New Fulham boss Hughes targets top 10 spot
Hughes was unveiled as Hodgson’s replacement yesterday afternoon 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.
New Liverpool manager Hodgson led Fulham to their highest ever top-flight finish of seventh place in the Barclays Premier League two years ago and trumped that by masterminding their run to the Europa League final last term.
It appears an impossible act to follow but Hughes is confident of maintaining that level of success — and even improving upon it.
“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.
“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.
“We don’t want the last two years to be standout years in the history of Fulham.”
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.”
Fulham finished 12th last season as a gruelling Europa League campaign stretched their squad to the limit.
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.
“Certainly, we can get into the top 10 this year. That would be progress.”
Indeed, it will be evolution rather than revolution under Hughes.
“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.
“There are certain things I feel that I like to see in my team.”
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.
And he was quick to warn any potential suitors off the likes of goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and full-back Paul Konchesky.
“It’s not my intention to allow the better players at Fulham Football Club to leave,” he said. “We don’t have to sell our best players.”
His own budget will be miniscule compared to the riches at his disposal at City.
Hughes said: “I think it’s fair to say that we need more attacking options.
“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.”
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.
Meanwhile Al Fayed yesterday took one final dig at Hodgson accusing him of “taking advantage” of Fulham.
But the Cottagers chairman insisted he forgave the new Liverpool boss for leaving for Anfield this summer.
“Unfortunately this guy (Hodgson), after we put him where he is now, he took advantage and left us.
“But good luck to him, good luck to Liverpool.”
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