All Hale Marco Silva
Marco Silva – in his fourth season at Craven Cottage – has seemingly finally unearthed a system which has transformed Fulham from a mid table to bottom half, ‘safe’ piece of Premier League furniture into a free flowing, easy on the eye outfit with potential European ambitions. This has largely gone under the radar with the Cottagers being seen as the now third best club in West London.
Much is owed to personnel as it is the philosophy. Silva has flooded his midfield and forward line with selfless, Premier League proven players with a perfect combination of high technical flooring and an envious work rate which solidifies their transitions out of possession as well as their counter pressing and attacking.
This mix of personnel, adept at playing various roles and positions effectively, has created a fluid and dynamic system able to progress through the second and third phases as well as collectively filling the void created by the summer departure of midfield do-it-all Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich.
Though early, it is impossible to talk about the new look Fulham without zeroing in on the pivotal role played by the Hale End Academy duo – Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi.
Smith Rowe arrived at Craven Cottage this summer for 27 million with as much excitement as expectation from the Fulham faithful and early indicators suggest he is ready to make good on his potential following his breakout 2021/22 season with the Gunners.
In truth his emergence as a pivotal player for Silva’s men is not all that surprising and is in large part the reason that his sale continues to divide opinions amongst the Arsenal fanbase – many of whom have a special affinity to one of their own remain bitterly disappointed at his departure.
Doubts about his durability and effectiveness began to surface during the 2023/24 season which ultimately led to him becoming surplus to requirements under Arteta; but if you ask anyone from Holloway Road to Highbury, what will seldom be debated is Smith Rowe’s talent nor ability when healthy.
Touted by sections of the Emirates faithful as the heir apparent to Jack Wilshere, many believed Smith Rowe’s emergence into the first team softened the blow of the departure of fan favorite Aaron Ramsey. Having been handed the number 10 shirt donned formerly by cult hero Mesut Ozil, Smith Rowe finished the 2021/22 season with 10 league goals, making him then, only the second Hale End graduate to hit double figures in a season – the first being one Cesc Fabregas.
Emile Smith Rowe: A New Beginning for One of Hale End’s Finest Products
Much was to be expected but unfortunately, a groin injury that required surgery hampered almost the entire 2022/23 season ultimately cost Smith Rowe his importance to the team and he found himself on the fringes of the first team for majority of the 2023/24 season. After two difficult seasons, Arsenal decided to cash in on the now 24-year-old and long term admirers Fulham were not going to pass up on the opportunity to finally get their man the second time around.
Although stationed as the designated number 10, it appears that Silva has given Smith Rowe the license to roam in between the opposition channels as he sees fit. His close control dribbling, running power from deep, range of passing and willingness to make runs into scoring positions in the box magnetizes defenders and opens space to release Fulham’s wide players, wingbacks and allows central midfielders to crash the box.
His involvement in goals against Leicester, Everton and Crystal Palace this season have shown not only his offensive repertoire but more importantly, his understanding with Iwobi and further augments the case made as it relates to their importance to Marco Silva’s system. Having spent 8 seasons at Everton and Arsenal, Iwobi since joining Fulham has cemented himself as one of the league’s most versatile and consistent midfielders.
Whether he has been asked to play in central midfield, wide midfield, wing back – as he was against Man City – or popping up as the supporting striker, Iwobi’s ability to occupy multiple spaces and positions effectively has rendered him almost indispensable to Marco Silva. Whilst it’s evident his versatility – and maturity – limited him at Arsenal, his ability to play a number of positions not only makes him a key cog in Marco Silva’s system, but statistically he is Fulham’s standout player so far this season.
Similar to Smith Rowe but more understated, Iwobi possesses key attributes needed to excel in the ‘wide triangles’ interplay Silva has set his team up to play. His creative spark and positional versatility in possession allows him to make accurate forward passes and through balls into the penalty area from multiple areas of the pitch and his engine and high IQ are characterized by his aggressive and timely ball carries into the final third.
When combined with his work off the ball – an attribute that much revered him to the Goodison Park faithful – you get an all action midfielder who leads all Fulham midfielders and forwards in minutes played, touches, forward passes, through balls, clearances and successful tackles.
Alex Iwobi’s AFCON 2023: Sacrifices, Pain, Love and Heartbreak
Whilst Smith Rowe may get the bulk of eye test flowers due to his natural instinct to get into goal scoring positions, Iwobi’s influence is undeniable and he has set himself personal targets to surpass his single season goal involvement this season.
Statistically, since the beginning of the calendar year, he sits joint 5th in open play chances created in the Premier League alongside Kevin De Bruyne – only behind Martin Odegaard, Cole Palmer, Luis Diaz, and Bruno Fernandes. However, his work rate off the ball is undoubtedly a major reason they are able to transition through the phases of the pitch so effectively.
‘Statistics are like bikinis…what they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital’ a famous quote coined and revised in the football community rings true here. The Iwobi effect may not be obvious to the naked eye but it allows for the casual fan to enjoy the Marco Silva effect. He stands alone in Europe’s Top 5 League’s in Attacking PPA (Passes in Penalty Area) which has contributed to 4 G+A’s in 11 for Fulham this season.
Marco Silva’s philosophy is centered around taking the initiative in the opponent’s half by creating overloads on offense and as such he is heavily reliant on his playmakers being assured in possession and comfortable under pressure. In Iwobi and Smith Rowe, he has found the ideal combination.
Both possess not only the technical ability and intelligence to both interchange and adopt the role of chief playmaker when creating wide triangles on either flank with overlapping fullbacks but play with an air of poise which allows them to not be wasteful or erratic in possession thus leading to live ball turnovers.
Fulham find themselves quietly in a position they are seldom accustomed to after 11 games and if you ask internally it’s still early days but from the outside looking in, on current form, they are in and amongst the chasing pack for a European place next season and but for profligacy in front of goal against both Manchester clubs this season, they would sit higher than 7th coming out of the final international break of 2024.
And whilst it would be fool-hardy to diminish the role played by Andreas Pereira, Reiss Nelson, Adama Traore, Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez, it is clear that the synergy between the former Arsenal duo has continued across Putney Bridge to good effect and the creative playmakers seemingly hold the key to Fulham’s success this season. With Marco Silva at the helm, the Craven Cottage faithful can continue to dream of Premier League success and steady, continuous improvement.
By: Tayo Olasanoye / @itweetbanter
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Chloe Knott – Danehouse – Getty Images