What do you think of the fixtures list?
Within 10 minutes of arriving at work this morning I heard three conversations about the fixtures list.
Firstly, a Sheffield United supporter who is presumably expecting some kind of promotion campaign bemoaned the fact that his team start their season against Middlesbrough, end against Roy Keane's Ipswich and face both Newcastle and local rivals Wednesday during the crucial month of April.
Secondly, a Tottenham fan was all raised eyebrows when noting that his team opened with a home game against Liverpool. Not the easiest to start the campaign, he seemed to suggest, but he was at least grateful there would be no repeat of recent opening-day trips to Middlesbrough, Bolton and Sunderland.
Then I heard the booming voice of our resident Bournemouth fan bemoaning the fact that the Cherries' season both starts and ends with lengthy away fixtures, while Boxing Day comprises a visit to Cheltenham. The three dates his extraordinary mind immediately searched out - and all away from home.
It made me think of a quote from Glenn Thompson, the man who owns the actual fixtures computer and does most of the work in terms of putting the list together.
"The problem with this job is that you are never going to satisfy everyone," he ruefully told me when I spoke to him last week.
As I write this a QPR fan has just walked into the office. He is delighted that his team open their season with a home fixture against Blackpool - bringing former boss Ian Holloway back to Loftus Road for his first game in charge of the Seasiders.
His joy was short-lived, tempered by the news that his team's trip to Newcastle takes place on a Wednesday night in late September. A weekend away killed by the fixtures computer. I imagine that every Championship supporter spent this morning checking out when they play Newcastle - particularly at St James' Park. However, with 10 rounds of midweek fixtures in the Championship some supporters are set for disappointment.
QPR finish their season with a home fixture against the Magpies. Chris, the Rangers supporter, has concluded, perhaps slightly tongue in cheek, that it is entirely appropriate as it will determine who finishes first and second in the Championship.
Newcastle, by the way, start with an away trip to West Brom. That strikes me as being a touch cruel. It was a Premier League fixture last season and I'm sure both sets of fans wish it still was. There is plenty to occupy their minds at the moment as neither set of fans knows who will be in charge of their club come August.
In the main, though, I like to think the day the fixtures are released is the point when the mind finally leaves behind the previous season and becomes infused with a sense of summer optimism for the forthcoming campaign. That most of the general sense of well-being about your team has been extinguished by the end of September (or perhaps even within minutes of the new season starting) is not something to give much thought to right now.
The blog that I wrote earlier in the week about the fixtures computer provoked plenty of feedback from supporters unhappy with long trips in midweek. I'd love to hear what cards you have been dealt by the fixtures computer this season - any particularly nasty ones for your team?
I have been told that Ian Todd, president of the Football Supporters' Federation and a member of the fixtures working party, thought this year's set of fixtures was perhaps the best yet in regard to minimising travel on inconvenient dates.
And in the light of the responses to the blog the other day, Glenn e-mailed with a few responses to various queries.
While acknowledging that the issue of distance could be built into the fixtures programme, he wrote: "This has to be considered along with all other constraints and parameters that make up the compilation process."
But he added: "This year in the Football League we have considered travel distances for the majority of midweek fixtures. Feedback from this season's fixtures will tell if we have made the correct decision to prioritise travel."
A lot of the comments also focused, almost inevitably, on Manchester United. One supporter suggested United had been harshly treated last season, with away trips to Portsmouth, Liverpool and Chelsea by the end of September. Needless to say, he was part of a miniscule minority.
There was plenty of speculation suggesting that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has some kind of magical say over the compilation of the fixture list. I imagine the same people will have looked at the Premier League champions starting with a home game against newly-promoted Birmingham and slowly nodded their heads, as though this confirms their belief in some kind of conspiracy.
It is complete rubbish. The fixtures computer does not favour any club. It does not understand the concept of big or small clubs. Just stop for a second - does anyone really believe Ferguson has some kind of sway over the fixture calendar (Rafa Benitez aside perhaps)?
And anyone who thinks that United have some kind of advantage might care to consider the introduction to English football that new Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti will have - Hull (H), Sunderland (A), Fulham (A), Burnley (H) and Stoke (A). I wonder what he will make of the Premier League after that introduction.
Thompson also does the fixtures for the Scottish first, second and third divisions but not the SPL, who do their own fixtures. That Rangers begin the defence of their title against Falkirk has nothing at all to do with Thompson and his fixtures computer. Montrose against Elgin on Scottish Division Three, however, is a product of the work he has done.
Thompson reckons all the constraints as a consequence of European and international match dates made the compilation of next season's fixtures harder than usual.
He also reckons that the list came out better than he at one point expected. But the big question is - do you agree?
Hello, I'm Paul Fletcher and I mainly write about life in the Football League. I have a great enthusiasm for a whole range of sports and love to spread the word about the great game of rugby league. You can also follow me on 
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Burnley really do have a baptism of fire with Man Utd, Everton, Chelsea and Liverpool all in the first 5 games. I suppose we have to play them sometime and it might be better at the beginning when there not firing on all cylinders :)
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As a Blade, I cannot believe the start we have been give. One of the favourites to go up, a team under new management, a promoted team and another relegated team. UNBELIEVEAVLE. But, you have to play them sometime so cannot complain. COME ON BLADES!
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The fact that Arsenal face Man Utd, Chelsea and then Liverpool in the space of a week and a half during Jan/Feb is a joke. That sort of intense game is hard to play twice in a row, never mind 3 times. I already think that those three games will probably be the defining moments of our season
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'Are you happy with your team's fixtures?'
As far as i'm aware, my team will be playing every other team twice - once at home and once away. Unless the fixture computer throws up something different, what is there to be happy or unhappy about.
It would be nice to have 38 home games against Hull but i'm not expecting that to happen.
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I suppose that West Brom away is probably the worst fixture we could have had - they are far better equipped to bounce straight back than we are, but have to play them sometime I guess.
As poster 1 has identified, Burnley have a nasty start to the season but they should be concentrating on games such as the opener against Stoke and the games later in the season which will decide whether they stay up or not.
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All I want to know is
WHEN DO THE CONFERENCE FIXTURES COME OUT??
Can't wait. :)
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I'm an Arsenal fan. First game away at Everton and we finish at home to Fulham which isn't bad. Did notice a bad run of games though: 30th January: Man Utd, 6th February: Chelsea, 9th February: Liverpool. Rest of the 'Big 4' in 10 days
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Arsenal have the run from hell in January/February - Villa (A), United (H), Chelsea (A) and Liverpool (H). At least after that, Arsenal have an amazing run-in, and if we're still in the title race by then, we'd have a great shot of winning it with the games we have. Only Spurs away on April 10th concerns me after those four games I previously mentioned.
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As a Barnsley fan I am amused and bemused by the fixture list...
This will be the second season in a row that we start with an away fixture, finish with an away fixture and are away on boxing day. Like your resident Bournemouth fan, those are the three dates I look out for and just like season I see three away ties.
Also, this will be the third consecutive season that our first home game of the season is against coventry who just so happen to be one of our bogey teams! Are there any other similar patterns in recent years? Coventry fans must be delighted at their first away game being at oakwell again!
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It's a pity to see there will be no 'Grand Slam' sunday this time out, where the Big Four all play one of the other Big Four teams on the same day. That was a great spectacle a couple of seasons ago.
That said, the weekends that feature both the Merseyside derby and Arsenal v Chelsea should be good.
Exeter City (my team) open with a trip to Leeds, followed by a home fixture against Norwich, which is a nice welcome to League One following our promotion. Odd to think that this time just two years ago we were scouring our conference fixtures containing the likes of Farsley Celtic and Tamworth (no dis-resepect meant to those teams, just revelling in how far we have come).
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Is it just me or do Liverpool seem to always start the campaign or finish the campaign against spurs. This must be 4 years in a row now where we have played spurs on the opening or closing day. Not that i mind, they are a good team and its always good to play them when they are not firing on all cylinders or when they no longer have anything to play for. But seriously, Man U and Chelsea's opening fixtures are a touch easier than everybody elses......again.
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Well there goes my already planned weekend trip to blackpool out the window! We geordies would have loved blackpool away on a saturday day time! At work 5 times on a wednesday... cruel cruel!
Cant help but laugh at Chelsea's opening fixtures though.
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ye i do agree we have a shocking jan/feb run but if we are still in it after that...
we need to play it like united last season who despite a hard first few months came back after the world champions cup still in the hunt and then took over. come on arsenal!!!
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As a punter would it be worth backing Chelsea and watching the odds contract after 5 games have been played and they have 15 points? Possibly. Man United certainly appear to have the hardest end to the season, but we'll have it all wrapped up with 10 games left in any case so that's not a problem... http://www.loserscomesecond.com/
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i would love to know the criteria used to determine fixtures - everyone in Middlesbrough knew Blackpool away would be a midweek game in mid-winter and guess what! I get the impression some games have some interesting limitations on them - what about some transparency in the criteria?
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If the gooners can get past feb within 6 points of top spot I reckon we'll scrape it...the fixture list suits Wenger style...
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QPR's owners must be delighted with the fixture list. We're at home for the three traditionally big dates - first game of the season, Boxing Day and the last game of the season (against Newcastle no less). Should see full houses for all three - and a bit more cash in the coffers for our billionaire bosses.
Let's hope they spend some of it on new talent before the season starts.
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I'm not happy.
I'm an Arsenal fan getting married on Saturday 29th August 2009.
I was hoping for a nice mundane fixture that wouldn't be of any great importance....
We're away to Man U. :-(
Is it untraditional to have a big-screen TV in the church???
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Liverpool will have played away from home on the first day for the 6 years in a row after next season, while Manchester United and Chelsea get a home game for the umpteenth season in a row. Suspicious? You bet.
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After last season I find it amazing that anyone would still believe that somehow the fixture compilers conspire with SAF and manU to provide them with an easy schedule! As others have said everyone plays everyone else home and away - what's the problem? I would be more concerned about the newly promoted clubs like Burnley who find themselves with games against the Big 4 very early in the season - they could find themselves with the "relegation battle" tag in September just because they have had a difficult start
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I'm very pleased with Man United's start against Birmingham, I just hope we can get a win instead of us always playing catch-up. And hopefully they can beat Burnley after and start with 6 points from 2 games!
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i'm loving the fact that newcastle are away again on boxing day! means i get to spend another boxing day getting plastered in fancy dress while watching me team get whopped! Get in there!!!!
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As a Barnsley fan I would like to echo the comments made by Gav Mitchell (No 9).
I dont have a problem with how the computer spits out the fixtures,thats just the luck of the draw.
I am more interested in this "pairing" that is put in before asking the computer to do it's stuff,as explained in a previous blog,Secrets of the fixture computer.
Can you or anyone enlighten me further?
UTR
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17. At 1:47pm on 17 Jun 2009, ViewFromThePaddock wrote:
QPR's owners must be delighted with the fixture list. We're at home for the three traditionally big dates - first game of the season, Boxing Day and the last game of the season (against Newcastle no less). Should see full houses for all three - and a bit more cash in the coffers for our billionaire bosses.
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This is spot on, and one reason why many fans look for these three fixtures first. As a Newcastle fan, I always check out the Sunderland games before any others (not an issue this time!) and then look for 1st, last & Boxing Day.
