Good interview with Tony Khan in the Guardian

[Slaphead in Qatar]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/apr/24/fulham-tony-khan-craven-cottage-builds-an-intimacy-theres-an-identity-to-the-club-interview

[The Little Dave]

There is good and bad in this interview--

1) Good-It sounds like the relationship between Marco and Tony is quite strong. And Tony is quick to give him a lot of praise, and as the article points out Tony does really put the praise on Marco for the success. I think this does represent how Tony has taken a step back, and while he still talks with Marco and of course has final say over transfers, I imagine he listens to a lot of what Marco says, the praise from Tony>>Marco does not seem fake or forced, I think Tony genuinely understands Fulham is lucky to have him and he appreciates that.

2) Bad-"Khan acknowledges that there have been tensions with supporters over high ticket prices." But the quote following that statement in the article doesn't show that Khan does acknowledge the tensions, the quote is Tony talking about the investment his family has made (of course we are grateful) and talking about milestones, and achievements. This is all great and yes we need to earn more money to be able to spend more money, but even showing some empathy with fans who are being priced out would be nice.

[Jim©]

It's strange re pricing as I always thought that yanks were out of touch as their prices were so high. However, looking at this https://bookies.com/nfl/picks/here-s-how-much-it-costs-to-attend-an-nfl-game-in-2023 (albeit a year out of date), it shows that prices for a Jags game were $306 for a family of four, not dissimilar to our prices at all.

[jayffc]

There is good and bad in this interview--

1) Good-It sounds like the relationship between Marco and Tony is quite strong. And Tony is quick to give him a lot of praise, and as the article points out Tony does really put the praise on Marco for the success. I think this does represent how Tony has taken a step back, and while he still talks with Marco and of course has final say over transfers, I imagine he listens to a lot of what Marco says, the praise from Tony>>Marco does not seem fake or forced, I think Tony genuinely understands Fulham is lucky to have him and he appreciates that.

2) Bad-"Khan acknowledges that there have been tensions with supporters over high ticket prices." But the quote following that statement in the article doesn't show that Khan does acknowledge the tensions, the quote is Tony talking about the investment his family has made (of course we are grateful) and talking about milestones, and achievements. This is all great and yes we need to earn more money to be able to spend more money, but even showing some empathy with fans who are being priced out would be nice.

Fascinating how people can read the same article and see it differently, presumably depending on their bias.

Doesn't sound like he's stepped back to me, at all. Just sounds like he's keen to give credit to being met with a great partner. Everything he says sounds entirely consistent with what he's said before in previous years and interviews about the process for years. He's just very complimentary about working with and trusting Marcos input specifically and that it's been more in depth than previous managers and so naturally he allows him more trust. Doesn't mean he does less than he did, just means it works better as a partnership as he's met with a had working passionate counterpart as this article states.

As said before - he continues to do his own personal in depth analysis, comes up with his targets and stat led analysis, they meet and converge and discuss together. This has all been exactly as written in previous interviews and articles. Just in this one he's keen to give Silva praise again, as he should, as he's clearly also a massive part of recruitment and better at backing up his views than others before him.

"TruMedia Networks, is a major player in the world of sports data. Khan uses his eye for analytics and numbers to pick out transfer targets, although he also understands the importance of a human touch."

He's been accused of being a narcissist who only cares about himself by some online before, he here praises silva and plays it humble, focusing on just talking up his manager (a good idea I might add to keep that positive relationship when he wants to keep him and every interview is asking him how that will go with all the attention around him), and then for doing so it's taken as proof of stepping back as opposed to just wanting to share credit where it's due🧐. Like an actor accepting an award for a movie and saying "Im very lucky to have an incredible director/team/co stars", its true, but it doesnt mean they weren't still a big part of why it was a success 😅

"I love using analytics and collaborating with Marco's opinions,"

"Marco and the board and I have been able to manage to keep the club in good compliance while keeping a very competitive squad...That's been a great team effort" - points to him maintaining his input in general strategy and again stating it's a collaboration, with team effort being a repeated theme of the article.

So another article laying it out as a team effort, as it's always been...just that nowadays Marco has brought way more to the table in a more in depth way himself and that's rightfully acknowledged. To me that's not a step back, but an addition to the process that was lacking. but I guess we'll all see it as we see it.

Regardless plenty good stuff in the interview.

[General]

There is good and bad in this interview--

1) Good-It sounds like the relationship between Marco and Tony is quite strong. And Tony is quick to give him a lot of praise, and as the article points out Tony does really put the praise on Marco for the success. I think this does represent how Tony has taken a step back, and while he still talks with Marco and of course has final say over transfers, I imagine he listens to a lot of what Marco says, the praise from Tony>>Marco does not seem fake or forced, I think Tony genuinely understands Fulham is lucky to have him and he appreciates that.

2) Bad-"Khan acknowledges that there have been tensions with supporters over high ticket prices." But the quote following that statement in the article doesn't show that Khan does acknowledge the tensions, the quote is Tony talking about the investment his family has made (of course we are grateful) and talking about milestones, and achievements. This is all great and yes we need to earn more money to be able to spend more money, but even showing some empathy with fans who are being priced out would be nice.

