After a solid start to the season, a run of three defeats in four Premier League games has seen Fulham drop to 16th in the table.
Here, Standard Sport assesses how the Cottagers are faring.
Season so far in one word: Toothless
Verdict compared to pre-season expectations: Following last season’s 10th–placed finish was always going to be tough, and the sale of talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic tempered expectations.
But Fulham’s lack of goals has been a bigger problem than expected. Only Burnley have scored fewer than their 10 in the top-flight.
How is the manager doing? Sunday’s defeat at Aston Villa followed the same script as the draw at Brighton a fortnight ago. Fulham were better in the second half after looking miles off the pace in the first.
Marco Silva's team are usually composed in midfield and counter-attack well, but they must start games better. The manager did sign a new contract a few weeks ago, committing until summer 2026, in a huge boost for Fulham.
Reason to be cheerful: As the season has progressed, some of Fulham’s best performers have been their summer signings.
Although Silva wanted more players through the door, Alex Iwobi and Timothy Castagne have both been excellent. While Raul Jimenez has disappointed so far, Calvin Bassey is improving all the time. Signs of good recruitment.
Reason to be fearful: The struggles in attack. Jimenez, Carlos Vinicius and Rodrigo Muniz are never going to be regular providers of goals. Fulham must sign a reliable goalscorer in January to avoid falling into the mire.
Fans’ mood: Pleased with a solid defensive base, supporters are understandably concerned about the lack of goals and recent form. January will answer some important questions.
Will Fulham sign a striker? Will they keep Joao Palhinha? In both cases, they need to.
Overall grade: C-
