Much will depend on how the usually unflappable Hughton can manage the current inertia that has descended on his club. There is precedent. Owen Coyle’s first taste of adversity came with Bolton Wanderers poor opening to last season. It was a decline he couldn’t halt. Lambert, since a thankless start in the profession at Livingston, has predominantly known only the highs at Wycombe Wanderers, Colchester United, and Norwich. The Scot is finding the task of resuscitating Aston Villa alarmingly challenging.
When they beat Wigan Athletic at home just 44 days ago Norwich were 7th in the Premier League, with home wins against Arsenal and Manchester United and a thrilling 4-3 triumph at Swansea City to their credit. The Canaries had lost only 4 of 17 league games.
Five defeats – in which the team’s early season porousness has returned – and an uninspiring goalless draw with Newcastle United later and the picture is very different. On its own, Saturday’s humbling against the Hatters of Luton would be tough to stomach, but in the midst of such a trying time and with confidence so fragile it couldn’t have come at a more hazardous time for Hughton.
It doesn’t get easier from here with Spurs, and their rampant collection of attackers, the next visitors. Hot on the heels of that encounter are what, unthinkable only weeks ago, could be crucial dog-fights against QPR and Fulham.
On that same December 15th day that Norwich were toppling Wigan, Fulham’s all too familiar soft-centre was being exposed as they allowed themselves to become the first team this term to lose a league match against QPR. That frailty away from Craven Cottage has long been ingrained at the cosy West-London club. What will be of large concern is that their home form has not been of its usual reliable standard. Only 4 of 11 clashes played next to the Thames have resulted in a full point return for the Whites.
Since that chastening defeat at Loftus Road, Jol’s team have taken 5 points from 6 games, most notably playing the part of complete pushover in facile wins for Liverpool and Manchester City, and earning only two draws from home fixtures against Southampton, Swansea, and Wigan.
After their arrival back in the upper echelons of English football in 2001, Fulham have largely been renowned for their slick and skilful sides, and an ability to replace star performers with similar quality. Louis Saha’s move to Old Trafford was covered during the following six-months by the arrivals of Brian McBride, Collins John, and Tomasz Radzinski. When Sean Davis opted to switch to White Hart Lane, the exceptionally gifted Claus Jensen was bought from Charlton Athletic.
The signings of Clint Dempsey and Jimmy Bullard ensured there would be no drop in the Cottagers’ midfield quality when Steed Malbranque was lured by Spurs. Assiduous scouting and a detailed knowledge bank within the club has brought the acquisition of outstanding talent such as Mousa Dembele and Bryan Ruiz, while captures including Damien Duff, Bobby Zamora, and Mark Schwarzer have been a perfect fit for the Cottage.
There is, however, a telling difference in the latest Fulham squad. During the past 12 months, Bobby Zamora, Andy Johnson, Dembele, Dempsey and Danny Murphy, all absolutely integral to much of Fulham’s fluid football and positive results in recent times, have drifted away and not been replaced by individuals of comparable ability.
Dimitar Berbatov is the one exception, but the talented and mercurial Bulgarian is not a man any club should typically look to in times of hardship. The classy Ruiz remains at the club – indeed he is a quintessential Fulham player. Nevertheless, others brought in by Martin Jol look to fall short of the necessary ability or spirit to grind out results, or fight in the face of adversity.
Georgios Karagounis, Kieran Richardson, Ashkan Dejagah, and Hugo Rodallega undoubtedly boast some attributes, but added to what is already a labouring side there is not enough in Jol’s ranks to consider top-flight football next season a certainty. The Cottagers will be desperate to take full points at home against West Ham on Wednesday, with Manchester United due in town three days later.
If Norwich and Fulham cannot hastily rediscover some of the brio and enterprise which were the hallmarks of their 12th and 9th place finishes in May last year, there will be a number of ashen faced fans watching their football in two throbbing Premier League grounds as this campaign draws to its close.
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