But I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know
I think this is about our level. A few upgrades needed - Muniz etc.
I fancy up to get something at Arsenal. They are doing their annual implosion.
Finishing 9th I reckon.
Considering we are in the mix for Europe it feels strange that the players look fatigued or are packing for holiday.
I don't think we have been that convincing this season and we looked better last season,but we do have this falling off the pace in the final games every season which is just weird.
I would put myself on the optimist category, but agree with Suffolk White that something is missing this year.
Sometimes we look short of ideas or lacking the fluidity of different seasons. I don't think it's necessarily an end of season thing, as we have been like that for several games since the start of the season.
I think if we fix the Danny Murphy and Moussa Dembele roles over the summer we'll find ourselves well into the European slots. The talent is there.
The biggest issue at this time is Marco's silence about his contract which is clearly having a derogatory effect on the team and our performance
I'm happy with the way everything is going...the club appear to have direction... player's & managers come & go, but we look like a sensible stable club
Spurs not won in 15 games,
Liam Delap not scored in 20 games for chelsea.
so are we that bad, or are fans expectations
just unrealistic. Although a little
bit of entertainment would be nice.
Quote from: St Eve on April 19, 2026, 12:47:58 AMBut I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know
I agree with this but I am getting a bit fed up with the predictable, sometimes very boring, slow pace of our play. And if we do manage a European competition unless we bring in at least a couple of inventive sparky players I can't imagine much joy on that front, other than having an excuse to travel.
It's really frustrating that our performances are so poor but the results are not that bad. On March 23rd I post my Premier league prediction table with us finishing 7th on 56 points and all bar one result (West ham) of ours have been correct. I had a win and two draws from our last 3 home games so if we can do better that that and win at wolves we won't be far off. Feel Marco needs to try something different like playing 442.
Quote from: St Eve on April 19, 2026, 12:47:58 AMBut I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know
3pts behind 6th place and 6points off Leeds who are in a relegation battle,
As Mr Parker might say "it's all about fine margins " ,
Whether we want to push on for Europe next season or move away from the relegation battle we've got a very busy summer ahead and lots of gaps to be plugged.
If Silva does go the next manager has got plenty to do
If there is something missing in our performances this season, I would describe the "missing piece" as "direct pace". Direct pace was shown in abundance by Southampton. No poncing around by passing the ball across the field in front of the defenders, patiently probing for an opening. What Southampton showed was running straight at a defence, with other runners joining in, unsettles teams. You often hear commentators say that defenders don't like to have to deal with pacy attackers.
Essentially we are a cautious team and I think we have grown more cautious over the past couple of seasons.
Quote from: john dempsey on April 19, 2026, 11:50:00 AMAlthough a little
bit of entertainment would be nice.
I highly recommend White Lotus.
Quote from: Ludlow Richard on April 19, 2026, 02:47:57 PMIf there is something missing in our performances this season, I would describe the "missing piece" as "direct pace". Direct pace was shown in abundance by Southampton. No poncing around by passing the ball across the field in front of the defenders, patiently probing for an opening. What Southampton showed was running straight at a defence, with other runners joining in, unsettles teams. You often hear commentators say that defenders don't like to have to deal with pacy attackers.
Essentially we are a cautious team and I think we have grown more cautious over the past couple of seasons.
Well we sold the only player with actual pace, Adama.
Quote from: SuffolkWhite on April 19, 2026, 09:47:12 AMConsidering we are in the mix for Europe it feels strange that the players look fatigued or are packing for holiday. I don't think we have been that convincing this season and we looked better last season,but we do have this falling off the pace in the final games every season which is just weird.
This is something I just don't understand, and tbh, I find hard to believe. How can FFC be fatigued and falling off at seasons' end? Just doesn't compute. FFC plays far fewer games during the course of the season than many of the other teams in this league.
Quote from: Ludlow Richard on April 19, 2026, 02:47:57 PMIf there is something missing in our performances this season, I would describe the "missing piece" as "direct pace". Direct pace was shown in abundance by Southampton. No poncing around by passing the ball across the field in front of the defenders, patiently probing for an opening. What Southampton showed was running straight at a defence, with other runners joining in, unsettles teams. You often hear commentators say that defenders don't like to have to deal with pacy attackers.
