With Fulham sliding into the relegation zone as a result of the weekend’s various happenings, it’s being reported that the fateful Sword of Damocles is dangling mere centimetres above Slavisa Jokanovic’s head.
The Times report that the Cottagers’ upper management have given Jokanovic two games to prove he’s the man to arrest the plunge.
Indeed, the Serbian coach was left griping about having “so many defensive problems to fix” after his team suffered a hefty 4-2 defeat against the previously goal-shy Cardiff City on Saturday – a result which saw the Bluebirds flutter up and out of the drop zone at Fulham’s expense.
According to the aforementioned article, Fulham’s board are insistent that Jokanovic “adopt a more pragmatic style” to stop the deluge, amid well-founded concerns the current approach is far, far too open.
They’re not wrong either. Having spent close to £100million on kitting out the squad over the summer, Fulham have now shipped 12 goals in their last three league matches, taking their grand total to 25 goals conceded (22 of those coming from inside the penalty area) in nine outings so far — ergo, the worst defensive record in the Premier League — with the likes of Tim Ream, Calum Chambers and Denis Odoi looking some way off being able to consistently handle top-tier strikers.
Fulham now face Bournemouth at home in the league next Saturday, before travelling to play Huddersfield and Liverpool shortly thereafter. Word is, if they lose the first two, Jokanovic will not be in charge by the time the circus reaches Anfield on 11th November.
On current evidence, we really don’t fancy his/their chances.