Obviously there isn't any conspiracy going on, but it's very frustrating that we're away on Boxing Day yet again - 8 years in a row now!!
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Chelsea have got a very mixed bag, but I'm sure it is the same for everyone. The fixture computer has been kind for the beginning games of the season, but somehow we play Tottenham, Liverpool, Man United, Arsenal and Everton after Champions League Group games and the potential to do so if Chelsea are in the later stages of the tournament. That somewhat kills the League and Europe double. Still playing United, Spurs and Liverpool later in the season at least gives us the opportunity to win the title at Anfield or WHL ;)
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As a Stockport County Fan I am just glad we have any fixtures at all.
In reply to Question 6 I believe the fixtures are out on Fri 3 Jul
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I am gutted that the Owls are away to Newcastle on a Wednesday night (19/8/09). I was looking forward to spending the weekend up there football match and a night out in Newcastle. Not exactly around the corner for mid week match either, stupid computer.
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As an Ipswich fan living in the Midlands, Coventry away on the first day could not have been any more perfect! Roll on, 8th August!
What I also found interesting at the bottom of the feature article on the 2009/10 fixtures was the brief mention of how the BBC plans to implement its rights for Football League Highlights. Seeing as ITV did a very good job with 'The Championship' for the past few years, I'm keen to see what the BBC has to offer for us Football League fans, especially in the hope that we are not given a far inferior service to what we have become used to in recent seasons. Certainly the Saturday 1110 BBC One slot mentioned for 8th August sounds very much like a first-week-only thing given the usual time for Match of the Day...
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As a leicester fan we cannot complain one bit, we open up at home, boxing day at home, 'derby' fixtures at the weekends and finish up at home to 'boro. Cannot complain one bit. It might be worth noting that for the past 13 years (i think) we have started the season at home, and Boxing day matches also have been at home. Im sure someone will prove me wrong though.
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18. MenaceF1 - You can have no complaints mate, no real man would get married during the football season. Grow a pair and put the wedding off until next June or July
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I'm confused! If someone called Glenn Thompson owns a fixtures computer, why should Alex Ferguson be the one to arrange the fixture list.... or have I got my "facts" mixed up???
:-)
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Like my fellow Gooners above, my gaze was instantly drawn to the run of 4 games in Jan/Feb against Villa, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool. Daunting to say the least but I'm actually happy about this. It shouldn't collide greatly with any Champions League games, and the only possible collision would be the FA Cup, which I'm happy to give the youngsters a run out if we can come through this perios with 7-9 points, particulaly given our run-in which is as close to a gimmie as we'll get!
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As an Aberdeen fan Im not chuffed that we have to go to Hearts, Hibs and Rangers midweek as the trains are bad enough to get back up. Plus if its another fiesty Rangers Aberdeen game going through Govan at night wont be fun. Also we have to go to Paisley on Boxing day - I thought that all the teams were thought for not having big commutes around the festive period!!
Celtic on the first day as well, seen that happening with the whole Mark McGhee thing
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Newcastle fan - Just once i'd like to not have to travel on Boxing day with a full stomach and bad head! 8 years in a row for an away match on boxing day is a touch too much, not to mention the opening and closing fixtures as well. Plus, perhaps it is intentional to stop a lot of geordies decending on their resorts but there are no weekend trips to any seaside places, all midweek games. Clearly they don't want Blackppool to get a bad reputation for a drunken city...oh wait a minute ;)
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How come Arsenal again have to play the other Big 3 teams on consecutive weekends!!! Last season it was the Big 3 within a month. It all seems a bit strange to me.
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Like my fellow Gooners above, my gaze was instantly drawn to the run of 4 games in Jan/Feb against Villa, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool. Daunting to say the least but I'm actually happy about this. It shouldn't collide greatly with any Champions League games, and the only possible collision would be the FA Cup, which I'm happy to give the youngsters a run out in if we can come through this period with 7-9 points, particularly given our run-in which is as close to a gimmie as we'll ever get!
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also, MenaceF1 dont get married during the football season or during international competitions. Im getting done on the 1st August, one week before the big match v swansea. no time for a honeymoon love.
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As an Aberdeen fan Im not chuffed that we have to go to Hearts, Hibs and Rangers midweek as the train are bad enough to get back up. Also we have to go to Paisley on Boxing day - I thought that all the teams were thought for not having big commutes around the festive period!!
Celtic on the first day as well, seen that happening with the whole Mark McGhee thing
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I'm very upset with the fixtures list this season! I don't like that we have to play 19 teams both home and away!
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The fixtures for west ham have actually worked out quite well, although from a selfish point of view i wish we didnt have such a big game on the 22 aug as im going to v that weekend.
Xmas and new year fixtures have worked out great and are all local games, which is great. and the last couple of the season are also local games.
Cant wait for the season now, really buzzing.
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as a lfc fan i'm quitely happy with the fixtures
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As a Villa fan I'm fairly happy with our fixtures. Obviously our West Ham game will get rearranged because of our Europa League commitments but since this is the first time I'm going home and away, I'm more than happy that my first away travel will be to Anfield. What I am disappointed about is the fact we have to play both our local derby games (Blues & Wolves) away from home first. We had it last season with the Baggies and the season before that with the Blues. It would be nice to have a local derby at Villa Park first time around. Still can't complain, I'll be there for 38 games this season whatever the weather. I'm delighted to be going to the Emirates on Boxing Day! Roll on the new season now!
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As a Southampton fan now living in Manchester I'm ultra disappointed to be in League One where there are only 6 teams from the north! Good to see Huddersfield away second game in and away to Stockport on 29th August, that's approx 3 miles from my house!
On the plus side there'll be lots of new grounds to visit :)
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Birmingham have been given a great fixture! A surprise away win at ManU after the hard pre-season to start the season + a not-too-daunting run-in at the end. I look at the fixtures and see all of them games as winnable... that's me heart not mind thinking = fan.
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How could I possibly complain... Newcastle at home on Boxing Day...
And how could they possibly complain - Wednesday away on Boxing Day!
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So ManU play two newly promoted teams in their first two games of the new season. Call me old fashioned, but something smells rotten.
Bit of a banana skin for my team, at White Hart Lane first game, not really the best hunting ground for LFC in recent seasons, but start as we mean to go on, hopefully. YNWA.
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As a Coventry City Fan i am very annoyed with the mid week fixtures especially the Newcastle away game being on a wednesday. I no that there will be alot of Sky Blue fans unable to travel on a wednesday night to Newcastle, most of the fans were waiting for this fixture to come out of the hat so a weekend could be arranged in newcastle, also most fans have never been to St James park and because of the mid week fixture most will never get there. Very poor!
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I've always believed that players should think that they deserved to be in the league in which they play and if not then why are they professionals in a competitive sport? I say this because if you do believe you deserve your place then it shouldn't matter when you play anyone. To be the best you have to meet and beat the best. It follows then that to be 5 the from bottom you have to meet so many teams of all abilities and do your best against them. You may get points off a better team you may not. The point being there should never be any belief of 'well we can't beat them or them, but we will beat that lot and those and it's a draw against the others'. That way disaster lies.
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Gornaldo
Here Here !
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or even hear hear !
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I can't help noticing a lot of Scouse paranoia permeating through this thread. You've been listening to Rafa too much!
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i am a Swindon town season ticket holder and frankly cannot understand how we are away on the first game, last game and boxing day!!! i have never seen this before with any other team. The first game away and the last at home fair enough or the first at home and the last away but you can't have all three away!!!!!!!!!!!
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100% sure Liverpool will not get as many points as they did last year! Overall a good interesting set of Fixtures!
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Great the fixtures are out looks good start for us but still can't plan anything until sky and a.n. other broadcaster mess it all around.
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Now that Fergie has sorted the fixtures, has he also arranged for his favourite ref to be in charge of each game !!!??????
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18. At 1:48pm on 17 Jun 2009, MenaceF1 wrote:
I'm an Arsenal fan getting married on Saturday 29th August 2009.
I was hoping for a nice mundane fixture that wouldn't be of any great importance....
We're away to Man U. :-(
Well that's your own silly fault for not insisting you get married between the end of May and early August. Bad planning on your part rather than the fixture computer!!
For me as a Bristol City fan reasonably pleased, although we're away on first day, last day & Boxing Day.
We've got Newcastle away on a weekend, avoided our usaul trip to Barnsley or Doncaster on a Tuesday night in January, and we're away to Holloway's Blackpool on the final day - May Bank Holiday weekend - DRINK UP YE CIDER!!!!
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clacko21
Check Newcastles fixtures we are exactly the same.
We were last season as well
no too unusual mate!
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i would like to knwo who Swindon were paired with, that would be interesting.
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Argh, everyone is away at Blackpool midweek and away Newcastle on a day that's inconvenient, everyone is away on the opening day, away on Boxing day and away on the last day and Manchester United have got 38 games against Hull City next season!
Oh no, hold on, that's not quite right is it. In fact most teams fixtures are a bit of a mixed bag with some harder games and some easier, a similar number at home and a similar number away and a few midweek. In fact, looking at it, anyone would think there was some sort of random process at work here!
As a County Boy I would echo the sentiment of the Stockport fan (No.26) in saying that we're just glad to have a fixture list. Now we just need to hope we have a ground and a team to fulfil them. Going bust is much worse than going to Colchester, Blackpool or Torquay on a Tuesday night in winter. Come on County!
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As a Exeter City supporter, we have got to be please with Leeds 1st game of the season, just a shame it isn't at home. We will see how far the "mighty leeds (????)" have fallen, when they get turnover by the Westcountry's finest !!!
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52 - Clacko 21
This has happened to NUFC for the last 2 seasons - all 3 being away and the last 8 years boxing days away
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CONSPIRACY!!!
See how Man Utd get the easy start, middle and finish again?... plus anyone notice that Glenn Thompson is an anagram of Sir Alex Ferguson??? Also if you have a real close look at the fixtures you will notice that Man Utd have 32 home fixtures (Rafa has 28 away games?) Plus Arsenal have to play, Chelsea, Man U, liverpool, Villa, Real Madrid and the 1970 Brazil world cup squad all in the same week?!
...Just how deep does this thing go!?
On a non "how stupid do some people sound" note: A nice home start followed by a trip up north, but home for boxing day and another adventure in the north to end it all (well before the play offs any how)...even stevens in my eyes.
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I'm a Norwich fan..and for once I'm absolutely delighted with the fixtures!
* Home close opener vs. Colchester
* Home final match vs. Carlisle
* Home on Boxing day vs. Millwall
And to top it all off weve got all 3 of the newly promoted sides (exeter, wycombe and brentford) in the first 4 games and with all due respect to the mentioned teams we could potentially get off to a real flyer which is exactly what we need...contrast this to the past 11 years where 8 out of the 11 have all lead to having the opening and closing game away
On a side note, it's funny how the season Norwich and Ipswich are in different leagues it's the first season that Norwich get favourable matches (i.e at home) on the crucial days and Ipswich play away ;)
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Plus Arsenal have to play, Chelsea, Man U, liverpool, Villa, Real Madrid and the 1970 Brazil world cup squad all in the same week?!
Im a liverpool fan and I lol'd at that. There clearly is no "Kennedy assassination"esk fixture list conspiracy.
