Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 02/06/26...

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Whatever Will Be, Will Be now available online

Signed copies of Felix White's latest book, Whatever Will Be, Will Be – A Matter of Life and Football, are now available for supporters to purchase online, as well as in the Club Store.

In addition to his music and hosting Fulham Fix, Felix is also a successful author, with this the follow-up to his debut book It's Always Summer Somewhere, which is a Sunday Times bestseller.

Whatever Will Be, Will Be sees Felix set out to watch a match from every round of the 2024/25 FA Cup, from the first preliminary round in Penrith to the Final showdown at Wembley – including what turned out to be a highly emotive trip to the Cottage in the Quarter-Finals.

As he travels the country, football becomes a way for Felix to explore memory, identity, grief and joy. While he reflects on his own lifelong obsessions, his story becomes a unique expression of how the game communicates something vital, both literal and internal, between a child and an adult.

"I'm so happy that this book has landed in its spiritual home at Craven Cottage," Felix said. "This might be a journey through the FA Cup and the whole of English football, but an enduring love of Fulham Football Club is the heartbeat of it. I'm expecting Fulham fans to understand EXACTLY where it is coming from. COYW!"



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/may/27/whatever-will-be-will-be-available-online/

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Marco Silva 'close' to making Fulham decision after holding fresh talks over Benfica job
Fulham manager Marco Silva has reportedly held positive talks with Benfica over their head coach position.

Silva's future has been the subject of speculation for some time, with his Fulham contract set to expire this summer.

The 48-year-old has been widely linked with the top job at Benfica despite having an offer on the table to extend his five-year tenure as Fulham manager.

However, a return to his homeland appeared to be off following reports that talks with Benfica had fallen through due to 'financial disagreements'.

There was even a belief that Benfica were considering alternative candidates following a breakdown in negotiations.

Fulham boss closes in on Benfica job
But, in a dramatic turn of events, Silva is back in pole position to take over the reins from Jose Mourinho, who is expected to return to Real Madrid for a second spell. 

According to Ben Jacobs, the proposed deal has been revived after Silva held 'positive' talks with Benfica president Rui Costa.

As a result, Silva is now 'close' to joining the Portuguese giants, signalling an end to his time in England.

Silva has coached four English sides since beginning his managerial career with stints at Estoril, Sporting Lisbon and Olympiacos.

Silva set for new challenge
The Portuguese coach spent time at Hull City, Watford and Everton before he was appointed Fulham boss in 2021.

Silva led Fulham to promotion in his first season and then established them as a Premier League side.

The Cottagers missed out on European qualification in the 2025-26 campaign, but the challenge of balancing competitions is something Silva will need to contend with at Benfica.

The Portuguese side will have aspirations of winning domestic silverware and competing in the Europa League after finishing third in the Primeira Liga.

Silva knows that he will also face the challenge of pleasing a demanding fanbase at one of Europe's biggest clubs.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/dramatic-twist-silva-close-to-fulham-decision-following-fresh-benfica-talks_598489.html

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Marco Silva: Fulham manager issues ultimatum as negotiations resume after impasse
Benfica's pursuit of Fulham manager Marco Silva has been ongoing for the past few weeks.

Real Madrid are keen on appointing José Mourinho as their new manager, forcing the Eagles to look at Silva. His contract expires in June and Fulham want to tie him down to a new deal.

Two days ago, Sport Witness covered claims from Portugal that Silva has chosen Benfica but is unhappy with the delay.

Real Madrid are unlikely to confirm Mourinho's appointment until their election on June 7th.

Fulham boss restarts negotiations
Monday's edition of A Bola again points out the Premier League side's renewal offer worth €7.5m per year until 2030.

The Portuguese club initially suspended negotiations with Marco Silva before restarting on Sunday. The impasse was because Benfica didn't meet the Fulham manager's demands.

Apart from the salary demands, for him and his technical staff, Silva 'insists on autonomy in building a strong squad that guarantees success'. They are now willing to satisfy this.

Silva, who is yet to respond to Fulham's offer, and Benfica don't want to drag this case on. The latter have already identified alternatives in case they fail to agree terms with the 48-year-old.

Record state there's no agreement yet between the parties and a deal won't be finalised until Real Madrid's election on June 7th. However, the Eagles continue negotiations with the manager.

Benfica's initial salary offer didn't please Silva, at a time when Fulham are proposing over €7m.

On Sunday morning, the deal was almost impossible before fresh talks later that day kept it alive. After the latest talks, he could earn close to €5m per year with the Primeira Liga side.

The parties would have sorted out the salary issue.

Record state: 'Several messages were conveyed throughout yesterday's conversations. Benfica were concerned with assuring Silva that he is the only option for the coaching position.'

