Surprised not to have seen too many moaning about it, but we've been pretty facked over with the fixture list. I don't mind the absence of a winter break in English footy. Means I can enjoy some football during the festive holidays. But why on earth have to fix our games for Sunday and Tuesday or any of the sides who played Saturday/Monday? It's the more galling when Chelsea, who hardly need any more help seeing as they're running away with the title and had no European distractions, have a sweetly fixed Saturday/Wednesday gig. It's just unnecessary joke decisions like this that I can't quite wrap my head around.
Sure, many teams played Saturday/Monday, but that was somewhat mitigated by the fact most of those same teams playing each other on Monday had the same disadvantage of playing 2 matches within 3 days. Chelsea though came out of the weekend fixtures well with a day advantage over Spurs (and 2 extra days of preparation for their game compared to rivals like Liverpool and us), just like Bournemouth and Stoke have a day each over us and Watford respectively, and that extra day of preparation in a tight fixture period can make a big difference. All to appease the broadcasters by facking over some teams.
There's got to be greater resolve from the FA to protect the interests of all teams as equally as they can. Other European leagues seem to find a better balance - even during CL/Europa time when they help their participating teams with a more favourable fixture list to enable peak performance in both domestic and continental footy, while the PL doesn't give a fack.
Bournemouth are a good, hard running, positive attacking side and I expect they'll really test us today. Dropped points, including a loss, would hardly be surprising in the least. Can only hope we rotate smartly, and those who haven't and can't get a rest have enough in the tank. This is one of a run of the next 4 fixtures we have to win before our visit to the Bridge - at least, if we still harbour any slight hope of the title.
The fixture list
posted on 3/1/17
The fixtures are done by some guy and a computer. The days they're played are up to the PL & TV companies i believe.
posted on 3/1/17
When are the fixtures ever fair? I don't recall anyone complaining last season when Spurs kept playing on Monday nights for no apparent reason whilst Leicester played on the weekend towards the end of the season, yet the media are suddenly up in arms about the current situation....
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thats what happens when your in a title race though, if you were in 5th or 6th last season your fixtures most likely wouldnt have been moved.
If your in the title race expect your games to be moved for television.
posted on 3/1/17
The PL has always been slow to provide a level playing field, especially for clubs in Europe. Very poor compared to other top European leagues.
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To me, this is the biggest issue as Xmas fixtures can kind to one team or another depending on the year.
But there is absolutely no reason why the FA can not move a game to Friday if a team has to play CL on Tuesday.
Every other league do it so why not the PL?
posted on 3/1/17
To me, this is the biggest issue as Xmas fixtures can kind to one team or another depending on the year.
But there is absolutely no reason why the FA can not move a game to Friday if a team has to play CL on Tuesday.
Every other league do it so why not the PL?
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TV.
posted on 3/1/17
Didn't they say on MOTD the fixtures are even worse this Xmas coming?
posted on 3/1/17
comment by Sheriff John Brown - bring back David Dein (U7482)
posted 24 minutes ago
To me, this is the biggest issue as Xmas fixtures can kind to one team or another depending on the year.
But there is absolutely no reason why the FA can not move a game to Friday if a team has to play CL on Tuesday.
Every other league do it so why not the PL?
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TV.
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The TV doesn't explain it all. And surely a Friday evening game for them is more beneficial than a non televised game on Saturday 3pm?
posted on 3/1/17
comment by Hengy (U9129)
posted 4 minutes ago
Didn't they say on MOTD the fixtures are even worse this Xmas coming?
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Yep, they did.
posted on 3/1/17
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38491151
You can see the clubs that have had the worst fixture schedule over Christmas in the above article. Whoever did the fixtures needs sacking.
posted on 3/1/17
Tbh not overly worried by ours ( Spurs ) as we had a big 10 day break recently.
posted on 3/1/17
You can see the clubs that have had the worst fixture schedule over Christmas in the above article. Whoever did the fixtures needs sacking.
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I'll agree with much of this, but taking the 3 fixtures is misleading. The gap between the first and 2nd is okay: whether 2 games in 4 days (like many European or cup weeks), 5 days or 6 days. The bigger issue is the gap between the latest 2 fixtures. It's just not acceptable to play 2 games in 3 days, and that's where many teams have a complaint over Chelsea's scheduling.
And even then, it's slightly acceptable if Liverpool and Sunderland play just 2 days after their recent fixture cos they're both with that same disadvantage. We shouldn't be travelling to Bournemouth when they have a full day of rest over us. They probably trained one day and rested the other. We have to choose one of both, to our disadvantage: train the only day between the 2 matches and further fatigue ourselves, or take the day off and suffer for lack of match sharpness against a team with fuller preparation. I wouldn't even be moaning if Bournemouth were in our exact situation.