Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 09/09/26...

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Jack and Loz at the Cottage - Blog 346
Date: 5th September 2026

Opposition: Crystal Palace

Score: 2-3

Fulham goal scorers: Josh King, Cesar Palacios

Weather: hot and sunny

Atmosphere: edgy

MOTM: Josh King again. Josh scored one goal and created the other and is the only player who looks totally at home in Arbeloa's intense but flawed system. Constantly finding space, running at defenders, bursting into the box, relishing his freedom and responsibility. Josh's exciting progression makes at least some of the current stress worthwhile.

Lunch: Pret

Post match Aperol Spritzes: Riverside Studios

Dinner: the Blue Anchor

They tell us to trust the system. But how can we, when the system keeps failing?

After last week's dismal loss at Sunderland, with no points on the board and two difficult games to come, Fulham didn't just need a win against Palace, we needed a convincing performance.

We didn't get either.

Obviously, the attacking football is brilliant - brave, ambitious, at times genuinely thrilling. Fulham are constantly on the attack - racing forwards, charging at defenders, forcing mistakes, pressing, pressing, pressing. We were very good at winning the ball back, we had endless possession. Everything is fast and frenetic; you're exhausted just watching.

We've already mentioned how Josh is thriving but this was Oscar Bobb's best game in a Fulham shirt, Antonee is rejuvenated - back to the player he was two seasons ago. Shea Charles doesn't look like he's just stepped up from the Championship (apologies to those of a nervous disposition for mentioning that word), Gonzalo works his socks off.

Josh's goal came from some neat work from Shea and Oscar. For the first time this season, Fulham were ahead and we looked fantastic.

But it didn't last. It can't last when everyone is so far forward that one slip, one small individual mistake, lets an opponent race through a gap as wide as the Thames, clear on goal with only Leno to beat. Occasionally, Antonee's pace saved the day, sometimes Andersen's footballing brain was the difference, often Palace couldn't find the target and when they did, Leno made some superb saves.

But you can't live that dangerously all of the time and expect to survive unscathed. The marginally off-side goal was a let off; the "defending" for the one that counted was calamitous.

One thing that's been noticeable about the team in all 3 league games - their heads don't drop when they concede. Worryingly, this might be because conceding is an accepted part of the game plan, but even so, Palace's goal was the trigger for an all out assault at the Putney End with a flurry of shots - some on target, sometimes desperately blocked - and some (admittedly ineffective) corners.

Cesar's goal came at the end of a dazzling drive forward from Josh and a flappy parry from the keeper. It was an easy finish but a neat one. Fulham were ahead at the break, and the lead was fully deserved.

But this is where things started to go wrong; where the system wasn't fit for purpose. We'd already been surprised that, despite Shea's start being welcome, he'd replaced Berge rather than playing alongside him. Now, a goal ahead and with 45 minutes to play there was no change in tactics. It was still full on fire fight with Bassey blasting forward like a second striker and the hole at the back tearing wider.

Is there no Spanish equivalent of discretion being the better part of valour?

Everything unravelled very quickly. We'd literally just said to each other that Cesar looked very tired when he literally shot straight at the keeper. We'd literally just said to each other that Shea looked very tired when the midfield literally ushered Palace into the Black Hole of Fulham and suggested that they might like to score an equaliser. Palace obliged.

Regular readers will know that we weren't always happy with Marco's sub policy which was sometimes sub par. Arbeloa's is worse because every sub leads to a change in formation which is last thing you need when you've got lots of new players doing their best with a new system. So Cesar was replaced by Berge not ESR, Sess came on for Antonee who was still playing well, not for Oscar who was replaced by Larsson who's not a winger and Kevin didn't come on at all.

Whilst it was good to see Larsson - whose promising cameo was capped by a (weak) shot on target, and Muniz who looked trim and focused, the formation had gone to pot and play was scrappy and panicky. Palace defended very well, particularly at close quarters. After their third goal which - ridiculously - Gonzalo did the most to try to prevent, Fulham's attack resumed but, due to a combination of exhaustion and disorganisation, only sporadically.

Despite creating enough chances to win the game, they weren't converted and the vulnerability at the back is terrifying, even against a poor Palace team.

So, three games, no points. Who is at fault here?

At Fulham, there's always a scapegoat. At the moment, there are three. Bernd Leno has gone from well-liked much-admired goalie to public enemy number one (no pun intended). But he made some great saves on Saturday and is understandably struggling with the once solid defence in front of him being replaced with a sieve. Joachim Andersen is too slow for Arbeloa's manic football but he looked like he'd upped his game on Saturday with David Affengruber watching on.

The third member of this ill-fated trio is Alex Iwobi. We thought Alex looked more involved and more mobile than he was against Chelsea, certainly in the first half. But Alex was booed off the pitch and has been slated on social media.

In the words of Black Pacific, "I thought I was using the system. But perhaps the system was using me."

