So, the new fixtures are out, and for every detailed analysis from one fan, comes another view of ‘we play all teams twice’ calm down calm down etc attitude ….. so what is my view to add to the mix and to the debate?
Yes, obviously we do play all teams twice …. but a good run and picking up points against ‘easier’ teams builds confidence … but then again a so called ‘easy team’ one year can become not so good the next year e.g. Everton moving from 5th at the end of the 13/14 season to 11th at the end of the 14/15.
However, taking out the relegated and promoted teams from the mix, on the whole there was little movement between overall performances and final positions of most teams in 14/15 from 13/14.
So with this overall relatively ‘static’ level of overall performance from one year to the next in mind, what do we make of the fixture list?
In August a good start against Sunderland at home and then West Ham away will help confidence going into the Spurs home and then tricky Bournemouth away fixtures.
Picking up points against Villa home and Stoke away in early September will also be needed before the hard fixture against Arsenal at home.
Bar Southampton, October is a month where we could in theory easily pick up points against two of the promoted sides and West Brom.
In November again we have two easier fixtures on paper before we need and want to thrash Man United again (!).
These points and the associated confidence levels are vital as we go into December when in a five game flurry of activity, amongst others, we play Chelsea home, Liverpool away and Man City home.
January gives us a mixed bag of two top half teams and one bottom half team and again a potentially awkward game against newly promoted Bournemouth.
February on paper looks the hardest of the lot, with only Norwich at home looking promising compared to hard trips to Man City and Arsenal and a home tie against Liverpool.
If we go into March needing to achieve points then West Brom, Watford, Newcastle and Palace are all winnable and so this could well be our crucial month.
Most of April again gives us fixtures in which we could and should pick up some points against in Sunderland and West Ham but also we have slightly less optimistic fixtures in Swansea and Southampton … but after the Swansea game we really want to be at least safe from relegation as a potentially tricky away game against Man United on the last day of April is followed up with a hard game against Everton at home and this leaves us hopefully not needing to win Chelsea away on the final day to maintain our top flight status.
History has typically shown if you survive the first year back in top flight then things usually become somewhat easier the next year. After ‘the great escape’ this last season, some fans are bizarrely (in my opinion) talking of a top six finish this season …. My personal message would be …. by all means think big … but also add a pinch of reality into the pot as well.
Enjoy the season … not long to wait now!