The Premier League finally resumes this weekend as Fulham travel down to Suffolk to take on Ipswich Town to kickstart of a run of three games where points must be picked up to secure Alvaro Arbeloa’s future.
Fulham enjoyed their international break; Shea Charles became the poster boy of Northern Irish football (thank you, Sammy James), Oscar Bobb scored and, most importantly, Fulham launched a new brand identity. For those of you who don’t care for font analysis we’ll skip to the football…
The Tractor Boys have enjoyed a positive start to life back in the top division. Two impressive wins against Sunderland and Crystal Palace marked a strong return from the opening five games. Their summer signings are finding their feet quickly, and while Gary O’Neil isn’t the most glamorous appointment his approach might keep them in the league. This is a very different side than the Championship all-stars we last faced. Overall, it’s been a good year for Ipswich, apart from when they invited Nigel Farage to Portman Road.
Fulham, on the other hand, have been slower out of the traps but have begun to string performances together. Points against Liverpool and Manchester United were encouraging signs that this squad is beginning to adapt, and as outlined in my early season review, Fulham should be higher up the table based on their underlying metrics. Ultimately, though, points are won on the pitch and the quest for the first win of the season goes on.
So, as we aim to secure three points in Suffolk, here are five things to look out for:
1. The international break bounce
The extended international break has divided opinion. Being based in Vancouver, it was great to watch four England matches in the middle of the day. Even more so when I can watch baseball, NFL or hockey in the evening. For those pining for the return of club football, it must have been a slog. It was a largely positive break for the Whites, as several key players shone.
Shea Charles exemplified why he is Fulham’s most exciting signing of the summer, his wonderful performance against Georgia was capped with a well-taken goal. Building on his performances against West Ham, Liverpool and Manchester United, the 22-year-old is beginning to look comfortable in his midfield role. His confidence will be sky high and continuing that fine form against this Ipswich midfield is going to be key.
Oscar Bobb scored again for Norway, and his form is picking up game by game. David Affengruber also marked his international break with his first goal for Austria, and while he was undone by Troy Parrott, looked assured elsewhere. He is my second favourite Austrian centre-half – after Michael Madl, of course.
Josh King and Gonzalo Garcia registered minutes for England and Spain U21s respectively, Gonzalo bagged two in Ibiza – which is Paul Gasgcoine form. Andersen, Castagne, Bassey, Iwobi and Berge all saw good minutes too.
Rounding out the international break is Fulham’s Captain America, Antonee Robinson, who captained the USA on his 60th cap. Lets hope a strong international break translates onto the pitch.
2. Familiar faces
We talked about Ipswich’s summer signings earlier, but two of them come from our own patch. Issa Diop forms the heart of the Ipswich defence, and Sasa Lukic sits into a battling midfield representative of his own combative style.
Coming off the back of an assured World Cup for Morrocco, Diop has steadied the backline playing all 450 minutes of the campaign so far. His contributions in both wins this season were key, registering seven interceptions, seven aerial duels and fourteen overall battles. But he is equally as important to their buildup too, with a 91% pass completion rate. His battle against Gonzalo or Rodrigo will be fun to watch.
Lukic fits a Gary O’Neil midfield like a glove; battling, tactically assured and a bit dirty. Picking up where he left off from his Fulham days, Sasa has continued to win his duels (11) and found his range (89% pass rate). His presence has freed up Palacios, and to a greater extent, Enciso to pose a danger to opposing sides.
Speaking of Gary O’Neil, Fulham hate to see this man in the dugout. His most memorable win over the Whites will be in 2024 with Wolves, where he summoned a storm on and off the pitch and walked away with a 4-1 win. O’Neil does his best work against highly regimented sides, who play in patterns.
3. Early intensity
Portman Road is hardly the Camp Nou, Stade Velodrome or the Marakana, but it is a smaller ground where the crowd are right on top of you. The fans will be up for this, and the players will see this as a chance to get three massive points.
Sunderland was overwhelmed by the atmosphere on opening day, and Liverpool managed to get around that by scoring two goals in the opening 10 minutes. Fulham should be looking to do the same; starting the game on the front foot and demonstrating our quality early – either by taking the game to our hosts or showing our quality in possession.
This Fulham team have started games brightly; we cover more ground that any other team in the Premier League and create most of our high value chances in the early periods. Getting a goal, or even a big chance, early is going to be the best platform to beat Ipswich. While it’s impossible to write a script in the Premier League, Fulham have structurally sounder in early parts this will also be key.
4. An interesting tactical battle
Guardiola vs Klopp, Ferguson vs Wenger… Arbeloa vs O’Neil.
I jest, but this weekend is going to be a battle of two vey different styles. O’Neil’s side have proved hard to play against, their curtain raiser against Sunderland was a turgid affair, but they have pace and style too. Arbeloa, on the other hand, is far more flamboyant and fashionable, focusing on the higher press and ball-heavy approach.
O’Neil has pulled together a midfield that has a good balance; one blocker, one connector and a playmaker. It works together to cover space and rarely gives change freely to the opposition. They’re strong in the tackle, and they break vertically with pace. That midfield is sandwiched by pace and power either side of it; Issa Diop, Dara O’Shea, Zian Flemming and Emersonn.
Fulham should be looking to move through the core of Ipswich using short interchanges, finding space in pockets and down the channels. While the focus has been on the battle in the middle, Fulham must win down the flanks and try to find players crashing the box with lower crosses. It is difficult to see Garcia winning the aerial battle, unless Muniz is introduced at his expense. Both Leif Davis and Abdoul Ouattara like to get forward, this feels like an opportunity for Fulham’s revolving front-four to get in behind and test out Ipswich’s weak link: Kjell Scherpen.
What remains to be seen is whether Arbeloa removes the handbrake and plays in a style most like our opening three or remains slightly more conservative with his approach.
5. Game one of a crucial three
This weekend represents the first of a five-game run that could be crucial to Alvaro Arbeloa’s future with the club; Ipswich, Hull City and Coventry being the next three.
Fewer than five points will feel like a failure; exiting Coventry still winless feels like the end of the for the World Cup winner. After three-weeks on the training ground, Fulham should come out the traps and demonstrate the difference in quality between the two sides. It really is shit or get off the pot time for Arbeloa.
Here is to our first three points of the season. COYW!
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