It's a PR puff piece which benefits TK. It may be interesting and some bits true/insightful.. but it's no surprise he avoids things that make him look bad and always, in a deeply American way which tends to try and cover over everything with puppy like optimism and hope most people don't critically think enough to know better.

[Angus Telford]

It's a PR puff piece which benefits TK. It may be interesting and some bits true/insightful.. but it's no surprise he avoids things that make him look bad and always, in a deeply American way which tends to try and cover over everything with puppy like optimism and hope most people don't critically think enough to know better.

That's a strong way of putting it, and he probably deserves some credit for how much better this (and our current PR generally) is than his Twitter arguments with fans back in the day, but fundamentally I agree with you. Interesting issues like the ticket pricing and ageing squad were brought up by the journo, but unfortunately just glossed over with fairly meaningless responses.

[RaySmith]

Thought it was generally a positive piece,  especially his relationship with Marco, and Marco's involvement with transfers, and his general enthusiasm about the club and his ongoing involvement.

Not sure anyone would expect him to talk more about ticket prices, and the  subject of aging players was brought up as a positive, with the way Marco can get the  best out of them, which seems almost old school, the article's writer said.

Fans will have their own opinions about this, but  the policy seems to have worked for pretty  well for us so far.

As for ticket prices, well the game has long priced itself out of the reach of many traditional fans, with the advent of the Prem and Sky and now other channels, and making the Prem a world wide attraction, worth millions.

But its market forces driven, ruled by money, with huge player wages and transfer fees. Far different to the game I began watching in the early 60's, when players earned the same as your dad, and  top players often travelled to the game by bus or the tube -
I once saw Tony Macedo travelling to the game on the tube from Wimbledon to Putney Bridge, and Tosh bantered with fans  on the Riverside terracing. While you only paid a few bob to get in through the turnstiles.

It was a game mainly watched by working-class blokes and their sons.

Most players were British, and now teams are filled with, very expensive,  top players from across the globe, with huge levels of skill on display.

Just the fact that most top teams have foreign millionaires, even nation states, as their owners, instead of a local businessman who was also a fan, says it all really.

[The Little Dave]

There is good and bad in this interview--

1) Good-It sounds like the relationship between Marco and Tony is quite strong. And Tony is quick to give him a lot of praise, and as the article points out Tony does really put the praise on Marco for the success. I think this does represent how Tony has taken a step back, and while he still talks with Marco and of course has final say over transfers, I imagine he listens to a lot of what Marco says, the praise from Tony>>Marco does not seem fake or forced, I think Tony genuinely understands Fulham is lucky to have him and he appreciates that.

2) Bad-"Khan acknowledges that there have been tensions with supporters over high ticket prices." But the quote following that statement in the article doesn't show that Khan does acknowledge the tensions, the quote is Tony talking about the investment his family has made (of course we are grateful) and talking about milestones, and achievements. This is all great and yes we need to earn more money to be able to spend more money, but even showing some empathy with fans who are being priced out would be nice.

Fascinating how people can read the same article and see it differently, presumably depending on their bias.

Doesn't sound like he's stepped back to me, at all. Just sounds like he's keen to give credit to being met with a great partner. Everything he says sounds entirely consistent with what he's said before in previous years and interviews about the process for years. He's just very complimentary about working with and trusting Marcos input specifically and that it's been more in depth than previous managers and so naturally he allows him more trust. Doesn't mean he does less than he did, just means it works better as a partnership as he's met with a had working passionate counterpart as this article states.

As said before - he continues to do his own personal in depth analysis, comes up with his targets and stat led analysis, they meet and converge and discuss together. This has all been exactly as written in previous interviews and articles. Just in this one he's keen to give Silva praise again, as he should, as he's clearly also a massive part of recruitment and better at backing up his views than others before him.

"TruMedia Networks, is a major player in the world of sports data. Khan uses his eye for analytics and numbers to pick out transfer targets, although he also understands the importance of a human touch."

He's been accused of being a narcissist who only cares about himself by some online before, he here praises silva and plays it humble, focusing on just talking up his manager (a good idea I might add to keep that positive relationship when he wants to keep him and every interview is asking him how that will go with all the attention around him), and then for doing so it's taken as proof of stepping back as opposed to just wanting to share credit where it's due🧐. Like an actor accepting an award for a movie and saying "Im very lucky to have an incredible director/team/co stars", its true, but it doesnt mean they weren't still a big part of why it was a success 😅

"I love using analytics and collaborating with Marco's opinions,"

"Marco and the board and I have been able to manage to keep the club in good compliance while keeping a very competitive squad...That's been a great team effort" - points to him maintaining his input in general strategy and again stating it's a collaboration, with team effort being a repeated theme of the article.

