Monday Fulham Stuff (07/12/15)...

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Nottingham Forest were 'dominated' by Fulham

Fulham caretaker boss Peter Grant insisted his side were unfortunate to be beaten at the City Ground – but admitted their failure to defend set pieces had been decisively punished by Nottingham Forest.

Matt Mills twice netted set piece headers, either side of a well-taken goal from Chris O'Grady, to ensure it was Forest who emerged with three points and a third straight home win.

Grant praised his players for their performance – and claimed Fulham had dominated the game.

"Anyone who was here could see how well we played. We were excellent. But we fell foul of the old Achilles' heel of failing to defend set pieces. If you cannot defend set pieces, you are going to be in trouble in this division," he said.



Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Nottingham-Forest-dominated-Fulham/story-28307576-detail/story.html#ixzz3tcIkmkRs
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Ex-Sheff Wed boss the shock favourite for Fulham job

Stuart Gray is the surprising favourite to be named as the next Fulham manager. He has been out of work since being sacked by Championship side Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last season.

Several names have been linked to the Fulham job, either through rumours or actually having interviews in the case of Steve Clarke! The former Reading boss remains quite high up in the betting, and considering he is out of work that is expected. However it was only a few days ago that we covered a story saying how Fulham weren't prepared to head-hunt Clarke for a second time.

Alex McLeish, who himself is out of work, is another that has shortened drastically in the betting over the past few days. The former Scotland, Birmingham City, Aston Villa and Rangers boss has been out of work since departing Belgian side Genk at the end of last season, after they failed to qualify for Europe. He would perhaps be a more pleasing option for the fans compared to Gray, with the greatest of respect to Gray.

Nevertheless, even Gray himself would be slightly or even extremely shocked to even hear his name mentioned in regarding to become the next Fulham manager. He has had a brief spell as a manager in the Premier League with Southampton, and even broke their transfer record at the time during that period. He has also enjoyed caretaker roles with clubs such as Aston Villa, Burnley and Portsmouth. In terms of duration he has spent the longest with Northampton Town, closely followed by his Sheffield Wednesday days between December 2013 and June 2015. In his first season with the Owls, he guided the club to their highest league position for some time.

A few days ago it was reported in the Mirror that Fulham were looking into the prospect of handing Gray the reigns at Craven Cottage. It could well be a case of Gray once again being able to add another caretaker spell to his managerial CV, by signing a deal until the end of the season. He is certainly experienced in that regard. He'll have knowledge of the division without a doubt and is the type to have an impact on the training ground. Would be excite Fulham fans? No, to put it bluntly. It probably wouldn't go down all that well, but the fans would get behind him for sure. That is if he is appointed, and it is a big if.


http://the72.co.uk/41331/ex-sheff-wed-boss-the-shock-favourite-for-fulham-job/?

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Kit Symons a possible contender for Colchester United job


Kit Symons, a possible candidate for the U's managerial job. He was at yesterday's game.

Kit Symons has emerged as a possible contender for the vacant manager's post at Colchester United.

Current caretaker boss Wayne Brown re-iterated his wish to be given the U's post full-time, following yesterday's last gasp 3-2 win over Altrincham in the FA Cup, and this result will have done his chances no harm at all.

Brown is again set to be in temporary charge for next Saturday's key league match against bottom club Barnsley, after which chairman Robbie Cowling is hoping to make a permanent appointment.

But one interested spectator at yesterday's game was fomer U's assistant manager Symons, who was accompanied by his good friend, Chris Coleman, the Wales manager.

Symons, 44, actually had a spell as caretaker manager of Colchester in the autumn of 2008, following Geraint Williams' departure.

A centre-half as a player, for Portsmouth, Manchester City, Fulham and Crystal Palace, Symons initially arrived at Colchester as Williams' assistant in January, 2008.

He had wanted the job full-time, following Williams' exit, and presided over two wins in five games as caretaker, but instead the post went to Paul Lambert.

Symons then had spells working in the Fulham Academy and as a member of the Welsh national coaching staff, before he became manager of Championship side Fulham in October, 2014.

Symons was sacked last month, so the U's job might well be an attractive proposition for him.

Cowling had originally said that he wanted to make an internal appointment, as Tony Humes' successor, but he gave himself some more time to consider his options by installing Brown as caretaker, with John McGreal as his assistant, last week.


http://www.greenun24.co.uk/colchester-united/kit_symons_a_possible_contender_for_colchester_united_job_1_4338629?