Fulham – the Fight for Survival11th May 2008 – Danny Murphy’s 76th minute winner for Fulham away at Portsmouth keeps the Club in the Premier League on goal difference.
Just six years later, it’s a case of déjà vu all over again for Fulham. Managerial change mid-way through the season, large murmurs of discontent, and a slow start under a new manager. Ironically, the squad which had worked the club into 19th position (at the time of writing) was substantially better than those that had been placed in a frail position six years previously. The names of Kamara, Healy, Bullard and Keller dithered in comparison to the household names of Berbatov, Bent, Parker and Stekelenburg. By all accounts they should be, at minimum, lower mid-table, regardless of their age. The wavering influence of Martin Jol, in his third season in charge, however, followed by a string of inconsistent performances under head coach Rene Meulensteen has driven Fulham to the brink. Here, I look to analyse the different components of this trouble, and the remaining hopes the relegation-riddled club have of surviving the drop – undoubtedly boosted by a chaotic January transfer deadline day.
Transfers
2007/8
A brief glance at the incomings and outgoings of Roy Hodgson’s revival era will read
In: Brede Hangeland, Leon Andreasen, Eddie Johnson, Toni Kallio, Jari Litmanen (all undisclosed fees) and Paul Stalteri (loan)
Out: A series a fringe or youth players on loan – no permanent exits.
Roy Hodgson had seemingly exhausted all his European contacts to find players who could fit the bill – hard working mixed with quality. Undoubtedly, the influential Brede Hangeland, although taking his time to adopt to the league was absolutely vital to the revival – Fulham were leaking goals (42, by February 1st) of all sorts before his arrival, and his partnership with Aaron Hughes turned out to be nothing short of sensational. Other than Paul Stalteri, the remainder of these transfers played a minimal, if any (looking at you, Jari Litmanen) part in the incredible escape.
2013/14
In: Clint Dempsey (loan), Konstantinos Mitroglou (£11m), Jonny Heitinga (free), Larnell Cole, Ryan Tunnicliffe (both undisclosed), Lewis Holtby (loan), William Kvist (loan)
Out: Phillippe Senderos (undisclosed), Bryan Ruiz (loan), Aaron Hughes (free), Dimitar Berbatov (loan), Adel Taarabt (loan terminated)
Instantly, all the names on both the incomings and outgoings list strike a startling difference to that of the list above – most, if not all names, are well known. The low-profile signings of Roy Hodgson pale in comparison to the club pulling out all the stops in order to sign prolific Mitroglou, the high-quality Lewis Holtby, and experienced Jonny Heitinga. A different owner is probably a different factor to consider here – with club legend Mohammed Al Fayed selling to American Shahid Khan in the summer of 2013, who seemed to have realised the importance of supporting the manager in his aspirations of keeping the club in the league. Supposing – fairly – that Holtby walks into the first team, alongside Mitroglou (following Berbatov’s exit), the first team instantly has a better feel to it – more hard workers, as well as a more fluent side. Jonny Heitinga will be an improvement on Senderos, who has divided opinions of fans – any good game which the Swiss centre-back will have can, and usually will, be undone in an instant by a fatal mistake, which a team just cannot afford to risk. As vital as the additions are, it would be foolish to overlook the outgoings. The lax, indifferent attitudes brought by Berbatov, Ruiz, and at times, Taarabt were simply proving to be too costly. All three of them are undoubtedly classy – just look to Berbatov’s first season at the club, Ruiz’s…rare league moment of glory and Taarabt’s ability to take on a man (and another…and another…) but the laidback application of that talent was a liability waiting to happen. The hope remains that, as the luxurious players have been shown the door, and players of a harder work ethic have been introduced, the team can start on a remarkable run of form and remain in the league.
Tactics
Roy Hodgson
Briefly looking at the nature of Roy Hodgson’s Fulham – a neat 4-4-2 system was adopted. The full-back system of Stalteri and Konchesky provided width whilst remaining solid in defence. The team that finished the season at Fratton Park lined up as:
Keller, Stalteri, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Davies, Murphy, Bullard, Dempsey Kamara, McBride.
