🎙️PREVIEW POD: Aston Villa (A)🎙️ 🙏 Is this Fulham’s best chance to end our Villa Park hoodoo? 🥱 Why have Unai Emery’s men started the season so sluggishly? 🎯 What areas can we target to gain the upper hand? 🤝 Has Marco Silva justified his preference for stable lineups?

Is this tweaked structure from #FULBRE going to be a feature of Silva-ball this year? 💎 3-diamond-3 ⬆️ More central progression 🕹️ Early ball for controllers Iwobi + Lukic 👑 Freer roaming role for No.10 ⚖️ More balanced attack 🔒 Less space outside Andersen More on this soon!

Was #FULBRE the game which finally saw Marco Silva rebalance what is usually a very left side dominant attack? 👀 % of play down the right in PL games this season: 🐦 BHA (a): 26% 👹 MUN (h): 36% 🔵 CHE (a): 28% ◻️ LEE (h): 36% 🐝 BRE (h): 48% More in my match thread 👇

Has coming back to beat your rivals at home under the lights ever felt so… easy? 🤷‍♂️ Stable and solid Fulham still haven’t hit top gear this season. But what they had was more than enough to win the #FULBRE derby What stood out? Let’s take a look at some match data 👇 🧵 1/8

Hard to really work out how truly good Fulham were tonight given how truly bad Brentford were! But after the quick turnaround via some decisive moments in the final third #FULBRE felt pretty comfortable More analysis to come tomorrow 🔜

🎙️PREVIEW POD: Brentford (H)🎙️ 🤞 Three in a row against the bus stop in Hounslow? 🪄 Can Harry Wilson do it yet again? 🇧🇷 Is Marco Silva ready to unleash Kevin from the start? 😤 And will Keith Andrews bring the lowest of low blocks back to the Cottage?

A stubborn Leeds defence and a stubborn Marco Silva meant #FULLEE probably deserved to be a 0-0 yawnfest 🥱 But on a day of torrential rain and sporadic sun. It was our new ‘Samba White’ that really shone! Why? Let’s break it down with some match analysis 👇 🧵 1/9

Is this the eventual endgame for Fulham’s ‘low block’ breaking setup when needed this season? 🤔 More focus on the first step towards that (Kevin) ahead of #FULLEE below 👇

It’s (finally) MATCH DAY! 🖤🤍 And whether we get him for 60 mins or 30 mins of #FULLEE I’m eager to see if Kevin can already offer a new dynamic down our left 🇧🇷 His profile + positioning should help break down blocks and open space for others Here’s how👇 🧵 1/10

🎙️PREVIEW POD: Leeds (H)🎙️ 🤔 Can we actually beat promoted teams at the Cottage? 🇧🇷 Will Marco start our new Samba White? 🫣 Should we be worried about set pieces again? 🔎 And what tactical battles will decide where this game is won and lost?

Our preview of Saturdays game is now live to all listeners via Acast. Featuring @cottagetactico.bsky.social from @fulhamfocus.bsky.social Find out what we should be expecting from Marco Silva's Fulham in preparation for our trip to Craven Cottage. shows.acast.com/thegameofthe...

In a game where refereeing decisions were the biggest talking points #FULMUN was at its core a tactical battle 🧐 So what were the dynamics that saw Fulham grow into this game and nab a point? Let’s look at how it all played out with some match analysis 👇 🧵 1/11

Fulham have found plenty of ways to conspire to lose to poor Man Utd sides at the Cottage of late 🤦‍♂️ But the game that has most occupied my mind in the run-up to #FULMUN this time was none of those. It was Fulham 1 : 4 Wolves last November Here’s why 👇

Late limbs at Brighton. Muniz saving us off the bench. Tidy but blunt for most of the 90… I know it’s a new season but one *very* important thing aside this felt incredibly familiar! Let’s dig a little deeper with some #BHAFUL analysis shall we? 🧵 1/9

The more I look at it the more I think this chart from @themachineball.bsky.social tells the story of Fulham’s season and helps show us where recruitment will be focussing this summer Here’s why 🧵👇

Can’t sleep on just how central Alex Iwobi has been to Fulham’s game model this season 🤙 3️⃣rd in the PL for progressive actions per 90 amongst regular starters and in some very impressive company Jedi in 8️⃣th from LB also outstanding!

