New Season Starts Tomorrow!

Ladies and gents, football is very nearly back.

The new season kicks off in style tomorrow as the Premier League and Football League returns for another year of excitement and drama that will keep us all gripped. It's not just the return of Rovers to playing action against Oxford United at the Mem tomorrow afternoon that's got me rather child-like this evening, it's the whole football package that occupies a weekend from August through to May. As well as all the live TV football that Sky Sports show, there's also Soccer AM, Match of the Day and the Football League Show to enjoy on a Saturday. What could be better? We finally get our weekends back and I for one can't wait!

Above all else though is the Rovers game and it's rather fitting that after a summer of speculation involving Oxford that we should face them in our curtain raiser. 'Talismanic' striker James Constable has been the subject of a 12 week pursuit by Mark McGhee and there is currently a third bid on the table to bring the forward to Rovers this month. There were hopes that we'd be given permission to talk to him before our game tomorrow but the U's have refrained from responding to our offer deliberately so that he wouldn't be able to play against them tomorrow. Clever but it surely shows that they're worried he'd accept a move to us? Both McGhee and Oxford boss Chris Wilder have said they are certain JC will line-up for the yellows and not Rovers but there has been no statement on his future beyond this weekend which adds to the mystery surrounding where he will end up. McGhee has spoken this week to explain that he is 'close' to signing 2 of his top summer targets and hoped to have them signed by early next week - it all adds up. It'll be interesting to see what sort of reaction Constable will receive from both Rovers and Oxford fans tomorrow afternoon.

Aside from that and any meeting between Rovers and Oxford is likely to attract attention as both clubs are among the group of sides in this division who think they can get promoted this season. There's evidence to suggest that we both have a decent chance of making that a reality come the end of April and it's hoped a decent crowd will fill the Memorial stadium in light of this. Our visitors have sold out their allocation in the South Stand but still had tickets available for the terrace this afternoon. Either way it should make for a decent atmosphere and ensure Gasheads are at full voice to out-sing our visitors.

Eliot Richards returns to the squad

The game itself should live up to the hype and be an entertaining affair. The pitch will be immaculate and slick following the recent rainfall we've experienced and so it should be conducive to passing football. Despite the fact Rovers are without a few players due to injury (most notably Danny Woodards and Garry Kenneth) and have yet to make all their summer signings, we still have a stronger squad than Tuesday night against Ipswich Town. Welsh U21 Eliot Richards returns from international duty whilst international clearance has been received for Fabian Broghammer to play tomorrow should he be selected by McGhee. Both are much needed attacking options that we desperately lacked at Portman Road so it'll be hoped they can be used to good effect tomorrow. Sam Walker, Oliver Norburn and David Clarkson are certain to start and make their league debuts for the club, whilst Seanan Clucas could also play from the substitutes bench for the first time. In terms of Oxford, supporter Rosie Dodds, who previews the game in the 'In Focus' article below this, explains that key players like Harry Worley and Peter Leven will be missing from their starting eleven due to injury. Former Gas youth product Sean Rigg is likely to play some part after switching to Wilder's men from troubled Port Vale over the summer and he will be joined by fellow ex-Rover Ryan Clarke who will feature in goal. It'll be two strong teams that currently look evenly matched - it's hard to call it either way.

Sean Rigg likely to feature against Rovers

The last time the two sides met was at the Mem in the second half of last season when a 0-0 draw was played out. The pitch had deteriorated badly by this point due to the rugby that was played in monsoon conditions in December so football was kept to a minimum but there was plenty of endeavour from both sides to win the game. It was one of many decent results on home soil under Mark McGhee following his appointment in January and our unbeaten home record under his stewardship is one that the team will do all they can to maintain.

I genuinely don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. I'm buoyed by what I saw on Tuesday evening and think that should we reach similar performance levels we'll have no problem in dispatching most teams in League Two. However, we aren't anywhere near as strong as we will be by the end of this month and it's almost inevitable that Constable will score against us so you can't ignore Oxford's ability to win the game too. Having said that it's the opening day of the season and you would NOT be a football fan if you didn't predict your team to win their first game...

2-1 Rovers. Clarkson and Harrold to score.

It'll be a year of high, lows and massive challenges but we are a club (seemingly) on the up and this could be the first of many very decent years for Gasheads. Let's kick it all off with a bang - 3 points please.

Oh and my first article for the Rovers official programme will be available tomorrow and will carry the title 'Life's a Gas' in line with the blog. Please take a read and let me know what you think.

Up the Gas!