Leeds United's last four finishes in the Championship are 14th, 13th, 15th and 15th, but optimism around the club is a little better going into the new campaign following a positive summer.
Neil Redfearn steered the club away from danger last season and although his association with the club has ended on a sour note due to his relationship with owner Massimo Cellino, Uwe Rosler is in charge and keen to show he can manage at second-tier level after failing with Wigan Athletic.
The Whites have been able, so far, to keep their bright youngsters Charlie Taylor, Sam Byram, Alex Mowatt and Lewis Cook and also cleared some of the highest earners at the club.
With their transfer embargo also lifted, there is a possibility of further arrivals as one of the biggest clubs below the Premier League looks to get back to the big time after 11 years away.
In
Charlie Horton (Cardiff City), Lee Erwin (Motherwell), Sol Bamba (Palermo), Chris Wood (Leicester City), Ross Turnbull (Barnsley), Stuart Dallas (Brentford), Tom Adeyemi (Cardiff City, season-long loan)
Out
Daniel Atkinson, Isaac Asenso (Scunthorpe United), Rodolph Austin, Luke Booker, Afolabi Coker, Alex Cairns (Chesterfield), Stuart Taylor, Zac Thompson, Michael Tonge, Aidy White (Rotherham United), Billy Sharp (Sheffield United), Steve Morison (Millwall)
Last season - 15th
Manager - Uwe Rosler
© Getty Images
The former Manchester City striker is back in management with Leeds after a disastrous campaign at Wigan. His first half-season with the Latics was impressive as he led them to the playoffs and the semi-finals of the FA Cup, but it all went pear-shaped in 2014-15 as Rosler lasted three months before being sacked.
Wigan went on to be relegated and Leeds fans will be hoping that what happened last season was just a blip in what is a pretty impressive managerial CV. Discipline is one thing that Rosler must put right - Leeds conceded a league-high 13 penalties last season.
Key Player - Sol Bamba
What Leeds really need is leadership and the appointment of dominant defender Bamba as captain shows that Rosler realises this after several players had the armband last term.
Bamba impressed on loan at Elland Road last season, scoring once in 19 appearances, and the 30-year-old has been bullish in pre-season as well.
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Possible starting lineup
Silvestri; Berardi, Bellusci, Bamba, Taylor; Cook, Adeyemi, Mowatt; Byram, Wood, Dallas
First game: Burnley (H), Full fixture list
Sports Mole says
The Whites are still some way off being considered one of the top promotion contenders, but with several promising youngsters and some solid signings like Wood, Dallas and Adeyemi, there is a chance that they might be able to get out of their mid-table rut.
Cellino has surely told Rosler that at least a top-half finish is expected when you see what the likes of Birmingham City achieved last term.
Leeds scored a whopping 26% of their goals from outside the box last season, so will need Wood to rediscover his best form and become the 20-goal striker that he has threatened to be in the past.
If he can fire, Bamba can marshal the defence and Cook and Mowatt can drive the midfield, good things could be on the cards.
Prediction - 13th
Pascal Lemesre
