Fulham tension grows as Alvaro Arbeloa faces player fallout

Fulham’s miserable start to the Premier League season has created early tension at Craven Cottage, with questions now being asked of both Alvaro Arbeloa and his players.

Three matches have brought three defeats, including losses in two fixtures from which Fulham collected six points last season. While there have been encouraging signs going forward, defensive problems and frustrations behind the scenes have quickly changed the mood around the club.

The fallout has effectively created two camps among supporters: those questioning Arbeloa’s management and those who believe several senior players need to take greater responsibility.

Arbeloa has not been afraid to criticise his squad.

Following the 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, the Fulham boss questioned numerous aspects of his team's performance, including their effort, fight, technical quality, attitude, character, mentality and ambition.

Such direct criticism is a significant change from the approach supporters became accustomed to under Marco Silva.

There were further questions after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Crystal Palace. Arbeloa singled out summer arrivals Cesar Palacios and Gonzalo Garcia for praise.

“Palacios and Garcia had a terrific game, that’s the spirit I want from my players,” Arbeloa said.

Both players arrived from Real Madrid this summer, and the decision to specifically highlight them while overlooking other impressive performers — including Josh King — has inevitably created questions over whether Arbeloa is treating certain members of his squad differently.

There is no evidence yet that favouritism is taking place, but Arbeloa's handling of the media could become an issue if players begin to feel publicly isolated.

Responsibility does not rest solely with the manager.

Joachim Andersen revealed during pre-season that training had become significantly more demanding following Arbeloa's arrival, with the Spaniard asking his players to run and work harder than they had previously under Silva.

Arbeloa also publicly challenged Emile Smith Rowe and Kevin before the Carabao Cup meeting with AFC Wimbledon.

“I have so many players, all of them are very good players, but they will play if they deserve it,” he said.

“It's not about how much you cost, it's not about your salary, it's not about your name, it's about what you can do.”

That raises another possibility: rather than simply being unhappy with Arbeloa, are some Fulham players struggling to meet the standards their new manager expects?

Smith Rowe and Kevin in particular have struggled to consistently justify expectations since arriving at Craven Cottage. Both are talented players, but Arbeloa appears determined to judge his squad on performances rather than reputation or transfer fees.

Kenny Tete's position is perhaps more difficult to explain.

The defender had established himself as a popular and reliable player under Silva but appears to have slipped significantly down the hierarchy since Arbeloa arrived.

A proposed move to Everton collapsed after Fulham failed to secure a replacement, yet Tete was subsequently left out of the squad against Crystal Palace.

Unless his situation changes quickly, the right-back could now face several months on the fringes before another potential departure in January.

That risks becoming another source of dressing-room frustration at precisely the moment Arbeloa needs unity.

There appears to be responsibility on both sides.

Arbeloa is an inexperienced senior coach implementing new methods and higher physical demands while simultaneously learning how to manage Premier League players and the intense media environment surrounding them.

His public communication needs careful management. Continually criticising players while disproportionately praising others could create unnecessary divisions.

However, Fulham's players cannot escape scrutiny either.

Senior and highly paid members of the squad must respond to the standards being demanded of them. Smith Rowe and Kevin, in particular, need performances capable of demonstrating why they should be central figures under the new manager.

Three defeats do not determine a season, but Fulham cannot allow a poor start to develop into a fractured dressing room.

The immediate priority for Fulham is stopping their poor results from developing into a wider dressing-room problem.

Arbeloa needs his players to respond to his increased standards, but he may also need to adjust how he communicates publicly. Performances from Smith Rowe, Kevin and other senior figures will be closely watched, while Tete's involvement could provide another indication of how the manager intends to handle dissatisfied players.

Most importantly, Fulham need their first Premier League points under Arbeloa. A victory would ease much of the immediate pressure; another defeat could intensify questions over both the manager and his relationship with the squad.