Official Premier League 2010/11 thread

[stokeriño]

Miscellaneous thoughts on the fixtures list from a Chelsea perspective:

* We seem to have got easier games and harder games bunched together. For example, we start of the season we have (what should be) a ridiculously simple run of West Brom, Wigan, Stoke, West Ham, Blackpool. On the other hand, December looks decidedly deadly: Everton, Spurs, Man United, Arsenal, (Bolton), Villa. The December games could be especially awkward as that's the time in the season when Chelsea tend to dip in form. With that said, Arsenal away is a pretty sweet fixture for Boxing Day.

* Away to Everton on the last day of the season, boo. And away to Sunderland on a Tuesday in February! That won't be pleasant...

* Once again we have ANOTHER trip to Anfield/Old Trafford (this time the latter) in the last few games of the season. Though I had predicted it would be second-last rather than third-last.

* The 2011 Champions League final being held at Wembley means that the FA Cup final has been moved back to the same weekend as the second-last Premier League fixtures, which could lead to some serious fixture pile-up if we get to the final again and that league game has to be moved to midweek. It always kind of irks me when the FA Cup finishes before the league, but I can see they have no alternative this year...unless they held the FA Cup final in June or, heaven forbid, midweek!

Edit: Something else I've noticed, both of our games against Spurs and United are back-to-back (Spurs away, United home in December; vice-versa in April/May). That's just cruel.

[Hobo]

Arsenal, Man City, West Brom, Sunderland, Man Utd. Tough enough start for whoever this new manager will be.

[stokeriño]

Both Liverpool and City have bastardish opening fixtures. First Arsenal or Spurs, then each other.

[HailtotheYo]

So another 6-0

[HailtotheYo]

Lovely ... Julyl 6th and the Arsenal injuries have already begun ... fucking awesome.

[stokeriño]

First bunch of Premier League fixtures (up to the end of November) have been selected for TV, and of course moved about in the process.

Arriving back home from a 5:15pm KO at Wigan some time around midnight? Lovely.

[HailtotheYo]

Chelsea opens with WBA at home to kick of the ESPN coverage .... yay

[Rich]

Owen Hargreaves is going to miss the start of the new season according to the BBC website.

He has suffered an "Injury setback"

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Sounds about right.

I'll probably be in utter shock when Hargreaves is actually declared fully fit and can play a proper role in our team.

[Crybaby Bunting]

Hargreaves must have the greatest job in the world.

Well, apart from spending the past few years vaguely crippled...

[stokeriño]

Presumably it's about time for Michael Essien and Jose Bosingwa to suffer their latest 'injury setbacks' too...

[Crybaby Bunting]

and Van Persie.

I know he's recovered from one... but he's just asking to be crippled in the final by some stupid accident

[METALMAN]

...if only

[Powerhart]

Not sure exactly if this goes here but anyways, West Ham United apparently have agreed with Mexican team Pumas to bring in winger Pablo Barrera.

[Baddar]

Owen Hargreaves is going to miss the start of the new season according to the BBC website.

He has suffered an "Injury setback"

I like the guy, but he should just retire.

[Rich]

I'm actually with you on this, Hargreaves should be given this season to see if he can regain fitness, and if he plays less than 15 games due to injury he should realise that its time to call it a day.

[Lineker]

Blackpool may not have their stadium upgrades completed by their home game against Wigan so the Premier League has reversed the home/away fixtures. They'll now play at the DW in August and at Broomfield Road in April.

[9 to 5]

Manchester City have given a trial to the son of one of the former stars of The A-Team. Roland Benedict, 20, whose father, Dirk, played Templeton 'Faceman' Peck in the 1980s television show, has been training with City's development squad.

[Lineker]

Manchester City have given a trial to the son of one of the former stars of The A-Team. Roland Benedict, 20, whose father, Dirk, played Templeton 'Faceman' Peck in the 1980s television show, has been training with City's development squad.

I pity them if they don't sign that fool.

[Rich]

Manchester City have given a trial to the son of one of the former stars of The A-Team. Roland Benedict, 20, whose father, Dirk, played Templeton 'Faceman' Peck in the 1980s television show, has been training with City's development squad.

I pity them if they don't sign that fool.

A joke about Battlestar Galactica would have drawn more laughter from me