Fulham’s off-field vibes are immaculate at the moment
Written by Alex Mackenzie on 14th November 2024
As we wait patiently for another international break to pass, we can reflect on a great week. It could have been three wins in a row; if we’d taken all three points at Everton, we’d be third. Blimey. This Premier League season is shaping up to be a different season for the entire league. It is already looking like it will take fewer points to win the title, meaning more points will be required to stay up as a result. It also means there’ll be more points available to the rest of the league – the top two teams won’t have a point duopoly.
So then, when we look ahead to this difficult run of fixtures ahead, we can look optimistically? Optimism goes against all my intuition as a Fulham fan, so maybe it’s better to view this season as an opportunity. The table’s incredibly tight; if Fulham keep avoiding defeat and playing to their strengths, Europe could become a more realistic prospect. We have an opportunity to do something great.
A new mentality
We’ve seen a lot of quality on the pitch this season, but the results haven’t always gone our way. Over the years, I’ve seen more last-minute goals go against us than I have seen last-minute goals going our way. What we’ve witnessed so far this season has fulfilled the typical narrative. However, on 4 November, something shifted in the Fulham psychology. And it left us feeling something that has been too scary to feel… hope.
That renewed hope can be put down to many things, but the element that threads it all together is the chemistry coursing through the entire squad. We’ve known for a while now, that Premier League is now a squad game, featuring players who are starters and finishers. Each player looks like they know their role, and there is healthy competition. The result is something that I haven’t seen in a Fulham for a while. All the players look like they’re all mates. They, seemingly, all get along. This lot actually enjoy their time together.
Solidarity
The man that seems to be at the heart of friendship groups is Alex Iwobi. He stated recently in an interview with Sky Sports that ‘he wasn’t his (Emile Smith Rowe’s) agent’ but that he had spoken to Emile Smith Rowe about the family atmosphere in the Fulham ranks.
They are both probably feeling right at home now, Hale End academy graduates side by side. Anyone moving to a new club needs a buddy. Iwobi is like the older brother in the playground telling everyone how cool his younger brother is. It is adorable.
It’s the giggle after ‘vamos’ that really gets me here.
Those two are part of the new cohesion, but there is an old guard too. Harry Wilson showed us why we’ve been singing about him for three years. Even though he isn’t starting he’s always been fully onboard with the project. Harrison Reed and Tom Cairney also regularly remind us of the character in the team, the latter has secured veteran status. Calvin Bassey clearly provides some of the lighter moments, keen to copy everyone’s celebrations when they tuck their chances away. After only one year in black and white, Bassey looks like he’s come up through the academy with the way he endears himself to those around him.
Joachim Andersen is walking proof that Fulham is a great place to be, because he’s come back for more. Raul Jimenez also brings a lot of high energy and personality. Raul has managed to cultivate the belief within the team that he can deliver. The importance of this should not be understated. It gives the whole team confidence when there is belief that the front man can bring the quality. Aleksander Mitrovic is doing well in Saudi Arabia, but this Fulham team is arguably playing higher quality football with Jimenez in it.
Many neutrals are singing our praises because we are a joy to watch. Jimenez deserves the credit for that. Mexico has always been much trendier than Serbia. Come the end of the season, we’ll have to take a view on whether style beats substance, but it’s so far so good this term.
Showing that special something
Some wins can be a springboard; I think that performance at Brentford galvanised the squad. Togetherness is an important feature of any team, in any walk of life. When watching the first 90 minutes of the Brentford game, I felt Fulham might be hitting a low point. To lose the game in that way could have been detrimental. Mid-table mediocrity was fluttering its eyelids at us as the clock ticked into added time. We know what happened next. The celebrations were very significant. The whole team bundled into the corner. “Football will take from you, but it will give to you as well”. Marco Silva hitting the proverbial nail on the head from inside the post-match dressing room.
Last season we beat Tottenham 3-0 before going into an international break. Then we didn’t pick up another win for another three games, drawing to Sheffield United, followed by a defeat at Forest and then defeat again at home to Newcastle. But the manner of this victory against Brentford and the comfy away win that followed have gone some way to weeding out the deep-rooted anxiety that sits in Fulham. Marco needs to ensure the application and commitment remain high, because there is no reason why the team can’t seize the opportunity that lies ahead after the international break. Their apparent camaraderie can see them reach those new heights.
Winning late is arguably the best feeling in football. Witnessing our team enjoy each other’s company gives us such joy, and more than anything, joy can heal. If Fulham are to accomplish something special this year, this group of players will have distracted us all from the shadow cast over our operations. Success on the pitch will be a reminder that we all need football every now and again. The showcase of teamwork, togetherness and high spirits can spread like a life-giving virus, full of positivity, infecting everyone with optimism and hope. My wish this year, is that this squad can continue to light up the dark, they’re nearly halfway there.
