BBC reporting he's been sacked, Felix Magath takes control. Out of the blue, fairly harsh I'd say. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-team-manager-does-mean-Rene-Meulensteen.html
This is one hell of a risk - I thought we'd turned a corner. Our new signings are performing and making a difference - shame for Rene. Well, he has two weeks with the players and this West Brom game is absolutely crucial. COYW
No mention of Rene in official statements - not a lot class. Shahid Khan putting responsibility at feet of Ali Mac. I'm guessing Rene and Ali couldn't work together, or Ali just didn't rate him.
Happy Valentines day Rene! Silks, I'd say it's more ruthless than harsh. His tactics (particularly the formations and subs) have been questionable. There have been shades of Lawrie Sanchez about him when we were on the losing streak and conceding goals for fun! Only recently he seems to have started playing players in their preferred positions (Richardson, Holtby). With RM at the helm, I thought we'd have a slight chance of staying up. Unfortunately it's been too little too late for him. I think we've got more chance of staying up now. Hopefully the break until next weekend will be enough time for him to settle in and get the players on board. COYW
Felix Magath better be an instant success! Can't say I'm happy about the way the Club is being directed - Ruthlessness is sometimes necessary, but in this case it sounds like a panic gamble. Ready to eat my hat in a month. In the meantime, my best wishes to Rene. COYW
It does seem out of the blue at first glance. But when you think about it, like an episode of Columbo all the pieces come together at the end of the episode and everything makes perfect sense! Those pieces being Curbishley and Wilkins. I don't think they were brought in purely to bridge the knowledge gap until a new manager was on board, knowing they were going to replace RM. But there arrivals were definitely a contingency consideration.
Wow simply wow! I think Mr Khan is a businessman who will take any decision to save the Business. Results have not improved it is true and some of us have been pointing some strange things with team selection and and subs. I hope we are not going to be the laughing stock but the new manager effect that Palace and Sunderland have had didn't materialise! As I was thinking that we are due to a quiet spell due to FA cup. Good luck Rene. Come on Fulham! PS. I think what might have not gone down well is the transfer targets made public.
This is shocking. especially the way it's been handled. Rene hasn't wasted time talking to the press, and he doesn't sound happy.
It's hard to feel optimistic about the new manager when you read things like this: http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/there-are-some-incredible-anecdotes-related-to-fulhams-new-eccentric-and-dictatorial-manager-felix-sadam-magath-tweets/
Speaking on 5 live Rene said: "I knew the owners were freaking out a little bit that there was the possibility of the club going down. The way forward that we have discussed with the club was about longevity and in this case it is clearly an act of fear. I have not had a lot of time and people who came to the Manchester United and Liverpool games could see what I was trying to put in place. I couldn't care less what they put in the statement, to be honest." Can sympathise with that and sounds like Khan pressed the panic button. Possibly after the Sheffield United game because it's unlikely that this was set up at such short notice. Bit shocked really, mostly since the Executive hung on so long with Jol - as I said in the other thread he should have gone after the Cardiff game - and then fiddled around bringing in Curbishley and Wilkins. If they had no confidence in Rene why give him the job in the first place? Pretty sure McGrath was available at the time. Or do they just don't know what they're doing? Wonder how the new signings feel? Wonder if dropping certain senior players had any bearing? Feels like one step forward and a multitude back. The only solace will be if it means Curbishley (still don't know what his role is/was) and Wilkins also going. But what a waste of money!!
I think I might switch my phone off for the night. Not sure I can handle much more banter from my friends about our season thus far...
Clubs that have multiple managers in a season normally go down. I don't like the look/sound/smell of this one bit. Just one question. Is this a short term contract? Like to the end of the season? Having said this the guy has won the German League 3 times, once with Wolfsburg who aren't exactly the biggest club in Germany, so he must know what he is doing.
Just another thing that crosses my mind. The club must be positively ****ting bricks at the thought of being relegated. And yet the way they have managed affairs this season it would serve them bloody well right if the club did take the drop. Perhaps they should have thought of that in the summer and spent a few quid then when all the teams around them and below them were investing in players. Taking us to the next level - yeah, right.
Just heard the Mulensteen interview with Jim White on Sky website. http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/9166958/meulensteen:-it-makes-no-sense It sounds like if Fulham were expecting Mulensteen to stay on as coach it's not going to happen.
I thought that with the Rene signings and adventerious team selection we could have turned the corner. The majority of our present problems must lay at the feet of that p...k JOL.
The Club is a PR disaster. About half an hour ago Manish Bhasin of the BBC was saying, "Looks like we may have a Leeds type situation at the Cottage. It's now being reported Rene Mulensteen is still at Fulham as head coach" Been trying to get onto the Official site to see if there's any update but it seems to have crashed.
Just went on Official this is what was posted at 18:15 Fulham Football Club today announced the hiring of Felix Magath as First Team Manager, effective immediately. The announcement was made jointly by Chairman Shahid Khan and CEO Alistair Mackintosh. Magath receives an 18-month contract. An announcement on the Fulham backroom staff will be made in the near future. I guess Mulensteen has used the media to show that he is not pleased and doesn't want to stay on.
