A year ago, Luc De Fougerolles was simply viewed as a promising young academy graduate gaining experience on loan in Belgium, reflected in the club only writing four sentences announcing his departure to Dender.
This summer, he returns to Fulham after helping Canada reach the World Cup knockout stages and looking increasingly ready for Premier League football. At just 20 years old, he became a mainstay at the heart of Canada’s defence and was a joy to watch.
De Fougerolles isn’t the only Fulham centre-half on the receiving end of plaudits; a rejuvenated Issa Diop has been one of Morocco’s standout performers en route to their exit to France yesterday in the quarter-finals.
His towering header against the Netherlands was an apt reward for an imperious performance, putting the team on his back. After being criticised for lapses in concentration in the past, Diop has looked composed, dependable and dominant in the air.
Fulham now have a problem most clubs would envy. Calvin Bassey, Joachim Andersen, Jorge Cuenca, Issa Diop and Luc De Fougerolles can all make a credible claim for significant minutes next season.
Alvaro Arbeloa has inherited depth, competition and quality in that area. But does he really have room for all of them?
After Xabi Alonso departed Real Madrid last year, Arbeloa took the reigns and reverted to his favoured tactics. Real started progressing through the transitions quickly, deployed a higher defensive line - and stronger intensity followed.
His sides require centre-backs to contribute in possession, prompting them to step into midfield with passion – and to be comfortable defending the spaces in behind.
If one centre-back feels like they fit that mould, it’s Bassey.
Last season he showcased two of the main attributes; covering the space behind the defensive line and developing the ability to carry the ball into midfield. Calvin spent a much of last season playing the way Arbeloa wants to and it might also suggest why Fulham hired the Spaniard to succeed Silva.
It’s strange to write this as an Andersen truther, but the Dane could be vulnerable.
While he has the tools in his toolkit, especially from a distribution angle – it’s his legs that might cost him. Last year he was exposed by runners in behind more regularly, with Bassey playing clean up.
Andersen can turn defence into attack with those trademark diagonal passes and is still chief organiser, but the question is whether that outweighs the lack of pace for Arbeloa.
Jorge Cuenca shone when Bassey was at AFCON, and his flashes of brilliance could put him in with a shout of starting.
He covers ground, takes care of the ball and few players in the squad are more familiar with Arbeloa’s Spanish style of football. But the links to Benfica haven’t gone away, and De Fougerolles plays a similar style of football, albeit right-footed.
There is no clear odd-man-out for Fulham, but less than a week into his tenure Arbeloa might be forced into a bigger decision. If De Fougerolles really has broken out, Diop can maintain his levels, and Bassey continues to perform, then Fulham could enter next season with five centre-backs competing for two spots.
This summer could be a case of who starts, and who stays?
Feels like we need to test the market for Diop or risk losing him in May on a free. His value is peaking post WC. Doesn’t a sale make more sense with the emerging depth?
Diop, Bassey or Cuenca with dF to break through. Andersen’s drop of in pace is noticeable & he seems to be looking to get hands on strikers a little too much to compensate. He’ll become an even greater liability this season. Sell or loan out I’d say.