Premiership Season Preview 2006/07 - Fulham

Fulham

Odds: 1000/1

Last Five Seasons
2005/06 - 12 (Premiership), 2004/05 - 13 (Premiership), 2003/04 - 9 (Premiership), 2002/03 - 14 (Premiership), 2001/02 - 13 (Premiership).

2005/06 Cup Progress
FA Cup Third Round vs Leyton Orient (h) - lost 2-1.
Carling Cup Third Round vs West Bromwich Albion (h) - lost 3-2 after extra time.

Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Collins John (striker) - 12 goals.

Players In
Jimmy Bullard (Wigan Athletic - £2,500,000), Gabriel Zakuani (Leyton Orient - £1,000,000), Bjorn Runstrom (Hammarby - £700,000), Franck Queudrue (Middlesbrough - Free)

Players Out
Darren Pratley (Swansea City - £100,000), Liam Fontaine (Bristol City - Undisclosed), Adam Green (Grays Athletic - Free), Tony Warner (Leeds United - Loan), Alain Goma (Released), Facundo Sava (Released), Neale McDermott (Released), Robert Watkins (Released).

Remarkable home form kept Fulham away from the relegation zone last season and saw them finish in a comfortable mid table position. Chris Coleman's side won 13 out of their 19 matches at Craven Cottage but were terrible on the road. They won just once away from home, a 2-1 defeat of Manchester City at the end of April.

Coleman has had some money to spend this summer and prised away Jimmy Bullard from Wigan Athletic in a £2.5 million shock signing. Bullard won plenty of admirers last season following the Latics first season in the Premiership.

Franck Queudrue arrived from Middlesbrough and signed a four year contract. Since arriving from Lens in 2002, Queudrue made 199 appearances for Middlesbrough and will add much needed defensive stability.

Young Leyton Orient defender Gabriel Zakuani was signed for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £1 million and played in the Orient side which knocked the Cottagers out of the FA Cup. The Democratic Republic of Congo international made nearly 100 appearances for the newly promoted League One club and scored three goals.

Young Swedish striker Bjorn Runstrom joined the club from Hammarby on a three year deal contract following stints in Italy with both Chievo and Fiorentina. Fulham were also linked with a double swoop on Portsmouth for defender Matthew Taylor and striker Lomana LuaLua

Contract rebel Steed Malbranque, whose deal expires next summer, has no future at the club according to manager Coleman. The former Lyon player, who joined Fulham for £5 million five seasons ago rejected a new contract offer and has been training with the youth team.

Verdict
Fulham will need to keep their home form up to avoid slipping into a relegation battle next season but are in desperate need of improving their away form which saw them lose 14 out of 19 matches on the road last season.

About The Author-- David Walker runs Bet365 free bet and UK poker websites. A free email course: "Seven Days to Better Betting" is available at both of these websites.

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