It took a while coming this season, but Fulham have finally hit the foot of the Premier League table. Their 3-0 home defeat to Southampton on Saturday has left them two points off 19th-placed Cardiff and four away from Crystal Palace in 17th. On current form they are certainly down, but with 14 games left will they be able to improve in time?
Here, Sports Mole considers a number of factors that could go in the Cottagers' favour or against them in their battle to pull off an unlikely survival.
1. Coaching team
Fulham's coaching set-up must have been dreamed up by the writers of The Matrix, such is its complexity. Since they dispensed with the services of the previous manager Martin Jol, the club's heirarchy - namely chairman Shahid Khan and CEO Alistair Mackintosh - put head coach Rene Meulensteen in charge of first-team affairs. All well and good, but throw in assistant head coach Ray Wilkins and technical director Alan Curbishley and there are certainly a lot of cooks keeping an eye on that broth.
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Initially, in Meulensteen's first few games in charge, the players showed a new sense of vigour and an intent to attack and they looked as though they had more than enough to survive. However, and it remains to be seen whether this is a coincidence or not, since Wilkins and Curbishley have arrived the football on the pitch has returned to the slow-paced, uncreative fare from earlier in the season. Perhaps one clear boss - whether that is Meulensteen or Curbishley - would put the Whites in a better spot?
2. The run-in
Every team plays every other twice throughout a league season so there is no real advantage, but there is little doubt that a less tricky run-in is a bonus for a side desperate for points. Not only do some teams have less to play for at the end of a season, but a spell of home games against teams in a similar league position can pull a team up the table and those near them down it.
In this respect, Fulham have as good a final five games as could be hoped for in a relegation battle. Although they have a tough time of it over the next couple of months, should they stay in touch of 17th before the last five their run-in could make the difference. They take on four bottom-half teams in April and May, which is far preferable to facing Champions League teams.
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Fulham have history here, too. In the 2007-08 season they had just 24 points after 33 games before finishing strongly to somehow survive on the final day. At this point, fans would take a must-win game against Palace on May 11.
3. Are there worse teams?
Having plummeted to the bottom of the table, Fulham are also propping up the form league over the last six games. That makes it tough to see three other sides who the Whites can climb above. On paper, however, some of the players they have compare favourably to their relegation counterparts. For example, a World Cup finalist goalkeeper in Maarten Stekelenburg as well as a lot of Premier League experience in the likes of Scott Parker and Brede Hangeland.
That said, a lot of the other teams have found the right combination already. Palace may have a less strong squad on paper, but in Tony Pulis they have a manager experienced at producing results even if the football is not so eye-catching. Sunderland, bottom for so long earlier in the season have seen Gus Poyet turn their fortunes around. Perhaps Fulham's best chance of catching teams will be others falling into the scrap who were previously comfortable, such as Swansea City and Norwich City.
4. New signings
Whatever else has happened to Fulham this season, the owner Khan has signalled his intention to give his side the best chance of survival by sanctioning some important signings. This includes the club-record signing of Konstantinos Mitroglou from Olympiacos. Before the January transfer window Meulensteen had to work with Jol's squad, but with a handful of new signings to work with he has many of his own players now.
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The new players, who also include William Kvist and Lewis Holtby on loan, have had time to train with their new teammates and all could provide fresh momentum to what has been a failing relegation battle to this point. What's more, many of the new players improve the squad in key areas.
Mitroglou is an energetic battering-ram and much more valuable in a relegation scrap than Dimitar Berbatov. Holtby will provide a creative spark with his passing and running that the team simply lacks in the likes of Steve Sidwell and Parker, while Kvist is a different kind of midfielder, happy not to roam too far from his defensive midfield position.
How well the players adapt will be crucial to Fulham's chances, but they must also turn all the above points in their favour. There is still time, but with 42 points left to play for - and 21 needed to reach the magic 40 - even that is running out quickly.
