How Duncan Ferguson and a Champions League dream could reignite the career of a forgotten Arsenal starboy
Fulham has already managed to fit that unfortunate hat-trick into the first eight games of this season, and they haven’t lost three straight Premier League games in 2024–2025.
Fulham, who under Marco Silva have established themselves as one of the most dependable mid-table teams in Premier League history, had the best possible start with two strong but frustrating draws, a loss at Stamford Bridge, and home wins over Leeds and Brentford.
However, losses to Arsenal, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa—dropping points from winning situations in the first two before being mercifully set-pieced into oblivion—represent a glaring setback and a struggle for motivation.
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Wolves and Fulham are still the only two teams in the league where no player has scored more than one goal this season.
No Fulham player has scored more than one goal in each of their nine games, including the Carabao victories over Bristol City and Cambridge, save from their biennial comeback victory over Brentford.
Although Marco Silva has already stated that it is “not easy” to implement, there is a potential option.
Additionally, it would be unfortunate to hinder Josh King’s growth by placing him in close proximity to a player who hasn’t done enough to convince him that the risk is worthwhile.
The only player in the Premier League to have been substituted in each of his team’s eight 2025–26 games is Emile Smith Rowe.
Although that resulted in a goal from the bench against Manchester United in August, those cameos have largely gone unnoticed thereafter.
In his last five league games, the 25-year-old has failed to make a crucial pass and has not had a shot in his last six.
Fulham struggles to be consistent and go ahead, and Smith Rowe is having personal issues as a result of their former record signing’s constant stream of minutes.
The former England international’s debut season at Craven Cottage was fully and candidly reviewed by Silva in March.
“The Premier League expects so much of you, but I don’t doubt his talent or quality,” he remarked. “You must be in excellent physical condition.
You must be at the top of your game physically. Emile and I have been collaborating on this. He needs to be more reliable, in my opinion.
I firmly believe that he will be much more consistent if he can combine his skill and quality with the physical aspects of the game, as well as the intensity and physical demands of the Premier League.
Emile was in the best possible shape when he was at his best. He must perform significantly better in the upcoming season.
Even if Silva had been tactful enough to avoid having to apologise for getting a player’s career derailed, there was no need to read between the lines.
It is a manager’s right to prioritise technique over physicality because the Premier League is becoming a more delicate balance between the two. Silva obviously believes he will have an effect.
Just ahead of colleague Adama Traore, Smith Rowe has the most league minutes of any player who hasn’t started in the Premier League this season.
This suggests that a coach is merely attempting to strike the correct balance between the several attacking options available to him.
However, Smith Rowe needs to take more action to increase his prospects. Duncan Ferguson of Everton established the record for the most substitute appearances by a single player in a Premier League season in 2004–05, with 29.
Even though it is still early, it is expected to be destroyed by May. Ferguson finished the season with five goals and three assists, including a late equaliser from the bench against Birmingham at home and wins against Norwich and Fulham. The team qualified for the Champions League.
Although the manager emphasised the Scot’s significance throughout, Moyes acknowledged that the player “found it very hard” and “doesn’t feel that he can make as big an impact” in a role that left him feeling “a bit down.”
Silva and Smith Rowe would need to have a similar awareness of expectations because the former Arsenal starboy has been dragged back to reality.
