After being relegated from the Premier League last season, Fulham fans will be hoping their club can make a quick return to the top-flight from the Championship.
The Cottagers have been able to keep the vast majority of their squad from last season. They are sure to find life much easier in the Championship and could be rejuvenated with a new manager who has fresh ideas.
Marco Silva is back in management for the first time since leaving Everton in 2019. The former Hull City and Watford boss will feel like he has something to prove and will be desperate to get back to the Premier League with the West London club.
On 18th August 2021, Fulham were the favourites at 5/2 in the EFL Championship betting odds, joined at the top end of the outright market by West Brom and Sheffield United, the two sides which also fell down from the Premier League with them.
The betting also indicates Bournemouth are going to be one of the promotion hopefuls this season. They are now managed by Scott Parker who left Fulham to join the Cherries.
Harry Wilson Should Light Up The Championship
Fulham’s big signing this summer was that of Harry Wilson from Liverpool. They splashed out £12 million to secure the services of the Welshman who was on international duty at Euro 2020.
Wilson has never really had a shot at Liverpool and has opted for a permanent move rather than a loan spell during the 2021/22 campaign. He played an instrumental role for Derby in the 2018/19 season, scoring 15 Championship goals for the club.
The Welshman is 24 years old now and he has a lot of experience for his age in this division. He should flourish in this team and Silva will be looking for him to be one of the creative sparks on his side.
Felt good to have the fans back today?? debut goal at craven cottage aswell? disappointed to have not taken all 3 points but good performance to build on⚽️ @FulhamFC pic.twitter.com/LzBVObWKQw
— harry wilson (@harrywilson_) August 8, 2021
Wilson has already made a great start to his career at Craven Cottage. He scored on his competitive debut for his new club in a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough. The Welsh international needed just 29 minutes to get up and running with a goal. Fulham fans will be hoping that is the first of many.
Defence Can Hold Tight
One of the reasons Fulham were relegated last season was they did not score enough goals. Their defence was far from the worst in the league. In fact, Leeds, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Brighton all let in more goals than the Cottagers last year in the Premier League.
Bobby Decordova-Reid and Tim Ream represent a strong central partnership at the back. Supported by Jose Onomah, Fulham will be hard to break down this season.
Silva also has a very reliable goalkeeper to turn to as the club signed Paulo Gazzaniga on a free transfer over the summer as his contract expired at Tottenham. The Argentine has a long run in the first team at Spurs during the 2019-20 campaign when Hugo Lloris went down injured. He proved his class in that spell, so he should be a great addition.
Promotion will be the goal for the Cottagers but if they can do so with the Championship title just like they did in 2001, it will be even sweeter.