It's becoming increasingly difficult to trust Arbeloa's system. A system that leaves the defence so exposed, creates so much space for the opposition and invites them to score goals is not one that inspires confidence. If three goals conceded is the market price of a system that gives you so much going forward, it leaves you wondering whether the system is getting the better of the manager.

The issue is partly the system and partly the players needing to become adept at working in it. Until they are, Arbeloa needs to make some adjustments, but will he be prepared to do that? Does ÁA have a plan BB?

At the end of the match, we heard - unthinkably - some Fulham fans singing, "what the f****** hell was that?" at their own players. Perhaps some people need to remember where we've come from and who we are - we're the classy side of SW6, never expecting but always believing. We have survived far worse than this.

Random musings:-

    Whilst the subs used to be trusted to warm up on their own, they now have a warm-up coach directing them. Given our comments above, it's hard to know whether he's effective or not


    The change of the bag check lanes to get through the Hammy End turnstiles is causing chaos and needs to be rethought


    To make matters worse a man without a bag joined the bag check lanes, mainly used by women, because he seemed to enjoy the crush. Not nice.


    Despite the chanting at the end of the game, most of the players, led by Sess and Josh, came over to the Hammy End applauding.


It's unusual for a manager to divide fans' opinions so quickly. We've seen suggestions that Arbeloa be given to the end of October, the end of September, 10 games, 5 games and Eddie Howe now.

We've heard accusations of favouritism - but he talks about the Spanish players when he's asked about them, just as he talked about Josh when asked about him. Certainly, Josh and Cesar were both delighted with each others's goals.

People didn't like Arbeloa's criticism after the Chelsea match, but wasn't that criticism accurate? Are ESR and Kevin playing social media games because they justifiably feel they're being unfairly overlooked or is their new manager demanding standards they're not meeting? Emile may be disgruntled to be replaced by Palacios but he had two seasons to make himself undroppable and couldn't manage to play for 90 minutes for most of that time.

With Liverpool and Man U coming up and some fans already smouldering, things could turn toxic. Alberoa needs to make sure that doesn't happen with some adjustments to the squad and the game plan. Meanwhile, some fans need to rein in their hopes for the season. We need to get behind the team and help them.

The system can and will work. In the meantime, fans need patience and Arbeloa needs time. And, collectively, we have to hold our nerve.



https://werdsmith.com/p/jXfswVmEvMWsFW

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Fulham stars 'ringing their agents' as Alvaro Arbeloa sack update emerges
Fulham could be placed in a difficult position if they decide to sack Alvaro Arbeloa as a result of his influence on their transfer window.

The former Real Madrid interim boss utilised his connections in Spain to land the likes of Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios, who have enjoyed strong starts at Craven Cottage.

However, with pressure already growing over the manager's position, doubts have been cast over their long-term futures in West London.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Arbeloa's signings will be "ringing their agents" to find moves elsewhere if the club's struggles continue.

This comes following three straight defeats at the start of the Premier League season, with a 3-2 loss against Crystal Palace leading to early calls for the manager's head.

While Fulham are keen not to rush into any decisions, and hope the manager will be able to turn around the slow start, concerns are now beginning to grow.

How did Fulham land Real Madrid's young stars?
Football Insider revealed back in July that Fulham were pursuing a move for Garcia as they aimed to back Arbeloa by signing his top target following his arrival.

The arrival of Palacios was agreed later in the summer, with the duo following their former manager to West London as part of his ambitious plans for the future.

However, those plans have not worked out so far, and should the manager be dismissed in the coming weeks, it will call into question the Spaniards' futures at Craven Cottage.

"Fulham could soon find themselves in a very difficult situation," Brown told Football Insider.

"If results continue the way they have been so far this season, then they might be forced into a decision over the manager's future at the club.

"Obviously, they don't want to sack him and I don't expect them to rush into a decision, but there could come a time where they are left with little choice if they continue to struggle.

"But sacking Arbeloa could cause trouble for them elsewhere, because he played a big role in bringing players to the club in the summer, especially the Real Madrid boys.

"If the manager is let go, they're going to be wondering what they're doing at Fulham, and it will call their futures at the club into question.

"They'll be ringing their agents, seeing what their possbilities are, and potentially looking to move on again if the club find themselves plummeting down the table.

"Obviously this is a situation Fulham want to avoid, they hope Arbeloa can turn things around and start getting results out of his team.

"But if he can't do that and if Fulham keep losing games, they could find themselevs in a very tricky situation which is going to be hard for them to navigate."

Could Arbeloa be sacked by Fulham already?
Arbeloa has already found himself with doubts over his Fulham future, just three league games after he was chosen to replace Marco Silva at Craven Cottage.,

Sections of the crowd were heard booing following the full time whistle against Palace, while there have also been claims that there are now a number of unhappy players at the club.

Brown warned Football Insider on 7 September that Arbeloa could be "in trouble" at Fulham if he is unable to get a handle on their recent poor form.

