"How do you think Town will get on this season?” I wish I had a fiver for every time I’ve been asked that question since we secured our place in the Premier League.
I‘ll be honest - I really have absolutely no idea. There are so many unknowns. How will our established players rise to the challenge? How good are the new signings? How will the blend work? What will our first starting line-up look like? And so many more...
Opinions among the fans vary from those who believe we’ll finish in the top half to others who fear we’ll struggle really badly.
I suppose the most commonly held view is that finishing 17th and avoiding relegation by the skin of our teeth will be a good outcome. Well, yes, but it’s not very exciting, is it?
Look at last season. Nottingham Forest finished in the prized 17th place - a distant six points ahead of relegated Luton - and they won a grand total of nine games out of 38.
It might be the same for us, which would be a huge contrast to the last two swashbuckling, goal-filled promotion campaigns. It could be a test of our patience!
But, as I said, I just don’t know, and none of us will until we’re, say, ten games into the new season. The table will start to be meaningful then.
Our start certainly looks tough, with Liverpool then perennial champions Man City as our first two games, but, then again, it might be a good time to play them, especially Liverpool, as they adjust to life post-Klopp.
One thing I do know is that everyone at Ipswich Town has been working their socks off throughout the summer to make sure that every single aspect of the club will be as ready as it possibly can be to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Most importantly, the club has spent big money - smashing our long-standing transfer record to pieces - in an effort to strengthen the playing squad.
Of course, each new addition represents a gamble. We’re not in the market for proven established Premier League players, aside from the very exciting loan addition of Kalvin Phillips. We have to take chances and work hard to develop players.
Take Omari Hutchinson, now our record signing at more than £18 million.. Don’t get me wrong - I’m as delighted as the next fan to see this exciting young talent coming back to Portman Road on a permanent basis.
But let’s not forget he is still young and this time last year was a promising but unproven teenager. It was only in the second half of last season that he really came to the fore. Let’s hope he can make the next step.
Off the pitch, the club has made dozens of improvements and changes at the stadium, many of them to meet Premier League requirements. There has been a bit of moaning as some people have had to move seats.
It seems a long time since that memorable day when we clinched promotion. Tomorrow, the wait will be over and we will be playing Premier League football once again.
I can’t wait. There have been many times over the last 22 seasons when I have really doubted if Ipswich would ever return to the top flight. It seemed so far away, especially during those desperate seasons when we even made League One look difficult.
It all changed with the American takeover and the appointment of Kieran McKenna. We have so much to thank them for. Everything about our club has been transformed.
So, here we go. Let’s enjoy it. It’s what we’ve been hoping for. Let’s keep the faith, even if the going gets tough. Come on, you Premier Blues!
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here