Team Focus: Wondergoals paper over cracks in Fulham's attack

 

Pajtim Kasami’s goal of the season contender at Crystal Palace on Monday night sparked a first Premier League comeback victory for the Cottagers in 18 months, as well as the first instance of the side scoring more than 3 goals in a match since the opening day of last season. It was a strike of real quality, showcasing the Swiss international’s exceptional technique to such a degree that Martin Jol dared to place it alongside compatriot Marco van Basten’s legendary volley in the Euro 1998 final against the Soviet Union.

 

The goal deserves to be lauded, but Fulham should be careful not to get too hung up on it. Followed by another spectacular volley from Steve Sidwell, the cottagers never looked like losing from the point they scored, but the nature of those two goals rather covered up problems that have been apparent for the Cottagers long enough that Jol’s position as manager is not all that secure.

 

Incredibly, this is now only the second time that Jol’s men have recorded back-to-back Premier League victories in over a year, and any optimism garnered from those recent results should be taken with a pinch of salt. They came narrowly against 16th-place Stoke, the lowest scoring team across the top 5 European leagues in 2013/14, and Palace, who had already lost their last 4 games and picked up only 3 points all season before welcoming Fulham to Selhurst Park.

 

So a team boasting players of the ability of Dimitar Berbatov, Bryan Ruiz and that which Kasami displayed earlier in the week should wholly expect to beat both an underwhelming Stoke side and a rather hopeless Crystal Palace led by soon-to-be-sacked Ian Holloway. Fulham simply do no score enough goals with the players at their disposal; prior to their 4-1 win this week they had not scored more than once in a Premier League game all season.

 

Berbatov’s form has too, been problematic. Against Palace he ended a Premier League goal drought that was approaching the ten hour mark with a header from a Ruiz corner. Still, a goal in open play eludes him in the league this campaign.

 

The Bulgarian has been chopping and changing between the ‘number 9′ and ’10′ roles, playing either behind Darren Bent or ahead of Kasami or Ruiz, but it remains unclear which position he is actually best suited to. He is not a striker who likes to play on the shoulder of the last defender, instead preferring to come looking for the ball in midfield areas; few other strikers would be comfortable as a number 10.

 

He has primarily played as a centre-forward in his whole spell in England; at Tottenham alongside Robbie Keane and at Manchester United with Wayne Rooney. Notably, though, both of these partners liked to drop deep to look for possession in the same way that Berbatov himself is known to. This similarity would usually be thought of as a hindrance but in fact has complimented each other, as is evident in the success he enjoyed with both.

 

 

At Fulham, Berbatov has had most success when playing as the furthest man forward, with his partner tasked more with linking play and creating. In 9 appearances when playing in an attacking midfield role, he has not managed a single assist and scored only twice, including his goal at Palace. In fact, that game at Selhurst Park was the first that Fulham have won with Berbatov playing in the number 10 role, and even then it was hardly a victory built on impressive attacking football with their talisman at the centre of their play, but rather a match won by moments of individual brilliance and poorly defended corners.

 

Up front, meanwhile, Berbatov has 14 goals and 3 assists in 30 Premier League appearances for Fulham. It is thus questionable as to their motivation and justification for bringing in Bent this summer. The former England man won’t be happy playing a bit-part role at Craven Cottage, but with Berbatov and the team getting such improved results with him up front, Bent may not be given adequate chances. Having only completed 90 minutes once since his move – when both Berbatov and Ruiz were out injured for the trip to Chelsea – Bent might choose not stick around for longer than the season for which his loan deal lasts.

 

Fulham are having fewer shots per game (8.4) than any other team in the Premier League and the lack of a player to move the ball about near the opponent’s goal is a real problem for them. The fact that Scott Parker, one of the Premier League’s less creative midfielders – to put it lightly – has been completing more passes in the final third of the pitch (10.8) than any other Fulham player this season speaks volumes. He has only 1 assist in his last 55 league appearances and quite simply, Fulham should be leaving Parker to his defensive duties and task the likes of Kasami, Ruiz and Berbatov with playing killer passes higher up the pitch.

 

That defenders Sascha Riether (2) and Philippe Senderos (1) can account for half of Fulham’s assists this season is also indicative of deficiencies in the attacking department, while creative hub Bryan Ruiz’s assists both came from corners against Crystal Palace. Clearly, improvements need to be made in attack because they are not solid enough at the back to rely on shutting out their opponents and nicking narrow wins here and there.

 

Up to 14th in the table after recent victories, Fulham have put breathing space between themselves and the relegation zone but that may not last. The Cottagers’ next three matches see them face 2 of the current top 6 in Southampton and Liverpool as well as champions Manchester United who are in desperate need of points, so it will be a testing few weeks for the resolve of Jol and his players. The likelihood of their building on recent results remains slim, and even another cracker from Kasami might not be enough to disguise the problems in what could be a very tough period for Fulham.