As the Premier League broke for the World Cup, it is clear Fulham had learnt lessons from their previous top-flight campaigns to surpass early season expectations.
Sitting a comfortable ninth in the table, Marco Silva’s side have gained nearly double the amount of points from the same point in their last Premier League outing, claiming 19 from 15 games so far.
There is a real sense of optimism around Craven Cottage that they can finally avoid relegation and narrow defeats to reigning champions Manchester City and Manchester United in their last two outings prove they can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the league.
There is a consistency and assuredness in the way Fulham play – a far cry from the disastrous 2018/19 and 2020/21 campaigns where both uncertainty and instability brought an instant return to the Championship.
The 2018/19 season saw Fulham rip up the squad that got them promoted, instead spending £110m in the hope of survival only for the majority of these new signings to never be given enough time to adjust.
A more conservative recruitment approach was seen in 2020/21 – although this time it was a lack of goals (just 40) which ultimately led to their undoing with talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic unable to translate his Championship prowess into the Premier League.
This time around under Silva, the Cottagers have struck the perfect balance to develop a team with top-flight experience and quality through astute recruitment and getting the best out of the players already at the club.
Joao Palhinha in particular has been a revelation since joining from Sporting Lisbon, offering both defensive solidarity as well as another creative outlet while Andreas Pereira has also shown some of his early promise from his Manchester United days.
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What is probably more impressive though is how Silva has developed mainstays such as Tim Ream, Tom Cairney and Harrison Reed to be much tougher to play against as well as channelling Mitrovic’s aggression to improve his hold up play as well as score more goals.
Fulham are no longer Premier League pushovers, especially at home – although conceding late goals against both Manchester sides as well as calamitous defeats against Newcastle and West Ham proves there is still work to be done.
With no game until Boxing Day’s short trip to Crystal Palace, there is plenty of time on the training ground for Silva to iron out any creases as well as having one eye on the transfer window opening in January.
In terms of recruitment, Fulham really need to take advantage while they are in the ascendancy to not only add more overall quality and depth to the squad but also a much-needed additional striker.
Mitrovic’s recent ankle injury has highlighted Fulham’s over-reliance on the Serbian with summer signing Carlos Vinicius so far failing to live up to expectations since his move from Benfica.
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Without Mitrovic on the pitch, there is a distinct lack of a goal threat as Fulham have gone on to lose all three Premier League games he has been absent from.
And with Serbia insisting the forward will play for them in the World Cup despite the injury concerns, Fulham will be crossing their fingers he returns to West London unscathed alongside the other five players who have ventured to Qatar for the tournament.
Fulham’s start may have been impressive but it’s how they finish which will be even more crucial and, with over half the season to go, they can’t leave anything to chance.