The grit and determination of each of these players to get a result when required was astonishing. Following the comebacks from long-term injury, Dempsey, McBride and Bullard played an influential role in the escape – with each getting crucial goals or assists along the way. Alongside the reinvention of Danny Murphy and Simon Davies, and the more solid back four with a tinge of attacking nous, this well-built team were relatively hard to break down and knew when to get forward.
Martin Jol
Martin Jol, early 2013/14 favoured his previously ‘successful’ formation (I use that term loosely following an appalling run of form towards the end of the season) of a 4-2-3-1; a more modern twist on the 4-5-1 formation. Jol’s favoured XI was something more close to:
Stekelenburg, Riether, Hangeland, Senderos, Richardson, Parker, Sidwell, Kasami, Ruiz, Dejagah, Berbatov
This team’s weaknesses were truly exploited towards the last ten months of Jol’s regime when the distinct lack of pace, in addition to Ruiz’s hold up play, left the team essentially playing without a striker – Berbatov getting on the scoresheet only five times in the entire season before being loaned out to Monaco in the January window.
Rene Meulensteen
The new manager started his first game against an out-of-sorts Tottenham team with an altered 4-3-3 formation; with three narrow-minded central midfielders in Karagounis, Kasami and Parker. This system initially seemed to complement the pacey wingers in Dejagah and the bane of commentators, Alex Kacaniklic. The formation appeared to work, with a fantastic performance deserving more than a 1-2 defeat at the hand of two great strikes by Spurs. The following three games produced equally enthralling performances, against Aston Villa (home), Everton (away) and Manchester City (home). Unfortunately, only three points were gained from these, and there seemed to be a dip in subsequent performances. Wins were picked up against West Ham (home) and Norwich (away), but heavy defeats to Sunderland (home), Hull (away) and failure to pick up points in crucial fixtures has left Fulham’s Premier League status in the balance. Following the January transfer window, the starting XI would also seem to be about to varied, with the expected introductions of Holtby in midfield and Mitroglou as a striker; presumably with Jonny Heitinga ahead of Dan Burn as Hangeland’s centre-back partner – once all are eligible to play (only Holtby of those signed on the deadline day are available against Southampton).
The increased focus on youth should also add a certain energy and stamina that has been lacking of late, Mitroglou is 25, Holtby 22, with Cole and Tunicliffe 20 and 21 respectively. If you take into account the average age of Martin Jol’s XI was approximately 30 years old, this contrasts with Meulensteen’s potential lineup (including Holtby, Mitroglou and Heitinga) which would average at 28 years. That two year difference, in theory, should provide the additional energy to drive somewhat of a revival. Reinforcements have also allowed for more dedication and nous on the pitch – Heitinga’s solidarity should improve upon the uncertain Senderos, while Holtby has always given all his effort on a football pitch. Whether it will or not, is down to the players, and one thing is for certain – it will not be easy. As this is being typed, relegation rivals Sunderland and West Ham are comfortably on course for three points each.
Final Thoughts
Essentially, the battle to survive the drop is still a very tough mission facing Fulham. Following a frantic January transfer window, however, the club has been given a massive boost with money being spent on high quality players. Whether these players are introduced immediately, however, and whether they can gel quickly enough to fire the club to safety is still an issue that only time will tell. The spending has undoubtedly been a risk, but it may just have been the necessary glue to stick a side full of good players into a cohesive, fluent team capable of getting results. And if Fulham are to avoid they drop, they will need to do it the hard way, with the second half fixtures including Manchester United at Old Trafford, a brilliant Liverpool side and the dreaded trip up to the Etihad Stadium. But the battle begins today, at home, against a very good Southampton side. Will it be difficult? Of course. Is it impossible? No. Until mathematically concrete, nothing in football is certain – especially with a side who have coined a term specifically for their strange moments of madness (both positive and negative): ‘Fulhamish.’
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