Grant McCann – August 2021 – Beat Preston 4-1
Shota Arveladze – August 2022 – Beat Bristol City 2-1
Liam Rosenior – August 2023 – Lost to Norwich 2-1
Tim Walter – August 2024 – Drew with Bristol City 1-1
Sergej Jakirović – August 2025 - ??? v Coventry

For the fourth August in a row, City begin a new season full of hope, and with a new manager at the helm. Northern Irishmen, Georgians, English and Germans have come and gone, and now Acun’s faith is placed in a Bosnian-Croatian who arrives from the Turkish leagues with a growing reputation. Whether that can be translated into success in England is one matter, but Sergej arrives with a winning mentality, and judging by the best pre-season in recent memory, it looks like that spirit is already being transferred into the players. All of this under the shadow of a transfer ban remember.

For many, a successful season would be finishing mid-table or sneaking into the top half. Inspiration however, could be taken from our neighbours to the North, Sunderland. Even the most die-hard Mackem surely wouldn’t have expected a promotion-winning season back in July when Regis Le Bris was appointed manager. The all-too-familiar moans of “he doesn’t know the English league” were prominent and justified. In fact, Le Bris had only managed for 2 seasons in France despite already being 47 when he was appointed. His 2nd season with L’Orient ended in relegation to Ligue 2 and the subsequent mutual termination of his contract. There can’t have been many looking forward to a man with a 30%-win record and -19 goal difference taking over their beloved club on the back of a relegation. Yet here they are 12 months later preparing for a Premier League season.

Le Gris won all his games in August 2024, winning the manager of the month award having scored 10 and only conceded 1. A good start it seems, is important. City begin with a tricky fixture, away against the team that Le Gris managed to conquer in the play-off final, Coventry. Frank Lampard has a good record in this league, and against City. He won both his games as Derby manager vs The Tigers back in 2017/18, and will feel aggrieved to only draw 1-1 against us at the end of last season. The Sky Blues were let-down by their keeper that day, and Pandur’s impressive performance led to speculation that they would swoop in with an offer. However, it’s another City connection who will turn out between the sticks for them in Carl Rushworth, who was apparently already impressed in pre-season.

City have been quite canny in the transfer market, albeit their hand has been forced by their punishment for unpaid transfer and loan fees. Whether the transfers of Puerta and Laalaoui will be ratified depends on the outcome of the appeal, something which should be announced around the same time you are reading this. Ajayi and Famewo offer experience at centre back, Lundstram will help screen the back four, while Joel Ndala has already impressed in pre-season and looks a handful. There’s also Millar and Belloumi due back from injury by the first international break, and Destan comes in as a back up striker to add competition. Perhaps the cherry on the cake is Oli McBurnie. The Scotsman joins old friends in Egan and Lundstram and has an impressive record at this level. He averages a goal every 183 minutes, and from 87 starts has 52 goal contributions. More than that however, he brings a shrewdness and physicality up front which we haven’t had for quite a few years. That will surely bring the odd suspension, but a fighting spirit and determination to succeed will be welcomed with open arms at the MKM.

The tone of my match previews tend to sway on the side of caution and negativity, in line with the essence of the quote from Philip Larkin at the beginning of this piece. However, despite the upheaval and turmoil at the club, I have a genuine hopeful and positive feeling. Perhaps this is a false-dawn brought on by a great pre-season and the excitement around the signing of a proven striker, and we’ll be brought crashing back to Earth against strong opposition on Saturday lunchtime. We may well not get off to a winning start, but there are some winnable games in August, and if Sergej can get off to a good start like Le Gris did, who’s to say we can’t sneak into the play-offs and cause an upset like the Black Cats did last year?

My prediction: Coventry 1 – 1 Hull City

Hull City possible starting lineup:
Pandur; Ayemi, Hughes, Giles, Drameh; Lundstram, Slater; Joseph, Kamara, Crooks; McBurnie