Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 10/12/25...

[WhiteJC]

Jack and Loz at the Cottage - Blog 324
Date: 7th December 2025
Opposition: Crystal Palace
Score: 1-2
Fulham goal scorer: Harry F Wilson
Weather: unseasonably mild
Atmosphere: hugely disappointed
MOTM: Not Applicable is back with a vengeance but credit to Harry for his exquisite goal, and to Kenny, Calvin and, more surprisingly, Kevin for some excellent defensive interventions
Moment of the Match: in the 68th minute, Marco Silva turned to the bench for the first time, replacing ESR with Kevin. This was by no means the worst sub Marco made on Sunday but in a match which turned on his substitution strategy (or lack thereof) this was the Moment where the game began to slip from Fulham's grasp
Lunch: Riverside Studios
Drinks and dinner: the vibe at the Blue Boat was mellow and Christmassy with sparkling lights and a sophisticated songstress. Unfortunately, this was the best part of our day

Every Fulham fan knew what Sunday's game plan should have been: play like we did in the second half against Man City. Every Fulham fan also knew this probably wouldn't happen. It didn't. But why not? Was this not the game plan? Or was it the game plan but no one executed it? Or was there such an after the Lord Mayor's toe - sorry, show - malaise hanging over the players that it didn't matter either way?

Perhaps it was because the match was on Sunday that there was a Sunday league feel to it - so many off-sides, so many throw-ins, so many backwards and sideways passes, so much giving the ball away. This wasn't a quality example of Premier League football from either side. Palace looked tired and slow. Instead of dazzling them with pace and creativity, Fulham - with the oldest squad in the world - were content to play Walking Football.

In the first half, there was no Palace Press, but we didn't capitalise; Samu didn't sparkle like he did on Tuesday, ESR didn't shine so bright. There was very little to cheer about and, Harry's goal aside, there was very little to be excited at, or even reassured by. The defence were doing well until they suddenly weren't, having collectively forgotten that attacks can come from both sides of the pitch.

On Tuesday we raised our game to match City; on Sunday we slowed it to match Palace. But that's their game not ours so, of course, they're better at it than we are.

Still, 1-1 at half time felt fair; two well-organised, if somewhat lumbering teams had cancelled each other out.

As we'd hoped, Fulham started the second half with more verve. We looked more attacking, or at least, more passes came forwards even if some were sloppy and most from Bassey and Andersen were ambitiously long. There were some promising runs into the box and some intricate (rather too intricate at times) passing around it.

Stats published this week prove that Samu Chukwueze is the most efficient provider of goals and assists in Premier League history (!) but unfortunately, Palace's performative manager had heard about this and Samu had at least 2 defenders man marking him all the time. But that's not enough to contain our high-flying Super Eagle. Samu dodged the defenders, passed the ball to Iwobi, Iwobi shot and hit the post and Emile arrived in exactly the right place at the right time to turn the rebound back into the goal.

There is no point in dwelling on what happened next, but it turns out that Samu's toes are too big.

Fulham might have reacted to the disallowed goal with a renewed sense of purpose and revitalised attacking intent. Instead, Marco Silva started playing Sub Roulette.

As we've said already, ESR wasn't quite up to his current high standards but taking him off seemed premature, especially when he'd just found the back of the net. Whilst we're always happy to see Kevin, the switch meant that Samu jumped to the right and Harry stepped to the middle. It wasn't quite the Rocky Horror Show but in many ways, what followed wasn't far off.

So we now had a top class winger on either side of the pitch - full of pace and tricks. But in the middle we had Raúl Jimenez, looking every week of his 34 years as he struggled to keep up. Play became scrappy and wasteful with Kevin trying too hard to make an impact and the formation looking clunky and confused.

So Marco spun the subs wheel again and the numbers that came up (because this must have been random not planned) were Berge, who'd been playing solidly if quietly, and Samu who - perhaps Marco had missed it even though Glasner hadn't - scores a goal or provides an assist every 46 minutes.

To make matters worse, Josh, who we were initially happy to see thinking he'd provide some youthful energy, had suddenly become as middle aged as his teammates. Saša didn't do anything Berge wasn't already doing and the formation mutated again with Harry hokey-cokeying back to the wing. Meanwhile, Raúl aged another decade and Bassey and Andersen passed the ball between themselves for minutes at a time.

This might not have mattered if we'd kept the score level and clung on to a point against a difficult side. But that didn't happen because Palace scored. We can't bring ourselves to watch the goal again even for the purposes of artistic integrity, but apparently everyone switched off and Josh wasn't tall enough.