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I agree with el_nino_81 Everton have to play 19 teams twice home and away so what does it matter who and when. You have to play them all so you probably have a better chance of winning at the start of the season than at the end due to injuries.
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May 10th 2010, close of play, top of Prem, LFC (by two points). Bottom 3, Burnley (very similar style to WBA), Wolves and Hull. Replacing them Sheff U, M`boro and Cardiff.
Just popping to William Hill`s.
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620 round trip to Scunthorpe and 654 round trip to Ipswich within the space of 4 days.
1254 miles - can anyone top that?
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Very interesting to see how United finish the season... 3 easy games! no surprize there.
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start with a local derby at home, boxing day at home against newcastle, and home on the final day...got to say i,m happy to be a wednesday fan!
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skybluedave60: As a Coventry City Fan i am very annoyed with the mid week fixtures especially the Newcastle away game being on a wednesday. I no that there will be alot of Sky Blue fans unable to travel on a wednesday night to Newcastle, most of the fans were waiting for this fixture to come out of the hat so a weekend could be arranged in newcastle, also most fans have never been to St James park and because of the mid week fixture most will never get there. Very poor!
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Dave, I feel for you mate, all those long mid-week trips from your position slap bang in the middle of Britain, it must be hell! Its just so accessible up here in the North-East that we forget how you Midlanders suffer for your mid-week fixtures...
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"I imagine that every Championship supporter spent this morning checking out when they play Newcastle - particularly at St James' Park. However, with 10 rounds of midweek fixtures in the Championship some supporters are set for disappointment."
My girlfriend made the cardinal sin of booking a weekend away before the fixtures came out. Not only do I miss Palace's home game v Newcastle, the return fixture is a midweek game in late January...ah well, there's always next season :-)
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Regarding the Premier League, I'm glad to see that there are no early or late kick offs on Saturdays, and that 'Super Sunday' has been done away with, except for the final day of the season.
What's got into the FA? Don't need the money no more? I can't remember the last time Liverpool played Man United at 3 o'clock on a Saturday... Seems like pre-Premier League, aka Division One, scheduling has returned, which should give Arsene, Rafa and Fergie one less thing to complain about; I'm sure they'll find something else to moan about though...
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Re 19 expertdalton 8
" Suspicious? You bet."
and 46 CypriotJohn
"something smells rotten"
You've got to laugh at Liverpool fans... If it's not referees, it's the fixture computer!
If the fixtures were fixed to help United last season, then why did United have to play away from home after each European group match last season, as well as the World Club Cup? (Meanwhile Liverpool had helpful home fixtures against the likes of Stoke, West Brom, West Ham and Hull). And why were United's first nine away matches against the nine teams that finished immediately below them in the table the year before?
The fixture computer couldn't have made it more difficult for United last season and yet they still won the league.
Stop moaning scousers!
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To all you Championship fans unhappy with having to come to St James' Park on a midweek evening - don't worry, you'll have another chance to visit us on a weekend next season, and the season after that and so on. Unless you get promoted of course, or we get relegated again.
Oh, and there is certainly something dubious about the 'random' nature of the fixtures. No one can tell me that 8 boxing day fixtures away from home for Newcastle is random. Having said that, our fixtures should be the last of our worries. How about no owner, no manager, no decent players and no idea?
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It's going to be a tough first month for Leicester. Swansea at home will be a tough start but then going to Ipswich and Sheffield United will be even tougher. However Barnsley at home should be easy no disrespect to Barnsley. Then finishing August off against Newcastle at the might St James Park. Should be a good trip.
I just look at the teams in the Championship and it makes me nervous because Leicester fans say we are in for a chance of a play-off spot but I don't think so. Just have to wait to see which streiker we sign.
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Paul Fletcher - does anyone really believe Ferguson has some kind of sway over the fixture calendar (Rafa Benitez aside perhaps)?
would anyone like to point out out when Benitez said, or even alluded to this, btw?
talk about lazy journalism.......
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I wonder though. Is this not all completely subject to change due to TV scheduling?
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The fixtures computer and it's programmer clearly take no notice of patterns of previous seasons. Newcastle begin and end the season with away games - AGAIN, & are away on Boxing Day for the EIGHTH season in a row. I also don't think it's fair that clubs are either at home or away for ALL 3 of these important fixtures.....
Just waiting for the BBC and Sky schedules to muck it all about before daring to book any trips...!!
Also, re number 30 above at 2:06pm, RonnieWhelan70 wrote:
18. MenaceF1 - You can have no complaints mate, no real man would get married during the football season. Grow a pair and put the wedding off until next June or July.
Yeah, and a real man would also know that there's a World Cup on next summer!! :-)
And... 67. At 2:45pm, davegreenarmy wrote:
620 round trip to Scunthorpe and 654 round trip to Ipswich within the space of 4 days.
1254 miles - can anyone top that?
Nearly! Newcastle are away to Plymouth on 17th April and away to QPR on 2nd May. That's 1,398 miles in the space of 2 weeks!
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76. At 3:01pm on 17 Jun 2009, TommyOnion wrote:
Paul Fletcher - does anyone really believe Ferguson has some kind of sway over the fixture calendar (Rafa Benitez aside perhaps)?
would anyone like to point out out when Benitez said, or even alluded to this, btw?
talk about lazy journalism.......
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You know what? I think he might have been joking...
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I read the excellent article yesterday explaining the difficulties that the fixture compilers have and the attempts they make to minimise fans discomfort and travelling. I had to laugh this morning when the fixtures popped up to find that Chelsea fans have to travel up to the North East's only Premier League club on a Tuesday night and that Sunderland fans have to travel to Portsmouth on a Tuesday night on their furthest away trip of the campaign. Now call me a cynic if you wish but it does look as though the only thought that went in with respect to Sunderland was to ensure that their home games didn't clash with the "lads up the road."
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RE #72: This is before the TV companies (who may or may not include Setanta) get their filthy hands on it. United/Arsenal on August 29th is definitely getting moved.
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72. At 2:55pm on 17 Jun 2009, tamsadek wrote:
Regarding the Premier League, I'm glad to see that there are no early or late kick offs on Saturdays, and that 'Super Sunday' has been done away with, except for the final day of the season.
I do hope you're joking????
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tamsadek:
TV Broadcasters and Police authorities havent had their say yet, so don`t jot down your fixtures in ink for now.
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Since when did the Premier League start to schedule matches on Tuesday nights ???
Man United have 3 games scheduled on Tuesdays next season .....
Tue Aug 18 vs Burnley - Away
Tue Dec 15 Wolves - Away
Tue Jan 26 Hull City - Home
I can't see SKY wanting to move any of these games to other more "suitable" dates / times for tv viewing ...(sorry Burnley, Wolves & Hull)
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I know I haven't read all of the blogs above but I must state again that Sky have the biggest sway in the fixture calendar compilation. This was clarified this morning when a camera crew was at David Sullivan's house 5 minutes after the fixture announcements. As far as I know they weren't outside any other of the promoted owners drums waiting for a comment. Although I do acknowledge that you will never please everyone as the permatations are emense.
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79. At 3:07pm on 17 Jun 2009, kanchelskis_legend wrote:
You know what? I think he might have been joking...
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how do you get a joke from Rafa saying - 'let Ferguson do the fixture list to stop him always complaining about them' to 'joking' that Rafa actually thinks Ferguson has an influence on the fixture list?
makes no sense
I mean it's the BBC, my hopes aren't high but still...
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Cant please everyone and im not pleased, away to Norwich on Boxing day. The bloke that does the fixture list manually for Boxing day i might add could also do with a map!!!
I wouldnt mind but Millwall play Charlton away on the 19th of December, that is our closest away fixture.
Another bad one in league one is Stockport trunking down to MK dons.
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OBV a Man U fan did the fixture list this year, starting with Everton away then in Jan/Feb Villa away Man U, Liverppol and chelsea all within 12 days and Man U again have far better fixture list!
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I can see it now . Tottenham still searching for their first point after getting caned by Liverpool and beated by a resugent Hull coming to Upton park , the home crowd chanting "your getting sacked in the morning " no champions leauge again for the lillywhites , cant wait
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Leeds away (again) and both Norwich games on a Tuesday night this season. Another useless bit of luck for Orient from the fixture computer. Preferable to the Leeds/Carlisle/Hartlepool triumverate of fiasco away Tuesday fixtures last year, I suppose.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
In response to your resident Bournemouth fan, being as I now live in Derby I'm loving the fixture list, in 2010 all but one away match are within spitting distance, especially the last two. Anyway we'll be celebrating promotion long before those trips so relax
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in response to commment 4, at 1.31pm
im guessing with a name like El_Nino that your a Liverpool fan??
then surely 38 homes games against Hull wouldnt be such a good thing? if last season is anything to go by we'd take a point of you everytime and you would end up on 38points.
bright scouser!
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Coffin Dogger
- - - - - --
We played Leeds away on boxing day last season. Remember them ;)
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Once again, NEwcastle are away for the Boxing Day game.
Thats every Boxing Day game this decade so far....
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all this complaining about the distance you have to travel between games, try supporting a team in a country the size of europe, Our (sydney's) away games to perth are the same as flying to greece. almost any fixture in england is a local derby here. As a newcastle supporter i just hope we can bounce straight back up
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The fixture list DOES favour man united. They are the real power behind football decisions along with the rest of the premier league clubs. Us in the lower divisions just get on with it. But the top flight clubs always have to throw their toys out the pram if nothing goes there way. The premier league is full of moaning minnies from club managers to their supporters. The fixture list is out. DEAL WITH IT!!
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Im a gooner and not really one for conspiracy theories. BUT in this case I can make an exception.
How ridiculous is it that Arsenal have Aston Villa Away, then Manchester United Home, Chelsea Away, then Liverpool H, from the end of jan to feb.
The same happened at the end of last season and the season before.
Any chance we have of perhaps making a slight change in our fortunes this season is severly dented by this run.
I refuse to believe these things are just done at random. it's a joke.
I think any team with the above fixtures in a row would struggle.
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Why do some of the longest trips for away games get scheduled for a weeknight?! As a derby fan, we have blackpool, plymouth, middlesborough, QPR & Cardiff all on weeknights, and i'm sure there are fans who have to travel alot further than we do!! Dont they know times are hard. If they want more fans through the turnstiles, surely it would make more sense to play local games on weeknights and longer distance games on the weekend?!
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19,
is that a FACT you picked up from your fat spanish waiter?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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Paul Fletcher, you noticed the conversations about the fixture list within 10 minutes of getting to work? How'd you manage to swing getting to work after 10am?
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I find it astonishing how you manage not to include Argyle in this despite it being about sensible travel. Our fans travel further than anyone else with perhaps the exception of Carlisle, yet still no mention. I remember a WBA complaining about how unfair it was that their team had to travel to Plymouth for a match and already I can see complaints from the likes of Derby fans! Get on with it. Try travelling to Newcastle and Boro from Plymouth!
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Chelsea first away game of the season is Sunderland on a wednesday night, surely for the travelling faithful that is a bit much. Cant believe something a bit more local for the midweek fixtures, cant be arranged Everton away is another midweek one. The computer needs reprogramming
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You people thinking there are no early kick offs or Sunday afternoon games - just want to point out a small fact - the TV companies haven't got involved yet !!!
