FM Veteran

After 13 seasons in the Premier League, Fulham got relegated in the 2013/14 season. They have found themselves in an up-and-down situation for the last seasons, struggling to re-establish in the prem once they get promoted again. They got relegated last season and again find themselves as favourites for the promotion this year. They still have the core that won the play off-final two seasons ago and strengthened the squad in essential areas. The only player, except the ones on loan, that played an important part last season that left is Zambo Anguissa. He’s only on loan at Napoli, so he can be an excellent addition for season two in-game unless they use the optional future fee.

Fulham has everything in place for future success. They have a healthy economy, a great stadium that is also being expanded for season two and an outstanding academy that consistently produces good players.

With all that in place, the club is a good fit for several types of games:

• One club
• Academy
• All-British

Club Details

Year Founded: 1879

Chairman: Shahid Khan

League: Sky Bet Championship

Media Prediction: 1st

Fierce Rivals: QPR (Local), Chelsea (Local)  Brentford (Local)

Facilities

Stadium: Craven Cottage

Capacity: 19 286 all-seater (29 700 from 01.06.2022)

Training Facilities: Excellent training facilities

Youth Facilities: Good youth facilities

Junior Coaching: Good academy coaching

Youth Recruitment: Good youth recruitment

Youth level: 1

Finances

Balance: £52M

Finances: Secure

Transfer Budget: £2m

The Team

Goalkeepers

• Paulo Gazzaniga
• Marek Rodak
• Fabricio

Three very similar keepers, with no one as the absolute number one. Gazzaniga may be the best one now, but Rodak has the brightest future in terms of potential. All three of them both suit the sweeper-keeper role if you like to use that role. 

Gazzaniga just arrived this summer, and Fabricio is the oldest one. Fabricio could bring some money in and has by far the highest salary of the three. 

Central defender

• Alfie Mawson
• Tosin Adarabioyo
• Terence Kongolo
• Tim Ream
• Denis Odoi
• Michael Hector

Great cover in this part of the team with two left-footed centre-backs. Suitable for playing with three at the back, which is the big trend this year. The best of the bunch is Adarabioyo, Mawson and Ream – there you have, you’re starting three at the back. Adarabioyo looks like a tremendous wide centre-back with his skills and appropriate traits. The only negative here is that someone might complain about the lack of playing time, but in the Championship the need for rotation will come fast. 

Left-back

• Joe Bryan
• Antonee Robinson

Rated as equally good at the start of the save, but Robinson has a higher potential. Personally, I would go for Robinson as the starter, but both will do a good job. Bryan is an all-rounded player with no considerable strengths except his determination. Robinson has more significant gaps in his skills, with great pace and stamina on him. Will run up and down the whole game with no problem. Note that between them, the highest rating on long throws is 7. 

Right-back

• Cyrus Christie
• Kenny Tete

Tete is the obvious first choice, both as RB and RWB. Again a well-rounded player, Tete got no significant flaws at right back. Christie will provide decent cover as backup, but he’s turning 29 in September and is not worth keeping for the future. Can bring in some money and move Sessegnon up as backup if you want to give youth a chance.

Central Midfielder

• Harrison Reed
• Nathaniel Chalobah
• Jean Michael Seri
• Josh Onomah
• Tom Cairney
• Domingos Quina

Here you have some different types of players. Captain and star player Tom Cairney is out for the first 2-to 3 months of the season. Seri is a class player at this level and should be a definitive starter, probably as a deep-lying playmaker with Reed at his side. Together they will form one of the best midfield duos in the league. Reed can play in several roles, with a ball-winning midfielder the most suitable. 

Onomah, Chalobah and Quina provide good cover. Cairney, Onomah and Quina can also play at AM in a more attacking formation.

Left Wing

• Neeskens Kebano
• Ivan Cavaleiro

A lot of flair and speed coming for the left-wing. They can both play on the right as well if you don’t use inverted wingers. Cavaleiro is the best of the two and should be a good player. If you don’t use wingers and want some money in, I would consider selling them both, as neither is Premier League material. 

Fabio Carvalho can also do a good job here and is an absolute star in the making. 

Right Wing

• Anthony Knockaert
• Harry Wilson

Wilson should be the starter and provide both goals and assist in abundance. So let him take corners and free kicks, sit back and reap the rewards. Wilson is also natural at AM and will do a great job there as well. 

Knockaert is a good backup when Wilson needs resting. He’s an exciting player with great flair, but his highest rating(together with flair) is actually his work rate. Will run his socks off when needed – great for the gegenpress managers out there.

Striker 

• Aleksandar Mitrovic
• Bobby Decordova-Reid
• Rodrigo Muniz
  

When used correctly, Mitrovic is a class player and is possibly best as a target man. He will provide significant aerial threat and finishing. However, his lack of pace makes him best inside the box.
Reid is more of an attacking midfielder but is also natural as a striker. He’s more of a backup than a starter with no real strengths. His biggest strength is possibly his equal skills in most areas.
Muniz is a new addition to the team and arrives for decent money from Brazil. You can probably shape him as you like, as he has excellent potential. Should start as backup and get minutes from the start.


The Academy

Fulham has several great talents in and from the academy, already ready to take the next step. Some of them are listed here. There are many random potentials here, so it will probably be some differences from saving to save. Who will be the next Ryan Sessegnon?

• Fabio Carvalho
• Steven Sessegnon
• Jay Stansfield
• Ollie O’Neill
• Harvey Araujo
• Xavier Benjamin

Carvalho and Sessegnon are ready to get minutes for the first team from the start of the season. Carvalho can play in all attacking positions and looks like a real star for the future.
Sessegnon can play all across the backline and could be a good backup for the foreseeable future.
For now, Stansfield and O’Neill are probably best left in the U23s, or maybe with a loan to League Two for experience and minutes. Especially Stansfield looks exciting, and he can be a great goalscorer in the future at the top level.
Araujo and Benjamin start with the U18s but can move to the U23s if needed. Benjamin hasn’t signed a pro contract yet, so make it a priority to get him signed. Both two are exciting defensive prospects for the future.
All of them could make an excellent base for an academy challenge.


You can find it here if you want to read about my blog series and academy challenge with Fulham.

/ FM Veteran