Source: Team_Talk
Hughes outlines his Fulham ten-plate
ew Fulham boss Mark Hughes claims he can make the Cottagers permanent residents in the Premier League's top 10.[LNB] Hughes was officially unveiled as Roy Hodgson's replacement on Tuesday and vowed to build on the foundations laid down by the man who left Craven Cottage this summer as arguably the most successful boss in their history.[LNB]New Liverpool manager Hodgson led Fulham to their highest ever top-flight finish of seventh place in the Premier League two years ago and trumped that by masterminding their run to the Europa League final last term.[LNB]It appears an impossible act to follow but former Manchester City boss Hughes is confident of maintaining that level - and even improving upon it.[LNB]"I have the ability to get the best out of any group that I work with," said the 46-year-old, who was appointed last week on a two-year contract.[LNB]"We want to drive the club forward. We want to make sure that Fulham is a top-10 club on a regular basis, which hasn't been the case in recent times.[LNB]"We don't want the last two years to be standout years in the history of Fulham."[LNB]Hughes was full of praise for his predecessor, saying: "He maximised the results out of the group that he had. That's what I've always tried to do."[LNB]Fulham finished 12th last season as a gruelling Europa League campaign stretched their squad to the limit.[LNB]There is no European football this year to concern Hughes, who said: "We don't have the distraction of the Europa League, and that's a big ask when you're involved in that competition.[LNB]"Sometimes you question whether or not it's all worth it at times.[LNB]"We had the experience the year before at City.[LNB]"Certainly, we can get into the top 10 this year. That would be progress."[LNB]Indeed, it will be evolution rather than revolution under Hughes.[LNB]"The way I like to set my team up, I think it will lend well to what is already in place," said the new manager, who nevertheless will look to stamp his own authority on the side. [LNB]"There are certain things I feel that I like to see in my team."[LNB]That includes on the transfer front, with the Welshman having more control over the comings and goings at Craven Cottage than he did at Eastlands.[LNB]And he was quick to warn any potential suitors off the likes of goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and full-back Paul Konchesky.[LNB]"It's not my intention to allow the better players at Fulham Football Club to leave," he said. "We're in a position that we don't have to sell our best players.[LNB]"I would suggest the two players you mentioned would still be Fulham players by the end of the window."[LNB]His own budget will be miniscule compared to the riches at his disposal at City, much closer to that he worked with at Blackburn.[LNB]Yet, he may still have been worried when chairman Mohamed Al Fayed - who unexpectedly interrupted the press conference - jokingly flashed a £50 note when asked how much money Hughes would have to spend.[LNB]Hughes said: "I think it's fair to say that we need more attacking options.[LNB]"We'll look at that and what everybody knows is that good quality strikers come at a premium. So I'll have to talk very kindly to my chairman."[LNB]That new striker will not be Hughes disciple Craig Bellamy, his fellow Welshman admitting transfer fee and wages would make moving for the City striker impossible.[LNB]Hughes, who confirmed Ray Lewington would remain on the coaching staff, also revealed how he took some convincing to accept his new job.[LNB]He said: "I had a break of some seven months and initially it was quite refreshing but, towards the end, it got to me a little bit. I needed to get back to work.[LNB]"Maybe the perception I had of Fulham's ambitions and maybe Fulham's ambition in terms of the level of manager they could bring to the club were wrong.[LNB]"Because once I had the opportunity to sit down with Alistair (Mackintosh, chief executive) and discuss the aims of the club and the chairman's aims as well, it became very clear that it was an option that I needed to consider very carefully."[LNB]He added: "I made the decision that this was the right club for me at this time."
