Marco Silva revealed he has already set Fulham’s first team squad the target of beating this season’s points tally as he looks to improve on a sluggish end to his campaign.
The Portuguese head coach reiterated that he will remain in the Craven Cottage dugout beyond the summer after rejecting an approach from Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal and told his post-match press conference following the final day defeat to Manchester City that he has already started planning for the 2025/26 campaign with the Fulham board.
“I’m not here to talk about speculation. I’m under contract with the club, I’ve been planning with the board for next season. We’ve been planning for next season since January. We have hard work to do in the next two months to prepare for the season as best as we can.
It was a great season. It hurts a little bit to not finish in the top half, where we were the majority of the time throughout the season. Firstly, for a historic club like Fulham Football Club, to break the points record speaks [a lot] about ourselves and [the quality] the season. I want more, I’m really ambitious, I’m never satisfied. When we played at our best level, it was very difficult to play against us. [There were] some incredible performances and results. The aim is to be more consistent.
About next season, I’ve already told the players – the summer is going to be crucial. The aim is to beat the 54 points tally. The target is already set. We have to show that on the pitch. The next summer is crucial to prepare ourselves for that.”
We need to get rid of a lot of the old players and bring in some fresh young players if we are going to improve, we need to spend a bit more on quality players.
Thank you Marco – good job done . We had some unfortunate injuries, a few under performances ( ESR but let’s see next season ) , old timers Wilson and Carney great so let’s keep . Sess reborn . Amazing it’s our best season ever in terms of points and doing the double on the Bees , beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and winning against liverpool and Man U … and a decent cup run . But we all feel disappointed Marco too … shows how far we have come and what our ambition is . Key for next year – A Killer Striker and a massive improvement in set pieces ( scoring and defending ) . The rest is there . Player of the year – Leno .
Good season with some great wins but very inconsistent. If they are to improve on 11th next season, Fulham need to create and execute more attacking opportunities and therefore need to dump £30-£40M each on an attacking midfielder and a striker and also a £30M winger. Offload Pereira, Traore and Willian. Assuming Tete and Robinson stay that should be all thats required for 8th place.
You can bet Silva will be backed for the above otherwise he wouldnt be staying.
We can only hope that we can build on this season which overall wasn’t so bad but we all have that slightly deflated feeling because we all know it should have been a better outcome. Very fine margins. Hope the plans Marco mentioned come to fruition and that we can really inject some quality and full blooded commitment into the squad.
Have a good summer everyone.
This was yet another season of progress and Fulham are established as a good Premier League side.
Next level is to really challenge for Europe.
For me, the most crucial requirement for the summer is to bring in a top class No.10 and move on Pereira and probably also give up on ESR. Iwobi is a fine alternative No.10, especially with King as well, and it looks like TC is going.
I think that Muniz, backed by Jimenez, is great at No. 9 and disagree with the many calls for a new front man.
Wilson and Traore give great alternative options on the right but I wonder whether Sess and Godo are enough on the left. Maybe.
Then we need another really good defensive midfielder.
Apart from that, all fine unless there are other departures to cover and Kenny and Jedi have both been rumoured.
I live in hope!
Well said Robin. How can people moan if we are progressing. Seen some really good matches this season, including yesterday. Totally agree on strikers. This season Raul and Rodrigo have started 37 games between them scored 20 goals and 4 assists. Everyone says Chris Wood has had a great season with 35 starts, 20 goals and 3 assists. Much the same. Give our strikers the chances and they don’t let you down.
We are a team without any standout stars but we go out week after week and compete with the mega million clubs by hard work, teamwork and organization Obviously we all want more….just reflects how far we have come.
Fulham are no longer a soft touch!!
Can’t wait for next season
Pezz, don’t forget the double over the Geordies, a great season for away wins.
Yes, that’s a good point about our away form which has historically not been very impressive. It’s our performances at home which have let us down this season – The Cottage was always a stronghold, so what’s happened?
Yes yes yes…great season, strange season but progress no doubt with a very thin squad and the lead weight that was ESR…just imagine where we might have been if he had fulfilled any of the expectations coming in.
Marco says the next few months are crucial… how wonderful it would be to sign players early, give the team a chance to blend before the new season.
We’ve beaten the best and failed against the worst…quite a conundrum…
Kicking on is now in the hands of the Khan’ts..
I’m happy with all the comments above but would like more Goals from the midfield and defence not enough support from them in total this year. It’s great that Tarore has got a lot of assists but his finishing needs to improve. Hopefully Pereira can be replaced with a deadball man as we do not score many from set pieces direct or headers
What do we think about Luke Harris?? Bit player this year at brum does he get a chance next term or out the door some senior players thought he deserved a shout.