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Fixtures out on the 14th

seany

Parklane yid
Jun 8, 2003
14,173
228
Who do you want for the first game?

Bare in mind we played at home for the 1st game of the last season at a different ground so can't play at home for the 1st game this season, it's a stupid rule.
 

Grey Fox

Well-Known Member
Jul 10, 2008
5,126
31,089
Who do you want for the first game?

Bare in mind we played at home for the 1st game of the last season at a different ground so can't play at home for the 1st game this season, it's a stupid rule.

Tell that to Arsenal
 

Saoirse

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
6,143
15,550
Who do you want for the first game?

Bare in mind we played at home for the 1st game of the last season at a different ground so can't play at home for the 1st game this season, it's a stupid rule.
That rule doesn't exist. But we're likely to have requested at least three away games to start with, possibly four, to try and make sure our ground's ready. I expect we'll play the first four away and will have the first home match after the internationals, taking place between 14th and 17th of September.

Because of that, I want the first few games to be as easy as possible to give us a chance not to fall behind before we play any home matches. So opening day I want no other Top 6 sides, no West Ham, no newly promoted teams and no otherwise decent sides (e.g. Leicester/Everton). Stoke 0-4 would be ideal so shame they're gone, but if I was picking I'd take Huddersfield.
 

hellava_tough

Well-Known Member
Apr 21, 2005
9,429
12,382
There's always a bit of luck involved, as to when you play teams

Sometimes a team that is good on paper happens to be going through an injury crisis, or other club-related turmoil

It's actually one area of a stats-driven sport, which isn't widely reported on; namely, how lucky were teams because they consistently played opposing teams at the 'right' time of the season

Anyway...

That said, in a perfect world I'd take Huddersfield (A), Brighton (A), Watford (A) and Bournemouth (A)

But as I've said above, there's bound to be a team in 'crisis' by the 3rd or 4th game (hopefully Arsenal lol), so I'd throw that team in as a wildcard fixture, so to speak
 

Dougal

Staff
Jun 4, 2004
60,345
129,920
Who do you want for the first game?

Bare in mind we played at home for the 1st game of the last season at a different ground so can't play at home for the 1st game this season, it's a stupid rule.
We were away (as usual) to Newcastle last season on the opening day. No complaints for getting a few away games out of the way this time. Usually start slow and Kane might break his August duck if the conditions keep changing, will be a nice distraction from the obvious pressure of the duck and whatever reaction he has after the World Cup. Would like at least one big away trip in the opening four. 3 points against a top 6 side would make up for any other slowness.
 

whitesocks

The past means nothing. This is a message for life
Jan 16, 2014
4,652
5,738
I guess this means arsenal have a run of home games to start the season.
Even last season, their home form was very good, and with hardly any players going to the WC,
there is a high chance they'll start well.

The easiest fixture to switch without knock-ons is Tottenham Vs Arsenal, so I'm expecting an early away derby, and hopefully we can grab a point or 3 off em.
 

Saoirse

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
6,143
15,550
I guess this means arsenal have a run of home games to start the season.
Even last season, their home form was very good, and with hardly any players going to the WC,
there is a high chance they'll start well.

The easiest fixture to switch without knock-ons is Tottenham Vs Arsenal, so I'm expecting an early away derby, and hopefully we can grab a point or 3 off em.
Nope - normally they would be home when we're away but that doesn't happen when a team starts away for a period. It'll just mean we'll both be home on the same game round at some point, and they'll schedule it to ensure we don't play on the same day (e.g. if Arsenal's game that week was selected for TV at Saturday 5.15, we'd play on the Sunday even if there was no TV coverage).
 

SpunkyBackpack

Well-Known Member
Dec 8, 2005
7,831
9,372
I wouldn't mind a getting a really tricky away game out of the way at someone who needs to bed in, a Chelsea away with a new manager or Liverpool before they build up a bit of momentum.




Oh and happy birthday by the way.
 

SugarRay

Well-Known Member
Jul 6, 2011
7,984
11,110
Man City, followed by West Ham Chelsea all away obviously, please.
City will hopefully be full of players not fully recovered from the World Cup and the other two games should get us up and running, battle hardened and fired up for the season right away. West Ham is of course very winnable and Chelsea will still bedding in their new side/manager etc
 

Ledley's Right Foot

Well-Known Member
Jun 18, 2012
338
743
I’d want the trickiest games so as to ramp up the pressure on the players - increasing the chances of a flying start, whilst lowering supporter expectations, as we normally might only get a point or three From the big away games.

Utd, city, Chelsea and Liverpool away for the first four please. That would get us so focussed.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
I’d want the trickiest games so as to ramp up the pressure on the players - increasing the chances of a flying start, whilst lowering supporter expectations, as we normally might only get a point or three From the big away games.

Utd, city, Chelsea and Liverpool away for the first four please. That would get us so focussed.

I'd want the opposite to be honest. I know we aren't the only team which will have quite a few playing in the WC, but we did start looking tired towards the end of the season, and now most of our squad won't be having much of a break.

Also with the pressure of having the possibility that we will play 4 away games we don't need the possibility of being nearer the bottom than the top, because we might take a game or 2 to settle into the new stadium, as teams will play with that extra being their 1st visit, wanting to make our new home, not very lucky.
 

Ledley's Right Foot

Well-Known Member
Jun 18, 2012
338
743
I'd want the opposite to be honest. I know we aren't the only team which will have quite a few playing in the WC, but we did start looking tired towards the end of the season, and now most of our squad won't be having much of a break.

Also with the pressure of having the possibility that we will play 4 away games we don't need the possibility of being nearer the bottom than the top, because we might take a game or 2 to settle into the new stadium, as teams will play with that extra being their 1st visit, wanting to make our new home, not very lucky.

Be brave!

In all seriousness though, they are bonus games to get points from...my fear is, like West Ham last season, we start cold and lose or draw away games we would otherwise win. Why not do that against teams where a result will have a big effect on the final league table. One or two wins out of that lot would be immense. Whereas a slow start against lower teams could be fatal.
 

fieryjack

Well-Known Member
Jan 13, 2006
3,372
690
Bournemouth away first, please. Nice long weekend in Dorset in August.
Hangovers, sunburn, jumpers for goalposts. You get the idea.
 

neilp

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2007
3,350
14,710
Bournemouth don’t have a brilliant ground but I think they have proper goalposts
 

The_Viking

Member
Nov 12, 2004
295
5
Leaked...?
 

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Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
Be brave!

In all seriousness though, they are bonus games to get points from...my fear is, like West Ham last season, we start cold and lose or draw away games we would otherwise win. Why not do that against teams where a result will have a big effect on the final league table. One or two wins out of that lot would be immense. Whereas a slow start against lower teams could be fatal.

a slow start against any teams could be fatal, and playing the other top 5 in those away, most probably increases having a slow start. most teams that go onto win the title have an easy start, with the exception of City last year, but Everton at home 2nd game (didn't show Everton would end up being shit away) but with Walker getting sent off 1st half definitely helped Everton, and with Mane getting sent off definitely helped Man C.
 
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