What we learned from the Premier League’s first weekend
The first game week is over. Rodrigo Muniz held the scarf in the air, hammered a beautiful stoppage-time leveler, and sent the Amex’s away end into raptures. Brentford, Keith Andrews, and Agent Carvalho got the Premier League season off to a good start. QPR lost in the so-called Football League, and Chelsea bored us to death at the Bridge? I’ve never heard of it. I hope everyone connected to Fulham has an amazing weekend!
What has game week one revealed about Fulham’s season, then, when we combine Premier League results with the Whites’ performance on the South Coast?
The Elimination Process: What Are the Number of Teams Worse Than Fulham?
This week’s club meltdown? West Ham is the recipient of that. The Hammers’ crushing loss to Sunderland, who were just promoted, validates the preseason theories of many. This season, West Ham’s only goal is to fight to stay in the division. Their case won’t be strengthened by having Graham Potter, who I consider to be the Premier League’s most overrated manager, but Fulham’s will be. I don’t see how a disorganized West Ham team headed by Graham Potter could defeat Fulham.
Scott Parker’s unwavering defensive record laid the groundwork for Burnley’s success in the Premier League. Super Scotty Parker is off to a fantastic start with a 3–0 loss against what I consider to be a subpar Thomas Frank’s Spurs on the first day. I’ll eat my hat if a Scott Parker team ever finishes ahead of Marco Silva.
Keith Andrews, Joe Bryan, Harry Wilson, and Marcelo Trotta. What is the connection between them? They are carrying out God’s will. The worst tactical performance of the week was put on by Keith Andrews, and I’m sure there will be many more to come. Igor Thiago is isolated from all attacking assistance, with the exception of Keane Lewis-Potter, who was mostly used at left back during the previous campaign, and Fabio Carvalho, who prefers to turn and run at defenders rather than chase loose balls. Well done, Keith. It’s that simple: the speed at which Keith Andrews gets his P45 determines Brentford’s chances of surviving. You can understand why there were rumors that Brentford players wanted to leave Jersey Road because Andrews had just been hired. The Irishman seemed to be completely lost. May it go on forever!
Without the luxury of a good player like Marco Silva, Molineux’s team might lose their third try to avoid relegation. Add Burnley, Brentford, and West Ham to a Wolves team that put up a performance indicative of their stagnation. Suddenly, you have four teams that I would nearly say are guaranteed to finish lower than Fulham this season. Not to add the fascinating situations of Crystal Palace, Leeds, Sunderland, and European-juggling, Eze-losing.
Stability is guaranteed by Marco Silva. Game week one demonstrates that Fulham supporters should be concerned about the cups when Silva departs, which is probably going to happen next season. The league’s mid-table mediocrity should be cultivated during this season by concentrating on the cups.
How Can Midfield Mediocrity Be Solved?
Josh King had a fantastic game, but there’s no denying that Fulham’s base of midfield lost the midfield fight. In the center of the park, Silva’s side was overrun. In games like Brighton away, a sitting six is necessary to establish a foothold in a midfield struggle against a team led by Fabian Huerzler that enjoys overloading personnel centrally. That privilege is not available to Fulham. In addition to lacking the luxury of a screening six, Fulham also lacks the luxury of creative midfield play. Josh King’s late-game exhaustion left the Whites lacking in creativity and appeared unable of scoring until Mr. Clutch and Mr. Muniz joined the battle.
Although Lukic and Berge are both skilled midfielders on their own, Brighton’s victory just serves to highlight their inability to complement one another as FFC’s pivot. Sander and Sasa don’t have enough creative energy or defensive tenacity. The recuritnebt team must give Marco the tactical versatility of a full-time defensive midfielder, as I have stated all summer long. Actually, that ought to be Fulham’s first focus for the summer.
Does Fulham’s Difficult Start Get Worse After a Point Against Brighton?
Is a point at Brighton in the last minute a good point? Of course. Football is all on moments like Muniz’s last-minute equalizer, so forget about the argument we made about West London. Could we have used all three points to return to SW6 in light of Fulham’s forthcoming games?