Essentially we are a cautious team and I think we have grown more cautious over the past couple of seasons.
This, 100% this, we are so slow, like a slough team.
Pace is what is feared most, far to much sideways backwards bollox under Silva, the football is bloody boring.
A change in manager is needed, watch Bournemouth, they get on the front foot ASAP when they have the ball. Watch us, 20 passes around at the back, giving ball away at end of it. Poor
I do admire the OP's optimism, and yes, FFC still has a chance for Euro play, but, this team needs to get its' head straightened. The team has not played well over the past month and a half or so. Would be nice to see this team play at a level they did over the Christmas period.
Well Everton and Sunderland lost as hoped. Our position is a little better than yesterday.
A win can change everything. Lose to Villa and we need an entire new team and manager. Win and we are unbeatable and have the best manager in the country.
It's going to be an interesting last 5 games.
Quote from: St Eve on April 19, 2026, 12:47:58 AMBut I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know
This is all very reasonable and we could click and pick up several wins.
But I've been supporting our team for around 65 years and realistically I can't see it happening, maybe that makes me a pessimist!
Quote from: WindyCity on April 19, 2026, 03:54:50 PMQuote from: SuffolkWhite on April 19, 2026, 09:47:12 AMConsidering we are in the mix for Europe it feels strange that the players look fatigued or are packing for holiday. I don't think we have been that convincing this season and we looked better last season,but we do have this falling off the pace in the final games every season which is just weird.
This is something I just don't understand, and tbh, I find hard to believe. How can FFC be fatigued and falling off at seasons' end? Just doesn't compute. FFC plays far fewer games during the course of the season than many of the other teams in this league.
Precisely
Quote from: john dempsey on April 19, 2026, 11:50:00 AMSpurs not won in 15 games,
Liam Delap not scored in 20 games for chelsea.
so are we that bad, or are fans expectations
just unrealistic. Although a little
bit of entertainment would be nice.
Another sensible post but the issue IMO is this, we do have good players, many small individual good days and a settled club atmosphere apart from the manager coming to the end of his contract.
But after establishing ourselves in the PL, spending big (for us) money on recruitment, we have hit a ceiling regarding achieving any kind of success.
We are organised to the point that we rarely get well beaten (result wise) but struggle to impress even in games we win.
We know there's more in this team when we see the come back against Man City, the performances against other top clubs but too often we play with the brakes on.
A couple of new signings that bring improvements immediately such as when Pereira or Palhina arrived could bring the desired effect otherwise stagnation will lead to a real struggle for points in the future.
Don't rate our Chances of European Football next season. Our remaining Fixtures look devilishly difficult.
Quote from: St Eve on April 19, 2026, 12:47:58 AMBut I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know
Don't really understand your point. I think most of us are happy to just be in the Premier League and that Silva has done such a good job over the past four seasons with a limited budget and a squad that's not exactly brimming with great talent. Looking at the table, Fulham are 12th...just three points behind Stamford Bridge circus side. I don't think many of us are expecting to be playing in the Champions League.....the club has to cut its cloth according to its size.....we are not a BIG club and never will be. It was 30 years ago that Micky Adams managed to stop us playing non-league football when it seemed odds on that we would. So, you might have higher expectations than the rest of or have just forgotten the past????
And what about the plan for Fulham Park Rangers back in the 1980s??? (Marler Estates/Bulstrode wanting to sell Craven Cottage and build luxury apartments and merge FFC with QPR at play at LR?? So, let's just be thankful of where we are and what we are. No one is down in the mouth over the prospect of not playing Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/PSG next season. That's cloud cuckoo land imo. Europa League/Conference League then maybe. But I don't think we have a good enough squad players to win anything and unless there's a Saudi takeover of oil money and a bottomless pit of cash to buy some top line, heavy duty players, than Fulham will always be a small/medium family club and long may that continue.
Quote from: St Eve on April 19, 2026, 12:47:58 AMBut I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know
Reality check:
1987: Bulstrode plans to sell off Craven Cottage to build luxury Thames apartments AND merge the club with QPR into one club called Fulham Park Rangers AND play at Loftus Road.
Only a fans revolt by both FFC and QPR stop this controversial and ludicrous proposal.
1996: FFC are heading out of the Football League.
