Why Pajtim Kasami Can Fill the Void left by Mousa Dembele for Fulham.

Pajtim Kasami has had the start to a season in which most Fulham fans, believed him capable of since joining the club back in 2011. After missing that now, folklore penalty at Chelsea in the (then) Carling Cup, it was felt Kasami's Fulham career may have been over before it had even had a chance to begin. 

 

However after a successful loan spell at FC Luzern and a very promising pre-season, he has taken that form into the start of the season and, after appearing in all but one of Fulham's Premier League games this season, Kasami looks likely to be a key player this year.

 

Image courtesy of fulhamfc.com; no copyright intended.

 

Although, I feel that if Martin Jol put his "thinking cap" on, like he did with Mousa Dembele in his first season in charge, it could see our midfield problems resolved and Kasami really thrust into the limelight.

 

Image courtesy of goal.com; no copyright intended.

Because after all, it was Martin Jol's now, career-changing decision to move Mousa Dembele back from a scheming number ten, to a deep-lying, playmaking, number four; and I feel if a similar change in position was made for Kasami, it could see both player and club reap the rewards.

It was Mark Hughes who had brought the relatively unknown Dembele to the Premier League, originally as a centre forward/number ten and in his debut season for the club, he showed us fans what he was all about - power, pace and vision. Yet, in those positions, Dembele was rarely afforded the time and space to really affect a game; enter Martin Jol.

After similarly playing Dembele in his supposed best position, Jol then decided to toy with the idea of playing the Belgian international from the right - the first game, in which Jol tried this tact, was in the 6-0 thrashing of Queens Park Rangers in October 2011*. 

Jol continued to chop and change with Dembele's position, from the right or in behind the striker until the real game-changing moment came up at Stamford Bridge, in the traditional Boxing-Day derby draw, back in December 2011 - this was the first game in which Mousa Dembele, had started in a central-midfield role. Fulham that day, started in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Danny Murphy protecting the back four, recently departed Kerim Frei from the left with Clint Dempsey and Dembele occupying the two central roles (how times change eh?)*.

Image courtesy of football365.com; no copyright intended

Have no idea why this is here?, sorry!

Martin Jol had seen something in Dembele that no manager previous had; that Dembele had all the attribrutes to become a force from midfield. The traits we had seen the previous season, the pace, power, vision, and the quite poetic way in which, the now Tottenham player, would effortlessly "glide" past opponents like they weren't even there. In this position, Dembele had more time; time on the ball, time to surge forward, time to pick that killer pass. So much so, that future pub chatter would label the Belgian "a poor-man's Yaya Toure".

His final Fulham appearance came against Manchester United at Old Trafford last season, and if there was a performance that epitomised how far the player had blossomed into the position, it was this. Outclassing the United midfield with pure power and grace on the ball, running rings round Paul Scholes - I knew that night watching Match of the Day, that this would be the last time in which I would see such a wonderful player, in the White of Fulham FC (tearjerker, I know...)

Image courtesy of fulhamfc.com; no copyright intended.

Now, Pajtim Kasami could so easily fill that gap left by Dembele; before this season had come around we had only seen glimpses of what the Swiss U-21 international could do. Yet, after that penalty miss against Chelsea, it seemed for all intents and purposes that his career was going the way of well... Marcel Gecov.

It just goes to show, how much a successful loan spell can do for a player; after a productive stay in his homeland, Kasami went into pre-season looking like a different player. He looked powerful, creative and was playing with, what seemed like, a different attitude all-together. He was tracking back, tussling for loose balls and looking dangerous going forward -  so much so that Kasami started against Sunderland on the opening day and scored.

On the eye it is easy to see how much Kasami is similar to Dembele; strong, can go past players, hard-working, creative etc. Also if you look at the way in which Martin Jol has utilised Kasami, it almost shadows Dembele's development under the Dutchman - from the right, behind the striker... could it follow suit with Kasami pushed back being into the deep-lying playmaker role alla Mousa Dembele?

I feel this may be the way forward...

Well I think it should; the benefits of nurturing Kasami into the role are there for all to see. From there he could bring the energy that we so need, as well as provide the odd counter-attackive surge forward - he has shown he is more than up for the tussles that come with being in the centre of the park and it would also give him more time on the ball to pull the strings, with Scott Parker alongside to provide the guile and the graft.

Only time will tell if the past will repeat itself but whatever happens, Martin Jol has come out and said that Kasami is a "key player" for the season ahead. As longs as the likeable youngster is playing, I'm, like many a Fulham fan I'm sure, happy.


... Hey Martin! Come and 'av a read of this, it might re-jog the old memory!

COYW!

*Statistics taken from fulhamfc.com.