Top six given priority over key fixtures

[Guest MattP]

Quite a few of us a while back on here had a discussion about this and we came to the conclusion it was fixed given no big sides ever seemed to meet on the final day, now it appears we have the proof.

 

How has this been allowed to happen? Why should we or any other mid table club be forced to play a tougher fixture at the start or end of the PL season?

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/top-six-given-priority-over-key-fixtures-qz9z85c90

 

Quote

 

The Premier League arranges its fixtures so that none of the “top-six” clubs meet on the first or final weekends of the season, it can be revealed. The arrangement, which also guarantees a meeting between top-six sides on 26 other weekends, has been running for several years but has been kept secret from fans.

Sources close to the Premier League say that it is done for commercial reasons to appeal to broadcasters and to boost attendances at matches on the final weekend. Some supporters’ groups have expressed concern that this gives special treatment to the bigger clubs, who are already pushing for a larger share of overseas TV cash. The top six for fixture purposes are decided before each schedule is devised, based on previous league finishes.

A spokesman for the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust (AST) said: “We are very concerned about this apparent designation of an elite group of top-six clubs. Every Premier League club should be treated equally, and we also do not agree with this push for them to receive a bigger share of television money.

“The AST would like the focus to be on organising fixtures and kick-off times that are convenient for fans who go to matches, rather than what best suits domestic or overseas TV viewers.”

The Football Supporters’ Federation said it was unaware of the Premier League’s arrangement. Kevin Miles, its chief executive, said: “This is certainly news to us and we look forward to holding discussions with the Premier League about the pros and cons of it.”

 

The arrangement is revealed in the tender document that the Premier League provided to broadcasters for the 2019-22 period. It is understood that it has been in place for some years. Although Liverpool played Arsenal on the opening day of the 2016-17 season, the Merseyside team had finished eighth in the previous campaign.

There are many other considerations that affect fixtures, most of which are widely known — for example Fifa and Uefa competition dates; if the police do not want neighbouring teams playing at home on the same day; if other events are taking place in the vicinity; or the demands on a particular stadium.

The decision to avoid matches between the top six on the opening weekend is believed to be because the Premier League does not want to stage one of the biggest games of the season during the holiday period when there are usually smaller TV audiences and when there may be competition from other big sporting events.

The top six are understood to be kept apart on the last weekend because all matches are played at the same time and the Premier League wants to boost attendances at every game rather than tempt fans to watch a potential big-six clash on TV.

 

 

Edited 8 May 2018 by MattP

[David Guiza]

10 minutes ago, MattP said:

Quite a few of us a while back on here had a discussion about this and we came to the conclusion it was fixed given no big sides ever seemed to meet on the final day, now it appears we have the proof.

 

How has this been allowed to happen? Why should we or any other mid table club be forced to play a tougher fixture at the start or end of the PL season?

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/top-six-given-priority-over-key-fixtures-qz9z85c90

 

The same almost certainly applies for European fixtures also - I cannot imagine any side playing an away fixture 120 miles away on the Sunday before an away leg of a Champions League semi-final like we did. 

 

To those who say 'well everyone has to play everyone else over the course of the season so why does it matter?', our start to the infamous title winning season when we only faced Arsenal out of the top sides in the opening weeks proves how it can effect a season, especially in comparison to this season when we seemingly had every big club in succession. 

[Fox92]

The Premier League have that much control they just do what they want. 

 

I hope there comes a time when it implodes. 

[Footballwipe]

5 minutes ago, David Guiza said:

The same almost certainly applies for European fixtures also - I cannot imagine any side playing an away fixture 120 miles away on the Sunday before an away leg of a Champions League semi-final like we did. 

 

To those who say 'well everyone has to play everyone else over the course of the season so why does it matter?', our start to the infamous title winning season when we only faced Arsenal out of the top sides in the opening weeks proves how it can effect a season, especially in comparison to this season when we seemingly had every big club in succession. 

Except for Man City, who in 2015-16 played Southampton away on the Sunday between their semi-final against Real Madrid. 

[Brainy]

Atleast we benfitted when we got to play Hull at the start of last season

[grobyfox1990]

Didn't Arsenal play Liverpool first game of last season?

 

edit - just seen Liverpool weren't a top 6 club then! Agreed, shocking news

 

 

Edited 8 May 2018 by grobyfox1990

[David Guiza]

35 minutes ago, Footballwipe said:

Except for Man City, who in 2015-16 played Southampton away on the Sunday between their semi-final against Real Madrid. 