But Micky Adams works his magic, and the rest is history as Adams' Class of '97 finish the 96/97 season with their first promotion in 15 years.
1997: Al-Fayed sensationally becomes Fulham's new owner when he purchases the freehold of the club. The spending spree begins.
2001: Fulham are promoted to the Premier League. Let the good times roll. But no one is getting carried away with themselves. Fulham will not be the Man Utd of the South.
But if Fayed hadn't have come along, Fulham would never be where it is now. So, let's be thankful for what happened and be thankful for the present situation under Silva who is doing a good job with a small budget and a squad which is not exactly brimming with talent. Sure, every football fan would love to see their club playing Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/PSG in the Champions League....or how about winning the trophy??
But that's cloud cuckoo land for a club like Fulham who remain a small/mid-size family club which is boxing a little above its weight in the most elite league in the world. It's something of a miracle that the club is actually in this league considering where we were not that long ago.....barely able to muster a gate of 4000 at the Cottage and being allowed to get in free at half-time to watch the second half.
Having a crack at the Europa League or Conference doesn't exactly get the pulses racing but getting into either one of those competitions would be nice. However, I don't think it matters. Looking at the PL table today, Fulham are 12th....just three points behind the circus side at Stamford Bridge....a club that has squandered hundreds of millions on players and a long line of inept managers, including the present one.
So, we are not doing too badly at all.
Cut your cloth according to your size is the saying. No one is really disappointed with our current 'situation.' Just realistic.
The problem this year was the very poor start.
Results wise our best spell this season was during the afcon.
Quote from: hovewhite on April 20, 2026, 06:46:39 AMResults wise our best spell this season was during the afcon.
It certainly was, to my surprise.
I love to read a bit of optimism to counter the negativity that seems to be all over this place at the moment.
A load of people on this thread seem to think that spend, or lack of, is the reason that we're not fighting for Europe. Let's just put into context that Liverpool (who already had a squad worth around 4 times ours) spent £440m last summer. They're 10 points ahead of us, last season they were way way more points ahead.
Chelsea, with a squad already worth over £1.2bn spent £300m last summer. They're a massive 3 points ahead of us.
Spurs, £300m spend this season etc etc etc.
There's a load more to just buying players, I wish we'd get away from thinking that was the be all and end all of where you finish.
Marco and his team are key to this all and i would say that Boa may be the missing link as a good few players mentioned how he'd spend time improving them.
Quote from: SuperFreeman on April 20, 2026, 04:38:52 AMQuote from: St Eve on April 19, 2026, 12:47:58 AMBut I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know
Don't really understand your point. I think most of us are happy to just be in the Premier League and that Silva has done such a good job over the past four seasons with a limited budget and a squad that's not exactly brimming with great talent. Looking at the table, Fulham are 12th...just three points behind Stamford Bridge circus side. I don't think many of us are expecting to be playing in the Champions League.....the club has to cut its cloth according to its size.....we are not a BIG club and never will be. It was 30 years ago that Micky Adams managed to stop us playing non-league football when it seemed odds on that we would. So, you might have higher expectations than the rest of or have just forgotten the past????
And what about the plan for Fulham Park Rangers back in the 1980s??? (Marler Estates/Bulstrode wanting to sell Craven Cottage and build luxury apartments and merge FFC with QPR at play at LR?? So, let's just be thankful of where we are and what we are. No one is down in the mouth over the prospect of not playing Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/PSG next season. That's cloud cuckoo land imo. Europa League/Conference League then maybe. But I don't think we have a good enough squad players to win anything and unless there's a Saudi takeover of oil money and a bottomless pit of cash to buy some top line, heavy duty players, than Fulham will always be a small/medium family club and long may that continue.
We already have one of the richest owners in football
Quote from: SuperFreeman on April 20, 2026, 04:38:52 AMQuote from: St Eve on April 19, 2026, 12:47:58 AMBut I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know
Don't really understand your point. I think most of us are happy to just be in the Premier League and that Silva has done such a good job over the past four seasons with a limited budget and a squad that's not exactly brimming with great talent. Looking at the table, Fulham are 12th...just three points behind Stamford Bridge circus side. I don't think many of us are expecting to be playing in the Champions League.....the club has to cut its cloth according to its size.....we are not a BIG club and never will be. It was 30 years ago that Micky Adams managed to stop us playing non-league football when it seemed odds on that we would. So, you might have higher expectations than the rest of or have just forgotten the past????
