Manager: John Gregory.
With a habit of getting himself into sticky situations with both his chairman and players, Gregory's position looks far from secure this season, but having done well in the InterToto Cup and transfer market his standing has improved a little.
Gareth Southgate will be missed but, after making such a meal of leaving, not so much as he might have been by the fans while David James maintained his habit of floundering at key moments.
Peter Schmeichel, while not nearly the player he was when last he played in this league, should provide solidity while if Bosko Balaban takes to the English game, then there may be goals too.
If the other signings do well too, then next year the whole squad might actually get to have a holiday.
In: Hassan Kachloul (Southampton, £4million); Moustapha Hadji (Coventry City, £2m); Olof Mellberg (Racing Santander, £5m); Peter Schmeichel (Sporting Lisbon, free), Bosko Balaban (Dinamo Zagreb, £6m), Giovanni Sperenza (Eintracht Frankfurt, free). Total: £15m
Out: Gareth Southgate (Middlesbrough, £6.5m); David James (West Ham United, £3.5m); Julian Joachim (Coventry City, £2m); Neil Cutler (Stoke City, free), Neil Tarrant (Motherwell, loan). Total £12m. Net spend: £3m.
Rep of Ireland players: John McGrath and Steve Staunton.
Last year: Prem: 8th, FAC: 4th, Europe: Itt: SF.
This year: 7th.
Official website: www.acfc.co.uk Betting: 80-1.
