Danny Murphy went back to Motspur Park this week to look at how Marco Silva has surpassed expectations ahead of the London derby that sees two of his former clubs meet at Craven Cottage on Monday night.

The former Fulham captain’s article is well worth reading in full over at Mail+ and it contains a few tantalising tidbits both from Murphy’s discussions with some of his former colleagues about how Silva wales as well as tales from his playing days. Perhaps the best passage is this one:

“If Liverpool was the club for me from birth, Fulham is my second football home. I was 30 when I signed, knew my strengths and weaknesses, and was comfortable when Roy made me captain. We spoke all the time and sometimes I’d become the messenger for any s*** the lads wanted to get off their chest! 

I wasn’t alone in striving for high standards. Duffer, Schwarz, AJ were the same. The club built the medical and sport science side; blood tests, hydration tests, supplements by the locker. We weren’t the biggest team but we were professional. Some staff are still there. Like Mark, Tracy in the ticket office has been there 25 years. Chief executive Alistair Mackintosh joined in 2008.

For Fulham to compete, there has to be full collaboration between the manager and other parts of the club.  Transfers have to be right in terms of cost, statistics and the player having the right personality. So far, all the parts are working in tandem. When a manager does well like Silva, it’s natural he will be listened to. 

You’ve got to applaud the housekeeping. They have matched Spurs this season even though they operate in a different area of the transfer market to sign Richarlison, Christian Romero and Davinson Sanchez. [Shahid] Khan flew to Portugal to meet Silva personally before the appointment so the manager knew he had buy-in from the very top.”

Murphy had a difficult exit at Fulham after years of sterling service – so it is great to see him writing such positive stuff about the Whites.