And what about the plan for Fulham Park Rangers back in the 1980s??? (Marler Estates/Bulstrode wanting to sell Craven Cottage and build luxury apartments and merge FFC with QPR at play at LR?? So, let's just be thankful of where we are and what we are. No one is down in the mouth over the prospect of not playing Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/PSG next season. That's cloud cuckoo land imo. Europa League/Conference League then maybe. But I don't think we have a good enough squad players to win anything and unless there's a Saudi takeover of oil money and a bottomless pit of cash to buy some top line, heavy duty players, than Fulham will always be a small/medium family club and long may that continue.
Clearly you don't. I am well aware of the history of our club, having been a supporter for 65 years. I am always thankful if we finish above 18th, hope for higher finish or maybe a cup run.
My point is that there is a lot of criticism and pessimism about our squad, manager and season. Please read my original post as I think you have misinterpreted it
Quote from: Hugh Janus on April 19, 2026, 08:55:44 AMI fancy up to get something at Arsenal.
You may be right. Going by their recent form, they must be 'on the beach' like us.
I also dont get why people try and justify our season by how teams perceived to be better than us have performed, surely when those teams underperform, thats our opportunity to get ahead, not to simutainiusly do equally as bad
Quote from: KentFulham on April 20, 2026, 12:54:29 PMI also dont get why people try and justify our season by how teams perceived to be better than us have performed, surely when those teams underperform, thats our opportunity to get ahead, not to simutainiusly do equally as bad
I'm using Arsenal as an example to make the point that a bad run of form towards the end of the season doesn't automatically signify the players are 'on the beach'. There's no attempt to excuse performances such as Saturday's; I'm merely saying that the association: April, poor run of games = 'on the beach' is not a fact just because the team is mid-table.
Quote from: SuperFreeman on April 20, 2026, 04:38:52 AMQuote from: St Eve on April 19, 2026, 12:47:58 AMBut I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know
Don't really understand your point. I think most of us are happy to just be in the Premier League and that Silva has done such a good job over the past four seasons with a limited budget and a squad that's not exactly brimming with great talent. Looking at the table, Fulham are 12th...just three points behind Stamford Bridge circus side. I don't think many of us are expecting to be playing in the Champions League.....the club has to cut its cloth according to its size.....we are not a BIG club and never will be. It was 30 years ago that Micky Adams managed to stop us playing non-league football when it seemed odds on that we would. So, you might have higher expectations than the rest of or have just forgotten the past????
And what about the plan for Fulham Park Rangers back in the 1980s??? (Marler Estates/Bulstrode wanting to sell Craven Cottage and build luxury apartments and merge FFC with QPR at play at LR?? So, let's just be thankful of where we are and what we are. No one is down in the mouth over the prospect of not playing Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/PSG next season. That's cloud cuckoo land imo. Europa League/Conference League then maybe. But I don't think we have a good enough squad players to win anything and unless there's a Saudi takeover of oil money and a bottomless pit of cash to buy some top line, heavy duty players, than Fulham will always be a small/medium family club and long may that continue.
I too have been around long enough to know our history going back well beyond the Clay & Bulstrode days.
I now live in Lincoln and they are a small club (albeit on the up) and we are not but being small or medium sized doesn't prevent you having ambition or aiming for success.
There's a good case to call B'mouth & Brentford historically small clubs and they are achieving more than us with probably less resources.
I'm happy in PL midtable mediocrity up to a point but that often leads to stagnation and the inability to avoid the drop that I've seen before.
Quote from: Arthur on April 20, 2026, 01:14:10 PMQuote from: KentFulham on April 20, 2026, 12:54:29 PMI also dont get why people try and justify our season by how teams perceived to be better than us have performed, surely when those teams underperform, thats our opportunity to get ahead, not to simutainiusly do equally as bad
I'm using Arsenal as an example to make the point that a bad run of form towards the end of the season doesn't automatically signify the players are 'on the beach'. There's no attempt to excuse performances such as Saturday's; I'm merely saying that the association: April, poor run of games = 'on the beach' is not a fact just because the team is mid-table.
