Sorry - no they are not out yet - but only one more day to wiat till they are 9 a.m. on Wednesday Who does anyone want to play first? I would quite like to see us play Norwich - not a bad side who play decent football but one that we should be able to beat and get off to a good start.
I'd like to be at home against a side with low confidence, but that won't happen. We'll be away to someone up North, in all likelyhood.
Depends on how they all do in the transfer market. Sherwood's completely untested to date, but he's been linked with some decent players. Time will tell, I guess.
Does it make any difference? The team will still be in somewhere like Mogadishu on the annual Levy "Merchandise-A-Rama" tour we always have.
Newcastle at home, since the press will be more interested in predicting McClaren to fail in the build-up to the match so there's less pressure on us.
I'd like us to play Liverpool, absolutely stuff them out of sight and so pile more pressure on the clueless Brendan.
It's strange how the computer never seems to pick games between the top sides on the opening day. Chelsea v Arsenal would be a good start
You know there is no computer, right? I'm not sure there ever was one. Wonder where the idea came from, if there wasn't?
Interesting http://www.epfl-europeanleagues.com/how_the_fixtures_are_produced.htm As there are so many factors which need to be taken into account, the complexity of the task means software has to be used. It just seems that one of the criteria they must input is that big teams can't face each other at certain times?
Not exactly my idea of a fixture computer, to be honest. I always refer to the old BBC article about it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2009/06/secrets_of_the_fixture_compute.html Given the amount of input that various people have into the whole thing, I'm not sure how much is left to chance at all. As you suggest, some teams appear to face or avoid each other at certain times, so I think that Sky have more input than anybody. How City ended up with all of their Champions League group fixtures being followed up by away games in 2011/12 is anyone's guess, though.
Villa away would be good. Tim's magic(/beginner's luck) appears to have worn off again and we've got a great record against them there, plus I fancy that as a home tie during January which is more likely if we play them early(I think, not sure though). Plus if we play them in August there's a good chance Grealish will either still be unconcsious on some beach or banged up abroad and Benteke and Vlaar could well be gone by then. I do like the sound of a trip to Liverpool early on too, either blue or red as Sturridge will be out and they both have overrated managers(don't say it, Spurcat! ) that take awhile to get any convincing form together. Throw in Watford and Newcastle at home and we've got a nice start to the season, on paper at least.
I just hope we get a home game on the opening day, boxing day or the final day...we were away for all three last season. I like spucats idea of stuffing liverpool on day one.
The last time I remember it happening was 2004, where Moron's first game was at home against Man Utd.
Not even at home - not a fixture I would have chosen. Oh - and look who have an easy match home to WHam. Liverpool back to Stoke - another 6-1 anyone?
