Club Focus - Fulham - 2010/11 Season Preview
A summer of uncertainty followed by a regime change and Mark Hughes' arrival as manager just weeks before the new season has been Fulham’s reward for a magical run to a European final in 2009/10.
Last season
Fulham made the most of their Europa League qualification with a run lasting from the qualifying rounds right until an agonising defeat in the last four minutes of the final. What started as competitive practice for the reserves turned into the season’s priority, with Clint Dempsey’s chip in a 5-4 aggregate defeat of Juventus summing up the club’s changed attitude towards the competition.
The squad
2010 summer transfer campaign - With Hughes joining so late in the summer there has been very little transfer activity to this point. Phillipe Senderos joined early in the break while Roy Hodgson was still in charge, presumably to replace Chris Smalling who left for Manchester United, but the rest of the squad is unchanged. Hughes may well just look to keep the bulk of the team together for now and use the January window rather than rush any deals through. A few players, namely Mark Schwarzer and Paul Konchesky, have been linked with moves away, but the longer time goes on the longer it looks to be the same squad that has found such success the past two seasons under Hodgson.
The manager - On paper, Hughes’ past experience makes him almost the ideal replacement for Hodgson. The club needs a manager who can maintain the stability within the club and get the most out of less high-profile players. Apart from a blip at Manchester City where he never looked comfortable spending millions, his success with Wales and Blackburn Rovers fit Fulham’s bill.
Anchorman - Aaron Hughes. A successful defensive partnership requires two players to perform, and the plaudits tend to slip by Brede Hangeland’s ever-present partner. But make no mistake - Hughes is just as vital to Fulham’s recent defensive success as the giant Norwegian.
Playmaker - So much of what Fulham did well last season went through Damien Duff. His career has been rejuvenated since joining last summer, and although Zoltan Gera impressed hugely in Andy Johnson’s absence and Bobby Zamora scored for fun, Duff’s influence on either flank throughout the entire season meant Fulham’s attack rarely lacked creativity.
Hot Prospect - Although the Academy itself has a couple of players who have appeared for the first team, such as Matthew Briggs, this season could see goalkeeper David Stockdale continue his development after joining two seasons ago. The 24-year-old impressed on loan at Plymouth Argyle last season, and his handful of Fulham appearances suggest he could make the grade. A lot will rest on Schwarzer’s situation at the club.
2010/11 prediction
Success for Fulham this season would most definitely be not taking a step backwards. Supporters may not expect another seventh-placed league finish or a cup final, but comfortably avoiding the relegation scrap would be a positive outcome considering the manager debacle over the summer. An already old squad is a year older, but the lack of European football should have a good effect on the league finish. With no big acquisitions to speak of there is danger of slipping behind mid-table rivals, however the squad Hughes has inherited, even without additions, should be good enough to see Fulham safe in the sea of obscurity.
A Different League’s prediction: 9th
See the full list of OLBG's free Football Tips here.
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