Fulham 2021/22: How The Cottagers dominated the Championship – tactical analysis

Fulham were relegated from the Premier League following yet another disappointing campaign last season. A change in management, as well as a slightly updated squad, helped them return to the top division. On their way back up to the top, Fulham blew away their competition. Aleksander Mitrovic scored 43 league goals, breaking the record for the most goals scored in the Championship ever, in a single season. He also broke the record for the most goals ever scored in a 46-game campaign. Fulham also scored 106 goals in the league, becoming only the second side to score over 100 goals in a second division season in the past 20 years, after Manchester City. Fulham overpowered every opponent that stood in the way, as couldve been expected with a higher weekly wage and squad value than any other team in the league.

This analysis will be presented as a scout report, exploring how Marco Silva turned Fulham into a rampant side. Last time out in the Championship, Fulham only went up through the playoffs. Now, there was no doubt theyd be getting promoted, thanks to the brilliance of the manager and the individual magic of certain players. This tactical analysis will feature the exceptional tactics that allowed Fulham to dominate the league with such ease.

In possession

Build up

Contrary to what is being spread around the media, Fulham played in a 4-3-3 formation rather than a 4-2-3-1. Fabio Carvalho would sit as the LCM, and Harrison Reed/Tom Cairney were rotated in the RCM position. In the 1st phase, Fulham build in a 4-1 shape. They move the ball around the back four with a lone 6 moving horizontally, to offer a line-breaking pass.

However, that isnt the main theme. The main objective for Fulham when they build out from the back is to bypass the midfield line. The defenders, usually a full back, look to play the ball to either Mitrovic or a near side winger who drops deep. The centre midfielders make 3rd man runs and collect the ball off the forward players and carry the ball into the space behind the player who just played it. In doing so, Fulhams players skip the 2nd phase and try to play quickly, not allowing the opposition to regroup.

In the Championship, Fulham have found it quite easy to build play from the back, with a 13.85 PPDA against them, meaning that they pull off roughly 14 passes before an opposing team makes a defensive duel. This is a high number, due to the lack of willingness from some teams in the league to press them, offering them lots of time on the ball to complete passes. Although the Fulham players do well to progress play, they are limited technically, and when they come up against more intense teams they have struggled to retain the ball.

Chance creation

The final third is where Fulham thrive. Marco Silva has managed to integrate a fantastic positional play system which has given Fulham a variety of ways to attack the box and score goals.

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