Here we go again for another window! Joe Willock 🔵 vs AP & ESR 🔴 The limited mins underlying numbers suggest: strong off ball impact, secure on ball, good carrier and creator for others, ? on individual attacking threat What do we think #FFC fans, worth a go as an 8 or 10?

For all the talk of cups and Europe football is about moments And the 2nd half of #BREFUL was a moment that I’ll never forget, in a season full of them So here’s some (joyous) analysis of how TC, Wilson, King and the rest turned it around at the bus stop 🚌 🧵 1/10

I’m emotionally exhausted! If that is the last time I ever see TC on the pitch in person, it was quite simply perfect Oh captain, my captain. 💜

It’s MATCH DAY and sure it’s not quite the European decider we were hoping for but it’s DERBY DAY! 🖤🤍 And I’m headed up to the bus stop for #BREFUL with one main tactical preoccupation What does Marco do about the Brentford front three? 🐝

Can see the frustrated patterns from today jumping off the screen when looking at these #FULEVE passing networks 😫 No central threat. No consistent, dangerous runs beyond. Endless circulation on the left and barring a moment of ESR magic v little to show for it all Painful!

It’s MATCH DAY! 🖤🤍 And Fulham simply have to win and need to look much more incisive in the final third for #FULEVE With some absentees and with that in mind this is probably how I’d line up today. Wonder if Marco will agree! 🔮

“Be careful what you wish for” 😠 Had this to say on the latest @fulhamfocus.bsky.social pod in response to the more absurd takes online after a tough weekend of results in the race for Europe ⬇️

Well #AVLFUL was dull 🥱 A classic 12.30pm kick off in which almost nothing happened. Poor set piece marking and some ponderous possession characterised this Fulham performance Odd subs, obviously tiring individuals and now a lot of work (and luck) needed for Europe!

Nominally a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 on paper with Wilson presumably at the 10 but his happiness drifting wide and Sess’s flexibility allows this to be a situational 5ATB when needed 👇

It’s MATCH DAY! 🖤🤍 And we’ve got less time to wait than usual to see Marco Silva’s whites in action this weekend So here’s a quick read on why both teams might target their opponents right side of defence in #AVLFUL 👇

This was a really fun listen! 👏 Be sure to stick around until the end to hear some very nuanced and balanced analysis of Matty Cash’s role in the Villa team… 😉

We all noticed his quality first touch before a (deflected) strike drew us level in #SOUFUL But did you notice Smith-Rowe’s movement before that? Pointing to where the ball needed to go to create space he could then attack 🔎 More analysis in this week’s match thread 👇

Why did the introduction of Adama Traore make a difference in #SOUFUL? ⚡️ More on a game that was depressingly familiar, until it wasn’t (!) in this week’s match analysis thread 👇

In a game where the result meant more than the performance and late Sess heroics really made the difference you might conclude tactics didn’t really matter in #SOUFUL But that’s not quite right! 🤷‍♂️ So here’s a match thread on how we (just about) turned things around 👇 🧵 1/7

HT: ‘daft sport anyway’ 😤 72 mins: ‘you have my attention’ 👀 92 mins: ‘I LOVE THIS GAME’ 🙌 Btw is anyone else very overly emotional every time Sess scores in this second stint? More on #SOUFUL in due course 🔜

It’s MATCH DAY! 🖤🤍 And after a couple of disappointing outings #SOUFUL feels like a last chance to get momentum going again in the race for Europe Here are a couple of thoughts on how both sides set up for this one 👇

