The start of a third straight season in the Premier League shows the good and often underappreciated job Marco Silva has done in shaking off Fulham’s ‘yo-yo club’ tag.
Silva has a relentless drive for improvement from his team, and building on last season’s 13th-place finish feels well within reach.
When Silva signed a new contract in October, it suggested assurances had been made that he would be backed in the transfer market.
Fulham have not splashed the cash this summer, but the signing of Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal for £27million plus £7m in add-ons marks an exciting addition.
Injuries and heightened competition saw Smith Rowe fall down the pecking order at Arsenal. At his best a full England international whose unpredictable nature is a threat to any defence, Fulham can guarantee him game-time and a chance to rebuild his early career.
Silva has a strong track record of helping players do just that. Just in the last year, Alex Iwobi has started to look more like the version Arsenal saw than when he lost his way at Everton. Smith Rowe’s goals in pre-season already suggest his move could benefit Fulham no end.
Plenty of fans will mourn the exits of long-term servants Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Tim Ream, but an emotional return for Ryan Sessegnon is a feel-good story that offers the left-back a chance to rebuild his injury-hit career.
Ream was not the only centre-back to leave over the summer, with Tosin Adarabioyo joining rivals Chelsea on a free transfer. The signing of Jorge Cuenca from Villarreal is therefore an important one, providing competition for Calvin Bassey and Issa Diop.
But the club will also sign a fourth centre-back before the deadline. Aston Villa’s Diego Carlos and a return to Craven Cottage for Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen are the two players being targeted.
Finishing 13th last season compared was lower than 10th the previous campaign, but Silva felt Fulham played better football.
Wins against Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham showed an ability to beat the very best teams that they had not shown before.
The goals of Rodrigo Muniz, who stepped up in the second half of the season after Aleksandar Mitrovic’s sale, were important then and will be once more.
Fulham may have to fight hard to keep hold of Andreas Pereira, who has blossomed since leaving United, but if they do then he will again be crucial in creating chances for Muniz and others.
For Fulham supporters, ticket price hikes are set to be less dramatic this season, and the near-completion of the new Riverside Stand allows more fans in and for focus to finally return to matters on the pitch.
