Goals are a priceless commodity in football, so when any club can find a player who can regularly dispatch efforts at goal, it becomes even harder to keep them.
This was exactly the predicament Fulham found themselves in, in the shape of striker Aleksandar Mitrović.
Mitrović was a record-breaker during his time at Craven Cottage, scoring a staggering 43 goals in 44 appearances in the 2021/22 season as Fulham topped the EFL Championship.
His final goal tally that season ensured he scored more individually than the entirety of the Hull City squad in England’s second tier.
The Serb continued to showcase his credentials upon stepping up to the top flight last season, netting 14 goals, placing him in the division’s top 10 goal scorers.
In August 2023, Mitrović departed West London for the Saudi Pro League for a club-record fee of £50 million.
It was an astute business deal by the Cottagers when you consider that the forward was only weeks shy of his 29th birthday at the time of the deal.
His move did, however, leave a cloud over Fulham, with questions arising as to whether Marco Silva’s side could survive a second successive season in the Premier League without their star man.
Silva’s side is proving any doubters wrong, though, as Fulham currently sits in 12th place, 14 points above the drop zone.
This tactical analysis and scout report will look to assess Mitrovic’s role at Fulham and how the West London side has evolved from an attacking perspective since his departure.
We will provide an analysis of the personnel and tactics at Craven Cottage to see if any similarities remain from last campaign as well as any differences.
Mitrović’s presence
If we rewind the clock to last season, Mitrović regularly led the forward line at Fulham.
The Serb was utilised as a target man upfront due to his physical presence.
The above pizza plot shows his strong attacking credentials for the Cottagers last season.
Moreover, the graphic highlights Mitrović’s strong aerial ability, as he ranked in the top 20% for percentage of aerial duels won compared to other centre-forwards.
