Arbeloa is gaining experience by the bucketload – but remains divisive

AA is getting his callouses in the dugout, but some remain unconvinced.

The Fulhamish group chat is divided.

We have Arbeloa backers – people who believe he’s slowly turning the ship around. The evidence is there; one loss in six, unbeaten in three. Then there’s our once-leaky defence looking as resolute as it has in many a month.

We also have the Arbeloa detractors. Those who believe the club is “kicking the can down the road” by keeping him at the helm, have lingering tactical concerns, and who label him “performative”, particularly after his clapping u-turn led to him taking selfies with the travelling fans post-Villa.

It’s hardly a surprising situation. After five years of a generally beloved manager, anyone coming in had a big task on their hands bringing everyone onside. The fastest way to do that, of course, would’ve been embarking on an immediate winning run. But given the overhaul in style and personnel over the summer that was never going to happen.

Alvaro will have to win fans over the hard way – gradually and with hard work and grit.

Which, to his credit, is what he’s doing. Like him or loathe him, the biggest stick used to beat him with so far is his lack of experience. Well, nothing teaches you more – faster – than adversity. And AA’s had his fair share so far. Despite his initially prickly press conference demeanour (which, by the way, is a trait he shares with Marco), he has addressed many of the flaws in his tactical set-up – and in his relationship with the fans.

I said on a podcast earlier in the season that we’d unfairly – and prematurely – labelled our boss as a man wed to his tactical philosophy and unwilling to change. He’s shown that he’s willing – and able – to do so.

I’m still in the pro-Arbeloa camp. I’m confident that we’ll be safe this season, despite the strong start from the sides expected to be in the relegation mix. And, frankly, given all the changes already mentioned, survival has to the be the aim this season, even if it’s unspoken. It gives us the platform to push on with a more established regime next term.

So, if 17th is the base expectation, anything else must be considered a bonus. And I feel like there’ll be plenty of them to grab as we push on. I’m not trying to sound naive; there are plenty of areas that still need addressing – some of them not as easy as simply re-organising our defence (I’m looking at you, Gonzalo and Rodrigo). It feels like we’re missing that one player who could get us out of jail – a Harry Wilson. But I think things are close to clicking – and someone is set to get a paddlin’ at some point soon. Maybe it’ll be the Magpies.

We’re about a quarter of the way through the season now and our heads are above water despite a strong current. It feels like the water is settling now, so let’s see how much progress Arbeloa can make – the further he swims, the more he’ll unite the fanbase. COYW.