1st game and 2017/18 fixtures.

[CosbehFox]

2 hours ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Anyone else get a bit nervous looking at that? It's going to be a long season I feel and a lot of people need to adjust their expectations pretty sharpish. 

No, as generally it's better to play the top sides in the opening games when they don't have their best elevens sorted and we have our fittest squad available. 

 

A tough start means two long runs of mediocre opposition. Which has been useful for two of our three last seasons in the PL

[Russell sprout]

3 hours ago, sly1 said:

Man Utd boxing day 

You mean Watford away 

[sylofox]

1 hour ago, Durnerz said:

Very tough start. Hopefully the right players come in over the summer. Maybe fate that we could be facing Mahrez first game.

Mahrez will be no problem. When he gets back for training he either commits to the club or trains with the kids. Don't give him any pre season games either  

[Domsdad]

Looks like our opening fixtures are rated the most difficult

[Kitchandro]

People getting worried about the fixtures

 

Listen, we've got to play everyone twice, like everybody else. If we go down it's because we're not good enough to stay up. If the manager does his job we've got more than enough to do fine.

 

We're capable of beating any Premier League side on our day anyway.

[Clever Fox]

2 minutes ago, Kitchandro said:

People getting worried about the fixtures

 

Listen, we've got to play everyone twice, like everybody else. If we go down it's because we're not good enough to stay up. If the manager does his job we've got more than enough to do fine.

 

We're capable of beating any Premier League side on our day anyway.

Only if we're at our best and they have an off day.  We have a decent squad no doubt, But we need a few quality additions. Gylfi would be a good start.

Then a quality ball carrying midfielder. If we get that we'll be a lot stronger than last season. Then if we add a CB we'll be really moving up the table.

 

Onwards and Upwards we go.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

31 minutes ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

No, as generally it's better to play the top sides in the opening games when they don't have their best elevens sorted and we have our fittest squad available. 

It's not just the start, it's the whole thing. I don't think we're actually as good as a lot of people think we are, and if we go into the season expecting to challenge for UCL again I think people are going to get frustrated quite quickly. 

[talking_goldfish]

25 minutes ago, Domsdad said:

Looks like our opening fixtures are rated the most difficult

 

These ratings are flawed as they don't take newly promoted teams into account, and we play 2 of them in the first 6 games! If we give both teams a baseline score of 6.5 then this takes our difficulty rating down to 6.84, which is pretty much in line with everyone else.

[BrummieFOX]

Wonder what the likelihood of them moving our first game for Sky?

 

Hopefully a few more appealing games for Sky:

 

Brighton vs Man City

Newcastle vs Spurs

United vs West Ham

 

We could quite easily be chosen though.

[st albans fox]

4 hours ago, lgfualol said:

Got Man U twice before January? That isn't normal.

its been explained to me that because there are an odd number of games to play in each half of the season, two clubs always end up playing each other twice in one half of the campaign -  my brain cant work out if that makes sense

[Livid]

First and Last games both away.

 

I always thought if you were away for one you would be at home for the other ?

[seenitall]

Pessimist alert.....Shakey to go after heavy defeat at Liverpool last game of the year......

[UPinCarolina]

5 hours ago, sly1 said:

Man Utd boxing day 

This fixture in particular is exciting.

 

[Suzie the Fox]

Totally stoked for this. Bring it on! 

 

Didnt really care care who we played 1st or when tbh. It's not like we havnt got to play everyone twice anyway. 

[Arriba Los Zorros]

2 hours ago, talking_goldfish said:

 

These ratings are flawed as they don't take newly promoted teams into account, and we play 2 of them in the first 6 games! If we give both teams a baseline score of 6.5 then this takes our difficulty rating down to 6.84, which is pretty much in line with everyone else.

Plus Burnley, Bournemouth and Palace are apparently tougher game than us, not to mention that home advantage is not taken into account, can't be bothered with those stats!

[EnglishOxide]

I prefer tougher opening fixtures.

 

It means we've got to be on it from the start. Everything to play for, full commitment.

 

We shouldn't be thinking 'oh we will take a point here and a loss there'. There's 6 cup finals there. Six challenges. Everything to play for in the league. It's only after the first 10 games or so that everyone starts to adjust their expectations based on where they find themselves.

 

If we go in with the right attitude ( #fearless ) we could end the opening spell in the top half with a couple of big scalps.

[Dan]

3 hours ago, StanSP said:

How have Arsenal got away with having a home game now to start the season for FIVE seasons in a row?!

Six  

[rn9013]

A tough start yes, but not a bad thing. 

 

At the end of the day, if we do end up with very few points after the first 6 games, it will just settle everyone's expectations down a bit-because I still think people think we are far better than we actually are. On our day we are a very good side-and probably should be in the top half of the table, but we're not going to be challenging for the top 4 (famous last words I know). However if we do well, it sets us up for a strong season. 

 

But with it being Leicester, we'll probably go and beat Arsenal, Chelsea, Man U and Liverpool, and then go and lose the next 5. 

[Dawko]

Should rest the first team in these pre-season friendlies, save them for Arsenal.

We don't want them getting tired or injured.

[Chico1958]

I looked at the fixtures this morning and saw us with 25 points at the beginning of the year.

 

Those are against the teams we should beat or historically we've done ok

 

But after last year anything can happen...................... If Mahrez signs for Arsenal it's on the box  

 

Ps: I fear for Shakespeare even after 6 games, Just hope the boys are up for the challenge 

[Staffs Fox]

4 hours ago, BrummieFOX said:

Wonder what the likelihood of them moving our first game for Sky?

 

Hopefully a few more appealing games for Sky:

 

Brighton vs Man City

Newcastle vs Spurs

United vs West Ham

 

We could quite easily be chosen though.

Without wanting to give a cop out answer I'd say 50/50,

 

They will show Chelsea as the Champions, it's tradition and it's all but certain,

 

As is Brighton vs Man City and Newcastle v Spurs. We'll be up against the West Ham v Man U game for the 4th spot for Sky/BT, hopefully not though

[Corky]

A difficult start but we should try and embrace it rather than be fearful, we have to avoid the dreadful games against the sides around or below us from last season this time around.

[Dan]

Any laptop wallpapers with this on would be much appreciated.

 

1366 x 768

[st albans fox]

6 minutes ago, Staffs Fox said:

Without wanting to give a cop out answer I'd say 50/50,

 

They will show Chelsea as the Champions, it's tradition and it's all but certain,

 

As is Brighton vs Man City and Newcastle v Spurs. We'll be up against the West Ham v Man U game for the 4th spot for Sky/BT, hopefully not though

Suspect they will look at the way the game went in April and say 'forget it'!

 

we will set up not to get beaten as usual at the emirates 

[CosbehFox]

We will be on telly first game. TV companies will end up picking five games for opening weekend. Add Mahrez to the fray