Marco Silva is backing Raúl Jiménez to end his barren goalscoring run despite Fulham’s summer signing during another blank during yesterday’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace.
The Mexican international, signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £5m in July, has not found the net in English football since March 2022 – and has now gone 29 Premier League matches without scoring a goal after Palace keeper Sam Johnstone denied him in the first half at Selhurst Park. A lack of confidence might have accounted for why the 32 year-old looked to play in Andreas Pereira rather than shoot himself in the second half as the Whites squandered a three-on-two that Silva said they ‘had to score’.
But the Fulham boss told his post-match press conference that was more to Jiménez’s game than his failure to find the net.
“He works so much for the team and the moves that we needed from him at certain moments. When he had his chance to score it was a good save from the goalkeeper but [he] could have gone in the opposite corner. I think Andreas had the best chance to score and I would be much more happy [with a goal] from him or anyone today but overall I am happy with his performance. I know everyone will want to talk about Raul and I understand that.”
Stick with him for five more games and try to get around 20 pts before January and get a new Striker .
Silva should play Jimenez against Norwich but probably won’t! Wouldn’t surprize me if he chose Muniz to start, instead of giving Jimenez a chance against lower league opposition to score and build his confidence.
Yep. He should definitely play him against Norwich
To me, his control of the ball from the over head pass of Pereira says everything in the first half. His technical ability is undisputed, however, playing upfront his main job is to deliver goals and he can’t seem to be able to find the back of the net.
Get Jay back from Birmingham. Neither Jiminez or Vinny is the answer. We’ll need to go shopping in January. In the mean time give our boy a go. PS we should absolutely not be in this position. It was clear as day we needed a Mitro replacement to everyone
Quite right. It’s obvious every week that Raul is the best footballer of the three forwards, and it’s only been great goalkeeping and the woodwork that’s prevented him having at least three goals so far. He’d have scored the one against Luton if he’d been on the pitch at the time. And he’d have scored the one Vini inexplicably screwed up.
We still needed to, and will need to in January, sign someone, but for now Raul is a better player than Vini and Rodrigo, anyone who actually watches the matches can see that.