Fulham plays for the last time this season, going up against Newcastle at Craven Cottage. Kickoff for all Premier League matches will be at 11am Sunday on Peacock so get multiple devices ready.
This match is relatively meaningless for both teams closing out a disappointing finish to their seasons. Both teams are on 49 points with Fulham in 13th, but Newcastle is two places ahead based on goal differential. The highest Fulham could finish realistically would be 10th place unless there was a wild swing in goal differential - and let's face it, Fulham would be lucky to score just one goal in this match. With a loss, Fulham could on drop one spot. The most likely scenario is that Fulham stays in 13th.
When the two teams played in Newcastle back in October, the Magpies were in 11th, just like they are now. Guimaraes got a 90th minute winner. Fulham's starting right winger was Adama Traore, which feels hard to believe now! The match concluded a four game losing streak for Fulham, the worst stretch for Fulham this season.
With nothing to really play for this is just about getting some sense of the players who will be around next season and letting them get a chance to work together and make a statement about their intentions. The biggest question is if this will be the last time we see Silva manage for Fulham. If I had to bet on it, I would say yes - this is probably the end of the road. Wilson and Raul are also at the end of their contracts and I wouldn't be surprised if this is Reed's last match too. I'm kind of indifferent to how all of this turns out so my attention will probably be more on the Tottenham and West Ham games.
The usual Silva pattern; after months of excitement, we're ending with a whimper. First, credit where it's due: with him in charge, we didn't have to wonder about relegation, except maybe for a couple of weeks this season, and even then not seriously. Part of me wants to see what another manager can do with this core of players, but then I remember that it's sometimes good to be careful what we wish for. It could be much worse.
But it could also be better. Someone with more flexibility and better game management might have helped us avoid dropping all those points from winning positions this season and encouraged more risk-taking in the final third instead of the usual pattern of trying to pass our way all the way into the goal. Might have taken better advantage of our academy and managed young players' careers (e.g. we let Martial Gozo go, and he's is tearing up Ligue A; de Fougerolles can't get any minutes on loan at the worst team in Belgium; Luke Harris has stalled and is languishing at Wycombe); there should be more Josh Kings coming up through the ranks.
A perfect manager doesn't exist. On the balance of things, I hope we can convince Silva to stay, at least for another couple of years. He's shown that he can analyze things and learn. I suspect the manager Silva is next season will be a better version of Silva 25/26. I'd like to see what the improved Marco can accomplish.
If Silva does leave, who is your favorite candidate for Fulham's next manager?
If Silva does leave, who is your favorite candidate for Fulham's next manager?
I suspect the best answer is in another European league that I'm not familiar with. Of recent Premier League managers I wonder about Amorim. Was his success in Portugal just a flash in the pan or his he actually capable of success in the PL? Fulham might have the right core to adjust to his style and he could bring the potential for a reunion with Palhinha.
I don't see any changes in the typical lineup. Silva is almost always consistent in these matches. Therefore, today should be a rinse and repeat of the last two matches.
Like @MicahMan, I'd like to see the team look to the future with some new faces starting, but I don't get the feeling that Silva thinks that way.
I wouldn't mind holding onto Silva but, at the same time, I feel like the team has stagnated. I'm also growing a little weary of the playing style. While attractive, it's not yielding the results (i.e. goals) that I'd like to see. So the grass is definitely greener in my view, but that doesn't necessarily mean we should hop the fence.
I saw only the second half. The same players, but they seemed to enjoy themselves so much more than in any match over the last few weeks. If we'd had that mentality consistently, we would have been higher in the table.
Both goals today came from something other than interminable, slow passes around the opposition penalty area. Varying the game and taking shots from distance is precisely what I've been clamoring for--thank you, TC.
Fulham can't wait for Silva much longer. They need to start planning for next season right away. I suspect they'll give Silva another week or two and then yank the contract offer even if his current one doesn't expire until the end of next month. The team cannot afford an interregnum during the summer.
I'm fretting about next season and staying up, something I haven't done in three years.
Well that was a fun way to end the season. It reminded me of some of the matches in the most recent Championship season - Fulham was running rampant at times and always seemed like they were going to score another one.
Both goals put a smile on my face for different reasons. Kevin's free kick was ridiculous and so close to going in, but then Issa Diop - the man who's barely had any playing time - keeps a positive attitude running into the box and gets a goal. He's now level on the season with Muniz for goals scored. I also liked he was able to get a round of applause as he was subbed late, he deserved it.
When Cairney came on he seemed determined to score with two early screamers just missing the target, but the third time was the charm. An absolutely audacious shot from well outside the box that just adds another page to the book of Cairney lore.
I'd also like to call out Castagne's terrific block that took the ball off of Hall's toe in the first half. He had been holding the line, but then looked too far off to make it back when the cross came in. Somehow he got enough speed to fly in from nowhere and stop what would have been an easy score for Newcastle.
The game was a real pleasure to watch... and then I looked at the final standings. Had Fulham beaten Wolves, they would have finished with 54 points and a -3 goal differential. That would have put Fulham above Chelsea, above Brentford, and most importantly, above Sunderland for 7th place and a spot in the Europa League - not Conference League, the Europa League. Sadly, that takes the shine off this game a little, but I'm trying not to dwell on that too much and keep the positive feelings going that came out of this one.
I enjoyed the match. It finally seemed like everyone was free to just play. Still not excited that the first goal came from a defender who hadn’t scored in two years. Cairney’s goal was fantastic and such the perfect way to close out the campaign. We probably won’t get many more of those in this life, so I was overjoyed to see it.