Fulham season preview - Established squad looking for dependable management
Fulham gear up for another season with it all change at the top once again. Martin Jol joins the club less than a year after his predecessor, Mark Hughes, first arrived, and will certainly have his own ideas on how to take the club forward. The players will again be forced to learn a fresh tactical approach, after last season’s swift, direct style and the 2009/10 season’s defence-first, slow build-up approach.
The Whites’ season began long before any other Premier League side, with the UEFA Fair Play League success throwing Fulham into action on June 30, barely a month after the end of the previous term. While this quick introduction into competitive fixtures is likely to give Jol’s men an early fitness advantage over their rivals, the effects of the Europa League - which, should Fulham reach the final as they did in 2009, means an extra 23 games, including qualifying - could take its toll on the squad without major reinforcements.
The manager has so far been shrewd in the transfer market, spending a small amount on John Arne Riise - expected to be a starter - a back-up goalkeeper in Hungarian Csaba Somogyi and two young midfielders, Marcel Gecov and Pajtim Kasami, although neither of these are expected to yet press for a first-team slot. They will, however, help improve the strength of a squad depleted by the free-transfers of two fringe players from last term in John Pantsil and Zoltan Gera, and Nottingham Forest’s capture of Jonathan Greening.
With the slim squad size and the possibility of two games per week for almost the entire season, Jol will no doubt be looking to further strengthen his numbers and especially hold on to his existing, key, players in the face of persistent rumours regarding player departures, including Clint Dempsey and Andy Johnson. Despite the need for reinforcements in a few areas, Jol has recognised the same thing his predecessor did before him¬ - that there is a solid base of professional and well-drilled players who are in need of tweaking as opposed to needing wholesale changes. His team selections in the important qualifiers so far reflects this notion, with a recognisable starting XI taking to the field against RNK Split - the exception being slight experimentation at right-back and central defence.
Fans will be dreaming of a similar Europa League fairytale that was achieved under Roy Hodgson in 2009/10, but success in both Europe and the Premier League cannot come without strong performances from squad players - just as Gera, Chris Smalling, Stephen Kelly and the like managed in that incredible run - as well as a strong element of luck. That luck must stretch to injuries, too. Last term, the loss of Bobby Zamora and niggles to Moussa Dembélé hurt the club for a big part of the season, but with the talent at Jol’s disposal there is no reason why Fulham cannot again achieve a top half Premier League position and give a good account of themselves in at least one cup.
Manager - Martin Jol: Jol becomes the third manager in three seasons, but inherits a squad that is established in the Premier League, even if it is in need of revitalising. While the money will not be as readily available as at some clubs, Jol will be able to spend where required and has a solid base of professionals on which to introduce his more attacking style.
Key signing - John Arne Riise: Riise joins his younger brother, Bjorn Helge, in a club that appreciates hard-working players, of which he is certainly one. Likely to take the place of the talented but disappointing Carlos Salcido at left-back, Riise will be expected to be the wide attacking outlet Jol looks for in his full-backs.
Key departure - Zoltan Gera: While Pantsil will be missed for his cult status, Gera’s dynamism and performances in the 2009/10 season in the Europa League will hurt the club more. Despite probably only being a squad player again had he stayed, Gera’s ability to change games with moments of class will need to be replaced by a new or existing midfielder.
Possible XI:
Schwarzer
Baird - Hughes - Hangeland - Riise
Duff - Murphy - Sidwell - Dempsey
Johnson - Zamora
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