For the first prolonged period in Marco's tenure, we look weak and lacklustre in multiple ways, lacking intensity in individual battles

Unless that changes no tactical tweak or change to a starting XI will magically turn our form

You better believe Sunderland will test that! 😬

Fulham have always focussed play heavily down the flanks and solid opponents are locking that down

It's so clear we can come alive forcing the issue through the middle more, but that requires brave selection and a bit of injury luck!

We have a more fundamental issue though 🤔

Within minutes of arriving, Rodrigo Muniz's presence occupying defenders high and running in behind produced a change in dynamic with the bright Josh King starting to threaten Everton

Muniz's injury is a huge concern. We are simply a different proposition when he plays 🤕

On Raul, hearing Marco say he's barely training makes me soften slightly on judging his performance, but fit or not the extent to which he drops deep is a big problem ↕️

It means openings lead to no shots, but also crowds space which our other creative players desperately need

It's not all awful. I still really like the zones Sess occupies high inside and the knock on that has for Kevin when he holds width

But when that pair did combine a lack of box occupation from Raul and the rest meant rare moments of cutting edge were entirely wasted 🤦‍♂️

On the ball, the positioning of Iwobi high 1st half meant our cautious pivot couldn't progress. To have just 45% of the ball vs Everton is unusual

Despite a brighter 2nd half we made just 0.4 xG and a combo of questionable final third quality and risk aversion is hurting us 😢

Marco is searching for and failing to find OOP intensity. Whilst we have never been a pressing side, regains to sustain pressure or attack unsettled defences decisively were once a part of how we created chances

The numbers this season indicate this has gone of a cliff 📉

With Lukic suspended you imagine this is the last of that partnership for a while. But his role here was bizarre

Instead of doubling up on Grealish to leave Berge on KDH, he marked KDH leaving Berge spare

Moreover on and off the ball he (like some others) was way off it 🫠

The return of Lukic-Berge was something I saw coming and the latest in something of a trend 🧐

Marco seemingly making choices on the basis of OOP plans to combat opposition threat (Grealish + combos on their left) rather than getting our best attacking combos in the right areas

Thankfully, it seems the manager is not deluded about this. Marco saying "we got what we deserved" is rare for a man who loves a crusade against poor fortune or poor refereeing 💬

But in a game where the linesman was our MOTM it's hard to conclude differently! What went wrong?

Often when we lose a cursory look at the data suggests we were in with a shout, overpowered by individual quality, unlucky in either box and decent between them

This was not one of those games. Quite frankly Fulham were nowhere near this one. Outfought and undeserving 😠

Would love that. If he’s fit enough to go he’s a no brainer 🤞

Yeah that’s my hunch too especially as Lukic might offer some support against Grealish down their left.

Said on @fulhamfocus.bsky.social this week it wouldn’t shock me if King comes off the bench to keep Iwobi central and let Kevin have a run at their RB

One of Iwobi or King offers genuine central threat at all times that can’t be ignored

The right triangle of Wilson + King + Tete is more menacing than versions involving Lukic

Kevin holding width is more dynamic than others in that role

Will we see this again for #EVEFUL? 🔮

Structurally this isn’t dissimilar to the #FFC setup in recent years. In fact I’ve shown this structure in screengrabs for some time

What changed though is the personnel and as a result we were a more balanced and threatening settled possession side ⚖️

When the ball came right:

📐 Fluid rotation between Wilson, King and Tete

🇳🇴 Berge came across to support on this side too

🙌 Sess dropped in to form the 2+2 rest defence

🇳🇬 Iwobi an option for central threat

🇧🇷 Kevin holding minimum width

When attacking down the left:

📐 Iwobi often dropped to playmake for Sess (inside) and Kevin (wide)

🇳🇴 Berge shuttled left to support the triangle

🔒 Tete came inside to form the 2+2 rest defence

👑 King offered central threat

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wilson offered minimum width