After taking so long to join the 'Jol out' bandwagon, I thought I'd go early this time and avoid the rush.
Nah, Danny Murphy got in first: " Murphy was not surprised by Jol’s departure, but admits he is unsure if Meulensteen is the right man to take control of his former club. Speaking on the Colin Murray show, he said: “The way they are playing at the moment, they are looking in real trouble. I just hope he has the capability because it doesn’t matter how good a coach you are, when you have to manage players it is a different ball game." And then Danny got on to the interesting stuff, while at the same time admitting to still being in close touch with some of his former team mates: " Murphy believes Jol was let down by certain members of his squad. “Last year you saw signs that it wasn’t quite right, and losing games just becomes a habit,” said Murphy. “The squad has not got the right balance. There’s talk obviously of [Dimitar] Berbatov and the lack of commitment and effort he has shown and I think that has transferred sometimes to the other players." “I know from certain friends I have got there that they have become frustrated at the fact that certain players stay in the team no matter what. It’s not just Dimitar, but there is maybe too many players in that side who don’t put a shift in. You can only have one, maybe two." “Last year it was Berbatov producing the goals that kept them up and the rest of the team worked for him, whereas this season I think there have been three of four who haven’t contributed and pulled their weight.” Source: http://talksport.com/football/exclu...ham-after-meulensteen-appointment-13120270283
It's all very well being cynical about Rene, but realistically, what are our options? The best of the bunch are guys working in the Championship with minimal experience, a couple of dinosaurs and Di Matteo. Oh, and Owen Coyle. I don't think Meulensteen's a worse appointment than anyone else.
What Meulensteens got to do is Identify the players he wants as his spine for the team from now until the January transfers. A lot will depend on Hangeland being fit. Something like Stekelenberg - Hangeland - Parker - Kasami - Ruiz or Bent He can't afford to let the goal difference get any worse, so has to sort out the defending. My mantra is always try and get partnerships between players then knit them into a team. we got Dejagah Riether, Hughes Hangeland, might have to go back to Riise Duff as they seem to be the better partnership. See if Kasami could do the CM job with Parker DM or Try Parker CM - Boateng DM in a Murphy/Etuhu style I suspect Berbatov will not be risked before a transfer in January so have to chose Ruiz or Bent try to keep a stable side in and a more balanced side ....................Stekelenberg .........Riether Hughes Hangeland Riise ...........Dejagah Parker Kasami Duff ....................Bent One thing I worry about Rene is he does not have experience of being at the wrong end of the table, and may have to sacrifice attacking as a way to defend for more conventional methods at least until the club has climb a few places in the league.
I don't think starting a game with 10 players will help us SuperBri That team only includes 2 players under the age of 30 and has very very little pace in it.
Superbri actually did that on purpose as he could put Berbatov in the line up but he wouldnt do anything, he thought it best to leave him out!
Ah my bad, still the second point still stands, we need youth, pace and energy in our team. Kasami and possibly Dejagah can offer that. That isn't enough.
I wonder if SAF will be able to give him a few tips ! I think Rene was our only option and Jol just had to go with things are as bad as it gets. I was one of the last to concede, this but it just had to be done. Jol had access to good players and took a gamble but it was too much of a mishmash to make up a team and on the whole done on the cheap. It will be interesting to see what happens next - Can Rene or anyone for that matter improve our performances and the work rate of these players ? I'm not expecting instant results, it's going to be a roller coaster ride again. The decision though gives me a bit of hope. A win (not that I am expecting it !) on Wednesday would be a major boost of confidence.
RM has my support,and i like the quick action in dismissing Jols sidekicks,( some reservations about Billy Mac though) But the appointment of Kit to the senior squad could be the lynchpin in identifing those that could possibly move up to the senior level. Todays rumor at MP is that he has 3 on his Jan wanted list, Left sided full back, central midfielder, and free scoring c/f all reputed to be from the championship WHO ? could it be INGS RHODES CRESWELL. but who could be the central midfield man, but untill pen is put to paper there will be many such stories.The above 3 would i feel justify the ridding us of Bent Berbatov & Ruiz After several months a cloud of apathy and dispair seems to be lifting, lets hope i wont be dissapointed comes May.
At least that's two more than we normally start with Personally would have liked to see younger players like Boumesca, but he's gone off to Crewe, and Minkwitz what I've seen and heard of him he has potential to step up. Chris David ? Does he take a gamble on youngsters ? Don't think we can rely on players like Kacaniklic who can't defend or tackle, Taarabt needs to learn he's not a one man team, Berbatov if he can't be bothered neither can I to have him in my team. Ruiz could be tried up front but doesn't have a turn of speed. Young Dembele not proven, and seemed to tweek his hamstring when he came on.
I think this was his downfall. He tried to build a team of Real-esque galacticos with a shoestring budget.
I think there's a huge element of truth in that Bidley. The sad thing is that "certain" of the Real-esque galaticos just didn't have it in them or , as Danny Murphy said, have the willingness to reproduce his dream.
Did Sanchez bring some Championship players in? My point is that whilst that could be a good option for the future, will it be enough to secure Prem survival? I don't think so, IMO.
I think that's right. You can't blame him for trying it though. We're in un-chartered territory now. Who knows what's going to happen but as usual I shall give 100% support. I did hear a suggestion somewhere of Murphy as Asst Manager - now that would be a good call.
I presume Ruiz is one of the players Murphy is referring to. I'm uneasy with Rene as manager mainly because he hasn't got real managerial experience and this transfer window will be crucial. If Rene is taken on his word, that he didn't expect for this to happen, then I don't imagine he has a list of targets. He should now see where we are weak and have some knowledge from his time at Utd, but I hope that doesn't translate into us bringing in aging ex-utd players- although it is a step up from Spurs! Reading around it doesn't look like Jol had any contact with the players after the decision, after arriving and being sacked he seems to have left with Rene later emphasising his attempts to assure Jol he wasn't involved by phone. Maybe this is a step towards a new structure and we'll be seeing a new Director of Football rather than a replacement manager for Rene. Unless he is about to leave I can't see the role and likely power struggle being that attractive to the level and kind of manager we are likely to appeal to. In some ways it could work- if Rene, Hew Jennings and this theoretical Director (who I would I have in charge of scouting and recruitment) had a decent bond it would be an integrated way of promoting young talent, developing the players we have and bringing in the right players to complement our team.
I'm sure in an interview the other day Jol said that Fulham had done a lot of work already in the transfer market for January, and he thought the fans would see the quality of players they were about to bring in. Not sure if these had been nailed on now he's gone, of course it's only speculation who they might be, but you would think some United based players might be in the mix. Wonder if someone like Hernandez or Zaha would be loaned. I suspect it might be one or two of Rafel, Buttner, Anderson, Nani or Fletcher (if he's ok).
