Yesterday’s goalless draw with West Ham was ultimately another frustrating night for Fulham fans. Scott Parker’s side were the more dominant force over the ninety minutes but once again couldn’t put away their chances. Draws will do little to aid Fulham’s predicament at the wrong end of the table and we must be getting to the point where even the Whites’ manager will concede that upcoming fixtures fall into the must win category.
Parker did at least deviate from his preferred five at the back formation – for the first time in twelve weeks – preferring a back four and largely matching West Ham’s 4-2-3-1. The personnel chosen might not have been adventurous enough for many supporters, however, with Aleksandar Mitrovic benched and Josh Maja only named as a substitute as Ivan Cavaleiro returned as a lone striker. An element of caution might have been understandable, given the way West Ham had swept aside Aston Villa in an impressive away win in midweek, and it was encouraging that despite sacrificing a defender, Fulham restricted West Ham to just eight shots – only one of which forced a save from Alphonse Areola.
Even if the focus was on a higher press and shackling the likes of Jesse Lingard, Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen in the forward areas, Fulham were far more creative than in the recent reverse at the hands of Leicester. Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a much more effective game, operating as a number ten behind Cavaleiro, pulling the strings from a number ten role rather than operating out wide. The Chelsea loanee thrived in the pockets of space he found centrally, as he had against West Brom a couple of weeks ago, and helped the hosts enjoy more of the ball as Fulham had 61% possesion.
This might well have been eerily similar to the ‘Parkerball’ of our Championship promotion season, with lots of pretty passing in front of the opposition and, in the end, precious little end project. But Fulham did muster twenty shots in total and the familiar failing of not hitting the target looks like it will come back to haunt them at the end of the season. Only two tested Lukasz Fabianski in the West Ham goal and you wonder how look it will be before Parker operates with one of Maja or Mitrovic up front from the outset – or even pairs them together, given how big a threat Fulham looked once they were both sent on with ten minutes remaining. Mitrovic as a focal point would certainly give opposition defenders more to think about, even if he doesn’t possess the mobility that Parker probably desires in his main front man. It does feel like this system is crying out for a Callum Wilson-esque striker, one who combines pace with natural goalscoring ability and some experience of a top flight relegation battle.
Mitrovic’s major combination was getting Tomas Soucek sent off in the dying seconds. That incident went to VAR deep into stoppage time, with Mike Dean opting to dismiss the Czech midfielder after consulting the pitchside monitor even though the elbow didn’t appear intentional. The general consensus seems to be that the red card was harsh – something that Mitrovic seemed to tell both Dean and Soucek, despite staying on the floor after the incident. The Serbian striker certainly perked up Fulham’s attack, having a couple of shots drift wide within a couple of minutes of coming on, and laying on another glorious chance for Loftus-Cheek.
The law of averages suggests that some of these shots have to go in eventually, surely? Fulham missed out on Josh King, who came on as a late substitute in Everton’s thrilling draw at Old Trafford last night, on deadline day and Parker turned to Josh Maja late on, sending on the on-loan Bordeaux forward as they searched for a winner. The Nigerian international, back at the club where he spent some time as a teenager, still seems a little raw – but he linked the play impressively without really having a significant sight of goal and Maja will gradually get more game time as he steps up to match sharpness. Becoming more clinical up top is the final piece in Parker’s puzzle, as the manager conceded afterwards, and the forthcoming trips to Goodison Park and Turf Moor – two places where Fulham traditionally struggle – would be good places to put things right.
How do you think that Parker can solve this? Would a more adventurous approach pay dividends? And, what did you think of Soucek’s late red?
To be honest I totally believe that Parker had it planned perfectly. We played well, and apart from Coufal’s header on the crossbar, West Ham played second fiddle to our energised players all match. A goal is what we re missing, and i still believe we still have some wins coming. Unfirtunately they may be coming too late to matter.
What Fulham fan really gives a toss about the Soucek dismissal?
All we care about is Fulham staying in the Premiership because the thought of losing the likes of Andersen and Areola would be hard to deal with.
Bottom line – we played West Ham (a team that would have gone in to the top four if they had won) off the park. That’s how good we are.
We just can’t score goals because, when our ONLY striker lost confidence and form, we had nobody else to step in. Game after game, we have been forced to suffer the efforts of Ivan Cavaleiro-and I do mean suffer.
Why, having publicly stating that it was time we started winning games, did Scott Parker select the Portuguese player yet again?
Did he believe that, suddenly, Cavaleiro would come good?
Somehow, we turned one striker into two strikers in the January window -but both were on the bench.
It truly beggars belief.
Okay, a case can be made for Mitro not being fast enough and Maja not being fit enough etc
But, having seen Cavaleiro struggle yet again, why didn’t Parker realise that he had made the wrong decision and give our attack more impetus by introducing the 2 Ms on the hour mark instead of dilly dallying until it was too late.
Mitrovic had an immediate impact. What might he have achieved if given more time?
I’m sorry to criticise Parker again but this was bad management.
Cavaleiro is not the answer. He never has been.
Scott Parker-you made the decision to start our Premiership campaign with just one striker.
You made the decision to bring Josh Maja to the club to aid our relegation battle.
Now you need to stand by those decisions.
You have more than a week on the training pitch to drill these players. We face two tough away fixtures. We need battlers on the pitch, especially against Burnley.
Anguissa HAS to start in the middle.
Mitrovic and Maja have to start.
It’s that simple!
I can’t believe that Scott went out to win the game with no number 9.
What’s the point of a draw, we need wins &we won’t get them playing Cavaleiro in that position.
He’s been shouting about we need a forward in the transfer window & don’t play any of them.
We were the better team but now I am confused both Mitro and Maja were on the bench Why? Yet Parker persisted with Cavaleiro both Mitro and Maja made an impact straight away should have both come on at half time Loftus Cheek is getting better but it might be to late though both Ms have to start every game now
Lots of people keep saying Mitro is lacking form or confidence so Parker right to keep playing him for 10 mins or dropping him….is he a top Prem striker….NO…but he is the best we have…YES
Is it just me that sees this??….if you keep telling him you’re not good enough by leaving him out or giving him 10mins or playing hom with the reserves in the FA Cup. Or saying you’re not good enough to get in the side ahead of CAV….any surprise he is a little out of sorts?
You tell any striker week after week that you have more faith in Cav to score than you and you dont expect it to affect him??? Play him here and there without a run and surprised he isnt in form??? Parker had 1 striker (thanks to TK). He should have managed him and massaged his ego. I’m sorry, I think Parker is to blame. The decision to pick Cav as our main striker a dozen or so games ago was a huge mistake. It probably cost us any chance (no matter how slim) of staying up. It will also probably cost us Mitro in the Championship next year. If I were Mitro I wouldnt play for any manager that thinks Cav is better than me. What an insult that statement is!