After a fraught and somewhat dismaying summer, it seems like a relief to be able to write an article about football, rather than club politics. We might not be in a pristine state of readiness (to put it mildly), but August will be a busy month that sees us play at least six games in two competitions. Hopefully it will also see us continue to see as steady stream of new arrivals to the club.

On paper, it looks like a fairly balanced start. Two sides that I would regard as top six contenders (Blackburn and Wigan), two local derbies (ditto), two sides who might be just happy to stay away from trouble (Millwall and Brentford) and a tasty looking opening day encounter with Stuart Pearce's Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

I'm not convinced of Forest's credentials this season, especially as they flattered to deceive last time around. Pearce has no great managerial pedigree (although our manager arguably doesn't either) and he is already grappling with what will be an annoying injury list. Early reports suggest that he may have an entire back four out for our arrival, and whilst that would be a disaster for our current tiny squad, it may also be a big problem for Pearce.

The most immediate question for us will be whether we are able to take advantage of Forest's problems, and up front and midfield is where we have the most options at the moment - limited though they might be. Players like Barkhuizen, Delfouneso, Davies and Zenjov - and maybe, if we are lucky, Miller and Orlandi will all have their reasons for wanting to make an immediate impact.

On the other side of the coin, we have little idea who will be trying to keep them out at the other end. Goalkeeper is an enigma wrapped inside a mystery, and whilst you'd expect Clarke and Daniels to figure it's much less certain who will join them. Hopefully we will have a competitiion for left back in the next day or so if Oriol does sign, Cubero will probably sit in from of what could be either a back three or four and the ex-Barnsley trio of Perkins, Cwyka and Mellis will all be vying for starts ahead of him.

I'm sure there will be other names in the mix by weekend, and whilst it is not what you would call ordered planning and preparation, it feels like the beginning of a new and exciting adventure. Whilst the support remains hopelessly divided on many issues, one thing we can all probably agree on is that August is not going to be dull.

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