Fixture list misfortune

[adrenalin john]

Yes you have to play every team twice, but when you play them makes a difference.

First of all teams in Europe; you want to play them after they have played a European fixture, preferably away. We haven't played one.

Teams with small squads, you want to play later in the season when injuries and suspensions have taken their toll.

International breaks, you want to play teams with most of their players being called up and most of all you want to play at home.

Fixture congestion, (like this upcoming December) again you want to play small clubs with small squads not the big European clubs with no European fixtures. We play Liverpool, Man City, Brighton and Chelsea in this period, and a fully rested Arsenal in January.

Runs of form, obviously you want to play teams when they are in a bad run of form not when they are hitting their straps, like Everton with a finally fit Calvert Lewin are.

This season we seemed to have drawn the shortest of short straws on all of the above. Prime example we could be playing Newcastle now amidst their injury crisis and European fixtures, instead we draw them away after an international break - literally the furthest we could have traveled - any wonder Ayew, Guehi and Andersen had off days?

Luck or is the way fixtures are selected intentionally or unintentionally biased?

[GreatGonzo]

It is the luck of the draw.

West Ham are due some injuries, had the fewest this season so far (5) and none at the moment. Bowen might have picked something up on international duty now and if they were to pick up 2 or 3 in the games against Burnley and in Europe this weak, we might face a weakened team with our strongest available.

Equally the reverse could happen. You cannot plan for it.

[angus]

I think we were lucky to play Wolves when we did, as they're looking like a tough fixture for most teams now. We have also been lucky playing Shef United and Burnley away now, rather than at the end of the season when they've got the bit between their teeth, fighting off relegation. Man United might sort themselves out by the end of the season, in which case we were lucky to play them away so early.

I would've liked to play Everton earlier when they were on their goalless run, and Spurs later, now that Maddison is injured.

[Seanee Pawnee]

After 55 “glorious” years of supporting this club, I still find it virtually impossible to call/predict any of our results.
Nice thing these days is there is no such thing as a nailed on 3pts.
I think 30pts will prolly be enough to stay up this season.
10th place awaits!

[Gooders]

Originally Posted by angus

I think we were lucky to play Wolves when we did, as they're looking like a tough fixture for most teams now. We have also been lucky playing Shef United and Burnley away now, rather than at the end of the season when they've got the bit between their teeth, fighting off relegation. Man United might sort themselves out by the end of the season, in which case we were lucky to play them away so early.

I would've liked to play Everton earlier when they were on their goalless run, and Spurs later, now that Maddison is injured.

Agree with much that you say but I can't help thinking that the only thing Burnley and Sheff Utd will have between their teeth at the end of the season will be an AA road map giving directions to Stevenage, whilst they're rooting around in their pockets for their car keys.

[Maiden Eagle]

Originally Posted by adrenalin john

Fixture congestion, (like this upcoming December) again you want to play small clubs with small squads not the big European clubs with no European fixtures. We play Liverpool, Man City, Brighton and Chelsea in this period, and a fully rested Arsenal in January.

Pls do NOT call Br*ghton, a big Club.

They're arrogant enough, as it is

[adrenalin john]

Originally Posted by Maiden Eagle

Pls do NOT call Br*ghton, a big Club.

They're arrogant enough, as it is

Fair point well made. Apologies. What I meant was I would prefer to play them when we are well prepared and they are coming back from a spanking in Baku

[Maidstoned Eagle]

Originally Posted by GreatGonzo

It is the luck of the draw.

West Ham are due some injuries, had the fewest this season so far (5) and none at the moment. Bowen might have picked something up on international duty

Out for 9 months.

[eagle1066]

Originally Posted by adrenalin john

Yes you have to play every team twice, but when you play them makes a difference.

First of all teams in Europe; you want to play them after they have played a European fixture, preferably away. We haven't played one.

Teams with small squads, you want to play later in the season when injuries and suspensions have taken their toll.

International breaks, you want to play teams with most of their players being called up and most of all you want to play at home.

Fixture congestion, (like this upcoming December) again you want to play small clubs with small squads not the big European clubs with no European fixtures. We play Liverpool, Man City, Brighton and Chelsea in this period, and a fully rested Arsenal in January.

Runs of form, obviously you want to play teams when they are in a bad run of form not when they are hitting their straps, like Everton with a finally fit Calvert Lewin are.

This season we seemed to have drawn the shortest of short straws on all of the above. Prime example we could be playing Newcastle now amidst their injury crisis and European fixtures, instead we draw them away after an international break - literally the furthest we could have traveled - any wonder Ayew, Guehi and Andersen had off days?

Luck or is the way fixtures are selected intentionally or unintentionally biased?

I absolutely agree with this, hence brighton reaching their lofty heights, imho, last season.
I think weve had bad luck with injuries when weve had to get or expected to get more points. Last season we had the Viera experience and can only guess what would have been better or worse if roy had been there all along.

COYP

[casinocolin]

Originally Posted by Maidstoned Eagle

Out for 9 months.

Is this official?

[sl6 Eagle]

No it was a wind up on Twitter

[tasty_snacks]

Originally Posted by adrenalin john

Yes you have to play every team twice, but when you play them makes a difference.

First of all teams in Europe; you want to play them after they have played a European fixture, preferably away. We haven't played one.

I'm afraid this one goes in the apocryphal pile. Numerous pieces have debunked this down the years.

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Teams 'in form' always bugs me too - teams in lower mid table on a run of decent results are by definition bucking their own trend. They can't continue, else they'd be towards the top of the league. Probability suggests a reversion to the mean sooner rather than later, so on that simple basis we should prefer playing 'in form' teams...!