Fulham Football Club finished the summer 2005 transfer window in apparent peace and quiet.

The window had opened with the departure of Club Captain Lee Clark who could or would not agree a new deal with lower wages. After a number of attempts to get a contract, with other clubs, particularly with Leeds where the Chairman was rather rude about ex-premiership players, Lee ended up back at his beloved Newcastle on a short-term deal.

Departures continued with Edwin van der Sar and Andrew Cole opting for the sunnier climate of Manchester. Elvis left The Cottage to play with Foxes. Facundo "The Wolfman" Sava was shown the door and went off to Spain. Jerome "The Other Sicknote" Bonnissel, Malik Buari, Sean Doherty, Ross Flitney, Alex Lawless and Stuart Noble were all "released" while Abdes Ouaddou's and Martin Herrera's contracts ended.

The exit of the summer most welcomed by Fulham fans was surely that of Steve Marlet who ended up moving off Fulham's books to those of Wolfsburg in Germany.

Gary Naysmith, of Everton, was the first of a long list of supposed Fulham transfer targets followed by Austrian international left-back Emanuel Pogatetz, Norwich goalkeeper Robert Green, Charlton’s Paul Konchesky, etc., etc.. Whether the media were making it up or not few if any of the rumours made anything more than hot air.

Players such as Australian international midfielder Ahmad Elrich, Iceland International centre forward Heidar Helguson, Danish International full back Niclas Jensen, Czech Republic Under-21 Jaroslav Drobny and Cardiff City's Tony Warner joined the club.

For most Fulham fans Summer 2005 will undoubtedly be remembered for the Boa Morte and to a lesser degree Malbranque saga. Both loved by Fulham fans and recognised as excellent players.

Souness, official manager of Newcastle, managed to plumb new depths by attempting to unsettle Boa Morte with public statements of his wish to see Boa Morte in Toon Town and then complaining when other managers did similar things to his own players. Fortunately all his efforts came to nought and Boa Morte is still at The Cottage wearing his newly acquired Captain's armband.

Malbranque was then pursued by the chillingly named Man City coach "Psycho" but managed to escape his clutches to remain at Fulham.

So while the Window closed quietly it did look as if it might come off it's hinges at one time. Roll on January.