Foolish Fulham Could Suffer Relegation Heartache

Fulham have been an established Premier League side now for a number of years.

Like every club, they have had sticky situations with the likes of then stars such as Louis Saha, Luis Boa Morte and Steed Malbranque all departing for pastures new at different times but this coming season does look bleak for them in my opinion; for me, boss Martin Jol has released too much quality at one time.

Last week, the west-Londoners let go a couple of high profile names which raised a few eyebrows, most notably the likes of captain Danny Murphy, Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak and former England International forward Andy Johnson. Although the club are still in talks with Murphy and Pogrebnyak, there are no guarantees they will stay.

Johnson (L) and Pogrebnyak (R) are available

Add to this the high chance of other "names" such as Moussa Dembele and the talismatic Clint Dempsey being snapped up by the so called "bigger" clubs and you fear for them.

Murphy was a consistent performer for the whites over his five year stint at Craven Cottage, Johnson, if fit would always be able to get a goal and Pogrebnyak, who only joined in January this year had a 1:2 goal ratio with 6 goals in 12 games.

KISSING GOODBYE?: Murphy is still in talks

I fear for Fulham; you have to look at where the goals will come from. Obviously, on his day Bryan Ruiz comes up with quality however, with just two goals in his debut season in just under thirty games it shows that his day doesn't come very often, also, he currently has a broken foot so he may be slightly injury plagued on his return to action.

Obviously there will be a bit of money for Jol to spend, money that could be increased from the possible departures of Dempsey and/or Dembele but you wonder whether they can get the same or better quality players through the Craven Cottage doors.

Dempsey and Dembele (below) could leave

Added to the fact that the promoted clubs (Southampton, Reading and West Ham) will also be splashing some cash and you wonder whether it will be a long season for them.

People will say Wigan will be going down but that seems to have been said for the last 200 years and they will always seem to survive, somehow!

For me, Fulham face a season of struggle.

Enjoy the beginning of the Euros.

Until next week...