2012/2013 Season
Review:
Fulham
began the season with what appeared to be one of the signings of the summer. At
£3.5 million, Dimitar Berbatov seemed an inspired acquisition, and after a long
spell warming the Manchester United bench, Fulham gave him a chance for first
team football. The Londoners started the season with a bang, with a
comprehensive 5-0 victory over Norwich on the opening day, putting them top
(albeit only thanks to alphabetical order). A narrow defeat to Manchester
United and a disappointing exit of the Capital One Cup to Sheffield Wednesday
followed, but Fulham remained consistent throughout September, winning 2 and
losing 2. The start to the season already indicated to many what they knew to
be true, that Fulham were in no danger of relegation or qualifying for Europe
this season.
Significant
transfer losses on deadline day certainly did little to aid Fulham’s push for a
top 10 place, with both Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey departing across the
city to Spurs. Draws away at relegation candidates Reading and Southampton
perhaps suggest their departure had an impact, however, subsequent draws
against Everton and at the Emirates tends to imply no such pattern. The vast
majority of Fulham games were relatively low scoring, and often decided by just
a single goal either way. Dimitar Berbatov at times gave us glimpses of his
past glories, but all too often he cut his usual disinterested and sulky
figure, leaving Fulham rather toothless going forward.
Unlike
most Premier League sides, Fulham performed vastly as we would have expected
them to this season, with little in the way of shock victories or surprise
defeats. Draws away at Arsenal and Chelsea before the turn of the year, and a
later victory at White Hart Lane, is all that really should be considered
surprising in terms of results. Like Everton, Fulham mostly steered clear of
controversy, rarely making the back pages with either their performances or off
field antics.
The
second half of the season remained practically identical to the first, with
Fulham winning the majority of home games they would expect to, and drawing and
losing the majority of games against the top sides in the league. At the turn
of the year, Fulham’s away form seemed to be the area which needed the most
improvement, as they only managed 1 win in 10 away league matches up to that
point. A New Years Day victory away at high-flying West Brom seemed to be just
the tonic that was required. However, soon they fell back into the same
pattern, winning only 1 of 7 away games up to April, including an FA Cup Fourth
Round exit at the hands of Manchester United.
Normally,
Fulham’s home form had been consistently good enough to keep them out of
trouble. However, such was the competitive nature of the relegation battle this
season, that a small dip in form could see the ordinarily considered safe
Fulham dragged back into the relegation picture. Unfortunately for the Whites,
they picked the wrong time to go off the boil at home. Despite having reached
the 40 point mark, home defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea left Fulham fans looking
nervously over their shoulders for the final few games. Whilst these results
are not particularly surprising given the relative strength of the sides
involved, it certainly did both their survival aspirations, and their nerves,
very little good. Even worse for Fulham, they lost the following three league
games. Fortunately, their fellow relegation rivals failed to capitalise on
Fulham’s slip-ups, and their position in the Premier League was mathematically assured
with a couple of weeks to go. A final day comprehensive 3-0 away win over
Swansea will have sent the fans home happy, albeit in 12th place and
just 7 points from relegation.
Overall,
Fulham’s season has been a relatively quiet one. Despite a little last minute
panicking, it was never really foreseeable that Fulham would be relegated this
season. Expectations at the beginning of the season may have been to break into
the top 10, but their away form continues to plague them. Without an
improvement, I fear that Fulham could find themselves in deeper trouble in the
coming years.
Player of the Season:
Dimitar Berbatov – The enigmatic Bulgarian can, on his day, be the
difference between 3 points and nothing. We saw clear evidence of his talent in
his technique for some of his goals this season. He does appear distant and
disinterested at times, and Fulham need him to be at his best more often. But
for £3.5 million, a good bargain for Martin Jol, and he repaid his faith with
vital goals.
Game of the Season: Fulham
3-2 QPR – The game that, in hindsight, practically sewed up Fulham’s Premier
League survival, and illustrated the majority of Fulham’s season. A first half
where Fulham dominated, scoring thrice (albeit with a little help from Clint
Hill and Chris Samba), showing all that is good about Fulham’s game. Then, a
self-destructive second half, allowing QPR to reclaim some momentum, scoring
twice within six minutes to put the game on a knife-edge. Should have been
comfortable, ended up nervy. That sums up Fulham’s season perfectly.
Summer Transfer
Targets (What I Think They Need): In players like Berbatov, Bryan Ruiz, and
Mark Schwarzer, Fulham have a core of quality players that should see them into
the top 10. However, it is in central midfield where I perceive the most of the
problem to be. Steve Sidwell is good, but with little cover or support, Fulham
often find themselves overrun. Players such as QPR’s Stephane M’Bia or Celtic’s
Scott Brown would be perfect at breaking the play up before handing to more
flair players like Berbatov and Ruiz.
Transfer Gossip Links:
In:
Aleksandar Dragovic (FC Basle, RB), Yohan Mollo (AS Nancy,
RW)
Out:
Dimitar Berbatov (Galatasaray), Giorgios
Karagounis (???, CM)
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