Pajtim Kasami signed for us two years ago today, on a four year contract for a reputed £3m. please log in to view this image Well may the guy in the background scratch his head since in his two years with us, Pajtim has been a bit of an enigma. Nobody, including Jol, has ever doubted his potential. However, following that fateful penalty fiasco at Stamford Bridge Jol banished him to the ‘reserves’ where the young man’s attitude raised question marks. I think it’s fair to say that both the Club and the player felt that a “change was as good as a rest” and eventually he went on a loan spell to Luzern. But now he’s back and based on reviews of his play in the Costa Rica tour, he’s almost like a new signing. When he first signed, on 25 July 2011, Jol said, “he is a versatile midfield player who can adapt quite easily to more than one position”. And that’s my question today - what is his best position? * On tour he has been played wide right midfield. Indeed that’s the position he took in the few (8) senior games he’s had and also in his ‘reserve‘ games (in the one‘s I‘ve seen him play anyway). My own opinion is that he’s too one paced for that position. * Kasami himself says that his best position is central midfield. That's generally where he’s played for the Swiss U21s and their Olympic team. I’m guessing here, but probably that was because of his strength and defensive qualities. Not, arguably, a role he has the experience to carry out in the premiership. * Where I would like to see him tried is at No.10 - the old fashioned inside forward. We’ve been lacking in that area recently and as well as being able to use his skills going forward those defensive abilities of his would assist our (current) vulnerability at left back.
I honestly believe he could be the creative midfielder we have been crying out for since Dembele left, he's looked very comfortable against albeit weaker opposition in pre season and deserves to be given his chance this season. I shall be very annoyed if Karagounis is keeping him out of the team. With our central midfield options being Boateng, Sidwell, Kasami, Diarra and Karagounis, I think we possibly only need one more (Malanda/Gargano) and we will be set. Could be a big season for Pajtim in the same way it was for Kaca last season.
I think it's a make or break one for him at Fulham. I'd love to see him establish himself and shine, but are any of us confident that he's going to do that? I hope he gets his chance and proves himself, but I'm unsure that he will.
I don't know what seems to be the problem, he obviously has ability, could it be an attitude problem? Did the penalty miss shake his confidence? Hopefully it will be a clean slate this season for him to show us what he can really do. I know what you mean though, I've wanted both Trotta and Briggs (and LDV before them) to make the grade so much but there comes a time where you just have to tell yourself they're just not good enough.
Well he has figured quite prominently in close-season, so you would think he'd get more of a chance than he did last season. On his best position, he could play the Dembele role quite effectively IMO, driving forward from deep. He's got the strength and the work ethic. If he keeps his head down he could play a key role for us this season. Banders, Jol said last season he had an attitude problem, something about expecting to start every game I seem to recall. Either way it doesn't seem to be an issue any more, again because he's playing at the moment. And I agree with the Captain. If he doesn't make it this season, he'll be off.
I'd read somewhere that we have struck the same deal with him as we did Grygera, give him a chance to build up his fitness and if all is well then there could a short term contract on the table ala Karagounis.
No, Mohamadou Diarra has definitely gone Bandit - he was in the list of released players. I read somewhere that a (can't really remember but I think it was Turkish) club were interested. As of today though, he's unattached.
