Fulham: Another Season of Mid-Table Discontent?

2012/2013: 12th

Transfer(s) In: Adel Taarabt (QPR, Loan), Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma, Undisc), Fernando Amorebieta (Athletic Bilbao, Undisc), Ange-Freddy Plumain (RC Lens, Free), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, Free), Sascha Riether (FC Koln, Undisc), Scott Parker (Tottenham, Undisc), Darren Bent (Aston Villa, Loan), Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur, £4 Million), Elsad Zverotic (Young Boys Bern, £0.25 Million)

Transfer(s) Out: Alex Kacaniklic (Burnley, Loan), Chris Baird, Simon Davies, Mladen Petric, Mark Schwarzer, Mahamadou Diarra (All Released)

Transfers Review:

                                             Fulham's transfers indicate a move forward from the usual 'selling club' status that they are given. With big names leaving almost every season, with the likes of Dempsey and Dembele leaving in recent years, this tended to be the key to why Fulham have remained in vastly the same position in the Premier League over the last few years. This season appears to have broken that pattern, with the key names from the last season, such as Dimitar Berbatov, remaining at Craven Cottage.

                                              They have also added a few top-quality players to the ranks, with the likes of Roma's Maarten Stekelenburg and Bilbao's Fernando Amorebieta their most high profile additions. By adding QPR's enigmatic playmaker to their squad, they have improved both their defence and their midfield, in order to aid the often isolated Berbatov. In Plumain and Riether, they have also invested in the future, so that when others are sold, or retire, they have strength in depth.

                                               If we compare the actual transfers to my predictions at the end of last season, we see that I suggested that a more defensive-minded midfielder may be needed to break up the play and aid the flair players. In Derek Boateng, they have certainly signed someone of that ilk. In truth, Fulham have strengthened almost every area of the squad. This is a very impressive feat when you have only signed half a dozen players. They will be hoping that these signings will propel them to a top half finish, and that maybe they can be the West Brom of 2013/2014.

Pre-Season:

                                               Fulham's pre-season started with a tour of Costa Rica, in which they took part in three exhibition matches. In all, Fulham dominated the match, winning against Cartigines by 3 goals to 0, before beating Alajuelense 3-1, and finishing their tour with a 5-3 victory on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Moving back to the UK, Fulham played two further matches, both against considerably more difficult opposition.

                                                Beginning with Real Betis, Fulham started their run to the start of the Premier League season. After a Steve Sidwell goal in the 13th minute, Betis levelled after 55 minutes, as Igiebor rolled the ball home from close-range. Fulham dominated proceedings, continue to amass chances, and having a penalty claim turned down and a goal disallowed before the end of the game. But the score stayed the same, and despite a positive performance, Fulham were denied a winning return. They finished their pre-season with a game against Parma, and once again, Steve Sidwell opened the scoring after just 10 minutes. But the Cottagers' performance levels dropped as the match wore on, with Amauri only being denied a leveler by the offside flag, and Marco Parolo rattled the crossbar. After the interval, the Italians did not have to wait long before equalising, with Gabriel Palletta heading home just before the hour mark. As the game dragged on, the Serie A team bcame the more likely to score, until eventually, Fulham hearts were broken. Nicola Sansone latched onto a knock-down to fire home the winner four minutes from time, to end Fulham's pre-season in the worst possible manner.

Key Players:

                                                  With Mark Schwarzer leaving the Cottage for the Bridge this summer, a goalkeeper was needed. Here, Martin Jol pulled off a master-stroke, bringing in Holland international Maarten Stekelenburg. The Dutchman has proven his worth in just the pre-season friendlies, and I feel will be vital to Fulham's push for a top 10 finish. He has excellent reflexes, and has fantastic experience of both continental and international competition, having travelled and performed in a World Cup Final.

                                                    In order to succeed, not conceding is only half the battle, with scoring the other half. Dimitar Berbatov will continue to be an integral part of Fulham's team, and his goals will propel them up the table. He can at times seem disinterested and petulant, but every now and then he has moments of genius, that can often be the winner of valuable points.

Key Fixture Dates:

17/08/2013: Sunderland vs Fulham
31/08/2013: Newcastle vs Fulham
21/09/2013: Chelsea vs Fulham
26/10/2013: Southampton vs Fulham
30/11/2013: West Ham United vs Fulham
07/12/2013: Fulham vs Aston Villa
01/01/2014: Fulham vs West Ham United
11/01/2014: Fulham vs Sunderland
01/02/2014: Fulham vs Southampton
01/03/2014: Fulham vs Chelsea
15/03/2014: Fulham vs Newcastle
05/04/2014: Aston Villa vs Fulham

Top Goalscorer:

                                                     Just like last season, I see Dimitar Berbatov leading the line for the Cottagers. If he goes through one of his lean periods, Darren Bent will chip in, but I fear for Fulham's success, as they have very little in the way of alternatives. Whilst I cannot see him being up with the top scorers in the league, I certainly see him retaining his Fulham top goalscorer tag this campaign.

Prediction:

                                                      Fulham's team certainly now has the names to challenge for a top 10 finish, but it is the strength in depth that worries me about them. As much as I would like to see them get back to their former glories (the Europa League final a few years ago), I think that this will be a year of transition, and building the squad. Any injury to Dimitar Berbatov practically stops their goal threat, and I think that it is this that will consign them to another season in mid-table. If they manage to add further strength in January or next summer, then I feel they can compete higher up.

Fulham 2013/2014: 14th

Fulham: Comfortable Safety or Mid-Table Mediocrity?

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 12^th 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)