Its quite simple, Fulham may well have knocked four goals across the bows of Birmingham and five against Huddersfield. However, they have a home record which tells a story about how their season is fairing, and none of it has been smooth sailing.

Beating Hull and Stoke at home fairly convincingly at the start of the season were expected results from all those concerned at Craven Cottage. New manager Marco Silva was working some early magic and all seemed good. Unfortunately the championship doesn’t work like that and apart from a very worthy 4-1 away win at Birmingham City a blip was noticeable. Losing away at Blackpool 1-0, then at home to Reading 2-1 along with a 1-1 draw away at Bristol City has concerned many Fulham fans. They also exited the league cup at home to Leeds.

The surprising move of Scott Parker to Bournemouth and even more surprising appointment of Silva for us is the issue. Like all managers Parker was beginning to get a bit stale at Fulham, familiarity breeds contempt and all that. He needed in his words ‘ new oxygen’ but Marco Silva ? It seemed a strange move. Silva’s career has either been one way or the other, he lurches between success and failure far too quickly, at Hull, Watford and Everton these phases were extremely noticeable. All but one lasted little longer than 6 months or so, none came with any success, and all ended acrimoniously.

His win rate this season is still excellent on 54%, albeit his recent results have been poor. At Hull he was manager for just 22 games before complaining about the pitch at the Kcom. He was there five months, won 8 games out of 22 and was borderline getting the bullet before he resigned. At Watford it was the same story, 8 wins in 26 games, borderline getting the sack when for some reason Everton paid 4 million for his services. Again Silva was only at Watford for 7 months. At Everton the trend continued, 24 wins out of 60 games was better but it didn’t save him from another sacking. After a year or so he was gone. Sam Allardyce did better than Silva at Everton, its a results business and Silva didn’t get them. Just prior to Silva’s sacking at Goodson Park Football 365 noted “It is so easy to create a crisis inside Everton Football Club.” Indeed, Marco Silva is making it look like child’s play “

Now Silva finds himself at Fulham, and after a decent start a similar pattern is reoccurring. Even with millions spent, a premier league squad and the support of his employers Silva is beginning to wobble. Certain Fulham fans have noticed it too. Others are still hanging on to the fact there are teams they should beat easily. One poster on FulhamWeb posted today “We will be fully expected to beat Swansea and Coventry in our next two games, but don't hold your breath, and be prepared for the unexpected, although I expect us to win both quite comfortably. Then my glasses are rose tinted” Fair comment but the Silva factor hasn’t been taken in to account.

Like many swans fans on Steve Cooper, Parker does come up in conversation, the general feeling on the Friends of Fulham board is ‘Who cares? Seriously! I don't. Happy hes gone. We've moved on. Move on!‘ Wise words, the issue is that what have Fulham moved on too ? A manager with a less than decent track record and results starting to deteriorate. Okay, Fulham should win on Wednesday evening under the splendid river side lights of the Thames, they more than likely will. They have to. For Russell Martin this is a free hit, anything he gets is going to be a positive, Derby away on Saturday will be seen by many as the result Swansea City need more.

It’s going to be an exciting game for sure, LIVE on SKY Sports as well, it’s Russell Martin’s big test, and one which if he fails will hardly put him in any jeopardy. Marco Silva on the other hand ... ?

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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