Football Season Guide

Fulham start their second season under Martin Jol looking to maintain their easy-on-the-eye fluid attacking football and try to be more consistent and solid when they are under pressure. At times last season the Cottagers really looked mesmerising too see but the fact that they lacked real character and desire to go on a long run meant that their season lacked real substance. They never threatened to go near the European places and now the Dutchman will hope to see his team more of a factor in the league. The main story of the summer for the South London club was Clint Dempsey and whether he is staying on. The apparent desire of the American to join Liverpool has not softened the stance by the club and now it looks almost certain that the free-scoring forward will stay on. Jol signed more attacking players in Hugo Rodallega and Mladen Petric who can forge a pretty exciting attacking duo. The former was a hot properly 12 months ago but loss of form meant that he was let go by Wigan and joins on free transfer. He look to rejuvenate his career and Craven Cottage may prove a good place to do so. The other interesting bit of the close season was the release of Danny Murphy who has kept Fulham together in midfield for the past few seasons but was deemed too old to continue. It may prove a mistake by the Fulham management but it signifes the belief in Moussa Dembele who was turned into a central midfielder in the second half of last season and looked pretty impressive. Bryan Ruiz, the club's record transfer, struggled in his first season and will look to kick on players like Alex Kacaniklic an Marcelo Trotta could play an important part too.