Really? After dumping 10 of 11 starters for a bunch of new kids, you "Magath out" folks expected Fulham to be competitive by August?
I think assured tactics and a balanced team is what we expected. Four straight league losses and worrying performances are not acceptable, however you spin it. And Magath very much had his part in the dumping of players.
Magath will still be here at Christmas. Consistency throughout the club is required. FM is doing exactlly what all of us wanted for the last 2 seasons. Give the guy a break. You dont know what he's told the players regarding tactics and positions. We've got a new assistant coach that FM brought in to help and he's British. The kids are doing alright, it will take time. I still believe we are taking the right path. FM asked everyone for patience, he knows it will take time. Deep down we all knew it too but we want instant gratification and a bounce back to the Prem. I'd be happy to wait and let the youngsters blossom. Patience. COYW
Exactly. Khan's no idiot. Pulling the plug on the Magath project at this point would be crazy. Magath would have warned Khan that things would get worse before they got better, so I don't expect Khan to panic at this point. The best thing about being bottom of the table is that things can only go up from here.
I don't see our Chairman sacking another manager so soon, so I'm hoping Felix can do what he says he can deliver & that he does prove me wrong. He asks for patience from fans but some serious questions have to be answered by him about his methods. Alienating and selling senior pros, some of whom could have been kept to create a spine of a team where the younger players could have been introduced. He seems to have very little man mangement skills, except a very dictorial style, which he tries to cover up by saying he only wants players who want to play for the club. Baffling team selections from when he joined last season, we haven't had a settled side ever since. So far in 4 games he has used 22 players. Poor pre season opposition lulling the management into thinking that they were on the right course. Seemingly treating the start of the campaign as further pre season by saying 'everyone' will start a game So far he has put together a squad for the Championship that has very little experience in dealing with the rough and tumble of the game at this level. Apart from bringing in the younger players, most of his signings so far have been overseas players with little experience of Championship football. It is natural a team put together like this will take time to gel. Magath asked if he will get promotion for this season said an emphatic YES (same thing he said about keeping us in the Premier). Most of us seem to be more realistic, with this team trying to gel, mid-table. Think Magath (if he is still manager) will have done well if we get a play-off place, and a miracle if we get automatic promotion. Let's hope for miracles, because if we do well but not promoted, our youngsters will get cherry-picked by the bigger Premier clubs (that's the nature of the beast). and we might be back to square one starting from scratch bringing more youngsters through.
SBM, the alienating and selling of pros was imo as a result of them not playing well last season, not playing for the club, not playing for the fans (except Sidwell and Stockdale and Parker to a degree). They were all high wage earners too. The way I see things as they are now is that this season and next are going to be the foundations for the next 10 -15 years. I'm happy to wait and in the meantime give valuable experience to a seg of players who the majority are experiencing the steepest football learning curve of their lives. Once they become a bit more savvy, aided by senior pros like Parker, Hoogaland and McCormack. If you are planning for the long term I think it would be entirely sensible to use as many players as you can. Truly find their strengths and weaknesses to help them improve quicker and find the right balance for the team. Therefore tactics will be fluid at the expense of some points in the beginning. I'm happy with this strategy. Preseason is really all about PR and fitness. There's no doubt the players are fitter than they've ever been and this will bode well for the season. It's a long road ahead afterall. I understand why there are calls for him to leave. But I'm in no doubt that he is right for Fulham, he has experience, he is without question someone who can make these guys winners and he wants to play the talented youngsters that the club has invested in. Good on him. COYW
Do you believe (or hope) Felix Magath will be our manager next season then ? a) if we don't go up b) if we get relegated c) if we get promoted Personally since he joined us I haven't seen his expertise or experience in tactics or handling players.
A and C yes. We won't be relegated. It's a lonely place this Felix Magath camp! I remember it took quite a few games for Hodgson to get the team playing his way and get some decent points on the board. Lets face it, the team ladt year was a pile of poo. He had to talk up the chances of staying in the Prem. He'd have been ridiculed to kingdom come if he'd said there's no way he could keep them up. We didn't have enough quality. Please Felix, if you read this, don't let me down.
I'm with you in Camp Felix (who is probably appearing on the bill at the kind of nightclub your mum warned you about). Teams have been in the bottom half of the Championship before Christmas and still gone up, it's that kind of league. Once we click, I can see us putting an impressive run together. The second half of the season will be markedly better than the first. The big question is how long it will take us to turn the corner.
The one thing that would settle the nerves is some normality and consistency in team selection. In today's "Thoughts From The Manager" acknowledges that: "Having assessed the squad over the past five games, I do believe that we are getting closer to an established starting 11, which will result in more stability. Guess the proof of the pudding will be seen on Saturday, when the surely Dan Burn, for one, will retain his place. Among his 'thoughts' in the article he also acknowledges the recent unrest being voiced by fans and adverse comments by ex-players. Here's the link : http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/august/28/thoughts-from-the-manager
Beat me to it C58! It's right that he (or the club PR team) has put out his latest thoughts - Can't fault him for recognising the fans' concerns and having a pop at ex-players (who did not pull their weight). He's upbeat in terms of having the confidence in developing the squad around a tighter first choice team. But then again he has no option but to do so; in the same way as we have to stick with him. Let's see if Cardiff will demonstrate progress. COYW
Captain. My mum was the backing singer to camp felix! C58, the article is a good example of how FM cuts a totally different figure to Jol. He makes a lot of sense to me and he's not too proud to say that things need to change. We probably won't beat Cardiff but I hope the performance indicates improvement.
How the game against Brentford changed the mood... Prior to that there were no visible supporters for Felix. I don't believe there are two camps of people those who are with or against Felix. The ones who have been to a few games this season can see why we are "moaning". Personally I would like him to succeed as this will be good for Fulham. This why most of the comments were out unless he can sort it out. I am not convinced yet... Long way to go. I the past Jol and Rene were pretty good on the talk but the walk... And a bit of rumour last year. Apparently Brede came into hands with Rene, and following up with Parker who stepped in. Thus why they both were dropped against ManU. Also the reason Brede was dismissed! At least this year Magath has strong discipline.
I have to say I'm feeling a little more Captain and a bit less kunye about everything these days. If we can start firing then these four defeats won't matter a jot.
[Not sure this is the correct thread but my comments relate to posts that cut across more than one thread and this seemed as good as any] Iâm not particularly bothered about the p***ing contest between Felix and MAF or the one between him and the ex-players. Not welcomed but there you are. What bothers me is the Snakes and Ladders game heâs playing with the youngsters; not just the ones that have seen first team games but right down to the Scholars who are mostly making up the U18 team. Once Felix adds, deletes and the prunes his current 35 man squad there will be a significant number moving down one or even two rungs. I really cannot comprehend how everyone within the Academy must be feeling by his statement that he âalways knew the youngsters were not good enoughâ. Heâs certainly given Huw, Kit and Kevin a headache to handle. No doubt to accommodate the downward transition some will have to go out on loan - no bad thing but only if itâs done in a constructive and planned manner.
Did you watch the press conference video the club posted? I was as concerned as you but, and it's not especially clear whichever way, it seemed like he was referring to the youngsters not being ready for the Premier League? I could well be wrong though.
