Meet Fulham's new manager: Roy Hodgson

Fulham has named its permanent replacement for fired coach Lawrie Sanchez on Friday, choosing veteran manager Roy Hodgson to take over. Hodgson will be on the sidelines for Fulham's match against Birmingham.

What will this mean for the Americans? It shouldn't mean a thing for Clint Dempsey, who is a first-choice player no matter who is the coach, but it will be interesting to see what becomes of Carlos Bocanegra. The Fulham defense has been a wreck and it will be interesting to see what Hodgson does to fix the back-line.

What do you think of this hire? Do you think Dempsey and company will benefit from learning from such an experienced manager? Do you foresee an overhaul of players that could claim Bocanegra? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[Dannyc58]

I think Boca should move to Left back. Konchesky BLOWS.

[sublicon]

This is an even more lackluster coach than Sanchez was. What the hell are they thinking? He's like a journeyman manager, and they are using the words "long term"? They are crazy.

Dannyc58: Umm...brah....just curious. How many matches have you watched this season? Konchesky was the best pick up of the offseason.

[Tom]

I agree Ives. Clint is a cut above this squad. A mid table player for sure. No worries about his future.

Boca on the other hand?
Isn't this the last year of his contract anyway?

I see P'ship lower end reserve or CCC starter in his future.

Unless some MLS team is willing to DP him, but I doubt that.

He can play at that level, but he isn't a standout so who will take the risk?

[BK (the artist formerly known as Brad)]

I'll have to say that Baird is the worst. He's absolute garbage.
Konchesky isn't Kolo Toure but he's tolerable.

And to be quite honest, after seeing a lot of the mistakes Bocanegra makes for the USMNT, I wonder about his ability to lead an EPL defense.

[James]

You caught me in a long day. When I read the headline in my feedreader, I could have sworn I read, "Meet Fulham's new manager: Ray Hudson."

I nearly putzed in my pants.

[Dannyc58]

Sublicon. I'm a West Ham fan, so I think Konchesky sucks. The fact that we got a transfer fee for him makes me laugh.

[Tom]

Orgasmic!

[Ryan]

Bocanegra is terrible, but he sure looks good compared with the right back, Baird. Baird is no better than an average championship player and should never be on the pitch for Fulham

[Weaver83]

Baird is worthless. He's just too slow. Fulham's defense seemed to get worse after Sanchez benched Boca. Boca might be ok, but what about Keller? I'm curious about what will happen to him after he gets fit again.

[shean]

Clint is a poacher and nothing more at this level and could easily be replaced depending on the coach. Confidence is the only thing wrong with Boca, perhaps a chage of scenery would be the thing.

[Weaver83]

Dempsey has easily been Fulham's best player this year. He has routinely been the only one showing any sort of creativity in the final third. Hopefully he can flourish with the new manager and with Mcbride coming back eventually

[Barry U]

Guys Boca is a better defender than all those guys Sanchez bought in the summer except Konchesky and they are equal. If they can get some guys around those two that should be good for a mid-table backline.

The guys I can't stand at Fulham are Kamara, S Davis, Bouzza (they paid more for him than Dempsey) and Healy. Those guys are championship players and nothing more!!!!

Bouzza is huge ball hog and always tries to cut into the middle to shoot when guys are wide open (they also paid more for him than Dempsey).

Kamara has had two chances in the EPL and has shown next to nothing!!!!

Healy can score for his country but that is about it!! (Another guy that cost more than Dempsey)

S Davis just bothers me not sure why!!!

I hope this new manager can get Bullard and McBride back and some funds for the Jan window to turn this around. It would be a mistake for the chairman to not allow some spending to happen. But you can understand if he is concerned with money after the way Sanchez spent it on rubbish.

The new guys experience with national teams and in EPL/Seria A seems like it would deliver a better outlook for the team.

[Ilya]

Shean, I disagree regarding Clint. He's no Berbatov, but even at that level Clint can so some outstanding things. See for example his run and move against Hargreaves in the Man U game and his ball-winning and passes (plural!) in the Blackburn game. Also, his ability to head the ball has to count for something. Plus, he's improving all the time. Boca has a lot of responsibility on that team as the center-backs are not shielded in that defense by a proper defensive midfielder.

Hodgson has a lot of experience all across Europe and, according to BBC, is a respected tactician. If it wasn't for that early season disaster at Blackburn in 1997, Fulham wouldn't be in position to get him.

