Fulham sign off in style against Newcastle - but the Silva question dominates Whites' thoughts

Curtain call for Silva after Cottage hosts final game of the campaign

Premier League

Fulham (1) 2 Diop 20, Cairney 80

Newcastle United (0) 0

Marco Silva collected his 100th win as Fulham head coach but the question after this impressive 2-0 victory against Newcastle United is whether he will be around to add to that milestone.

In the past few months, Silva has sidestepped questions about his future with more adeptness than his attacking players, who went into Sunday’s match having blanked in four of their previous six fixtures.

Fulham’s handling of the situation also needs to come under some scrutiny.

Look at developments at other Premier League clubs. Palace confirmed on January 16 that Oliver Glasner was leaving on the expiration of his contract at the end of the season.

Andoni Iraola’s departure from AFC Bournemouth was public knowledge on April 14. The Cherries have already sorted his replacement - Marco Rose’s appointment confirmed six days later.

Manchester City went public earlier this week with the fact that Pep Guardiola was stepping down, ensuring the Spaniard would get the send-off he deserved for a trophy-laden decade.

There was no such clarity with Silva.

Shahid Khan’s programme notes described the 48-year-old as “absolutely integral to everything we’ve achieved”.  The American owner added: “He’s a major part of the foundation we’re building, and he’s aware of our collective ambition for the seasons ahead.”

Should Fulham have put a deadline in place for the Portuguese to put pen to paper? It looks like a passive approach. It also makes it look like Silva is waiting for a better offer. Either way, it doesn’t reflect well. It smacks of indecision.

There will be those in the fanbase who feel that it is time for change. That things have gone stale in this campaign, particularly when it comes to the run-in.

Fulham lost to Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Silva had rotated in previous rounds and once again felt that he did not need to start some of his bigger-hitters. It backfired badly as a prime opportunity to reach Wembley for the first time under the ex-Everton, Hull City and Watford boss was bungled.

When it comes to a legacy, if this is farewell, then it is beyond debate that Silva has left the club in a stronger position.

He led Fulham to the Championship title in 2021-22 with Aleksandar Mitrovic, who plundered 43 goals, a cheat code in the division.

But it is in the Premier League, where the Whites are not big financial hitters, that he has shown his credentials as a coach.

Fulham have never been in relegation danger under Silva with finishes of 10th, 13th, 11th and now 11th again. They had a tight EFL Cup semi-final loss to Liverpool over two legs in 2023-24.

Silva outperformed his budget and West Ham and Tottenham’s toils this season underline that keeping the west Londoners clear of the dogfight is an achievement in itself.

It already feels like a big summer for Fulham, even when it just comes to player departures.

Harry Wilson, who started on the bench against Newcastle, will be off. The Wales international has 16 goals involvements this season - six of those assists.

Fulham were reportedly ready to sell Wilson to Leeds United at the end of last summer’s transfer window until a move for Chelsea’s Tyriqe George broke down.

Wilson outperformed his xG of 5.80 before Sunday’s fixture by almost double. His legacy in SW6 is assured - just due to those goals against Brentford alone - but that major increase in productivity has left him able to test the free agent waters in a position of real strength.

With Raul Jimenez also out of contract at the end of next month - second highest in the squad for goal involvements with nine goals and three assists - the duo’s attacking returns will be sorely missed.

At 35 years of age, Jimenez is not the future. But the Mexican has been a decent signing and the most assured of penalty takers.

There needs to be a contingency plan. Where will the goals come from? The jury is still out on Rodrigo Muniz. Kevin will be stronger and better placed to attack his first full season in English football after arriving from Shakhtar Donetsk in September. The Brazilian has shown flashes of brilliance.

One of the issues for Silva, or his successor, is that there are not enough outgoings to free up funds.

Fulham's opening 45 minutes on a baking late afternoon beside the Thames were a marked improvement on some of their recent flaccid displays.

They took the lead in the 20th minute. Kevin's wicked free-kick came back off the crossbar and Issa Diop followed in to head home his second goal for the club.

Kevin continued to provide evidence that he may emerge as a talisman for Fulham with one delightful flick to leave behind Jacob Murphy in the first half but the subsequent attack broke down. 

Newcastle's cause was not helped by captain Bruno Guimaraes going off with an injury in the 66th minute. The Tynesiders had already lost Bruno Tonali, due to be a starter, in the warm up.

Substitute Tom Cairney went close to a second in the 73rd minute, driving narrowly wide of Nick Pope's left-hand post from Antonee Robinson's cross.

Fulham extended their lead with a truly outstanding strike by Tom Cairney in the 80th minute. The hosts played a corner short and Harry Wilson's pass invited the midfielder to shoot with his trusty left foot. The curled finish beyond a helpless Pope was a thing of beauty.

The Whites were rampant and Pope parried a King shot with Wilson lashing the rebound across the face of goal.

If Fulham had won at already-relegated Wolves then they would have secured European football for the 2026-27 season. But they played like a side under no pressure against Newcastle, when it could have been a far nervier assignment. 

Whites (4-2-3-1): Leno - Castagne, Diop (Cuenca 86), Bassey, Robinson - Berge, Iwobi - Bobb (Wilson 72), Smith Rowe (King 72), Kevin (Cairney 60) - Muniz (Jimenez 71).

Magpies (4-2-3-1): Pope - Burn, Botman, Thiaw, Hall - Guimaraes (Elanga 66), Willock - Murphy (Barnes 46), Woltemade (Neave 77), Ramsey - Osula (Wissa 66).

Attendance: 27, 442