2005-06 Season Preview: The Year of Logica FC

It's that time again when all supporters harbour the dream that this will be their team's year. All too frequently that dream disappears in a puff of smoke by Christmas. But this year, I tell you, will be the year of Logica FC. It's time to roll up the metaphorical sleeves, play like we can in every game and take this division by storm, destroying all that threaten to stand in the way of our gallant charge.

So what's the aim for this season? Well, I think I've answered it above. There is absolutely no reason why we cannot win this division, or at the very least finish in second place. We now have a squad of quite considerable talent, and importantly we have the strength in depth to cope with the inevitable injuries, suspensions and surprise holidays.

In goal, we have , and, assuming personal terms can be agreed, will be returning to the 'Rossoneri'. If you then include as fourth choice, we have more than enough craziness between the sticks to prevent the leakiest of defences conceding.

It doesn't stop there, however - the defence has quality written all over it. With players such as , and (back from injury), , , , , , , and , the challenge is going to be perming just four at a time from this bunch. And it's a challenge I'm relishing! The club is also in negotiations with in a possible return after 4 years of DIY leave on a pay-as-you-play contract.

As we move into midfield it is once more an embarrassment of riches. We have the marauding on the left, who I'm looking to be getting on the score sheet with more regularity this season, and on the right, who'll definitely be looking to win the Golden Boot outright this season. There's also the return of , and and will surely be weighing in with a good number of appearances flying down the wings. In the middle, perm any two from the ageless , a fit again , a reconstructed , a recharged , a fixed and the Hull warrior . It's almost the stuff football dreams are made of.

I'll be looking for a menacing front line this year, where at least one striker must claim double figures. We have , who continually defies the odds to score quality goals out of almost nothing. There's , who'll want to wallow in a feast of goals this year after injury cut his season short last term. can be guaranteed to score plenty, and with new addition Kamran Zamen adding pace and power to the strike force, goals should not be hard to come by.

Unfortunately, as we all know, having a team of quality footballers wins nothing and - to borrow the Nigel Worthington football ethic - you've got to work, work, and work some more. This team will no longer carry passengers; no longer will prima-donnas get away with murder. If you ain't putting in the effort, I don't care who you are, you're off, because there's more than enough talent waiting on the bench just itching to secure a regular first team spot.

Of course to be able to compete for a full 90 minutes you've got to be fit, and this season those behind the scenes have been organising pre-season friendlies in an attempt to get the match fitness up to the requisite level come 18th September and Broadway. In this league, if you go into the season being fitter than your opposition, it's worth a goal head start, not to mention that the fitness helps you keep the concentration levels up, ensuring you can remain focused.

At this point, I usually give the low down on the opposition that we'll be defeating, but I'm not going to do that this year. It does not matter who we play - we have to believe that we will beat them. Let the opposition worry about us for a change. We want teams looking at their fixture list and thinking 'Oh god, we're playing Logica this week!' Let's win the psychological battle, let's not be afraid anymore. On our day we can beat anyone. We've proved it in the past - just ask a host of higher division teams that we've beaten in the Cups in recent seasons. We just have to go out and do it. If we play for one another, and the moaning and bickering can be kept to a minimum, it will happen: the league will be ours, ours I tell you!

Come 23rd April 2006, there will once again be much cheering and champagne in our final game. But this time it will be us that's doing the cheering.

If Liverpool can win the European Cup, then it proves that dreams can come true. You just have to have the belief, fight to the last man, and remember it's never over till the fat lady sings...

Enjoy the season. I know I will.