Anyone else feel flat this morning ?

[howitis]

Ordinarily change and the prospect of a new dawn can bring optimism and excitement. I feel none of that this morning.

I was very much hoping that Marco would stay but it imperative that if he did, he still maintained the same passion and desire for the role that he once showed. Sadly that Marco oomph had diminished to some extent the last 6 months and I was hoping that it was just a blip. 

Sadly that change in body language was indeed a signal that perhaps his journey at Fulham had run its course. For what it's worth I think he may well be the best manager in my lifetime (aged 53), with only the Tigana playbook/swagger and the Hodgson European adventure ranking in equal merit.

Our team over the last 5 years has strived to play attacking football, recruitment whilst not perfect has sought players with high levels of  technical ability and our league position has been strong with some great results against the big teams along the way. Even our performances in the cups has shown a consistency that we have not seen before.

Also don't underestimate the cohesion of the dressing room. Players seem happy at Fulham, the socials and my own on field observations have led me to believe that Marco helped create a very positive working environment.

So as I awake this morning, forgive me for being subdued but I fear the future may not match the enjoyment/success of the last 5 years.

This appointment feels absolutely critical. We have created premier league stability and feel on the verge of possibly pushing for Europe. Equally a bad appointment, an incorrect change in playing style / atmosphere and we are on the cusp of decline, player dissatisfaction and a very difficult season.

I implore the Khans to speak to the global football world (in a similar fashion to that of Al Fayad) and genuinely find a coach who can build on what Marco has achieved and bring an excitement and optismisn to the fan base that right now is feeling deflated...

[Rambler]

I'm not at all flat. The football was pretty turgid the last 6 months and Marco had clearly lost his buzz.

I think a new start as long as the appointment is correct will be good for us

[Whitestone]

As good as Marco Silva has been for Fulham and he obviously has, I believe his time had run its course. Rather than feeling flat I'm optimistic for the future and looking forward to a new era. The next appointment is possibly the most important signing of the Khan's tenure.

[Fulham 442]

I'm just glad the saga is finally over and we can look forward to welcoming our new manager and some much needed new signings.  Just a bit worried about some of the names being mentioned for the former - Rosenior immediately springs to mind!!

[Lambo]

Managers and players, come and go, but we will always be Fulham FC. Let's wait to see who the next manager is and how we do in the transfer window.

[SimonDaviesEnjoyer]

Yup. Unless    pulls a very unexpected rabbit out the hat we'll be getting a downgrade in managerial terms.

Plus we're losing a lot of goals this summer.

[Marcus]

If he'd signed the contract when it was offered we'd probably have made Europa League and he'd be flavour of the month.
Never recovered from the Saints disaster - he realised then he was never gonna be top drawer.

[KentFulham]

For me too many fans on this board are way to negative over the recent days. Fans that u der Silva were typically very positive. We suddenly have an opportunity to push on where Silva struggled and all I am hearing is people being negative and whining about X manager wouldn't come here etc.

Why wouldn't they? We have been saying how we are an established PL team, mid table and on the verge of getting Europe. Why wouldn't managers want to come to us.

Need to keep positive people

[Carborundum]

I always feel a bit like that when there's nothing happening at Craven Cottage for a couple of months.  Journo click-bait scraps are a meagre diet. Marco Silva's departure  doesn't really alter much. The team needs a new midfield.  If we can get a manager who sees it, demands it, can inspire it to happen and set the team up to win, then the parting of ways will be for the best.  There will be 19 other teams trying to carve out wins, all capable, some of which have considerable advantages in terms of current squad and financial drawing power.  So it is, as ever, quite a big "if". 

What I really need is a big international tournament to distract me for a few weeks.  I'd like to see England win something in my lifetime.  For a long time I assumed it would happen one day.  Starting to wonder...

[KJS]

Not flat at all,love what Marco did for 4 1/2 seasons but we dropped off and missed out on Europe because of his long drawn out contract saga!
We move on to a new era COYW

[BestOfBrede]

"Need to keep positive people"

Says the man who was ultra negative all season, along with a certain other!

Me, well I'm not flat but am slightly worried about who we get next.

Can't make my mind up until we see who it is.

[Dodgin]

I'm looking forward to a new challenge, we had far too long doubt on who was going where

[JimmyConway]

Not so much flat but I do have reservations on current Fulham hierarchy making the right decision on next full time Fulham manager.

[SimonDaviesEnjoyer]

For me too many fans on this board are way to negative over the recent days. Fans that u der Silva were typically very positive. We suddenly have an opportunity to push on where Silva struggled and all I am hearing is people being negative and whining about X manager wouldn't come here etc.

Why wouldn't they? We have been saying how we are an established PL team, mid table and on the verge of getting Europe. Why wouldn't managers want to come to us.

Need to keep positive people

Specifically which of the managers do you think will come to us that people are saying won't?

From my POV people are saying Glasner, Slot, Fabregas, Guardiola won't come to us.

The complaint about the others is that they'd be bad appointments, not that they won't come.

Glasner is the only one with a slight chance, but also very unlikely.

[demeant0r]

The only man in the club I'd be truly gutted if he were to leave the club would be SK, he's been a far more generous owner than Mo. He's also getting old now so unless he leaves the club to TK then we'll finding another owner as generous with as much love for Fulham as he does will be difficult.

[Snibbo]

In my time supporting Fulham (60 years) this is about the most stable we've been with good owners putting in a lot of investment. The last half season has been drab and the Prem in general is less exciting for me. But I'm optimistic we will continue to establish ourselves.

[FFC1987]

A lot of people either suggested that Marco was keeping it all together, or the club was getting the most of Marco so I guess we'll soon find out.

[FFC In Oz]

I'm not really that fussed about Marco leaving in all honesty.  He's solidified us a mid table PL side but we don't have the mettle/ability to push on and do what the likes of Bournemouth and Brighton have done.

What I am worried about is who the club elect to replace him - I'd suggest Knutsen and Filipe Luis to be the 2 best fits, but I feel the club will go after someone like McKenna

[bencher]

When I think back over our time with MS, there's a lot of regret that he didn't get the tools to get us where he wanted, i.e. a major final and/or Europe. If the club had been that bit better run and more ambitious, it could have happened.

I now have quite a bit of trepidation. Was the appointment of MS more luck than judgment? I really hope for the latter, but I worry that it was a stroke of luck and we will slide down the table next season.

[SimonDaviesEnjoyer]

I'm not really that fussed about Marco leaving in all honesty.  He's solidified us a mid table PL side but we don't have the mettle/ability to push on and do what the likes of Bournemouth and Brighton have done.

What I am worried about is who the club elect to replace him - I'd suggest Knutsen and Filipe Luis to be the 2 best fits, but I feel the club will go after someone like McKenna

We were pretty much Andersen's red card away (or a goal away at Wolves) from finishing above Brighton, which would have meant EL football.

Very fine margins.