Defensive horrors highlight urgent need for signings, as Tony Khan tweets apology to Fulham fans

By Yann Tear

Fulham boss Scott Parker has spelt out the obvious to club hierarchy that they need a defender or two before the transfer deadline if they are to avoid a humiliating season.

The Whites were once again abject at the back as they brushed aside 3-0 by Aston Villa on Monday night. Fulham have conceded 10 goals in losing their opening three matches back in the Premier League.

Moments after the defeat, the director of football Tony Khan tweeted an apology to the fans, saying that at least two transfer targets had tested positive for Covid, making the task that much harder.

But clearly the onus is on him now to give Parker the tools he needs to stand any chance of making the Whites competitive in an unforgiving division.

Khan tweeted: “I should + will apologize repeatedly for that performance. I’m sorry everybody. We all need to do a better job. Everyone at the club for the past year worked really hard to get the team up, & now we need to work significantly harder to stay up. I promise better efforts than today.”

Parker said: “In terms of defending, we weren’t good enough tonight and we’ve not been good enough for the first three games this season.

“I think we all realise we need to address that. I think it’s an area that everyone at the football club can hopefully see as well.

“There were a lot of positives from tonight. I thought we played very well for large parts and dominated large parts, but the first time they’re in our box they score a goal and the second time, they score another goal. You just can’t give up goals and we’ve given them up, in this division and expect to win matches.

“You see that at the other end with their centre halves and back four. We put in numerous crosses pretty well, but they defended them. “

Parker has no direct say in recruitments but has made it clear where the squad needs strengthening.

“I highlight were I feel we need to improve and I did that straight after Wembley [the play-off final win],” he said.  Not just defenders, but where we need to improve in this team if we want to compete at this level and be successful this year. In terms of names and who they are I don’t know the details. 

“We need to work out whether we want to compete this year otherwise it will be a tough year. This team needs to evolve. It needs to get better and stronger and to do that we need players in. That’s going to give us the chance to be successful. If not, we’ll work and we’ll try to improve things, try to keep pushing along.

“It was the same last time we were in this division. We need to bring some defenders in with personality and experience. The boys who are there need help.”