As for the fixtures I notice that by Feb 20th Everton will have played all of the top four from last season twice. Could be a nice little run in if anywhere near Champions League qualification. We can dream !!!
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Liverpool will lose their opening game to Spurs and then be held at home by Stoke.
One point from the first six.
You heard it here first.
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How about Boro away to Plymouth on Easter Monday?! Good one, computer!
Think the reason that there are more midweek Prem games, is that the season finishes earlier because of the World Cup next June. Final Prem game last season was 24th May - it's 9th May this season...
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#89 - So that'll be before we beat you twice in the season? Again! Spammers make me laugh...
As a Spurs fan, I'm not overly impressed with playing the top 3 in the first 6 games, although if we do as well against them as we did last year then we shouldn't have too many problems; worse is April: Sunderland (a), Woolwich (h), Chelsea (h) & Manchester United (a)!
As a pseudo-Exeter fan (having been to uni there), I'm delighted for the proper fans of the club that get to visit Leeds first game, then welcome Norwich at St James' Park for the second fixture. I always felt it was a bit harsh when we pinched Alex Inglethorpe to be our Youth Team Coach, so it's good they've found themselves a decent manager - I hope they can hold on to Tisdale.
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Man united fan here. 4th cosecutive league title on way (Take that Rafa). The fixtures are brilliant this season. We really didnt have the best last year. good run in too. Dont think Rafa can complain about Fergie this year.
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For the seventh season in a row we are again away on Boxing Day. One of the scant consolations of the humiliation of relegation had been the prospect that finally we may get a home game on the day after Xmas. Fat chance. Another season of Toon misery awaits...
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Welcome to the PL, Burnley. After an easy away match to Stoke you will meet successively Man U, Everton, Chelsea, Liverpool. Please make yourself at home.
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As a Newcastle fan living in Devon, I was probably one of the few excited Mag supporters this morning, with the prospect of not having to make a long trip to the midlands or fratton park to see my beloved Toon.
How annoying it is that the local fixtures for me, Plymouth and Bristol City are STILL almost a year away! City in March and Argyle in April. One thing in my favour though.... by the time these games come around I probably won't have a job to get a ticket as yet another season will be into it's "disappointing" stage by then!!!!!!!!
P.S. - isn't it strange how, if the fixtures aren't fiddled with, that YET AGAIN the big four are all playing each other on the same weekend?!?
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el_nino_81 - very droll. Most people seem to have realised my question is a little more involved than that.
I don't know how many of you read the blog I wrote the other day, called The Secrets of the Fixture Computer. There was quite a lot of feedback and questions - and with this in mind Glenn Thompson e-mailed me a few hours ago with some answers. I'll be posting them in a blog shortly.
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"the day the fixtures are released is the point when the mind finally leaves behind the previous season and becomes infused with a sense of summer optimism for the forthcoming campaign"
How true. Today was the first day that I found I had stopped complaining about how unlucky LFC were last season - and started moaning about how unlucky we were that next season the fixtures computer had us away for both first and last games! And that we faced Spurs (only one of two defeats last season) in our first, trend-setting, run-starting, morale-making, game.
Its a conspiracy.
Well OK, its not......but Mulder might think so.
Anyway, I'm still confident that Hull will be the place to be on 9th May, to celebrate LFC winning the EPL.
Come on you Reds.
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Poster 89, obviously forgetting the fact that the spammers haven't beaten Spurs since lasagne-gate, stupid, thick spammers.
And while Spurs may not make the Champions League, four decades without a trophy for the spammers isn't exactly prolific.
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P.S. - isn't it strange how, if the fixtures aren't fiddled with, that YET AGAIN the big four are all playing each other on the same weekend?!?
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Erm... which weekend is that exactly?
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I don't have too much of a problem with my beloved Spurs getting a 'toughie', in this case Liverpool, on the first day of the new season - after all, we did for them twice in the space of eleven days at The Lane last year. I do, however, find it a bit odd that we should receive the same side we played on the last game of the old season...
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As a Wolves fan, I'm very happy with the fixture list irrespective of who we play against or when. At last, we can look forward to Premier League football again... and hopefully for more than one season this time!!
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Is it that difficult to give those teams with home starts away finishes ?
Yes, everyone plays each other over a season and yes its home and away but any semblance of equality is immediately tripped up at the first hurdle.
Surely all teams should be able to play home/away/home/away sequences and also not play someone twice before they have even played someone once.
If you cant get these basic elements into the system, give the job to someone else
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Has anyone stopped to think that the reason for similar patterns occuring year after year is that the computer is running the same program, with just a few variables switched? So an optimal solution this year is going to be very similar to an optimal solution last year.
Anyway surely it's better to play newly promoted teams later on when they've had their confidence crushed out of them?
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As a Norwich fan, who has finally put up with the fact that we will be playing League 1 football this year, I don't know what to think. I really don't know how good most of the teams in League 1 are. I looked out for Leeds straight away, which will be a tough away game quite early on, but the one thing that surprised me is that after our first game ( a derby against Colchester ), we play three teams in succesion that are all newly promoted, so I think how we do against those three will probably shape our season. If we do well then I'll be delighted, but if we lose them all (and lets not forget I'm talking about Norwich here), there could be a real confidence issue that could ruin our season.
Heres hoping we emulate Leicester's achievements of last year.
HUCKS IS COMING HOME
OTBC!
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I can't believe the mighty Exeter City are going to Elland Road on the opening day and then we open up at the real St James Park on the 15th against Norwich City - who'd have thought it. My Season Ticket is looking like great value already. Brizzle Rovers, Yeovil & Swindon all as local derbies - happy days
Great set of fixtures 3 home games out of 4 over Xmas and home to Huddersfield on the last day of the season. Heres hoping Paul Tisdake can mastermind 3 promotions in a row!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whatever happens can't wait until 8th August
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#118. thesefeetdontdance wrote:
"Surely all teams should be able to play home/away/home/away sequences"
If you did that the 12 sides who are at home on the first day of the season could never play each other.
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Eight weeks and three days to go,and proper football will be back! No boring Internationals/Confederations any more, pre-season will be done and dusted and Premier league will be with us again.tick-tock-tick-tock.
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Fantastic fixtures for Liverpool. Win the first two and they're five points up on last seasons results after only 2 games meaning if they match their other results from last season they'll accrue a title winning 91pts! What further motivation will they need than that?
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First, Fletcher - thanks for a Scottish League reference in your article...as you can see, it's not that hard to do and at the same time its very appreciated by millions of non-English Brits reading this "British" BC sports website.
Why do the fixtures repeatedly create such long journeys midweek? Ayr versus Ross County on a Wednesday night is stupid. I wonder if the local MP will travel, because he can then claim expenses!!
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as a doncaster rovers fan i am seething with the new fixtures last year we were away on the first day away on boxing day and away on the last day of the season
guess what happened this year.....away on the first day of the season away on boxing day and away on the last day of the season!!!
surely after last year we should have had at least 1 of those at home
a sembalance of turn and turn about would be nice!
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Can't help but notice that Arsenal play United, Chelsea and Liverpool within the space of a week and a half.
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im not happy at this seasons fixtures
i was hoping to get Chelsea 1st Game - A little bit of revenge for the champions league game
the Bolton vs Burnley Game on the 26th January is the day me and my bf celebrate 1yr together.
When do the Champions League Fixtures come out ????
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Surprised to see no Man U fans complaining of 19 long trips up North every other week! :)
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I think Blackburn's fixtures in October are a bit tough!! Three of the big four, all away from home!! At least we have a nice easy game against Burnley to give the players a break.
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P.S. - isn't it strange how, if the fixtures aren't fiddled with, that YET AGAIN the big four are all playing each other on the same weekend?!?
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Just checked, strange how you came to his conclusion - because they are not!
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NoGBfootball:
Ayr V Ross, my how mouth watering! I can hardly contain myself!
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As a Brentford fan, in response to #63 lupolicanary (hello), after Norwich we have Southampton and Charlton both away within 2 and a half weeks and host Charlton and Southampton again together directly after Christmas (28/12 and 2/1 respectively, with all the potential revenue stream killing that brings by having them in the holiday period) with the Canaries away later in January. Way to spread those ones out, 'computer'.
As well as the first game of the season being a long, long trek to "just a small town in Scotland", we've ended up with all 4 fixtures against Southend and Colchester being played on Tuesdays, a bit disappointing that there's not a better spread of fixtures in this regard.
Gillingham away on Boxing Day - more possible revenue boost down the toilet as they'll get most of the cash, but I will gladly swap that for the subsequent Charlton and Southampton home games.
Hoping for a few full houses this season, or as near as we can get.
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How does the fixture list help or hinder certain teams? You play everyone twice, just like every other team. So what if you play three good teams in a row? It just means you don't have to play them at different stages, and can get them out of the way.
Regarding our fixture list, delighted to be at home first, and on the last day as well, and the midweek trips aren't too bad.
Looking forward to this season.
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Everyone plays everyone else twice. So long as the computer knows that means one home and one away, what else matters? I enjoyed your blog about the 'inner workings' of the system but this just appears to be a cheap way to drum up inane comments. "My team play eighteen times away on St. Trinian's day, how can this be random?" Good grief! Pascal must be spinning in his grave.
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Oh and further to the Bournemouth reference, I've had the same from a rather irritated friend of mine and can understand absolutely where she's coming from. The first, last and boxing day matches are potential big money games, so to have them all away is a bit of a kick when they've only just survived the last time the league tried to put them down.
Ah well, it's only a game, eh? ;)
Good luck all, may your throats be hoarse and your points be three.
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Like some other teams Blues start Away and finish Away.
As do Liverpool.
The other Big'uns; Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal do not have this double edged bob-bon. :-)
For once this alleged consideration for travelling fans at Christmas has almost worked favourably for Blues.
Home to Chelsea on Christmas Day and Away to Stoke on Dec 28th.
Reasonable when we consider public transport, limited special coaches etc at this period.
In years past we have had to travel to Middlesboro Ipswich and once a local derby with Carlisle.
But, we could have done without a trip to Man U on the opening day - Sunderland would have been nice :-)
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#132
Cypriot football. An oxymoron?
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"Home to Chelsea on Christmas Day "
I hope that you mean Boxing Day...
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You just have to love the scouse 'conspiracy' claims!
We had a much tougher start to the season last year. And guess what, without ever hitting top gear or playing very well, we managed to get 90 points.
These are 'FACTS' you have to live with!
Or are you lot getting excuses ready for next season?
1. The Ref supports them.
2. They never concede a penalty at home! (How many penalties did the scouse concede at home last season?)
3. Sir Alex is paying the official.
You lot are paranoid!
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Fellow Gooners - don't worry about facing the rest of the Big 4 in Jan/Feb. Fixtures at that time of the season often get switched/postponed to make way for Cup replays etc. At best, this is a provisional fixture list. It doesn't take account of the matches Sky and, perhaps, Setanta want to move.
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As a Forest fan I am unhappy with the fact we're away on the opening and last day of the season, and on Boxing Day! I suppose we do have some decent looking fixtures away at Plymouth in late September, Newcastle away in February and Blackpool away in mid-April so that has cheered me up!
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"It doesn't take account of the matches Sky and, perhaps, Setanta want to move. "
They shouldn't be allowed to. Football is not about TV.
