This was supposed to be a summer of excitement for Crystal Palace as they looked forward to their first season in Europe after winning the FA Cup last season.
With an ambitious manager in Oliver Glasner, they seemed determined to build on their first major trophy.
Instead, it has been spent nervously waiting for news about which European competition they will play in and whether rival clubs will come in for Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi.
Beating Liverpool to win the Community Shield on Sunday has lifted the mood going into Sunday’s first Premier League game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
But Glasner has been left frustrated by a failure to bring in new signings beyond left-back Borna Sosa and back-up goalkeeper Walter Benitez.
Tottenham are in talks to sign Eze, and Liverpool continue to be linked with Guehi, creating a difficult backdrop going into the new campaign.
Glasner, whose own future is under scrutiny with just a year remaining on his contract, says Palace need at least two more signings if they want to compete on four fronts next season.
His frustrations have mirrored those of the general mood around the club, where Conference League football is seen as a consequence rather than a reward for a historic season.
Glasner, though, understands that the longer disappointment is allowed to linger, the more costly its impact could be on Palace's prospects.
The fitness of Adam Wharton, the searing pace of Ismaila Sarr and the sheer presence of Jean-Philippe Mateta give Palace reasons for promise going into the new season.
It is hard to know whether a top-half finish should be achievable until the end of the transfer window, and when Palace know whether they still have Eze and Guehi.
But Palace were winless in their first eight games of last season, and they can ill afford such a slow start this time with the added complication of being in Europe this season.
