The Tanner Report : Fulham 1 Norwich 1
The start of a new season – earlier than usual this year – is a time for aspiration, introduction and association. Aspiration: after reaching the play-offs and losing to Reading after 2 poor refereeing decisions, Fulham were amongst the favourites for automatic promotion. Introduction: new players Aboubakar Kamara from Amiens, Ibrahim Cisse and Oliver Norwood were signed. Last season’s big signings Jozabed and Sigurdrsson were not in the roster this season and Richard Stearman signed the season before moved on too. So will Kamara, signed from ligue 2, be the new Louis Saha signed from Metz, a second division side and scorer of 32 goals in the first season or will he be shipped out next season as a failure? Association: the opportunity to meet old Fulham friends. I enjoy the association best of all.
Most of us were more satisfied by those we kept, head coach Slavisa Jokatovic, Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon than any activity in the market.
It was sad to say goodbye to Scott Malone and one of the stars of our Academy six years ago Lasse Vigan Christensen.
Malone was Jamie’s (Bob Tickler’s godson) favourite player. He decided that whoever scored first would be his new favourite player. That goal was an own goal by Russell Martin so the decision is stayed with Jamie imposing a condition that the player must have played 10 games.
It was the type of game you see at the start of the season. Fulham were fluent in periods with their trademark tiki-taka passing game but over-elaborated and were profligate in their finishing. Our problem is that until the introduction of Kamara we have three similar forwards – small, fleet of foot, skillful but none of them poachers nor powerful in the air. Kamara has pace and strength but did not score. The game should have been closed out but Norwich equalised with 2 minutes to go. The jury is out on Kamara and our aspirations for automatic promotion.