Positives and negatives: Fulham 2-1 Leicester City

One pound pints probably can’t have a section dedicated to them but with a drizzly game to examine, Cam’s pulled a few points of interest from Saturday’s victory instead.

Positives

Points on the board

Obviously it kind of goes without saying that at home especially, you start as you mean to go on. Claiming a W at Craven Cottage against a side that are going to be dragged into a relegation battle pretty early on was crucial and though it wasn’t as straight forward as people had envisaged, we eventually made our distinct dominance pay.

Leicester City are due to be docked 10 points for FFP breaches and that meant that for them, gaining points to soften the blow is practically life or death, even at this incredibly early stage of the season. We had to be on our guard and other than a few minor lapses, the Whites were very much large and in charge from the first minute to the last.

There wasn’t really a period of the game where I thought we could let maximum points slip, even at 1-1. We’re not functioning at the best of our collective ability as yet, there’s still much for us to address but even so, we came out on top in suitable comfort and in a season riddled with obstacles, dodging this banana skin was essential. We couldn’t have settled for anything less than a win.

These are the games where Fulham should be in the ascendency, building solid foundations at home is the bedrock for any team, no matter what division they’re part of and now we’ve points on the board, we can appreciate how we secured them and work to be even better next time out at Portman Road and indeed when we return to the Cottage in a fortnight.

Alex and Emile Smith Rowe

Nothing to see here, just a couple Hale End products winning football matches in the splendour of SW6 for the shaggin’ Whites, and I like it, I like it, I like it! Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi netted the goals that ensured Fulham’s first three points of the season and as they rekindle their on-field chemistry, we are going to reap the benefits and they’re going to be plentiful.

Smith Rowe has had to wait two-and-a-half-years for a Premier League goal amid injury setbacks and inactivity and in front of his new adoring public, 18 minutes into his home debut, he broke the deadlock in sublime style. Full flow, shifting from his right foot to his left, ESR glided into the penalty area and as Mads Hermansen shuffled out, our record signing lifted his strike into the target, cold and composed, and the relief that came from tucking it away was clear for all to see.

He was chuffed to bits, as we all were. Stars like Smith Rowe don’t miss in those areas, not after leaving defenders for dead and I sincerely hope this is where he begins a beautiful journey back into Three Lions contention. Make no mistake, this lad is international quality and as he regains his sharpness, he is going to cause a stir for all the right reasons.

Before our second squirmed under Hermansen, I’d actually called for Iwobi to be subbed. Not because I thought he was toilet, I just presumed that he’d be first in line for an exit as we freshened things up and I am eternally glad that I’m not an accredited coach in any way, shape, or form. A chef’s kiss of a through ball from Antonee Robinson – which we’ll gawp over in greater detail a little later – skipped into Iwobi’s stride as he spun from his marker and with 50-odd meters to leap into, Alex couldn’t be caught.

With time to pick his spot, maybe almost too much of it, Iwobi pressed his effort low and while Leicester’s stopper made contact, our number 17’s strike had the right amount of power and intent, any more it would’ve hopped over the crossbar, any less it probably would’ve been thwarted. He and Emile are in the goals, smiles on faces, and I predict that both of their tallies will grow significantly from here on out. Game changers, them.

Sasa and Sander, who says no?

With the arrival of Sander Berge last week, Fulham’s midfield department is shaping up in a very encouraging way and one player that will almost certainly partner our newest Norwegian is Sasa Lukic, another man of the moment. Without being extravagant or excessive, Lukic had the measure of his midfield opponents and with an additional spring in his step, he’s proving to be a highly effective piece of the puzzle.

The Serb has had to weather the weight of expectation since his arrival in January 2023, he’s had to toughen up and knuckle down and with a brief window to peddle his wares to Silva, he has been hugely convincing and I, for one, am sold. He rarely drifted, his discipline and understanding of his role enabled the Whites to gain territory and with that, Sasa was vigilant.

He dug deep to scavenge possession, he nipped in to steal loose balls and he restored order with calming passes to simple options. He isn’t a firecracker of a midfielder, but Lukic is a willing competitor that is now attuned to Premier League pressures. Committed while challenging, mindful with the ball at his feet, Sasa was in control and command and for me he’s no longer a fringe player, he’s a definite starter.

I doubt we’ll dip into the transfer market for another midfielder and if Lukic is seen to be good enough by Marco, then he will always be good enough for me. Stylistically, with what Berge will offer, he is precisely what our team needs in terms of balance and stability. If Sander goes, Sasa will sit and I think it’s a partnership that’ll go from strength to strength.

