There is always so much noise at the start of the season and 2024-25 has been no different.
But when it comes to Fulham, what is the one thing nobody is talking about - good or bad?
Image source, Getty ImagesFulham's Andreas Pereira created more chances than any other Premier League player during this season's first round of fixtures (six).
It is the 19th time on record a Fulham player has created six or more chances in a Premier League match, with the Brazilian responsible for seven of those.
Drew Heatley
Fan writer
Never eat yellow snow, never buy a car you can’t push – and never judge Fulham in August.
The Khans have been very clear since they arrived at the club more than a decade ago that they see the greatest value in the transfer window at the very end of it. Fulham have become a staple of deadline day, often signing a glut of players, many of whom we’d been tracking for weeks. That might be great for the balance sheet, but it doesn’t do too much for efforts on the pitch.
The result is a Fulham side that doesn’t much resemble what the manager is trying to do. The midfield three that started against Manchester United on Friday was a case of square pegs in round holes. Emile Smith Rowe was the most advanced, with Andreas Pereira settling for a place further back, just ahead of Sasa Lukic who, with the greatest will in the world, ain’t Joao Palhinha. The man who eventually does replace our recently-departed Portuguese enforcer is likely to arrive on – you guessed it – 30th August.
Starting the season at Old Trafford was always going to be tricky, but the next two fixtures offer opportunities to get points on the board; Leicester visit Craven Cottage on Saturday, before we travel to Ipswich the day after the window “slams shut”.
This transfer brinkmanship isn’t about penny-pinching; the Khans have proven they’re willing to spend. It’s more about dancing around PSR and other frameworks that hinder clubs our size. We’ll end up buying player X for the £30m his club wanted from the start, only by 10pm on deadline day, they’ll accept £15m up front with the rest coming over the next few years. It’s brave, it can be frustrating, but it has worked in the past.
In reality, Fulham’s season actually starts in September.
Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external
Fulham are considering whether to go back to Crystal Palace with another bid for 28-year-old Denmark defender Joachim Andersen. (Sky Sports), external
And the Whites are also preparing to make a third offer for Manchester United and Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, 27. (Teamtalk), external
We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Fulham.
Here are some of your comments:
Man Utd fans
Danyal: For the first game of the season, I think we did really well. Defensively we were strong and we had good chances to make it more than 1-0. Positive play and Zirkzee getting his first goal will help him and the team immensely.
Gibbo: Good start to the season. Not the greatest of performances - but good enough. I thought Mazraoui at left-back offered skill and calmness on the ball, and Maguire looked happy and decisive.
Steve: Solid performance against a good side. Excellent debuts for the new recruits. Garnacho's miss will keep his feet on the ground. Need more from Rashford - again. Mount's best performance since joining. The score could easily have been 4-1. Three points in the first game - job done!
Fulham fans
Louis: Typical Fulham. Solid performance against a big side away - but fell just short late on. Some good signs but we need more recruits before the window closes if we're going to better last season.
Kevin: Some glimpses of promise on show. Probably should have got a point - however, we know we'll play worse and pick up three points as the season progresses. Great start to Smith Rowe's time with us. He looked like the quality buy his price tag would suggest.
Robert: After a promising start we were poor. Sloppy passing, regularly caught on the ball and relying on Leno to keep us in the game. What is most frustrating is losing to a poor Manchester United. I don't think we ever looked like scoring and an error by Cairney on the halfway line cost us a goal.
Fulham have reopened talks with Manchester United over the signing of 27-year-old Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay. (Sky Sports, external)
Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has refused to rule out a move for McTominay. (Manchester Evening News, external)
Las Palmas have made a bid for Fulham's 29-year-old Brazilian forward Carlos Vinicius, who is also wanted by Corinthians. (Sky Sports, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's six Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Manchester United and Fulham.
If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.
Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesOn another day, Fulham would have got something from their trip to Old Trafford.
For quite a long time, they were solid in defence, they carried a threat in attack - albeit Adama Traore can be as frustrating as he can be effective and Bernd Leno made the superb saves he is supposed to.
But Marco Silva is right when he says they need a stronger squad.
Too often, Manchester United drove straight through their midfield and left them vulnerable to home attacks. In the end, United found a way through.
There was irony among the visiting contingent when they sang "he wants to play for Fulham'" when Scott McTominay was introduced during the second half.
Yet the Scotland international is exactly the type of player Fulham need, someone who can bring energy in the midfield and make them not quite so easy to play through.
A trip to Old Trafford on matchday one was not ideal for the Whites. The final outcome just underlined some home truths.
Image source, Getty ImagesFulham boss Marco Silva to BBC Match of the Day: "Frustration with the result for us. Big frustration for our players and fans, for sure. Overall it was a good game with both teams trying to win the game.
"We started well and had good counter-attacks to score. We adjusted things at half-time and second half was much better. We had good moments, a two against one, we should have done better.
"The main thing for us was to keep the emotional control. When the game becomes open we should have kept the balance and kept compact. But in those moments we lost emotional control and that allowed them to score.
"The game was open and broken - we tried to rush our decisions. Many times we started to lose the ball too quick. We let the game go too emotional and we didn't want that.
"We lost four starters [in the transfer window]. We are probably the only team in the Premier League that lost four starters. We have to rebuild again. There is a lot of work for us to do over the next two weeks to rebuild.
"But we are very pleased with how the players have worked. We are working hard to get what we need."
Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?
Man Utd fans, send us your thoughts?, external
What did you make of the display, Fulham fans?, external
Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies
The team news is in with just over an hour to go before the Premier League returns, as Manchester United take on Fulham at Old Trafford.
Follow all the build-up and live text commentary here
Image source, Getty ImagesBrazil midfielder Willian has said Fulham "will always be in my heart" as he reflected on his two-year spell with the club coming to an end.
The 35-year-old joined in September 2022 and, after being linked with a move elsewhere last summer, signed a new deal to remain at Craven Cottage last season.
Earlier this summer he opted against signing a one-year contract extension to speak with other clubs.
The former Chelsea and Arsenal winger said on Instagram: "I would like to thank Fulham for a wonderful two years. It was special to return to the Premier League and be part of this historic club and the amazing fans.
"I have had incredible moments and this club will always be in my heart."
A new season, and a new challenge for BBC Sport's prediction expert Chris Sutton.
Sutton faced off against a guest for each of the 38 game weeks in 2023-24 and triumphed 21-10 (with seven draws) to secure his second predictions title in a row.
In the first week of the new season, his opponent is The Courteeners frontman Liam Fray.
First up on Friday evening is Manchester United's game against Fulham.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
The first weekend of the season is always tricky to predict for various reasons, and with Manchester United I really don't know what to expect. I am not going to give them a win just because they are Manchester United and have had some great teams in the past, put it that way.
Fulham sold Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich in the summer, and the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Willian and Tim Ream have all left too.
They had a pretty decent season last time out and, although their results did drop off in the last couple of months of the campaign, they won at Old Trafford in February.
I can see them getting something this time, too. I can only base these predictions on what I see and I have not seen enough good performances from United under Erik ten Hag to have any confidence in them playing well.
Liam's prediction: 2-0
I am going, and it will be good to get back in there and hear everyone singing.
It is a big blow to be without Rasmus Hojlund who had really found his form at the end of last season, and looks so fearless.
I still think we will win though, and I don't really care how - getting three points is the most important thing.
Image source, Getty ImagesThree of the past four Premier League meetings between Manchester United and Fulham have been won by the away side, with each of these victories coming courtesy of a 90th-minute winning goal (United twice, Fulham once).
