By Rajan Mangat
IF FULHAM fans have heard enough about Felix Magath and dairy products, then Dan Burn has good news with the giant defender believing Kit Symons and the German are like chalk and cheese.
With just one point from the first eight Championship games following last season's relegation, Magath was shown the Craven Cottage exit door ten days ago.
No sooner had the German – once described as the last dictator in Europe – been booted out the horror stories started, the most bizarre being him urging former captain Brede Hangeland to cure an injured thigh with a block of cheese soaked in alcohol.
Taking the reins since Magath's departure has been Symons, the Welshman installed as caretaker having led Fulham's U21s to the FA Youth Cup final last year, losing out over two legs to Chelsea.
And it was two of his former proteges who shone in the mid-week Capital One Cup victory over Doncaster Rovers with Burn installed as captain and scoring, while goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli saved a Theo Robinson penalty in the 2-1 win.
Adamant
That was just Fulham's second win of the season but Burn is adamant Symons would be the perfect man for the job.
“I'd like to see Symons stay on, I had him as my U21s coach, and he's a very good coach, a very good guy, and he's popular with the fans,” Burn said.
“I think we need stability in the club, and I'm sure the chairman is assessing his options, but I'd love Kit to get the job.
“It feels a lot more organised on the pitch, everyone knows their positions and we've been doing a lot of video analysis on teams we're playing.
“You saw Bryan Ruiz, Hugo Rodallega, and Ross McCormack linking up against Doncaster and they were just amazing, I'm glad I wasn't Doncaster's two centre-halves.
“We're a lot more organised, Kit just wants people enjoying their football, training's been really good, there a lot of small-sided games, and it's more about confidence.”
Ahead of yesterday's clash with Birmingham, Fulham had shipped 19 goals, the worst in the Championship. Using three goalkeepers already this season hasn't helped matters, but Burn believes they have more than enough firepower at the other end to keep them afloat – and he is keen to get in on the act after breaking his duck on Wednesday.
“We know with the squad we've got we shouldn't be anywhere near the bottom of the table,” he added. “We've got Bryan, a World Cup player, Ross who bags goals for fun, and if we can shut up shop at the back, there's no doubt we can score goals.
“For one reason or another Bryan wasn't starting, and Hugo needed a boost, confidence wise, and I think after the Nottingham Forest game, where he and Ross scored, they showed they can rip this league up on their day.
Honour
“Just before the Doncaster game Kit said that I would be skipper for the night, and it's an absolute honour, I've always said I'd love to captain this club. It was great to walk out, I had my girlfriend and brother up in the Cottage as well, so it was a really good night.
“I've not scored for Fulham at all, not even in the U21s, and I've been here three-and-a-bit sea-sons, so it's about time I got a goal.
“Last time I scored was about a year ago and for me I should really be adding a few more goals.”
