Roberto Di Matteo the ideal man for Fulham’s future
Published:Martin Jol’s days as boss of Fulham are surely numbered after yet another heavy defeat and Roberto Di Matteo looks the obvious answer to the Cottagers’ woes.
The West London side have now lost seven of their 11 Premier League matches, and whilst no-one would have expected them to get anything from a trip to in-form Liverpool, the pressure on Jol is building to unmanageable levels.
Pressure building on amiable Dutchman
The Dutchman led the club to 12th place last season but, after strengthening his team following the sale of Mousa Dembele to Tottenham, his team have really struggled.
His players have lacked leadership on the field and it’s been a surprise to see the laconic Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov handed the captain’s armband.
There’s also a (relatively) new owner on the scene, with Shahid Khan buying the club from Mohamed Al-Fayed for an unspecified amount in July 2012.
Change of chairman
Whilst Khan, who also owns the NFL team the Jacksonville Jaguars, has maintained that he will give Jol more time, his patience is surely being tested and crisis talks suggest that a change is near.
The man to step into the breach is Roberto Di Matteo.
The Italian has been linked with Crystal Palace, however the former MK Dons, West Brom and Chelsea boss would relish this more appealing opportunity.
Chelsea dagger
At West Brom he led the team to promotion into the Premier League and he also did an excellent job as manager at Stamford Bridge, winning both the FA Cup and Champions League in 2012.
However he wasn’t given much time the following season, with Rafa Benitez appointed to succeed him after just eight months, much to the disgust of Chelsea fans.
Fulham have a tradition of playing nice football and Di Matteo’s sides have always been free to express themselves going forward; he looks the perfect fit for a club who need to act before they get embroiled in a real relegation dogfight.
