We will soon know who Spurs will be playing on the opening day of the 2013-14 season, which will be our 96th opening match of the season. The previous 95 opening matches have seen us play 46 times at home and 49 times away. During the 21 seasons of the Premier League Era, we've only played 6 times at home compared with 15 times away. We've been drawn to play Everton more times (9) than any of the other 39 different clubs we've faced on the opening day. Here's how we've got on... please log in to view this image Tottenham Hotspur First Game of the League Season 1908-09 to 2013-14
It really winds me up when I see that stat about how few times we have been at home on the opening day of the season in the PL. Only 6 occasions out of 21 is pretty shabby in my opinion. I remember Arsenal insisted they just "had" to be at home on the first day the year they opened the Emirates and it really peeved me the PL agreed to it. I used to know a guy who worked on the fixtures and some of the requests they get from clubs to be at home or awy on certain dates, is quite remarkable. In fact I read very recently that Birmingham City requested to be at home on April 19 next year because it is Trevor Francis's birthday !!!!!!!!!!!
Taking a closer look at THFC's list does not make good reading as it shows our record on the opening day to be poor. Of the last 16 seasons, we have only won 3 times on the opening day, drawing 4 times and losing 9 times. There is also one period of 8 seasons when we were at home only once. Grrrrrrrr.
Yes, it invariably means that Spurs are always trying to play catch-up after Arsenal have been given home advantage for the opening match. A Gooner I know insisted that it makes no difference, as every team plays 19 home & 19 away games during the season, although he declined my offer to play their first 19 matches of the season away from the Emirates for some strange reason. The fact remains that Arsenal have had a huge advantage over us during the 21 seasons of the Premier League, due to them invariably getting off to a flying start with the gift of home advantage in their first game.
That's worrying! It's one of those things that has grown far more complicated than it needs to be. It should be especially simple sorting out our games since we're in the Europa League so can easily Sunday or Monday whilst Arsenal do Saturday or Sunday, easy-peasy.
Quite sure Arsenal have had pretty much the hardest of starts over the last few years. Haven't they faced Liverpool and United away in August over the last 2 seasons? In the 11/12 season they had a ridiculously tough start if I remember. Can't remember who I predicted Spurs would get. I'm 99% sure you'll be away though because we are.
Often 4th meet 5th,us Newcastle last season, us Man City the season before, it happens. Winning away from home first match is a huge boost to a team.
Agree with that TMT. I much prefer starting away from home for that reason. There's always a positive you can take from the result.
Often because of the criteria for local teams being home/away and policing across the country you often find the NLD on the same day as the Manc derby. So an opening day/weekend with those 2 would be pretty tasty indeed.
It would never happen, police wouldn't allow it. Big Derbies are specifically avoided on the opening/last day of the season.
Wasn't really expecting it, just based on TMT's observation that 4th often plays 5th on the first day (as we've been involved in for the past 2 years) would lead to that. Was tongue in cheek mainly though.
