A manager who can do it all is beyond our grasp. Thomas Frank would be a safe pair of hands but wasn’t the key man behind Brentford’s recruitment.
We’ve had more young players come through before Josh King who’ve escaped us - we could and should do more to keep them, as they will have sell on value. We could certainly do with a new Director of Football, whose presence certainly seems to have irked Silva. But that will never change…
It’s difficult to disagree with the analysis here, but the conclusion rests on the assumption that we will be able to get a manager who can a) sustain premier league survival, b) push for Europe, c) develop young players and increase their value d) continue to identify new players to replace those who are sold. I’d love that to be true but it’s more faith than I have in the club. Therefore given the choice I’d stick rather than twist.
The premiership is so competitive with most teams grappling with a policy of avoiding relegation or showing ambition and aim for European competition. This year Leeds and Sunderland avoided returning to the championship, so this added further jeopardy. Long term stability is the key, and if this means years of mid table performance I would take this. Fulham do not have big money attendances or wage levels.
While I understand the concerns about Fulham wallowing in “mid-level mediocrity”, it’s much better than the alternative. I think we need to face the fact that with the financial restrictions currently in place, Fulham would not survive in the PL if the club somehow managed to get into Europe - it’s simply not deep enough. This season went downhill after a mid-week match against recently relegated WHU. Imagine what would happen with a whole season filled with mid-week travel and matches. Unless the rules change, Fulham is unlikely to have a club deep enough to play twice a week while surviving in the PL.
While I also understand the temptation to complain about how late everything happens in the transfer window (we all get frustrated with that), Fulham’s problems aren’t with the failure to get players bedded in prior to the first match. Fulham’s recent problems have been in March-May, when everyone is fully onboard. Again, that’s a problem with not having the financial ability to buy a deeper squad. Is one year playing against mid-level European competition really worth getting relegated?
I'd also say that considering Fulham being a borderline yo-yo club (if not one of the luckier full time members) that developing young players with the goal of increasing their value is a luxury that Marco and the club literally can't afford. Plus, how many transfer windows has Marco truly been given to do what he thought was necessary and best for the club to push for Europe, let alone avoid relegation? Is the answer to that greater than 1 window? I'll take the under. If a class manager like Marco is willing to leave Fulham for half the salary that says A LOT more about the overall ownership and their management/dedication/goals.
Hopefully Marco stays and is given more authority to do what's best for the team on the pitch, but losing him will put the club in a very tough position barring the securing of another world class manager (or one in the making).
I'd say we should REALLY appreciate what we have now. Look at the clubs (and their stadiums) in the championship now that will be salivating to take a premier league place from Fulham, who can't seem to define what type of club they aspire to be. I'll embrace the mid-table finish as I fear it'll be A LOT more than a few seasons before Fulham captures the upswing of that yo-yo if we meet the relegation fate again.
Fingers crossed the Khan's hire people who can steer the ship in the right direction for long term success...how that success is defined is the big question.
Er, developing young players to sell on brings its own kind of pain. While relegation causes its own special form of grief the sale of talent like Ryan Sessegnon, Fabio Carvalho, Harvey Elliott and Jay Stansfield are definitely blows to the psyche too. So let’s just face it, following Fulham is a series of compromises with the least worst bringing the greatest joy. Regards, Baz.
Sorry to say, but I disagree on a number of points. Players losing their heads like Andersen id, is surely not Silva's fault. Happened before and will happen again. Also, you cannot put ESR in the same basket as Bobb or Kevin, the latter may two well prove doubters wrong, given enough time. Thirdly, if you have been following Fulham for long enough, Premier league survival without "stress" is not something to be scoffed at. I believe that Silva has brought the club where it belongs, but it has been anything but easy. He deserves further backing, ad the Khans latest contract offers is the right move.
Great piece. Increasingly fan ambitions, director’s objectives and reality with collide and hit a barrier. In some ways it is similar to the situation with Iraola and Glasner. Silva has got them as far as he (or anyone) can. His ambition is clearly higher but the board are probably in the only place they can be. To make that next step is a high risk and would require an almost complete squad overhaul so the club has probably reached its peak value and position. But eventually, a manager will falter. My only criticism would be that they could take the cups more seriously as a way to give the fans something extra.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, we need to sign players with upwards momentum (in terms of application, belief and and ability), rather than those on a downward trajectory. The only one who might fill that brief is Kevin. I don't tgink it really matters about age so much as it does sheer momentum and hunger, 2 things we consistently seem to be missing. We need leaders and drivers, not followers and passengers.
I think you summed it up perfectly Arthur and I agree with you we need a new manager and younger players with a sell on value we also need TK to be releaved of his job if we are going to get these players in early so they have time to settle in.
