Why at Leeds there is certainly cause for optimism
New Football FanCast columnist Michael Pilcher believes with Grayson at helm, Leeds fans have every reason to feel confident about gaining promotion next year.
After watching the Leeds-Millwall Play-Off second leg with a Leeds-supporting mate, on the dejected walk from the pub I tried to pick him up with talk of going up automatically next year. He began shaking his head. "Beckford and Delph will be off now" he said. That was that then. No sooner had this season's hopes been dashed, the next season was already pretty much being written off.
Yet despite Jermaine Beckford's subsequent transfer request, and the reported Premier League interest in Fabian Delph from the likes of Everton and Fulham, both players are still at the club with around a month until the new season kicks off.
In fact there's been little transfer activity at Elland Road thus far: In has come Wolves reserve keeper Shane Higgs and Northampton right-back Jason Crowe, out go Jonathan Douglas and Peter Sweeney, the latter a not-unexpected move with the midfielder not having played for the club since 2007/08. It's almost certain that will not be the extent of it however, with manager Simon Grayson recently stating he expects several more to sign and one or two to leave.
Most bookies were quick to install Leeds as league favourites and, along with the expectation of fans and an impressive home record - last season they won 17 at home, more than any other club in the top four divisions - much will be expected from Grayson in his first full season at the helm.
Grayson has done a decent job since taking charge in late December - joining with the club in 9th, he won 16 of his 25 games in charge to finish fourth, and was mightily close to securing a Wembley play-off final place. Based on Grayson's points-per-game average since taking over, had he taken charge in August Leeds would have finished last season level on points with champions Leicester.
With Norwich, Southampton and Charlton coming down, last year's play-off rivals strengthening, not to mention some pretty useful sides coming up from League Two, League One looks arguably even more difficult to get out of then last season. Grayson's tough task of taking Leeds back up has become even tougher.
This will be Leeds' third season in the third tier, and many fans will be feeling increasingly restless. A lot rests on the quality of the new signings, particularly replacements for Beckford & Delph should they leave. But if Grayson can carry on where he left off, then there's a strong chance they can make up for the play-off disappointments of Millwall last year and Doncaster the year before. Thus meaning I won't have to make that post-play off pep talk...Again.