In the past five years, Fulham have become an exemplary model of how an ambitious football club can be run sustainably. Since achieving ninety points en route to winning the Championship in 2022, they have established themselves as a high-quality, tactically flexible side capable of achieving great results in the Premier League.

All Hail Marco

At the heart of this success has been Marco Silva. Appointed ahead of the 2021/22 Championship-winning campaign, the Portuguese has gone from strength to strength, demonstrating his tactical proficiency and making the Cottagers a very difficult side to beat.

Combining this with a highly-effective recruitment strategy has culminated in Fulham achieving a range of successful results since their return to the top flight. As well as attracting European talent such as Joao Palhinha, Calvin Bassey and Sasa Lukic, Craven Cottage has become home to a range of proven Premier League talents who were eager to reinvent themselves.

Andreas Pereira, Bernd Leno and Emile Smith-Rowe have all re-established their careers as Premier League starters after leaving 'big six' clubs, while others such as Alex Iwobi and Adama Traore have found their feet after being left by the wayside at their former clubs.

Silva's season has been fairly linear to this point. 2021/22: Championship winners 2022/23: 10th place finish with 52 points 2023/24: 13th place finish with 47 points 2024/25: 11th place with two games left, currently on 51 points

All of this meant that heading into this season, there was potential for them to jump to the next step. To mount a genuine challenge for European football and continue their momentum.

Yet with two games to go, they sit four points from eighth spot - not mathematically out of Europe, but with the odds stacked entirely against them.

So, So Close

In many ways, Fulham’s campaign has been defined by fine margins. While they’ve taken points off top sides - their comeback win at Stamford Bridge probably the highlight - and shown resilience in difficult moments, inconsistency has crept into their results.

Silva’s system continues to evolve, often shifting between a 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. Regardless of their formation, the Cottagers have become a very difficult team to beat.

There’s also been a quiet regression in their defensive solidity. The backline has remained largely consistent, but lapses in concentration and an increase in goals conceded from set-pieces have meant they’ve struggled to kill games off. It's an area Silva will likely prioritise in the coming summer - bringing in a defender or two, despite spending £25 million on Joachim Andersen at the start of this season.

Key Figures

One of Fulham's big advantages this season has been their stability. Throughout the season they've had various players who have been near constants; key figures within Silva's system.

Alex Iwobi

No Fulham player has more goals and assists (15) than Alex Iwobi this season. The Arsenal academy product who was shunned to Everton in 2019 has since revolutionised his career in west London after joining Fulham in 2023.

Iwobi's biggest strength lies in his lack of weaknesses: he has an incredibly diverse skillset with very few flaws to his game, which Silva utilises to great effect by allowing Iwobi to get on the ball frequently (he has had 53 touches per 90 in the league this season).

The 29-year-old has outperformed his xG this season too, finding the net nine times from 4.2 xG.

Key Stats: 6.42 Progressive Passes per 90 (top 7%) 4.37 Progressive Carries per 90 (top 20%) 3.24 Carries into Final Third per 90 (top 4%) 6.34 Challenges Lost per 90 (top 7%) Data from FBRef

Antonee Robinson

From left back, Antonee Robinson leads Fulham's assist tally this season. The American has quietly but steadily improved his game in the past few seasons, and can now be considered one of the Premier League's best and most consistent full backs.

Robinson is in many ways, the essential cog to Silva's system. His recovery pace allows the Portuguese to employ a midblock or higher line when he sees fit, and equally his proclivity for a driving run allows Fulham to be ruthless in transition.

Key Stats: 3.41 Progressive Carries per 90 (top 8%) 7.84 Progressive Passes Received per 90 (top 6%) 2.76 Tackles per 90 (top 11%) 1.73 Interceptions per 90 (top 4%) Data from FBRef

You can label Fulham, “the regeneration project”

Marco Silva is regenerating careers all over the place. Calvin Bassey’s failed move to Ajax stalled his career but Silva has regenerated him into the brick wall stopper CB he was at Rangers. Iwobi has regenerated into the the… pic.twitter.com/L14Jmo8UIz

— Premier League Panel (@PremLeaguePanel) March 18, 2025

I singled out the Fulham left-side but they really have produced a team effort this season. Calvin Bassey has been a stalwart at the back, Sasa Lukic has reached a new level in midfield and summer arrival Smith-Rowe has slotted in well. There are promising signs that going forward the Cottagers can launch a more genuine fight for Europe.

Not So Positive

For all their brilliance, Fulham’s inefficiency in decisive moments has played a major role in undermining what could have been a breakthrough campaign. In several key fixtures, Silva’s side have started brightly or held control, only to walk away with little to show for it. Their inability to consistently convert good chances and close out games has cost them valuable points and momentum.

Their 3-1 home defeat to Everton encapsulates this. They scored early through Raul Jimenez, and despite dominating possession (64%) and having more shots (18 to 11), Everton came from behind to win.

This isn't an isolated incident. Fulham have developed somewhat of a reputation for squandering strong spells in matches. In fact, no team have lost more points from winning positions. Whether it’s missing good chances, losing concentration at the back, or failing to sustain pressure late in games, the Cottagers have often come up short when the margins were tight.

What Comes Next?

Despite the odds being against a European finish this season, Fulham have continued to make very tangible progress. Their points tally looks set to improve on last year, and their squad continues to deepen with younger, high-upside signings blending with experienced heads.

If Fulham are to make that long-awaited leap into Europe, the margins will need to tighten. The foundation is there: a smart coach, a functional squad, a cohesive identity. 2025/26 could be the season they finally break through that ceiling.