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Haha Newcastle supporters have to travel to Plymouth this year!
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128. At 4:30pm on 17 Jun 2009, xkerrix2k09x wrote:
im not happy at this seasons fixtures
i was hoping to get Chelsea 1st Game - A little bit of revenge for the champions league game
the Bolton vs Burnley Game on the 26th January is the day me and my bf celebrate 1yr together.
When do the Champions League Fixtures come out ????
-------------------------------------------------------
What. On. Earth?
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By the way, provisionally they're mainly all 3pm KO's(except midweek games) until Sky get their hands on them. So, don't expect Liverpool and Man U to actually KO at 3pm on a Saturday, never gonna happen.
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114, danhardwick77 wrote:
"stupid, thick spammers."
"And while Spurs may not make the Champions League, four decades without a trophy for the spammers isn't exactly prolific."
4 decades?
1980 dear chap, Billy Bonds, Phil Parkes, Sir Trev, THAT header, Johnny Lyall's claret and blue army, jumpers for goalposts etc.
I realise that counting all your fingers and toes will only get you up to 24, but surely an obviously intelligent chap like yourself realises that 29 years does not equal 4 decades.
Even Saggychops accountant would struggle to argue that one...
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I'll repeat my request for transparency - why don't they publish the factors the computer takes into account when compiling the fixture list - we have a right to know why Blackpool away is a tuesday evening mid-winter just as we - Boro fans - had ALL predicted!!
No, it's most unlikely to be a coincidence - and it is the one thing I was looking forward to about being in the championship! (though there is always next season - if we stay up)
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#143 - I agree, but that is the reality. There's no point writing these dates in my diary yet!
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I always look forward to the Barcodes games, but I cant seem to find the dates, can anyone help?
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84. At 3:12pm on 17 Jun 2009, gwhroberts wrote:
Since when did the Premier League start to schedule matches on Tuesday nights ???
Man United have 3 games scheduled on Tuesdays next season .....
Tue Aug 18 vs Burnley - Away
Tue Dec 15 Wolves - Away
Tue Jan 26 Hull City - Home
I can't see SKY wanting to move any of these games to other more "suitable" dates / times for tv viewing ...(sorry Burnley, Wolves & Hull)
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There are always games on a Tuesday, and they are often as not televised. Get over it.
As for my team (Peterborough), I don't really care who we play or when - we have to beat everyone twice, so Derby away for starters is just fine. The last time we were promoted to the second tier we won our first game, and went on to finish 10th. That was against Derby, too, so a repeat of that would be nice.
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Paul the comment about Rafa in relation to what he believes about SAF is unnecessary in this blog and it is quite juvenile to include it.
The main thing for us is that we will have a tough game against Spurs (who beat us twice last season-cup and league) for our opener but as the only club that are playing midweek by the second weekend in the EPL we could be 6 points clear of Man Utd!!! If Owen Coyle and the boys can do the business the season could start as we need it to go on although if Spurs are going to be our bogey team then getting them out of the way early might be the best option.
I would love a pool man utd game to have an evening ko (like the CL) but know that the English police won't allow it. Imagine warming up for your saturday night at the pub watching that game. Dream land.
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Arsenal's run begins from day one of the season, we have the biggest squad, so the Jan feb period will be a period where we can do real damage ? Arsenal is the team to fear, and Liverpool can only keep producing miracles for so long, bring it on at Anfield !!!
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Honesty I'm sick and tired of watching Everton playing all top team in space of 3(4) games. Nov 21st Man Utd, Nov 28th Liverpool, then small break for Spurs and next week after that on 12.12.2009 Chelsea. And it is even worst in February: 6th Liverpool, 10th Chelsea, 20th Man Utd. Just like last season.
It is done on purpose. It is not conspiracy theory. 2nd season in a row we have Top 3 teams in 3 games. Give me a break!
With so many long-term injuries in the team I'm depressed already.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
you play everyone twice, same as all the other teams. the fixture list is the same for everyone.
its only managers like slur alex who creates this mythe of a tuff fixture list. if you have hard games at the end of the season then you must of had easy games at the start.
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I'm a Birmingham fan - my main, chilling thought, is that we have a rather disappointing season, Villa (our third last game) could send us down.
Of course, a disappointing season is out of the question - one hopes.
As for Bournemouth fans complaining of long journeys... there's nothing stopping you from picking up your town and moving it up north a bit. Put your minds to it. XD
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"Secondly, a Tottenham fan was all raised eyebrows when noting that his team opened with a home game against Liverpool. Not the easiest to start the campaign, he seemed to suggest, but he was at least grateful there would be no repeat of recent opening-day trips to Middlesbrough, Bolton and Sunderland."
Tottenham - Bolton 341 Km
Tottenham - Liverpool 341 Km
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Duuuh. Home game. [slaps forehead]
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As long as we keep the important players we might have a chance, if we bring in a big centre back and defensive midfielder. They looked so embarrassing and unsure of themselves last season. I saw something about Nasri saying he could be a defensive midfielder! What happened to him being the "new Zidane"? Abou Diaby has the right build we need. Someone that looks commanding. Don't think he's up to it though.
I'm very interested in the proper return of Eduardo and Rosicky coming back. If there are no major injuries we'll be a lot closer than last season this year. I think we have a good run. We get the rest of the top four early on in the season, which could be advantageous, though, everyone plays the same games anyway, so I don't think the order of fixtures matters that much.
It's just a rubbish excuse that managers use when their teams are underperforming. I just hope for less of these irritating early kick offs. We don't seem to win many of them, and i'd like to Man Utd not seem to always have 2 games in hand, especially when they're already top, so everyone needs to knock em out of the cups. But, whatever. Whoever wins deserves it in the end. Looking forward to no Ronaldo.
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Arsenal have a FANTASTIC run in, so if we're in it by the end real chance of winning it. However before that run in theres the 3 big 4 matches. Oh well, get through those and itll be all good.
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NotlobSrerednaw wrote:
Duuuh. Home game. [slaps forehead]
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Sorry that was me trying to put a smiley ':D' with img src="", works on preview but not when you post...
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Newcastle are away on Boxing day for the eighth season on the trot, and Man U have not played at home on this day for several years.
This is not, I believe, a computer blip but a deliberate ploy by these clubs to avoid their staff having to work Christmas Day to prepare for the match the following day.
Not fair to their fans who have to travel at Christmas, but also to the staff at Sunderland and Man City who have to work very Christmas Day!!
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Newcastle are away on Boxing day for the eighth season on the trot, and Man U have not played at home on this day for several years.
This is not, I believe, a computer blip but a deliberate ploy by these clubs to avoid their staff having to work Christmas Day to prepare for the match the following day.
Not fair to their fans who have to travel at Christmas, but also to the staff at Sunderland and Man City who have to work every Christmas Day!!
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You really have to wonder about the knowledge level of some fans? After all, it's not anatomy!! Champions league fixtures aren't out because the preliminary rounds haven't even begun, my God there have been fixtures on a Tuesday since Sunderland were winning the title on a regular basis, matches are liable to changes from police/TV pressures, there is no fixture list Illuminati, teams don't play on Xmas day,how can fixtures be better or worse than a previous season? It's every team home and away, same as before. Still, confirms my suspiscions.
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How boring.
i think they did a good job, everyone plays everyone else, no team playing two games on the same day.
What else is there to say?
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For the first year, the football fixtures being released have meant a lot to me! In September i'll be touring round all 92 football league grounds in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital and will obviously be looking to see 1 or 2 games on the way round. The weekend of September 12th and 13th i'll be in the North West so there's lots of games to choose from then but no others on any dates whilst i'm away. A shame but all for a good cause and will be very memorable nonetheless.
If you're interested in my tour or donating to the cause, check out the following links..
www.tothe92.co.uk
or
www.justgiving.com/tothe92
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Pointless argument. Only fuel for big 4 managers to maon about post european games / early kick offs from TV enforcement blah blah blah. Shouldn't even be an issue. All players are pampered enough.
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4. el_nino_81
"It would be nice to have 38 home games against Hull but i'm not expecting that to happen."
Based on last seasons result at Anfield (2-2) you'd end the season on 38 points, which would probably give you a finish just outside the relegation zone. I'm not sure even Rafa would dare suggest that was 'progress'.
On the bright side though, Gerrard would surely finish as the Premiership's top scorer with 76 goals (although Carragher would be disappointed with his tally of 38 own-goals).
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As a Cherries season ticket holder (if they ever print them - but that's a whole other story) I think your resident Bournemouth fan is quite right to be feeling miffed. I have less issue with the first fixture than I do with the last.
I am seriously beginning to think that they look at the division and think 'ooh where can we have fun sending Bournemouth for the last game of the season'
Last season - Grimsby
The one before that - Carlisle
This season - bloody Chesterfield!
Shouldn't we be due a home game sometime soon?
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The man from the Wirral 122
Am I missing something ? There are 20 teams, 10 home , 10 away. If the season lasted just 2 games, you could played the same side twice home then away, so times that by 19 sets of 2 fixtures. Whats the problem with home/away/home/away ?
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No. 18 You might get lucky as Sky will probably move the game to the Sunday...although saying that are game at Old Trafford last year ,meaningless though it was, was on a saturday lunchtime i seem to remember.
Apart from the fact we have the misfortune of having to visit the GREAT northwest three times within the first month fairly happy with the list, especially the run in. I wouldnt be worried about the spurs game in there either, if we need a win there we'll get it no probs.
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Rabster - post 135 - I'm sorry that you feel that way. Having wrote at length the other day about how the fixture computer works, I thought that the least I ought to do is give supporters the chance to have their say on what they make of their team's list for the forthcoming season.
In all honesty Rabster, my brain would have suffered a most serious failure if I had pored over each clubs fixtures working out whether their list was good or bad based on several different criteria.
To those who reckon I engaged in something of a cheap shot with the line about Rafa Benitez, you might be right, sorry. Though I do suspect you might be taking it a touch too seriously for what was a throwaway line.
Finally, to anyone who read the Secrets of the Fixture Computer blog and posted a question, you might be interested to hear that Glenn Thompson e-mailed me back with some answers.
You can see them here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2009/06/fixtures_questions_answered.html#099366
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A sensible start to the season for Blackburn. Away at arsenal end of August but nothing else to speak of till we get to super october with 3 away games against the other top 4 and a lovely little home game against (the much despised in Blackburn) Burnley. Also end the season with 3 home games out of 4. Might help with our push for a Champions/Championship league position. Is it only June. Come on Spain in the Confederation Cup
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How can Liverpool play Chelsea on 3 October and then have to wait again until 1 May???
I would still like to see a "mirror fixture list" - i.e. a team's first game of the season will be its "first game" of the second half of the season.
They do it in Germany without any issue.
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I can't believe anyone is still questioning or complaining about the fixtures after the extremely detailed article that explained exactly how it was done. All these fools who are STILL suggesting that United have it easy and SAF controls the fixtures, you either can't read or have chronic amnesia. I'm glad there are still some sensible people who realise that everyone plays everyone else twice, home and away, and that's it. The only thing these conspiracy theorists are doing is making very early excuses for not winning the league again.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
129. At 4:31pm on 17 Jun 2009, WiltsHammer wrote:
Surprised to see no Man U fans complaining of 19 long trips up North every other week! :)
Brilliant mate! Spot on!
