Fulham risk 'fan backlash' over new Alvaro Arbeloa sack decision
Fulham have no plans to sack Alvaro Arbeloa during the international break and believe he will be the man to turn their form around.
That is despite a nightmare start to the season, with the Whites still winless after five Premier League games and sitting second-bottom of the table ahead of the three-week break.
However, draws against both Liverpool and Man United have seen a positive upturn in recent performances, and have shown enough to convince the board of his position.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Fulham are planning to stick by their decision to appoint Arbeloa and prove any doubters wrong.
There are also concerns that the optics of dismissing their new manager so early into his tenure would be negative and they would risk alienating the fans as a result.
Arbeloa is aware that results must improve if he is to keep his job at Craven Cottage, but he will receive the backing of the baord as he works to turn things around.
Could Fulham decide to sack Alvaro Arbeloa?
Football Insider revealed on 13 September that Fulham have been impressed by recent performances under Arbeloa despite not having yet won a game.
Draws against Man United and Liverpool are the standouts, but they believe they were also unluckly not to take points from their games against Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
With those clear encouraging signs of improvement, Fulham are prepared to give Arbeloa time, and they believe he will be able to turn things around after the break.
"Fulham aren't going to be looking for their next manager just yet," Brown told Football Insider.
"The people at the top of the club have invested in Arbeloa, they've backed him, they worked hard to convince him to take over as the manager, and they got what they wanted.
"By bringing him in, they've told the supporters that this is the man they believe will lead them to success, because they've done their due diligence and identified him as the top candidate.
"If they now go and sack him less than 10 games later, what does that say about their decision-making? What made him the right man 10 games ago but now he isn't?
"Then the fans will turn around and question why they brought him in to begin with, if they want to pull the plug already. The fans aren't silly, they see through these things.
"So the board should be aware that if they change their minds already on the manager, it creats a disconnect and a lack of trust with the fans.
"It's been a bit of a nightmare start to the season, I know, but they've improved in recent weeks and they looked very impressive against Man United even if they couldn't get the win.
"So there's plenty of Arbeloa to work with, there have been encouraging signs, and I would be surprised if Fulham were to sack him right now."
How much time will Arbeloa be given at Fulham?
Despite Fulham having decided to back Arbeloa and give him time to turn their results around, there is no doubt he will remain under intense scruitny in West London.
Games against Man United and Liverpool were not the ones by which he would be judged, despite taking two points from them, ahead of a positive run of fixtures.
Football Insider revealed on 11 September that Fulham are expecting Arbeloa to improve results after the international break, when they will face all three newly-promoted clubs.
The Cottagers will first face a visit to Ipswich Town, before high-flying Hull City come to Craven Cottage, and then they will travel to the CBS Arena to face Coventry City.
However, should Arbeloa prove unable to pick up positive results from those three games, it may force Fulham into a deicison about his future at the club.