Overview
- Fulham lost 3-2 to Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on Saturday after twice taking the lead, leaving them with three defeats from three Premier League games and zero points.
- The team has conceded seven league goals in three matches, with coaches and columnists citing repeated defensive lapses such as poor marking, loose clearances and being exposed on counter-attacks.
- Supporters at Craven Cottage booed and jeered after the Palace defeat and Arbeloa publicly defended his players, saying the side “didn't deserve to lose” and expressing belief that results will come with the current mentality.
- Arbeloa has integrated summer signings linked to his Real Madrid network — including Cesar Palacios, who scored, plus Gonzalo Garcia and Manuel Angel — but several new arrivals are still bedding in and the squad is judged by commentators to be short-term fragile.
- Media coverage warns that upcoming fixtures at Liverpool and then at home to Manchester United are pivotal for the manager's immediate future, with historical examples cited showing very poor early-season runs raise relegation risk.