Fulham v Burnley - Peter White's big match preview

THOSE who believed that Kenny Dalglish had the biggest problem, trying to fill the shoes of Tyneside legend Kevin Keegan at St James's Park, should spare a thought for the man he succeeded.

For, while Dalglish follows Keegan - as indeed he did when taking over Liverpool's number seven shirt as a player - Keegan finds himself trying to 'do a Dalglish' at Fulham, that footballing backwater by the side of the Thames. And the early signs are that Keegan might just have drawn the short straw.

Burnley head to Craven Cottage tonight for a televised game against a Fulham team bearing little or no resemblance to that which began the season.

The involvement of Mohammed Al Fayed, followed in September by the departure of popular boss Micky Adams and the arrival of a star-studded management team in the shape of Keegan and Ray Wilkins, was supposed to herald the dawn of a new era at one of the more homely of London's clubs.

The Harrods millions were made available and, in short, Keegan - no matter what his title - took on the sort of task that can make or break reputations.

Dalglish had been in a very similar position when he arrived at Blackburn in October 1991.

Despite his outstanding record at Anfield, questions were still asked, however unfairly, because of the manner of his departure from Liverpool.

Backed by Jack Walker's seemingly unlimited funding, Dalglish's terms of reference were simple - take the club into the Premier League and win the title. There is, of course, a full division of difference between where Blackburn Rovers stood six years ago and Fulham's position today.

Yet the orders are virtually identical with the Premier League being the ultimate objective - via Division One.

The problem for Keegan and company, however, is that the bandwagon has still not started to roll, despite a massive influx of new blood.

Little wonder that Burnley player-manager Chris Waddle believes his side can, for once, benefit from the focus being on the opposition.

For, even taking into account inflation, Keegan has yet to come up with anything like the early impact enjoyed by Dalglish. While the Al Fayed millions buy less these days than Walker's wad purchsed in 1991-92, Fulham are starting from a lower division, therefore the price of initial success should not be as high.

The Scot spent around £5 million of Mr Walker's money in his first season but reaped the immediate reward of promotion.

Keegan, in a matter of less than three months, has already gone through some £5.5 million on eight new players.

But, so far, his team manager Wilkins has been unable to find the best blend of new and old talent.

Or are they signing the wrong sort of players? Arthur Cox who, ironically, was in charge of Derby at the time Lionel Pickering decided to spend or bust in a bid for the top - that's right he bust - is Keegan's chief scout. Six of the eight new signings have come from Premiership clubs, the other two from First Division sides, and no-one doubts they are good enough to play for Fulham in the middle of the Second Division.

But, sometimes, you have to purchase a certain type of player to do a specific job.

And a blend doesn't just happen overnight as Waddle knows.

"People often don't realise how long it can take for players to settle in at a new club and get to know each other and the way they play," said the Burnley boss.

"He has brought in a lot of new players in a short spell and they have signed good players, Premiership players.

"It can only be a matter of time before they go on a run but, hopefully, it will not start against us."

With the exception of midfielder Ian Selley, picked up from Arsenal, all the new men are featuring in the team or on the bench.

Selley, sadly, had his season cut short when he sustained a broken leg against Northampton. Barring a dramatic about-turn, even though it is only the halfway stage of the season, Fulham can kiss goodbye to one of the automatic promotion spots.

On paper, with the expertise of Maik Taylor in goal, Chris Coleman at centre back, veteran Paul Bracewell in midfield and Paul Peschisolido up front, Fulham should have more than enough to climb out of the Second Division at the first time of asking.

Perhaps Keegan has it in mind to snatch a play-off spot at the last minute and win promotion via a penalty at Wembley.

Then, like Dalglish, he can tell the man who signs the cheques he's had value for money.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.