There is a belief that the manager's lack of experience, despite landing the hot seat at Real Madrid in the latter stages of the season, mean he is still unproven at this level.

While Fulham had been keen to back him in the transfer window, and will likely give him time to turn their fortunes around, concerns have already satrted to grow.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/fulham/fulham-stars-ringing-their-agents-as-alvaro-arbeloa-sack-update-emerges

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Man City now weighing up offer to sign "incredible" Fulham target who Arbeloa loves
Manchester City are considering a move for Dani Carvajal, with the right-back still a free agent after leaving Real Madrid in the summer.

However, there could be competition for Carvajal's signature from Man City's Premier League rivals, Fulham, with new manager Alvaro Arbeloa known to be a big fan.

When asked where he ranks the defender earlier this summer, the Fulham boss said: "At the very top alongside the best full-backs of all time. One of his greatest characteristics is that he has managed to be very important both offensively and defensively. The challenge for full-backs is always finding that balance.

"Dani has been able to dominate in both aspects, both going forward and defending. He has had a mentality that has driven him to improve every year. He is a born competitor, facing the best and representing us at the highest level."

The 34-year-old has been hugely successful at club level, winning the Champions League six times, which is the joint-highest number of any current player, and more than FC Barcelona have won in their history.

Moreover, the Spaniard is also very experienced at international level, collecting 52 caps, and he was a part of the squad that lifted the European Championships in 2024.

However, Enzo Maresca is already well-stocked at right-back, with Abdukodir Khusanov featuring there against Coventry City last time out, while Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes are also at his disposal.

Man City and Fulham racing to sign Dani Carvajal
Carvajal is available as a free agent, as he is yet to find a club after leaving Real Madrid in the summer, and Man City are now weighing up an offer.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states the full-back has also emerged as a target for Fulham, and he is well-known to Arbeloa, having played under him last season, before he was replaced by Jose Mourinho.

David Alaba also left Madrid at the end of last season, at which point the Austrian said: "Thank you for being there during a very difficult time in my career with my knee injury. Difficult. Really, thank you for everything. We continue celebrating with a legend and an incredible person... Dani Carvajal!

Liverpool have been offered the opportunity to sign the former Spain international too, and he is keen to continue playing, after enjoying a glittering period with Real Madrid, in which he amassed 14 goals and 66 assists in 451 matches.



https://www.footballfancast.com/man-city-weighing-up-transfer-offer-dani-carvajal-arbeloa/

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Why Arbeloa's defensive setup needs to change
Quite a lot of structural change is needed to make this team defensively competitive.

I tweeted after the game on Saturday that "Patience is a virtue. Equally, so is having a defensive structure." Whilst there are definitely merit to the arguments that you have to give a new manager time to instil the systems they want - especially in the context that Fulham waited until Deadline Day to do a deal for a centre-back, which our new coach clearly needed to try and play the way that he wants to; there are also incredibly concerning signs about what Arbeloa is trying to do in the way that his team sets up.

I'm sure there is going to be a lot made of the reported dressing room divide, comments from players, and social media fallout - and while those things are important, I want to try and get away from that here, to talk purely about what Arbeloa has been trying to implement so far on the pitch and why not adapting that is tantamount to defensive suicide within this league.

This is also not to say that he can't change; the best coaches adapt to the scenarios in front of them and the players at their disposal - and yes, you can do that without completely trading in on your ideologies.

Football is a relative game, in that you have to respond to the other team on the field, and while you can impose a game plan, it is ultimately a series of trade-offs that you're trying to make to fall on your side of the equation. Currently, however, there is no quick fix to what Arbeloa is trying to do.

I'm going also to use the term 'rest defence' here, which is a term adapted from German. Some people prefer to use 'covering defenders' or 'men left back' and that's fine, use whatever language you want, but I like the term in terms of what it implies - not meaning players 'having a rest' but rather the 'rest of the team' left behind when your attacking players have gone forward to try to score; and I think it's absolutely crucial to explaining why Fulham look so vulnerable every time that we lose the ball.

Over the last few days, I've been reading Jon Mackenzie's excellent new book, The Spectre of Pep; which discusses this concept in the context of Pep Guardiola's teams. I think despite his deep Real Madrid connection, it's very obvious that Guardiola has had an influence on Arbeloa - his teams are constantly trying to create overloads in attacking positions, and are also attuned to the idea of 'attacking small spaces and defending large ones', but where Pep's (and Marco Silva's, which we'll get to) systems worked was in the idea of not leaving his teams left exposed to counter attacks on regular occasions during games.

We see this in a number of ways - the inverted full-backs at Bayern Munich and early Manchester City saw them form a 2+3 shape behind the attacking line to give them defensive protection; whilst John Stones stepping into midfield in City's treble winning season saw them utilise a 3+2 shape at times. While this is overly simplistic, there is one key element here: the idea that five players were in position to deal with turnovers should they occur even in the opposition third.





