New Premier League fixture list: Fan's reactions
What did the fans think of the Premier League fixture list?
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Wednesday, 17, Jun 2009 02:39
The Premier League fixture list was announced today and fans of all 20 top-flight sides sat anxiously scanning the charts for opening games, derby clashes and the dreaded Boxing Day away trips.
It was a mixed bag for most teams, and there were the usual moans and groans throughout every office across the country as everyone no doubt had something to complain about.
Here are a selection of fans of various clubs throughout the league giving their opinions on how the mystical 'fixture computer' has treated them this year.
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THE BIG FOUR
Arsenal fan Chris Bryant:
"The first thing that jumped out from the Gunners' fixture list is that we have a pretty tough start, with three of our first four games away at Everton, United and Cit-eh.
"Obviously, we always look to the Sp*rs games and a home match in October is followed by a mouth-watering trip to the Lane on April 10th - another title at their place, perhaps?
"However, the most fascinating quirk of the fixture computer on this occasion is what will surely be a thrilling ten-day period going from January into February. We face United at home and Chelsea away on consecutive weekends, following that up with a midweek clash with Liverpool at the Grove; those three games will be vital.
"In addition, we have a favourable run-in that could make a huge difference if we're challenging at the top of the table come the business end of things.
"Our final ten games include trips to Hull, Birmingham, Wigan and Blackburn, plus home clashes with Burnley, West Ham, Wolves and Fulham - all very winnable games."
Chelsea fan Matt Champion:
"Hull, Burnley and Sunderland are, on paper, nice easy games to ease Carlo Ancelotti into life in England's top flight.
"Fulham will provide a sterner test on August 22nd, who will already have an eye on home fixtures against Spurs (September 19th) and Liverpool (October 3rd).
"Win both those games and he will be halfway to winning the Chelsea faithful over."
Liverpool fan Nathaniel Bertram:
"Away at Tottenham is a tricky start, but we have a reasonably gentle start until the trip to Stamford Bridge on October 3rd.
"October is the crunch as we will also entertain the Mancs, with the return leg a potential title decider on March 20th.
"The festive season looks to be a Midlands affair, with Wolves and Villa in three days, but it's February which looks like deciding whether we have another year where we go the distance.
"That month sees us tackle the other half of Merseyside, Arsenal and the nouveau riche from Manchester, while we have Chelsea in the penultimate game of the season.
"All in all, it's not too bad - we will need to get off to a good start though."
Manchester United fan Richard James (from London):
"Very happy with the first game, at home to Birmingham, can't really ask for much better than that. Although, United have got off to deceptively slow starts the last few years and the draw against Newcastle at the start of last season was a bit of a shock.
"But with Birmingham, Burnley and Wigan up first it should be a comfortable nine points in the bag and an improved start this time.
"Things get a bit trickier after that and it's always a concern playing Arsenal so early in the season before the Gunners start to realise they aren't actually as good as they think they are and fall away in the second half of the year.
"Pretty happy with the run-in though: the 3 S's (Spurs, Sunderland and Stoke) should all be beaten with ease and guide United to yet more league glory."
EUROPEAN HOPEFULS
Aston Villa fan Craig Kemp:
"I am pleased that we both begin and end the season with games at home. This offers us a better chance of beginning the season on the right foot, as was the case against Manchester City last year, while also ending on a high.
"February is notoriously a month when Villa struggle for results and our first two games in the month this season are Tottenham away followed by Manchester United at home, which doesn't inspire too much confidence.
"Arsenal on Boxing Day again is interesting after the 2-2 last season, while Liverpool at home two days later could soon put a dampener on my Christmas. But, all in all, fairly happy."
Spurs fan Sam Cayford:
"Bloody fixtures - it's a farce. It's biased so Spurs never, ever, EVER win an opening day fixture. For the first time in what seems like ages we get a home draw, and who do we get? Liver-fricking-pool. FIX!
"Ok, maybe it's not quite as bad as all that - January to April looks good, Liverpool aside, and that's the stage where we started to turn on the style last season. Hopefully we'll have a few more points leading up to that run this time round, too.
"Still, maybe the opening match isn't so bad after all - we had two easy wins over Rafa's boys at the Lane when playing awfully last term."
RELEGATION CANDIDATES
Birmingham City fan Fran James:
"Awesome and awful all at the same time. A trip to United on the opening day is obviously going to be amazing but it's not exactly going to get us off to a rip-roaring start.
"The Christmas games are good ones too - Chelsea at home obviously grabs the attention straight away, but the December 28th game is also a short and easy trip to Stoke, which is nice.
"Other than the last two games against Burnley and Bolton, which are obviously good for our survival prospects as they're definitely winnable, we've got a tough run-in: Arsenal and Liverpool at home, Manchester City and Aston Villa away.
"With that lot, let's hope we're already safe by March... hmmm..."
Hull City fan Jamie Griggs:
"Away to Chelsea isn't exactly what I had in mind when my fingers were crossed for a nice easy game to get the new season going, especially after the worrying way we finished 2008/09.
"My primary concern is picking up an early win, otherwise this could be a long, hard slog this season - so already I'm hoping for some good results in one of the first six home games, which are all winnable (Tottenham, Bolton, Birmingham, Wigan, Portsmouth, Stoke).
"In truth, other than Chelsea and the away game against Liverpool in late September, there are no 'guaranteed defeats' until late November/early December - which is when, like last year, reality could set in.
"Man City, Everton, Arsenal, Man United, Chelsea, Spurs and United again all play us in the space of two months - before, during and after Christmas - so if we've not got 20+ points by the middle of November I fully expect us to be down by February.
"The most worrying thing is that this season could be exactly like the last one, and I fear there may not be enough teams in the north-east to keep us up this time."
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And if you'd like to know exactly what goes into compiling the fixture list every season, take a look at Paul Fletcher's blog on the 'fixture computer'.