So, here we go again. Hard to believe after a summer of England woes at the World Cup, Andy Murray stumbling at Wimbledon, Dolly Parton at Glastonbury, the Glasgow experience of the Commonwealth Games, the sun shining for more than one day and a quick moonlight flit for AVFTT, that it's all over for another year and we return to the sanity of the football season.

Trips round B&Q, attempts at recreating fire like Neanderthal man in front of the barbecue and the endless list of 'summer jobs' that never get done is over. Saturdays are back to how they should be with football at their centrepiece. That opening day fixture is always special. The pull out previews in the papers (although you may want to skip them on Saturday), the new shirt, the unused season ticket and the ambition and hopes of another season. Strange to think in a lifetime you'll be lucky if you experience 80 of these, so suck it up, breathe it in and prepare to go again.

That side from the game against Charlton is all but gone. Bar David Perkins, the first game of the season will see a totally different Blackpool side with our new manager in charge the one who orchestrated that 3-0 defeat on that day in May. Jose Riga has had arguably one of the most difficult managerial tenures without seeing a ball kicked. Up to a couple of weeks ago it seemed almost impossible for him to field XI players and yet now after a raft of signings he will be able to do just that. Maybe not the team he wanted and still lacking in crucial areas but we have all bases covered and that is how we'll have to start. There is little point in trying to predict his team or his formation but he probably already knows which players will be starting his first game in charge - whether they know one another's names is a different matter!

In their post-match glass of vino, Stuart Pearce and Jose Riga will have much to discuss. Both start new jobs on Saturday and both have fractious relationships with their owners. Already Pearce has expressed his displeasure at the sales of Karl Darlow and Jamaal Lascelles to Newcastle United. Both players are expected to be loaned back to Forest, so Pearce will have them at his disposal this season. They will join other new signings Britt Assombalonga, whom joined for more than £5m earlier this week,.Michael Mancienne and Michail Antonio. Expectations are high amongst Forest fans having come close a Play Off place last season and with their heroic 'Psycho' back in charge. Ironically those high hopes could swing in Blackpool's favour if they don't get off to a good start.

It's never easy to predict how things will pan out on the opening day. Remember when Norwich lost 7-1 at home and went on to win promotion or even Blackpool won 4-0 at Wigan and still got relegated. Nothing is decided on the first day of the campaign and for Jose Riga those are reassuring words.

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