It is "On the beach" when the same team goes off the boil from March or April onwards nearly every single year. Even in our Championship winning season, we went off the boil as soon as it was confirmed we won it.
Quote from: demeant0r on April 20, 2026, 01:29:01 PMIt is "On the beach" when the same team goes off the boil from March or April onwards nearly every single year. Even in our Championship winning season, we went off the boil as soon as it was confirmed we won it.
Yours is still an opinion, not a fact.
Quote from: SuperFreeman on April 20, 2026, 05:15:28 AMQuote from: St Eve on April 19, 2026, 12:47:58 AMBut I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know
Reality check:
1987: Bulstrode plans to sell off Craven Cottage to build luxury Thames apartments AND merge the club with QPR into one club called Fulham Park Rangers AND play at Loftus Road.
Only a fans revolt by both FFC and QPR stop this controversial and ludicrous proposal.
1996: FFC are heading out of the Football League.
But Micky Adams works his magic, and the rest is history as Adams' Class of less than readable noble?'97 finish the 96/97 season with their first promotion in 15 years.
1997: Al-Fayed sensationally becomes Fulham's new owner when he purchases the freehold of the club. The spending spree begins.
2001: Fulham are promoted to the Premier League. Let the good times roll. But no one is getting carried away with themselves. Fulham will not be the Man Utd of the South.
But if Fayed hadn't have come along, Fulham would never be where it is now. So, let's be thankful for what happened and be thankful for the present situation under Silva who is doing a good job with a small budget and a squad which is not exactly brimming with talent. Sure, every football fan would love to see their club playing Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/PSG in the Champions League....or how about winning the trophy??
But that's cloud cuckoo land for a club like Fulham who remain a small/mid-size family club which is boxing a little above its weight in the most elite league in the world. It's something of a miracle that the club is actually in this league considering where we were not that long ago.....barely able to muster a gate of 4000 at the Cottage and being allowed to get in free at half-time to watch the second half.
Having a crack at the Europa League or Conference doesn't exactly get the pulses racing but getting into either one of those competitions would be nice. However, I don't think it matters. Looking at the PL table today, Fulham are 12th....just three points behind the circus side at Stamford Bridge....a club that has squandered hundreds of millions on players and a long line of inept managers, including the present one.
So, we are not doing too badly at all.
Cut your cloth according to your size is the saying. No one is really disappointed with our current 'situation.' Just realistic.
I think most os us are fully aware of our history. You have selected many of our low points but we have plenty of high points I could quote to add balance.
Personally I don't think it is unreasonable to have some modest ambition for our club? All I would like is slightly more entertaining style of play and some trips to random away venues in the Euro Conference Cup. Surely that's not arrogant, entitled or
Quote from: bill taylors apprentice on April 20, 2026, 01:20:37 PMI'm happy in PL midtable mediocrity up to a point but that often leads to stagnation and the inability to avoid the drop that I've seen before.
It's for each of us to choose the words we want to describe a mid-table finish.
In my opinion, I think the players have to put a lot of effort into finishing mid-table. Last weekend, for instance: while there was an obvious lack of quality to our play, I couldn't fault the players for the way they battled. Brentford were never going to allow us a comfortable afternoon in their own back yard. I didn't think any of our players shied away from the physical side of the game or came up short on work rate.
Quote from: Arthur on April 20, 2026, 01:50:41 PMQuote from: bill taylors apprentice on April 20, 2026, 01:20:37 PMI'm happy in PL midtable mediocrity up to a point but that often leads to stagnation and the inability to avoid the drop that I've seen before.
It's for each of us to choose the words we want to describe a mid-table finish.
In my opinion, I think the players have to put a lot of effort into finishing mid-table. Last weekend, for instance: while there was an obvious lack of quality to our play, I couldn't fault the players for the way they battled. Brentford were never going to allow us a comfortable afternoon in their own back yard. I didn't think any of our players shied away from the physical side of the game or came up short on work rate.
I don't buy into the on the beach argument in terms of laziness. I agree they are still putting in a shift. Mentally tired? Possibly. What I do lament is the slow, predictable style of play we have increasingly fallen into.
