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betting » Previews » Fulham

Fulham

By David, BettingExpert.com | Edited

 

Hughes’ Premier League revenge


 

A rock-solid defence by mid-table standards had helped Fulham to a safe spot early on last season and had even given high hopes of an Europa League finish at one point. The master mind behind that side, Hodgson, has now moved on to apply his knowledge at Anfield but the team has been passed on to an equally good manager – Mark Hughes.

 


Coach: Hughes

 

Tactics: 4-4-2

 

Players In: Senderos, Dembele, Greening, Salcido, Kacaniklic, Halliche, Dalla Valle

 

Players Out: Smalling, Konchesky, Omozusi

 

Current Probable Formation: Schwarzer, Pantsil, A. Hughes, Hangeland, S. Kelly, S. Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Duff, Dempsey, Zamora

 

 

 

It is inevitable to think of a more leaky defence this time round given the departures of Smalling and Konchesky to Manchester United and Liverpool respectively. Senderos has also been signed on and the Swiss, who has left sour memories behind at Arsenal, will hardly be thought of as a decent replacement if his displays are even close to what the Gunners had to keep up with in his days on another side of London. The appointment of Hughes as manager does suggest that it will most likely be less of a disaster however.

 

Hangeland and Aaron Hughes remain strong points of the Cottagers’ defence. Pantsil keeps hold of right-back whilst Kelly has the advantage over the rest to fill in permanently for Konchesky. Hughes has never really dropped his guard on his defensive line-ups. He takes good care in fielding a well organized backline and with a very decent selection he should not disappoint again this term.

 

The squad is more or less that which did extremely well under Hodgson. Two seasons ago it was a seventh place that landed them in the Europa League. Last year they could not hit the road running in the Premier League with that same Europa League holding them back for most of the season. The problem, in fact, is that they did not have enough squad depth to turn over the players and important men like Zamora, Murphy, Dempsey and Duff were facing stern tests to be fit and energetic for the next game on schedule.

 

The squad is once again as thin this year but with no European competition pressing on their calendar they can focus on getting a top half of the table finish. Aside from a solid defence and an experienced goalkeeper, Schwarzer, Hughes can count on an incredible midfield for a team of Fulham’s level. Experienced ex-Liverpool man Murphy partners Etuhu in the centre of the pitch. They have to play both defensive and attacking duties, making sure to supply the forward runners well.

 

Just behind striker Zamora, in fact, Fulham possess good speed in players like Duff, Dempsey and Simon Davies. Dembele and Zamora can both fill in for any of these players so that Hughes can stick to a 4-2-3-1. Alternatively the two can be used as strikers who extend their margin of play to the flanks, allowing men from midfield to harm the opposition with their runs into the box. Hughes has got a good number of attacking options and with players like Gera and Andy Johnson he does have a little back up.

 

 

Predicted finishing position: 14th

 

The team has largely been left unchanged and with a capable manager like Hughes at the helm the team can keep up the pace with the last two seasons and aim for a top ten finish, possibly an Europa League spot. Their defect is perhaps an overdependence on Zamora for goals. If he can get a helping hand from newcomer Dembele on that count and injuries to an already thin squad are few than the Cottagers may have enough continuity to reach their objective.



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