Hello blog readers, we’re into added time with our Yorkshire Africans as I have decided to spend one more season with these beauties in a quest for the Champions League trophy.

As a quick recap on the past 5 seasons, we were noted for our entertaining attacking prowess which brought a FA Cup victory and a run to the Champions League semi-finals, but deficiencies at the back often cost us.

Last season however, two key signings, KIlana in goal and Freddie Kanoute up front delivered the Premier League and Uefa Cup glory. I also steered Nigeria to an unexpected World Cup triumph in Japan.

So, this season, Leeds are going for the big one, but first, a little transfer business.

Out go a few occasional sidemen

To be replaced with some new occasional sidemen.

Sidibe looks like a promising striker worth the 5 grand outlay. Abassa Ba is a right back to give me another option for Rigobert Song and Choongo will do the same at leftback.

This is the formation I switched to at the end of Season 4 and it’s been mightily effective so far.

We pick up our form more or less where we left things last season and defeat Rovers in the charity curtain raiser. Bakayoko is back from long term injury with no ill effects.

Not quite how I envisaged starting our league campaign. It’s rare for us to try so hard and get no reward

Sunderland punish us next and I quickly wonder if I’ve done a Brian Clough and stayed on too long? (That’s Clough for Forest, not Leeds!)

We get up and running against West Ham though and those lingering doubts recede

Only to jump back at me with defeat to Huddersfield. Sidibe not taking his chances on his debut

While we lick our wounds of 5 points from 12, we learn our group fate in the Champions League

On the face of it, an easy draw, but given Tallinn and Tirana won’t take points from Na Utd, it’ll come down to the head to head clashes I think

It’s a late late show against Coventry, with Victor Agali clinical from the bench late on

Another late showing against Sheffield Wednesday, this time my preferred front two seal the points from Wednesday on a Wednesday.

Trying to think of a funny pun for this, but nothing comes.

Please let this be us up and running properly otherwise my final season will be just like the first few….

Our first head-to-head in the Champions League leaves us deflated. We can’t afford any slip ups against the cannon fodder now

I forgot our champions league hangovers were a thing, Jesus Christie!

It’s much better against Man United in the league, with a win that leaves them reeling in 14th place, much like real life now! Abdelloui is out with injury for a while so The Quicker seizes the opportunity to impress

No slip ups when Tiran visit – the last 65 minutes is a bit dull though

Summer signing Abasse Ba at right back has been quietly effective

This away win leaves Chelsea at the end of their Teather

While Liverpool deserve an Oscar for their performance in this Desmond draw.

We take a while to get going against Tallinn, who also scare us with two late goals chalked off for offside, one by a pubic hair according to VAR.

The Hangover II.

Advancement in the League Cup. The Quicker is on fire at the moment.

Of course, who else could it have been?

Blackburn are flying high at the top of the table, so this is classed as a very good result in my eyes

With a third of the games done, that win over Blackburn lifts us into second and despite that dodgy start to the season, we’re only a point off the Blades.

Man United lingering in the bottom half still, who we face next in our Group Stage return

Which leaves us top, by virtue of one more goal scored. Decent wins against Tallinn and Tirana should see us through, but even 15 points in second should be enough, just no margin for error now.

Here’s how the lads have been performing. Our top scorer is Bakayoko while The Quicker is staking his claim to be Freddie’s partner in attack. Lovely stuff.

Join me next week, for the middle season part where everything starts to take shape!