
18th place is fairly dismal just on its own, but in European soccer's particular brand of Darwinian survivalism, the teams finishing in the Premiership's last three spots each season are demoted, replaced with three squads from the Championship. So roughly midway through the season, Fulham, a generally reliably mid-table squad, finds itself squarely in danger of relegation.
Since 2001, the Cottagers have competed at the top level of English soccer, earning a Europa League berth in 2010. Now, though, after selling star forward Clint Dempsey to Tottenham and watching Belgian international Moussa Dembele join Spurs, as well, Fulham has become a dreadfully boring, offensively challenged side. Glockner's plot of the squad's rolling average shots on goal in comparison with their opponents' is telling:
After a 12th place finish in 2012-13, Fulham have started this season 3-9-1, scoring 11 goals and allowing 24. In their last six matches (five losses and a win), they've managed a total of four shots on goal.
In short, they suck.
But this isn't a post about Fulham, per se. It's the beginning of a series on relegation. We don't have such a thing in U.S. sports, so it's a foreign concept to most of us. Fulham's my chosen Premiership side, on the strength of the club's history with American players (and unwillingness to pick one of the obvious choices). And while I confess to not having immersed myself deeply in the club's fortunes, I do follow them.
With 25 matches left, Fulham have lots of opportunity to reverse course and get out of danger. Interim skipper Rene Meulensteen gets a shot at Tottenham on Wednesday, and Khan certainly has the money to pursue new players in the January transfer window - it's in his interest to spend, because the economic impact of a demotion is estimated at 25 million pounds per year.
Since I won't have to worry about a national championship football game this season, I'll turn my attention to Fulham's fight to stay in the Premiership. Stay tuned.
Geno Smith is on pace for 5 completions.
ReplyDeleteMake that 8 completions and 2 INT.
ReplyDeleteWest Ham!
ReplyDeleteMatt Simms!
ReplyDeleteJets!!
ReplyDeleteAlston Jeffery is monster.
ReplyDeleteAlshon Jeffrey has 215 yards receiving. With a quarter still to play.
ReplyDeleteGod dammit mark
ReplyDeleteThey call him "The Jeffrey," I assume.
ReplyDeleteJosh Gordon is awesome. I hope he gets a real QB before too much longer.
ReplyDeleteIf you had a only draft 2nd year WRs strategy for fantasy you'd be in pretty good shape. Gordon, Jeffery, Michael Floyd, Kendall Wright.
ReplyDeleteWheedon just had the ugliest pass attempt in the history of the forward pass. Like mcenroe's backhand only incomplete.
ReplyDeleteJags,....the construction of a dynasty in progress. They can stop winning games now. It won't do anyone any good.
ReplyDeleteDenver/KC is turning into Iron Bowl II.
ReplyDeleteBroncos/chiefs going HAM earlier than expected
ReplyDeleteI saw the Weeden pass. Ugly might not be a strong enough adjective.
ReplyDeleteLookit Teedge with the vernacular!
ReplyDeleteAgreed Mark. Favre's backhand flips had pizzazz. Wheeden's effort was hideous.
ReplyDeletea.j. mccarron said this yesterday:
ReplyDelete"Like I said, football is just a game. It's not life. Times like this people need to realize the sun's going to rise tomorrow."
what the fuck is wrong with that dude?
Vernon Davis just got brought down by his dick. Dude literally grabbed Davis' junk and dragged him to the ground by in. Terrible.
ReplyDeleteYeah....the Daniela. unfortunate that had to happen.
ReplyDeleteI made 3 bets today...jags +7, jags moneyline and jags over...I go to look up my winnings and it did not register. Sending in muscle now.
ReplyDeleteAnd with sincerity, I cannot wait to go to work tomorrow.
Crabtree's back!
ReplyDeleteChiefs = butterfingers
ReplyDeleteEffing Bills. Giving me agita.
ReplyDeleteIs kc purposely saving time for Manning to score?
ReplyDeleteDear lord. We should get paid to root for this team, right?
ReplyDeleteduke getting 29
ReplyDeleteTime to upgrade Rob,no Yanks on Fulham. Everton in 5th with the pride of North Brunswick, NJ, Tim Howard between the sticks.
ReplyDelete