Fulhamish

STEEEEEEEEED! The chant quickly became a mainstay of the Hammersmith End, and indeed all of Craven Cottage, after Belgium-born France U21 inernational Steed Malbranque signed in August 2001. The Whites were one of many clubs after the zippy midfielder, who’d built quite reputation a Lyon, becoming a regular in Ligue 1 and in European competitions having made his debut as an 18 year old. Fulhamish is reader-supported.

After what has felt like an eternity, Alvaro Arbeloa has been appointed as the new manager of our beloved Fulham. I had predicted that Marco Silva would be saying goodbye. I trusted my prediction so much that I stayed behind after full time for the first time in 23 years at the final game of the season against Newcastle. I’m no expert in body language or lip reading, but from where I was sitting behind Marco in the Riverside Stand, no European football meant he was very unlikely to stay.

After weeks of waiting, we finally got to hear a bit about Àlvaro Arbeloa’s plans for Fulham and his hopes for speedy transfer business. We discuss his vision, plus also look at some of the early transfer rumours doing the rounds including a potential new striker, right-back and centre-back.

After weeks of waiting, we finally got to hear a bit about Àlvaro Arbeloa’s plans for Fulham and his hopes for speedy transfer business. We discuss his vision, plus also look at some of the early transfer rumours doing the rounds including a potential new striker, right-back and centre-back. Guests: Sammy James, Joe Sansom, Jack Kelly Listen to this episode with a 7-day free trial Subscribe to Fulhamish to listen to this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

So, here we are then. Arbeloa is confirmed and now we can finally focus on the key matters at hand. In his first interview with the club he stated that we need signings in sooner rather than later (a tale as old as time). We’re all well aware of the work that Arbeloa will need to do and with Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson both out the door. Signings need to come in sooner rather than later - let’s take a look at the last week of rumours. Fulhamish is reader-supported.

Álvaro Arbeloa’s work permit may have taken forever and a day to come through, but finally he is in SW6. On Tuesday he was taken for a tour of the new Riverside stand and then he did an interview with Fulham’s official channel in a setting that looked more akin to a beach club on the French Riviera than a football stand.

Credit: IMAGO/Pro Sports Images It was the second goal that really killed it. Belgium forward Charles De Ketelaere ran forward, rose up and forced his way between Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson and headed a perfectly delivered corner from Leandro Trossard into the net while throwing Ream to the ground like he was a toddler.

Tell any Fulham fan 30 years ago that we’d be involved in a managerial triangle with Real Madrid and Benfica, and they would’ve laughed in your face. But involved we were, and now all three managers are settling into their new surroundings. For Jose Mourinho, those surroundings are more familiar, as he returns to the club he managed between 2010 and 2013. Fulhamish is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Sammy and Jack are back for another episode of their podcast mini-series called Fulham Fives. On this week’s show, they are counting down and ranking the top five most underrated players to ever play for Fulham.

This is the Fulhamish podcast feed exclusively for our paid subscribers. Expect ad-free content and audio versions of The Preview and The Quick Take. This is the Fulhamish podcast feed exclusively for our paid subscribers. Expect ad-free content and audio versions of The Preview and The Quick Take.