Can Fulham challenge for European Football? A look at their player grades 🔎
Fulham currently sits in 9th place with 36 points in the Premier League and are only 11 points shy of their total from last season. Can they push on and secure European football for the first time since the 2011/12 season? Let’s look at some of their standout players and one area of concern.
The rise of Antonee Robinson
Passing grade: 64.1
Crossing grade: 72.1
Defending dribbles grade: 81.4
Tackling grade: 83.4
Ball carry grade: 77.5
At the age of 27, Antonee Robinson has really come into his own and is having his best season to date. He has played the 2nd most minutes among all outfield players this season in the Premier League, only behind Ilya Zabarnyi of Bournemouth. To go alongside his durability, his physical metrics have stood out. He is the 2nd fastest player in the PL this season (35.48 Km/H), 1st in total sprinting distance (11.02 Km), and 1st in total distance covered among FB’s and 3rd overall (255.42 Km). His physical output per 90 is in the 90th+ percentile across Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues.
Robinson has always had the physical ability to play at the top level, but his ability on the ball and his defending has propelled him into the conversation for best left back in the Premier League. Robinson has generated a 72.1 crossing grade (13th among FB’s). created 33 chances, including his 10 assists, competed 30 open play crosses (1st among all FB’s) and completed 28 dangerous crosses (6th among all FB’s). Robinson has been stellar carrying the ball as well, generating a 77.5 Ball Carry grade (7th among all FB’s and 32nd overall).
Robinson’s defensive abilities have always been excellent but do not get talked about enough. He has generated a tackling grade of 83.4 (5th among FB’s and 10th overall) and a defending dribbles grade of 81.4 (6th among FB’s and 10th overall). He has won 61 tackles (5th overall) and defended 23 dribbles (5th overall).
Alex Iwobi’s creativity
Passing grade: 76.9
Crossing grade: 77.0
Ball carry grade: 72.4
Alex Iwobi has been the creative architect for Fulham this season, often leading attacking phases and completing the most passes breaking the defensive line (15). His 76.9 Passing Grade is 8 points higher than the next Fulham player (Emile Smith Rowe, 68.7) and Iwobi has completed 52 through balls, which is 29 more than Antonee Robinson (23).
Now to put Iwobi’s play in perspective to the rest of the league, his 76.9 passing grade is good for 18th among wingers/attacking mid’s and 43rd overall. Iwobi’s crossing grade of 77.0 ranks 15th among wingers/attacking mid’s and 24th overall. He has created 42 chances, good for 17th among all players and most among Fulham players.
Calvin Bassey’s unique traits
Ball carry grade: 82.9
Aerial duel grade: 79.3
Defending dribbles grade: 76.1
Tackling grade: 85.0
Calvin Bassey’s abilities as a defender and ball carrier have been on full display this year. His Ball Carry grade of 82.9 is 1st among all CB’s and 7th overall, this grade factors in dribbling, carrying and tackle resistance which is often associated with central midfielders. A grade of 82.9 puts him among the likes of James Maddison, Moises Caicedo and Youri Tielemans, really showing his proficiency as a ball carrier and how important he has been to beat the press and transition into attacking phases.
Fulham have conceded 32 goals, good for 9th best (where they also sit in the league). Calvin Bassey has done his best to lead this team defensively. His aerial duel grade of 79.3 (28th among CB’s and 33rd overall), defending dribbles grade of 76.1 (13th among CB’s and 49th overall) and his tackling grade of 85.0 (3rd among CB’s and 5th overall) really show how important he is to Fulham’s success defensively. Bassey has won 48 aerial duels, 37 tackles, and defended 20 dribbles successfully. He has won 44% of his tackles (13th overall) and 59% of dribbles faced (7th overall).
The Kenny Tete problem
Kenny Tete suffered a serious knee injury in their draw with Liverpool back on December 20th. In his absence Timothy Castagne has filled in and is the only recognised RB fit at the club. The winter transfer window has come and gone and the question will be asked, did Fulham need to bring in another RB in Tete’s absence?
Tete was having his best season in a Fulham shirt before the injury and proved to be a valuable asset for Marco Silva’s system, with Antonee Robinson playing the role of a complete Full Back and often finding himself overlapping Iwobi into the final third, Tete was more defensively minded on the right hand side and provided cover when needed. His physical traits allowed him to be comfortable in isolated 1v1 situations, which is a much tougher ask for Timothy Castagne, who is a different profile of full back that likes to have cover from wingers and the RCB to deal with fast and powerful players.
One of the biggest discrepancies between the RB’s comes from challenges, looking at the four facets that make up our Challenge Grade, Tete grades higher in all four, showing the slight drop off in defensive solidity in his absence. With Tete in the side Fulham have averaged 3.06 ‘big’ chances allowed and without him that number has risen to 3.44.
Fulham’s push for European football hinges on their standout performers. Robinson, Iwobi, and Bassey have been instrumental, while Castagne, who has filled in admirably for Tete, will be tested each and every week. If they maintain their momentum and address defensive concerns, Europe is within reach.
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