Touché. I could be wrong, but I suspect the amount of long distance/difficult opposition faced by La Liga sides prior to big Champions League games is fairly pale in comparison. There is nothing wrong with that whatsoever, if true it makes complete sense for the national football league of said country to give their sides every opportunity to progress, rather than travelling 240 miles less than 2/3 days before the biggest game in a club's entire history. 

 

It's not a damn sight better in the Football League either, I don't miss playing every day of the week across the season to cater to Sky's demands. 

[Koke]

44 minutes ago, Footballwipe said:

Except for Man City, who in 2015-16 played Southampton away on the Sunday between their semi-final against Real Madrid. 

 

Chelsea also did. They played Liverpool in the FA Cup semi final on a Sunday before playing Barcelona away in the CL semi final on 2012.

[Captain...]

1 hour ago, MattP said:

Quite a few of us a while back on here had a discussion about this and we came to the conclusion it was fixed given no big sides ever seemed to meet on the final day, now it appears we have the proof.

 

How has this been allowed to happen? Why should we or any other mid table club be forced to play a tougher fixture at the start or end of the PL season?

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/top-six-given-priority-over-key-fixtures-qz9z85c90

 

 

 

They explain the reasoning which is fair enough, I would question the logic, but at least the reasoning given is to help promote attendances around the country.

 

I would have thought Sky would be pushing for a few juicy last day of the season clashes in the hope of having a title decider head to head to focus on.

[urban.spaceman]

Last season we had to play Liverpool away, Man Utd away, Chelsea away Spurs away, Watford away, Sunderland away, all before our Champions League group matches. We also had Man City at home on the weekend after Porto. About half of these were shifted for TV as well. Then we had Liverpool at home after the Sevilla away match, and they moved our Everton away match to a Sunday evening for TV in between the Madrid quarter finals. If we'd gone through to the semis we'd have had Man City away after them too.

 

Then this season, we find ourselves playing Arsenal & Man Utd away, Cheslea & Liverpool at home in the first 6 matches, and are given the toughest festive fixtures our of the entire league.

 

Pretty clear to me that these were not an accident.

[Koke]

Barcelona played Atletico on the last day of the season in a title decider few years ago.

 

Would love to see a Chelsea v Man Utd last day fixture.

[Turbogre]

Tell me something i didn't' already know.

[Guest MattP]

23 minutes ago, Koke said:

Barcelona played Atletico on the last day of the season in a title decider few years ago.

 

Would love to see a Chelsea v Man Utd last day fixture.

It would be fantastic, utterly bemusing to find out this is happening.

 

Anyone under the age of 35 won't remember the incredible title decider on the last day between Liverpool and Arsenal in 89 - it's astonishing we are now denying the fixture list throwing up something like that again.

[Footballwipe]

1 hour ago, urban.spaceman said:

Last season we had to play Liverpool away, Man Utd away, Chelsea away Spurs away, Watford away, Sunderland away, all before our Champions League group matches. We also had Man City at home on the weekend after Porto. About half of these were shifted for TV as well. Then we had Liverpool at home after the Sevilla away match, and they moved our Everton away match to a Sunday evening for TV in between the Madrid quarter finals. If we'd gone through to the semis we'd have had Man City away after them too.

 

Then this season, we find ourselves playing Arsenal & Man Utd away, Cheslea & Liverpool at home in the first 6 matches, and are given the toughest festive fixtures our of the entire league.

 

Pretty clear to me that these were not an accident.

No, they're not an accident. Look at the past fixtures to know that we play these teams quite early on.

 

Man Utd

97-98 - August

98-99 - August

03-04 - September

14-15 - September

16-17 - August

17-18 - August

 

Arsenal

96-97 - August

97-98 - August

98-99 - August

99-00 - August

01-02 - August

14-15 - August

15-16 - September

16-17 - August

 

Chelsea

99-00 - August

00-01 - September

03-04 - August

14-15 - August 

17-18 - September

 

We've also played Chelsea in October on five separate occasions (94/95, 96/97, 97/98, 01/02, 17/18)

 

Liverpool

96-97 - September

97-98 - August

99-00 - September

03-04 - September

16-17 - September

17-18 - September

 

There are patterns like this with every team, usually. I'm all for conspiracies about the top six being kept apart at the start and end, mainly because they're not conspiracies, but I'm not having that the PL actively conspire against us to give us tough games. That kind of thinking is just paranoia and ridiculous.

[ScouseFox]

spurs united the other year? arsenal liverpool has been on the opening day twice this decade? 

 

but yeah this isn’t news. obviously a lot of things are taken into account when fixtures are announced. police, sky, they even occasionally consider the fans when the original fixtures are announced. can not fathom anyone remotely giving a shit about this. 

[Guest MattP]

2 hours ago, ScouseFox said:

spurs united the other year? arsenal liverpool has been on the opening day twice this decade? 

