Saturday's game at the picturesque Craven Cottage was a game full of incidence but lacking in quality in the final third until Darren Bent's late strike. The win relieved some of the pressure of Martin Jol's future at the club, until after the international break at least, while Mark Hughes can point to plenty of positives and a few things that need improving as he embarks on a new dawn at Stoke. While neither team will make the back page headlines often, this game was a good example of both clubs' travails and there was plenty for all in West London to learn. A quick aside, the hospitality offered by the staff at Cottage was mightily impressive and despite being one of London's smaller teams, there was a friendliness that showed some of the soul remains in the top flight.
5. Jol Needs A Game Plan For His Flair Players To Thrive
The flamboyant Dimitar Berbatov played as a lone striker for Fulham. The Bulgarian might be a little slower, a little more lethargic (if that were possible) but the ex-Manchester United and Tottenham forward still maintains a fantastic technique. His first touch is sublime, he has deceptive body strength, and was the only player in a white shirt who managed to combine creativity with an end product. Bryan Ruiz looked short of fitness, while Patjim Kasami looks full of potential but is too inconsistent to be relied upon. Damien Duff uses all of his experience but his better days are far behind him. These attacking players are anchored by Steve Sidwell and Giorgis Karagounis, and often the front four were disengaged from those further behind. Perhaps Jol could invert his wingers, but often the man in possession was either unable to see the options available to him or simply had none. Ruiz really did not impose himself on the game, and the best option might have been to go more direct to Berbatov. Jol said after the match that he planned to bring on Bent to play with Berbatov, and Ruiz would surely have been the one to come off. The Fulham players are not good enough to be given a completely free reign, and until Jol gives the team a basic attacking game plan from which the likes of Berbatov, Ruiz and Kasami can deviate and produce something special, they will continue to struggle.
