Cottage POV

Following two friendlies behind-closed-doors, Fulham set off to Portugal for a training camp and two friendlies, the first open to the public and streamed online and the second still to be decided. Away from the Al-Ittihad open to the public and late swap to behind closed doors debacle, Fulham faced fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest at Estádio de São Luís.

In all honesty, there isn’t too much to take from the friendly against Forest. Fulham’s stronger eleven played the first half against a pretty weak Forest side that beyond Ryan Yates, Taiwo Awoniyi and Morato saw a bunch of kids and fringe players take the field. Whilst Josh King lit up the first 45 in a 2-0 half win, it was a few shape patterns that caught my eye.

In the above, periods of possession deep in our own half saw moments of us this “double-diamond” type thing with Joachim Andersen in between Calvin Bassey and a tucked in Kenny Tete whilst Sander Berge acted as that middle point between that diamond and the next that contained Josh King floating to the right, Tom Cairney in this case in the 10 and Emile Smith Rowe towards the left though that order was pretty fluid throughout the first half. Notably, look how high and wide Ryan Sessegnon is up on the top of this shot.

Then there were moments where Fulham sat in this box in midfield, Emile Smith Rowe tucking in really narrow to create almost two 10s alongside Josh King creating multiple options for distribution through the lines for the two centre backs. I must note as well, the first half was really good from Fulham even considering the level of opposition but I was really impressed with how sharp the passing was from Joachim Andersen and Calvin Bassey.

Marco Silva’s flexibility of this midfield was the most notable trend of the first half beyond pure individual performance. In three very different segments of the game, you see three different pictures – this most recent a more traditional 433 look with the triangle between Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey and Sander Berge and then Berge, Cairney and King with more traditional positions being taken up by both full backs.

I think the best way to sum up the friendly was Fulham’s strongest team outclassed Forest’s 2nd string and the second half saw Forest probably edge our 2nd string (though the levels between the two sets of 2nd string was seriously notable). The second half played out a bit like the two league games last season, whilst it was a 1-1 second half between the more senior sets of 11, nothing really happened.

I wanted to have a moment talking about Harry Wilson before get to the end. A brace in the first BCD friendly vs Aberdeen and another here against Forest, we really saw him grow into becoming a man of moments last season and whilst injury disrupted part of it, he looks really sharp and ready to have a strong season off the right hand side for Fulham with the fluidity provided to allow him to switch into a 10 as seen below. For a short period he looked the pick up these inside pockets whilst Josh King floated to the right hand side and I believe this shot was taken just before he receives the ball and plays a nice square ball behind for Rodrigo Muniz which is just cut out.

A reminder that Harry Wilson is a free agent next summer after the club triggered the year option in his deal this summer. The club have been busy with internal business the summer as they agreed extensions with Kenny Tete, Tom Cairney, Luc de Fougerolles, Josh King and Seth Ridgeon and may have to prioritise getting to work on internal deals done again.

Harry Wilson up next summer, Rodrigo Muniz’s deal is up next year, as is Ryan Sessegnon (though the club hold a year option on both) and Calvin Bassey has two years on his deal but it is another the club hold an option on. Maybe Fulham feel more relaxed about those situations than I do but it’s clear to me that at the bare minimum, a Harry Wilson contract extension is a must – it’ll only cost more if he has the season he looks like he might have.

And my actual ending is just to praise Josh King. We have a genuine superstar on our hands here. The way he always shows for the ball, a constant willing runner whether into space or into the channels. I praised the centre back distribution but it also comes down to these sorts of players really wanting to show for the ball. Josh King would have every touch if he could – he will make the club wealth us normal fans could only dream of (though tell that to Ali Mac). From saucy turns, to outside the boot passes and general ball retention. He’s a generational talent and it’s going to be a joy to see how he develops over the next 12 months.