There is one Fulham player who sees the last year as upwards and onwards - despite the club's Premier League relegation.
The crisis-hit Cottage has been mostly doom and gloom, but the misery brought only a silver lining for keeper Marcus Bettinelli.
Had Fulham escaped the drop; had flop Maarten Stekelenburg not been loaned to Monaco; had the club not focused on youth as its springboard for the future, the 22-year-old freely admits he would not be in the first team.
His performances since being restored to the side by Kit Symons have been outstanding, and Bettinelli is thanking his lucky stars.
He said: "For Fulham last season it wasn't great, but it was tremendous for me.
"If you said to me back then you'll be playing for Fulham's first team, I wouldn't have believed you. It shows you never know what's going to happen."
Two years ago the product of Fulham's academy had a spell with Conference side Dartford, and last season enjoyed a 39-game loan at Accrington Stanley, far from the keeper's London roots, and far from a club with a Premier League set-up.
In the past, hard-up Stanley demanded players take kit home and wash it.
Bettinelli was spared that, but enjoyed the experience in football's basement.
"The year I went to Stanley we finally got a kit man, but the players were telling me stories about the past," he added.
"I'm very thankful to (ex-manager) James Beattie for giving me the chance.
"Before that I was at Dartford, and both loans were where I learned my trade. I don't regret it.
"At the moment it's a better place for Fulham, and we don't belong at the foot of the table."