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122. 10 teams play home/away/home/away and the other 10 play away/home/away/home !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you have any common sense, or do you just like to be pedantic, in which case the EPL dont have 24 teams !!!!!
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As a Bradford fan workin in hull living in Bridlington I also arn't happy bout the 3 main games all being away (1st, boxing day n last) ie Notts co (a) (1st match again as last year), Bury (a),crewe (a). also Notts f (a) 3 days after county. Still my complaining collegues in hull have it just as tough chelsea, Manu and lfc respectivly. I know who Id rather play no disrespect.
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As a Hartlepool fan i just feel sorry for Southampton fans. Away to us on a tuesday night at the end of November... someones got a sense of humour.
THEN Gillingham have to come up here on January 2nd, no common sense what so ever.
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Fair do's to you, Paul but the point is that the only manager whinging about the fixture list was Alex Ferguson. Benitez had the temerity to point out what a hypocrite he was and said 'jokingly' to shut him up in future perhaps he should decide the fixture list himself and let everyone else know when they can play - yet now it's Benitez who gets the 'cheap shots' about being paranoid that the fixture list is fixed to favour Man Utd.
If it weren't for the FACT we know the BBC love Liverpool (right, United fans?) we'd think there was a bit of an agenda against our Rafa.
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Preston north end fan pretty happy with the fixtures home to start and home on boxing day only one stupid mid week away game at peterbrough all the others not to far away and pretty easy to travel to. newcastle away on a saturday so can have the night out which i was hoping for so pretty much got what i wanted apart from reading away last game. Up the Whites!!
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The people that think Alex Ferguson picks the fixture list must be having a joke! every team plays each other home and away and a computer does the rest, It seems already that Liverpool and Arsenal are making their excuses for another trophy-less season before a ball has been kicked! its shameful!
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The only complaint I can have about Cheltenham Towns fixtures is we play Torquay in the middle of December but apart from that I am not too bothered.
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The Gunners seem to have a raw deal at the end of January and beginning of February. They are the only one from the top four who face the top three on consecutive matches. The others, Man U, Chelsea, and Liverpool have other matches that separate them from each other.
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As a Derby fan, I am little disappointed with the fixture computer.
We play Blackpool, Boro and Plymouth away, all in midweek.
No doubt the TV companies will have their say too, which could result in a lot of fixtures being changed.
Glad we are at home on boxing day, and with Newcastle away at Christmas also, I look forward to us having a good festive period for once.
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Apologies if already posted.
As a Newcastle fan I notice we are away from home on the first and last days of the season yet again, and we are away on Boxing Day for the eighth season in a row.
Are the fixtures people taking advantage of our likely loyal following or is this genuinely a coincidence?
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102. Or indeed to Plymouth from Newcastle or Boro!
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As a liverpool fan, i hope there isnt a repeat against spurs, although sympathy for Burnley's opening fixtures and Arsenal run out against the Big 4 in 2010, Could B An intrestin end to season, what with the world cup and that.
btw hurry up with the bbc predictor lol, i actually want to see my team top at the end of the season, ( with Hull ,Wolves and Wigan all relegated, but then thats jus my view. )
:)
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It's disappointing that several teams are all away on first/last/Boxing Day - I know that there are loads of variables but that's one that clearly rankles (understandably). I assume the opposite will also apply and some teams will all be at home on those dates.
Also - 174 - "having wrote". Ouch. Surely we can expect more correct English from a BBC journalist?
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Oops, sorry - I typed too quickly on 192
"I assume the opposite will also apply and some teams will be at home on all those dates" was what I meant to type.
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#78. You hit the nail on the head re Newcastles fixtures. Starting and ending with away games is a disgrace, whatever happened to starting at home and finishing away or vice-versa? As for our 8th consecutive away fixture on boxing day that's just a joke.
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Why Manyoo of all the big 4 start with softer team. Liverpool away with spurs, chelsea tackle Hull,Arsenal on Everton away! Please, uhm!!!
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I was hacked off as a Boro fan when i checked our away fixtures, Sheff Wed,Barnsley,Scunthorpe,Derby and bloody Blackpool all mid week. All games we would of took a lot too. Oh and how the hell are we expected to get to Plymouth on a Monday Night, it is nearly a 500mile round trip, absoloute joke.
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On my birthday (17th Oct) we have Nottingham Forest away. With no disrespect to Forest fans I feel one ofour few wins of the season will come on my birthday!
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Liverpool difficult away tie, Man utd easy opener.........Same thing for 6 years now!
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'As a Newcastle fan I notice we are away from home on the first and last days of the season yet again, and we are away on Boxing Day for the eighth season in a row.
Are the fixtures people taking advantage of our likely loyal following or is this genuinely a coincidence?'
Darryn_b2002.... see post 165
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I'm a spurs fan and I'm kind of annoyed with our opener and then Man Utd and Chelsea a few weeks later.
And then in April we have Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd all in a row.
It's a bit harsh
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i just thought it would be good for all newcastle fans (like me) to be happy to see ourselves, so high up in the table(for once)
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I'll just add that on paper our start to the season looks favourable.(No disrespect to Peterborough, Scunthorpe, Plymouth and Blackpool, but with every disrespect to Forest).
Also, i'd tell everyone to have a punt on Cardiff to be relegated. Our last 3 seasons we've had Leeds, Reading and Charlton on the last day and all have been relegated.
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I simply cannot believe there are people asking questions about the transparency and integrity of the fixture system! What is wrong with folk! Fletch's blog yesterday couldn't have provided much information on the matter.
From a fan's perspective sometimes you get a nice year, sometimes you get a rough one with some longer journeys midweek and key games away from home. Sometimes you get a consecutive run of one or the other, that's the nature of a mostly random process and an imperfect, ever changing geographic distribution of sides.
The Arsenal and Newcastle fans on here (and the other randomers having a moan) desperately need to get over themselves. You play everyone twice, home and away. Get on with it.
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As a Bournemouth fan, not very happy at all we have the first and last day away again. Boxing Day is not particually a close one at Cheltenham and Easter Monday is also a fairly long away trip. Looks like the FA are trying to stitch us another way this season.
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Im pleased United have some good openers to the season but not looking forward to a tough looking April month!
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Correction to my post 171 - Grimsby should, of course, have read Morecombe :rolleyes:
These places 'oop north' are all a bit interchangeable lol
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"that's the nature of a mostly random process and an imperfect, ever changing geographic distribution of sides."
Its not though is it. The police have obviously stepped in to make sure the Boro and Geordies go to blackpool midweek. Boro asked the Fa to play Pymouth away on a sat, we get them on a monday night-brilliant!
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Well, I might just fly home for Xmas to watch the Owls play Newcastle.
Its only 100 mi down the M1 for Newcastle supporters. 4000 for me.
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The way I see it, it really doesn't make TOO much difference. The Premier LEague is decided by 38 games, after all.
While certain fixtures may be "more difficult" at certain times, they still need to be played, and there are potential pros and cons to every fixture.
For example, Man United play both Arsenal, and a home derby, very early in the season. This could be a good thing, in that Arsenal and City may not have had time to settle yet. It could be a bad thing, in that United may have the same problem, or may have early season injuries - look at their start to the last campaign !
Yes, please do look at their start to the last campaign. It was horrible! At one stage they were right near the bottom. But that simply makes my point for me - the league is one over 38 games, played between August & May, so does and one or two fixtures really make a difference?
The only thing I would be likely to be a bit peeved about would be a series of 12-noon kick-offs away from home immediately after a Champions league fixture. But I wouldn't need to say anything, because I am sure Fergie would :-D
So, the fixture list is the fixture list, and the guys that put it together have a really tough job doing it.
At least they are pragmatic enough to realise that they will never make everyone happy !!
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I feel we should all apologize to Rafa. Along with the rest of the footballing world I doubted his sanity earlier this year but now I can see the light...and it's shining directly down onto the Old Trafford pitch.
Man U home to relegation favourites Birmingham, Liverpool away to up and coming Tottenham. Sir Alex will have his silver polish out already. Oh well, there's always next season Rafa.
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Everybody is unhappy about having to play away on the 3 main dates of the season..its the same for my team Tranmere...BUT ..the teams who's fixtures have fallen this way will notice that 4 games over the xmas/new year period that they have 3 out the 4 games at home...
i dont hear nobody complaining about that.. ?!!
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What i'm unhappy about is the fact that we play Uited, Chelsea and Liverpool all in a row from Jan to Feb ad then our players go to the ACON. That will be what makes or breaks our season.
UP THE GUNNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Ahhhh well I see that Spurs have the easiest end of season as always. Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool, no problems...lets hope we have secured 5th place by then....
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The blog seems to suggest that Newcastle will make the seamless transition from being the most mocked team in the premiership to being the most resented in the championship. It is a very long way to travel, especially for us Plymouth Argyle supporters!
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Nice post Paul until you made it completely obvious that you were a MAN UTD fan LOL!
Try not to be so obvious next time eh ;-p
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Well you have to play evry1 sometime in the season so why are you all complaining!??
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Utd get Champions League then City at home
then Champions League and then Liverpool away,
after that Blackburn home,
then Champions League and Chelsea away,
If in second week of second leg of first knock round then Liverpool at home after it
Oh and if in quarter finals then first leg has Chelsea after it
Of course Chelsea and Liverpool will be knocked out by then anyway!
Then just before the first leg of semi finals Utd have City away
its a fix !!
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Noted someone said the police must have had a say in Newcastle and Middlesbrough coming to Blackpool in mid-week.
I'd like to know if that is a factor as Blackpool would welcome them at weekend.
With the ground not built there wouldn't be much room anyway.
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Can't say I'm that surprised at some fans of the "Big 4" clubs crying about their games, or ones immediately following CL games. I mean, when you've got the most money and the biggest squads, it's only natural to think you'll also be taken care of fixture-wise.
Has anyone seen Everton's run in late November/early December and in February? Talk about brutal. And we've potentially got the Europa League, too. Nice run-in, though, so it balances out - as do most clubs' games over the course of the season.
38 games... all teams home and away. End of story. Deal with it.
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18. At 1:48pm on 17 Jun 2009, MenaceF1 wrote:
I'm not happy.
I'm an Arsenal fan getting married on Saturday 29th August 2009.
I was hoping for a nice mundane fixture that wouldn't be of any great importance....
We're away to Man U. :-(
Is it untraditional to have a big-screen TV in the church???
----------------------------------------
It will be if your new wife gets to hear about it, mate!
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As a Spurs fan I've been waiting to get a home fixture first, because we always seem to get off to a losing start. But now we actually get one, it's against Liverpool. If we can get a result, then it will set us up nicely for the next three games, and hopefully maximum points out of them. Then, we will be going in to the games with Man Utd and Chelsea with some confidence. We can get something at home to United, asuming they get off to another slow start, and we always cause Chelsea problems. If this season goes as planned, I can see us finishing fifth, and I can say with some confidence, we will not break in to the top 4, I feel the only club that can do that is Manchester City.
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Everyone knew that Arsenal and Aston Villa couldn't play their second league match due to European committments. So why not have them down to play each other.
Now West Ham and Bolton have to kick their heels whilst everyone else is playing in midweek.
