So, I've just come home to the Laker rally down at the Coliseum and it was phenomenal, which makes me a bit late to the party in saying the new schedule is out today. Season starts a little under two months from now, August 15. I'm still stuck in offseason mode, but I'm sure past the Fourth of July, I'll be in preseason mode. At any rate, if you didn't know...
ESPN Soccernet | Man Utd start new season at home to Birmingham
Champions Manchester United begin the defence of their Premier League title at home to newly-promoted Birmingham City on August 15.Next up for the Red Devils is a visit to Burnley where they take on the Championship play-off winners.
The title holders have to wait until the end of the month before their first match against one of the top four clubs as they take on Arsenal at Old Trafford on August 29, with the return fixture at Emirates Stadium on January 30.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side visit Anfield to play Liverpool on October 24 and the Premier League runners-up are at Old Trafford on March 20.
Chelsea are the last of the other top four sides to face United as new manager Carlo Ancelotti's side are at home to the champions on November 7, with the return fixture on April 3.
United close the season at home to Stoke on May 9.
I've only glanced at the United schedule, but it seems a lot more kind than it was last season. A good beginning with two of the first three games being against the new boys, Birmingham and Burnley, which I reckon will give the lads no excuse from stumbling out of the opening gate as they usually do. Also, the Champions League group stage matches don't coincide with difficult away matches this time around. The two away dates to Liverpool and Chelsea are in that late October to early November stretch, a good time to get those out of the way I think. United's toughest stretch are in the mid-March to mid-April run-in, but the good news aside from the Manchester Derby being in Eastlands this coming April, United are home to both Liverpool and Chelsea in that span. Finishing away to Sunderland and home to Stoke is a good way to finish it off.
Much of the title race hinges on how United fill the void Cristiano Ronaldo has left, but this time around, the fixtures are more level for the lads. I haven't seen the schedules of Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal yet, especially for the run-in months quite yet.
On a minor note, Newcastle open against West Brom, as the Championship's headliner, no doubt.
Again, we're less than two months away from the new Premier League season and I reckon I'll need to have a sign-up sheet up soon for our new Fantasy Premiership campaign, but I'm still debating on which game to go with: Official Premier League site game, Yahoo, or a mixed European league (England, Spain, Italy, France, Germany). I think the Premier League site's game worked out well and better yet if they install H2H action in private leagues this season.
-Ray
Mainly because I don't really follow European leagues, except to check on the standings now and again. I suspect that will be true for the majority of others who played last year as well.
Be great to have some H2H action in private leagues this year - hope they implement it.
And with Newcastle's demise, I might be able to be a bit more competitive this time, since I won't have those black & white stripes to cloud my judgement!
Ha, I noticed that two times I checked your team, you had guys like Danny Guthrie, Obafemi Martins, and I swore I saw Nicky Butt.
I'll admit to Martins & Butt (for a little while), but I never had Guthrie on my team!
Could've sworn you had him although I reckon you can confuse Damien Duff with him these days.