Now, Guardiola is one of the elite managers in the game, but I bring him up not because I am comparing Arbeloa to him, but to show the thinking behind how this kind of thing is set up. Let's take it instead to Marco Silva, and the way that he set up. On paper, there is not much difference between what Silva's tactical shape looks like and what Arbeloa's does. Here are two starting lineups, both against Crystal Palace, in the past 12 months.



But Alvaro Arbeloa asks his team to do very different things to Marco Silva. Under Marco, Fulham mostly attacked down the left hand side of the pitch, using Antonee Robinson's natural athletic ability to get up and down that flank or Ryan Sessegnon's innate forward thinking, meaning that we pretty much always tilted leftwards. Interestingly, the way we would then switch play is part of the reason that Harry Wilson was able to get so many one-on-one opportunities to jink inside his full-back and get shots off at goal last season. This is what Silva's shape looked like much of the time:



A hallmark of those four Premier League years was inverted wingers, but with a focus on the left sided player coming inside into the 10 position - it was Willian at times, it was Iwobi, it was Reiss Nelson, Kevin, etc. That left-sided triangle, which here is represented by Lukic, Iwobi and Robinson, was highly important to the way we attacked.

Now, here's an actual example of Silva's left tilt with the actual team we played against Palace in the 2024/25 season, and notice the shape of the five players in the middle of the park:



This is important, because it is a crucial differentiation between what Silva was doing in his rest defence, which we will contrast with Arbeloa.

It didn't always work the same way, however. Antonee Robinson was a pretty crucial component to much of it, and last year he missed much of the season. In Robinson's absence, Fulham had to find other solutions.

One of those was flipping the tilt, which we saw in December 2025 - last season - again against Palace. This time it is Tete pushed forward with right-footed Castagne inverting, while there is a left-footed winger in Chukwueze holding the width on the other side; but you can still clearly see this 3+2 defensive set to try and deal with the counter.



This was not a perfect system (Fulham came up short in this game), but Marco's rest defence tactics, whichever way we tilted, generally meant that very rarely were Fulham completely scythed through, very rarely were we not competitive, and very rarely did we look at the kind of sixes and sevens defensively that we saw this weekend just gone.

This is because Arbeloa is employing a RADICALLY different way of playing the game, and instead of having five players in the rest defence, there are just three.

Off the bat, right now, I don't think you can succeed in the Premier League this way. It's too chaotic, and if you want to try and outgun teams, you need to be technically superior to them almost across the board. That is a very, very big gamble in a Premier League epoch where big spending from bottom to top has been normalised and every team has the capacity to bring in high levels of technical talent.

Here's a visual of what Arbeloa's system in possession looked like for much of the game at the weekend.



Before we break this down defensively, it's worth pointing out what Arbeloa is trying to do in the final third with the ball. The attacking elements of this system are, for the most part, working as they are supposed to. The wide players are not supposed to stretch the pitch in the same way that they did for Silva - instead, it's the full backs being asked to provide the width on both sides of the field.



This is clearly playing to their offensive strengths, and you can see why - King, Bobb and Palacios are all extremely gifted technicians who thrive on close range interchanges, one-touch passing and manipulating their way round small spaces, rather than exploding into open space. Garcia is a mobile, cerebral centre-forward who works his way around the line and wants to be slid through into central shooting channels; and both Castagne and Robinson, with their 'licence to kill', are players that want to attack the channels.

Arbeloa is trying to induce chaos going forwards, pulling opponents all over the place and dismantling their defensive structures. While that is not coming off perfectly just yet, there is plenty of reason to believe that as players become more comfortable with the system, they will become even more adept at picking apart opposition blocks and creating goalscoring opportunities - but, as ever, there is a tradeoff - because chaos is the opposite of control.

The chaos makes us very watchable going forwards. Arbeloa's Fulham have already had the most touches in the opposition box of any side in the Premier League this season. At the weekend, his side far outmatched Crystal Palace in terms of xG, dominated the ball, had 25 shots - and gave up six big chances, while only creating two ourselves. SIX.

And therein lies the major problem with this system, because without control you can be burned at the other end of the pitch pretty quickly. The defensive set in this looks like a 2+1; and three players covering this much ground is simply not feasible with the physical capability of the modern Premier League. In easy terms, on the slider between chaos and control, Fulham are dialled in at way too far towards the chaos end of the spectrum.



This is a structural issue, and it manifests in a way that almost everybody can see in the nature of our defensive haphazardness.

The goals that Fulham conceded at the weekend were defensively sloppy, but in particular with the second and third goals, the amount of scrambling backwards is terrifying to witness. This is the kind of thing that happens when you do not set yourself up properly to defend in transition.



While there is definitely some merit to the fact that Gonzalo Garcia's workrate meant he was in the back line defending for that second goal, you have to wonder about why he was being asked to be in that position when there should have been five players better placed than our centre forward to do so - and who might have defended rather less like a centre forward as well. And if this is a catastrophe that could have been a renaissance painting, the third goal is even worse.