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180 - someone tried to explain this before, but unfortunately you haven't grasped it. If everyone plays either home/away/home/away or away/home/away/home, when do you play one of the other teams who play at home on the same day as you?
For anyone who thinks this is complicated, try doing the fixtures for a youth league split across more than one county, with clubs playing in different cups on different dates to other counties, and where for instance nine teams from seven different age groups share four pitches. The football league fixtures are a walk in the park compared to that.
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Im a birmingham fan and I think its great that weve got united first. The last two seasons United have played at home and both times they have drawn. Also this time they won't have Ronaldo (hopefully) so thats one major threat gone.
Keep Right On!
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In response to Post 197: I'm hoping you Geordies fail miserably next season. I'm just a bitter fan whose club did well before he was born, but at least we have won something in the last 40 years! And to 202:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7540950.stm - Same again please Posh.
Come on you mighty Reds!
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221: Spurs won't finish 5th, mate. Too much transition. And Man City won't crack the top 4 either. Why would they be the only team capable of doing so? Just coz they have some money to spend? Doesn't guarantee anything - especially not with Hughes as manager!
222: Man City have to kick their heels, too, as they're down to face Everton in the second game. As a Toffees fan, I'm not bothered what they do with the spare time, as long as we're on the way to the Europa League!
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We play everyone twice in a season don't we? What's the problem? I fact I don't even understand why we are discussing it. I'm not on me high horse, honest. I'm just not sure why we are discussing this particular topic. My team play Arsenal in the first game, would it make any difference if we played them six games in? We can't pick and choose the order for our own ends. Or should the grea fixture list creator write for the thoughts of all season ticket holders and find out an order by general concensus?
C'mon...just let's look forward to it all, we'll do enough gripin' once the season kicks off. :-)
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"110. At 3:55pm on 17 Jun 2009, Pharnaces wrote:
Welcome to the PL, Burnley. After an easy away match to Stoke you will meet successively Man U, Everton, Chelsea, Liverpool. Please make yourself at home."
Is the 'easy away match to Stoke' comment tongue in cheek? Have you seen last seasons home record?
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224 "Im a birmingham fan and I think its great that weve got united first. The last two seasons United have played at home and both times they have drawn. Also this time they won't have Ronaldo (hopefully) so thats one major threat gone.
Keep Right On!"
Yes you right kfahey, Man U did draw their first games of the season in the last two years; at home to Reading and Newcastle respectively, who both went on to be relegated!!
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Just for a change Norwich have got home games on 1st day, last day and boxing day. Happy with that
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Everyone has to play each other home and away - it's the momentum factor, if you like, of particular runs of easy/hard fixtures that can change things. Much of that is psychology and each team will get both sides of the same coin. Last season, United's toughest fixtures were mostly pre-Christmas, and the appearance of them making a slow start and rallying in the spring to a dominant title win was an artefact of that.
Arsenal, clearly, have a run in January/February that will be decisive. Indeed, I suspect it will be these games which shape the title race, because Arsenal will almost certainly not win the title but will almost certainly take points off at least one of the great indebted trio above them. Their August 29 trip to OT (to the Arsenal fan marrying on that day - it's almost certain to be a lunchtime kickoff, so the later the ceremony the better!) will be key to shaping the start of the title race, especially as United have a trip to White Hart Lane and the Manchester derby next (albeit with a week off for internationals beforehand).
At the other end, Burnley may end up with a crisis of confidence from losing heavily to the top teams early on and end up doing a Derby - or shrug it off, move on, focus on the winnable matches later and end up faring much better. The fixture list's unavoidable vagarities end up merely providing a mental challenge, and one designed to minimise this would have many more damaging effects on the fans and local communities.
I hope the attention drawn to the fixture list by the BBC this summer - fascinating articles, really made me appreciate the scheduling challenge! - helps further optimise the scheduling of future seasons.
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Finally Notts are at home on day 1 ...
But we,re away on the last day again
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some people say that it doesnt matter you play everyone anyway but the order of the fixtures can matter. as an everton fan in febraury we have liverpool, chelsea, man utd and spurs all in that one month but after that we have 10 games where we are able to pick up some good points and there should be a strong end to the season.
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I really do worry about the intelligence of some people, particularly the poster at 180 who thinks all teams should play home/away/home/away all season. Oh. My. God.
To all those claiming they are hard done by or that their team is somehow the victim of a conspiracy, just think about it. 92 clubs, 38 rounds of matches (46 in the Football League) year after year. If you programmed it all into a computer and made it completely random, you would still get certain clubs who, for example, are away on Boxing Day for numerous years in a row. You would still get some clubs who get more than their fair share of tough sequences (eg successive games against the big 4.) I challenge any of these people to come up with a system that, by their own criteria, is 'fair' year after year, not just to their own club, but to all clubs. I think they would eventually give up and find that by far the fairest system is the one being used now.
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I checked the fixture lists carefuly for my club, Everton. I think there's an error in it. There doesn't seem to be matches against one of the biggest clubs in the country with a great history of success, huge loyal support and a succession of top class managers.....oh, I nearly forgot; they are going to Doncaster and Scunthorpe.
It'll be funny all season.
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Rangers have a fair opening game i hope celtic drop points on the opening weekend.
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as harsh as an away day at chelsea may seem for an opener, im just delighted the mighty tigers have those kind of fixtures rather than those of newcastle, borough the baggies!!
let be grateful for what we've got! i predict we'll be bottom at christmas then enjoy 4 wins and a draw from the last 6 to stay up!
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West Ham's 2nd game of the season against Villa is OFF, according to the list. What does this mean - the pitch will be waterlogged? There's going to be thick fog in the East End that night? Villa are scared to go there?
I think the first 5 or 6 games of a season can be particularly important as a good start can set the tone and inmbue confidence, but I don't see the big deal in the final game. Most teams' fates are decided by then and even if its crucial for one club, it might not be for their opponents.
38 games with 3 points at stake for each. Period.
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I am a gooner and am amazed how many people say that for example Man u have an easier game playing newly promoted teams in the first couple of weks, or conversly how unlucky the newly promoted team is who face two of the top four in September. If you check the records the top four lose more points against lower level clubs in the first 10 or 12 games rather than at the end of the season. Several reasons for this fiirstly newly promoted teams can get by for 8 or 9 games on adrenoline , they treat each match like a cup tie but as we know giant killing cup runs rarely go on for ever. also if there has been an international tournament it is often late September before the top teams get all their players training regulaly. the international players are always later back to training especially after a succesful tournament. they are only just back and into full training when the September internationals again take all their players away. i would have thought a lower club would prefer to get the big four out of the way in the first few weeks when they might spring a surprise. Usually apart from a couple of seasons ago when Arsenal's inexperienced team failed to cope following Eduardo's injury the points tally for all the big four is higher in the second half od the season
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Eight weeks and three days to go,and proper football will be back! No boring Internationals/Confederations any more, pre-season will be done and dusted and Premier league will be with us again.tick-tock-tick-tock.
can i just point out the premier league is not proper football - too much money involved its a business
as for my own team sheff utd hope we are either home and dry promoted by the end of march or mid-table mediocrity - NO PLAYOFFS finish 3rd = promotion
(obviously if we did get promoted the premier league would resort to being "proper football")
UP THE BLADES COME ON YOU RED AND WHITE WIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZAAARDS
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Brighton fan here we have drawn Hartlepool away on Boxing day that is a pretty grim prospect. Also in November we face Norwich and Southampton away and Leeds at home thats a tough footballing month for us and we will be looking for no less the 9 points from those games of course.Seeeeaaaaaagulllllssssssssss
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Brighton fan here we have drawn Hartlepool away on Easter monday that is a pretty grim prospect. Also in November we face Norwich and Southampton away and Leeds at home thats a tough footballing month for us and we will be looking for no less the 9 points from those games of course.Seeeeaaaaaagulllllssssssssss
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sorry easter monday
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West ham's opening 8 home fixtures... tottenham,liverpool,fulham,arsenal,everton,burnley,manu and chelsea!!!... could'nt really get any harder.. how unfair?!
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paulg - you're dead right. And who would've wanted to face Hull at the begnning of last season, whereas at the end....? And with Spurs, it was the other way around.
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Im happy with Leicesters fixtures
Start at Home, end at Home.
Me thinks I will be planning to go to more Leicester matches now we are back in the Championship after going last season to test out the 3 FA Cup games at the Walkers :)
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Why are there midweek games as the second round of Premiership fixtures?
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The Gunners seem to have a raw deal at the end of January and beginning of February. They are the only one from the top four who face the top three on consecutive matches. The others, Man U, Chelsea, and Liverpool have other matches that separate them from each other.
--------------------------------------------------------------
It is impossible for any of Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool to face the top three on consecutive matches as then they would have to play themselves.
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#132 mocking Ayr versus Ross County from #125- I bet it's a great game!!!!
We can't and shouldn't all support Britain's largest teams: Man Und, Celtic, Liverpool,Chelsea etc. I think it's critical that we all support our local teams and avoid the glory hunters and cynics like "CypriotJohn"
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Am i dreaming or did I just see a United fan further up the page complaining about the fixture list!!!
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No.240
To be honest with you mate I think the majority of Premier League fans would prefer it if the premier league remained un'proper football' in your eyes. The less trips to sheffield in a lifetime the better if you ask me.
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Don't you think the Premier League is a much better League with Burnley in it! Tough old start but we can most certainly spring the odd surprise (just as Fulham, West Brom, Arsenal (admittedly a young side although the same one that thrashed both Wigan and Sheffield United - who we beat three times last season for the record!), Chelski (going through in the Carling Cup on penalties after drawing 1-1 at the Bridge) and Tottenham over 90 minutes all found out! We're made of resilient stuff and won't in my opinion be staring down the barrel at the end of the season! Only time will tell but I'm quietly optimistic...
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Fans of the big four seem to be losing touch with reality.
Quotes like 'we've got a bad deal on this date' and 'they'll better off when they play so & so'.
Its all gettin' out of hand.
As a toon fan, I'm goin to Blackpool, so I not only get to have a ride on the donkeys before the game. I get to watch our donkey's on the pitch.
VIVA NEWCASTLE.
Life ai'nt all that bad.
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No. 238
2nd round of fixtures
Arsenal V Bolton OFF
West Ham V Villa OFF
City V Everton OFF
Arsenal have a Champions league qualifier and Aston Villa and Everton have Europa league games that week
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gwhroberts - wanting to move Man u fixtures against Wolves etc????
When is your Global conglomerate NOT ON TV?
Try finding the last time your team was on live TV for a local Derby?
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To everyone disappointed their away match to newcastle is on a wednesday. Wednesday night in newcastle is much better than a saturday! :)
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As a READING FC support in working in New Zealand who cares what the fixture list is, we don't get Championship games on TV here!, mores the pity. At least I'm hoping to be home for xmas & new year, and take in Swansea at home on Boxing day and Newcastle on 19th Jan....bring it on........bring on football of any kind.......rugby is a bore!!!
