Fulham have loved a meteoric rise in the previous two seasons below Slavisa Jokanovic as they bid for a return to prime flight soccer. Aside from a Jorge Mendes backed Wolves, the west London aspect have been arguably the most spectacular group in the league this season.
A 23 match unbeaten run offered the spine to their season and nearly led the Cottagers to an computerized promotion spot. A 3rd place end left Fulham as the finest positioned aspect to emerge victorious from the playoffs, a repute they lived as much as with a 1-Zero win over fourth place Aston Villa in the last, securing promotion again to the Premier League.
1. League Performance
After two seasons flirting with relegation in the Championship, Slavisa Jokanovic lastly obtained his Fulham aspect to push for promotion final season. Fulham misplaced their playoff semi last tie with Reading, condemning them to a different season of Championship soccer, so they'd excessive expectations for this season.
Initially, it was a nightmare of a begin as Fulham received simply 4 of their first 17 video games. Fulham have been struggling down in the decrease reaches of the desk however the membership turned it round throughout the second half of the season. They solely misplaced twice of their subsequent 28 video games, driving them as much as third place. Finishing two factors behind Cardiff was a disappointment in the finish, however put them in good stead for a second successive playoffs.
Fulham recovered a 1-Zero deficit from their away leg at Derby, cruising previous the Rams at Craven Cottage to arrange a tense playoff last encounter with Aston Villa. Despite being diminished to 10 males with 20 minutes to play, Fulham weren't perturbed as they held on to their early lead at Wembley, securing promotion to prime off a nice marketing campaign for the membership.
2. Domestic Cup Performance
The cups most likely got here too early in the season for Fulham, throughout their sluggish begin to the season, and their performances mirrored that. They suffered a disappointing early League Cup exit towards League One opposition Bristol Rovers.
They have been additionally eradicated in the third spherical of the FA Cup towards Premier League strugglers Southampton. Fans at all times hope for a cup run however the early exits most likely benefited Fulham’s promotion ambitions. The lack of distraction and additional midweek fixtures to play allowed Jokanovic to remain the course and choose his strongest squad as they chased down Cardiff.
3. Best Player
No shock right here. Ryan Sessegnon is undoubtedly going to be a star, and he has already attracted suitors from Europe’s elite this summer season. After being moved as much as a winger place from left again below Jokanovic, Sessegnon hit the floor working. Fulham’s prime scorer this season with 15 targets, he additionally delivered six assists as he impressed his aspect’s tilt in direction of the Premier League.
At simply 17 years of age, the younger winger has a brilliant future in soccer, and Fulham will hope to retain his companies for an additional season after successful promotion however might face a battle to maintain maintain of their most prised asset.
The huge golf equipment might need to see how the younger winger adapts to life in the prime flight earlier than investing closely although. The Cottagers would hope at the very least to have Sessegnon again on mortgage ought to he be bought as they face a tough marketing campaign of their first season again in the Premier League.
4. Worst Player
Attack was a downside for Fulham in the first half of the season, regardless of beforehand investing closely in that division. The January mortgage addition of Aleksandar Mitrovic proved a masterstroke for Jokanovic as his 12 targets helped propel Fulham to promotion and he will certainly be a summer season switch goal for the membership.
Fulham might look to partially fund that transfer by trying to recoup some of their sizeable £9m funding in Jose Fonte’s little brother - Rui Fonte - this previous summer season. Fonte didn’t have an terrible marketing campaign however his three objective return doesn't replicate the funding the membership made in him. Having to recruit one other striker in January after already bringing in 4 new forwards in summer season doesn't replicate effectively on Fonte.
Another of these forwards - Yohan Mollo - had an even worse marketing campaign, making simply six appearances for the membership earlier than having his contract torn up and being allowed to depart in January. He did arrive on a free in summer season although, so little ventured, little gained. The membership would have anticipated extra of Fonte and can possible make discovering a substitute for the Portuguese frontman a summer season precedence.
5. Manager
Jokanovic beforehand took over in a turbulent season for Watford, changing into the fourth supervisor in the 14/15 season, successful 15 of his first 20 video games and guiding the membership to computerized promotion. Fulham known as upon the Serbian with the membership in critical hazard of relegation to League One.
He has not solely saved the membership up, he has constructed on that with sixth place and third place finishes in his first two full seasons at the membership. Jokanovic elevated his repute additional by securing a second Premier League promotion in three calendar years. Fulham will certainly look to rectify Watford's error by providing him an improved contract for subsequent season.
There’s not a unhealthy phrase to be mentioned about Jokanovic or his teaching employees, they've breathed new life into Fulham and are positive to be aggressive once more subsequent season at prime flight stage.
6. Overall Grade
Despite a modest begin and disappointing home cup run, the season has been a enormous success for Fulham. As a Championship aspect they'll’t be anticipated to compete on all fronts, they've smashed their preliminary goal of sustaining a playoff place, ending their 4 12 months exile from the Premier League.
The membership has come from nowhere, from struggling below earlier managers Felix Magath and Kit Symons. They upset many Championship favourites this season on their run as much as promotion, together with an spectacular 2-Zero win towards runaway leaders Wolves.
With a few key additions to the squad they're positive to trigger extra upsets in the prime flight, and can already fancy their possibilities of survival subsequent season after heading into it on the again of a vastly spectacular platform established on this marketing campaign.
Overall Grade: A+