Incredibly, things got worse. Instead of bringing off Raúl who was now playing Walking Wounded Football and replacing him with Jonah who's tall, strong, fast, and played well against a title contender a whole 4 days earlier, Marco let the wheel of fortune decide his final subs. Goal scorer Harry and almost-assister Alex were replaced by Tom Cairney and Adama Traore - a slow and fast comedy duo ripe for Boxing Day entertainment on ITV. Tom's great skill these days is in taking the sting out of a game when we're leading and isn't Adama going to West Ham in January?

This was a bizarre end to a disappointing game. The players literally never got up to speed - nobody shone, nobody took control, everyone was a passenger in an avoidable accident.

Random Subs - sorry, Musings:-

- It was good to see Gary Brazil at half time

- On the subject of Brazilians, we are massively missing Muniz

- And Antonee

- And Sess!

- The ref tried hard to,let the game flow and largely succeeded but Palace took advantage of his generosity with some Biblical time wasting towards the end.

This has been a week of challenging emotions for Fulham fans - the stylish win at Spurs, the noble defeat to Man City and a frustrating loss to a Palace team who were there for the taking. Our inconsistency is no longer a quirky talking point, it's becoming a concern.

And things aren't about to get less turbulent. Must Win Games against teams below us await; we'll play a tough Quarter Final and the Super Eagles will take flight. The matches will come thick and fast and we don't know when our walking wounded will return to the fray.

January is an unknown quantity - will Marco get the transfers he wants? Will he sign the contract? The next few weeks will make or break this season, and maybe more besides.



https://werdsmith.com/p/hVxm7SDBz2qXr3

[WhiteJC]

Marco Silva is 'considering quitting Fulham' as contract talks face collapse
Marco Silva is considering his options as he eyes a potential departure from Fulham upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the season.

That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the boss feels he has taken Fulham as far as he can at this stage.

Silva was left unhappy at Fulham after their lack of backing during the summer transfer window and is now weighing up his long-term future at the club.

Football Insider revealed on 10 October that Saudi Pro League sides are tracking Silva in case he becomes available, having been long-term admirers of his.

Meanwhile, he has been linked with potential vacancies at both Man United and Nottingham Forest in recent months, and is expected to have no shortage of options.

Marco Silva plotting Fulham exit after latest twist
Brown told Football Insider in October that Silva is likely to walk away from Fulham despite missing out on the Forest job following Sean Dyche's arrival.

The former scout, who has a wealth of experience working closely alongside elite-level managers including Sir Alex Ferguson for over a decade at Man United, insisted that there is now a growing feeling that he will leave the club.

"Silva is considering his options for a move away," he told Football Insider.

"He feels he's taken Fulham as far as he can with the backing he's getting from the board, and wants a bigger platform to show what he can do at the top level.

"That's the suggestion at the moment, because he isn't being given the backing of the club to take this club any further than he has already.

"After that loss against Palace, I think it was clear that this Fulham side aren't where they want to be despite the manager's best efforts.

"Silva has done a really good job with the squad he's got there, but it gets to a point where he wants to push further but the club aren't prepared for that.

"So if he gets the opportunity to go somewhere else, to a bigger club, I expect that's something he will be looking to do even though Fulham obviously want to keep him."

Fulham plan to agree new deal with Silva
Football Insider revealed on 16 November that Fulham are pushing for Silva to sign a new deal as soon as possible to end any speculation about his future.

The West London outfit want the manager to cement his future at Craven Cottage and end any speculation which could cause unrest behind the scenes.

However, Football Insider revealed on 21 November that Silva is delaying Fulham's contract talks despite positive discussions during the recent international break.

Interest from a number of bigger clubs is believed to have turned the manager's head, and despite holding talks with Fulham, his future remains up in the air.

Meanwhile, Football Insider exclusively revealed on 18 November that Fulham will sound out Brendan Rodgers with fresh suggestions their current boss could walk away.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/marco-silva-is-considering-quitting-fulham-as-contract-talks-face-collapse/

[WhiteJC]

The tricky issue of Marco Silva's release clause
It has been a month since Silva was offered a new deal at Fulham. Is the clause the blocker?

Since I last sat down to write about our beloved Fulham, there have been ups and downs. But one thing remains consistent: Fulham's board and Marco Silva are yet to agree on the terms of a renewal. As I predicted, the signature remains elusive. Marco had earned the right to a new deal, but now it's being discussed, we are yet to see both sides reach and agreement.

