Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa is facing the sack after a disastrous start to the Premier League season, with the club reportedly considering replacements. Arbeloa has lost his first three matches in charge and is struggling to adapt to English football, prompting the outlet to rank six potential successors this week.
The Cottagers sit 19th in the table with zero points from three games, having scored four goals but conceded seven. They are already nine points behind leaders Manchester City and face a daunting next fixture away to Liverpool on September 12th. Captain Tom Cairney is also currently sidelined, adding to the team's challenges as they look to halt a run of three straight losses detailed on the standings page.
Alvaro Arbeloa's brief tenure has been marked by immediate failure. The former Real Madrid defender, whose previous managerial experience was limited, has overseen three consecutive defeats to begin the campaign. He has failed to adapt his methods to the Premier League and has even lost the support of the dressing room. Fulham's identity under previous boss Marco Silva was one of entertainment and punching above their weight, but the team has stagnated in mid-table and now appears rudderless.
Planet Football's analysis lists six managers who could be in the frame if Fulham decide to make a change. At the top is Arne Slot, the Premier League champion who left Liverpool after criticism over tactical flexibility but turned down the Netherlands job to stay in club football. Sean Dyche is also mentioned, with the report noting he has succeeded Sam Allardyce as the go-to manager for crisis situations. "Dyche has succeeded Big Sam as the Premier League’s Mr. White, the man you call when it’s gone to s**t," the outlet said.
Other contenders include Julian Nagelsmann, whose high-pressing style and developmental work at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig contrasts with his difficult spells at Bayern Munich and with Germany. Eddie Howe is considered a stylistic fit given his proven project management at Bournemouth and Newcastle. Kieran McKenna, the Northern Irish coach who left Ipswich Town, was heavily linked with the job previously and had an £8m release clause. Thomas Frank completes the list, with his work in establishing Brentford as a top-half Premier League side seen as a blueprint Fulham could follow.
Fulham's poor start is compounded by the absence of influential midfielder Tom Cairney, whose leadership is missed. The squad, which fans can view on our squad page, was strengthened over the summer but has yet to gel under the new manager. The club's recruitment, including a reference to forward Igor Thiago, suggests ambitions to build a project similar to Brentford's, but they currently look several years behind that model. The immediate focus must be on stopping the rot, especially with a tough run of fixtures ahead.
Expectations at Craven Cottage have shifted dramatically. After promotion under Silva, the club has been comfortable in mid-table but now finds itself in a relegation scrap after just three games. The team's ability to swing from favourites to underdogs from week to week has been exposed. The defensive frailties, resulting in a minus-three goal difference, need urgent addressing if any new manager is to have a chance of turning things around. The next match at Anfield against a Liverpool side sitting 6th will be a severe test of the team's resolve.
Fulham's board now faces a critical decision on whether to persist with Arbeloa or seek a change, with the team's next Premier League match scheduled for September 12th.