What is the reason why #FFC have thrown away so many leads this season? 🤦‍♂️ Is it psychological, tactical, physical or ultimately about squad quality? Enjoyed chatting a bit about this this week, give us a listen and let me know what you think 👇

Oh FFS #FFC 🤦‍♂️ That went badly wrong for us out of possession in the 2nd half Will try to collect myself and come back with some more forensic thoughts than the above tomorrow 🔜

It’s MATCH DAY and more than that it’s DERBY DAY! 🖤🤍 And in Enzo Maresca, Marco Silva is facing a coach whose side have some familiar issues It could make #FULCHE a fascinating tactical battle with huge implications in the race for Europe👇

A very deflating loss in #BOUFUL 🤦‍♂️ Early mistake settled it but the blunt domination of the ball in the 2nd half was equally frustrating Given that, why wait until 85 mins to bring on the only player (Willian) who really has a clue how to stress out a team sitting off? 🤷‍♂️

Had to be unchanged for #FFC tonight really! The more significant news feels like Kluivert still being out for #AFCB Big game! COYW 🙌

It’s MATCH DAY and a European tour six-pointer too! 🖤🤍 And whilst the Cherries have been off the pace a bit lately Marco Silva’s whites are going up against the PL’s trickiest press Here’s how we could try to unlock it in #BOUFUL 👇

Last few mins of that felt like an eternity. But how about that 1st half reaction to going 1-0 down?! 🔥 Goals change matches and Sess’s galvanised our mentality massively Some really interesting elements of the #FULLIV tactical battle to break down in the coming days too 🧠

It was indeed time to unleash Sess 🙌 Iwobi on the left probably more defensively diligent than Willian. Means AP is at the 10, but otherwise sort of what I wanted!

It’s MATCH DAY! 🖤🤍 A few genuine Qs for Marco selection wise headed into this one. Can’t work out if he’d actually go for it but here’s how I’d personally line up for #FULLIV 👇

⏪ Remember the ‘Bobby Reid’ role? Here’s why Marco should ditch the conventional 5ATB and bring it back when needed 🎬 TIME TO UNLEASH SESS? Watch the full video here 👇 youtu.be/4QUwcPKkUS0?...

Ryan Sessegnon has made a big impact lately in limited minutes 🙌 So how best to get him into this #FFC team? And could he spark a tactical tweak that would make Marco Silva’s side more balanced? NEW VIDEO out now 👇

New video coming tomorrow: 🎬 TIME TO UNLEASH SESS? Why giving Ryan Sessegnon his chance can help Marco Silva rediscover a tactical tweak he needs 🤔

This from @datamb.bsky.social is a good corrective to the idea that Fulham have become too intentionally fixated on longer possessional attacks 📊 Marco Silva’s side are still a counter attacking outlier and have basically hit the same number as Nuno’s Forest this season 👇

See if you can spot the bit where Ryan Sessegnon comes on and Fulham revert to 4ATB in #ARSFUL 🔎 Think I predicted 2-1 on @fulhamfocus.bsky.social this week so not heartbroken but we need a little catalyst to spark us in the run in and still really feel Sess could be that

Marco Silva’s 5ATB army! 💪 Intrigued to see what this one actually looks like on the pitch - especially the movement and positioning of the front 3

Somehow it’s already MATCH DAY again 🖤🤍 If Saka is back for #ARSFUL (and maybe even if he isn’t) the mission against Arsenal off ball isn’t dissimilar to what sides do to Fulham - take away their dominant side for chance creation Here’s how we tried last time out 👇

Fulham almost accidentally stumbled into some solutions to break down Palace’s low block Making them engage on the right managed to open up rare space on the left. But we barely went back to that strategy. I honestly don’t understand why 🤷‍♂️

Discussed my confusion at Fulham’s gameplan in increasingly annoyed tones for the Fulham Focus pod this week You can listen here 👇 🎧: pod.link/1326794467/e...