reached the Europa League final, where they lost to Atletico Madrid in the first major European final in their history.

Sven-Goran Eriksson and Ottmar Hitzfeld were also believed to have been on Fulham's shortlist.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/premier-league-football-news/2010/07/29/fulham-to-announce-hughes-as-manager-today-66331-26954744/?
Fulham to announce Hughes as manager today


Mark Hughes will be unveiled as Fulham's new manager today, according to widespread media reports.

The Cottagers have been on the lookout for a new boss since Roy Hodgson left Craven Cottage to join Liverpool at the start of the month.

Their attention was first focused on Ajax boss Martin Jol, but when the Dutch side refused to let the former Tottenham boss leave, chairman Mohamed Al Fayed was forced to look elsewhere.

Hughes has been without a job since being sacked by Manchester City last December and replaced by Roberto Mancini.

He began his managerial career with Wales in 1999 and took them to the brink of qualification for Euro 2004, eventually losing a play-off to Russia.

In 2004, he was appointed by Blackburn, where his achievements included an FA Cup semi-final and a place in the UEFA Cup.

He joined Manchester City in 2008, but the job description changed radically soon after when the Abu Dhabi United Group took over the club, making them the richest in world football.

Despite a massive influx of players, Hughes could not do enough to satisfy the new owners and was eventually sacked last year.

He will take over a Fulham side who enjoyed a season of unexpected success last year.

Under Hodgson, they reached the Europa League final, where they lost to Atletico Madrid in the first major European final in their history.

Sven-Goran Eriksson and Ottmar Hitzfeld were also believed to have been on Fulham's shortlist.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/golf/2010/0729/hughesm_fulham.html?
Hughes strongly linked to Cottagers

Mark Hughes will be unveiled as Fulham's new manager today, according to widespread media reports.

The Cottagers have been on the lookout for a new boss since Roy Hodgson left Craven Cottage to join Liverpool at the start of the month.

Their attention was first focused on Ajax boss Martin Jol, but when the Dutch side refused to let the former Tottenham boss leave, chairman Mohamed Al Fayed was forced to look elsewhere.

Hughes has been without a job since being sacked by Manchester City last December and replaced by Roberto Mancini.

He began his managerial career with Wales in 1999 and took them to the brink of qualification for Euro 2004, eventually losing a play-off to Russia.

In 2004, he was appointed by Blackburn, where his achievements included an FA Cup semi-final and a place in the UEFA Cup.

He joined Manchester City in 2008, but the job description changed radically soon after when the Abu Dhabi United Group took over the club, making them the richest in world football.

Despite a massive influx of players, Hughes could not do enough to satisfy the new owners and was eventually sacked last year.

He will take over a Fulham side who enjoyed a season of unexpected success last year.

Under Hodgson, they reached the Europa League final, where they lost to Atletico Madrid in the first major European final in their history.

Sven-Goran Eriksson and Ottmar Hitzfeld were also believed to have been on Fulham's shortlist.

[Lighthouse]

BBC BREAKING NEWS

Fulham have reach an agreement with Mark Hughes to become their new manager, BBC Sport understands.

An announcement will be made by the club after legal negotiations are completed, possibly later on Thursday.

Former Manchester United and Chelsea striker Hughes, 46, has been out of work since parting company with Manchester City last December.

He replaces Roy Hodgson, who left Fulham earlier this month to take charge at Liverpool.

Fulham had wanted to Ajax boss Martin Jol but were forced to look elsewhere when the Dutch club refused to let him leave.

Hughes began his managerial career with Wales in 1999, taking them to the brink of qualification for Euro 2004, only to denied by a play-off loss to Russia.

In 2004, he was appointed by Blackburn, where he took them to an FA Cup semi-final and also a place in the Uefa Cup.

He took charge of City in 2008 but the club's change of ownership and hugely increased budget and level of expectation meant he only had a brief tenure in the job before he was replaced by Roberto Mancini.

At Fulham, he will be working with more modest resources, but he inherits a side left in good shape by Hodgson.

Last season, he guided the Cottagers on a memorable Europa League campaign, which saw them lose in the final to Atletico Madrid.

[WhiteJC]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/8866133.stm
Mark Hughes set to become new Fulham manager

Hughes has been out of work since being sacked by Manchester City

Fulham have reached an agreement with Mark Hughes for him to become their new manager, BBC Sport understands.
The Craven Cottage club said on Thursday that they expect to name their new boss within the next 48 hours.

Former Manchester United and Chelsea striker Hughes, 46, has been out of work since being sacked as Manchester City manager in December 2009.

The Welshman will replace Roy Hodgson, who left Fulham earlier this month to take charge at Liverpool.

Fulham had wanted to recruit Ajax coach Martin Jol but were forced to look elsewhere when the Dutch club refused to let the former Tottenham manager leave.

606: DEBATE
Welcome Sparky. Ok not the first choice of many but I for one am looking forward to seeing you give passion and 100% this year
cottagecravens

Hughes began his managerial career with Wales in 1999, taking them to the brink of qualification for Euro 2004, only to denied by a play-off loss to Russia.

In 2004, he took the helm at Blackburn and guided them to an FA Cup semi-final and also a place in the Uefa Cup.

He was appointed by City in 2008 but the club's change of ownership and hugely increased budget and level of expectation meant he only had 18 months in the job before he was replaced by Roberto Mancini.

At Fulham, he will be working with more modest resources but he will inherit a side left in good shape by Hodgson.

