Two games, two points. Unbeaten. Fulham find a way not to break our hopes at home to Man United. It makes a nice change, eh? Did we deserve more? Perhaps, but I view as a much needed morale boost, a positive point. Anyway, here’s eight things we learnt from Fulham 1–1 Manchester United:
Sander Berge: All at Sea
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I’ve given Sander Berge a lot of slack in his time at Fulham – he has the makings of a top, transitional number eight. Today though, Berge was all at sea. Look how Manchester United cut through Fulham. Where did the vast majority of chances of United’s chances? All through the middle. Berge was deployed as a number six, a lot of that has to go down to him.
I see his potential, but I’d suggest he doesn’t start at the Bridge. FFC have a proper number six in the squad. Harrison Reed. He’s not the most flashy, but he’s a dependable member of the squad. If Fulham want a six, he’s your answer. But one things for sure, Tony Khan should know one thing. Fulham’s priority this window, a number six.
Sasa Lukic: The Serbian Metronome
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Berge, Poor. His midfield partner, however? Superb. Lukic offered some element of steel from the number eight position today. Lukic did the dirty work. The tactical dirty fouls, linking the midfield to Fulham’s creative components. Lukic the water carrier. He may not get the plaudits on match of the day, but he’ll get them from me. A good consolation right, Sasa? Sasa? Are you there?
Emile Smith Rowe: Kickstarting His Fulham Career?
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Pre season, I labeled this season as a fresh slate for Emile Smith Rowe. A time to put the past failings of last season behind him. And boy has he done so. Brighton away, he was the direct force, running at defenders, cutting inside, causing the corner that preceded Rodrigo Muniz’s last gasp equaliser.
Today, Smith Rowe came on, and instantaneously Marco’s men looked a more dangerous proposition in possession. Emile was offering for the ball, after utilising his footballing IQ to get space at the back post for our equaliser.
After his maiden 25/26 goal, Smith Rowe had found his confidence, found his groove. Im so happy for Emile, and the last two performances make me think that his electric start of the season really could be the start of something special. The start of ESR becoming the player we want him to be. Get in there, Emile.
Josh King: The Praise Never Stops
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At this rate, Josh will have to get a restraining order. I can’t stop talking about the guy. Enjoy him while he is here, Josh King will be a £100M in not too years time. He gets in those half spaces, makes those underlapping runs, makes searching runs from deeper midfield and today, he was the attacking force from deeper midfield Fulham have screamed out for, for so long.
Josh got so close to a first senior goal on two separate occasions today, one from a lofted ball over the top from deep, one from a run Josh made, underlapping his defender. That exemplifies the type of player King is.
Harry Wilson: Must Start
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Wilson comes on, Wilson impresses. Surprise? No, no chance. Wilson turned Dorgu inside and out, creating many a chance with sharp interplay or smart technical skill to beat his man. Not only that, but Harry got his hands dirty defensively, a testament to his character. Wilson should be one of the first names for our cross Borough, Bridge visit.
Super Bernd Leno In Goal
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The standard of Premier Lwague goalkeeping these part few weeks. Absolutely abysmal. It makes us realise how lucky we are to, as the song says, have “Super Bernd Leno in Goal”. Leno made many a great stop today, and I’ll give some sort of credit for putting Bruno off for his penalty, no matter if it mattered. Bernd deserves it, regardless.
Ryan Sessegnon: Back to His Best
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Ryan Sessegnon. What a recovery. He’s picked up where he left off last season, today, he was up and down like the man than replaced him, Antonee Robinson. Dangerous offensively, no shocks there, Sess was a real thorn in United’s attacking side too. Who says he wasn’t a left wing back? Who says Fulham need one? Left back cover? Move Bassey there. Left wing back cover? Move Ryan there.
Defensive Set Piece Woes… Again
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Game long, United offered a massive threat from lofted set pieces into the six yard box. That resulted in MUFC’s controversial opener, but Man United were unlucky to not score more from set pieces.
The Fulham set pieces coach we were advertising for this summer, where is he? We clearly need him. Do SCR rules stop him from coming in too?
If you want a broadcast version on my take on today’s action, click below – I’ve got you covered.👇