Fulham ‘s lack of goals will prove their fall at the end of the season if they don’t get a clinical edge – Scott Parker’ s team has the fourth worst tally in the Premier League, but they are rated NINTH for missed chances. created in spite of the strikers
- Fulham remain stuck in the relegation arena and struggling to score goals
- Scott Parker’s men have outscored 20 this term – the fourth-worst series in the league
- The numbers suggest a different story, however, with Fulham creating chances
- If they do not take more, the lack of strong goals will prove to reduce them
If Fulham suffered a relegation we will not have to investigate too hard for the reasons.
In short: goals. Or rather – a lack of them.
Their 20 strikes so far represent the fourth worst series in the Premier League – behind Sheffield United, West Brom – who take over the other two relegation slots – and Burnley.
If Fulham are to suffer relegation, it is their lack of net goals that will determine the reduction.
The harmful statistic is inevitable and will confirm the decline of the Cottagers if they are immediately returned to the Tournament.
However, dig a little deeper, and the numbers suggest a very different story.
Their lack of goals is in black and white, of course. The numbers don’t lie.
Fulham’s 20 strikes net so far this season is the fourth worst series in the Premier League
| Per 90 min | Average league | League rating | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rubbing in the third attack | 161.6 | 160.6 | 10th | ||
| Opportunities created | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8th | ||
| Great opportunities created | 1.2 | 1.3 | 12th | ||
| Pictures inside the box | 5.6 | 5.8 | 10th | ||
| Successful crosses | 22.4% | 18.7% | 2nd |
But there has been a misunderstanding that Fulham ‘s problems are ahead of target as a result of a pragmatic approach used by head coach Scott Parker.
The king’s property is for the Cottagers head coach; it is the foundation of its strategic principles.
But there are evidence that his property-based approach is not helping to score goals certainly backed by the numbers.
Fulham are in ninth place for opportunities created so far this season; averaging 9.0 chances per game – above the league average of 8.6.
The ninth club level for chances created this term, with an average of 9.0 carved out per game
They are ranked 12th and 13th, respectively, for forbidden sights and goals – and 12th for creating ‘big opportunities’.
Their performance so far this season in terms of creating chances for goal goals shows they should be significantly higher up in the table.
In fact, the expected points table based on expected goals and conceded in each game would leave Fulham comfortable in 14th place with a score of 28 points.
That’s not, of course, here or there for Parker – who knows those numbers won’t count for anything at the end of the season.
Boss Scott Parker knows the promising numbers don’t count for anything at the end of the season
| Total | Average league | League rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pictures | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8th | |
| Expected goals | 27.7 | 30.8 | 13th | |
| Goals stopped | 20 | 32.3 | 17th | |
| Expected targets over performance | -7.7 | 1.4 | 18th | |
| Burn conversion rate% | 7.2% | 11.5% | 19th |
But opportunities, clearly cut at that, are being created by Fulham. Taking up these opportunities, however, is a problem.
Fulham entered the season with the belief that Aleksandar Mitrovic would provide enough firepower to stay up.
There was ample evidence of the need for religion.
He scored 24 goals in all competitions for Fulham last season and his 11 in Fulham’s previous Premier League campaign gave hope that the Serbian could carry the threat of the club’s goals.
Enough faith has been placed in Aleksandar Mitrovic – who has visited just twice this season
But Mitrovic has scored just two goals in the Premier League this season – both the win over Leeds in September.
The truth is Bobby Decordova-Reid is their main goal scorer with five telling their own story.
The arrival of Josh Maja on loan from Bordeaux has raised hopes that the ambition for Fulham will improve enough to widen the current six-point gap up to Newcastle’s 17th.
If the Nigerian can continue with his promising start Fulham may have a chance.
Josh Maja joined on loan from Bordeaux and is expected to help Fulham score more goals.
No matter how this season ends, Parker has heightened his reputation as one of the brightest young managers in England.
Of course, that will not be a comfort to the Fulham boss if the worst happens.
But if they are let down, it was not as if they didn’t have a chance to stay up.