EXPECT MORE

Fulham were often mediocre performers last season, but midfielder Steve Sidwell expects the team to perform brilliantly as they have been working their socks off in pre-season.

Fulham manager Martin Jol has changed the training plan of the team significantly in order to bring about a new enthusiasm to the club, which recently changed ownership after 16 years.

Fulham have some players who are known for their lethargic attitude like Dimitar Berbatov. The club recently brought in Adel Taarabt on a loan deal from QPR. After the announcement was made, Sidwell has said that no player at Fulham can expect to get away with being lazy.

He has said that everybody is expected to put the shift in this season. Taarabt is regarded as one of the finest technical players in the Premier league right now. His presence will certainly add to the creativity of the team according to Sidwell, who finally appears to have found a place where he can play regular football.

The former Reading midfielder has been having a few seasons of wilderness since departing Chelsea. Despite coming under the new ownership of Shahid Khan, the club has largely been inactive in the transfer window. Sidwell has said that the club certainly did not see the change in management before.

“The general joke going around the training ground at the minute is I’m going to have to do loads more running. I’m sure the manager’s looked at that and it’s great to have these players like Adel, Bryan and Berba but if they’re not going to do their job… everyone’s got to work for the team. It doesn’t matter who you are, you can’t be lazy, everyone’s got to put the work rate in,” said the midfielder. The club will be having an away match against Sunderland in the first match of the season.