Injuries and lost individual form, mean we're relying too heavily on a few players. A problem any club can experience. I don't think Marco can cure that. Again, other managers in the league are having that problem too.
We're safe, so lets do something different. Change the formation, put more of the younger players on the bench, maybe give them some minutes.
Any manager in any profession has to reach targets, build their customer base, keep competitors guessing and staff motivated. Marco's achieved the first. The club are trying to build the base. So lets use what's available to see if we can wobble the last two.
Quote from: St Eve on April 19, 2026, 12:47:58 AMBut I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know
No one (myself) is saying you are arrogant or entitled regarding your view that Fulham are a disappointment because we are not in that part of the league table that qualifies for a European competition. Btw, 6th and 7th place qualifies a club for the Europa League competition and 8th spot gets a club into qualifying for the Conference League. Fulham are 12th and things could change in the last few matches, although I doubt it.
My point was that we are lucky to have Fulham playing in the top tier....if at all. It's a bit like having a good meal out but then complaining you didn't like the colour of the tablecloth. Sure, we have won the Inter Toto Cup and a couple of Play Off finals and we got all the way to the final of the Europa League back in 2010 (which I have written a book about which is available through Amazon titled: 'The Night Craven Cottage Shook, Fulham's Greatest Match with Bobby Zamora.) B
Quote from: St Eve on April 19, 2026, 12:47:58 AMBut I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know
No one (myself) is saying you are arrogant or entitled regarding your view that Fulham are a disappointment because we are not in that part of the league table that qualifies for a European competition. Btw, 6th and 7th place qualifies a club for the Europa League competition and 8th spot gets a club into qualifying for the Conference League. Fulham are 12th and things could change in the last few matches, although I doubt it.
My point was that we are lucky to have Fulham playing in the top tier....if at all. It's a bit like having a good meal out but then complaining you didn't like the colour of the tablecloth. Sure, we have won the Inter Toto Cup and a couple of Play Off finals and we got all the way to the final of the Europa League back in 2010 (which I have written a book about which is available through Amazon titled: 'The Night Craven Cottage Shook, Fulham's Greatest Match with Bobby Zamora.) But there has to be an element of realism. Even if Fulham qualify for a competition in Europe, it's highly unlikely that they will go all the way again and this time win something. I just don't think we have a good enough squad of players. They are not consistent. It's nothing to do with Marco Silva. I also think the Board are happy for FFC to be a mid-table side. Playing in any competition means extra matches which means potential injuries (long term) which then risks the club's form where it matters- in the league. It's why Silva isn't bothered about the FA or League Cup. Having ambition is one thing. But your OP made you sound like you think Fulham should be a heavyweight, a big club and they are just not and never will be and if you cast your mind back not that long ago (which I mentioned in my other post) you can reflect on how far we have come. And btw, it's just my opinion. And I am entitled to give my opinion. This is the beauty of FOF. We can all have our own viewpoints, so no need to be sarky or get put out in your reply to me, just because someone doesn't agree with you.
The main problem is we have acquired all the trappings of a 'big' club and lost the family feeling - both in terms of attracting families and being part of a wider Fulham family.
The old Fulham is now history - you can't blame people for having delusions of grandeur, as the Khans themselves have in spades. It's all short termism, jam today, success at any price.
We may be Premier League but we don't 'belong' in the old Fulham way any more.
Quote from: Mickeyboro on April 21, 2026, 08:19:54 AMThe main problem is we have acquired all the trappings of a 'big' club and lost the family feeling - both in terms of attracting families and being part of a wider Fulham family.
The old Fulham is now history - you can't blame people for having delusions of grandeur, as the Khans themselves have in spades. It's all short termism, jam today, success at any price.
We may be Premier League but we don't 'belong' in the old Fulham way any more.
I miss all that, it made our club very special. However I think it was an inevitability in the modern world so I don't really blame anyone for the change.
Quote from: SuperFreeman on April 21, 2026, 08:07:35 AMQuote from: St Eve on April 19, 2026, 12:47:58 AMBut I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know
No one (myself) is saying you are arrogant or entitled regarding your view that Fulham are a disappointment because we are not in that part of the league table that qualifies for a European competition. Btw, 6th and 7th place qualifies a club for the Europa League competition and 8th spot gets a club into qualifying for the Conference League. Fulham are 12th and things could change in the last few matches, although I doubt it.
