Neal Ardley and his AFC Wimbledon team continue their pre-season in Spain this week with countdown to kick-off gathering pace.
In just a matter of days the Dons will open their 2015-16 campaign with Plymouth Argyle's visit to the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
Ardley's men came close to reaching the 60-point barrier in League Two last term, something they would surely have achieved but for woeful away form in the latter half of the campaign which means they are still looking for a win on their travels in 2015.
The travel sickness conundrum is something he will hope to cure on the relatively short trip to Crawley on August 15.
However, as he soaks up some Spanish sun and perhaps indulges in the odd glass of Sangria, Ardley can reflect on a largely successful close season of negotiations and therefore reasons to be optimistic for that top half finish this time around.
Firepower to compliment 'The Beast'
Strikers are notoriously the hardest men to sign whatever level of football you are talking about because invariably they are the match winners and they drain the budget.
Yet Ardley made no secret of the fact he wanted two of his seven summer targets were strikers in the mould of Matt Tubbs who could compliment Adebayo Akinfenwa.
And when he scooped first Tom Elliott and then Lyle Taylor he was vocal about the two men being top of his wish list.
Elliott did not even cost anything in terms of fees having been released by Cambridge - an added bonus.
And Taylor made the first downpayment on whatever he cost from Scunthorpe courtesy of his rapid hat-trick at Basingstoke prior to the Spanish camp.
Whether either will turn out to be 20-goal a season men like Tubbs remains to be seen, but in terms of the wish list both are a big tick.
Keeping hold of prized assets
While those he has brought in should add value Ardley has done well to ward of would-be suitors for lynch pins such as James Shea and Akinfenwa.
Former Arsenal youngster Shea, who once trained with England back in 2010, was a revelation last season after signing from Non-League Harrow Borough, ousting Ross Worner to such effect the stalwart was released at the end of the campaign.
Injury did disrupt the progress of the 24-year-old, but he has returned fighing fit pre-season and though still some years short of what could be a spectacular peak, Shea should prove again one of the best last lines of defence in League Two.
Akinfenwa too toyed with leaving Dons in the close season, Ardley taking the gamble to let his target man cross the pond to look at MLS clubs courting his services.
He returned though to hopefully continue to be every defender's worst nightmare, so creating plenty of chances for the likes of Taylor, Elliott and co.
The expected windfall from Daniel Agyei.
The list of clubs courting the services of the teenage goalscoring starlet is growing by the day.
West Ham, Crystal Palace, Burnley and even Jose Mourinho's Chelsea are reputed to be on the trail of the young goal machine
Some will see the loss of such a bright young talent as a big negative, but there are some things you just can't hold back however much you might want to and the good news for Ardley and Wombles fans is because of his tender years Wimbledon are entitled to a fee.
A figure of £250, 000 is believed to be being muted around the would-be suitors, money Ardley can use as a war chest to direct elsewhere - perhaps to lure the so far elusive centre half needed to complete his summer additions ahead of Argyle's visit.
A touch of the La Manga sun
The trip out to Spain is a new innovation this year into a pre-season campaign Ardley did not want overloaded with fixtures for fear of the sort of injuries picked up in his playing days with the 'Crazy Gang.'
Team bonding and fitness appear to be the priorities on the week-long trip due to conclude with a game against Grenada CF.
If the team spirit generated on this road trip brings a cure to their away-day blues when they board the battle bus for places like Crawley and beyond it will have been money well spent.
A new penalty taker?
Penalties are the scourge of many clubs never mind the English national team - a task which leaves many a player looking to avoid eye contact with a boss pleading for 'any takers.'
Ardley though it seems won't be short of volunteers for what became a problem area last season after Akinfenwa missed a couple.
Both Callum Kennedy and George Francomb found the net from the dreaded 12 yards against Watford in the recent friendly at Kingsmeadow with the latter declaring afterwards he was 'well up for' taking the role on permanently. If new strikers Elliott and Taylor also throw their hats in the ring there should be no need for naval gazing cum spot-kick time this term.
In pictures: Football clubs heading around the globe ahead of the new season
