As Fulham fell to defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the evening when the headlines were dominated by the sad passing of Prince Phillip, making it four losses on the bounce and extending the side’s poor home form this season, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa began proceedings on Scott Parker’s bench once again. Despite being perhaps the most talented player in the Riverside outfit’s roster, the midfielder only made his appearance in the 63rd minute. So, what has led to him being dropped to the bench in recent weeks?
Just a few weeks ago, the Cameroonian international was the first name on the team sheet. Parker looked towards him to provide an element of defensive stability, stopping the flow of goals that leaked past Fulham’s defence early in the season. He was deployed deep in the midfield, creating a fairly effective midfield duo alongside a box-to-box midfielder, as Lemina and Reed constantly rotated. However, Anguissa was able to sure up the defence whilst simultaneously making lung-busting runs forward with a beautiful balance of grace and power.
![A. ZAMBO ANGUISSA [Fulham]](https://expectedscore.com/upload/iblock/b80/b800ea1412dc344f3c14a8694f231263.jpg)
This was an important part of the 5-2-3 system that was first adopted against Leicester City in late November for attacking reasons as well, as Frank is able to break a press and add a creative element with his sublime passing – something that was crucial as the side’s number 10 was sacrificed for defensive numbers. Therefore, for many, Anguissa, who has previously been linked to Real Madrid, is the epitome of a segundo volante, defining the position with a unique mix of technical and physical prowess. In Zambo’s case, he is able to do everything that is needed of him. Well, except shoot.
This is an invaluable player to have, one that draws many envious comparisons from rival fans, such as that with Bissouma of Brighton and Hove Albion. However, as the Whites began to scramble for points to beat the looming drop, Anguissa himself has found himself dropped. Multiple changes in system and formation has led to Parker moving away from what had become a fairly settled 5-2-3 to multiple variations of four-at-the-back as he attempted to inject some creativity into the side with the re-introduction of a number 10 as Fulham struggled for goals.
Parker first tested a 4-2-3-1 in Fulham’s 0-0 draw with West Ham at the Cottage in early February, with Anguissa dropped to making a substitute appearance as the ex-Hammers man selected Reed and Lemina for a double pivot behind Ruben Loftus-Cheek. At the time, this was simply attributed to rotation as he had been substituted off against Leicester in the game before, having started all five league games in 2021. Fatigue began to show as he put in some displays that weren’t quite up to the standard that we had come to expect from him.
In fact, the fatigue was showing for the whole squad in January and February after Fulham’s COVID-19 outbreak. Whilst the no specific names of those who caught the virus were announced, the break clearly affected everyone, whether infected or not. Two weeks without training is a long time for footballers, just long enough for individuals to lose fitness and sharpness – especially if suffering from long-COVID, which has had a variety of effects on sufferers, with some athletes reporting that they are lacking energy and the lung capacity that they once had. Whether Anguissa was suffering the symptoms of this disease we don’t know, however the effects were there to be seen even as the squad carried on putting in impressive performances.
Over the coming games, it became abundantly clear that Anguissa was not at his best. The tactical reasons behind his drop-off in form after the introduction of the number 10 are fairly simple. The very presence of someone in that position dampens the need of creativity from deeper down the pitch, rendering the segundo volante role less potent going forward.
This is because the pocket of space that Frank would normally run into becomes crowded with Loftus-Cheek and whichever defender is assigned to marking him, disrupting the large space that once would have been left between the opposition’s defensive and midfield lines. A large part of the segundo volante’s role is to burst into this space, attracting opposition players and pulling them out of position, so allowing wingers to slip into the spaces that are left along their backline. Therefore, the presence of both a segundo volante and a number 10 within the same formation, in this case, had an inhibitive effect on both Anguissa and Loftus-Cheek.
After Anguissa was phased out of the starting eleven, many noted just how well Reed was playing alongside Lemina. This is because the omission of the segundo volante role allowed the box-to-box role to have more expressive freedom. Harrison’s role was once to simply win the ball and give it to Anguissa, who would charge up the pitch like a bull. Then, Reed would shadow Zambo, staying slightly further down the pitch to try and prevent an opposition counterattack. Now, Reed and Lemina are free to add the creative element to their own game, no longer restricted in their role, thus explaining some of the impressive performances that we have seen from both, even if the scoreline doesn’t necessarily reflect the team’s performance.
Now, it seems as though Parker has chosen to stick with a midfield duo of Reed and Lemina – even as he returned to the 5-2-3 formation against Wolves. There are various reasons for this, however, whether the team is truly better off without him in the first XI is up for debate – especially as the defence seems to have returned to its leaky ways and the attack is still spluttering. With only 6 games left to save our souls, Parker must find a solution and quickly. Despite some of Loftus-Cheek’s impressive displays, quantitatively his return is awful. He is also far too inconsistent for my liking – especially as he seems to be inhibited by multiple players such as Cavaleiro, not just Anguissa.
So, could a 4-3-3 work with Anguissa playing as a deep lying midfielder with Lemina and Reed playing just in front of him? What do you think?
