It seems we need a space to chat about what is likely to be a few months of significant change for Fulham. I expect we'll see a bit of a changing of the guard in the playing squad in addition to a revolution in the coaching staff.
Silva - I don't know if I can think of any other Fulham manager who was as good at building up players' confidence and developing their strengths. Silva's weakness is game management. I will always like the man and be thankful for his making Fulham into an established Prem side, but I think the potential of the Fulham/Silva combination is just short of the European spots. There is no question at this point that he will leave. Who will replace him? I've seen rumors about Kieran McKenna from Ipswich and admit I don't know enough about him.
Playing squad - Wilson and Jimenez are at the end of their contracts, and Chukwueze and Kusi-Asare are likely going back to their clubs. Beyond those, I expect Cuenca, Reed, and Diop to seek other places with more opportunities. TC is a playing coach rather than a full-time player. Berge/Lukic is not really a top-half center-mid pairing, and the new coach may show one or both the door. Then there are those annual unpleasant surprises. Will someone come with offers our brass decides we cannot refuse for Bassey and King? They're likely to draw interest. What kind of Fulham will emerge from the transfer window after the world cup? Will it be a strengthened squad able to emulate the likes of Bournemouth or Brighton of this season, or will we be collectively holding our breath and expecting relegation?
So many good questions in there. We'll likely see many key changes over the summer and will be left wondering if they were a net positive before that first kickoff in August.
I totally agree with your take on Silva. I have no problem if he leaves even if the chances of finding someone better are less than 50/50. We've seen the best of what he can do with Fulham and I'd like to give someone else a shot. For a while it felt like we could say he just didn't have the right players. This season that excuse ran out of steam. He had better players than back when Fulham got promoted and still didn't accomplish anything more. If he does happen to stay, that isn't the worst thing either. He'll have Fulham around 50 points, never worry much about relegation, get a wiff of further success but nothing more - not terrible but not great.
I think that Fulham under Silva have gotten too cautious and predictable. Things just grind to a halt too often trying to go forward. If someone new comes in I'd like to see a team that reacts more quickly when it has the advantage. Some greater variety in the attack would be good too - fewer lofted crosses into the box please.
I've been thinking back to that deal for Pepi that fell through. Pepi recovered from his injury and did well for PSV so his price certainly hasn't gone down. Fulham desperately needs a better option up top and he could have been it - any maybe still could be. However, now that Europe is out of the question and Silva's status is up in the air I 'm not sure if Fulham can attract someone of his caliber. I wonder if the deal had gone through earlier, could we possibly have seen the Muniz that was scoring for fun when Broja was brought in as a loan. That pressure seemed to ignite something in Muniz and maybe Pepi's potential arrival could have done the same, and then that would have meant Fulham earning more points, and possibly Europe, and possibly Wilson/Silva staying, but that's a lot of conjecture. What can be said is that Fulham have the fewest goals in the PL over the last eight matches - just four, and three of those came against Burnley. That is something that cannot continue into next season.
I hope Fulham can keep Cuenca and Diop. They are both very good options to have and Diop should have gotten start over Andersen down the stretch. However, given their playing time, I would understand if they moved on. If Fulham does end up selling Bassey then it would be even more important to keep Cuenca since he would b a good option to fill that hole.
Fulham feel on the cusp of something. Could be relegation. Could be Europe. I just don't think we'll see another comfortable mid-table finish next season.
For reference here is the roster and when a player's contract expires:
| Player | Contract Exp. |
| Harry Wilson | 2026 |
| Raúl Jiménez | 2026 |
| Stephen Benda | 2026 |
| Benjamin Lecomte | 2027 |
| Bernd Leno | 2027 |
| Calvin Bassey | 2027 |
| Harrison Reed | 2027 |
| Issa Diop | 2027 |
| Ryan Sessegnon | 2027 |
| Sasa Lukic | 2027 |
| Timothy Castagne | 2027 |
| Tom Cairney | 2027 |
| Alex Iwobi | 2028 |
| Antonee Robinson | 2028 |
| Jorge Cuenca | 2028 |
| Kenny Tete | 2028 |
| Emile Smith Rowe | 2029 |
| Joachim Andersen | 2029 |
| Josh King | 2029 |
| Sander Berge | 2029 |
| Kevin | 2030 |
| Rodrigo Muniz | 2030 |
| Oscar Bobb | 2031 |
We've also got Chukwueze and Kusi Asare who were on season long loans.
