By Kooga
August 16 2005

As Sarries supporters, fans, fezboys call us what you like, we are probably looking forward to the new season with more optimism and hope than for many a past season. Unlike the false dawns of recent seasons past, season 2005/2006 is eagerly awaited. Looking round the various other club sites and their predictions even their supporters believe this is dawning of ‘the age of the Saracen’. Some even predicting us to win the Guinness Premiership and not a word of salary caps being broken any where.

Why have we and so many other supporters and pundits have such faith in the Men in Black?

We have had the lowest turnover of playing staff in years in the close season ensuring the squad can build on a tremendous second half of last season. We have added to the squad wisely – though the signing of Faz was initially greeted with some scepticism, it would now appear to be one of the signings of the summer.

We have a stable coaching staff, led by Dimes and his trusty lieutenant Mike Ford. Again making only subtle changes where necessary and for the benefit of the squad.

Me, I’ve renewed my season tickets for the upper rous and I’m filled with expectation of the coming season. Each new season my son and I have discussed how this is going to be the one! Walking from the car park to the ground dodging the dog ‘do’ on the pavement [why do people let their dogs go there?]. We turn the corner into Vicarage Road and join the throng heading for the ground.

Sarries as always get off to a winning start – yes, this is the season! Only for it all to fall down round our ears a few weeks later.

So why am I so more optimistic this season?

Because [my English teacher told me never to start a sentence with that word, so sorry to him] we have already witnessed the dawn of ‘the age of the Saracen’ in the second half of last season. Grinding out hard fought results where before we would capitulate. What we will be witnessing this season is not the beginning, but the continuation, of everything we want Saracens to be – a tough, uncompromising, winning team challenging for honours!