It says here http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/fo...ene-Meulensteen-as-Fulham-s-assistant-manager that we are trying to bring in a former Manchester United coach to assist Jol. In the article it says that van Persie describes Meulensteen as 'truly one of the best in the world'.
It would be great if it were true, but I think he's destined for bigger things than being our Ass Man.
Questions have been raised about our coaches in a number of posts. That Jol is even considering bringing in someone new can only be good news. Hope this one comes off.
Jol said in his lunch time press conference that, "there's no truth in reports linking Rene Meulensteen with a coaching role at Fulham." Well the story linking him to us must have started somwhere. I suppose his agent could be pushing to place him. But why us and why would the media invent the story that it is us? It's not as if the position is like a player transfer where the Club has an obvious requirement. A case of watch this space??
The original report had his agent (I think) talking about interest from a Premier League club based in London. Perhaps the press looked at our Dutch connection, put two and two together and got the wrong answer. Which still leaves the question of which club the agent was talking about: West Ham? Spurs?
To a degree I can see why Jol would say what he said. If you are working as a coach under him it wouldn't help your motivation or morale to know that you are going to be sacked or demoted in the not too distant future. It could also possibly have something to do with a confidentiality clause prior to any agreement being signed. Or the story could just be paper-talk.
Just had a bad thought in the light of Jol's denial. Could it be the Club, that is Shad Khan's people, who are looking at Rene Meulensteen with a change of model in mind? Replacing Jol. Instead bringing in Meulensteen as Head Coach (concentrating on the first Team Squad fitness, teamwork, tactics, team selection) and apppointing a Director of Football (looking after contracts, transfers, public/media relations and the Academy). I suspect it's the kind of structure Mr Khan is more familiar and comfortable with.
Well, if that's so then Meulensteen isn't a bad choice at all. As for a director of football, maybe we could prise Joe Kinnear away from Newcastle.
One of the key positives of Hodgson's spell in charge had nothing to do with our players, or his work with them. His relationship with Ray Lewington created the atmosphere that allowed us to be so solid. Ray bought into Roy's vision and together they took us to the heights of a Europa League final. Very few managers are responsible for training in the modern world; their responsibilities are more in setting overall tactics and managing player egos. A good coaching staff is absolutely essential and we do seem to have been lacking since Ray left. I doubt Meulensteen is likely, but this is exactly the kind of move we need rather than replacing Jol.
Some interesting ideas. It seems meulensteen is very good at his job and would give us something new. It seems as a club that we have a lot of quality players but have not found a way to get them to gel. A coaches role is to train the players in the style of play you want them to perform. It would make sense that our lack of an obvious first team could be the result of what is happening on the training ground. If our coaches are not performing then this would be seen in the squad.
The Daily Telegraph are reporting that Sundelanland are in talks with Rene Meulensteen to replace Di Canio despite having interviewed Gus Poyet. Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ulensteen-about-replacing-Paolo-Di-Canio.html
I'm not too keen on Rene- I've read a number of articles lauding him as a great coach but being a manager is different to being a number 2. His managerial record does not fill me with confidence. Strikes me as being similar to the previous Utd no.2- Queiroz (and perhaps also Mclaren although he has had a little more success). A left-field option would be Glenn Hoddle, although he has been out the game for a long time. He would be a good choice for implementing a clear system and bringing through our youth players in the right way. I think he is unfairly derided for his comments about disabled people (although ridiculous and offensive). He has kept himself up to date with the game and would have a point to prove (and one eye on the England job). What we need is someone who will put a bit of pressure on themselves to overachieve. Hoddle is unlikely though, not sure he would even be on a bookies list if Jol does go.
A poor showing next Saturday will possibly see the end of Jols tenure,so lets see some of the 606rs choices. Me, although untried I would like to see Billy Mc given the reins, at least untill Christmas, with Meulensteen,and Danny Murphy on the coaching staff. Hoddle although out of the game for some time an interesting choice. I have a feeling that the club have allready got someone on the short list,lets hope its not one of the revolving door failures.
There's a convenient 2 week gap between the Palace and Stoke games. If the board are going to make a managerial change, then that's the perfect time to do it. I'm still undecided over Jol. I think he needs to get a performance and result again Stoke otherwise his time is up. But we should remember that the grass isn't always greener over the other side of the fence.....but our grass is currently looking brown, patchy with weeds popping up everywhere!
Meulensteen has turned down further approaches made by the Club towards the end of last week. "Former Manchester United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen has turned down an offer to become assistant manager of Fulham as he continues talks to become technical director at the Qatar Football Association. The 49-year-old phoned Cottagers chief executive Alistair Mackintosh on Monday and declined the opportunity to work as number two to Martin Jol. Meulensteen will instead seek to finalise negotiations with the Qatar FA as it steps up preparations ahead of hosting the World Cup in 2022." Link to the story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24440853 That's a real pity, since we very much need someone to freshen up our coaching at the moment. And possibly as well, someone experienced who Jol could share his team selections with.
More money in Qatar on offer. I also think there was a certain amount of decency in his rejection. It implies he didn't want Jol to feel like a dead man walking. Also, what about billy mac? What would he have done?
