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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