I don't know what to say about this really, apart from teams that defend like this get relegated. It was like watching a car crash in slow motion. So, are there solutions and why does Arbeloa keep picking this particular midfield if we feel like we're being bypassed too easily?

From an attacking perspective, I can completely see why Arbeloa decided to go with Shea Charles rather than Sander Berge in midfield, even if a lot of us were expecting to see the two of them together - Alex Iwobi's on-ball threat is so much greater than either of them can offer, and it allows Fulham to progress the ball into the final third where Arbeloa wants to create the multiple overloads spoken about before.

Of all the Fulham squad thus far this season, Iwobi has covered more ground than anyone besides Josh King, and he leads the side in both line-breaking passes and switches of play - he has been the deeper-lying conductor of Arbeloa's attacking orchestra from an in-possession perspective.

Charles came in and immediately rose to the top of the list for recoveries, defensive contributions and interceptions per 90 minutes - he is clearly suited to the enormous defensive responsibility and workrate that comes with being the base of an Arbeloa midfield. But even with this addition to things, the pairing currently selected is doing a lot of work in pushing that aforementioned slider away from control.

This should not be taken out of context - I find the weirdly prominently slung-around theory that Alex Iwobi does not have an effective workrate to be absurdly lazy commentary when you actually watch him. Iwobi bustles around in midfield, and at no point in his Fulham career has it ever looked like he's downed tools or lacked effort. Iwobi has been one of our best players from the moment he walked through the doors at Craven Cottage, and continues to be to this day.

But he is a risk taker in possession, which means that in this two man midfield in particular, you increase the threat of losing the ball, and opening yourself up to transitional threats that we are not structurally sound enough to deal with right now. Last season we spoke a lot about needing extra creative threat from deep areas because the partnership of Lukic and Berge lacked the ability to punch the ball through the lines, but the system is now somewhat different and therefore needs alternative solutions.

There has been a lot of discussion around the idea of David Affengruber's introduction, or playing a defensively-minded double-pivot in midfield of both Shea Charles and Sander Berge, for example. I think both of these things will probably help cover up bits of the problem, but I don't think it gets to the root of it.

Most top teams, possession-heavy, attack-minded teams attack with five and defend with five. Even with a faster centre-back, and an extra defensive midfielder, Fulham would be currently one short in that regard.

Truthfully, right now, and especially with the width that the two centre-backs are being asked to occupy, Fulham look like a team playing a three at the back system that is missing its central centre-back.

In some ways I wonder if that's actually the answer - I've seen some Spanish language accounts discussing the idea that at the moment, no one in the Fulham in midfield is dropping into the central areas, but even if our most defensively-minded midfielder did split the centre-backs in order to form a three-man backline, who is dropping into the line in front of that to protect them in transition?

None of this is to suggest that Arbeloa can't adapt; he is a young manager, still perfecting his own philosophies on how the game can be played, and who has been given solutions late in the window to try and shift the balance of how this team has started the season.

Maybe he sees what this has looked like so far and tweaks his system so only one full-back bombs forward at a time, which would look much more similar to Silva's old Fulham.

Perhaps he tries Alex Iwobi in a spot further forward but asks him to invert and drop a little deeper to form more of a three man midfield trio in possession; or maybe there is a switch to a three-at-the-back system.

We don't yet know what solutions that our new manager has to a glaring problem with his team. What we do know is that he needs to find them, and find them quickly, or this is a team who are going to ship goals for fun, and that usually has one, trapdoor-related, outcome.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/why-arbeloas-defensive-setup-needs

[WhiteJC]

Premier League Fulham sign up former Sandhurst Town youngster Jose Sani
A former Sandhurst Town and Bracknell Town youngster has been signed up by Premier League Fulham.

Jose Sani, most recently with Berkhamstead in the Southern League Premier Division South, joins the West London side's under 21 team having impressed on a trial over the summer.

Cardiff-born Sani began his senior career with Bracknell Town having moved to Berkshire aged 14. He spent time on loan at Sandhurst Town before moving up the non-league football pyramid with Knaphill, Marlow and Hayes & Yeading United.

Sani's rapid climb through the division's is highlighted by his move to Step 3 Berkhamstead in December 2025 from Hartley Wintney having been playing Step 5 football a year earlier.

He scored seven times with eight assists as Berkhamstead made it to the Southern League play-off semi-finals.

A post on the Fulham FC website confirms Sani joined the club on a trial in July and was part of the club's pre-season camp in Portugal. He scored twice in a 5-2 win over Gil Vicente and scored against Hampton & Richmond Borough and Cardiff City under 21s on the teams return to the UK.

A post by former club Bracknell Town on social media said: "Everyone at Bracknell Town FC would like to congratulate former Robin Jose Sani, who has signed for Fulham. Jose featured for the Robins during the early stages of his senior football journey, and it's fantastic to see another player who has pulled on the red and black earning an opportunity at a Premier League club.