I can’t agree. Marco Silva was appointed as Head Coach rather than as the manager. Recruitment was and is the responsibility of the Director of Football, Tony Khan. He has no background in football or relevant professional experience. His only qualification is that he is the owner’s son. He has recruited players using a Moneyball stats approach and team, usually near the transfer deadline day, presumably to squeeze out a lower price. The outcomes have been poor compared with the recruitment success of the three Bs: Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford. In particular, our high value acquisitions have proved poor value. That is unsurprising. ESR and Bobb were released by Premier League clubs because they rightly concluded that they would not make the grade. The selling clubs passed on the Black Maria to us. Arguably, they might be middle of the table players but that depends on their deficits and potential. To move forward, we need a professional director of football, not an amateur; a top-level set pieces coach (Khan recruited the current holder from within the club); and to tap up members of the three Bs’ recruitment teams, so as to learn from them. It seems unlikely that a top manager will be prepared to work under a DOF who is the owner’s son. Time to ‘promote’ him to Vice-Chairman, which will enable him to concentrate on what he does know: business and wrestling.
You talk of our long term goals. I don't think the Khans could care less about the Europa League or the Conference thing. Low revenue generation until the later knock out stages, and they'd need to pony up for some extra players as the current squad is incredibly shallow talent-wise. No one is going to pay £125 to sit in the Riverside to watch FFC v FC Anagram from an ex-Soviet republic on a chilly Thursday night. I'm immensely grateful to MS for having a game plan which the team execute pretty well. They've rarely rolled over for one of the bigger teams under his watch and that's been good to see. But you need to refresh in football, and it's time for a change. I'm pretty sure they'll go for a safe pair of hands who will be told 'keep us up and you've done enough'. The Khans are not here for glory.
The priorities of the club and the fans are not totally aligned. The club has demonstrated that its priority is to stay in the league. That’s it. They buy depreciated assets and keep the club up. I’m not at all sure they’d welcome European qualification right now, as it presents huge financial challenges. The fanbase is divided, some want ambition, others are fine with continuity in the league.
Marco promised Fulham fans a decision last week..he has crossed that line cos he’s waiting for Real Madrid and benfica to sort out, plus the ludicrous decision of the authorities to have contracts expiring on 30 th June..which is a waste of money for a lot of football clubs…Marco must get that benfica job asap, and then Tony khan can step down,and recruit the best http://replacement.like the palace manager.
I find mediocrity to be boring. I'm exhausted with the charge to European competition only to thwarted by either complacency or rigidity of ingame strategy. We must now be exuberant in our expectations. Like Liverpool we shouldn't excuse mediocrity.
The successes of Marco Silva at Fulham ought to be thanked respectfully; yet having reached that level, it is incumbent to keep going - not to rest on our laurels.
To reach higher, I believe, that won't be with the present coaching staff. Hopefully the same resources being proffered to continue languishing in mid-table will be also be available to refresh the coaching staff - with higher expectations. COYW !
A manager who can do it all is beyond our grasp. Thomas Frank would be a safe pair of hands but wasn’t the key man behind Brentford’s recruitment.
We’ve had more young players come through before Josh King who’ve escaped us - we could and should do more to keep them, as they will have sell on value. We could certainly do with a new Director of Football, whose presence certainly seems to have irked Silva. But that will never change…
It’s difficult to disagree with the analysis here, but the conclusion rests on the assumption that we will be able to get a manager who can a) sustain premier league survival, b) push for Europe, c) develop young players and increase their value d) continue to identify new players to replace those who are sold. I’d love that to be true but it’s more faith than I have in the club. Therefore given the choice I’d stick rather than twist.
The premiership is so competitive with most teams grappling with a policy of avoiding relegation or showing ambition and aim for European competition. This year Leeds and Sunderland avoided returning to the championship, so this added further jeopardy. Long term stability is the key, and if this means years of mid table performance I would take this. Fulham do not have big money attendances or wage levels.
While I understand the concerns about Fulham wallowing in “mid-level mediocrity”, it’s much better than the alternative. I think we need to face the fact that with the financial restrictions currently in place, Fulham would not survive in the PL if the club somehow managed to get into Europe - it’s simply not deep enough. This season went downhill after a mid-week match against recently relegated WHU. Imagine what would happen with a whole season filled with mid-week travel and matches. Unless the rules change, Fulham is unlikely to have a club deep enough to play twice a week while surviving in the PL.
While I also understand the temptation to complain about how late everything happens in the transfer window (we all get frustrated with that), Fulham’s problems aren’t with the failure to get players bedded in prior to the first match. Fulham’s recent problems have been in March-May, when everyone is fully onboard. Again, that’s a problem with not having the financial ability to buy a deeper squad. Is one year playing against mid-level European competition really worth getting relegated?
I'd also say that considering Fulham being a borderline yo-yo club (if not one of the luckier full time members) that developing young players with the goal of increasing their value is a luxury that Marco and the club literally can't afford. Plus, how many transfer windows has Marco truly been given to do what he thought was necessary and best for the club to push for Europe, let alone avoid relegation? Is the answer to that greater than 1 window? I'll take the under. If a class manager like Marco is willing to leave Fulham for half the salary that says A LOT more about the overall ownership and their management/dedication/goals.
Hopefully Marco stays and is given more authority to do what's best for the team on the pitch, but losing him will put the club in a very tough position barring the securing of another world class manager (or one in the making).
