Can Fulham Survive the Drop?

Fulham are a team that has had their luck change in matter of years. Currently in their 13th consecutive year in the Barclays Premier League, the Hammersmith side have gone from competing in the Europa League Final in 2010, to fighting for survival in the Premier League.

The 12th May 2010 saw arguably Fulham's finest hour in when an extra time finish from Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan dashed the Lilywhites hopes at achieving European glory. It is safe to say that since then, the wheels have come off the Fulham wagon. As it stands, Fulham are propping up the bottom of the table with 20 points, 4 off safety.

January proved to be a productive month off the pitch. On the pitch, however, they only recorded 2 victories in 7 matches. Not the form needed if they aspiring to remain in the Premier League. Fulham manager, Rene Meulensteen was a busy man during the January transfer window. Konstatinos Mitroglou grabbed the Fulham headlines with his big money move from Olympiakos in Greece for a fee around £12m. 

The phrase "panic-buy" immediately rings around especially with the history of the January deadline day disasters. Yes, I hear you yelling "Fernando Torres" sitting at home, however, people are astonishly quick to forget about a certain Uruguayan named Luis Alberto Suarez. The rest is history. I'm not saying that Mitroglou will be as successful as Suarez, I'm saying that not all deadline day signings are flops.

In terms of their other signings, Lewis Holtby has the ability in his young legs to revive their season. The German never made the break through at Tottenham under Tim Sherwood, so agreed a loan deal to West London. Johnny Heitinga was also signed to replace Aaron Hughes who was loaned out to QPR and Clint Dempsey has an authentic track record in the Premier League, particularly with Spurs.

Having squeezed a valuable point out of a lackadaisical Manchester United side, they will take this new found confidence into a difficult match as they welcome Liverpool to Craven Cottage tomorrow. While I don't think they will claim any points from the match, another good performance from the Londoners, mixed with some favourable results, may give them the belief to move from the bottom of the table. As we get into the 'business' end of the season, Fulham versus West Brom will be a vital 6 pointer. While it will be played at The Hawthorns, I expect Fulham to have a solid back four, much like they had against Manchester United and a solitary goal will seal the 3 points for the Cottagers.

However, Fulham have been extremely poor this season and this was summed up with their FA Cup exit to Sheffield Wednesday. Their 6-0 capitulation against Hull was possibly the lowest point. What makes it even worse, Hull are in the thick of the relegation battle, and whether that match will prove crucial come the end of May is another question. Possibly playing in the favour of the Lilywhites is that 5 out of their last 6 games are winnable matches against clubs that could potentially be in the relegation mix towards the conclusion of the season.

Overall, Fulham the glory days of the Roy Hodgson era are long gone and they have a huge, but not impossible task of escaping the bottom 3 places. Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City await in the coming weeks mixed with a vital away game against Cardiff which could make or break the Cottagers season. 

At the start of the season I predicted Fulham to struggle, and they are. However I believed, and still do, that they have enough quality to overcome the relegation dog fight.