It was understandable that Aleksandar Mitrovic hogged the headlines this morning after his brace broke the back of QPR’s resistance and decisively turned the west London derby Fulham’s way. The Serbian striker’s looping header in the second half was a thing of beauty and probably proved the pivotal moment at a point when the visitors had inched their way back into the contest and were arguably on top. We all know about Mitrovic’s remarkable Championship scoring record and he is well established as Fulham’s talisman, but the sight of Jean Michael Seri running the show from central midfield still seems remarkable.
To describe the Ivorian’s previous three years with Fulham as undistinguished would probably win the award of the understatement of the year. For two of those seasons, a player the Whites parted with at least £22m to sign was not even at the club – farmed out on loan to Galatasaray and Bordeaux in the aftermath of a horrible first term in English football where Fulham, despite three changes in management, proved woefully ill-equipped to survive in the top flight. Seri seemed surplus to requirements this summer, too, with a permanent exit on the cards until new boss Marco Silva, a long time admirer from the playmaker’s days in Portugal with Paços de Ferreira, restored him to the Fulham midfield.
Seri’s transformation from costly folly to the crucial cog in the club’s engine room must rank as one of the most unlikely redemption stories in Fulham’s history. He seems ideally suited to Silva’s method of winning promotion back to the Premier League, with the pragmatism of Scott Parker decisively ditched for a far more cavalier way of playing football. I’ve previously voiced my concerns about Seri being used in a deep-lying role at the base of the midfield but it worked wonderfully against a Rangers midfield that struggled to nullify Fulham’s patient passing, with his experience and mobility allowing him to dictate proceedings behind the industry of Harrison Reed.
The 30 year-old played a crucial part in the opening goal delivering a trademark switch of play to release Neeskens Kebano into the space down the right with a raking ball from the middle of the field. There were plenty of more precise passes, too – ten in total into the final third – and, in a underappreciated addition to his game this season, Seri isn’t afraid to do his share of the dirty work. He won possession back six times in the QPR half as Fulham played with an intensity befitting this local derby. To underline Seri’s importance, he played the most passes of any Fulham player – 76 – whilst also receiving the highest number (51).
His most perceptive pass was the one that finally broke Rangers, just four minutes after Mitrovic had restored the hosts lead. A patient passage of passing was suddenly injected with a forward thrust when Bobby Decordova-Reid, switched to the number ten role in the aftermath of Lyndon Dykes’ equaliser, prodded a pass back towards the halfway line for Seri. He took it calmly in his stride, watched Decordova-Reid accelerate into space between the QPR defence, and stroked a glorious ball through the middle of the park. So perfectly weighted was the pass that Decordova-Reid hardly had to break stride as he advanced on Seny Dieng’s goal and his measured finish put the game beyond the visitors.
From being on the cusp of a permanent departure from the Cottage, Seri’s importance to Fulham’s fortunes is suddenly undeniable. Just as importantly, he has a smile on his face and is enjoying his football – after a chastening start to his time in England. His gleeful embrace of Decordova-Reid in the goal celebrations showed that as did the way he applauded the Hammersmith End for serenading him as he prepared to take a late corner. As the song suggests, Marco Silva’s man is finally making his mark.
Good article and a just appreciation of a calm presence in our midfield. Did all the other managers just not understand how to get the best out of him? I feel Silva is also doing the same with Mitro, whereas Parker didn’t play to his strengths.
Seri along with Mitro should always be the first names on the team sheet, unless their form drops dramatically. Every manager deals with players differently. Obviously Silva’s approach suits these two. Parker is working wonders at Bournemouth.
Agree he’s been class. Kebano also playing his best football under Silva
Wish Silva could do the same with Cavaleiro!
He keeps getting selected and keeps on disappointing.
From his very first touch on Saturday, he gave the ball away and set the tone for another poor performance. Come on Boa. Show this guy how to be real threat on the wing.
As for Seri, full credit for his form this season and for, finally, appearing to feel at home.
He no longer seems to be desperate to get away and, as rightly pointed out, is one of the first to rejoice in each goal celebration. Long may it continue.
If I might just throw a very tiny spanner in the works; Seri does seem to get caught in possession occasionally and it detracts from his overall play.
Totally agree with your comments. Seri appears to be a different player this season. I’m looking forward to Cairney being back in full flight along side Seri and Reed. What a midfield that will be
Seri has been transformed and looks like a player who wants to be part of the Fulham family. Let’s hope, whilst not starting, Cairney gets the opportunity of playing the last 20 minutes or so against Cardiff. Personally I would like to see Stansfield or if not him one of our promising young players on the bench. It would make them feel they were part of the club’s first team set up and possibly encourage them to stay. Great to see Rodak in goal and hopefully he will be given an extended run in the team.
Seri was always a good player, and his loan spells at clubs like Galatasaray and Bordeaux, which play in European cups almost every season shows his potential. In my opinion, Seri’s biggest drawback is his diminutive frame in an English game so dependent on physicality. Also Seri used to dwaddle on the ball too much, the English game, esoecially in the top flight is based on speed, however this season it seems he has learnt to release it a second earlier and it made all the difference.
Seri and Parker obviously had issues. Silva has given him a second chance and he has grabbed it with both hands. He has also adapted to the English game. I agree Rodak must be given a prolonged run of matches. Shame we could not keep Areola as he has spent a large part of the season sitting on West Ham’s bench. I wonder if he now wishes he could have stayed.