Player Ratings: Fulham 1-1 Manchester United

Here’s how the boys rated after our second draw of the season.

Fulham made it two points from as many games with another come-from-behind point at the Cottage. Despite unrest in the press room and the fanbse surrounding a lack of signings with deadline day fast approaching, this current crop proved that it can compete every week and benefit from the time spent together on the pitch over the past 12 months. With a big derby game coming next week following some league cup action in midweek, Fulham have started the season solidly, if not spectacularly.

Bernd Leno

Looked really sharp from the off and that proved vital in the early stages. After making one half decent stop from Fernandes, Leno showed incredible reflexes to push a Cunha effort round the post to deny what looked to be an obvious goal for the Brazilian who caused havoc for Wolves at the Cottage last season. Was impressed with the German’s short passing and punching from crosses throughout, can’t really have asked for him to have done more with the United goal either. 7.5/10

Kenny Tete

We’re lucky that Tete can easily adapt to playing as part of a back three, especially since he had experience playing there under Scott Parker a few seasons ago. That said, it seemed obvious quite often that he would rather push on further forward but wasn’t able to until changes were made in the second half. Also thought he struggled particularly with the quick movement and footwork of Mason Mount, who spun him far too easily multiple times in the first half. 6/10

Joachim Andersen

For me, the best of our three centre halves on the day. Maybe thought he could have been a bit stronger in the air against Cunha when the Brazilian went through on goal in the first 15 minutes, but bar that no complaints. His nine clearances was comfortably the most of any Fulham player and his on the ball abilities were on point too. 92% pass completion and some lovely diagonal passes to Sessegnon and Iwobi in the left channels are testimony to that. 7/10

Calvin Bassey

An extremely frustrating day for Calvin, and not just because he felt the need to adapt how he wears his shorts. First he turns into a wrestler and concedes a penalty, and then he gets pushed in the back by Yoro but sees the goal unaffected by VAR. Beyond that, I was frustrated at how easily Cunha and Mbuemo were able to drag Bassey into midfield with them in the first half, normally his positional discipline isn’t quite as poor, maybe the change in system comes into play there too. 5.5/10

Timothy Castagne

I always have my concerns over Castagne’s abilities to contribute in the final third as a full-back, so as a wing back today it felt even more evident. The Belgian showed good energy to get up and down the line and defensively was absolutely sound with Dorgu providing little threat on that side, but his end product at the other end was simply non-existent. One cross and zero completed dribbles in Man United’s half from the wing back position just isn’t enough in that system. 6/10

Sander Berge

A back three gave opportunities for the likes of Berge to show more creativity in the final third but he didn’t really show it. His ball retention is still second to none, it just feels like chances to make decisive final balls and take on long shots are never taken by the Norweigan. Really liked how he used his physical presence in attacking corners to bully United’s keeper Altay Bayindir, who crumbles quicker than soft cookie. 6.5/10

Sasa Lukic

I doubt there was a player who played the full 90 this weekend in the Premier League that covered the ground Lukic was able to. Out of possession he stepped further forward than Berge to support King, Iwobi and Muniz with pressing onto United’s back three and in possession he kept things ticking. Even in the final stages he looked so keen on helping Fulham find a winner with the spaces he was taking up in the final third. His set piece deliveries were also really good I thought, especially the way he constantly placed corner kicks on top of Bayindir at the back post for our players to jump all over. 7.5/10

Ryan Sessegnon

Definitely more effective than Castagne in this wing-back system we operated. Really enjoyed how hard he worked to get back into the backline in transition and even how he showed leadership qualities to re-organise the defensive line when he was back in it. Thought there was times in which he maybe should’ve shown more confidence in taking on Amad Diallo in the first half, especially with Amad being an even less experienced winger-turned-wing back in that specific duel. Thought he grew in confidence overall and nice to see Sess in from the start as always. 7/10

