For 45 minutes, Fulham looked on course to have a very Good Friday. Fabio Carvalho’s fabulous opener appeared to have put Marco Silva’s men on the cusp of clinching promotion from the Championship at Derby, which would have been very special indeed. Things fall apart rather spectacularly in a supine second half and, whilst securing a spot in next season’s Premier League remains a relative formality, there are plenty of points to ponder for the Portuguese coach as he plots a more successful survival bid than Fulham’s last two efforts.
Silva should shoulder some of the blame for how Fulham threw away a winning position at Pride Park on Friday. His substitutions were puzzling, especially as the ineffectual Bobby Decordova-Reid lasted the full ninety minutes. Harry Wilson was nowhere near his best but sacrificing him for Neeskens Kebano seemed strange and the removal of Tom Cairney – probably fitness related after the skipper’s recent spell on the sidelines – left Jean Michael Seri and Harrison Reed getting in each other’s way in central midfield. Nobody made a compelling case for inclusion in the 25-man Premier League squad in a depressing display in Derbyshire, whilst some might have played their way out of Silva’s thoughts altogether.
The Sunday papers seem to suggest that reinforcements will soon arrive. We know that Manor Solomon should be one of them, with the Israeli winger having agreed a five-year deal to end his spell with Shakhtar Donetsk, having been rushed into Poland when the Russians invaded Ukraine. The red tops have previously linked Fulham with a host of goalkeepers and they are at ‘the front of the queue’ to sign Dean Henderson, according to Alan Nixon, who also believes an agreement with Liverpool is likely on a permanent deal for Neco Williams. Fulham are certainly in the hunt for a new left back, with Arthur Masuaku – who won the Greek title under Silva at Olympiakos – under strong consideration.
The Mail claims that Silva wants six first-team signings this summer and resurrects reports of a move for Dwight McNeill, although the talented winger will surely be able to pick his destination should Burnley plummet following the mad decision to dispense with Sean Dyche yesterday. More intriguing is the mention of interest in Mexican midfielder Erick Gutiérrez, who has made just four league appearances at PSV Eindhoven this term, and is out of contract next summer. He would be the archetypical ball-winning midfielder that this Fulham squad sorely lacks and ballast in front of a reshaped back four will be essential. Silva’s lack of dynamism in the engine room has been shown up by some poor performances from Nathaniel Chalobah in recent weeks and the fact that Josh Onomah has become an option off the bench again.
There’s no doubt that the Whites will enter the market for a few centre halves this summer – whatever happens with Tim Ream come the end of the campaign. There are also issues at the other end of the pitch, with Rodrigo Muniz still looking rather raw to be relied upon as Aleksandar Mitrovic’s understudy. Jay Stansfield, deployed as a number ten in the under 23s since the turn of the year, is a ruthless finisher but it is probably a bit early to consider him a cast-iron Carvalho replacement and class in the hole will cost big bucks.
An unabashed adventurer, it is difficult to Silva substantially changing his tactics in the top flight. That will mean the acquisitions will have to be of a calibre that Fulham haven’t mustered following either of their two previous promotions – and deals will need to be done early to allow new arrivals familiarity with such a demanding playing style. The imminent promotion should remove the unedifying prospect of a late August trolley-dash after the continent in search of signings, but as we have learnt from the last two all too brief stays, the Premier League is an unforgiving place to play catch up.
You can make a case for five of Fulham’s regular starters (Williams, Tosin Adarabioyo, Reed and Wilson) being Premier League quality, even if the Manchester-moulded centre half has had a couple of shockers of late. The worrying thing is that might be very, very generous. Williams remains electric in the final third but susceptible defensively like almost every modern full back, whilst Reed looked like the last relegation side’s best player in a basic system that depended on his endeavour. Wilson enjoyed an excellent individual season in a Bournemouth team that went down – and he won’t get the sort of space to switch on that lovely left foot that has enjoyed in the second tier.
Silva steadfastly believes he was hard done to at Everton and wants to prove his point in the Premier League. There will need to be improvements from him, as well, if the Whites are to consign the yo-yo barbs to the bin. He remains far too reactive as games drift away from his side – an early criticism of Roy Hodgson, especially when it came to substitutions as I recall – and will need to modify that all-out-attack style to something slightly more pragmatic to avoid Fulham being punished in transition by pacey Premier League attacks.
There’s certainly plenty to do, but some of the overreaction to the first set of back-to-back defeats over the Easter weekend did make me smile. Fulham have only ever won six league titles in their history – and two of those were the Southern League within ten years of the club’s foundation – and this team remains handily placed to lift the silverware ahead of Scott Parker. They have been exceptional this season, playing some spellbinding football at times, and if the comparisons with Jean Tigana’s artisans were a little far-fetched, it is worth remembering that Mohamed Al-Fayed’s millions were able to assemble a squad packed with Premiership quality without being hampered by any Financial Fair Play considerations. Silva has shifted his side’s philosophy entirely in nine months and delivered outstanding results. The party will come soon, but clear heads will be required to plot the path forward.
Great article , agree 100 percent
Totally agree. Williams, Tosin, Reed, Cairney, Mitro and Wilson look capable of stepping up. Tete and Seri maybe. Realistically everyone else is at best there for cover and probably shouldn’t play. So we’re going to need at least 6 or 7 maybe more.
It’s not dramatic. It’s just the way it is. There is a gulf in difference between the Championship and the Prem. Getting promotion done early could be the big difference this time for us and give us a chance to get recruitment right.
I’d like us to get a few with Prem experience though. I’m not sure going round Europe looking for cheap talent will work. If that happens the reality will be 2 or 3 will not make it so there would have to be a huge influx to compensate.
I’m sure the owners are realistic this time round. It’s going to cost a lot to stay up as not every signing will work out.
Experienced centre backs and strong defensive midfielder: all with pace and canny insight. Over 30 yrs of age? Not a problem if they fit the bill.
I’m still not convinced Mitro is prem class sorry.I know his Cham.record is amazing but prem defenders are different he won’t bully them or get the same room and how many goals has he scored from outside the box.
Cairney has had two shots in PREM and looked off the pace on both occasions.Good at championship level. GK. Need someone who commands the six yard box. Worth points. Our player of the season is Tim Ream for me. Wouldn’t be up there without his efforts. Unfortunately though great in the championship, like Cairney struggled pace wise in the Prem.. I suppose he and Mitro have been our standouts. I would add Kebano maybe
Could do with a Steed type midfielder who scored crucial goals. Like a few others. Wasted the back end of his career after being sweet talked by Totti, then dumped.
Good article. Spot on.
Decordova Reid is a luxury even when he plays rhe odd good 15 minutes.
Chalobah is not good enough. Onomah proved himself not to be good enough. You only have to remember the cock up for the debacle of a goal against Coventry.
New buys required in all of the obvious positions.
Now let’s move on a win the bloody thing.