When Lukic returns, would it be expected that he and Berge would start together in games where Fulham won’t have the ball as often, and one of ESR / AP drops out due to a tweak in the system?
Thanks for the Q! I’d check out my answer to @pensyffc.bsky.social in this thread for my thinking on Lukić and Berge more generally. I think you’re right to say it’s a game by game thing as to how we best use them
Some games, City (A) for example, justify them both. But I think there’s also a Q as to what we need in a given game at 6. Worried we’re going to get bullied? Maybe it’s a Berge sort of match. Need to control tempo and break someone down? Lukić all day!
Thank you! Could definitely see that with narrow wingers in ESR and Iwobi. Great luxury to have both Lukic and Berge fight for the one spot - so much flexibility within the squad.
Have to say Fulham have been one of the best teams to watch this season, tactically and in terms of entertainment value
Honestly Marco Silva has done an unreal job here. We’ve just got to enjoy every game we have with him here because I’m convinced someone will snap him up soon!
Huge blow. Not least as he doesn’t really have a regular rotation option in the squad unlike in other positions. I’d be surprised if we did a deal in Jan but you never know!
Fwiw when it comes to replacements I really like the look of Bradley Locko from Brest
He got a pretty terrible injury this summer otherwise I think someone would have already been in for him tbh Locko
And I’m useless with valuations but given the scarcity of LB quality around I’d be annoyed if we sold Jedi for any less than £40m and arguably more if it were Jan!
Do you have any tactics or are any available from any of the under-21 or PL2 games. It would be interesting to see if Silva's tactical template is running through the club to the other teams.
I see a player slightly out of form and low on confidence rather than massively flawed? And it’s emphasised more as the manager is sticking with him so decisively
He’s always been a player who goes for the killer ball or tries the improbable dribble etc. Maybe that’s less suited to his new role?
I’d rather have him trying every game changing pass he can and failing 75% of the time, than completing 100% of passes to Andersen and Bassey. #Parkerball
One thing I’ve noticed though is his long ball distribution seems pretty good now?
He’s less good at whipping balls into feet for the CMs. But hitting Raul on the chest seems to be something he can now do reliably which is really important in stopping him being a pressing magnet for the opposition
Interesting that Andersen's percentage is lower. Is that because he's trying the more creative option more often and Bassey is hitting the chest as you've said?
Yeah Andersen is definitely the more ambitious passer and trying those out of this world diagonal switches. Bassey is keeping it simpler. But if we’ve found a reliable progression style that suits him that’s a very good thing!
Thanks for the Q! Take a look at my answer to @purealex.bsky.social earlier in this thread. But in short I think it’s because with Palhinha gone and Andreas in midfield. And with Andersen now at RCB. Marco’s system needs Kenny’s ball pinching skills more than Castagne’s ball progressing skills
I thought last season Castagne was a little vulnerable to a switch over the top; do you think this also plays into it given we sometimes squeeze teams over one side?
When the ball is on the LHS (which it often is) Kenny has been coming inside to win the ball should we lose it. And he seems to have been excelling in that role.
In this screengrab should we lose the ball and Lukić joins the counterpress Kenny is basically responsible for the DM area
Depends on the game for me! I’d like to see us rotate a little more to maybe keep our opposition on their toes. They’re two very different beasts to contend with on their day!
I always feel that Fulham fans are too harsh on Raul and are looking for a replacement when we have a premier league hardened CF already. How does Raul compare to say Chris Wood who is on fire at the moment.
