Fulham haven’t had the best of starts to their Premier League campaign and the news that their big summer signing is finding it difficult to adapt to the EPL’s fast pace won’t provide too much solace for fans.
Bryan Ruiz joined Fulham during the summer when the club shelled out £10.6m to snatch him away from FC Twente. When you’ve got a price-tag that big over your head and you’re playing for a club like Fulham, you need to show that you’re a worthy addition and quick if the fans are to stay on your side.
Of course every player is due a degree of leniency when it comes to adjusting to the Premier League and Ruiz has thus far made only four appearances for the club, with only one start.
Speaking to the Press, Ruiz admitted that he’s been struggling thus far:
“When I played in Holland I used to have an extra second to think. That makes a big difference. Here I am placed under greater pressure and get less time to act on the pitch. You also get more one-on-one situations in Dutch football. Here you get two players breathing down your neck straight away.”
As far as I’m aware there was something of a dash between Fulham and Newcastle for his signature. He was sold to Newcastle fans as a striker/winger who would get goals. In the end however, Fulham won the negotiations and have ended up with what seems to be a midfielder who likes time on the ball.
The truth, however, is that Fulham players rarely get much time on the ball and always have to be alert and ready to move the play forward.
I do hope that Ruiz goes on to be a star and provides Fulham with some real quality. But at the price he would have cost, I can’t help but feel that Newcastle will be glad they missed out on his signature. I just can’t see him adding anything to an already quality Newcastle side that is oozing confidence at the moment.
Did Newcastle dodge a bullet or am I being incredibly hasty in my judgement? Is Ruiz set for big things? Please let us know!
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Bryan has not impressed so far. He shows fleeting monents of skill and there is no doubt he can play, but overall he gives the ball away too easily and lacks the split-second instincts and reactions of our other strikers. His cause with the Fulham faithful wasn’t helped having missed a couple of real chances when close to goal. Presumably he is being tested in training and subjected to the high pace of top flight English football, so we hope he will turn it around and not become another Steve Marlet. It could take a season for him to fully adjust but I am not sure if Fulham fans have that much patience.