"A brilliant next step in your journey, Jose. Everyone at Bracknell Town wishes you the very best at Fulham."

Berkhamstead's social media account meanwhile posted: "Sani's move is another reminder of just how important the non-league pyramid can be in a player's journey. A place to develop, gain valuable senior experience, prove yourself and keep working your way up the ladder. We're incredibly proud to have played a part in Sani's journey and to see him take this huge next step into the professional game."



https://footballinberkshire.co.uk/news/transfer-news/94525/premier-league-fulham-sign-up-former-sandhurst-town-youngster-jose-sani/

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Alvaro Arbeloa's Real Madrid Shortcomings Already Causing Problems at Fulham
The rookie Premier League manager is already under pressure after a winless start.

Álvaro Arbeloa's position as Fulham manager is already is in question after a dreadful start to the Premier League season that has seen the club lose their first three games.

The former Real Madrid manager fell 3–2 to Chelsea at home on the opening gameweek, before suffering a 1–0 defeat away at Sunderland. Another 3–2 reverse, at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, leaves the club 19th in the table with seven goals conceded across the three games.

Fulham's defensive frailties have been exposed in the early stages of 2026–27, with Palace able to rip apart the Cottagers on the counter, with all three of their goals coming down the left wing.

Support for Arbeloa in west London appears to be evaporating. Fans were heard chanting "what the f---ing hell was that?" at the end of the latest defeat, while there are signs that several players are not happy with the situation.

Club record-signing Kevin, who has yet to start a league match under Arbeloa, posted a cryptic image on his Instagram stories of three apes with the words "no hear, no speak, no see". Meanwhile, Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi have reportedly removed all Fulham-related photos from their own social media accounts.

It's a situation that draws parallels with his brief tenure at Real Madrid.

'I Am Confident'—Arbeloa Defiant Despite Dreadful Start
"It's not about my position but I am very confident," Arbeloa replied when asked about his job security following the defeat to Palace.

"I told my players they are working how I want. They are playing how I feel football. I came here because I believe in this football, playing how I think we will win games. As a coach, you don't need to feel hurt or fear. You have to believe in yourself and your ideas."

He added: "We conceded very easy goals. Crystal Palace didn't need to do so many things to score three goals. We need to control the second balls and in some situations we are very wide and open."

Youngster Josh King has been a rare bright spot for Fulham, while new signings César Palacios and Gonzalo García have shown promise. The issues for Arbeloa are toughening up his team's soft center and convincing the locker room to buy into his ways of working—fast.

Fulham have only ever lost their first three top division games of the season twice before in 1951–52 and 2020–21—and it both seasons they were relegated. Next up for Arbeloa's Fulham are Liverpool (away) and Manchester United (home), meaning there is a very real worry that the Cottagers will go into the first international break of the season on zero points.

Disharmony and Disorder a Familiar Story
Arbeloa was appointed at Fulham this summer as part of an unusual three-way job swap that also saw José Mourinho leave Benfica for Real Madrid and Marco Silva depart Craven Cottage for Portugal. So far, it feels as if Fulham have gotten the shortest straw of the three.

The 43-year-old had just half a season's experience as a manager at senior level prior to this season and was only parachuted into the top job at the Bernabéu after Xabi Alonso's departure in January, with president Florentino Pérez viewing the two-time Champions League-winning defender as the kind of good, club man needed to steady the ship amid a period of turmoil.

However, Arbeloa failed to quell the growing dissent and disorder in the locker room as Madrid fell short in Europe and domestically, ending the season without a trophy.

A particularly lackluster period in April saw Los Blancos dip out of the title race with a defeat to Mallorca and home draw to Girona, sandwiched between the Champions League quarterfinals exit to Bayern Munich.

Meanwhile, bubbling tensions culminated in training ground fights and very real questions over the futures of key stars.

As someone who has spent considerable time rising through the ranks as a coach with Madrid's famed academy, the hope at Fulham was that Arbeloa would be able to use his connections to bring in and develop some of the Spanish giants' exciting, young talents. So far, the most notable thing he appears to have imported is an unhappy locker room.



https://www.si.com/soccer/alvaro-arbeloa-real-madrid-shortcomings-already-causing-problems-fulham

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Fulham working on new deal for crucial star as Inter Milan plot damaging raid
Fulham are keen to tie Calvin Bassey to a new long-term contract but remain relaxed about his situation, with a club option already in place that would keep him at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2028.

The Nigeria international's present deal expires next summer, leaving him, as things stand, with just a year remaining.

The Cottagers, however, can trigger a one-year extension, stretching his stay through to June 2028. That clause has removed any sense of urgency, even as the club look to reward a defender who has become a fixture in the side.

Bassey arrived from Ajax in July 2023 on a four-year agreement and has since developed into one of Fulham's most dependable performers.