[Craig]

Just to throw out there. Garth and Kreis have both made mentions towards getting an American Player from overseas for Real Salt Lake. Maybe Boca will be replacing in open slot from Pope.

[sublicon]

Danny - understood. Truthfully, Konchesky has been really good for us so far, dude hustles like a mug out there on the pitch. He was a huge upgrade to our backline, which should say something about what it looked like before.

Dempsey shouldn't have any problems. He's the leading scorer, and one of the few guys actually hustling their asses off on the field. Konchesky is another one, Simon Davies is another, Shefki Kuqi hasn't seen a ton of time, but he's been good when he's played.

We'll see what happens.

[Dannyc58]

sublicon,

I only watching parts of Fulham games, so I should have shut my mouth. Konch's form with West Ham was awful last year, combined with the fact that I'd like the US Nats to have a better option at LB. Thats really why I said it. So I should shut my mouth up, if Konch's form is half as good as the 05-06 season, then he was a good buy.

I just don't like HIM either.

I def hope Fulham stays up...

[Boo Who]

"Just to throw out there. Garth and Kreis have both made mentions towards getting an American Player from overseas for Real Salt Lake. Maybe Boca will be replacing in open slot from Pope."

The player is Ian Joy from St. Pauli in Germany. He is a left back and was a one- time member of the Columbus Crew.

[EssEff]

So, what IS the word on when McBride returns? Does anyone know? The last I heard was 2008!

Gems from the mafia:

"hustles like a mug" -- love that expression.

"S Davis just bothers me not sure why!!!"

God I love this board.

Boca's has been on the bench, a starter, and captain. What's up with that? I mean a player who is entrusted to be captain and then sits on the bench several games straight. Weird.

Clint's really showing some guts out there, but is in danger of showing up the ref a few times with his jawing. Maybe it has something to do with having the name Clint which possesses players.

[Kosh71]

Clint's always improving his game. He takes people on and can make great defenders look silly. He scrappy and a bit of a pest around the box. I would like to see a bit less flopping around and some more defensive bite out of him, but still he should be ok under the new guy.

Boca is a decnet defender caught up in a horrible situation. He is not as bad as people are making him out to be. Hey Maldini would have fits on that backline, and I'm not calling Boca a Maldini, but he sure is better than one or two of the clowns they have back there. Another thing Boca brings is that he does have the odd goal in him (and no not own goals). He is a threat on set pieces, but appears to have shied away from them. Could be because he has to defend so much, or could be that if he dares go to far forward it could mean a sure fire goal for the opposition. That team needs some serious fixing.

[Barry U]

Dempsey is the best player on that squad currently playing (Bullard and McBride are on equal footing with him when healthy but they are older). He is playing out of position and with a bunch of guys that should be in the Championship and still he has scored six goals and set up a few others. He is an attacking mid and when he gets to play that role he will be even more impressive.

If you watch Fulham games you will notice that Dempsey gets into dangerous positions all the time and either service never comes or a lack of vision from his mates make it hard on him. He is an EPL player for sure and will be for a long time. I could see him moving to a team in the top half of the table in the future (Like say Steve Sidwell or Yousi Benyanon have).

[Dannyc58]

Barry U,

Yossi's Old team is in the top half of the table ;).

[Johnny]

"Clint is a poacher and nothing more at this level and could easily be replaced depending on the coach. Confidence is the only thing wrong with Boca, perhaps a chage of scenery would be the thing."

Posted by: shean

Shean are is this opinion based on the last goal scored by Dempsey? A goal poacher and nothing more?! I love it when ignorant people like you who have probably watched one Fulham game this year make damning comments about our boys. If you would have watched all the games you would have seen that Dempsey is Fulham's best player. He is good on the ball, his passing has been spot on, and oh yeah he's the top scorer for Fulham with a variety of goals. Yes, the last goal was a "poacher's goal." I would advise you to check out the other five that have been scored before you decide to slight one of America's finest.

DEMPSEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Andrew]

I was hoping that Fulham would hire some a European coach, someone with a background in Italy or Spain. I figure that someone like that would see the creativity and imagination that Dempsey has and really polish him up. Teach him how to use it right, and unleash him on the EPL. After the way that Sanchez just pushed Deuce up top and had his team play as direct as possible how could you blame me.

I'm not bashing this new guy yet, gotta give him his chance, but I was just hoping for someone from the continent.

[Sean H.]

When is McBride supposed to return from injury?

[Ilya]

Andrew, the guy is from the continent even if he's technically English. He spent roughly a season managin in England, the rest of his thirty or so years managing were on the continent.