Fulham - Is There a Plus Side?

Based on all that has been said, Hodgson's move from Fulham to Liverpool seems pretty much a certainty now.

Compensation is supposedly being agreed as we speak.

It can't be said, however, it has come a surprise. Ever since our involvement in the latter stages of the inaugural Europa League competition, Roy was probably on the eye of a few top teams, both abroad and here in the mighty British isles.

Given that fact, I'm not as bitterly disappointed as I perhaps should be. We've all had the chance to ready ourselves for the news and accept defeat on this particularly uphill challenge; a challenge which involves keeping hold of one of the best managers in the land.

Speculation has already been rife regarding whom is going to replace Roy, and despite my desperate plea for Sparky to get a shout, Sven-Goran Eriksson seems to be the likely candidate for the job.

Alongside the Eriksson rumours come a small ray of light, however.

Apparently, Mohammed Al Fayed is so buoyed by the potential acquisition of Sven, taking into account his pleasing record of cup and league victories, he is more than happy to offer the Swede a transfer budget which is far more pleasing on the eye than we here at Fulham are perhaps used to.

That does, to me, beg the question as to why Roy never really had too much of a sniff at Mo's millions.

Bar Andy Johnson, (Sir) Roy never really delved into the chairman's deep and outlandishly patterned purse.

All that can be taken from this is that Hodgson definitely had an eye for a bargain. He knew which players were right for the club and he knew how to get the best out of them.

Because of this, we've never truly had big signings to brag about under Roy. Instead, we've had Premier League flops and the odd Scandinavian import.

With that in mind, I think it is possible, believe it or not, to put a positive spin on the ongoing events.

We are all certain of the fact that Roy's signings were very good, and the ex-Inter Milan manager clearly knew how to make each and every one of them play to the peak of their abilities week on week.

Yet, with a new man, I can't see the likes of Danny Murphy, Dickson Etuhu and our incredibly tight defence, ever reaching the highs they did over the last two years.

In turn, this should mean Mo will be prepared to spend big.

Roy Hodgson was a God-send for Al Fayed, because he was happy in the knowledge that his employee could spend minimally and get maximum results.

From the list of current candidates, though, nobody will produce the kind of results that Hodgson did, with our current crop of players.

Therefore, Al Fayed will know he has to allow whomever comes in, pretty much day-by-day access to his now bursting-at-the-seams bank account.

Hopefully, this will mean that a Summer of stunning transfer dealings will ensue, which could spell a particularly bright future for our humble club.

We'll just have to wait and see.

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