First game of the new season.

[Southdowns White]

Sorry if there has already been a thread on this, I can't be bothered to look back.  Are their any rumours about our first opponents, someone I play kick about football on a Monday night has suggested it will be either Liverpool or Newcastle away. This bloke supports the blue poo from up the road and claims he heard it from a friend who somehow has information. He knows how much I dislike his team, the first time we met I told him 'for the same price he could have bought a decent shirt' when pointing at his Walham green top and regularly ask him if he's been down the dog track recently (of course, he hasn't)
Who would people like us to play first game?

[WindyCity]

I really don't care who we play first.  Some have said playing one of the top clubs would be undesirable, but I think maybe early on you can nick a point from a top team, maybe they haven't got themselves fully organized?  (Assumes, of course, that we are. :003: )

My only requirement for that first game is that FFC is fully sorted and playing their best starting XI.  (As opposed to waiting once the season is a dozen games in before adding key players.)

[filham]

I want a lower team at home who we have a good chance of taking 3 points from. I feel a good start is so important to us, Forrest or Huddersfiel would do nicely.

[Fulham 442]

I don't care, it is what it is.  We have to play them all twice.  We just have to make sure we have recruited well come the beginning of the season and have a team in place who can compete..

[WhiteJC]

its going to be one of the top 6 isn't it

probably Spurs away

[Woolly Mammoth]

They are all tough games home and away, football is unpredictable and a funny old game.
Of course it is nice to get a decent start as we can have something to build on.
Nevertheless, whoever we play whatever happens there will be another tough one straight after, so what does it matter who we play it is not worth worrying about.
Sometimes playing a so called top 4 side early we can catch them out, it's happened before.
If you are looking for something to worry about, worry about Fulham, this is the only team i shall be worrying about.

We have to make ourselves hard to score against, hard to beat. Build a good spine, quality players in key positions, with physicality and leadership, with plenty of experience, and the sooner the better.

Otherwise you won't be worrying about who we are going to play, you will be worrying about how many we are going to lose by.

[Riversider]

Sorry if there has already been a thread on this, I can't be bothered to look back.  Are their any rumours about our first opponents, someone I play kick about football on a Monday night has suggested it will be either Liverpool or Newcastle away. This bloke supports the blue poo from up the road and claims he heard it from a friend who somehow has information. He knows how much I dislike his team, the first time we met I told him 'for the same price he could have bought a decent shirt' when pointing at his Walham green top and regularly ask him if he's been down the dog track recently (of course, he hasn't)
Who would people like us to play first game?

Good grief, the make up of the Premier League isn't even completed until Sunday,  so you can confidently tell your mate that he is talking absolute ****ocks.

[sunburywhite]

We always seem to get Man U early season

[Kemosabe]

I can't say I've researched the data on this, but my impression is that the team that wins the Championship is usually drawn against a top 4 side for their first game.

If you cast your minds back to the Tigana promotion, I think we got Man U away...  Saha scored the first goal early on, catching Ferguson's eye.

[BestOfBrede]

Liverpool away obviously - 1st game for Carvalho, who will almost certainly score!!
Oh well

[I Ronic]

Arsenal away.

[Somerset Fulham]

Have I been naive all of these years? I thought the fixtures were drawn randomly?

[RaySmith]

Have I been naive all of these years? I thought the fixtures were drawn randomly?

That's what i thought - by computer, but supposedly programmed so that teams in the same area  not playing at home on the same day, and also, supposedly, on not having to travel too far over Christmas.

[Somerset Fulham]

Maybe we're old and out of date mate.  064.gif

[Hatch007]

I really don't subscribe to the "it doesn't matter who we play" view.

If we are drawn against Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal in the first five matches we won't be expected to get a point. But then we're on zero points and low confidence fearing the worst for the season ahead.

Playing so-called lesser teams early on, getting points on the board and building confidence with a sense of belonging and being able to compete in the top flight surely has to be preferable!

[Whitestone]

I really don't subscribe to the "it doesn't matter who we play" view.

If we are drawn against Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal in the first five matches we won't be expected to get a point. But then we're on zero points and low confidence fearing the worst for the season ahead.

Playing so-called lesser teams early on, getting points on the board and building confidence with a sense of belonging and being able to compete in the top flight surely has to be preferable!

I agree. There are no easy games, but some are going to be much harder than others so it would be helpful if the fixtures threw up some games where we have a better chance of picking up points from the outset.

[toshes mate]

Have I been naive all of these years? I thought the fixtures were drawn randomly?

That's what i thought - by computer, but supposedly programmed so that teams in the same area  not playing at home on the same day, and also, supposedly, on not having to travel too far over Christmas.

They still use a computer with appropriate clashes avoidance but then these days the interested and contracted media outputs may get to switch various 'week nos' around to fit their peak viewing periods and seasonal  and holiday weekend schedules.  In the good old days the season repeated after half way with the reverse fixture list matching the same pattern as the first half except for some midweek and holiday games which would have been completed over a week or a weekend.  The old 22 v 22 and 24 v 24 templates were a work of logic and art comblned.

[Thailand Mick]

I would like to play Man United away first game,they look like their in a bit of a mess. Will have a new manager trying to get his ideas over to the players and have a long pre season trip to Thailand to recover from. Would then like a winnable home game under the lights to help generate a good atmosphere. Hopefully at least 4 points from the first two games to set us up for an enjoyable season.

[sunburywhite]

This season Brentford played on teh Friday night at home to  Arsenal (so its not always a top 4 team (lol)
On the Saturday Norwich were home to Liverpool and Watford home to Aston Villa

[SP]

Was always useful playing either Bolton or Boro at home on the first day to get three precious points on board.