Last Season:  17th in the Premier League - 36pts (avoided relegation on goal difference)
Manager:  Roy Hodgson

INS:     
ST Bobby Zamora - 12.6m US  
RB John Pantsil - (fee with Zamora) 
DF Toni Kallio - FREE   
RMF Andranik Teymourian - FREE 
RMF Zoltan Gera - FREE   
GK Mark Schwarzer - FREE  
GK David Stockdale - Undisclosed
RB Fredrik Stoor - 4m US
 
OUTS:
ST Brian McBride
GK Tony Warner
GK Corrin Brooks-Meade
ST Jari Litmanen
CB Carlos Bocanegra
CB Philippe Christanval
DMF Simon Elliot
DF Ian Pearce
CMF Michael Timlin
ST Ismael Ehui
ST Bjorn Runstrom
ST Bradley Hudson-Odoi

Possibles:
ST Andrew Johnson - Everton
ST Vaclav Sverkos - FC Banik Ostrava
CB Josip Simunic - Hertha Berlin
DF Mariusz Lewandowski - Shakhtar Donetsk
RB Luke Young - Middlesbrough

What's Left in the Kitty:  13.4m US

What Lies Ahead:
Aug 16 Hull (A)
Aug 23 Arsenal (H)
Aug 30 Man Utd (A)
Sep 13 Bolton (H)
Sep 20 Blackburn (A)
Sep 27 West Ham (H)
Oct 4 West Brom (A)

Possible Starting XI
GK Antti Niemi/Mark Schwarzer
RB Fredrik Stoor
CB Aaron Hughes
CB Toni Kallio
LB Paul Konchesky
RMF Zoltan Gera/Andranik Teymourian
CMF Danny Muprhy
CMF Jimmy Bullard
LMF Hameur Boazza
FW Clint Dempsey
FW Diomansy Kamara/Bobby Zamora

How They'll Stack Up:
Having survived relegation on goal difference last term, here was the action plan for the summer:
a) Spend some money replacing 36-year old Brian McBride - added Zamora - half-check.  He only scored once in 13-games for West Ham last term.
b) Sign Danny Murphy to a new deal - One year deal - check.
c) Sign a new GK - got Schwarzer AND Stockdale - check.  With the situation with Antti Niemi still unsettled, we're not sure whether Schwarzer has come in to be #1 or #2.

So as it stands now, things are looking up.  One thing is for sure - there is little doubt as to who's team this now is with Hodgson doing the job at ridding the side of a LOT of dead weight.  The team is still a little short of quality but Hodgson showed last term that he can get the most out of what he has and still win.  He added some skill at the back with Fredrik Stoor from Rosenborg Tuesday - now they need someone who can score.  They are close to signing Andy Johnson from Everton and if they can do that, they could be a team to survive relegation.  Then again, that may depend on which Andy Johnson shows up.....Aside from Arsenal and United in games #2 & #3, they should get off to a decent start - which will be good for the strong Fulham fan base on this side of the pond.

Coming Up Thursday - Bolton Wanderers