In a transfer window which saw English teams spend a combined total of nearly £500million on new recruits, a wide range of talent has been brought into the Premier League this summer. With the usual talk of inflated prices and crazy wages these days, one transfer caught many people’s eye as a very astute acquisition – Bryan Ruiz’s move to Fulham. Martin Jol, who Ruiz admires after seeing him manage Ajax, obviously has the Dutch connection after Bryan spent the past two years at FC Twente before joining him at Fulham in the £10million move.
It seems like a great capture for Fulham, who undoubtedly needed to reintroduce some impetus and energy into their attack. Ruiz has averaged over a goal ever 2 games for Twente, with 24 goals in his first season in Holland. Anyone who can score over 20 goals a season, even if it is in the Eredivisie, is sooner or later going to attract attention, and Ruiz was no different with clubs such as Benfica, Tottenham, Valencia and Newcastle all reportedly watching the 26-year-old striker closely.
His style of play is versatile and can be of great value to the team in a striker’s role. Not only is he the type of player that will get into the box and look to poach goals, he can dictate the play from the front of the pitch and help attacking situations progress in the final third. A good header of the ball, Ruiz will also look to get ahead of the defenders and lose a marker to provide an aerial threat. Hopefully Fulham will recognise this and utilise the wide men whipping in some crosses to dangerous areas, because they have men like Damien Duff that can do this.
Many of Bryan’s goals, particularly in his first season were from close to the six yard box either pouncing on defenders taking too much time getting in position, or where he found a gap to receive the ball in front of goal. The defending in the Eredivisie was at times, shall we say poor, which allowed Ruiz to get time and space in the box that might not be there as often in the Premiership.
Players like Andy Johnson, who have scored ‘poachers’ goals in the past, have been of value to their clubs and prove that it can be a crucial part to play getting on the end of crosses and relying on movement in the box. Ruud van Nistelrooy was a great example of this, coming from the Dutch league, showing that if you can create chances, having the right man at the end of the move is what can win games.
There’s no doubt that Ruiz offers a lot more in terms of technical ability, craft, persistence and composure in front of goal – more than his price tag possibly suggests. Have a look at the hat trick he scored in 5 minutes against Sparta Rotterdam for a great example, or the where he chips it over the keeper in a 2-0 win over AZ Alkmaar. However, he will have to work hard to fit in with a system at Fulham and learn to play an adapted style of football. He might not get the service, or time to waltz around the opposition penalty area this season, and may have to rely on an ability to carve out and convert scrappy chances.
Although many have said that Bryan Ruiz could play at one of the top clubs competing in European competition, I think that Fulham is a good place for him to embark on his Premiership career. He will have time to settle down and learn how to play football in England, getting plenty of first team opportunities.
He can concentrate on tuning his playing style to a defined role in the starting eleven at Craven Cottage and build up a rapport with his new team mates, whilst making a name for himself by having an impact at a club where he shouldn’t be overshadowed by other goalscorers. However, I fear that Fulham may just be a stepping stone for Ruiz, and if he indeed waves his magical goalscoring wand this season to push Fulham towards Europe, he may well eye ambitions of a big move in the future.
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