2005/06 Cup Progress Champions League Third Qualifying Round vs Villarreal - lost 4-2 on aggregate. UEFA Cup First Round vs Dinamo Bucharest - lost 5-2 on aggregate. FA Cup Fourth Round (replay) vs Chelsea (a) - lost 4-1. Carling Cup Third Round vs Middlesbrough (h) - lost 1-0.
Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: James Beattie (striker) - 11 goals.
Players In Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace - ?8,600,000), Joleon Lescott (Wolves - ?5,000,000), Tim Howard (Manchester United - Loan).
Players Out Li Tie (Sheffield United - Free), Laurence Wilson (Chester City - Free), Duncan Ferguson (Released), Paul Hopkins (Released), Sean Wright (Released), Christian Seargeant (Released), Stephen Wynne (Released), , Jay Harris (Released).
Following the heroics of the 2004/05 campaign, last season was disappointing by comparison. The Toffees went out of Europe at the first attempt, including a humiliating defeat in Romania against Dinamo Bucharest and spent much of the season in the lower half of the table.
Improvement is required and manager David Moyes has the playing staff to challenge for a place in Europe next season. He smashed the club record transfer fee to sign Crystal Palace striker Andy Johnson for ?8.6 million, which eclipsed the previous ?6 million record fee paid to Southampton for James Beattie. Johnson turned down offers from both Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic to sign for Everton.
Moyes strengthened his defence by signing Wolves prospect Joleon Lescott, a player he acclaimed to be the "best centre half in the Championship", in a ?5 million deal. Lescott made over 200 appearances for Wolves since breaking into the first team in 1999.
Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard joined the club on a season long loan as boss Alex Ferguson wants him to play first team football. Howard's contract at Old Trafford expires in 2009 and Ferguson wants him to return to the club in a position to challenge for the number one spot with veteran Edwin Van Der Sar.
A host of players have committed their futures to the club including Joseph Yobo, who was linked with a move to Arsenal as a replacement for Sol Campbell. He signed a new four year contract and stay at the club until the end of the 2009/10 campaign. Veteran David Weir signed a new one year deal as has Alan Stubbs
Verdict Moyes has added firepower in Andy Johnson to help James Beattie up front and his arrival could be worth an extra 15 goals next season. The Toffees could be worth backing at 5/1 to finish in the top six.
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.
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