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i'm pleased with everton's fixture list. it should give us a good chance to have crack at the top 4. to all the arsenal fans moaning about playing the rest of the top 4 in row, just get over it!!!! we had to play liverpool, utd and yourselfs (5 games in total) in 16 days last season and just got on with it. its just the luck of the draw
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There is obviously no conspiracy, in some cases clubs get more favourable outcomes - most obvious case is united last year, who had a nice run after xmas and had the big 3 all at home but had it much tougher at the start - it all balances out
I just hope that the end of the season is a little more interesting this season - the fixtures were against newcastle and middlesboro - not that I'm implying a conspiracy, you couldn't predict how teams like Hull, Stoke and Pompey would do from the start of the season, that's just the way it goes
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cant wait to see what a certain mr chopra does on september 12th.
don't bottle it again mate!
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Easy games at first will allow us to settle in, gel into a team and gives Ancelloti a good chance to play around with his team selection. Whereas the other big four have some tougher games first up. We'll (fingers crossed) get a good head start
Chelsea v liverpool 3rd October - parents 30th wedding anniversary! I'll send them out to a weekend away so the tele's all mine!
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Couldn't really care less about which fixtures are when. Everyone plays eachother twice and that's all it boils down to.
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I do believe ManU might be slipping the guy with the computer a small amount. Most seasons they seem to start at home and against promoted opposition. I remember West Brom's first game of their premiership lives was away against ManU. They just about limped past us 1-0 and looked decidedly suspect at the back giving away a number of (normally) cast iron penalties against Jason Roberts (Laurent Blanc was way too slow) which of course the ref failed to spot.
Still more importantly, about my club (not being hundreds of millions in debt) I think it will be good to start against Newcastle. Hopefully our squad should be pretty much intact.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
As a Blade, I cannot believe the start we have been give. One of the favourites to go up, a team under new management, a promoted team and another relegated team.
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Oh dear, considering those four descriptions would probably cover around 12-16 teams in the division (out of 23) that's hardly a basis for conspiricy is it?
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I figure be better than the opposition and who gives a stuff when you play them.
Wish theyd bring the local derby's to boxing day/christmas again as at least you dont have to go far. Newcastle on 28th December might be worth it tho if i can cadge a kip at my brothers
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Barnsley fan Gav ( post 9 ) You're away first game yes, but it's at Hillsborough against the Owls?.. not exactly a hundred miles away. Should be a good game, full house for a local derby first game of the season.
C'mon Wednesday!
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Now come on lads, stop going on about having a bad run in.........don,t forget, we all need to be fit for the World Cup !! Hope we qualify ??
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Away on Boxing Day for the 4th time in 5 years? My mum loves the fixture computer.
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it is bad enough england being forced to play 4 extra world cup qualifiers just for the money but for pemier league sides to have to play at least 4 extra mid week games is nonsense
to make matters worse my team chelsea have to travel to sunderland and goodison midweek when there are 4 other teams in london alone that would involve almost no travel problems
all local derbies should be played mid week and no team should have to travel more then the absolute minimum for mid-week games.
i will ned to take 4 days from my 20 days holiday just to see two away games that should of been played on a saturday
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Hi Paul : Have you blogged or commented anywhere about the crazy amount of money the fixture compiling company charges to allow people to publish the fixtures, and the alleged threats to anyone who questions this?
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West Brom fan - You have to play everyone so can't complain too much, although not looking forward to midweek trips to Cardiff, Swansea and Ipswich.
A re-occuring theme seems to be clubs that start at home end at home (or away/away) This does seem to have been the case with my club for the last few seasons, and would appear to be one of the easier tweaks to make to the system.
The major issue for me is the movement of fixtures, I know this has to happen, for tv, police, europe ect, but I do think clubs, authorities and Sky could do a bit more to help fans plan ahead.
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Paul thanks for making available Glenn Thompson's answers to your recent 'Secrets of the Fixture list' blog. However I can't help feeling that Mr Thompson still seems to be a little vague on the 'distance between grounds' issue? Of course it has to be taken alongside all other constraints and parameters - but is it? Glenn Thompson's answers don't really make this clear one way or the other. Clearly, the distances between grounds is not the most important variable for the League Managers, or the clubs themselves; but it is for the fans who make the journeys! Hence it should 'figure in the mix' somewhere, don't you think?
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#174
Paul, I stated that I enjoyed your original article. It pointed out not only the obvious (Liverpool/Everton will never both be at home on the same day) but some really insightful 'quirks' i.e. that West Ham's fixtures can have a knock-on affect as far away as Norwich. (If I recall correctly.)
All good stuff. You also rightly stated that no matter what, the fixture list will *never* please everyone. So I simply failed to see why you then open this forum asking "Whaddaya think?" Not unsurprisingly you receive comments from the not so pleased camp looking for conspiracy theories, those struggling with the concept of randomness, plus the usual just looking to wind-up their rival fans. Not such great stuff.
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How come MU and Chelski get to start and finish at Home ?
Arsenal and Villa have the easiest 2010 of all... After Feb 9th / 10th, they dont have a single fixture against any of the top 4 teams!
Arsenal only have one Top Four fixture before Nov 28th !
Chelski only have one Top Four fixture before November !
Check out my team Spurs' run in! Its the hardest April of all the clubs by a mile !!
I don't think this "panel" are impartial at all - otherwise why would Manu insist that this season they insisted on having one of their directors in place to watch what was going on? and surprise, surprise, changes are made to who and when they have to play after European games.
Arsenal and ManU get preferrential treatment once again.....nothing ever changes !
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As a Gillingham fan I am fairly happy with the fixtures. A nice rival match with Swindon on the opening day to start the season with a bang. Obviously we each all play each the same number of games against the same teams. But our last 4 games are hard. Leeds, Norwich, Southampton (and Wycombe), it will be hard but it will be seriously enjoyable playing those 'bigger' clubs :)
I wish the season would just begin.
UTG!!!
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At 5:20pm on 17 Jun 2009, ForbiddenFruit wrote:
As a Cherries season ticket holder (if they ever print them - but that's a whole other story) I think your resident Bournemouth fan is quite right to be feeling miffed. I have less issue with the first fixture than I do with the last.
I am seriously beginning to think that they look at the division and think 'ooh where can we have fun sending Bournemouth for the last game of the season'
Last season - Grimsby
The one before that - Carlisle
This season - bloody Chesterfield!
Shouldn't we be due a home game sometime soon?
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Hate to point out that only 4 or 5 seasons ago we had Bournemouth away as a last game and at least we're half the distance away as carlisle. not forgetting that it will be the last ever game at Saltergate before we move into our new ground (if Finished although starting it would be good) let's just hope we both get promoted cos after last season you guys deserve it.
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As a die hard Tranmere Rovers fan I found my self asking the "Question" "Why?" do we die hard football fans put our selves though so much pain going up and down the county e.g "The boxing day fixture" when we should be at home with the family. Well it's because we the die hard football fans love it! so the fixture are out at last and where away to Yeovil first game of the new season, fanbloodytastic what more could could a die hard fan like myself ask for, a nice "hot" summers Saturday in Somerset but the happiness doesn't end there no it turns out that the boxing day fixture has turned out to be a so called derby with Oldham "Lovely" with 6 Northern teams in League One and 1 being ourselves it's a very interesting sight to see that where at another local team on the final day of the season away to Stockport. So yes am very happy witch the fixture have came out.
Bring on the new season.
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to make matters worse my team chelsea have to travel to sunderland and goodison midweek when there are 4 other teams in london alone that would involve almost no travel problems
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Errr, listen to your argument. 5 London clubs, therefor at least one has to play a team outside London each time.
Besides why should Local derbies be all midweek? Some people don't get the chance to ever go to a midweek game because of Work commitments, most with kids (and of course the kids themselves) will also not be able to make mid-weekers. Where there are multiple derbies they should be spread between weekends and mid-weekers.
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Hey Pharnaces....how can you possibly say that Burnley have an easy away fixture to Stoke to start their PL campaign.....are you not aware of Stoke's formiddable home record last season.....i bet you can't name 5 teams that beat us there in the PL...
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I'd like to know why only the League One predictor works!
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Did i read that someone has looked at trying to limit travelling on inconvenient dates?? Stockport County AWAY at MK Dons on 26th Dec?? I know that people usually like to get away from their families after being couped up for a whole day but isn't that a little extreme?
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As a Canadian, I am always bemused at Englishmen complaining about "long" trips to away fixtures. You could fit England in my backyard!
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Arsenal laying liverpool chelsea and man united in the space of a week or so is a discrace, and that little run could make or break our season, very disapointed at that, and everton away will be dificult also
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charlton should i have a gd start to the new season wycombe at home then hartlepool away nd leyton orinet also away heroford away aswell 12 points there bring on millwall..
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As an Essex based Leyton Orient fan the Southend away game was one of the first I looked for. When is it? When I'm in Spain for my friend's Wedding. Mind you Southern Spain or Southend - tough one that!!!!!
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Fed up with people complaining about travelling. If you're gonna do it, get on with it! It's part of being a football fan! You have to live with things and stop making a fuss. They never used to take this much consideration into the fixture list.
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However I would like to know why so many teams are playing Liverpool, Chelsea and United over such a short period of time.
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There seems to be many complaints of traveling long distances midweek and rescheduling of games for TV. The 2009/10 season will be shorter than normal due to next years world cup so there are more midweek games than normal and teams will be playing 2 games a week for most of the season. I'm a Doncaster fan so Watford away first game isn't too bad but 1 game doesn't make a season Plenty of local derbies to look forward too as well
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I don't see why people complain about their club's fixtures cos you will have to play everyone in the league at some point its just a matter of being consistant.
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As a Huddersfield supporter, i can associate myself with the grievances of Bournemouth fans (as Paul highlights)to the new seasons fixture list. Town too start and end the season with lengthly away trips to both Southend and Exeter, whilst for the second season running, we face Carlisle at Brunton Park on Boxing Day (fingers crossed we don't get stuffed 3-0 again). The rest of the festive period sees Town face both MK Dons and Bristol Rovers. Even though the latter are at home,it is difficult for both the Dons and Rovers to make such distant journeys at this time of year. Surley this can't be good for the atmosphere at these games or for the loyal fans unable to make such long trips. What ever happened to the traditional local games during this time?
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One question I have is Mid-week games...for boxing day fixtures, they duley take into consideration the distance fans have to travel...why dont they do this for Mid-week games.
One of Port Vale's(my team)mid week fixtures is against Torquay! they have 4/5hr journey ahead of them on a wednesday...dont the FA expect supporters to work?!?!
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I am gutted with the fixtures. being a birmingham city fan. we have to play 19 away games which include arsenal chelsea and man utd. wish we got all 38 games at home and didnt have to play the top 4 thats wot i think of the fixture list. and we have to play on boxing day and midweek games so thats y i think we shud get every game at home against only 4 teams and shudnt have to play any1 else. your thoughts on the fixture list i didnt realise it was some kind of cup draw these days. how pathetic has the media got with our game. oh well setanta gone espn have no idea what to do with it now they won it. sky will die soon as new generation of fans come around. can u imagine the kids of today subscribing to sky in 10 years sky wil die soon as well. oh well still gutted we got drawn away 19 times in the fixture list......... wow u lot have killed the beautiful GAME.
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Southampton opening game, if we get to start the league - Millwall
Welcome to Leqague One..
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The only problem with Leeds United's fixtures this season as far as I can see is they are all against league one teams and we should be winning the prem!!! Why winge about who you are playing first, just be happy football's nearly back and we will all be saved from the evil inhumane torture that is cricket!
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