In years past, Fulham conceding the goals in the manner they did so against Leeds would’ve led to a gutless acceptance of loss and it’s credit to Scott Parker that his squad show grit and character to fight back into the game, even if ultimately fruitless and a disappointing final 10 minutes saw Fulham struggle to retain possession and get into the Leeds final third rather than the push for the equaliser typical of these endings.
Scott Parker’s side has heart, it has fight but it ultimately lacks quality in vital positions to be positive about safety. The Premier League transfer window has about three weeks left to deal with the rest of the world with a Premier League and EFL only window remaining open from the 5th October to the 16th. We didn’t need two Premier League games to know that we needed help in the middle of the back four but Michael Hector’s early performances may lead to thoughts of whether actually need two? It’s absolutely imperative that the majority of the remaining transfer budget is spent on improving the quality in central defence. Whether that’s tempting someone like Chris Smalling to return to the club or attracting Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah (both rumoured this summer), I don’t mind, but sooner rather than later would be beneficial before a hole is dug that we simply can not overcome.
It’s easy to be pessimistic after two games, no points to show for it and seven goals conceded but I think there are some positives. Kenny Tete looks a terrific player and will make it hard for Ola Aina to get into the team at right back, a second gorgeous delivery to assist Aleksandar Mitrovic in as many games as well as a solid defensive showing where Jack Harrison was anonymous is promising. At the other full back position, Joe Bryan might be playing his best football since starting at the club despite that moment of madness in giving away the penalty so soon after the equaliser but his alternate, Antonee Robinson is another promising player with the athleticism and play style to shine at the top.
In midfield, Harrison Reed is looking less dominant as a defensive force but is still doing fine. It’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa who provides the star power in midfield with his ball recovery, progressive dribbling and distribution that shone at Elland Road and may have been a fairly unanimous man of the match decision if the club was still doing the fan vote. With Mario Lemina in rotation for one of those two roles, the big hole is currently the most advanced as Josh Onomah has been a bit slow to Premier League football and yet to do anything of note and question marks are there around Tom Cairney’s athletic qualities to be the same creative force at the top, especially when quite so one footed.
The three in behind Aleksandar Mitrovic could do with work in general. It wasn’t until Neeskens Kebano’s reintroduction after lockdown did we get anything of note from the flanks in the Championship and he’s already found himself back on the bench. Getting some speed for the counter and quality in the final third is imperative in games where Fulham may not get so much of the ball and need to make the most of the counter attack game.
Scott Parker spoke post game about it not necessarily being a training thing, the desire to defend has to come from inside, the red alert has to come on for situations like set pieces and I don’t think he’s wrong. Bringing in superior quality and a champion mentality would help – Fulham’s most senior players in age and experience are Tim Ream and Kevin McDonald, whilst both will go down in Fulham folklore, they are ultimately Championship players. It’s time for Fulham to have that figure or two that have been there, done it, got the t-shirt and all those other cliches. It’s happened throughout football history how one player with high standards and high quality benefits the rest of the changing room, the first coming to mind is Dennis Bergkamp at Arsenal, it’s time for Fulham to find that presence and we go again. But until we improve the middle of defence and the three in behind Aleksandar Mitrovic, it’s going to be a long, long season, no matter how hard we fight.
The need to strengthen our back 4 particularly at CB has been around for at least 3 seasons. In truth Fulham have never adequately replaced the Hughes/Hangaland partnership way back when Hodgson was manager. Two games into a return to the PL & we have already shipped 7 goals. It has the makings of another disastrous season for Fulham because the club have thus far consistently failed to deal with a clear issue in central defence. It needs to be addressed and until it is we will keep shipping goals & losing because not one of the CB’s available to SP have to date demonstrated that they are capable enough to handle the demands of PL football.
I fully concur. Two quality centre backs are urgently needed.Also another target man. If Mitro gets injured. We have nobody in reserve. Both Hector and Onamah have disappointed so far, and at the moment are not premiership quality. first two names on the subs bench should be Odoi for his versality and AK47 as he can be an impact player with strength and speed when other teams could be tiring. I agree Anguissa looks pure class and Harrison Reed gives it all and gets stuck in. The question is who should we use as wide men Carv has not produced much, Knockhaert is like a headless chicken , Kebano lacks pace and Bobby D-Reed is best playing through the centre. Possibility of playing Bryan wide and Robinson and left back they could interchange. I have said previously I would like to see Jay Stansfield on the bench as he has immense promise and could be tried in our cup match on Wednesday
Correct about CBs. Not sure about Tete though. Super deliverer of crosses but defensive positioning is dreadful. We need solid defence first and foremost.