Going off of this by @mclachbot.bsky.social Wood is more clinical and slightly better in their air. Raúl more creative and involved in general play. Wood is on the hottest patch of his career though whilst Raúl’s current level is hopefully sustainable 🤞
In our system this year with the 8 (Andreas) pushed on as a 10 in possession almost Marco wants his FB to tuck in to win tackles and help us sustain attacks. Feels like part of his solution to losing Palhinha and making our midfield more attacking is to lean on Tete’s strengths in that
I need to have a look at Wolves in more depth before next weekend. But I’m v aware they won their last game w/ 29% possession 😅
So potentially a good test of how much of a leap forward we’ve made in breaking teams down and defending in transition. Used to be a weakness but better this year so far…
This feels like THE question at the moment. I’ve been watching back some footage this weekend and the three roles that 8 has this season in settled possession (be part of a wide triangle, attack the box, counterpress) suits an AP or even an Iwobi much more than a traditional double pivot
FWIW, I think Lukic will start on the bench, and I don’t see Marco dropping AP (his pressing is too important to how we play). I agree that opponents will dictate tactics to some degree, but as we are playing well at the moment, I don’t see Marco changing much unless/until we have a bad result.
Yes he does seem to stick with things until he has a reason not to. Slightly annoyingly I think Wolves is exactly the sort of game where we’d benefit from Lukić (as opposed to Berge rather than AP for me)
My hunch is we see a bit of Lukić and Berge in some tougher matches (remember we did against City away to good effect) but that they’re competing for one spot at 6 more often + getting half an hour off the bench regularly as they’ll pick up bookings a fair bit!
What do make of the stats showing Fulham 2nd in expected points. Too few games to be statistically significant or is it really as simple as cut out 90th min clangers and we are challenging for Top 6?
Not trying to make you go sigging through other team's stats but based on how Fulham have set up and progressed the ball this year, who would the ideal new 9 be next season (within reason)? Or rather, what type of 9 would you expect to see?
Every week I watch their highlights I lament the fact we didn’t take a punt on Liam Delap like Ipswich did. He’s the perfect Marco Silva striker. Physical presence. Good back to goal and running beyond. Just a total headache.
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Also think not outlandish that he may move wide in some games? Or at least drop in there OOP
Have to say Fulham have been one of the best teams to watch this season, tactically and in terms of entertainment value
Fwiw when it comes to replacements I really like the look of Bradley Locko from Brest
https://youtu.be/XG3gSpoqUk8?si=tKfDvZ5XywuhF9VU
And I’m useless with valuations but given the scarcity of LB quality around I’d be annoyed if we sold Jedi for any less than £40m and arguably more if it were Jan!
He’s always been a player who goes for the killer ball or tries the improbable dribble etc. Maybe that’s less suited to his new role?
His defensive strengths, particularly on the cover, do stand out next to Andersen. It’s a good partnership in that sense
He’s less good at whipping balls into feet for the CMs. But hitting Raul on the chest seems to be something he can now do reliably which is really important in stopping him being a pressing magnet for the opposition
Fulham have attempted the 4th most long balls in the PL, but are also the 3rd most accurate which is a rare combo!
🇩🇰 Andersen: 64/117 (54.7%)
🇳🇬 Bassey: 57/85 (67.1%)
In this screengrab should we lose the ball and Lukić joins the counterpress Kenny is basically responsible for the DM area
8 goals
37 shots
4.8 xG
1 assist
1.3 xA
15 SCAs
32/77 aerials
2/10 take ons
🇲🇽 Raul (8 PL starts 24/25)
4 goals
25 shots
3.6 xG
2 assists
2.2 xA
15 SCAs
12/36 aerials
3/9 take ons
Muniz was running very (unsustainably) hot in that run and Raúl’s current goalscoring form feels more realistic to be continued
Muniz is significantly more active as an aerial presence
Raúl is more creative generally
What do you reckon? 🤔
Tete 🇳🇱 tenacity in the tackle, more explosive in transition
Castagne 🇧🇪 progressive passing, smoother in settled possession
We had a big problem in progression last year and Castagne was a huge part of the answer
We look better there this year but needed to replace Palhinha in the aggregate. In comes Tete
So potentially a good test of how much of a leap forward we’ve made in breaking teams down and defending in transition. Used to be a weakness but better this year so far…