25/26 EPL fixtures

No easy games in the league but Leeds (A) and Wolves (H) - I can see 6 points there, Bournemouth (A), depending on who they lose and replace them with could be another 3 points, last time we played Villa (A) to open a season was 3 points and Liverpool (H) is the hardest game of the lot but could see us winning 3 and drawing 1 of those.

 

It could go either way mate. For example we could lose the first 2 and be bang up against it from the get go. We need at least 4 quality signings through the door before a ball is kicked that's for sure.

 

Yeah absolutely - signings need to be through the door ASAP. Personally I'd be happy with a RW and a RCB to come in to start the season, a second choice GK and CF would be a "nice to have". Who ever comes in we need to get them in early to bed in during pre-season.

 

When's our first meaningful pre-season gig?

 

Celtic - 19/7
Arsenal - 27/7
K-League XI - 30/7
Spurs - 3/8
Athletico Madrid - 9/8

Quite a high end preseason compared to last season - Hull, Uwara Red, Yokohama, Girona and Brest

 

Very much this. If we sign a first team RW and RCB then I'm happy our first team can compete and we'd have cover in a lot of positions (Dubs, Trips, Schar, Burn, Targett, Lonstaff, Miley, Willock, Barnes, Murphy, Osula all 2nd team). Yes we want others and yes that's relying on the likes of Botman and Targett to be fit but we'd be in a good state.

Not great though.

 

So EH can then not play them for 2 months as they become accustomed to our style and system.

 

Why we need players in now, already less than two months so I’d imagine a villa park debut for anybody is off the table already.

NUFC XI to face Villa: Pope, Livramento, Hall, Schar, Botman, Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton, Murphy, Gordon, Isak.

More or less guaranteed.

 

Very good team there.

 

You'd hope for a small improvement rather than a third same opening day XI in a row.

 

Botman wasn’t there opening day last season but point taken

 

I agree, but it does still look reassuringly good.

 

Jesus we'll be lucky to get 6 points from the first two months of fixtures. The season is going to be a train crash after that.

 

please log in to view this image

 

So that’s what cc looks like

 

So Opta analysts think that (mathematically) Man United have the toughest opening games of the new season.

But I think that's only because Man United won't be playing against Man United for an easy win.

 

Chelsea City both have it easy. Strange that. Chelsea don’t even leave London for the first couple of months more or less!

 

Nice gif