I'd say we should REALLY appreciate what we have now. Look at the clubs (and their stadiums) in the championship now that will be salivating to take a premier league place from Fulham, who can't seem to define what type of club they aspire to be. I'll embrace the mid-table finish as I fear it'll be A LOT more than a few seasons before Fulham captures the upswing of that yo-yo if we meet the relegation fate again.
Fingers crossed the Khan's hire people who can steer the ship in the right direction for long term success...how that success is defined is the big question.
Er, developing young players to sell on brings its own kind of pain. While relegation causes its own special form of grief the sale of talent like Ryan Sessegnon, Fabio Carvalho, Harvey Elliott and Jay Stansfield are definitely blows to the psyche too. So let’s just face it, following Fulham is a series of compromises with the least worst bringing the greatest joy. Regards, Baz.
Sorry to say, but I disagree on a number of points. Players losing their heads like Andersen id, is surely not Silva's fault. Happened before and will happen again. Also, you cannot put ESR in the same basket as Bobb or Kevin, the latter may two well prove doubters wrong, given enough time. Thirdly, if you have been following Fulham for long enough, Premier league survival without "stress" is not something to be scoffed at. I believe that Silva has brought the club where it belongs, but it has been anything but easy. He deserves further backing, ad the Khans latest contract offers is the right move.
Great piece. Increasingly fan ambitions, director’s objectives and reality with collide and hit a barrier. In some ways it is similar to the situation with Iraola and Glasner. Silva has got them as far as he (or anyone) can. His ambition is clearly higher but the board are probably in the only place they can be. To make that next step is a high risk and would require an almost complete squad overhaul so the club has probably reached its peak value and position. But eventually, a manager will falter. My only criticism would be that they could take the cups more seriously as a way to give the fans something extra.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, we need to sign players with upwards momentum (in terms of application, belief and and ability), rather than those on a downward trajectory. The only one who might fill that brief is Kevin. I don't tgink it really matters about age so much as it does sheer momentum and hunger, 2 things we consistently seem to be missing. We need leaders and drivers, not followers and passengers.
I think you summed it up perfectly Arthur and I agree with you we need a new manager and younger players with a sell on value we also need TK to be releaved of his job if we are going to get these players in early so they have time to settle in.
Arthur you have worded this piece brilliantly your grandfather would be very proud 🫶🏻
I can’t agree. Marco Silva was appointed as Head Coach rather than as the manager. Recruitment was and is the responsibility of the Director of Football, Tony Khan. He has no background in football or relevant professional experience. His only qualification is that he is the owner’s son. He has recruited players using a Moneyball stats approach and team, usually near the transfer deadline day, presumably to squeeze out a lower price. The outcomes have been poor compared with the recruitment success of the three Bs: Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford. In particular, our high value acquisitions have proved poor value. That is unsurprising. ESR and Bobb were released by Premier League clubs because they rightly concluded that they would not make the grade. The selling clubs passed on the Black Maria to us. Arguably, they might be middle of the table players but that depends on their deficits and potential. To move forward, we need a professional director of football, not an amateur; a top-level set pieces coach (Khan recruited the current holder from within the club); and to tap up members of the three Bs’ recruitment teams, so as to learn from them. It seems unlikely that a top manager will be prepared to work under a DOF who is the owner’s son. Time to ‘promote’ him to Vice-Chairman, which will enable him to concentrate on what he does know: business and wrestling.
You talk of our long term goals. I don't think the Khans could care less about the Europa League or the Conference thing. Low revenue generation until the later knock out stages, and they'd need to pony up for some extra players as the current squad is incredibly shallow talent-wise. No one is going to pay £125 to sit in the Riverside to watch FFC v FC Anagram from an ex-Soviet republic on a chilly Thursday night. I'm immensely grateful to MS for having a game plan which the team execute pretty well. They've rarely rolled over for one of the bigger teams under his watch and that's been good to see. But you need to refresh in football, and it's time for a change. I'm pretty sure they'll go for a safe pair of hands who will be told 'keep us up and you've done enough'. The Khans are not here for glory.
The priorities of the club and the fans are not totally aligned. The club has demonstrated that its priority is to stay in the league. That’s it. They buy depreciated assets and keep the club up. I’m not at all sure they’d welcome European qualification right now, as it presents huge financial challenges. The fanbase is divided, some want ambition, others are fine with continuity in the league.
Marco promised Fulham fans a decision last week..he has crossed that line cos he’s waiting for Real Madrid and benfica to sort out, plus the ludicrous decision of the authorities to have contracts expiring on 30 th June..which is a waste of money for a lot of football clubs…Marco must get that benfica job asap, and then Tony khan can step down,and recruit the best http://replacement.like the palace manager.
I find mediocrity to be boring. I'm exhausted with the charge to European competition only to thwarted by either complacency or rigidity of ingame strategy. We must now be exuberant in our expectations. Like Liverpool we shouldn't excuse mediocrity.
The successes of Marco Silva at Fulham ought to be thanked respectfully; yet having reached that level, it is incumbent to keep going - not to rest on our laurels.
To reach higher, I believe, that won't be with the present coaching staff. Hopefully the same resources being proffered to continue languishing in mid-table will be also be available to refresh the coaching staff - with higher expectations. COYW !