According to the Mail, Ray Wilkins has joined the backroom staff: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2530624/Ray-Wilkins-join-Fulham-coaching-staff-Rene-Meulensteen-seeks-helping-hand-Hull-City-defeat.html Sounds to me like, "too many cooks...". Rather we spent wages on players.
Could be worse. I like Wilkins and for me this isn't terrible news. Rene needs all the help he can get with the squad he has been lumbered with.
Likewise I think is a good appointment and will give some more help trying to balance the titanic... Throwing some of the dead wood might help...
I think that our owner is making funds available, the evidence being we have enlisted top class management/coaching staff in Mule, Alan and Butch and enlisted Clint on loan. What else can be done ahead of the transfer window? We have the right aforementioned guys to debate and pursue players that will enhance the squad and will also decide who is surplus to requirements. The CV's of these guys are hard to beat, especially for a team of our size, do you not recall what happened to Chelsea when Butch was pushed out, he is a fantastic asset. Added to Mule and Alan, wow, ambition is stated by our owner, not some of the rubbish like asset stripping others have mentioned. I was yelling at the team whilst watching a stream of the Hull game, the wheels had fallen off and unfortunately too many selected are not able to fight the fight, rather than wanting to. I'm still hopeful. Rant over.
Wilkins is an excellent coach and a thoroughly decent bloke, but an appalling manager. Him coming back in this capacity is great news, as long as he doesn't get handed the reins at some point in the future.
Spot on there captain, when he was evicted from the dark side he was very much missed. From watching him as a pundit commentating on games he really understands football. With a few solid signing we can pull this around. Welcome on board butch.
I really like Ray Wilkins, great coach and I agree about the Blues' form when he left, dipped a lot. I hope he has a similar impact on us. My one reservation is that we still need a head coach and not a democracy when it comes to taking the club forward in terms of style of play, tactics etc. He's finally seen sense though! LOL
The Club statement: "Fulham Football Club today confirmed that it has added to its First Team Staff, and René Meulensteen will be joined in the dugout by Ray Wilkins as Assistant Head Coach. The addition of Ray, along with that of Alan Curbishley on Christmas Eve, provides the Club with the experience and expertise necessary as it aims to secure Barclays Premier League status for a 14th consecutive season. Speaking today, René Meulensteen said: "I am delighted that the Chairman and the CEO have, again, backed my desire for further experience and support within the backroom staff. Retaining our status of being a Barclays Premier League Club next season is vitally important to our long term plans, and I know that Ray’s own experience and his knowledge of the game will be a vital component in our success."
We come from different places, times and cultures, imho relegation-or-not being a key difference between British and American sports. But it looks like someone has managed to call The Stache's attention to the huge financial downside to relegation and as a big businessman, not a footballer, he's responded the way he knows best: hire new bosses. The working folks, the players? Oh, yes, them.
Thing is, we can't sign players until January. In an ideal situation, this entourage is being put in place ready for January, when they can all work out the players we need together. Of course it's a very real possibility that we sign nobody apart from loans or frees, but let's leave judgement 'til the end of next month.
Fully believe we'll have funds made available now. Curbs and Wilko cannot of come cheap. Yes they take over if we fail and go down but we haven't yet. Still plenty to play for. One key factor is these 2 still have contacts in the game and that is very important if we want to get in overpriced quality. COYW.
Didn't MJ's coaching staff all leave? RM did bring in one plus use Kit so I just see the appointment of Curbishly and Wilkins as experienced replacements. We aren't going to get relegated so RM will still be in charge in May! Even if we were relegated why is everyone implying RM will leave?
Seems to me that Rene is modelling his "brain trust" on that which he was part of at Manchester United. Rene and Mike Phelan worked very closely with Alex Ferguson, with the two of them handling all the training. I think he is looking to create a similar team of veteran minds to help him with the appointment of Curbishley and Wilkins.
See Wilkins was in Rene's ear for the majority of the game. Curbs even made his way down to pitch side at one point. Task for those 2.....please go find a proper defender.
