Hey y’all, just a quick note to say that I (Richard Whittall, not the somehow autonomously intelligent Footy Blog) will be avoiding the massive and ultra-important opening weekend Premier League kick off to spend some time on a lake. Footy Blog writer spectacular Devang Desai will be here beginning tomorrow. I’ll be back after next week, as cheery as ever!

In the meantime, check in daily for Morning Links, the Footy Show Vodcast, posts from our roster of stellar contributors, videos, analysis, and much, much more…