Versatile enough to play at centre-back or left-back, the 26-year-old won the club's Player of the Season award in 2024/25 and remains a regular under new head cÁlvarolvaro Arbeloa. His physicality, recovery pace and left foot have made him a key member of the squad this term.

Sources indicate that talks over a fresh contract are expected to begin soon. There is no panic. Bassey is understood to be happy in West London and settled in the dressing room.

Interest from Serie A has been noted, with Inter Milan among the clubs to have monitored the Italy-born defender for a number of windows. Admiration from the peninsula is hardly surprising given his profile, yet sources suggest he is content at Fulham and open to remaining if suitable terms can be found.

Fulham expected to tie down Calvin Bassey

For Fulham, continuity is the priority. Activating the option in Bassey's contract would protect a valuable asset and strengthen their negotiating position should offers arrive.

A new deal would be preferable, securing a defender who has already delivered more than three seasons of consistent Premier League service and has plenty of years left at elite level.

Bassey has made 105 appearances for Fulham so far and is a key reason why they have established themselves as a sotop-flight outfittfir in recent years.

Clarity on the defender's future should follow in the coming weeks.

For now, Fulham hold the stronger hand and are focused on getting their Premier League season on track.

They have lost their first three games of the season and sit joint-bottom of the table. Speculation over Arbeloa's future is already beginning to circulate, and we have another story to follow on that topic this afternoon.



https://www.teamtalk.com/fulham/calvin-bassey-contract-news-fulham-deal-inter-milan-transfer

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Fulham sack spotlight turns on Alvaro Arbeloa amid claims of squad unrest
Alvaro Arbeloa is struggling to win over sections of his Fulham squad after a winless start to the Premier League season, with TEAMtalk sources indicating that the Spaniard has work to do on the training pitch to get the players fully on board and playing freely in his system.

The former Real Madrid head coach has seen his side lose all three league matches so far, leaving them bottom of the table with no points.

Narrow 3-2 home defeats to Chelsea and Crystal Palace, either side of a 1-0 loss at Sunderland, have exposed defensive frailties and prompted boos from supporters at Craven Cottage.

Arbeloa's high-pressing, attack-minded approach has come under particular scrutiny. His setup often features a high-risk structure at the back with limited rest-defence cover, creating chaos in transition and leaving Fulham exposed.

Critics argue the system, a big shift from Marco Silva's more compact style, requires greater technical quality and cohesion than the current squad can consistently provide.

Seven goals conceded in three league games have underlined the problem, and there is already fears from within that he isn't getting the best of the players at his disposal.

Word of unrest has filtered out of the dressing room, and while it is perhaps too soon to be suggesting he faces the sack, he is coming under media scrutiny, with some players said to be unconvinced by the intensity required and the tactical tweaks demanded in a short space of time. Cryptic social media activity from certain squad members has only fuelled talk of a growing divide, too.

Next Fulham results crucial for Arbeloa
The Fulham board is understood to be monitoring the situation closely and considering its options, albeit with the view that this was always going to be a period of adjustment and a season of transition.

With Liverpool away this Saturday and Manchester United visiting Craven Cottage the following weekend, the next two Premier League fixtures will be pivotal.

Further heavy defeats could yet force a rethink far sooner than anyone at the club envisaged when Arbeloa was appointed on a three-year deal in July.

Arbeloa has publicly praised his players' effort in recent matches while stressing the need for more character and consistency. He also took positives from the defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

"I think we didn't deserve to lose this game," Arbeloa said post-match. "I think my players did everything, good attitude, they were brave, so many chances to score more goals. They [Crystal Palace] took their chances, in the end football is about that.

"We were really unlucky in this goal [second Palace goal], we had many chances also we were very unlucky. Good effort from Gonzalo [Garcia], that's the spirit I want from my players, the striker making a sprint to try and save a goal. With that spirit and character, if we play in this way, the victories will come.

"We did many good things to win the game, it was similar against Chelsea but we lose. For the players it's a difficult situation, difficult moment, but I am very proud of them.

"Cesar Palacios and Gonzalo Garcia both had a great game, Cesar scored a goal, and for Gonzalo another great performance."

Arbeloa maintains that the group is working hard and that results will follow.

Whether he can now persuade enough of the squad to buy into his vision, and whether the board retains patience through a daunting fortnight, will define the early chapter of his tenure by the Thames.



https://www.teamtalk.com/fulham/alvaro-arbeloa-sack-decision-fulham-unrest-claims

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Report: Fulham open talks with defender amid interest from European giants
Calvin Bassey Contract Latest: Fulham Calm Amid Inter Milan Interest as New Deal Talks Near

Fulham are moving towards fresh discussions with Calvin Bassey over a new long-term contract, with the club in a strong position despite interest from Inter Milan. According to TeamTalk, there is confidence at Craven Cottage that the defender's future can be addressed without any immediate pressure.

Bassey's current deal is due to expire next summer, but Fulham hold an option that would extend it until the summer of 2028. That detail matters. It changes the tone of the situation entirely and explains why there is no sense of alarm internally, even while admiration from Serie A continues in the background.

