They say sometimes that no news is good news. It’s nearly a fortnight since Roy Hodgson took over at Liverpool and Fulham’s pre-season plans have been entrusted to Ray Lewington. Whilst I’ve got plenty of time for Lewington as a lovely guy and faithful club servant, you’d hope that Fulham were making plans behind the scenes to make an appointment.
The biggest fanfare has surrounded Sven-Goran Eriksson, but nothing tangible has materialised regarding the appointment of the former England, Mexico and Ivory Coast head coach despite whispers that Fulham were hoping to unveil the Swede this week. Apparently, the club are feeling hamstrung by Sven’s wage demands.
Plenty of other names have been thrust into the ring – most intriguingly two of Eriksson’s counterparts at the recent World Cup in Bob Bradley and Ottmar Hitzfeld.
Bradley’s spell as successor to Bruce Arena as the American national team coach certainly aroused passions amongst the US supporters – but Fulham’s sizeable Stateside fanbase will be better-placed to comment on his candidacy than myself. Given his CV, Hitzfeld’s the tantalising option and one media outlet has gone as far as to suggest that he has indicated to Fulham chief executive Alistair Mackintosh that he would be interested in taking a Premier League job.
In the meantime, Lewington has to prepare the squad for their first pre-season friendly at Brentford tomorrow night. It’s certainly right that the club should consider all their options fully rather than rushing into an appointment, but equally the new man should be given enough time to work with the players during pre-season and reshape the squad prior to the firing of the starting gun in August.
I have to say that Bradley never entered my mind but I would be thrilled if he came. His style of play seems to be similar to Fulhams and might also attract some american talent like his son or Altidore!
NO BOB BRADLEY! I would be ok if he remained with the U.S. (he won’t) but I’m not ok with him managing my club. I’ve watched him over the years (he use to coach the other team I support, Chicago Fire) and I’m telling you, without getting too wordy, he’s not a good fit.
The only bald headed Bradley I want to see at Craven Cottage is the one who plays central midfield.
well you know more than i do about him so Il take your word for it 🙂
Bob Bradley would be a fine manager. He’s unpopular with those Americans who believe that we need a national team manager who speaks English win an accent — Klinsmann and Hiddink are the favorites in this group.
On the plus side is Bradley’s proven ability to field teams who consistently perform better than more experienced/costly opponents: see this summer’s World Cup and last summer’s Confederation Cup. While his starting XI this sommer has caused us to scratch our heads, his tactical substitutions were brilliant.
Having said all that, there’s two reasons why I DON’T want him taking the Fulham job: (1) I want him to stay as USA coach, (b) the last thing I need is more Yank trashing on the English Fulham boards. I mean we’ve only got one Yank in the squad and most everyone loves him, but there’s still a TON of negative commentary. Al. we’d need would be one poor run under Bob and .. .
just can’t see michael bradley signing, if he leaves borussia, he’s going to a bigger club and right now not only is fulham not a big step up, they couldn’t meet his transfer fee, which is going to be around 10million i would assume.
Bob would be a nice fit i think, he just has no experience in the transfer market. I think his tendency that many americans hate, that is to rotate players and get experience, is exactly what the next fulham manager is going to need to do. With no reserve/youth team next year you’d have to assume we’re going to see some younger talent come up in the various cups. WIth the US he plays a similar style to fulham, and with a big physical presence up top like he loves, and a solid defensive core, he could thrive at fulham…. I think
I think you underestimate the transfer fund. Al Fayad has promised money to build on the squad and I don’t mean hundreds of millions! Also I don’t think it will cost that much for Bradley as there has been rumours that Blackpool want him and I doubt they could afford 10million