Fulham are flying under the radar this season.

Sport

There has been widespread praise for Brighton and Nottingham Forest this season. And for good reason – both teams are punching well above their weight and flying high in the Premier League table. For some reason, though, Fulham haven’t had the same focus despite being just one point behind.

Marco Silva’s team are flying under the radar as one of the biggest success stories of the 2024/25 campaign so far. Fulham have won their last two league games – against Brentford and Crystal Palace – and are just one point off the top four with a winnable match at home to Wolves coming this weekend.

Of course, Fulham have established themselves as a competitive outfit at Premier League level over the last two seasons. Last term, the Cottagers finished 13th after finishing in the top half the season before. Nobody believes they will be anywhere near the fight against relegation despite having been a yo-yo team for a large part of their modern existence.

Fulham have been smart in the transfer market. The addition of Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal has given them an extra dimension in the attacking third with the 24-year-old already contributing three goals and two assists in the Premier League this season. Joachim Andersen has also strengthened the Cottagers at the back.

Even players who have been at Craven Cottage for years are getting better. Antonee Robinson is now widely considered one of the best full backs in the Premier League with Adama Traore finally adding some cutting edge to his explosive game – the former Wolves winger has registered four goal involvements this season.

Raul Jimenez is possibly the best individual success story at Craven Cottage this season. Not so long ago, the Mexican’s Premier League career appeared to be as good as over. Now, he is back in form having found the net four times in 11 games (only eight of them starts). Jimenez owes a lot to Silva who persevered with the 33-year-old forward.

While managers like Fabian Hurzeler and Thomas Frank are frequently praised for their managerial ability, Silva doesn’t often get the same acclaim. The Portuguese coach has led four teams in the Premier League, but has had more freedom to mould Fulham in his own image after challenging periods at Hull City, Watford and Everton.

“I don’t know and it’s difficult to answer,” said Silva when asked about why some managers are overlooked for certain jobs. “Each club has people in charge to take decisions, important decisions for them. You have your idea what you want to achieve or to sign. And, when you go for a manager, it’s more or less the same thing. “It’s the decisions from the club that we have to respect. Each one has to do his own job. About the future, you never know what is going to happen.”

There’s a long way to go in the season, but Fulham could be looking at their highest Premier League finish since they finished eighth in the 2010/11 campaign. The way the Cottagers are playing under Silva, there might even be a quiet confidence within the club that they can push into the top six. It’s been over a decade since Fulham last played in Europe.

Ultimately, Fulham may well be squeezed out by bigger clubs with bigger budgets. Ruben Amorim might hit the ground running at Manchester United. Tottenham Hotspur could turn a corner. Aston Villa might find some consistent form. But the Cottagers are competitive at the top end of the Premier League table and that deserves to be talked about more often.