Álvaro Arbeloa’s push to make Fulham free-flowing is floundering already

Spanish head coach will be under huge pressure if he comes unstuck again at home to Hull on Saturday Fulham fans fretting about life under Álvaro Arbeloa will not feel any better when they remember how things were under Marco Silva, who was one of the most effective managers in the Premier League when it came to making substitutions. Silva’s substitutes were involved in the fourth-highest goal contributions last season and the most in the 2024-25 season.

Fulham knew how to dig in and salvage unlikely points. But Silva left last summer, joining Benfica after concluding he could achieve nothing more at Craven Cottage, and his replacement is already under pressure after some puzzling tactical choices. The worrying shift under Arbeloa was evident during Fulham’s collapse against Ipswich last weekend. The west Londoners were 1-0 up and looking good for their first