Why Fulham fans can look forward to the season ahead

Many Fulham fans have been relishing the summer break so far, having had well earned time-off after a dreadful couple of seasons.

But with the season opener against Cardiff just nine days away, the Cottagers are eyeing up the Championship fixture list and weighing up their chances of success.

And with no Felix Magath around, there’s every reason to believe that they can make significant progress this season.

Here’s why.

Summer signings and transfer targets have been of the right calibre

Since the chaotic transfer policy under Magath last summer, the club have opted for a more refined approach in terms of transfer targets this time around.

Instead of targeting the likes of Dino Fazlic and Adil Chihi, the Whites are gunning for players with Championship experience - this was exemplified last season when Symons brought in the likes of Jazz Richards, Danny Guthrie and Michael Turner.

And by bringing in Luke Garbutt on loan, Tom Cairney and Richards on a permanent deal, the Welsh manager has proven that he has a much better inclination of the standard of players required for England’s second tier than his predecessor had.

He has improved the overall standard of the squad and also lowered the average age, while keeping the wage budget at a sustainable level - it’s a strong base to build from, if not a promotion chasing side just yet.

Owner willing to invest

The Shahid Khan era of the club has been overshadowed by appalling administrative decisions which have in turn have led to awful results on the pitch.

But one thing Khan has not done is shy away from transfers, having acquired both Kostas Mitroglou and Ross McCormack for huge fees during his time in west London.

And while the former flopped, the latter has been a great success at the Cottage.

With the club also making smart acquisitions such as Tom Cairney for a fee of around £3.5 million, it is clear the management team can operate with relatively free reign knowing that Khan will back them.

Symons is more tactically in-tune than Magath

Fulham's boss clearly has a better grasp of the Championship than his German predecessor did - and while many fans are still panicking about the Welshman being in charge, he is clearly the preferred choice of the club and the fans will have to deal with that.

The former centre-back did manage to obtain a number of strong results in the early stages of his rescue mission last season, and these cannot be forgotten despite the way the side ebbed away during the remainder of the season.

If Symons can replicate this earlier form that he drew from his side and take that into the next season, Fulham fans should have every right to be optimistic.

That said, he will need to learn from his mistakes last season - and fast.

Exciting young players coming through

An undoubted positive of last season for the Cottagers was the progress that their younger players made.

While fans maybe didn’t get to see as much as they’d have liked of Patrick Roberts before he moved to Manchester City, they saw plenty of the midfield duo Lasse Vigen Christensen and Emerson Hyndman.

The Danish and American midfielders respectively excited the crowds at Craven Cottage and there is an inherent sense that any chance of future success lies with how well the duo progress.

And that’s not to mention Welsh winger George Williams, who also appeared to be full of promise before he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament on loan at MK Dons.

Getting players away from the club who don’t want to be there

Finally, the departures of Patrick Roberts and Bryan Ruiz from the club has lifted a weight from the dressing room.

The duo - particularly the latter- were evidently less keen to be at the club and it is always important to only have players who are willing to fight for the team.

None of this was clearer than in the Costa Rican’s performances last season, where he looked disinterested and lethargic at times, even speaking to the media about his wishes to leave the club.

With those players out of the way, and Greece international Mitroglou most likely to follow, Symons should find it a little easier to help build the formidable team spirit necessary for a successful team.