FULHAM'S First Division high-fliers have revealed
how Jean Tigana's French revolution has swept away the Kevin Keegan era.
The Craven Cottage men entertain Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in Sunday's
FA Cup third-round tie and they believe Tigana's tactical master plan can unsettle
the champions.
Keeper Maik Taylor and full-back Rufus Brevett say Keegan - who admits his tactical
shortcomings made him a flop as England chief - relied solely on his image as
English football's Mr Motivator but the players are thriving under Tigana's astute
but quiet leadership. This has come as a sharp contrast to Keegan's fire and brimstone
approach which inspired them to the Second Division title in 1999.
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Jean Tigana
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Northern Ireland keeper Taylor revealed: "To be honest, we didn't do a lot of
team work under Keegan. "He just made us believe we were the best team in the
world and we managed to go out and win a lot of games. "These days there is far
more emphasis on playing from the back. "The new manager has got us using a style
of play which we all enjoy and we won't change it no matter who we are playing
- even Manchester United."
Brevett added: "We do a lot of patterns of play and technical work, which is different
from under Keegan. "Tigana just wants us to express ourselves. His attitude is
not to worry if you make a mistake, just go out, get the ball back and start all
over again. "Personally, it makes me feel so relaxed. We know Manchester United
are the best team in England, possibly Europe, but we will not be overawed. "I'll
be marking David Beckham but I have played against him three or four times before
with QPR and Fulham and it has never been a problem. I just feel relaxed about
everything. "We all feel more at ease under Tigana, we are encouraged to try things."
But the visit of the runaway Premiership leaders - Fulham's biggest test under
Tigana - has come at the worst possible time for the London club. Skipper Chris
Coleman, so immaculate in central defence, suffered a broken leg in a car crash
on Tuesday and is out for the season. That seismic shock came just one day after
a surprise 2-0 defeat at struggling Stockport - only Fulham's second League defeat
of the season and their first away from home.
Now Lee Clark has joined John Collins on the injury list, ripping the heart out
of midfield. Clark had a scan on an Achilles and is doubtful for Sunday, while
impressive young midfielder Sean Davis is suspended. With back-up man Wayne Collins
also crocked, Tigana must pitch two young on-loan Frenchmen into battle against
Roy Keane and company.
Nicolas Sahnoun, from Bordeaux, and Fabrice Fernandes, a nimble lightweight from
Rennes, will face the toughest challenge of their fledgling careers. But the loss
of Welsh international colossus Coleman will be felt most keenly in Fulham's ranks.
Taylor admitted: "We are all feeling very down for Chris and his family. We are
absolutely gutted by what happened."
Hitman Barry Hayles is yet another doubt for Fulham after he turned over an ankle
at Stockport. That means the wildly unpredictable Luis Boa Morte is likely to
start alongside 21-goal top scorer Louis Saha.
Fulham fans, starved of success for so many lean years, are suddenly getting used
to playing the Premiership's glitziest clubs - a dress rehearsal for their arrival
in the top flight next season. They knocked out Southampton and Aston Villa under
Keegan before running United close in a 1-0 fifth-round defeat at Old Trafford
two seasons ago. And under Paul Bracewell last term, Premiership rivals Tottenham
and Wimbledon both came a cropper at the Cottage.
But Ferguson's side remain the ultimate test.
United striker Dwight Yorke certainly will not be taking the First Division pace-setters
lightly. Yorke said: "Fulham are going fantastically well. "But if we play to
our full potential we should be okay. We certainly don't need any encouragement
or motivation." Yorke has started the New Year on a high with a goal in the impressive
3-1 Premiership win against West Ham. He is desperate to start against Fulham
but insists he will not be rocking the boat after an indifferent season by his
high standards. Yorke added: "I don't go public and upset the camp, I just prefer
to handle it myself."
Source supergoals by Dave Kidd