Maybe. Last Sunday, Manchester United put on a strong show that will undoubtedly boost the Red Devils’ confidence heading into the Cottage. Would you be surprised by another late United heartbreak? It shouldn’t. In other words, I’m far more concerned about the possibility of Manchester United visiting the city after the first game than I was following United’s defeat by Arsenal.
Fulham may be crossing the SW6 barrier at the wrong time, despite their second-class team’s lackluster goalless draw against Palace at home. Due to their early summer Club World Cup victory, Walham Green is expected to have a strong start to the season before a late-season decline. It’s simple to envision a scenario in which FFC finishes with one point from the first three games, perhaps dropping Marco Silva into the bottom three for the first time following a full game week during his stint at Fulham.
Even if Brentford is away, you don’t want to go into Leeds at home in severe need of three points! Fulham needs to win one of Manchester United’s or Chelsea’s games, or else they risk having to play back-to-back must-win games against two teams who will probably be fighting for points come May. Remember that London’s Original’s first ten games were ranked as the second hardest in the top league by Opta. This will put Marco’s guys to the test. Silva’s team must win if we want the cup run to provide stability.
Is Rodrigo Muniz’s Future Changed by an Opening Week Goal?
In a nutshell: Yes. For a long time, I’ve believed that Rodrigo Muniz pulls it all together this season. Rodrigo is a striker with confidence. This season, Rodri won’t have to wait months for the campaign’s first goal, unlike prior seasons. Muniz has a spectacular start to the season. On the spot by game week one, Johnny gives Rodrigo the confidence he needs to destroy the division. For Fulham to succeed, that is crucial. The difference between 15th and 8th place, or between a League Cup semi-final and a League Cup victory, is a long-term assured source of goals in a mid-table group that is not far apart.
Never in a season have we witnessed Muniz play with such assurance beneath him from the starting pistol. The possibilities are endless now that he has that. In full swing, Muniz is one of the best strikers in international football. In stark contrast to his initially awkward demeanor, RM9, a physical presence who has learned how to be a nuisance for English defenses since his catastrophic Middlesbrough loan, now possesses a technical skill and poise in front of goal (i.e. Brighton’s heroic leveller).
The first week of games revealed that there is a severe lack of talented strikers in the Premier League. If Viktor Gyokeres is the most sought-after striker in Europe, just take a look at his haphazard performance. What kind of player would FFC bring in to replace Rodri? Am I a little teasing when I make that comparison? Yes, but as the days of this window pass, Muniz becomes increasingly valuable, regardless of the amount Shahid Khan gets for Rodrigo. No other choice exists. Muniz needs to remain. Tony, how do you do that? It’s none of my business. Simply finish it.
Josh King: The Short and Long Term Answer
I know, I know—I can’t get Josh King off my mind. But can you blame me? The only thing Marco Silva and company have that comes close to signing an outfield player is King! The most exciting aspect of Fulham Football Club at the moment is Josh. JK is the long-term heir to Tom Cairney’s throne and the solution to Fulham’s temporary number 10 boredom. King was introduced to the football community during the first week of play. For good reason, he was named man of the match. Josh King’s 2025 contract may be the best Fulham deal this decade, in my opinion, because of King’s desire to break lines, drive at Brighton’s back four, fight back from physical tactics meant to limit his effectiveness, and link defense and offense in transition.
Found the Set Piece Solution?
It seems as though removing the Premier League’s worst set piece taker would have a beneficial effect. Last season, Fulham finished 24/25 with three goals. The Whites already have a third of that total with Harry Wilson on corners! Wilson’s preseason set piece clinic in the Algarve is also worth mentioning!
Sometimes football is an easy game, and other times it’s not. Everything you need to know about Andreas Pereira’s weaknesses is revealed by the eye test. To be honest, they are complete poodles. But Harry Wilson is on the rise? Well, there’s a reason he takes set pieces for Wales. He has a complete lack of coordination. A wand capable of doing genuinely miraculous feats, such as beating the first guy out of a corner. Amazing. One-piece solution? Sorted. Harry, cheers.
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