1. 82
Official Matchday Programme • Fulham Vs. Birmingham City | 10•09•16
The Final Word
A
fter an unbeaten
start to the
season, many
pundits will
be eating their
words having tipped the
Whites for a relegation battle.
But, following an impressive
summer of recruitment,
Slaviša Jokanović has built
a squad capable of achieving
big things this season. With a
much-needed injection of pace
and a change in formation,
the Whites have impressed
so far this term and will look
to keep that going against
Birmingham.
Blues, though, will be a
tough test and will be looking
to build on their recent 3-0
victory over Norwich and last
season’s 10th-place finish. While
they’ve only spent £4m over
the last five years, Gary Rowett
has developed an incredibly
organised and disciplined side
that, on their day, can beat
anyone in this division.
With Fulham looking
to dominate possession,
Birmingham will be comfortable
to sit and soak up the pressure,
using the likes of Che Adams,
Jacques Maghoma and David
Cotterill on the break.
Despite an up and down start
to the season, Birmingham have
more than enough firepower to
cause Fulham problems today.
Apart from the aforementioned
names, summer signing Greg
Stewart will be one to keep
an eye on after an impressive
campaign last season for
Dundee, notching up nine goals
and 15 assists in the Scottish
Premiership.
As for Fulham, there could
be a debut for deadline-day
signing Chris Martin, who
joined on loan from Derby.
Martin’s arrival should be the
final piece in the jigsaw for
Jokanović’s new-look side,
with the targetman boasting
a formidable record in this
division. Indeed, only our
former striker Ross McCormack
and Tom Cairney have created
more chances than Martin in
the last four Championship
seasons.
Martin’s ability to hold the
ball up and bring others into
play could be crucial. With the
likes of Neeskens Kebano, Floyd
Ayité, Sone Aluko and Cairney
just behind him, Fulham have
more than enough quality in the
final third.
Even though the Club lost
McCormack and Moussa
Dembélé, I believe we’ve greatly
improved the squad and, with
the new signings hitting the
ground running, Fulham will be
far from goal shy this term.
Despite the impressive
partnership of Tomas Kalas and
Michael Madl, Jokanović also
added Ragnar Sigurdsson to the
ranks. The former Krasnodar
defender will be familiar with
English football fans after
scoring the equaliser for Iceland
as his side knocked out Roy
Hodgson’s Three Lions at Euro
2016. Sigurdsson’s passion and
physical presence will provide
Jokanović with another option
at the heart of the defence. But,
with Kalas’ ability to operate
at right-back, there’s no reason
why all three can’t feature.
The beauty of this summer’s
transfer window is that there’s
big competition in every
position, and Fulham will have
the flexibility to change the
system and try new things
should they need to.
While Fulham have managed
a strong start to the campaign,
there’s still plenty more work
to do. With the resources
available, and hopefully a
packed Craven Cottage, there’s
no reason why the Whites can’t
continue their unbeaten streak
today. Now that Jokanović has
the players he wants in his side,
it’s clear to see that Fulham are
getting their identity on the
pitch back again. The future is
bright.
Tweet your thoughts to me
@ABronsSmith
There could be a debut for
deadline-day signing Chris Martin,
who joined on loan from Derby.
Martin’s arrival should be the final
piece in the jigsaw for Jokanović’s
new-look side”
Adam Brons-Smith
Columnist Adam Brons-Smith feels Fulham will be full of
confidence going into today’s fixture against Birmingham,
after picking up 11 points from their first five league games.
The
Craven
Corner
Fulham FC Honours
Champions: Football League Division One: 2000/01, Football League Division Two: 1948/49, 1998/99, Football League Division Three (South): 1931/32, Football Combination: 2001
Promoted:FootballLeagueDivTwo:1958/59(Runners-up), FootballLeagueDivisionThree:1970/71(Runners-up); 1981-82 (Third Place); 1996/97 (Runners-up)
Cup Competitions: Intertoto Cup Winners: 2002 • UEFA Europa League Finalists: 2010 • FA Cup Finalists: 1975 • Anglo-Scottish Cup Finalists: 1975
© 2016
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