Three ways Fulham could line up against Tottenham

Add as preferred source on Google

Fulham travel to Wembley on Saturday for the second time since May, facing the toughest test of their Premier League season so far.

Slavisa Jokanovic has a multitude of options to choose from as the Whites face off against Tottenham Hotspur, with debates raging over whether Fulham will adapt their possession-based style of play to combat Spurs’ strengths.

Here are three possible ways Fulham could line up at Wembley, as the club seeks their first league points of the season.

Tried and tested

Slavisa Jokanovic is known as a firm believer in his footballing philosophy, and it is entirely possible he will decide to change nothing against Tottenham Hotspur.

“We will try – we believe it’s our best way to be successful and this season, if you believe now a better way for us is to give Spurs the ball and wait for them on the edge of the box and try finish the game 0-0, I am not sure this is best plan for us.”

Slavisa Jokanovic when asked by football.london whether Fulham will continue their attractive style of play

The Whites would stick with their passing game plan, attempting to control the flow of the match and pin Tottenham inside their own defensive half.

In this system, Jokanovic would stick with his favoured 4-3-3 formation and largely keep the starting XI from the Crystal Palace match intact.

Tried and tested 4-3-3: (Rico; Bryan, Chambers, Le Marchand, Fosu-Mensah; McDonald, Seri, Cairney; Sessegnon, Mitrovic, Schurrle).

Defensive masterclass 

However, Fulham might be forced to adapt to an unfamiliar situation: a match where the opposing team dominates possession. The last time Fulham were outclassed in possession came in December 2017, when Brentford had 51% of the ball against the Whites.

“We know this team will take possession off us and we must be ready for working altogether off the ball and suffer and show the solidarity and great effort. In some part of the defensive work, we don’t need to be so talented but must be clever, organised and show great decision for working off the ball.”

Slavisa Jokanovic when asked by football.london how Fulham will defend

In a defensive scenario, the Serbian manager could opt for a more solid 4-2-3-1 and favour a counterattacking style of play with faster players, such as Aboubakar Kamara, getting the nod.

Defensive masterclass 4-2-3-1: (Rico; Bryan, Chambers, Le Marchand, Fosu-Mensah; McDonald, Anguissa; Sessegnon, Seri, Kamara; Mitrovic).

New signings galore

In a possible final twist, Jokanovic could view the Spurs match as a chance to see how well-suited many of his new signings are to Premier League football.

A wildcard option of sorts, Fulham could set up in a 4-4-2 formation that would allow Mitrovic and Luciano Vietto to work up top together, and hand former Ligue 1 duo Jean-Michael Seri and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa a partnership in midfield.

It is an unlikely proposition, but Jokanovic might be tempted to throw Mauricio Pochettino a curveball with his team selection.

New signings galore 4-4-2: (Rico; Bryan, Chambers, Le Marchand, Fosu-Mensah; Sessegnon, Seri, Anguissa, Schurrle; Mitrovic, Vietto).