No centre backs no premiership status. Very simple. We will be relegated with West Brom conceding near on 100 goals. 100% need back up for Mitro. Troy Deeney?
Excellent analysis. Yes we need two CBs. Don’t judge Hector until he has support, remember Aaron Hughes before and after Hangeland, I don’t think it’s money, it’s persuading the right players to come, oh for the day we got Hangeland for £2.5 m!
I like the idea of Bryan as wingback with Robinson at back.
Yes we need another forward as back up for Mitro and Troy May be a good option.
The three behind him are a conundrum. Cav has been a disappointment since June, knockers is questionable and Onomah may just need time to adjust. I don’t think we will see much of Tom. Lemina needs a run.
I agree that subs should include Odoi, AK, plus Dec Reid and Kebano.
My worry is after the start be hard to convince the class of CB we need if only we could of got one in pre season
The problem is the spoilt American kid playing at being Director of Football!!!
I would like to see us look at a 3-5-2 formation and play our full backs as wingbacks. We still need to find two CBs so that we have relatively strong back up. I thought Reid played better than I’ve seen before as an impact sub and no one else comes to mind who could play off Mitro so a striker is also imperative. Three players in three weeks please TK!
I agree with one of the comments, I think we are finding it hard to convince any players to come to FFC because everyone already thinks we are going down.
It must be very tough for the recruiting team.
It is obvious to all we need CB’s and back up for Mitro.
Should not have let Mawson go?
I agree with D A Finn – we have never replaced Hughes and Hangaland. We are also so slow to recruit good players in – we will lose more games and then panic right at the end and buy average players before the window closes. Why did we offer contracts to Cav and Knock, they are not good premiership players. If I am brutally honest, Do we have even three Premiership class players? Frightening really isn’t it. Nice article by F P Taylor.
If Hangeland and Hughes we’re asked to play out from the back they would be equally exposed. Roy set up the whole game to reduce space and keep it to a one goal game. Expansive play out from the back is the new high risk era. Only 4 teams in PL last season conceded under 40 goals . 6 conceded 60 or more. We will ship goals as will most teams. Parker needs a plan to keep us in it. We looked as good/bad as leeds. Convinced with the new guys we’ll be competitive in most games.
Excellent article. Although Scotty said all the right things, I bet he was fuming with the manner of goals conceded. We all know that a couple of centre backs and a striker are needed. The Khans have the money so it’s time to make the investments to help improve our chances of safety.
To start Odoi over Ream is a guarantee of disappointment.
All teams need depth, and 2 games is a bit soon to be crapping on Hector, among others.
We do need reinforcements, but who doesn’t, outside of about 3 or 4 teams in the PL?
Sean Hutchison at Millwall
You seriously have to wonder what Shahid Khan is thinking allowing such an investment to be so poorly run..Absolutely no forward thinking..
We signed a couple of centre backs for the future but let the looney Magath in to mess them up.. I’ve been very impressed with Hutchison at Millwall, take a chance and bring him back his enthusiasm and effort are to be admired
We need to make two solid CBs offers they cannot refuse! That was the basis for all the relative success we had under Roy and the first thing he addressed. Hangeland was an absolute steal – a bit like Coleman a division below. Roma offered 11M for Smalling and Utd turned it down. What a difference he would make and he’s still only 30. Offer him a good deal and Utd £20M. After all, we paid £15M for Mawson and look what that did!
There is a great deal of criticism of TK going around which is starting to look a bit OTT. Looking at where we are, TK tied Mitro to long contract, signed Anguissa among others and also brought in Hector as CB who was highly praised in his first months. But we do need at least one CB, should tie Anguissa down on new deal and a 2nd striker would really help if none of the kids (Stansfield, Carvalho or Jasper) are quite ready yet for huge step up to the bench and game time