Josh King

Absolutely loving seeing the 18-year old repay Marco Silva’s faith in him by playing the fearless, carefree football that has got King to the point in his career in which he has captained England at youth level and impressed in the Premier League. King forced a cracking save early on from Bayindir, poking an effort towards goal from the left side of the six yard box, but it was his first touch that continuously impressed me. His game awareness was superb and the way he used his touch to find space in an instant was the type of skill you’d expect from someone a decade older than he is. 7/10

Alex Iwobi

Like Sess, I thought Iwobi grew in confidence creatively as the game went on. Early on he had a floated volley which went narrowly over the crossbar and in general he was finding some nice spaces but often they were a bit too far out from goal. The longer the game went on, the more he bought the ball into the final third and, whilst his cross to assist the goal may have been initially aimed at Raul, it was so tantalising in its delivery that it caused confusion to Raul’s marker and Smith Rowe benefited as a result. Really do think he could be utilised well in a slightly deeper central position this season. 7/10

Rodrigo Muniz

A performance that won’t shush those who claim the Brazilian performs best from the bench. Muniz really lived off scraps for 70 minutes unfortunately. Bar one failed overhead attempt and a last ditch attempt to meet a corner at the back post, Muniz’s role in this game was minimal, bar his involvement in deflecting Yoro’s header past Leno to open the scoring for our opposition. 5.5/10

Substitutes

Harry Wilson

Played the last 30 minutes in place of Castagne, allowing Tete to play more of a full-back role. Definitely gave us a threat higher up the pitch but thought he struggled to push his way in-field as he often likes to, which meant he struggled to leave his mark on the game. 6/10

Antonee Robinson

Also came on around the hour mark in place of Sess, and despite recent injuries I thought he looked really fit, if not exactly sharp. Showed fantastic intent to get forward and combine with Iwobi, as he did in the build up for our goal. Loved his recovery speed to prevent Mbuemo going through on goal in added time. 6.5/10

Emile Smith Rowe

For me, I don’t think I can look past giving the player of the match award to Emile, who came on for King with 20 to play. While all our subs showed intent and pushed the United defence back to give us momentum, Smith Rowe’s goal within 94 seconds of being on the pitch epitomised his personal intent, which nearly saw him add a winner late on. Another fantastic cameo that helped change the direction of the game and the way the points were distributed on the day. 8/10 - man of the match

Raul Jimenez

Came on with ESR, replacing Muniz up top. Really nice cameo, got across the forward line more than Rodrigo did to cause more headaches for the United back three. Didn’t quite have a decisive moment of his own but linked play well with those around him as Fulham fought for points late on. 6.5/10

Marco Silva

Let’s start with the positives… I liked the system in general, especially out of possession. The box of Berge, Lukic, Iwobi and King in the middle nullified Fernandes and Casemiro and left the front three to do a lot more on their own. Equally, the wing backs were extremely effective in stopping the threats possessed by Amad and Dorgu. Lukic on set piece deliveries gets a big thumbs up from me, though I think Raul/Wilson should be the ones to take free kicks in shooting positions, it must be added. As I said previously, the system reaffirmed my beliefs Iwobi can play a bit further back and roam more. Like I also mentioned in King’s write-up, I love the freedom Silva is affording him. Silva’s subs worked well too, when they eventually came, more on that to come…

However, for all of the out-of-possession positivity, there’s some in possession stuff I wasn’t keen on. The wing-backs offered little offensive threat, especially Castagne, I don’t think he suits that position. The box was good defensively but lacked creativity which left Muniz isolated for 70 minutes, only for the Brazilian to see his replacements given the freedom to push forward. The problem also persists with Silva being reactive rather than proactive. We started both halves poorly, conceding a corner and a shot on target in the first five minutes of both halves. However, Amorim’s changes on 50 minutes left United with a midfield pivot of Mount and Bruno, very little defensive solidarity. That was when the game was there to be won, but it was only when Fulham went behind that Silva took the shackles off. For me, that is the main thing I’ll take from this game. 6/10