Last season, Hodgson guided the Cottagers on a memorable Europa League campaign, which ended when they lost in the final to Atletico Madrid.

The expected arrival of Hughes will almost certainly be followed by a reshuffle of the backroom staff at Craven Cottage.
First-team coach Ray Lewington, currently caretaker manager following Hodgson's departure, is expected to follow him to Merseyside.

Goalkeeping coach Mike Kelly could also leave for Liverpool, with Hughes expected to bring in his own regular backroom staff that includes Mark Bowen, Kevin Hitchcock and Eddie Niedzwiecki.

A move to Fulham will see Hughes link up again with chief executive Alistair Mackintosh, who he worked closely with during his time at Manchester City.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23861285-times-running-out-so-heat-will-be-on-mark-hughes-to-fire-up-his-new-fulham-charges.do?
Time's running out so heat will be on Mark Hughes to fire up his new Fulham charges

With just over a fortnight until the season kicks off Mark Hughes will have to hit the ground running if, as expected, he is confirmed as Fulham manager.

The club, stung by the embarrassment caused by the very public nature of their failure to lure Martin Jol to Craven Cottage, are only saying that a replacement for Roy Hodgson is expected to be named within the next 24 to 48 hours.

But it is understood that an agreement in principle has been reached with Hughes, and that lawyers are now going over the fine print of a contract thought to be worth up to £2 million a year.

If the 46-year-old Welshman is to earn his money, he will have to act quickly in order to solve a number of crucial issues relating to both the playing and backroom staff. After all Fulham's opening Premier League game is at Bolton Wanderers a fortnight on Saturday and their first home fixture, a big test against Manchester United is the following Sunday.

Ray Lewington, the long-time servant of Fulham who remains hugely popular among fans and in the dressing room, will almost certainly remain in charge for Saturday's friendly at Portsmouth.

But while it is believed that Lewington, unbeaten in the four pre-season matches he has already presided over following Hodgson's departure to Liverpool, has been assured of a job under Hughes, there is uncertainty over what that role will be.

Hughes is thought to have told Fulham owner Mohamed Fayed that he wants his own backroom team of long-term lieutenant Mark Bowen, Eddie Niedzwiecki, and goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitchcock, to join him.

Their expected arrival should see Mike Kelly, Hodgson's right-hand man at Fulham, leave to join his former boss at Anfield.

Hughes has been out of work since being sacked by Manchester City last December but he will not have agreed to uproot his family from Cheshire had he not been assured by Fayed that a significant sum of money would be available for transfers.

With up to £20million to spend, his first target could be Craig Bellamy, the enigmatic striker he took from West Ham to Eastlands for £14m in January 2009. With Erik Nevland having to return to Viking in Norway, and Andrew Johnson still not in first-team action as the former England forward recovers from a long term knee injury, Fulham desperately need to strengthen their attack.

However, while Roberto Mancini, Hughes' successor at Manchester City, has signalled he might be ready to accept offers for Bellamy — Tottenham were said to be ready with a bid of £4m — Hughes would have to be at his persuasive best to get his fellow Welshman to accept a deal probably worth little more than half his wages of around £90,000 a week.

Furthermore, unlike last season, Fulham cannot offer the attraction of European football — something Bellamy would get at City or Spurs.

A move to White Hart Lane would mean Champions League football, a competition which saw him enjoy one of his greatest moments as he scored in the Nou Camp during Liverpool's 2-1 win over Barcelona.

While looking for goals at one end of the pitch, Hughes will want to retain Fulham's reputation for resolute and well-organised defending that was a principle feature of Hodgson's successful reign.

That means sorting out the future of veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who has been the target of a £2m bid from Arsenal. That was rebuffed but while sources suggest Arsene Wenger has not been back with a renewed offer, he may do that once the new man is in charge.

An obvious replacement for Schwarzer is the highly experienced David James, surplus to requirements at cash-strapped Portsmouth. But Hughes would have to move quickly to stave off rival interest from Celtic and Sunderland.

In Hughes's favour is the knowledge that James would prefer to stay down south and a regular place in Fulham's starting line-up might help James keep the England jersey from Joe Hart whose part in Mancini's plans at City remain unclear.

Steve Sidwell, Aston Villa's out-of-favour midfielder, has been waiting for a new manager to be confirmed before putting his signature to a £2m move to Fulham. Hughes's arrival could set the wheels in motion there.

Of the current squad, players such as Paul Konchesky, the left-back linked with a reunion with Hodgson, and striker Zamora might have concerns over their Fulham futures placated by a manager whose nickname Sparky' reflects the passion he has displayed as a player with Manchester United, Barcelona and Chelsea, and on the touchline with Wales, Blackburn and City.

In truth, though, Hughes will need to show more than just passion if he is to come close to replicating Hodgson's heroics.

They, of course, included leading Fulham to a club-best finish of seventh in the Premier League and beating Juventus, Hamburg and Wolfsburg on the way to last season's Europa League final where Fulham suffered extra-time heartbreak against Atletico Madrid. The incredible 4-1 second leg victory over Juventus gave Fulham's faithful their greatest night at Craven Cottage and captured the imagination of football supporters up and down the country.

Fayed will be looking for evolution, rather than revolution, from the new regime. The passing game encouraged by Hodgson proved more suited to the west London club's chief aim of Premier League survival than the more direct play favoured by Lawrie Sanchez.

Hughes's teams have tended to be physically strong and imposing. If he can combine that style with the football Fulham fans have become accustomed to, maybe Jol will not be such a missed fish after all.