From the press box: Silva fired up for the SW6 Derby
Jack Kelly gives us the lowdown on Marco Silva's latest pre-match presser.
Eat, sleep, press conference, repeat. That’s pretty much been my week. I could say it was another fiery press conference, but someone in the comments might get upset. As Clive Tyldesley said during the 1999 Champions League Final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich: “I was there”.
Today was my second one-to-one chat with Marco Silva this week - those quotes are available from 22:30 tonight on X and my Patreon. Another moment where I’ve glanced around the room, realised I’m the only written journalist here and suddenly felt a wave of pressure on my shoulders to ask the right questions. The last chance before the window closes.
Of course, as is routine, Sky Sports kicked things off in the broadcast section and the questions were mainly around transfers, as expected. Some quotes from Silva:
“Nothings changed because we haven't signed any player. Probably not possible to sign a striker, but we will see. We need two wingers and one midfielder. We need depth, quality, at least three signings. Nothing very very close now.
“We've wasted a lot of time, it's already too late. If they come, they can settle, but nothing is very close right now.
"It's difficult for me to say what is going to happen, or not. It's not like I expected. I think, as a manager we don't have any other solutions, but to do it (sign players). If we don't, we will not be in the conditions to play (in the) Premier League.”
When it comes to ins and outs, Silva doesn’t give anything away. I wonder if he’s a fan of the Hokey Cokey? So, when names like Andreas Pereira and Raheem Sterling come up, he doesn’t wish to comment.
Pereira has taken Fulham FC out of his instagram bio; a very Gen-Z level of reporting on football. But as has been reported in the last few days, he’s off to see the Wizard - the Wizard being Brazil.
Quite clearly a Wizard of Oz joke/reference, I actually think that went right over Sammy’s head on the Thursday Club. We’re going to the bloody Bridge tomorrow, for our sins. There is no place like home.
Martial Godo is heading to France to join Strasbourg on loan, which looks like a permanent deal. Pure profit in the bag, which can be re-invested over the next few days.
Back to the press conference. Silva finished his piece and walked out the door, the door closed and every journalist looked at each-other, wide-eyed and without saying a word. In that brief moment, we were all thinking the same thing: Marco isn’t pleased at all.
Tomorrow is the small matter of the SW6 Derby. Some Fulham fans view this as like Christmas Eve. Last year I viewed it as Boxing Day, because… well, it was Boxing Day.
Come on Fulham, let’s do it again and beat them. Let’s go into the first international break on the highest of highs ahead of what could be a dizzying deadline day. Let’s finish the window with a few players through the door. Easier said than done, but what’s the point of being alive if you can’t dream? Samuel Chukwueze, Kevin, a top midfielder and a surprise fourth player.
But there is panic on the streets of Hammersmith & Fulham. Ring the DJ, ring the DJ, ring the DJ (Dan James).
Up the Fulham.