The Athletic’s Peter Rutzler spent a year reporting on AFC Bournemouth before moving across to cover Fulham in 2020. Attending every press conference and match, who better to provide a journalistic take on Friday’s eagerly anticipated top of the table clash?
You were Bournemouth’s reporter for The Athletic in the 2019/20 season – not the best season for the club, but how did you find the experience?
I really enjoyed it, although it was a truly unique year to be a reporter, particularly with everything that happened in 2020. It certainly tested my creativity during the long period of time without football! But I enjoyed covering Bournemouth, it is a really unique club, set in the heart of the community with a really fascinating story to tell. It is also a really nice part of the world, and I certainly made use of the beach! But you are right, it wasn't the best season at the club in the end. I rocked up and oversaw the end of an extraordinary era; the local lad who captained the team, then saved them from extinction as a rookie coach, before carrying them to the Premier League... it's hard to get closer to a football fairytale than that. But I arrived, saw the team relegated amid a pandemic and that legendary figure, Eddie Howe, departed, without fans in the ground. If you were superstitious, you would probably put two and two together...
How do you respond to suggestions that you’re cursed, after Fulham were also relegated in your first season’s coverage?
I mean, I don't really have a leg to stand on to be honest. The facts speak for themselves. All I'll say is that Fulham now have more points this year than any of the three teams that were relegated last year. So I'm safe this time around. On the relegation front anyway...
Having covered Bournemouth as closely as you did for a year, do you still keep an eye on them?
Yes absolutely. I met some great people on the south coast and I'm still in touch with them, while I'm intrigued to see how their squad fare in the Championship. They were unlucky last year and it just felt like they had the wrong manager in charge. The talent is there for a promotion push, and we are seeing that now.
It is also impossible to ignore Bournemouth with a Fulham hat on, following Scott Parker's 'reverse Rutzler' in the summer. I think a lot of Fulham fans are intrigued to see how he gets on in a different setup. So far, it's going pretty well.
What have you made of them this season?
I think Bournemouth have confounded expectations. Parker inherited a good squad but it was one with some holes that needed filling, particularly following the departure of Arnaut Danjuma to Villarreal. But they started the season so strongly, securing the club's best ever start to a league campaign, and it doesn't get much better than that really. It is clear that they have already adapted to the way Parker wants the team to play, pressing very high and playing with a high intensity. They have made some astute additions as well, including Gary Cahill, who has solidified their back line, and Ryan Christie, who brings flair in attack. It has been impressive, too, how young players Jaidon Anthony and Jordan Zemura have stepped into the first team fold.
They have, though, hit a bit of a rough patch of late, hindered by injuries. How they respond to that could be interesting. And no doubt what happens at Craven Cottage on Friday will have a big bearing too.
Are you enjoying covering Fulham?
I'm really enjoying it. Everyone has been exceptionally welcoming and I've been able to write some really interesting pieces. Like Bournemouth, Fulham have such a fascinating story, and they are another club who have punched above their weight and hit some extraordinary heights in the recent past. It's a privilege to tell some of that, and keep fans up to date with the next chapter.
This season has been particularly enjoyable. Not just because Fulham are evidently a cut above in the division, and are probably on course to score more goals than I've seen in the last two campaigns put together, but because I've been able to conduct some interviews and press conferences in person, as well as to see Craven Cottage rocking with fans in. That's made a big difference.
How would you compare Fulham’s style of play under Marco Silva, to how we played under Scott Parker?
They are very different. I have to say, I have only watched Fulham closely under Parker while they were in the Premier League, so it is difficult to make first-hand comparisons to the Championship season two years ago. But even so, there is a notable change in approach under Silva, even to the promotion year two years ago. The formation is the same (as 2019/20) but there is a more attacking edge to the team, I would say. Parker's sides were good at controlling games whereas Silva's perhaps takes more risks in attack. The team is built to create chances, particularly with Jean Michaël Seri at the base of midfield and creative players in front of him, too. There is also a relentlessness to the team; they are never satisfied with a narrow lead. It's tricky to compare to last year as Fulham were often the underdogs in matches. In the Premier League, Parker changed Fulham's style to playing more on the counter-attack and it nearly got the results needed to stay up. But certainly, there are big differences not just to last year but previous Parker sides too.
How have you found Marco to deal with in press conferences?
Hopefully Marco won't be sick of the sight of me by the end of the season! He's been great to deal with and it has been nice to do a few pressers in person again this season. He always answers questions directly, and will always say when he can't do so and explains why. We like to do a few tactical pieces at The Athletic as well, and his post-game summaries will always touch on the intricacies of where games are won and lost. That's a big help.
What are you expecting from Friday night’s game?
A really intense game of football. There is a lot of hype around the game, and not only because they are the top two teams in the division! I'm sure that will all raise the stakes. Plus, Parker has got Bournemouth running and whenever teams press Fulham, they normally up their intensity too and deploy some thrilling counter-attacks. It is a hard match to call, because Bournemouth have been so resolute defensively, and Fulham so exciting in attack. Injuries could be telling and late fitness calls, particularly for Bournemouth, could have a bearing. Both teams are coming off the back of a slight dip in form, although Fulham are unbeaten. I'd expect the Whites to win out, but I'm hoping for a thriller.
