Is it just me or does it all of a sudden, since the players went back for pre-season training, feel like football is getting closer or more real again? I know it's getting closer as each day goes by, but it just feels like the business of football is getting closer and with that, everything else that comes with it.
And everything else at this time of the year means speculation, some great PR from the club, hope and optimism.
There is also, every now and then, some news and we have some to add, even though it isn't really new news. But it has happened and it deserves a mention.
The news
First up is that Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa have joined Paul Lambert from Norwich but what does this mean? It means he has people he can trust in at the club that he has worked with for a few years. It is natural for any manager to want to bring in his people and it happened.
Quite a few Norwich fans mentioned the need for Lambert to bring Culverhouse with him. I'm not entirely sure why, apart from the obvious, but I don't want to believe that. I think this is very much of a case of the manager making the transition as easy as possible for himself.
In other news Stiliyan Petrov made a fairly emotional return to Bodymoor yesterday for his birthday and the first day of pre-season training. There was a birthday cake and some tears. All very touching and you've probably seen the video, but here it is again.
Speculation time
So, with that out of the way, we turn to the rumours and I've got a feeling that these are going to start to get out of hand soon and I hope so too. You see, there is rarely smoke without fire, but I would like to see us go for someone that can change a game or add a dimension to our football that we might not have.
First up is Sheffield United's Matthew Lowton. He is 23 years old and a defender. I like defenders, especially those that can play football. I'm honestly not so sure this one can, but that doesn't mean he wont be able to and it would be nice to strengthen in that department, but hopefully not at the expense of, for example, Eric Lichaj, especially as the manager hasn't had enough time to assess players like Eric Lichaj.
Then we have the Yacine Brahimi rumour which was mentioned on the previous post. Again, this is just a rumour but maybe he is the type of player that can add that dimension to the game I wrote about earlier. But I'm not sure as he is still young, but again, maybe he can in time.
And lastly, is this confirmed yet, I'm not sure, but Brad Guzan looks set for a return after leaving at the end of the season. If he does come back, do I remove him from the out list and not add him to the in list or does he go in both?