Well, it's been just over 9 years since we last scored a Premier League goal courtesy of Sam Clucas who bagged a solitary City goal in the 66th minute of our last game which ended in a 7-1 drubbing by Spurs at home on the last day of the season in our final game in the top flight during May 2017. Along with Marco Silva, the then manager, we saw an exodus of players in an effort to axe the £30Million plus wage bill and prepare for yet another relegation back to the Championship from the Prem for the 3rd time. Even more miserably it was with the Allam's.

Now, we have another bite at the cherry after a blip in 2021 when we found ourselves in L1 under Grant McCann and the Covid 10 season that played behind closed doors, The Premier League beckons. But this time it's different. We are a re energised club with an ambitious owner, newish manager and a new energy. Somehow this season seems more promising? The 2016 / 17 season saw our last record signing. Midfielder Ryan Mason from Spurs at C £14Million. An unheard of amount of money coming out of Cities coffers for a single player that sadly ended badly for Ryan when he had a head collision with Chelsea's Gary Cahill that ended his career and put a severe dent in our Prem survival chances.

Acun Ilicali, who has never lost faith over the 5 seasons or so has been rewarded for his investment's and sometimes questionable decisions from those that didn't have his foresight, has not only delivered his promise but has secured finance and the means to build a sustainable future in the most prized division in the world. With what looks like a complete clear out, he has spared no emotion in making hard choices to replace players he doesn't think will add value to our next level squad.

Players such as Pandur, Joseph, Kamara, Famewo, Palmer, Destan and Vaughn have all been sold to the tune of around £13 Million whilst loaning out Burstow, Lo-Tutala and Harvey Cartwright. A few quid to add to the promotion prize money of around £220 Million over the next 3 seasons and Acun hasn't been shy in getting his hand in his pocket. With the shock departure of Football Director Jared Dublin over the closed season, the extra weight of responsibility has fallen heavier on Martin Hodge's shoulders but he's proven they are broad ones and along with his team have evidently been working hard.

We started off with a Rangers player deal. A great manoeuvre that immediately solved our £6M payment penalty. Pandur out. Jack Butland in. Not as a "swap" but as two separate deals that wiped the slate clean with the EFL. Now the reigns were off and the work began in earnest and the previous record signing fee for Mason was about to be blown out the water. Twice. With the discussions ever bubbling in the background trying to sign fan favourite, Joe Gelhardt on a permanent the scouting team went on a world tour. Not for a jolly boys outing but to stay under the radar and away from the expensive "high street brands" that come at serious, Premier League inflated prices and players who are past their best, looking for a last big pay day and retirement club to breeze about aimlessly.

Nearly a dozen nationalities with new faces, other than English now occupy our dressing room in what looks to be some smart and quality procurements. Mendy, Herrington, Tzolakis, Dahl, Douath, Stroud, Morita, Zambrano to name but a few with a total spend value of around £85MIllion including 2 back to back record signings, Tzolakis the Greek keeper at C £21M and Centre Back Mendy also at C £21 Million.

The noticeable criteria is that we have, by and large bought young and tall. The average age of all the signings are 24 years old and the height being Herrington 6'4, Mendy 6'2, Tzolakis 6'4, Dahl 6'4, Butland 6'5, Stroud 6.1, Targett 6' which has vastly improved
our arial ability across the back and Tzolakis is 2" taller than Pandur but as we saw against Nice, is as adept at low level stops as he is patrolling any danger across the bar and looks very fit and agile.

The battle cry though is for an orthodox striker. With the best will in the world our lone front man Oli McBurnie will not last 38 games at least and certainly not on his own. We need a front man to rotate with him or partner him in times of that much needed desperate goal in what we assume will be a season of rearguard action and fightback spirit. The signing mentality is looking like we will still see 2 or 3 new faces and have yet to sign a player on loan with the latest rumour being Niccolò Fortini, the Italian international left back currently at Serie A club Fiorentina for around £9 Million?

The last Prem season we saw an average crowd of just over 20K. This season coming and with cheaper tickets than under the Allam's it promises to be a much higher attendance record starting off with the Man Utd game which is already practically sold out there's going to be a lot of interest.

So now it's down to Sergej Jakirovic. Brand new to the Prem as he was brand new to the Championship and English football in general last season. The 49 year old big Bosnian must be as excited as the fans in what is a new and updated adventure for us all. We know it's going to be a tough ride, almost all uphill but the vehicle we ride in this season seems a lot more "fit for purpose" than it did 10 years ago when we were still reeling at this point from the forced resignation of Steve Bruce, straight after he got us promoted, Phelan a care taker manager with his hands tied behind his back, every player questioning their future and the fans chanting "Allam Out". This time we are following a four star general that got us promoted despite a 2 window embargo and although in 6th place at the final whistle, we were never ever out of it.

The person who deserves all the joy out of this over anyone else is Acun. He's earned it, he's paid for it, he's faced criticism for mistakes but overall. He's delivered. Just as he said he would.

Thank you Acun Ilicali. Now bring on the Prem.

UTT.