Silva issues ultimatum
Another newspaper, Correio da Manhã, reports the London club's boss has sent a clear message to Benfica president Rui Costa.

Silva feels the Eagles have reservations because they haven't confirmed their break with Mourinho. He also found out that during the impasse, Costa held talks with other targets.

The newspaper states: 'Silva demanded clarification from Costa regarding the Benfica coach for next season. According to CM, the coach presented the Reds' president with an ultimatum in a meeting between the parties, which in practice is a demand that the management acknowledge the break with Mourinho.'

'As far as it was possible to ascertain in time, there was no convincing response, so it is reasonable to assume that Marco Silva will take a drastic step, potentially leading to his resignation.'

To sum it up, Silva wants Benfica to first acknowledge a break with Mourinho, meet his salary demand and give him full control over transfer and other aspects.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/marco-silva-fulham-manager-issues-ultimatum-as-negotiations-resume-after-impasse/

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Why Marco Silva is hampering Fulham's European ambitions
Arthur Duke thinks it's time for Marco to go if we're to achieve our long-term goals.

This piece could age very well or very poorly over the coming days, and to be honest, over the next few years. But it must be said.

It looks like Marco Silva is in talks to effectively halve his potential salary to join Benfica, in a reported £4m-a-year move. It would represent a significant reduction on the offer tabled by the Khans to keep him at Craven Cottage. This period of uncertainty over the past few months has certainly divided the fanbase.

In this piece, I will argue two reasons why Marco Silva has overstayed his time at Fulham, and that in order for the club to show greater ambition and take the next step, a change of manager is required.

The overarching point I want to make in this piece is that Fulham's ambition cannot simply be to survive in the Premier League next season and beyond. The club has to be aiming higher, pushing for European football. And in order to reach that level, or even begin to realise that ambition, Marco Silva has to go.

A recruitment philosophy built for survival, not progression
Marco Silva obviously has a proven reputation for getting the best out of experienced players, particularly those who have played for big clubs and have fallen on difficult moments. And this continued at Fulham, where he has relied heavily on more experienced, ready-made Premier League players such as Andreas Pereira, Bernd Leno, Willian and even an Alex Iwobi or Joachim Andersen.

That was perfect for survival mode and performance/output supports stress free survival. But as Jack Collins has pointed out in recent pods, there is no resale value in that model, meaning Fulham have limited scope for financial progression.

But this becomes more obvious when you look at what the clubs around Fulham are doing. Look at the sides which have consistently outperformed Silva in recent years.

Brighton (as shown through their relationship with Chelsea) have built a model around developing and selling elite-level assets, consistently turning recruitment into profit and progression.

AFC Bournemouth (Illia Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez, Antoine Semenyo, soon-to-be Rayan) are doing the same, consistently identifying young, high-upside players and either developing them or selling them on at a significant profit.

And Brentford have taken it even further, with monumental sales via Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa underpinning a model that has kept them ahead of their resources. Whether we like it or not, being a strong selling club is now the financial lever for clubs of Fulham's size to break into European competition.

For me, this isn't a case of bad recruitment. Over the course of the last five or so years, we've shown that we can invest relatively money well. I think the common denominator is that Marco Silva simply can't improve younger players and hence this is where he underdelivers. Even with a shift towards younger signings like Emile Smith Rowe, Kevin and Bobb, I think we can all agree these are not players who are clearly increasing in value to a level above their initial fee.

In my opinion, there is little evidence that his coaching style and system is accelerating their development in a way that significantly raises their resale worth. To maintain the levels Silva has established, Fulham would still have to look built solely around experienced, ready-made Premier League players rather than a structure designed to grow and multiply asset value. And that is where the gap with the clubs above them is starting to show.

The counter argument a lot of fans put forward is that Silva hasn't been given the right assets, or hasn't been given them early enough to properly build value within the squad. And I completely understand that position. However, that argument only really holds if, by the end of the season, these younger investments are at least holding or increasing their value under him which is simply not the case.

When it matters most, Fulham fall short
Then there's the issue of big moments, the metaphorical elephant in the room. In the matches that truly define a season those chances to push into Europe Silva's Fulham have often fallen short. This isn't just about one or two bad results; it is a pattern. When the pressure is at its peak, Fulham haven't shown they can break through that ceiling, and that reflects on the manager.

Taking the last two years as an example, Fulham have consistently underdelivered. Last season, I made the trip to Villa Park and was struck by how little energy Fulham showed. It was a flat, uninspired away performance decided by Youri Tielemans's early header. That was followed by an arguably even worse second half at home to Everton, effectively ending the push for European football.