So another article laying it out as a team effort, as it's always been...just that nowadays Marco has brought way more to the table in a more in depth way himself and that's rightfully acknowledged. To me that's not a step back, but an addition to the process that was lacking. but I guess we'll all see it as we see it.

Regardless plenty good stuff in the interview.

Yes this has been the case under Marco the whole time, I think without question Tony has let Marco had more influence and input over these sorts of decisions than any of Marco's predecessors. You are getting too attached to me using the phrase "step back" which I don't think is wrong, but either way Tony and Marco have a much more collaborative approach than any pairing before, and you can't tell me that recruitment and the managers influence and Tony's involvement hasn't changed since the 18-19 season.

If you are suggesting Tony is running the club and specifically recruitment and the transfers the same way he was when he first took over as FD, I can't get behind that.

I also don't think it's fascinating how people can read the same thing and have slightly different takes. We all come from different backgrounds, have followed the club for different periods of time, might know more or less than someone else, etc. Our past/history will fundamentally shape the way we view new information that comes out. I'd actually be more shocked if everyone read an article and thought the same thing! Shocking!

[Woolly Mammoth]

There is good and bad in this interview--

1) Good-It sounds like the relationship between Marco and Tony is quite strong. And Tony is quick to give him a lot of praise, and as the article points out Tony does really put the praise on Marco for the success. I think this does represent how Tony has taken a step back, and while he still talks with Marco and of course has final say over transfers, I imagine he listens to a lot of what Marco says, the praise from Tony>>Marco does not seem fake or forced, I think Tony genuinely understands Fulham is lucky to have him and he appreciates that.

2) Bad-"Khan acknowledges that there have been tensions with supporters over high ticket prices." But the quote following that statement in the article doesn't show that Khan does acknowledge the tensions, the quote is Tony talking about the investment his family has made (of course we are grateful) and talking about milestones, and achievements. This is all great and yes we need to earn more money to be able to spend more money, but even showing some empathy with fans who are being priced out would be nice.

Fascinating how people can read the same article and see it differently, presumably depending on their bias.

Doesn't sound like he's stepped back to me, at all. Just sounds like he's keen to give credit to being met with a great partner. Everything he says sounds entirely consistent with what he's said before in previous years and interviews about the process for years. He's just very complimentary about working with and trusting Marcos input specifically and that it's been more in depth than previous managers and so naturally he allows him more trust. Doesn't mean he does less than he did, just means it works better as a partnership as he's met with a had working passionate counterpart as this article states.

As said before - he continues to do his own personal in depth analysis, comes up with his targets and stat led analysis, they meet and converge and discuss together. This has all been exactly as written in previous interviews and articles. Just in this one he's keen to give Silva praise again, as he should, as he's clearly also a massive part of recruitment and better at backing up his views than others before him.

"TruMedia Networks, is a major player in the world of sports data. Khan uses his eye for analytics and numbers to pick out transfer targets, although he also understands the importance of a human touch."

He's been accused of being a narcissist who only cares about himself by some online before, he here praises silva and plays it humble, focusing on just talking up his manager (a good idea I might add to keep that positive relationship when he wants to keep him and every interview is asking him how that will go with all the attention around him), and then for doing so it's taken as proof of stepping back as opposed to just wanting to share credit where it's due🧐. Like an actor accepting an award for a movie and saying "Im very lucky to have an incredible director/team/co stars", its true, but it doesnt mean they weren't still a big part of why it was a success 😅

"I love using analytics and collaborating with Marco's opinions,"

"Marco and the board and I have been able to manage to keep the club in good compliance while keeping a very competitive squad...That's been a great team effort" - points to him maintaining his input in general strategy and again stating it's a collaboration, with team effort being a repeated theme of the article.

So another article laying it out as a team effort, as it's always been...just that nowadays Marco has brought way more to the table in a more in depth way himself and that's rightfully acknowledged. To me that's not a step back, but an addition to the process that was lacking. but I guess we'll all see it as we see it.

Regardless plenty good stuff in the interview.

Yes this has been the case under Marco the whole time, I think without question Tony has let Marco had more influence and input over these sorts of decisions than any of Marco's predecessors. You are getting too attached to me using the phrase "step back" which I don't think is wrong, but either way Tony and Marco have a much more collaborative approach than any pairing before, and you can't tell me that recruitment and the managers influence and Tony's involvement hasn't changed since the 18-19 season.

If you are suggesting Tony is running the club and specifically recruitment and the transfers the same way he was when he first took over as FD, I can't get behind that.

I also don't think it's fascinating how people can read the same thing and have slightly different takes. We all come from different backgrounds, have followed the club for different periods of time, might know more or less than someone else, etc. Our past/history will fundamentally shape the way we view new information that comes out. I'd actually be more shocked if everyone read an article and thought the same thing! Shocking!

Since the expunging from the club of Khan juniors best mate, the loud mouthed one Craig  Kline.
Sadiq Khan has specifically told his son to step back stay humble, and listen carefully to Marco Silva who is the professional as he will learn more by listening than talking, and liaise together for a fruitful engagement and partnership in the best interest of the club.