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Big big game on Saturday. Fulham call it Brentford’s cup final. Bees fan just call it a big West London Derby .. with one team fallen from Premier League grace .. and another team most definitely on the up. We speak to Andrew Beck from Cottage Confidential about their new manager search …. flogging Dembele and #JotaInTheLastMinute

It’s a clean manager sheet for Fulham as they said enough is enough and relieved Kit Symonds of his duties. Have they done the right thing ?

Kit Symons was given a goal he needed to meet by the international break, and he didn’t meet it. Hence the sacking. He’d pretty much lost the fanbase and that seemed the perfect time to make a change, so it’s hard to fault management on that.

The new coach search however is a different story.

Some people might say if Kit went in the summer, you would have had a better pot to choose your new manager from – including Mark Warburton. Did you do the right thing by Kit by giving him a chance?

I think if the perfect manager existed they might have made a change in the summer. However, Kit took over a horrible situation last year with a squad that wasn’t constructed well and that he had no say in.

It probably would have been unfair to fire him until he had a chance with a solid squad. He was given that chance, and really didn’t take it.

A call was put into the caretaker manager agency and you have pulled Stuart Gray in. He’s certainly done the rounds as caretaker including Burnley and Pompey. Will he steady your ship?

The confusing thing is that Stuart Gray isn’t the manager. Fulham were looking to hire a head coach (not a manager).

Stuart Gray was not given that position though. He’s currently a senior coach and the search to fill the head coaching position is still going on (yes I know how ridiculous that all sounds). Gray will be in charge for this game and has been running training, so he should make a difference.

His specialty is coaching defence which Fulham desperately need.

You’re not short of cash. People seem to forget Fulham are laden with parachute payments after having been in the Premier League nit even 18 months ago. What have you done with the dosh?

Fulham have spent a lot over the last two seasons. Ross McCormack was expensive, but has been worth every penny. This year Fulham spent a lot of money on players with a solid history in the division. Jazz Richards, Richard Stearman, and Time Ream were all bought to help the defence.

Tom Cairney, Ben Pringle, and Jamie O’Hara were brought in to help the midfield. And Joe Lewis and Andy Lonergan were bought to strengthen the depth in goal (which we’ve needed a lot this year due to injury).

Throw in the few players on loan and Moussa Dembele who didn’t really play much last year, and that’s almost an entire new squad.

The last year in the Premier League and the first year in the Championship, Fulham fielded a squad that simply didn’t make sense. There were players that duplicated skill sets and giant holes in the roster. That has been fixed. But someone still needs to come in and figure out a system to use all these new toys.

We discussed on the Pride of West London podcast below, you’re not shy in front of goal having scored the most goals in the championship – 31. However you have let in 33 goals – only Rotherham have let in more. It seem obvious to most where the problem lies. Is it that simple?

As bad as the defense has been this year, it’s still WAY better than last year. Still it needs to be improved. It really shouldn’t be that hard, as most of the defensive problems are just stupid mistakes. Hopefully Stuart Gray can address this.

Dembele has scored 9 goals and is attracting interest from Premier League clubs including Man Utd and Spurs. Will he be missed or do you now need the cash?

Dembele is really good. We don’t necessarily need the cash. But he will leave on a free in the summer if we don’t sell him; so the temptation will be there to flog him.

It was always going to be tough to keep a player of his calibre around long term (just like with Patrick Roberts), but I had really hoped to get another year or two from him. The first Mousa Dembele might be my favorite Fulham player of all time, I was hoping the second one could surpass him.

Jota has added the hashtag #JotaInTheLastMinute to his Twitter profile referring to his 90th minute goals against Fulham at both Griffin Park and The Cottage last season. Is that rubbing salt in the wound

Honestly, we haven’t even noticed. Fulham have been so great at conceding last minute goals it’s almost become funny. The scenario for Fulham seems to be, outplay your opponent for long periods of time, then give up a goal near the end of the game or half on a corner or set piece. It’s happened so often, you just sit around waiting for it.

Brentford’s 4-1 victory at The Cottage last season and the subsequent celebrations showed Fulham fans how much victory over you meant to Bees fans as can be seen in the video below. In addition, the police have labelled this match a high risk ‘Cat C’ game and have admitted that they are ‘concerned’ about this match. Are you finally going to admit there is a rivalry there?

It’s really hard for Fulham fans to admit there’s a rivalry with anyone. Fulham fans are usually just too nice and can’t be bothered. Add in the fact that a lot of Fulham’s support is from foreign fans, means the whole West London thing is lost on a lot of people. There is a bit of a rivalry with you. And there is a bit with Chelsea. But with Chelsea it’s more like we’re just jealous of the successful big brother. With Brentford, there just isn’t enough history of matches for most people to get worked up over. I think all three clubs can agree though, that QPR are just the worst.

How do you think Fulham will get on against Brentford at the weekend??

I honestly have no idea. I don’t know what players are going to start. I don’t know what formation is going to be played. I don’t know what kind of strategy is going to be used. It’s slightly terrifying. I don’t even know who Fulham’s coach is going to be after this game.

I’m not one to believe in a new manager bounce, but things can’t get any worse, can they?

What I’d really like to see more than anything is a clean sheet. Even if it’s a 0-0 draw, a clean sheet might show that Stuart Gray has something figured out.

 

Billy Grant
@BillyTheBee99

 

Pubs in Fulham

The following pubs have been designated home or away pubs. If the pub has not been mentioned, presume it is neutral.

Brentford only pubs

The Kings Arms

The Temperance

The Eight Bells

The Dukes Head

 

Fulham only pubs

The Crabtree

The Durrell Arms

The Golden Lion

Zulu Bar

The Railway

The Fox

Closed Pubs

The Rocket

No Football Fan Pubs

Star & Garter