Great article. Thank you! The only issue i take is around your comments on Raul. A wonderful player, highly underrated. And yes, a great penalty taker too!
A succint summary of the positives so far. I share your optimism. The new signings..hopefully to include Thiago and Shea will give the club the kick up the arse it sorely needs. As I've said before.. there will be some of our existing squad that will not make muster. So be it. The mid table stroll we seemed to take in seasons gone hopefully will be in the past. A spark is needed.. both for the players and the supporters. I'd often read that the club and Silva would tactfully criticise the atmosphere at CC. Is it surprising? The football was most the time stagnant. Crowds need something to cheer.. then the players respond more to that support.Hopefully that circle will kick start in a few weeks. I've just read an article on a Saints website saying Charles has undersold himself to a relegation facing team. Yeah.. right.
Lastly.. the new away shirt is red and black checks.😀
This article hits the mark on so many key points. For me the key statement is: “the risk is there of it not working, but there is also a risk of this working incredibly well”. While you were referring to the appointment of Arbeloa I think it applies to the club as a whole. For quite some time preceding Marco officially announcing he was leaving, the prevailing chatter by Fulham fans seemed to be: we’ve gone as far as we can with this coach/system, it’s time to take a new direction and push on to greater heights. This is that new direction. This is a time to be excited. Sure it may fail. But it may work. Don’t we want the club striving for more than mid table safety? Even if it means risking uncertainty. Until I see the squad in action in some actual league matches I will be taking the optimistic view.
We were only a decision or two away from European Competition last May, alas our constant relegation-anxieties allowed a tepid relieve to drain enough energy for the final push. Stability can become a guise for mediocrity. Maybe this new leadership can get us to new sustainable level of greatness that our being London's Original befits.
Excited to see us playing in a new style. Marco was getting very predictable and stale. AA is bringing energy which because of uncertainty has been missing.
There is a lot to be excited about this season with the new manager and signings with their profiles. He seems very focused and precise about what he wants from all aspects.
My issue and i think a lot of fans/pundits are similar is experience. Having a youth set up like Real Madrid would be great for a new manager as the quality of player they have at that level is on a different level and that can be said when incharge of the first team as well.
How does he cope against a team like Real madrid (arsenal, man city) when they have all the possession and we are playing on the counter? We dont know yet.
On the other hand you can argue that the lack of experience that Arbeloa has can be a good thing. He will have to stay for 2/3 seasons if it all works out other wise he can be seen as a flash in the pan manager like Marco before us in England
I am excited for the new season and manager, an experienced signing that can come into the first team would be great. I think we will be fine but there is some hesitancy which i think is fair.
If we can bring in more dynamic midfielders that fit the system, the squad is coming together nicely. Already we’re younger and seemingly better balanced. Garcia and Muniz seem to offer something different- which is good! There’s more to be done of course, but the squad cost limits are going to limit us to refreshing - not overhauling - from here.
Great article. Thank you! The only issue i take is around your comments on Raul. A wonderful player, highly underrated. And yes, a great penalty taker too!
A succint summary of the positives so far. I share your optimism. The new signings..hopefully to include Thiago and Shea will give the club the kick up the arse it sorely needs. As I've said before.. there will be some of our existing squad that will not make muster. So be it. The mid table stroll we seemed to take in seasons gone hopefully will be in the past. A spark is needed.. both for the players and the supporters. I'd often read that the club and Silva would tactfully criticise the atmosphere at CC. Is it surprising? The football was most the time stagnant. Crowds need something to cheer.. then the players respond more to that support.Hopefully that circle will kick start in a few weeks. I've just read an article on a Saints website saying Charles has undersold himself to a relegation facing team. Yeah.. right.
Lastly.. the new away shirt is red and black checks.😀
This article hits the mark on so many key points. For me the key statement is: “the risk is there of it not working, but there is also a risk of this working incredibly well”. While you were referring to the appointment of Arbeloa I think it applies to the club as a whole. For quite some time preceding Marco officially announcing he was leaving, the prevailing chatter by Fulham fans seemed to be: we’ve gone as far as we can with this coach/system, it’s time to take a new direction and push on to greater heights. This is that new direction. This is a time to be excited. Sure it may fail. But it may work. Don’t we want the club striving for more than mid table safety? Even if it means risking uncertainty. Until I see the squad in action in some actual league matches I will be taking the optimistic view.
We were only a decision or two away from European Competition last May, alas our constant relegation-anxieties allowed a tepid relieve to drain enough energy for the final push. Stability can become a guise for mediocrity. Maybe this new leadership can get us to new sustainable level of greatness that our being London's Original befits.
"the stability could not be OVERSTATED". Good grief.....
Excited to see us playing in a new style. Marco was getting very predictable and stale. AA is bringing energy which because of uncertainty has been missing.
"But the only part of Raul’s game we will miss is his penalty taking" . Wow! Wouldn't that great?
Be great
There is a lot to be excited about this season with the new manager and signings with their profiles. He seems very focused and precise about what he wants from all aspects.
My issue and i think a lot of fans/pundits are similar is experience. Having a youth set up like Real Madrid would be great for a new manager as the quality of player they have at that level is on a different level and that can be said when incharge of the first team as well.
How does he cope against a team like Real madrid (arsenal, man city) when they have all the possession and we are playing on the counter? We dont know yet.
On the other hand you can argue that the lack of experience that Arbeloa has can be a good thing. He will have to stay for 2/3 seasons if it all works out other wise he can be seen as a flash in the pan manager like Marco before us in England
I am excited for the new season and manager, an experienced signing that can come into the first team would be great. I think we will be fine but there is some hesitancy which i think is fair.
Good article though!
If we can bring in more dynamic midfielders that fit the system, the squad is coming together nicely. Already we’re younger and seemingly better balanced. Garcia and Muniz seem to offer something different- which is good! There’s more to be done of course, but the squad cost limits are going to limit us to refreshing - not overhauling - from here.
Really enjoyed that Fulham ISH.