Source: Daily_Mail
LEO'S LONDON: Fulham are falling but Mark Hughes can bring the Sparky back
Mark Hughes knew what would be said after Fulham slid towards the relegation zone and a fan or two called for his head. [LNB]But anyone who uses last season's Europa League final appearance under Roy Hodgson as a stick to beat him with is making a big mistake. [LNB]Hughes may not have shown much progress at Fulham yet but let's not pretend he has put them into reverse either. [LNB] Testing time: Manager Hughes is feeling the strain at Craven Cottage with his side just above the drop zone[LNB]Although last term's achievement was fantastic, it was inspired by a player the new manager has lost to injury: Bobby Zamora.[LNB] It also came with a lower mid-table Premier League finish, something which is still comfortably achievable this term. [LNB]The legacy left to Hughes by Hodgson was not quite as sparkling as some would have us believe either. [LNB]Fulham have good players but few of them are in the first flush of youth and it is beginning to show. [LNB] More from Leo Spall... Leo's London: Arsenal or Spurs for the Premier League title? Forget it ...24/11/10 LEO'S LONDON: Bad luck Chelsea, but should you rely on a small squad?17/11/10 Leo's London: Wenger's gamble goes wrong as Koscielny comes up short09/11/10 LEO'S LONDON: Avram has three games to save job - and a sorry season 03/11/10 Leo's London: Defence is the best form of attack for Tottenham26/10/10 Leo's London: Wenger's aura finally shattered by excuses over Wilshere19/10/10 Leo Spall: Chelsea dominance shows Arsenal need more bite and a plan B06/10/10 Leo Spall: The fight for image rights is simply wrong at West Ham United28/09/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE The team that started against Birmingham last Saturday had an average age of 30.5 years, with only three players under 30 and Clint Dempsey, a 27-year-old, the youngest. [LNB]They should be entering a rebuilding phase but Hughes' main summer signing, Moussa Dembele (a 23-year-old by the way), who had made an encouraging start, is also out injured. [LNB]In that context, with two key forwards missing, a proliferation of draws is not entirely surprising - particularly as goals have been hard to come by for some time at Fulham. [LNB]They have managed only a total of 39 in each of the last two Premier League seasons so that pattern, with 15 this term in 15 games, continues. [LNB]Hughes has proved at Blackburn that he can manage a club of Fulham's size and resources successfully. [LNB]He also enjoyed a degree of success there (a UEFA Cup last-32 spot in one of two seasons in the competition), a League Cup semi-final, two FA Cup semi-finals and three top-10 finishes in the Premier League. [LNB] It has been a humiliating time recently for Hughes: Fulham were thrashed at home by the club that dumped him, Manchester City; his chairman Mohamed Fayed dressed down his players at the training ground and then a few catcalls from fans after Birmingham.[LNB] But he is still the right man for the job and a great deal better than many of the alternative options out there. [LNB]With patience and a few quid to spend he will get it right, and anyone who wonders aloud whether Hughes is the right man to lead the club should be careful what they wish for.[LNB] Level-headed: American Dempsey rises to nod home Fulham's equaliser against Birmingham at the weekend[LNB]Congratulations to West Ham for their stunning Carling Cup win against Manchester United. [LNB]After turning their game against Wigan last weekend into a 'save our season' equivalent of a cup tie, their ability in one-off matches looks good. [LNB]Now they just need to find someone to convince the players that every match is a knockout contest to get out of trouble at the bottom of the Premier League.[LNB]..................................................................................... Confusion reigns over Tottenham's bid to move to the Olympic Stadium in 2012. [LNB]There cannot be too many people who think it has been anything more than a bargaining tool in their pursuit of planning permission to develop White Hart Lane. [LNB]Silenced: Tottenham manager Redknapp[LNB]But with that seemingly made safe last week and West Ham's the favoured bid by the Olympic Park Legacy Company, why are they bothering to prevent Harry Redknapp giving his view on the process? [LNB]The manager is better placed than most to comment on the possibility of Spurs deserting their traditional territory to move in on that of his old club, but was told not to air his opinion last week because of a 'confidentiality agreement'. [LNB]It hasn't stopped Spurs director Sir Keith Mills talking about the bid nor, repeatedly, those in charge at rivals West Ham. [LNB]Spurs fans don't like the idea of the move but Mills has insisted they would go through with it if their bid is successful because it is the cheaper and more accessible option. [LNB]Could that be why Tottenham are so sensitive about Redknapp's views? [LNB].....................................................................................They are more than a little excited at Charlton by the possibility of facing Tottenham in the FA Cup third round. [LNB]The club, finally clicking under the management of Phil Parkinson, are for sale and have a televised second-round replay against Luton (another club in need) before the possibility of a money-spinning tie. [LNB]But getting through to play at White Hart Lane would put them in the shop window and hopefully be enough to bring forward a serious buyer after a painfully protracted search. [LNB] Dempsey backs under-fire Fulham boss Hughes to silence the boo boysChelsea splash £9m on agents fees as Premier League clubs spend £67mTottenham skipper King facing driving ban after clocking over 100mph[LNB]