This season, I went to Molineux to watch a toothless display on a weekend where everything went our way, yet nothing was taken advantage of. But nothing epitomises the end of season collapse more than the 1–0 defeat to Bournemouth, a game I was also at. Once again, with a golden opportunity after Christie's dismissal, Fulham lost control almost immediately. Moments later, a reckless challenge from a key senior figure wiped out the advantage and, in effect, ended the season.

Silva has to take some responsibility for this; he made the managerial decision months, if not years, ago to not only sign him but place that level of trust in him, and in the biggest moment he simply went missing. For me, that shows a lack of judgment at top Premier League level, and one of multiple examples of why I don't see Fulham reaching the next level under a manager who so often fails to deliver when the Premier League run in arrives.

Where do the Khans want us to go?
The Khans stand at a crossroads. Under Marco Silva, the club has achieved what once seemed like the ultimate goal: returning to the Premier League and staying there. And let's be clear, Silva has done an admirable job achieving that stability.

But now, Fulham need to answer a bigger question: do they want to be more than just a stable Premier League side? If the answer is yes, Silva needs to go.

In my opinion, the only way Fulham end next season in a European spot is with a manager who can develop younger players and improve their value, while also recognising the importance of experienced heads in key moments. A manager who, when faced with pressure or Premier League run-in with must win games, the challenge is embraced rather than feared.

I know a lot of Fulham fans will oppose this on the premise that things can get worse. But by taking this position, aren't we all conceding that Fulham aren't capable or worthy of aiming for a European charge? In order to work towards an ambitious goal, risks have to be taken, and I believe a big risk needs to be taken this summer in the managerial department.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/why-marco-silva-is-hampering-fulhams

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History Beckons as Mexico Name 26-Man Squad For the 2026 World Cup
World Cup history awaits as Guillermo Ochoa has been called up to Mexico's squad.

The World Cup is under two weeks away as the USA, Mexico and Canada will host this summer's tournament.

US coach Mauricio Pochettino named his 26-player squad last week, with his side beating Senegal 3-2 in a friendly on Sunday. Canada have also named their squad, which includes star player Alphonso Davies.

Mexico have now named their squad and it features veteran goalkeeper Ochoa.

Guillermo Ochoa Eyes World Cup Record
Ochoa has been named in Javier Aguirre's World Cup squad, meaning he has the chance to play in a sixth World Cup.

The 40-year-old is the third player who will have a chance to break the record for appearing in the most World Cups, along with Argentina's Lionel Messi and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi and Ronaldo are set to feature prominently for Argentina and Portugal, respectively. However, Ochoa won't play an integral part, unlike previous World Cups, given that he has seen limited action for Mexico.

The ageing stopper, who made a substitute appearance in Mexico's 1-0 friendly victory over Australia on Sunday, is well aware it's not an easy record to break.

Speaking to GOAL, Ochoa said: "It's not an easy record to break. There is no player with six World Cups, so it's a big challenge for me."

He's hoping to achieve the World Cup record, having starred at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The World Cup legend added: "I'm working for that. "But I am very positive, very happy, because I'm very close to doing it. I'm working hard to realize this dream."

Ochoa made his World Cup debut in 2006, where Mexico advanced from the group stage to reach the last-16. He spent last season playing for Cypriot side AEL Limassol, making 26 appearances across all competitions.

Mexico's World Cup Squad
Co-hosts Mexico have named their squad for the World Cup, featuring players in Europe's major leagues, including the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A.

Aguirre has selected the likes of Fulham's Raul Jimenez, Atletico Madrid's Obed Vargas and AC Milan's Santiago Gimenez, to name but a few.

Edson Alvarez, who spent last season on loan at Fenerbahce from West Ham United, will skipper his side.

Goalkeepers
Raul Rangel (Guadalajara), Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol), Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna).

Defenders
Jorge Sanchez (PAOK), Israel Reyes (Club America), Cesar Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow), Johan Vasquez (Genoa), Jesus Gallardo (Toluca), Mateo Chavez (AZ).

Midfielders
Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Orbelin Pineda (AEK Athens), Alvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis), Roberto Alvarado, Brian Gutierrez, Luis Romo (Guadalajara), Edson Alvarez (West Ham), Obed Vargas (Atletico Madrid), Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), Luis Chavez (Dynamo Moscow).

Forwards
Cesar Huerta (Anderlecht), Alexis Vega (Toluca), Julian Quinones (Al-Qadsiah), Guillermo Martinez (UNAM), Armando Gonzalez (Guadalajara), Santiago Gimenez (AC Milan), Raul Jimenez (Fulham).

Mexico will open the World Cup with a fixture against South Africa on June 11.



https://www.givemesport.com/mexico-history-beckons-squad-world-cup-football-soccer/