The script for this season is far from written

We may be in the midst of a mini slump and injury crisis, but it won't be the defining narrative of 2025/26.

What do we ‘deserve’ as football fans?

It’s a broad question - perhaps too broad. Affordable tickets: yes. Toilet facilities that are fit for human use - definitely.

But what about on the pitch? When does ‘demanding better’ become entitled?

It’s a debate that has been raging most of the weekend on our Fulhamish Telegram group. On one side, you have those who believe we should be doing much more in the transfer window; that Marco Silva should be getting more out of his squad; and that the players should be performing to a much higher standard.

I’ve made no secret of my frustrations when it comes to Fulham in the transfer market. But since the window closed, I resolved to put those to one side and back the team as we cracked on with the season.

Weirdly, I came away from Saturday’s defeat feeling pretty OK. I’m not sure whether that’s because my expectations were on the floor before the game, but I felt that we gave a good account of ourselves, particularly given our injury list.

I don’t believe that means I’m settling for less - I believe that means I’ve got perspective. (Many would argue I didn’t during the summer!)

Losing at home to Arsenal isn’t going to define our season. I understand, contextually, it’s a third loss on the spin with a tough game on the horizon, but - all things considered - there are plenty of positives to latch onto. Kevin had his best cameo since Leeds; Cuenca looked solid again; Leno showed why he’s one of the league’s best ‘keepers’; Ryan Sessegnon continues to show that while he’s not a left-back, he can certainly fill in there…

The next five games in league and cup offer real opportunities. Newcastle are enduring a similarly mixed start to the season as us and are there for the taking. We shook off the Tyneside hoodoo last term, so why not again?

Wycombe, as we’re all well aware, stand between us and a cup quarter-final. WE then have bottom-of-the-table Wolves at Craven Cottage before an admittedly tricky trip to Everton. After that it’s Sunderland at the Cottage; the Mackems’ best-ever start to a season can’t continue forever - plus the fact that it’s built on their home form. There are prizes to be won, and by the end of November we could well be glancing up the table again.

How far up is up for debate. Personally, I don’t expect a record points haul this season or a push for Europe. But we’ll not be in any danger; we’ll be competitive. We’ve seen that already this term.

For me, like many others, it’s about the cups. So much has been said about whether this is Marco’s last season at the club, but with so many players entering the final year of their contracts, this summer could see the end of a squad cycle that spawns a level of turnover usually reserved for after a relegation (though you would hope any replacements would raise the floor of this squad).

To win something would be fitting not just for the boss, but many of the players who have made the last few years such an enjoyable period of our history.

If nothing else, they deserve it.