Fulham conceded 60 goals last season with only the world class Van der Sar sparing further punishment to the goals against column. The big Dutchman’s exit leaves a huge void between the sticks, and whilst Mark Crossley has the girth for the job, Fulham still look vulnerable.
Less than 3 weeks to the big Premiership kick off, normally a time for optimism and anticipation, but for Fulham the new campaign could be one too far for a squad slowly being stripped of its main assets.
Financial reality has struck, so balancing the books with average attendances of 20,000 makes competing in the big league increasingly difficult.
Big money sales (Steve Finnan, Sean Davis and Louis Saha) have helped to keep Fulham afloat in recent years without jeopardising Premiership survival. But trading this summer has concerned many supporters and Fulham look a candidate to get sucked into the drop zone.
Last season, a decent end to the season capped with a 6-0 win against Norwich put some gloss on a season where ‘The Whites’ flirted with relegation. Goals were leaked at an alarming rate, and only decent results against the bottom 4 clubs kept Fulham’s head above water.
History tells us that a leaky defence and relegation go hand in hand - looking at the last 6 seasons, the 3 teams that conceded the most goals each season got relegated*
Fulham conceded 60 goals last season with only the world class Van der Sar sparing further punishment to the goals against column. The big Dutchman’s exit leaves a huge void between the sticks, and whilst Mark Crossley has the girth for the job, his best years are surely behind him.
On paper, the back 4 looks ok. Goma (when fit) is a class act, and Zat Knight the 9th choice England centre back has ability, but is let down by lapses in concentration.
Volz and Rosenoir both have the potential to become full internationals, they offer much going forward but need to improve defensively.
Whilst the defence came in for much criticism last season, it is generally accepted that a woeful lack of protection from the midfield was a major factor in Fulham's defensive frailties.
With the likes of Radzinski, Malbranque, Boa Morte and Claus Jensen in the ranks, Fulham have a surfeit of attacking midfield options unfortunately none of them much like tracking back.
The immense Bouba Diop so influential in his first season at the Cottage lacks the discipline to protect the back 4 and the only other genuine contenders Legwinski and Pembridge look unlikely to play in every game.
Added to the uncertainty in midfield, the departure of captain Lee Clark, top goalscorer Andrew Cole and the continued rumours surrounding player of the year Luis Boa Morte it all adds up to a frustrating season for Fulham fans.
Source www.footballpundit.com