The Tanner Report: Fulham 0 Leicester City 2
It’s looking bleak for Fulham now, 8 points adrift in 20th place.
Performances have improved these past few months but we still only have two wins all season.
Leicester beat us comfortably. A header from a corner by Tosin was our best effort on target. Alex Mitrovic linked play well but did not add to his two goals.
One of the reasons for our position is the number of loanees (six) we have. I see the logic of the loanee – you get a decent player without an onerous contract – but the converse is a lack of commitment.
There was a clear contrast in performance in midfield between loanees Lemina and Loftus- Cheek, who were languid, and Harrison Reed – a permanent signing from Southampton – who fought for the cause.
In a side short of goals it was strange to see top scorer Bobby Decordova-Reid on the bench.
Although it is not part of my brief to praise Leicester I will do so. The Foxes have sold Maguire, Mahrez, Konte and Chilwell for about £230m but are still in third place.
Their recruitment is excellent.
After our game I watched Brighton’s surprising but deserved victory at Liverpool.
They have no loanees. They knit together better on the pitch, are well organised and have young talented players like Ben White, Stephen Alzate and Tariq Lamptey.
Another club that is successful in transfers and recruitment is our neighbours Brentford.
Every year they seem to sell their players for high prices (this time Ollie Watkins and Benrhami went for £30m and £25m respectively) but crucially the replacement Toney is the top scorer in the Championship.
In the past Scott Hogan, Tarkowski and Sawyers all commanded big prices.
Fulham play West Ham this Saturday. They must get 3 points.