Yes that could possibly work what would the back four be maybe Maja and Mitro and Lookman the front three I would try anything at the moment I personally like Anguissa and like you said playing in the deep lying role he a very good player so a number of positions in the midfield he could fill if we do go down and lose players like Andersen and Areola maybe give Anguissa the Captains Armband as long as your4 3 3 don’t include Cavaleiro waste of Space or Loftus Cheek who has become a liability also play the long ball on occasions as we are also to predicable to opposition teams
I have been saying for weeks now that I do like Scotsdales Parker as our manager but the biggest flaw in the team is Loftus Cheek who in my humble opinion is absolute rubbish. How on earth is he in the side instead of Anguissa is simply beyond me.
With Cheek we are virtually playing with 10 men.
The man is a liability.
I still support Scott Parker. In my view there a 3 players who I cannot understand why they are being used. First and foremost Loftus Cheek. There must be something in his contract negotiated by Tony Khan than stipulates he must play. Otherwise nobody in his right mind would have included him in the team it is like playing with 10 men every game. Secondly Anguissa is far better than Lamina who has only had a couple of really good matches. Thirdly Mitro, even if he is nowhere near his best is a far better central striker than Cav who is basically a wide player. Why we let all three K’s goes out on loan is stupid namely Kamara, Kesbano and Knockhaert go out of loan we should have retained one of them as back up. Lookman is crucial .Finally we have some promising younger players who should at least have been on the bench For now and in the future. they are a far better proposition than some of the past the sell by date players who are almost permanently unused substitutes. I think what little chance we have of staying up requires huge gambles but it must not include Loftus Cheek.
Every Fulham supporter I know agrees about Loftus Cheek. Whether is Scotty who is forced to pick him or Tony Khan contract agreement who is responsible is a question that needs to be answered. Also please play Mitro for remaining matches he is our only recognised striker. I also concur that Anguissa should start rather than Lamina. Why not play Bryan as a wide player he is good going forward, crosses the ball well and is great at free kicks.
I agree with Richard s if yo play mitro you should play Bryan that’s where mitro got most of his goals from Bryan crosses
I fully concur give Bryan a chance with Mitro and must include Anguissa instead of Lamina. Get rid of Loftus Cheek completely then we will play with 11 men and not 10. Put Cavalerio on the Bench. Even consider bringing on Onomah from the subs bench earlier if we are not in a good position. Finally yes I agree with John W put a couple of the promising under 23 players on the bench instead of players like Ream and Odoi who has been a tremendous servant but with the number of defenders in the squad are not going get any more game time this season> Letting all three “K” goes out on loan was short sighted.
Agree with everyone. I had to read 3 times your line “despite some of Loftus cheeks impressive displays”. I’ve watched every game this season and RLC is a half hearted footballer. He has moments of touch, turn and drive forward that look nice but his passing in key moments is poor. His finishing is woeful. His work rate is poor. Whoever negotiated his £175k a week contract at Chelsea must be wetting themselves. He isn’t worth a quarter of that. I can’t think of a single impressive display. Sorry but I think RLC has been a complete failiure. Shame Cairney hasn’t been fit as they are similar players but TC is far better in my opinion. And, at least he looks like he cares about our club.
I’ve been saying for weeks…Mitro’s treatment by Parker was wrong. We have 1 striker at the club. Yes that’s TKs fault but given the situation you need to build a team to help him score. That is get the ball wide and crosses. Parker got that wrong badly with Cav. His RLC and Cav decisions to keep them playing have been wrong and have failed.
Anguissa is clearly our best midfielder and better than Lemina. That is obvious. I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes. Seems like Parker suddenly becomes loyal to players for games if the team does well as a whole. Then the best players get back in with cameos until Parker then realises he shouldn’t have alienated them in the first place. He did that to Mitro and has now done the same to Anguissa.
We are where we are because we deserve to be there. Parker on the whole is ok. But, when he calls the team inexperienced and lacking a bit of know how….I think he needs to look at himself too. He is learning the Prem just like our players and is not Prem quality yet, just like most of our forward players
Anguissa definitely should be playing, defensive midfield as described. Mitro up front getting service from Tete on the right and Bryan on the left. What happened with Bryan, it can’t just be footballing choices that he’s sat on the bench all season, I feel there must be more to it
Desperate times.I would even try a bustling Anguissa up front with Mitro in an attempt to score an occasional goal. Always play him ahead of Cav or RLC.
We might as well play Anguissa while we can. He won’t be here next season! Letting Kebano go out on loan was a mistake as he is the obvious replacement for Lookman. I agree that Bryan should have been given more chances especially as a wing back. If we had had Cairney instead of RLC we might not be the team with the lowest conversion rate in the Prem.
Time to plan for Championship. Forget loans build a team around the young talent that work together. RLC was a big mistake. I watched in the Johnny Haynes era when it was a very good local team.
Reed might have been playing well, but to be brutally honest, more than once he found himself in a favourable position to take a shot, a killer pass and always he has been found wanting technically. Reed remains a very good championship player but in this category lack of quality on the ball costs the team. As for Loftus Cheek, i cannot but agree that his performances have been below par, the problem remains there is no one in the squad that can fill his position. The lack of the odd goal from the midfield has cost us this season.