Wycombe Wanderers boss Matt Bloomfield believes this weekend’s season opener against Exeter City ‘will be tough’ but he is ‘eager’ to see what his side can do.

There has been a sense of optimism surrounding Adams Park this summer following the club’s rambunctious transfer activity which has seen nine new faces sign for the Chairboys.

And with this number potentially increasing before the transfer window shuts in September, along with plans to improve the stadium’s atmosphere by the introduction of a signing section and the reinstatement of the drum, many Chairboys fans are excited for the season ahead.

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But the 39-year-old, who coincidentally took charge of his first Wanderers match against the Grecians back in March, wants to ‘manage the optimism’ as ‘plenty of learning will happen along the way.’

He said: “We’ve both had so many changes to our teams since we last played in March.

“Exeter have lost some big players like Archie Collins, Josh Kee, Jay Stansfield and Kevin McDonald, but they have replaced them with good players like Ryan Trevitt from Brentford and Tom Carroll, and we all know how good he is.

“And they were very good when we played them last season.

“They moved the ball well and had a lot of energy, especially with the way that they pressed and passed through the lines.

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“So, we know it’ll be a tough game to start the season.

“I watched their game against Coventry last week and I know what they can bring.

“But one thing I want to work on this season is to be the best version of ourselves and if we can do that, then we’ll certainly bring in the points.

“We’re eager to see what we can do.”

On the fans’ excitement, he added: “We have to manage the optimism because I’ve got to manage this football club the best I possibly can.

“We have a new group and plenty of learning will happen along the way.

“We want to get off to a fast start and get points on the board and I believe we can.

“But if that doesn't happen, we will still believe in the process that we have.”

Finally, on what he expects from his players this Saturday, he concluded: “Hard work, determination, resilience, togetherness, to run for the badge and being there for each other.

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“Those are the basics for any football team as this is what I want to see from my boys.

“Whilst there is technical and tactical stuff we will be working on and want to execute, in terms of what I want and need to see, it’s all about hard work and togetherness.

“Everything else comes off the back of it.”

Bloomfield’s final competitive game for Wycombe was against Exeter in August 2021, with his first home match in charge of the club also being against the Grecians.