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By Matt Smith
With just two losses in the Premier League, both away from home, Marco Silva’s men are currently sitting in eighth position and the data certainly shows that they could be higher in the table.
Last time out, the Cottagers were defeated 3-2 by Manchester City, but they gave Pep Guardiola’s side plenty to think about. This performance showed the level they are currently at, going toe-to-toe with one of the best sides in world football. Fulham created 2.6 expected goals, which amounts for around 33% of City’s total xG conceded this season in the top flight.
Although creating chances has been a key part of their early success this term, Silva has his side extremely organised defensively. Losing João Palhinha was a significant blow during the summer transfer window with the Portuguese midfielder protecting the back four, but they’ve only conceded eight times this campaign, with only four sides managing less.
The addition of Emile Smith Rowe in an attacking midfield role has been beneficial, meaning Andreas Pereira has dropped into a slightly deeper position alongside Saša Lukić, predominantly. It’s a fairly unfamiliar role for the Brazilian, who is naturally more of an attacking midfielder, but Silva has managed to get the balance right in the middle of the park.
Pereira’s performances this campaign have gone slightly under the radar. Only Bukayo Saka has created more chances than Pereira, who might feel slightly unfortunate to not have registered a single assist considering the opportunities he’s producing for his team-mates.
Lukić is the natural enforcer and plays the role of a pivot in build-up, receiving off the back four. Pereira will play slightly further forward, linking up with the likes of Smith Rowe in advanced midfield positions. It’s a high-risk high-reward strategy from Silva, but it seems to be working so far.
The balance of Alex Iwobi on the left, a player who likes to drift inside and come into central areas, alongside Adama Traoré, more of a touchline winger who likes to be direct and get in behind, has worked wonders with the style of full-backs behind then. Antonee Robinson plays more of a wing-back role, getting forward and providing crosses, exploiting the space left by Iwobi.
The American left-back has created 0.9 chances per 90 minutes while completing nine successful crosses. Robinson has provided two assists for his side and loves to bomb on down the left and get involved in play in the final third.
On the right, Kenny Tete is more of a stay-at-home right-back. Not as effective in the opposition half of the pitch, Tete provides a little more defensive solidity. Although it could mean Traoré is slightly isolated on the right, Smith Rowe and Pereira can often drift into these areas to provide overloads.
Raúl Jiménez has taken the role of starting centre-forward this campaign, and Silva is starting to utilise the Mexican forward properly after a disappointing run of form in recent years. The former Wolves man thrives off crosses into the penalty area, and Fulham’s setup allows them to utilise Jiménez perfectly. The Cottages have completed more accurate crosses per 90 minutes than any other side in the Premier League this season.
The addition of Joachim Andersen has also been a bit of a coup for Fulham. Losing Tosin Adarabioyo in the summer transfer window after he departed at the end of his contract, the Cottagers forked out to bring in Andersen from Crystal Palace. The Danish centre-back’s passing range and defensive ability has made Silva’s side more solid at the back and fluid in their build-up. In fact, Andersen has the most accurate long balls and clearances per 90 in the entire division this season.
Fulham are currently unbeaten at home, with their only away losses coming against both Manchester clubs. Drawing away at Ipswich and at home to West Ham might be seen as two disappointing results so far, but they’re still picking up points and becoming incredibly difficult to beat. Silva’s men now have a run of fairly favourable fixtures, playing the likes of Wolves, Crystal Palace, Brentford and Everton, who are all in the bottom half of the table, before the end of November.
Heading towards Christmas and 2025, we could see Fulham mounting a serious charge for European football. Of course, it’s a small sample size and still very early days, but the data and performances suggest that the Cottagers are heading in the right direction under Silva. Champions League qualification might be a bit of a stretch, but there’s no reason Fulham can’t be competing for the top eight come May.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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