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Sakari Mattila
Rank: 25 | Age: 26 | Starts: 2 | Appearances: 6 | Minutes: 164
Player Profile
Mattila is a large defensive midfielder. That's about all we know. He has the physique to succeed in the league, but we don't know what his skill level actually is. We have his player radar, but with limited data, how much does it tell us?
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Season Review
When Sakari Mattila signed, we asked who is Sakari Mattila. We came to the conclusion that we had no idea. We speculated that it might have been a signing based on statistics. Unfortunately, he didn't play enough to let us answer any of the questions we had at the beginning. He wasn't awful when he played, but he had a very hard time ever being fit enough for selection. It's possible he's a useful player, but he didn't do anything in his limited time to really impact Fulham's season.
2016/17 Best Case
If he sticks around, which might not be guaranteed, Mattila's best case is probably depth in defensive midfield. If he can stay healthy and show something, he might actually be a bargain. I don't expect him to be a star, but he has a chance to contribute if he can actually get on the pitch.
Shaun Hutchinson
Rank: 24 | Age: 25 | Starts: 8 | Appearances: 9 | Minutes: 685
Player Profile
Hutchinson came to Fulham almost two years ago and looked to be the kind of player the club needed. He was young and had already had success in a league not much weaker than the Championship. After two season with the Whites, it seemed we were too high on him in the beginning.
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Season Review
Hutchinson started the season as the apparent first choice center back. He started all of the first five games. Unfortunately, he was pulled with an injury after just 10 minutes into the fifth match. At this point he was also a bit of a scapegoat for some of the team's defensive struggles. Kit Symons even threw him under the bus after he gave up a penalty. After leaving with the injury, it seemed like the team might be better off without him as they only lost three of thirteen games. This was a false sense of quality though as the team then went nine matches without a win, with his only appearance being a draw against Preston. He had five more starts (four league, one FA Cup) in 2016 with Fulham going undefeated in them. Was this more evidence he was underrated and just got a tough break?
2016/17 Best Case
Hutchinson is out of contract. The team has an option to keep him another year, but it's hard to justify keeping anyone off of this putrid defense. If he does stick around, having him as the third or fourth center back would probably be his best case. Though he is young enough so he could still make a leap and become a decent option in defense.
Rohan Ince
Rank: 23 | Age: 23 | Starts: 8 | Appearances: 10 | Minutes: 651 | Goals: 1
Player Profile
Ince is another defensive midfielder. He was brought on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion as Fulham continued to search for a central defensive midfielder they could count on.
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Season Review
Ince started slowly after joining the club only playing a half in his first game and then being used as a sub in the next two. In his third game he played the whole 90 and scored a goal. He preceded to start the next six games and appeared he was going to be the first choice at his position. Then came Brentford. Fulham gave up three first half goals to their West London rivals and Ince was yanked at the half. He would not appear in a Fulham shirt for the rest of the season.
2016/17 Best Case
This is a player that was only here on loan. He's young enough so his Brighton will probably want him back and he didn't show enough at Fulham for them to want to purchase him. He still has a lot of room to develop and could be a good player in the division, but probably not for Fulham.