Team Focus: Improved Fulham Dreaming of Great Escape Under Magath

Despite a result that had offered Fulham so much new optimism, and created a genuine vibrancy around Craven Cottage, Felix Magath was striking a slightly different tone. “I am not satisfied,” the German manager simply said. What could possibly have brought such a response, after a 1-0 victory over Norwich City that completely transformed the relegation battle?

“Because we are not leading the game,” Magath explained of his side’s performance. “We have to respect that Norwich was the better team. We were very lucky and had a very good goalkeeper that saved us from defeat.”

In the circumstances, he was absolutely right. Fulham’s job is far from done. And, while victories like that against Norwich give Magath a fine start, it is ultimately the nature of his side’s displays that indicate whether he can finish it; whether he can secure survival. His complaint cuts to the core of the often odd dynamic between result and performance. The former is not necessarily a consequence of the latter in the short-term, but good displays tend to lead to positive end product with a modicum of faith. It is obviously going to be something a task-master like Magath obsesses about, particularly given the immediacy of this relegation battle.

There can be no denying that his approach has had an impact on the table, that results so far have been better. In the short sample of his eight games so far, Fulham have improved their win percentage, their defensive record and their points ratio. Their goalscoring has stayed steady at one a game, meanwhile, which is significant given his predecessors Martin Jol and Rene Meulensteen were much more expansive managers.

If you were to take the table only since the date Magath took over on 14 February, Fulham would be a comfortable 12th. As it is, after rising from rock-bottom, they are now just two points off safety. There is an understandable sense of excitement, that the great escape of 2008 can be repeated, and it may not even require the same exertion.

The issue that Magath alluded to, however, is that it all could have been so different so easily. In fact, it could have been decisive. Had David Stockdale not made that fine first-half save against Norwich, Fulham would still be five points away from survival and the mood would be rather different. They would be all but down.

It reflects the reality that Magath’s team were not at their best, that his solid structure allowed such fragility. It was also a remove from the rousing display in defeat against Everton just two weeks before. As such, the Norwich game was something of an aberration, perhaps born of the away side’s own desperate situation and change of manager. Because, as regards performance, Magath has also offered plenty of encouragement.

Just as with results, Fulham have improved in almost every aspect under Magath. They produce more shots (12.4 compared to 11.0), they concede far fewer (18.7 down to 15.8), they make more tackles (up to 22.6 from 17.0). That last stat is more relevant because of the drop-off in Fulham’s passing. Magath’s side have less possession (down 2.3%), inevitably playing fewer passes (down to 249.3 per game from 320.3) and hit a greater amount of crosses and long balls.

That is no surprise given Jol and Meulensteen favoured a purer approach, but Magath has at least seemed to bolster the structure of a team that will see less of the ball. The net effect, so far, has been greater.

The understanding of Magath’s approach is obviously greater too, as the manager said on Match of the Day. “The players are now more confident than before. They get used, the players to me, I to the players. We are very close together and we work together as a group. We stand up and fight, 90 minutes today, and that is often enough for the moment.”

It gives confidence, however, for the medium term. Fulham just look much more of a team. “I am convinced we will stay in the league,” Magath said, striking a very different tone.

Do you think Magath can keep Fulham in the Premier League? Let us know in the comments below