Summing up the summer: Fulham

Keeping Dempsey crucial for the Cottagers

By Taymour Roushdi | 17th August 2012

Clint Dempsey has undoubtedly been Fulham’s star player for the past couple of seasons, scoring important goals from midfield and controlling much of his team’s attacking play.

Making sure he doesn’t leave Craven Cottage has been boss Martin Jol’s primary concern this summer and he still has about two weeks to complete his objective.

A whole host of influential players have left Craven Cottage this summer, including former captain Danny Murphy, midfield powerhouse Dickson Etuhu, goal poacher Andrew Johnson, and defender Carlos Salcido.

It looks like Moussa Dembele may be on his way out as well.

Jol has made reinforcements, though, bringing in three players and re-signing veteran Mahamadou Diarra to be his enforcer in the middle of the prk.

Croatia international, Mladen Petric, a name that will have England fans cringing as he scored the famous third goal at Wembley in Croatia’s 3-2 win that ended England’s chances of reaching Euro 2008, has joined the club from Hamburg.

He will be re-united with his former manager Jol and will surely bolster the Cottagers’ attacking options.

Joining him up front is former Wigan star Hugo Rodallega – the man who has proven himself at the Premier League level and scored goals on the final day to keep Wigan in the Premier League.

Rodallega will, undoubtedly, look to lead a new-look Fulham strike force. His arrival came after Jol surprisingly decided not to try and bring in Pavel Pogrebnyak on a permanent basis despite the Russian scoring six goals in 12 appearnces last season whilst on loan.

Fulham’s third signing brings further experience to their defense. The 29-year old Sascha Reither joins on a season long loan from FC Cologne, with the option of making the deal permanent at the end of the season. Reither brings Champions League experience as well as a Bundesliga winners’ medal with him.

If Dempsey’s services are retained and a more consistent Bryan Ruiz shows up, Jol should be able to guide this Fulham side to yet another comfortable mid-table finish.