Or not, as the case appears to varying degrees, at Molineux and Villa Park.
At a time of the year when the air should typically be full of optimism and excitement, the prevailing wind around both of the region’s Premier League clubs instead has a distinct flavour of frustration.
The ire of the respective fanbases, it must be noted, is aimed in very different directions.
While Villa supporters are directing their displeasure at the financial rules they fear risk restricting the club’s rise under Unai Emery, their Wolves counterparts have sights fixed firmly on the boardroom and ownership group Fosun. That makes theirs a far more serious problem.
Can you recall a time you were entering a season with such little optimism?
That was the question posed to one long-time Wolves supporter this week.
“To be honest, no,” came the reply.
It only takes a quick skim through social media, or even the more old-fashioned, traditional chat in the pub or shop, to realise they are far from alone. The near 30,000 making the first pilgrimage of the season to Molineux on Saturday evening, where Manchester City are the visitors, are doing so more in dread than hope.
Recent missives in this space have noted what a critical summer this has always felt in Fosun’s tenure, arguably the most important since 2017 when the arrival of Nuno, Neves, Jota and Boly set the club on a sharp upward trajectory after that rather awkward, often forgotten first 12 months of Zenga, Lambert and Gladon.