 

but yeah this isn’t news. obviously a lot of things are taken into account when fixtures are announced. police, sky, they even occasionally consider the fans when the original fixtures are announced. can not fathom anyone remotely giving a shit about this. 

No problem with moving things because of police advice etc - that's normal. 

 

The top six not being allowed to play each other on the last day though? Potentially stopping what would be a terrific title decider. What is that about?

 

Potentially totally unfair as well as they are more likely to get a team "on the beach" in a crucial match.

[ScouseFox]

31 minutes ago, MattP said:

No problem with moving things because of police advice etc - that's normal. 

 

The top six not being allowed to play each other on the last day though? Potentially stopping what would be a terrific title decider. What is that about?

 

Potentially totally unfair as well as they are more likely to get a team "on the beach" in a crucial match.

well firstly like i said, there’s been a handful of examples over the last 7 or 8 years of top 6 teams playing each other on the opening day, so the article is half a lie to begin with. 

 

i read some mad thing about how much goes into the fixtures being worked out and i’m pretty sure it’s nothing to do with the top 6, it’s something about there being no “big games” on the first or last weekend. i can’t remember why. but i assume if that article from a few years ago was right, there’s never going to be a derby, a rivalry or a “top 6” game on certain weekends cos that’s how it’s all planned out. nothing to do with anyone getting an advantage. 

[CosbehFox]

7 hours ago, MattP said:

It would be fantastic, utterly bemusing to find out this is happening.

 

Anyone under the age of 35 won't remember the incredible title decider on the last day between Liverpool and Arsenal in 89 - it's astonishing we are now denying the fixture list throwing up something like that again.

Wasn’t the 89 finale a result of Hillsborough? It was the game after the semi finals

[potter3]

23 hours ago, Captain... said:

They explain the reasoning which is fair enough, I would question the logic, but at least the reasoning given is to help promote attendances around the country.

 

I would have thought Sky would be pushing for a few juicy last day of the season clashes in the hope of having a title decider head to head to focus on.

It's much more likely that the title is already sewn up before the final day, which will probably mean reduced audience compared to having the same game in say, March.

 

 

22 hours ago, MattP said:

It would be fantastic, utterly bemusing to find out this is happening.

 

Anyone under the age of 35 won't remember the incredible title decider on the last day between Liverpool and Arsenal in 89 - it's astonishing we are now denying the fixture list throwing up something like that again.

 

15 hours ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

Wasn’t the 89 finale a result of Hillsborough? It was the game after the semi finals

 

Yeah it was because of Hillsborough. From what I understand this  isn't something that's only been in effect in the Premier League era, but for many years before.

[stripeyfox]

17 hours ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

Wasn’t the 89 finale a result of Hillsborough? It was the game after the semi finals

Yes, I think the game was originally scheduled for around 22nd April, the weekend after the semi final at Hillsborough. It was only that event, and Liverpool's "break" from playing which cause it to be rescheduled to 26th May which was after the FA Cup Final.

 

This is really a non story to be honest. You cannot "manufacture" a title decider when scheduling fixtures in July. Let's say Chelsea and Man City are deemed to be the favorites in a given year, so you arrange them to play on the final day. It is probable that the title will be decided before the final weekend anyway (not just in this season, but most seasons) so you end up with a dead rubber in any case.

 

 

[CosbehFox]

21 minutes ago, stripeyfox said:

This is really a non story to be honest. You cannot "manufacture" a title decider when scheduling fixtures in July.

 

Agreed here on the final fixtures Stripey but I think the opening day fixtures being dictated in combination is not great. It's an unfair advantage against those newly promoted/lower half clubs who will be looking for early points and then get given difficult fixtures year on year. That's simply unfair - whereas if they played a team in the bottom half, they might get off to a good start. You could argue we were unfairly punished with that this season.

[Russell sprout]

On 08/05/2018 at 12:51, MattP said:

Quite a few of us a while back on here had a discussion about this and we came to the conclusion it was fixed given no big sides ever seemed to meet on the final day, now it appears we have the proof.

 

How has this been allowed to happen? Why should we or any other mid table club be forced to play a tougher fixture at the start or end of the PL season?

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/top-six-given-priority-over-key-fixtures-qz9z85c90

 

 

 

Didn’t arsenal play Liverpool first game of the season with Liverpool winning 4-3,not this season I mean last season 

Edited 9 May 2018 by Russell sprout

[CosbehFox]

7 hours ago, Russell sprout said:

Didn’t arsenal play Liverpool first game of the season with Liverpool winning 4-3,not this season I mean last season 

 

Liverpool finished the previous season 8th, so didn’t have the Top six protection