How formidable Anguissa turned Fulham fortunes around to spearhead push for safety
Following their promotion in 2018, Fulham went on a huge spending splurge in order to consolidate their Premier League place. Four of their five most expensive signings in their history came in the lead up to the 2018/19 campaign, but the influx of personnel - including loan signings, the Cottagers confirmed 12 new arrivals - had an adverse effect on their bid to beat the drop.
A lack of chemistry saw them finish 19th with 26 points from 38 games. Only bottom-placed Huddersfield (22) scored fewer goals than Fulham (34), who in turn conceded more goals (81) than any other side. Of the seven players they signed permanently that summer, only two - Aleksandar Mitrovic and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa - still ply their trade for Fulham.
The former played a key role in their playoff success over Brentford last summer, while the latter spent the season on loan with LaLiga outfit Villarreal and it had been expected than Anguissa would leave Fulham permanently once the 2019/20 season drew to a close. Back in England, and having secured a Premier League spot, it seemed Fulham hadn't learned from previous mistakes and went on a huge recruitment drive to bulk out the squad.
In the opening weeks of the campaign, it looked as though history was repeating itself. Fulham lost eight of their opening 11 league matches and, after a 2-0 defeat at Manchester City, they sat just a point above the drop zone. Since that loss to the champions-elect, though, the west London side began to slowly turn the screw. They have lost just three of the subsequent 15 matches and while their issue is turning draws into wins - no team has drawn more league games than Scott Parker's side (11) in 2020/21 - two wins from the last four has given those around Craven Cottage a sense of hope that they can beat the drop.
And a key cog in their efforts to beat the drop have been the performances of Anguissa. The Cameroonian may have started meetings with West Ham, Everton and Burnley on the bench, but returned to the XI to put in a man of the match display in the vital 1-0 win over Sheffield United. Few had an anticipated a return to the Fulham squad following the culmination of his loan spell with Villarreal, particularly after a sub-par debut campaign in England, and yet he is currently Fulham's top rated player in the Premier League this season with a WhoScored rating of 7.07.
The 25-year-old's time in Spain evidently served him well and he has consolidated a regular spot in the Fulham side with a new found confidence that had been found wanting back in 2018/19. "He’s a player I love," Scott Parker beamed of Anguissa last year and it is easy to see why.
As the driving force from midfield for the Cottagers, Anguissa has completed 78 of the club's 362 dribbles (21.5%) in the Premier League this season, 12 of which came in the 1-0 win over the Blades; only Adama Traore (14 vs Newcastle) has completed more in a game in 2020/21. In this ball carrying contest, only Traore (108) has managed more successful dribbles than Anguissa (78) in the Premier League this season.
It's a key attribute that helps Fulham turn defence into attack as Anguissa receives the ball and turns to glide past opponents, allowing the Cottagers to quickly get on the front foot as he surges up field. An issue to his game, though, has been the lack of goal threat he provides when he does get forward. He has just three assists to show from his 0.9 key passes per 90, and is yet to score a Premier League goal for Fulham.
50.3 passes per 90 suggests he is more willing to allow his teammates to provide the chances, but in getting so far upfield, Anguissa could add more to his game, something that Parker has recently highlighted. "He needs to add goals. He gets into good positions, that’s definitely an area which is one big focus." Indeed, only Leander Dendoncker (27) and Trezeguet (24) have had more shots of players yet to score a goal than Anguissa (23) in the Premier League this season, so the criticism is not without merit.
Nevertheless, in playing as a double pivot in Fulham's now favoured 4-2-3-1 setup, the aim is to link the play between the defence and attack, and shield the backline, two jobs he performs well. In the latter, both Anguissa and Harrison Reed work well as a team as both rank highly for tackles (2.8 and 2.3, respectively) and interceptions per 90 (2.1 and 2.0, respectively) of all Fulham players.
A five-match unbeaten run has seen Fulham move to within three points of Newcastle and Brighton and with 12 games to play, Parker's side will fancy their chances to ending the season outside the bottom three. Next up for the west London side is the welcome of Tottenham on Thursday night. In the reverse fixture, a 1-1 draw in January, Anguissa was Fulham's best rated player with a WhoScored rating of 7.71 and, with Parker settling on his favoured XI, the Cottagers boss will look to his key midfield man to control proceedings in the upcoming London derby as Fulham maintain their push for safety, with Anguissa now central to their efforts. No fan would have thought that six months ago.
