The Tanner Report
Alan Tanner considers the appointment of a new coach
The appointment of Rene Meulensteen will come as a great source of relief. For 2 years Fulham have been drifting but not under any real danger of relegation. This year the form has been little short of a relegation team. You never know as a supporter what goes on in the training ground or in the dressing room but there is every evidence of malaise.
Rene Meulensteen was at Manchester United for 10 years on the coaching staff rising to Fergie’s number 2. He has a huge reputation . Being a Dutchman he should be able to work with Martin Jol who has an oistic reputation . We hope he will address our defensive weakness particulary in defending set plays. There is also some pressure to introduce our under 20 and under 18 players who have done well. Here I differ with some fans. To introduce a kid too early can be to kill off his career. The accepted graduation process is to break him in on loan and around 21 you look to a permanent first team place. The most exciting of the crop is 16 year old Belgian forward Mousa Dembele who is attracting the interest of Mancheste United and Liverpool.
One thing I find very odd is some fans moaning that this is the worst time of supporting the club and some are no longer bothering to go . 17 years ago Fulham propped up all 4 divisions, had no legal right of ownership of Craven Cottage just a tenuous right of occupation, the crowd dropped to 2100 and no investment in the club. That is what I call a crisis.
The proof will be in the pudding Alan. We need 4 points out of 6 in the next two games v Swansea and at West ham. We must target 22 points by the end of the year with difficult matches against Spurs, Everton and Man City.