Fine on the flanks

We are so, so safe with Antonee Robinson and Kenny Tete manning the flanks. As he was in Manchester, Tete served up another top drawer performance along the right and on the left, with a sweet assist to his credit, Robinson was simply unstoppable. Neither Issahaku Fatawu or former fan favourite Bobby Decordova-Reid could get a look-in edgeways, they were both held under lock and key by our ever-dependable fullbacks and on the charge, the American was lively and the Dutchman was flying.

For our second of the afternoon, the Whites went from back to front in no less than ten seconds and Jedi engineered a defence-splitting breakaway and boy, was it pleasing on the eye. Treating his weaker right foot like Ronnie O’Sullivan’s Masters cue, Antonee screwed the ball into uninhabited space and sent Iwobi on his way. It was gorgeous, a stroke of sheer perfection and it had the Foxes chasing their tails.

Is he actually the best left-back in the division and if that’s so, England? He’s a manager’s dream, he blasts the touchline without relent and for the life of me, I cannot think of another player, anywhere, that I’d want in the starting line-up in his position more than Robinson. He is him.

Timothy Castagne will know he’s got a serious task on his hands if he’s to grab that starting spot from Kenny. Starting both of our opening games, Tete has been nothing short of sensational and praise has been fully merited. He stubbed out potential danger and he didn’t bow out when he had to shield possession, he may not be the quickest across the surface but his positional awareness enabled him to cordon off corridors and shoulder to shoulder, he had BDR’s number. Light work.

While we’re at it, I also have to lend Adama Traore the big up he deserves, too. Naysayers said he wasn’t meant for this, that he was a liability above all else and that is a great, stinking lie. He tore virtually every Leicester player a new one, he got a piece of all of them and as he rampaged in the same way a bull runs so furiously at the San Fermin Festival, those in blue toppled like human skittles. He has an assist to his name, he doesn’t have attacking intelligence, apparently, and I’d like those that doubt him so openly to pick up a fork, fasten the bib and chow down on humble pie. Hold that.

Negatives

No sign of Sess, yet

We’re all eager to see Ryan Sessegnon take to the turf in the Premier League for Fulham once again but for now, we’ll just have to be patient. He was omitted from Silva’s matchday selection at Old Trafford as he wasn’t quite ready and while he returned to the bench on Saturday, we didn’t get to give him the proper standing ovation we, and he, has been longing for.

We did serenade him while he was warming up in front of the Riverside, though, so I guess we did sample a little dopamine rush of sorts and I reckon he’ll start against Birmingham City in the Carabao Cup, too. I doubt it’s personal, Silva probably wants to be 100% certain that he’s fit enough to compete and if that means he has to be spared, then I’m all for it.

On Tuesday evening, I’m sure he’ll get a decent run out and then, he’ll gradually warm to Premier League matters as well. Give it time, people, and trust the process. He’ll be back up and running in the famous black and white before you know it and the feels are gonna hit differently. For that, we will be there.

Keep at it, Rodrigo

Not to discredit Muniz’s performance, because I actually thought he went about his business excellently but many of us are slightly uneased about our striking options this season. Rodrigo fought for virtually every single ball that flew his way against two physical centre-halves in Jannik Vestergaard and Wout Faes, his knockdown in the build up to our opener was terrific but in moments where he really should be working the target, he was off the mark and I don’t want him to dwell on them as I seem to be.

I’m not putting his ability on trial because we all know what he can bring to the table when he’s fully focused but as this is a new season entirely where he’ll have to spark that fire that saw his bang home 9 goals in the second half of the previous season, a goal simply has to come for him, fast. I am adamant they’ll come, it’s simply a question of when.

He was supplied on Saturday, inviting crosses were pumped into the penalty area and while he was first to most of them, he lacked conviction, if only by a few inches in one instance where his header skewed wide of the upright in the first half. The Brazilian’s a striker that feeds off confidence, he’s not a striker that can pop up every so often with single goal here and there, he’s an attacker that makes the most of purple patches and once he finds the back of the net, a flurry will follow and his efforts will have reward.

I suppose it’s premature to raise these concerns, we’re only two games into the campaign but I don’t want the next few weeks to pass him by, I want him to reintroduce himself to the Premier League with that samba style that saw him become one of Europe’s hottest number nines between February and April. I am looking at this constructively, he’s got that dog in him somewhere and I am backing him to make a telling impact very soon indeed.