Why Slavisa Jokanovic is still the right man for the job at Fulham

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Modern football is a fickle business and it was inevitable after Fulham’s devastating 4-2 loss to Cardiff that questions would start to be asked of Slavisa Jokanovic.

Nevertheless, the Fulham manager is still the right man for the job at Fulham and chairman Shahid Khan would be foolish to sack the Serb.

Fulham supporters know all too well the perils of sacking a manager in the Premier League. The 2013/14 campaign brought three separate managers to Craven Cottage, with each departure and arrival adding more inconsistency and chaos to the club.

Jokanovic has undoubtedly made mistakes in his first months as a top flight manager, evidenced by his baffling substitution of Floyd Ayite against Cardiff. Yet one must consider the difficult circumstances he has been dealt, including the massive injury crisis that has hit Fulham.

With three of last season’s solid back four departing in the summer (Matt Targett, Tomas Kalas, and Ryan Fredericks), it was always going to be difficult to shore up the defence. Yet injuries to Tim Ream, Alfie Mawson, Joe Bryan, and Timothy Fosu-Mensah have all severely limited Jokanovic’s team selection options.

Indeed, the manager is partially to blame for the Cottagers’ leaky backline, but choosing between Calum Chambers and Cyrus Christie in the right back position is a dreadful position that no manager should be ever placed in.

Despite Jokanovic’s early errors, Fulham’s struggles can mainly be attributed to a newly-promoted side taking time to solidify after a busy summer. Sacking the Serbian would be a grave mistake, constituting a knee-jerk reaction that would only plunge Fulham into further disarray.

Slavisa Jokanovic is still the right man to turn around Fulham’s misfortunes and he deserves time to implement his successful philosophy on a largely new team at Craven Cottage.