Stephen Sheldrake examines Spurs’ alternatives now that the club has a complete complement of striking skill.
Rewind to the beginning of the campaign. With the summer transfer window closing and the customary paucity of action, Fulham fans were filled with uncertainty as the new season began. A certain number nine sets up Everton’s match-winning goal away, and the difficulties appear to be only temporary.
Moments later, fans were in chaos when the Saudi Pro League’s requests for Mitrovic were ultimately granted, the window slammed shut, and fans were left perplexed, wondering what the game plan was for this Fulham squad. After fighting so hard to maintain Marco Silva, it appeared that the same ambition was not reinvested in the squad.
Frustration seeped in as the whites battled in front of the net. After a terrible pre-season, Carlos Vinicius was unable to break into the team, resulting in half-time appearances marked by impulsive moments of violence toward opposing players, leaving spectators fearful. Raul Jimenez, the club’s new signing, hadn’t scored in two years, and his form had deteriorated significantly following his head injury against Arsenal. Rodrigo Muniz struggled to obtain match time in the Championship during the 2022/23 season after being demoted to the bench at Middlesbrough on loan. Things were not looking good, to say the least.
Marco Silva’s faith in Raul paid off when he scored his first goal for us away at Aston Villa, and he quickly found his feet. An unlucky injury paved the way for Muniz, while Carlos was loaned out to Galatasaray. The club’s attacking options appeared to be wearing thin. That was until the final seconds of the winter transfer window, when a loan deal for Chelsea centre-forward Armando Broja was announced on Sky Sports in the dying hours of the night.
It should have been easy for a player of his caliber to break into the Fulham front line and make it his own, but Rodrigo Muniz had other plans and was fired up as he seized the opportunity to play Premier League football with both hands, scoring goals to match his excellent work rate and hold up play.
Fulham now have three fully healthy strikers heading into Tottenham’s visit to the Cottage this weekend. So who gets the nod? Let’s look at our possibilities.
Rodrigo Muniz: The Man on Fire.
In an unexpected turn of events, Rodrigo Muniz has established himself as a nearly unstoppable force in the Fulham starting lineup. He always had the work ethic and commitment that fans adored, but his hold-up play was never quite right, and the goals never came. His goal and performance against Burnley broke the chain and set the tone; since then, he has five goals in six games with an assist, earning him the February Premier League player of the month nomination and increasing his transfer market valuation by a rumoured £20 million. His English has greatly improved, as has his total footballing acumen; the future seems extremely promising for both the club and the man who truly deserves this success.
Pro: He’s the man in shape. Consistency may be what Rodrigo needs now to get going, as his power, speed, and athleticism could be critical for the rest of our season – if it ain’t busted, don’t try to fix it.
Con: Keeping Broja out of the team means paying £4 million to our opponents in blue, and he has yet to prove his worth with a start. Raul was in excellent form prior to his latest injury and in the last stages of his career. Do both of them deserve to remain sidelined?
Rating: 8/10.
Raul Jimenez: the guy who was king—and could be once more.
When Raul arrived, there was a palpable sense of excitement around him. Fulham fans were aware of his previous association with Wolves, and with a tremendous workrate across the pitch, good footballing intelligence, and an eye for goal, this was a gamble that appeared to fall into the hands of the ideal manager in Marco Silva. After a rough start, Raul demonstrated that he is a very skilled player who, when fully engaged, can be a threat in front of goal with an aura of enthusiasm and flair.
Though he often pushes a little too hard to perform certain talents, and some of his decisions leave something to be desired (recall Longstaff’s red card). Overall, I believe there is still a positive vibe surrounding him, and I’m delighted he’s a part of our team. At the age of 33, game experience will be critical for him, and he has demonstrated to me that he is talented enough to start in this Fulham team; it’s just a matter of whether this is the appropriate time.
Pro: A start gives Raul crucial match time after returning from a recent injury; he was in excellent form previously and brings a wealth of experience and terrific link-up play to keep our assaults flowing and dangerous.
Con: After being out of the squad for a few weeks, we need our forwards to hit the ground running, and throwing him into the deep end may not be the greatest option in this difficult match. With Rodrigo in excellent form, it appears difficult to prioritize Raul over Muniz; but, if his name is announced, I’ll be eager to see what he’s capable of in his return to the group. Perhaps an appearance off the bench is best.
Rating: 7/10.
Who would you like to see start at the top? Share your ideas with us, and let’s hope this potent attacking force can produce against Tottenham this Saturday.
