 |
| photo by nicksarebi |
- by Jonathan Nebel, writing from Overland Park, KS
The Premier League season begins this Saturday, barring the riots spilling over onto the grounds at Craven Cottage as the angry masses yank the biggest statue they can find from the ground (please don't be Johnny Haynes!) and chuck it into the nearby Thames. Actually, that might be worth postponing the first game. No matter, though; let's focus on the important stuff, which is obviously not the overwrought violence, but football!
Fulham are venturing back into Europe looking for a little more of the magic from two years back, when the Whites ran all the way to the final, taking scalps from the likes of Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk and Hamburg. This European adventure is a tad bit longer, beginning in the First Qualifying Round with all the minnows. Before we look forward to what Fulham can accomplish this year, we need to look back at what has been a surprisingly tumultous summer at the Cottage that has settled down into calmer waters.
It began with the sudden departure of Mark Hughes. The man, who did a proper job with the club during his year-long tenure, declared that he was off to bigger and better things. He was bigger and more ambitious that this small team (who had managed a European final and has finished consistently well in the top league in the world) and was off to bigger and better things. If you thought it was perplexing when that big, ambitious dream lay at Villa Park, imagine how strange it is to find that his final ambitions lie simply on his own couch. How daring! How bold!
It was no problem for Al-Fayed, who simply went out and found the man who he originally wanted instead of Hughes, the affable Martin Jol. Jol came in seeming to be everything that we wanted out of Hughes. He was excited to be here. He was dedicated to the club and didn't just want to use us as a stepping stone to greater things (or to watch those greater things on TV). Looking back, Hughes' departure might be one of the best moves Fulham has made. That's not to say that Hughes did a poor job; he did great job of keeping Fulham completely out of the relegation scrap by the last month of the season even after being plagued with injuries, namely to Bobby Zamora. Jol was the man that was the first choice after Hodgson left and it only seems fitting that he get his chance.
Jol has stated that his policy in the transfer market has been to look for good youth talents. Looking at it now, it is hard to judge how his signings will turn out. Only time can tell on that. Hungarian goalkeeper, Csaba Somogyi, impressed Jol when he went on trial at Ajax. He has only signed a one year deal and looks to serve as an emergency netminder with Mark Schwarzer starting and Neil Etheridge deputizing. Czech midfielder, Marcel Gecov, impressed enough at the European U21 Championships to get named to the team of the tournament to get a signing at Fulham. Jol's other youth signing, thus far, is 2009 U-17 World Cup champion, Pajtim Kasami, a midfielder, who was signed from Palermo. Promising 19-year old defender, Dan Burn from Darlington, along with Everton youth product, Tom Donegan, who defeated the Whites in the Academy League Final, were brought in before Jol and both look like potential first-teamers who could make a good impact.
The arrivial of new youth prospects complements Fulham own youth academy who performed well last season, making it to the final. Kerim Frei just made his first start for the senior squad and impressed a lot of people with some great ball skills and a powerful shot, which were all shown off against Crusaders in the Europa League. Lauri Della Valle and Matthew Briggs are two other academy products who made their Fulham debuts in this preliminary Europa League games. Briggs even netted quite the goal against Crusaders. There is plenty of promise within the youth at Fulham.
The biggest name amongst the arrivals is former Liverpool and Roma left-back, John Arne Riise. Although going against the stated youth policy, early indications are that this could be quite the shrewd piece of business. With the impending departure of Carlos Salcido, a replacement was needed at full back. Riise looks to fit right in and it appears to have been for quite the bargain with numbers floating around £2.2 million for this transfer fee. The thunder-footed defender has looked to be on top of his game and should be an important contributor for the Whites.
 |
| photo by nicksarebi |
With all those pieces in play, Fulham looks to be a dangerous side, especially at home. A spine of proven top-flight players that includes Mark Schwarzer, Brede Hangeland, Danny Murphy and Bobby Zamora provides a solid foundation. Jol is unlikely to escape from the 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 game that Fulham has been playing. Hodgson and Hughes drilled defensive positioning and it showed as Fulham only allowed 43 goals last season. Only Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City allowed fewer. Jol's attacking sensibilities should add some more punch on the other end while not removing the hard work done to solidify the back.
The back shouldn't be an issue. Schwarzer has proven to be a top-class keeper who can be relied upon and the center-backs in front of him were fantastic last year. Brede Hangeland has been great for years and has gotten looks from the so-called "big clubs," but has stayed at Fulham. He developed quite the partnership with Aaron Hughes, who is the most under-rated player on the squad. After a year at the club, Philippe Senderos has looked a lot better in pre-season and will allow room in case of injury and a healthy rotation, necessary if we hope to go far in Europe. On the edge of defense, John Arne Riise and Chris Baird are likely to get most of the time, but Hughes has played out there some and youth product, Briggs, will allow for some rotation.
The midfield has looked fantastic so far. Danny Murphy has been great on the ball and his distribution has been pinpoint, as it always has been for the Whites. The man next to him in midfield, Dickson Etuhu, has looked good, as well. The most promising thing here is the competition for these spots coming from all the young guns. Gecov and Kasami will be gunning for places in the starting XI. That sort of healthy competition should raise the level of play for everyone. On the wings, Damien Duff has looked like he is 10 years younger. He has been darting around the field and has been, in my point of view, Fulham's best player in the Europa League qualifiers so far. Clint Dempsey is likely to retain his starting spot, unless he has to prove himself again to yet another new manager. It appears not, though, as Clint started in the second leg against RNK Split.
Up front is where things get a little iffy. Bobby Zamora is a great target man, as long as he is healthy. He has recovered well from his injury last season and even with the broken hand that he has been struggling with has still be quite the force in front of goal. Andy Johnson has looked spritely around the box, but I don't see him being able to hold up that sort of pace all year. He struggled at times last season and some were calling for him to be sold in the transfer window. Outside of these two, you have Moussa Dembele and Lauri Della Valle. The depth chart is running pretty thin and another injury like last year to one of the strikers could be highly problematic. Moussa has shown great flashes and is quite the player on the ball, but he seems to lack that final strike at times. Della Valle showed some skill during his loan spell at Bournemouth last season and while he should be a good player in future years, he can't be relied to just yet. The transfer window is still open and Jol is definitely looking for another striker, as he has put in bids for Cameron Jerome, but still no arrivals. Robbie Keane has stated his desire to leave White Hart Lane; he could be a good addition, if the price is right.
There is a lot to be positive about looking forward. Fulham is back in Europe and memories of that marvelous run are flooding back. The realist in me is telling me to be happy with getting to the group stage and maybe dropping out in the knockout rounds. The romantic in me is telling me that this is the year we go one step further and take the trophy we were so close to last time. In the league, relegation shouldn't be an issue. We ought to end up comfortably mid-table. If the domestic cups are taken by Champions League qualifiers, Fulham has a shot at finishing in the top 7 and a Europa League spot again. It's going to be a balancing act, though. With Fulham entered in 4 competitions, we need a manager who can make the right decisions and create the right priorities. I trust Martin Jol will do just that. For the next year, it should be quite the exciting time down by the banks of the Thames.
