The Eagles make the short trip to West London this weekend to take on a Fulham side that have experienced a similar start to the season under new management.
Ahead of the fixture, TEB had a chat with the guys at FFC Voice to get their thoughts on the changes at the club, summer transfers, expectations for the season, the upcoming games, and much more….
TEB – How are Fulham fans feeling about this campaign?
FFCV – If you look at X over the last few days, it seems most fans have accepted their fate and that relegation is a certainty. I think the truth is that most are a little nervous about the unknown after Silva led us to safety year after year. It’s a year of transition, hopefully.
TEB – Has the summer transfer window solved any squad issues for Fulham, or are there still areas that need improvement?
FFCV – We had to get younger. We’ve been the oldest squad in the Premier League for years and, because of that, we’ve rarely had valuable assets to sell like other clubs our size have over the years. The frustration, once again, has been the very late moves, which have felt a little scattergun. I think Larsson and Affengruber will be good, but they are both signings that could have been completed earlier.
TEB – What are your thoughts on new boss Alvaro Arbeloa?
FFCV – It’s not going to be boring! He plays attacking, high-pressing football, which can be great but, as we’ve seen in just two games, can also leave us exposed. We need to find a happy medium.
TEB – Expectations for this season?
FFCV – Genuinely… no idea. We’ve signed players with pedigree, but many are still unknown quantities. If they settle, we could finish in the top 10. If they don’t, and Arbeloa’s system doesn’t work, we’ll be in a relegation fight. I always like to be positive, so I’m hoping for a top-10 finish.
TEB – As a fan of a team outside the Premier League’s traditional top six, how do you feel about the new SCR rules? Are they fair, or have they created an even bigger gap in power?
FFCV – Of course they aren’t fair, especially when the bigger clubs have the assets and affiliated clubs to bend the rules. Unfortunately, these regulations have created a closed shop, and that’s not what sport should be about.
TEB – Thoughts on Palace this season?
FFCV – I guess, as an outsider looking in, you’re in a similar situation to us. New manager, new players… transition? Unknown?
TEB – Finally, your prediction for the match against Palace and the final score?
FFCV – Is it possible to have a must-win game in Matchweek 3?! This feels like it. A win settles Arbeloa and calms the fanbase. Again, I have to lean towards positivity: 3-1 to Fulham, with Gonzalo grabbing a brace.