For me the priority has to be a striker. Muniz had a great run for a few months long ago, but it seems unlikely he'll recapture that. It is a real shame that Pepe wasn't brought in because he would have been perfect. Something must be done up top, and soon so we aren't kicking off in August still waiting for a linchpin player to come on board!
Beyond striker, I think Fulham should look for an attacking midfielder. With Smith-Rowe, Iwobi, and King on the roster it would seem like that should be enough, but Smith-Rowe in particular hasn't lived up to expectations. Fulham should take the opportunity to bring in someone with more attacking threat potential. Cairney is on the roster, and looked great against Newcastle, but I wouldn't look at him as anything more than a sub.
More depth is needed on the wings too. Kevin and Bobb look likely to start with Iwobi and Sessegnon options to fill those roles, but another dedicated winger or two will be needed for the inevitable injury crisis. I won't be upset of Chukwueze returns, but I'm also not sure he was good enough down the stretch to warrant a permanent position.
Those are my top needs, but I also wouldn't mind another defensive midfield option to upgrade from Reed and another LB - especially if Sessegnon is going to be needed more as a winger.
I think Fulham are okay on most of the defense. RB, CB, and GK positions all look good to me. I'm not one who's soured on Leno yet.
It is a strange, rare day when I differ with MicahMan, but I do today. 🙂 I think our greatest need is in holding/defensive midfield, followed closely by striker. I think we're ok'ish out wide with Kevin and Bobb, with Sess, ESR, and Iwobi being able to cover there, too, though one more winger wouldn't hurt. The difference is that in defense, attacking mid and out wide we're looking for important depth while we already have worthy starters, whereas in CM/DM and ST, we need significant improvement upon the players we currently have. Berge/Lukic is not a Premier League-level pairing. Neither is Berge/anyone nor Lukic/anyone. We need a new, better center. Muniz is missing his mojo, and even if he weren't, we can't approach the next season with just one striker. I hope the Khans are feeling generous this summer.
rare day when I differ with MicahMan, but I do today
😆 I love it when someone has a different opinion and you do make a good case @Daddude7
From my POV, I like Berge more than most people and when playing without Lukic he does a better job of controlling the midfield. He's pretty good with the ball at his feet and is capable of finding space and kicking off attacks. I think the issue with him has been more about coaching than any personal deficiencies. Admittedly I'm making a lot of suppositions in that opinion! I am more aligned with you on Lukic. He and Berge did seem to get a little better as a pair over the final weeks, but I won't object to bringing someone else in to compete for his role.
It is almost a week since the last match and we still don't have an answer on the manager. That makes me feel like there must be some negotiations going on and both Silva and Khan are still considering signing on for another campaign.
And while there has been no official announcement, the word on the street is that Fulham has decided not to use the option to sign Chukwueze permanently.
I see that its official: Jose M. to Real Madrid. Door's open at Benfica for Silva.
In hindsight, Silva's time at Fulham will age like fine wine...right now, it's a bit of $2 Chuck that you've gone back to one too many times.
COYW
Door's open at Benfica for Silva.
I happen to be a stone's throw from Estadio da Luz. If see Marco around you'll be the first to know! 😆
Silva is officially gone. Whom does everyone want next? I’m having trouble landing on specific names that fit.
No idea who should be next. I just want someone with an attacking mindset. Pretty passing triangles just aren’t as exciting as break away and shots.
I do find it interesting that the club scrubbed the Fulham badge from Silva’s shirt in the photo that accompanied the article. I don’t think that it’s anything malicious, just odd.
Lots of chatter linking us with Kieran McKenna. Example: https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/26160325.ipswich-town---marco-silva-leaves-fulham-kieran-mckenna-linked/. I would like that, but he just got Ipswich promoted--not sure why he'd leave, unless we can sell him on the Fulham project. Suppose money and the city of London could play a role, too.
We could also do worse than Dino Toppmöller, and he's free to join anyone. His record with Frankfurt is 1.55 points per game over 121 games. I like his aggressive, dynamic style of play, too.