Fulham Falter but Smith-Rowe Sparkles

Fulham continued their preparations for the new season with a friendly against Sevilla in the Algarve.

With ten changes from their previous match against Benfica, only Issa Diop remained in the starting eleven. New signings Cuenca and Sessegnon were introduced, alongside opportunities for Godo and Pajaziti to impress. Despite a narrow 2-1 loss in the cliché "game of two halves", the match was valuable for getting players crucial minutes on the pitch ahead of the new season.

Sevilla opened the scoring just two minutes into the game after capitalizing on a mistake by Issa Diop. The ball pinballed around the area before falling favourably to Isaac Romero, who converted from six yards out. Despite having first-team players like Wilson, Raul Jimenez, and Pereira on the pitch, Fulham struggled to build any momentum.

Fulham had a rare opportunity when a defensive error by Sevilla allowed Wilson a potshot from 20 yards, narrowly missing the target and forcing Nyland to scramble across his goal. Fulham's best chance of the half came when a Castagne cross found an unmarked Andreas Pereira, whose header from five yards sailed over the bar.

Fulham's situation worsened as half time approached when Pajaziti lost his marker from a throw-in, leading to Isaac Romero's second goal of the match. Romero placed the ball into Benda's near post, despite pressure from Sessegnon and Cuenca to block the shot.

The second half saw a wave of changes for Fulham as Emile Smith-Rowe (ESR), Robinson, Leno, and Iwobi entered the game, injecting fresh energy and reviving the quick passing and attacking intent evident in their match against Benfica. ESR made a significant impact just seven minutes in, when a pass from Cuenca broke the lines and found ESR, a first time flick into the left channel, where Robinson, after beating his man to the byline, crossed it in for ESR to score with a diving header.

Robinson continued to trouble Sevilla's defense, and in the 60th minute, winning the ball in their penalty area and narrowly missing the far post with a curling right-footed shot. As the match progressed, a more familiar Fulham lineup took the field, with Muniz, Adama, Lukic, Bassey, and Cairney coming on to gain crucial match fitness and Fulham's possession dominance grew.

ESR almost scored a second goal from a similar position to his first but a great save from Nyland maintained Sevilla's narrow lead.

One of the key moments of the match was Andreas Pereira's missed chance, which could have changed the game's momentum. Cuenca's performance was another highlight, showing his capability to be a reliable central defender for Fulham. Raul Jimenez, while active, found it difficult to make a significant impact, often getting physically outmatched by Sevilla’s defenders.

The discussion around Andreas Pereira playing in the 8 role highlighted a tactical shift. Pereira’s deeper position could provide more stability and creativity from midfield, but he wasn't that influential in this match. The combination of Robinson over-lapping and Adama Traore on the opposite wing is a potential strength, offering both speed and skill to stretch defenses. The need for a defensive midfielder was evident, with discussions in our discord around players like André or Vini Souza to add muscle and tackling prowess to the midfield.

Emile Smith Rowe was arguably the standout performer, not only for his goal but also for his work rate and pressing. Cuenca's defensive display was solid, showing that he can be a key part of Fulham's backline. While not playing in his preferred role, Andreas Pereira’s performance suggested he could adapt to a deeper midfield position.

Despite the 2-1 loss to Sevilla, Fulham displayed promising signs, particularly in the second half. Emile Smith Rowe’s performance was a major positive, and the defensive stability provided by Cuenca offered hope for the season ahead. As the team continues to integrate new signings and adjust tactically, Fulham fans have reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming campaign.