Marco suggests that he has given the board no hint that he wants to leave. Yet the absence of any real confirmation leaves me wondering: does a person who isn't saying they want to leave, actually want to stay?

Saying you don't want to leave, but failing to commit to staying, is a sign of Marco's ambition. Make no mistake, Marco has done an incredible job for us. Fulham can beat anyone on their day and his record in SW6 speaks for itself.

There will be elements of negotiations that could become sticking points. Particularly when discussing the renewal of the release clause that has been in his contract since 2023. It's reported that it currenty sits somewhere between £10m to £15m. It is this clause that has probably kept him at Fulham - or certainly played a role. It has arguably helped to create stability under Marco. A good move by the club's hierarchy then?

Marco has reportedly interviewed for the Manchester United job since signing that extension in 2023. He also attracted interest from Spurs and Saudi Arabia. For a manager who attracts big clubs, would it be sensible to renew that clause for another three years? Or is it Fulham standing in his way when it comes to his career? It's effectively a transfer fee we're talking about here.

Some fans may even be saying "raise the fee". It would tie him even tighter to Fulham, making it even harder for a club to come along and poach him. But if Fulham have attempted to raise it, there's every chance Marco says it's too onerous. We know how players act when they want to move on. I for one wouldn't want Marco to get frustrated at a club that he may feel has a ceiling.

Another alternative is to remove the clause entirely. Unshackle him. But obviously, once that happens, the club - and Marco - must deliver. Fulham would have to back the boss in the market. If they did, it might well persuade him to stay. But it would also remove Marco's financial safety net should the club terminate the deal due to results.

So as the weeks roll on, watch this space. Fulham might claim his bad start to the season warrants a lesser commitment, hence the timing of the offer. Marco will be saying the board delaying investment has led to a backwards step.

For the record, I suspect the buy-out clause may change to a certain degree. Is it fair to tie a manager to his position, and then fail to back him to the hilt? And equally, if the club decides to call time on the relationship, they need to be wary of cost.

Time is running out - this impasse is having an impact on the season. With the lights about to go up in the most hectic period, I anticipate a brilliant show ahead, so make it happen, team Khan.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/the-tricky-issue-of-marco-silvas

[WhiteJC]

Player flying after Fulham exit – 12 goals in 14 games and family happier
A Fulham exit that barely made noise in the summer has turned into one of the most impactful mid-season storylines in Brazil.

Carlos Vinícius, who left Craven Cottage in August and debuted for Grêmio on August 11th, ended the Brasileirão as the club's top scorer despite playing only 14 matches.

His numbers – 12 goals in the league, finishing as the competition's joint-sixth top scorer – reshaped Grêmio's season and restored the striker's profile after two mixed spells in England.

Vinícius' final outing of 2025 summed up the transformation. He scored the first two goals in a 4-0 away win against Sport Recife, once again acting as the difference-maker in a team that had spent much of the year looking over its shoulder.

His arrival in the second half of the campaign lifted the attack and gave Grêmio a focal point it lacked. A minor muscle injury interrupted his run, but it barely slowed the trajectory.

Adaptation in Brazil and a long-awaited dream
In a pre-match interview with Zero Hora, the striker underlined how central his adaptation off the pitch has been. "The truth is that my family are very happy here in Porto Alegre, and that helped a lot after eight or nine years abroad," he said.

He explained that playing in Brazil had always been a personal ambition: "I always told the people close to me that my career would only feel complete after I played the Brasileirão. My family are happier seeing me here than when I was in the Premier League."

Vinícius also revealed that Grêmio had tried to sign him two other times while he was under contract with Fulham. Those moves never progressed because the London club were unwilling to release him. "This time it was simpler. I was a free agent, and the deal happened very fast," he noted.

The numbers behind the post-Fulham resurgence
For context, his scoring record in Brazil surpasses his Premier League output. He scored eight goals in 48 appearances for Fulham across 2022-2024, having previously netted ten in 22 games for Tottenham in 2020/21.

In contrast, his 2025 Grêmio return reads: 12 goals in 14 games, a goal every 86 minutes, and a decisive role in the club's late-season recovery.

The Brazilian season has closed, but Vinícius leaves it as one of its revelations – and Fulham, watching from afar, will recognise that his most convincing run of form came only after stepping away from London.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/player-flying-after-fulham-exit-12-goals-in-14-games-and-family-happier/