The report states that Fulham are "keen to tie Calvin Bassey to a new long-term contract but remain relaxed about his situation", which feels like an accurate reflection of the balance here. The club clearly value the player highly, yet they also know they are protected.

Calvin Bassey central to Fulham plans
Since joining from Ajax in July 2023, Bassey has developed into one of Fulham's most important players. He has the profile modern coaches want in a defender, pace across the ground, comfort in possession and the flexibility to operate at centre-back or left-back.

TeamTalk describe him as a player who "has become a fixture in the side", and that assessment is difficult to dispute. He won Fulham's Player of the Season award in 2024/25 and has continued to play a prominent role under Alvaro Arbeloa. His "physicality, recovery pace and left foot" have made him especially valuable in a side that needs reliability and athleticism at the back.

There is also a wider context for Fulham. The club have opened the campaign with three straight defeats and are joint-bottom of the Premier League table. In that environment, securing key figures becomes even more important. Losing a cornerstone defender while trying to steady the season would be far from ideal.

Inter Milan interest watched closely
Inter Milan's interest is not new. The Italian club are among those to have tracked Bassey "for a number of windows", and his attributes naturally suit the demands of top-level European football. A powerful left-sided defender with Premier League experience and room for further growth will attract attention.

Even so, the current indications are encouraging for Fulham. Bassey is said to be "happy in West London and settled in the dressing room", while he is also "content at Fulham and open to remaining if suitable terms can be found". Those are significant signals as talks approach.

Fulham's preference is obvious. As TeamTalk put it, "continuity is the priority." Triggering the option would give the club further protection, but a full new agreement would be the cleaner outcome, both financially and strategically.

Fulham hold leverage before key decision
With 105 appearances already to his name, Bassey has become a major asset and a player Fulham will not want to lose cheaply or suddenly. The report adds that "For now, Fulham hold the stronger hand", and that is the key point. Inter Milan may admire the player, but Fulham control the process.

If negotiations begin soon, as expected, there is every chance this develops into one of the more straightforward pieces of business Fulham complete this season. The objective now is to turn internal calm into formal progress.

Our View
From a Fulham point of view, this is exactly the kind of update you want to hear, even if the league table is making everyone uneasy right now. Bassey feels like one of the few players in the squad who gives you genuine security. He is quick, aggressive, improving all the time and capable of covering multiple roles. When a player like that is happy and open to staying, you move decisively.

The most reassuring line in this report is that Fulham "remain relaxed about his situation". Supporters have seen too many contract stories become messy when clubs leave themselves exposed, so having that option to 2028 in place is a major positive. It means Fulham can negotiate from strength rather than fear.

There is also a bigger message here. If Fulham want to keep progressing under Alvaro Arbeloa, they must hold on to their best performers. Selling well has its place, but there comes a point where ambition means keeping your top players and building around them. Bassey should be one of those players.

Inter Milan being interested is no surprise at all, and in some ways it underlines how far Bassey has come. But for hopeful Fulham fans, the dream is simple, get the new deal done, show belief in the project and let him remain one of the pillars of this side for years to come.



https://eplindex.com/150280/report-fulham-open-talks-with-defender-amid-interest-from-european-giants.html

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'Outside chance': Man Utd winger Amad Diallo could return for Fulham game
Manchester United winger Amad Diallo has an outside chance of being fit for the Premier League trip to Fulham on September 20, according to The Daily Mail.

The Ivory Coast international had a difficult 2025/26 season with the Red Devils. He was a regular starter but registered just two goals and four assists in 32 league appearances.

Diallo went on to impress at the World Cup with a couple of crucial goals, but he has been unable to carry over the form to United after picking up a knock before the Hull City game.

The 24-year-old has yet to return to first-team training, but The Daily Mail claim that there is an 'outside chance' that he could be deemed fit to face Fulham later this month.

Amad faces make-or-break season at United
Amad can be a top-class winger on his day, but consistency has been a big concern with him. The £19 million signing found success as a wing-back under former manager Ruben Amorim, but has failed to replicate those performances as a specialist right winger under Michael Carrick.

He is still considered an integral part of United's first team, but the ongoing season could be make-or-break for him. The Ivorian star faces direct competition from Bryan Mbeumo for the right-wing position whenever Carrick picks Benjamin Sesko as the main centre-forward.

Mbeumo had an equally frustrating end to the previous campaign as Amad, but the Cameroonian ace has stepped up this term with two goals and an indirect assist. The onus is now on Amad to prove his credentials. He may have to work his way back to the XI when fully fit.

Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford was substituted against Everton last weekend with a minor hamstring concern. Carrick confirmed the news after the 2-2 draw, and we should get a further update on the winger's fitness during tomorrow's press conference at Carrington.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com



https://manutdnews.com/outside-chance-man-utd-winger-amad-diallo-could-return-for-fulham-game/