Fixture list prediction competition

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Liverpool were away 6 in a row (04-05-09/10).

it seems bizarre though. In 02/03 our first 3 home games just coincidentally happened to be against 3 of the top 4. And we started away to Liverpool and home to United back to back seasons. Since then, we've had relatively comfortably starts against midtable/newly promoted teams.

I can't remember the year, but i think at one point we played Wimbledon 4-5 times in a row. Lots of draws as the teams knew each other so well. It was 2 legged League cup, fa cup and one or both league games if i recall. Don't quote me on that as it was long time ago
 
I can't remember the year, but i think at one point we played Wimbledon 4-5 times in a row. Lots of draws as the teams knew each other so well. It was 2 legged League cup, fa cup and one or both league games if i recall. Don't quote me on that as it was long time ago

I remember reading a while ago that it wasn't random, because it can't be.

I think it's bent. Mourinho returns to Chelsea and just so happens to be at home in his first game!? Since 04/05 I've long suspected it's rigged. Once again, Mourinho (new manager) just so happened to be facing the manager he famously knocked out (after a public spat between the pair) in the CL only months earlier.

Also as someone mentioned earlier, the number of 4th v 5th place clashes make it conspicuous as well.
 
I remember reading a while ago that it wasn't random, because it can't be.

I think it's bent. Mourinho returns to Chelsea and just so happens to be at home in his first game!? Since 04/05 I've long suspected it's rigged. Once again, Mourinho (new manager) just so happened to be facing the manager he famously knocked out (after a public spat between the pair) in the CL only months earlier.

Also as someone mentioned earlier, the number of 4th v 5th place clashes make it conspicuous as well.

Its not totally random for sure. I watched a prog on the computer that does it. There are so many factors its ridiculous Eg, Spurs can't be at home if Barnet are (might not be true, but stuff like that). Thats why the derbies so often come on the same weekend, not for sky but for policing. Then there's the "play someone fairly local on boxing day" rule (which is taken into account, but not always possible) and other such silly things. Its amazing the fixtures aren't exactly the same each year
 
I don't understand the logic of this.

How do you know that playing the likes of Chelsea or Liverpool early is a disadvantage when compared to playing them at some other point in the season?

The relative difficulty or ease of a fixture will depend on so many variables - none of which can be predicted in June before the season starts.

The PL is not a cup competition; Utd haven't been handed a difficult draw. All nineteen other teams have to be played home and away only once in whatever order the fixtures fall. Drawing conclusions now when you cannot assess form, fitness, fatigue and all the other variables is just plain daft IMHO.

Playing UTD early in the season is typically advantagous. I expect them to start ok - Dip - and then finish ok under DM. City or Chelski for the title imo.

Spurs, LIverpool and Arsenal for 4th-6th (in no particular order)
 
Instead of DL side tracking another of our threads with his utter rubbish, I think I'm the only one who's spotted that as it stands, if we play the Goons on Sat. Aug. 31st...thats Transfer deadline day too! <yikes>
 
Instead of DL side tracking another of our threads with his utter rubbish, I think I'm the only one who's spotted that as it stands, if we play the Goons on Sat. Aug. 31st...thats Transfer deadline day too! <yikes>

Not quite <whistle>

It's being played on the day AVB starts sorting out our Summer's transfers. Anything in August is written off. Hopefully it'll be snowed off till we're ready?
 
My predictions were semi-correct in a round-a-bout way.

1. London (West Ham (Palace))
2. Welsh (Cardiff (Swansea))
3. Up Northaways (United (West Brom))
4. I meant the team Zaha was playing for (Crystal Palace (United))
5. Both Start with letter A (Arsenal (Aston Villa))


therefore I win boo hoo all of you.
 
Instead of DL side tracking another of our threads with his utter rubbish, I think I'm the only one who's spotted that as it stands, if we play the Goons on Sat. Aug. 31st...thats Transfer deadline day too! <yikes>


The powers have stuck something else up our arse and squeezed in 3 fixtures before deadline!?!? ****ers. We're doomed
 
I remember reading a while ago that it wasn't random, because it can't be.
Since 04/05 I've long suspected it's rigged.

You had to read it to realise it! <whistle>

Its not rigged, there are certain fixtures that have to go in first, around irreversible clashes, stadiums/cities with 'other' commitments, policing etc, the rest have to fall in around that however it suits, its all been said, its been the same for years. A poster on this site has a friend who actually worked on fixtures for some time, and it is a nightmare of a job, with less flexibility than people would imagine.
 
I can't remember the year, but i think at one point we played Wimbledon 4-5 times in a row. Lots of draws as the teams knew each other so well. It was 2 legged League cup, fa cup and one or both league games if i recall. Don't quote me on that as it was long time ago

1998/99 season. We played Wimbledon six times in all, with five of them falling between January 16th and February 16th.
A league game, an FA Cup 4th round game and it's replay and both legs of a League Cup semi-final.
Drew in the league, drew the first FA Cup game (obviously), drew the first leg of the League Cup game and then won the FA Cup replay and the 2nd leg of the semi.

I remember reading a while ago that it wasn't random, because it can't be.

It's not even supposed to be random. It's openly a created list: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2009/06/secrets_of_the_fixture_compute.html
 
1998/99 season. We played Wimbledon six times in all, with five of them falling between January 16th and February 16th.
A league game, an FA Cup 4th round game and it's replay and both legs of a League Cup semi-final.
Drew in the league, drew the first FA Cup game (obviously), drew the first leg of the League Cup game and then won the FA Cup replay and the 2nd leg of the semi

Wow, thanks for finding that out. My memory is better than i thought.
 
Away game to start with aside, I like the look of the schedule for next year. There are points to be grabbed early doors and the run in looks our easiest in years. Now all we need to do is get a couple of strikers, a box to box midfielder (Paulinho sounds perfect,) keep Bale and keep the squad fit.....
 
I'm just pleased that we don't start or finish in the north east, At the start of the season they (Sunderland & Newcastle) really go for it and at the end they are generally fighting relegation. I just hope that we don't get any rearranged cold February nights up there.
 
Instead of DL side tracking another of our threads with his utter rubbish, I think I'm the only one who's spotted that as it stands, if we play the Goons on Sat. Aug. 31st...thats Transfer deadline day too! <yikes>

Actually as PNP says above, this game is the weekend after our Europa League second leg. So likely to be moved to Sunday or Monday. Hope our new signings acclimatise quickly!
 
I'm just pleased that we don't start or finish in the north east, At the start of the season they (Sunderland & Newcastle) really go for it and at the end they are generally fighting relegation. I just hope that we don't get any rearranged cold February nights up there.

We have Sunderland away midweek. Joke