Last season there were two Super Sundays, where the top four clubs played each other all happened to be selected to play against each other during the same weekend.
On both Manchester derbies, one in August, the other in February, Chelsea and Liverpool played each other.
Clearly the fixtures, whilst random in parts, are organised depending on varying features. Lots of things have to be considered, television revenue included.
Sir Alex Ferguson has today suggested that something else they take in to consideration happens to be how United have be best disadvantaged.
There is no denying that United have had by far the toughest fixtures of any top team so far this season, making it fairly reassuring that we’re as close to Chelsea and Liverpool as we are.
Having such tough fixtures in the first half of the season, particularly when United have slow starts, means that psychologically we could have been put at a massive disadvantage, starting the new year with lots to catch up. As it is, Chelsea and Liverpool have failed to capitalise meaning we stand in good stead for the second half of the season, with much easier fixtures lined up.
“I’ve been saying this for a few months, but our fixture programme didn’t do us any favours and I think we have been handicapped by the Premier League. They tell me it’s not planned – bloody hell!” said Ferguson. When asked if he seriously thought that the Premier League wanted to put United at a disadvantage, he didn’t dismiss the possibility. “I’ve got my doubts,” he said. “I’m not saying what they do down there, but next year we’ll be sending somebody to see how it happens, I can assure you. I just don’t understand how you can get the fixtures like that.”
What do you make of it all?
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He is right though, liverpool followed by chelsea in the first few matches? i mean for fucks sake and then after every champions league match our next league match was away.
but considering we’re still in the title race there plan hasnt worked.
also if we look at the last 2 seasons we have had days when the top four all met eachother, what sky call a SUPER sunday. i mean the likely hood that the teams are picked for one season is unlikely but it can happen but for that to happen 2 seasons running?
How long before the FA says something stupid as his comments bring the FA into disrepute and he’ll be called upon to “explain himself” after which he gets a touch- line ban and a fine. I’m just saying, lol. I can’t trust the FA these days.
I for one agree with him.I don’t know maybe it’s because in Greece we thrive on conspiracy theories but there is no way this fixture list was picked in random.Yes i know that Liverpool played the same games away from home but at least they didn’t play all of them after Champion’s League ties!And at least they played us at home.Considering that we are still feeling the effects of last season’s excersions i would say that we are in a good spot.
absolutely not, the fixture list definitely wasnt picked randomly what with the super sunday and all like this is manchester said, it feels like it’s happened on quite a few occasions already and not just for United as well, so too for some of the other derbies and big matches it’s glaringly obvious, and if it isnt randomly picked out then, yeah there’s a possibility that there might be people influencing when whoever plays another.
Of course it was fixed, the fa want anyone but United to win it this year, they dont want United winning it 3 years in a row.
The absolute joke of a 4 game ban for Evra was proof if we ever needed it that the fa are looking for the slightest excuse to fuck up United’s season.
“but next year we will be sending somebody to see how it happens” SAF-legend!
Just to add something to the fixture list. Last season we faced Shitty on the same fixure dates as Chelski and Liverpool played against each other. This season Chelski face Arsenal when we face Shitty. Wierd… I think Fergie is right, that is not normal. I demand a recount!
and united liverpool was in the same game week as arsenal chelsea, to back your point up
might just work in our favour though… we have the edge knowing they all gotta visit OT and we have played at there dumps.
We’ll show em how to do it. United style!
Hate to spoil the party a bit boys, but Scott doesn’t mention the FA in his blog for all the FA conspiracy theorists because although the FA are present at the fixture list compilation, it is in fact the Premier League who make the fixtures. Premier League and FA are often at loggerheads, i.e. over home-grown player quotas etc. I don’t beleive in the conspiracies but it serves a purpose for Fergie to play up to them because it creates a siege-mentality United for second half of the season. Because of our difficult opening half of the season, we will in fact have an easier run-in when the top teams are supposed to be even more tired. I don’t doubt that super sundays get arranged for TV purposes but for the Premier league to look at the champs league fixtures and give us an away game every time seems a bit far-fetched and pointless beacuse we will have an easier run-in, also having played our most difficult games when we should be most fresh and not to mention we are notorious slow-starters.
It’s certainly not random, as the “Super Sunday” ‘coincidences’ suggest.
I think it’s a bit of a stretch to say it was a fix, though. It’s going to be harder proving it, too, with the ‘dippers able to claim they’ve had the same away fixtures (albeit not all after CL games).
Yes, the F.A. are ABU, but WUMming like this is pointless and, as OTRed points out, could even backfire.
Forget the fixtures,Shity lost 3-0 at home to Notts Forest!No trophy for one more year!
Fergie will probably get charged for that statement!
I was watching SSN and they were like the odds of getting any of the away fixtures we had after each CL game was 1 in 64…but yet somehow United get it.
I strongly agree with SAF. the first time i saw the fixtures i said to myself its really unfair but strange and i was surprised that nobody said anything or complained. I wish they really send someone to see how the fixtures go next season
of course it’s 1/64….every team’s 6 fixtures in a row away are 1/64?….black 6 times in a row on Roulette is 1/64 as well… I think….but it happens….yet, we are not even talking in a row because obviously there are home games in between when Champs league isn’t on or it’s internationals….1/64….that doesn’t mean anything