My point was that we are lucky to have Fulham playing in the top tier....if at all. It's a bit like having a good meal out but then complaining you didn't like the colour of the tablecloth. Sure, we have won the Inter Toto Cup and a couple of Play Off finals and we got all the way to the final of the Europa League back in 2010 (which I have written a book about which is available through Amazon titled: 'The Night Craven Cottage Shook, Fulham's Greatest Match with Bobby Zamora.) But there has to be an element of realism. Even if Fulham qualify for a competition in Europe, it's highly unlikely that they will go all the way again and this time win something. I just don't think we have a good enough squad of players. They are not consistent. It's nothing to do with Marco Silva. I also think the Board are happy for FFC to be a mid-table side. Playing in any competition means extra matches which means potential injuries (long term) which then risks the club's form where it matters- in the league. It's why Silva isn't bothered about the FA or League Cup. Having ambition is one thing. But your OP made you sound like you think Fulham should be a heavyweight, a big club and they are just not and never will be and if you cast your mind back not that long ago (which I mentioned in my other post) you can reflect on how far we have come. And btw, it's just my opinion. And I am entitled to give my opinion. This is the beauty of FOF. We can all have our own viewpoints, so no need to be sarky or get put out in your reply to me, just because someone doesn't agree with you.
Sorry but I have no idea what you are talking about. I have never, ever suggested anything you are referring to. In fact the complete opposite. I think you must be responding to someone else
Quote from: Twig on April 21, 2026, 10:03:24 AMQuote from: Mickeyboro on April 21, 2026, 08:19:54 AMThe main problem is we have acquired all the trappings of a 'big' club and lost the family feeling - both in terms of attracting families and being part of a wider Fulham family.
The old Fulham is now history - you can't blame people for having delusions of grandeur, as the Khans themselves have in spades. It's all short termism, jam today, success at any price.
We may be Premier League but we don't 'belong' in the old Fulham way any more.
I miss all that, it made our club very special. However I think it was an inevitability in the modern world so I don't really blame anyone for the change.
What irks me most is the contempt in which they hold the FST. Without Fulham 2000 and the supporters efforts there wouldn't BE a club.
Quote from: Mickeyboro on April 21, 2026, 08:19:54 AMThe main problem is we have acquired all the trappings of a 'big' club and lost the family feeling - both in terms of attracting families and being part of a wider Fulham family. The old Fulham is now history - you can't blame people for having delusions of grandeur, as the Khans themselves have in spades. It's all short termism, jam today, success at any price. We may be Premier League but we don't 'belong' in the old Fulham way any more.
Is this really true though? Mind you, I'm just asking the question. (I've been FFC fan probably shorter period of time than many here.)
Seems to me CC is still pretty much a family friendly type of crowd/support. Fans are quieter bunch, reserved in their vocal support at games. Traveling fans typically drown out home fans and are much more noticeable and loud at CC games.
Seems to me CC/FFC still pretty much a family oriented entity. Not saying this is good or bad, just that it is what it is, in my observation.
Quote from: WindyCity on April 21, 2026, 02:57:45 PMQuote from: Mickeyboro on April 21, 2026, 08:19:54 AMThe main problem is we have acquired all the trappings of a 'big' club and lost the family feeling - both in terms of attracting families and being part of a wider Fulham family. The old Fulham is now history - you can't blame people for having delusions of grandeur, as the Khans themselves have in spades. It's all short termism, jam today, success at any price. We may be Premier League but we don't 'belong' in the old Fulham way any more.
Is this really true though? Mind you, I'm just asking the question. (I've been FFC fan probably shorter period of time than many here.)
Seems to me CC is still pretty much a family friendly type of crowd/support. Fans are quieter bunch, reserved in their vocal support at games. Traveling fans typically drown out home fans and are much more noticeable and loud at CC games.
Seems to me CC/FFC still pretty much a family oriented entity. Not saying this is good or bad, just that it is what it is, in my observation.
The cost of bringing your kids now and expecting them to navigate the Hammersmith End crush (and its toilets) are just two big disincentives for families.
Unlike the time and effort spent wooing the relatively fickle Riverside crowd, who will be off at the first smell of relegation...