Premier League: 3 Teams That Will Surprise Us Next Season

2. Fulham

The Cottagers, like Norwich, finished in lower mid-table 1 place behind the Canaries in 12th and will look towards the forthcoming season with hope of a Top 10 slot, for which I think they have made giant strides of completing this objective if not exceeding it. In fact, away from home they performed better against the majority of the top sides than when the likes of Spurs, Man United, Man City and Chelsea visited Craven Cottage (0/12 at home compared to 4/12 on their travels indicated they were not to be overawed by the fierce, partisan support they faced going to these places and were not going to lie down easily). Of course points against these are bonuses, so points against their prospective adversaries for a Europa League place next year need are going to decide their fate. Last season these were mixed: Liverpool did the double over them but they convincingly beat both Norwich and Swansea over the course of it, so they need to accrue consistently important wins against all three of these opponents in order to compete. In terms of signings, they have made three so far: Maarten Steckelenburg, Derek Boateng and Fernando Amorebieta. Whilst not saying the latter two won€™t be instrumental in Fulham€™s progression, (Amorebieta€™s a competent defender who€™s had success with Atletico Madrid and Boateng€™s a vital link between defence and attack), it is Stekelenburg who will prove key to the outcome of games. The Dutchman has been signed for an undisclosed amount and his performances at the World Cup led him to be touted to be the next signing of many a top club. That didn€™t materialise, yet this did when all the hype died down a bit and then Fulham snitched in before the 30 year old may have turned out some brilliant performances for Ajax and subsequently Holland at next year€™s World Cup and those clubs could be knocking at his door again. A vital signing also, with Mark Schwarzer released and David Stockdale not yet looking like a complete article that can cope with the demands of regular action as their Number 1, Stekelenburg€™s experience could yet prove crucial in keeping Fulham goals against column low, while the genius and flair of Dimitar Berbatov and Bryan Ruiz bang them in for fun down at the other end. So, with a better goal difference and an improved defence (with perhaps just another signing down in the full back area), there€™s no reason why Fulham can€™t mix with the top 7 and enter the competition they so nearly won in 2010.