ARTICLE: Clarets kick off at Leicester in delayed start

[ClaretTony]

The 2020/21 fixtures with the first game already postponed

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/clarets-ki ... ayed-start

[FactualFrank]

Leeds away on Boxing Day.

[Myk]

Final two home games look fun

[claretgoss]

One home game in the first six weeks

[martin_p]

I don’t understand why they couldn’t just put the United game on a date when they could play!

[FactualFrank]

Do you think clubs will have anywhere near full capacity this side of the New Year?

[ClaretTony]

I don’t understand why they couldn’t just put the United game on a date when they could play!

I don't think they know when it will be played as yet

[ClaretTony]

Do you think clubs will have anywhere near full capacity this side of the New Year?

I don't think there is a chance of that happened, would be amazed if it did, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it goal all season with none and then reduced capacities.

[LoveCurryPies]

The delay gives our players an extra week to recover from injury and be match fit.

[Whitgord]

Four away games in a row in London from mid Jan to Feb.

[martin_p]

I don't think they know when it will be played as yet

But isn’t that their job, the decide when games are played? Surely picking a midweek sometime after United have started their season can’t be that hard.

[Whitgord]

Last 5 games could have been a lot worse.

[ClaretTony]

Four away games in a row in London from mid Jan to Feb.

I hadn't spotted that when I was getting them ready. Back in 2018/19 we had successive away games at Palace, Spurs and Arsenal to end 2018.

[Eloise Laws]

Isn’t it all a bit flat when you have no idea when you’ll be back in your seat......or even hope to go to an away game?

[martin_p]

Isn’t it all a bit flat when you have no idea when you’ll be back in your seat......or even hope to go to an away game?

Very much so. I can’t remember the last time I felt so underwhelmed by the prospect of a new season.

[evensteadiereddie]

The opposite for me. Raring to go - and worrying already.....

[ClaretTony]

Isn’t it all a bit flat when you have no idea when you’ll be back in your seat......or even hope to go to an away game?

Fixture day hasn't had the excitement this time round has it? It really is flat. By now we'd already be discussing our first away trip of the season to Leicester. Some people say they are just a list, this year it feels like that.

[Local cricketer]

Dan Black ruined the surprise for us all

[Whitgord]

Looks like Leeds will be playing catch up from the start ( they begin at Anfield).

[ClaretTony]

Looks like Leeds will be playing catch up from the start ( they begin at Anfield).

I'm in such a panic trying to ensure I have everything ready for 9 I miss much of it, but here are the opening day fixtures.

Crystal Palace v Southampton (12 Sep)
Fulham v Arsenal (12 Sep)
Liverpool v Leeds United (12 Sep)
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton (12 Sep)
West Bromwich Albion v Leicester City (12 Sep)
West Ham United v Newcastle United (12 Sep)
Brighton v Chelsea (14 Sep)
Sheffield United v Wolves (14 Sep)
Burnley v Manchester United (later date)
Manchester City v Aston Villa (later date)

[ashtonlongsider]

Bit of an anti climax. It would have been a good time to play MU first up before they get a chance to gel with the anticipated new signings. As it is we look like we'll be playing catch up. As for fans inside the ground, I'll be surprised if it happens this coming season.

[Granny WeatherWax]

Its all a massive 'meh'.

[claretblue]

when was the last time the Champions played the Championship wionners (2nd Division champions) 1st day of season?

[karatekid]

One home game in the first six weeks

That doesn’t mean as much in empty stadiums.

[Paul Waine]

It's "locked" now (why?) so I can't "quote."

My first fixture prediction was: "One of the Manchester clubs.... so no game first w/end. "

Where does "mistic Paul" claim my prize?

Anyone want to know the lottery numbers this w/end?

Actually, don't ask me about the lottery numbers, we can all guess right once in a hundred years.

[FactualFrank]

Four away games in a row in London from mid Jan to Feb.

We'll be known as Lion King FC.

A win away,
A win away,
A win away,
A win away...

[Paul Waine]

I don't think they know when it will be played as yet

I read in the media that the Utd and City first games might be mid-week after 12th Sept. I think this was on the basis of mid-week being more than 30 days from when they got knocked out of Europe. However, this might be the case.

A repeat of first home game from 2009 would be good. Though not so great in front of an empty stadium.

UTC

[ClaretTony]

I read in the media that the Utd and City first games might be mid-week after 12th Sept. I think this was on the basis of mid-week being more than 30 days from when they got knocked out of Europe. However, this might be the case.

A repeat of first home game from 2009 would be good. Though not so great in front of an empty stadium.

UTC

The first three midweeks are the League Cup. Man U won't be involved in the first of them but we will.

[Cirrus_Minor]

Not too bad really. A reasonable start and run in at the end. But as someone already said above, worrying already.

But I always do.

[hoskinsgoalatswansea]

If it’s just city and Utd delayed, why not have their first fixture against each other so ourselves and villa don’t have to miss the excitement of the opening weekend. Also, straight away we have higher fixture congestion than others with a midweek game somewhere that others won’t have.

[Paul Waine]

The first three midweeks are the League Cup. Man U won't be involved in the first of them but we will.

So, we will hope the re-arranged date if when we have a vaccine and we can fill every seat to cheer the Clarets on!

[ClaretTony]

So, we will hope the re-arranged date if when we have a vaccine and we can fill every seat to cheer the Clarets on!

Good thought, there is certainly no suggestion as yet of a potential date.

[Billy Balfour]

I'm a bit sadfaced that we won't be playing on the opening weekend.

[MDWat]

Why don’t we just offer a bye to the opposition in round 2 of the Carabao Cup so we can all save ourselves the stress of a wretched performance in getting knocked out?

[Grimsdale]

Not too bad really. A reasonable start and run in at the end. But as someone already said above, worrying already.

But I always do.

Ditto.
For me, the first aim is always to beat Derby's 11 point total, then Sunderland's 15.
After that I can start to relax a bit.

[ClaretTony]

Why don’t we just offer a bye to the opposition in round 2 of the Carabao Cup so we can all save ourselves the stress of a wretched performance in getting knocked out?

You might get a shock, we might still be in the competition going into October

[ClaretTony]

Ditto.
For me, the first aim is always to beat Derby's 11 point total, then Sunderland's 15.
After that I can start to relax a bit.

Always remember that Derby season which was two years before we went up the first time. I had this awful feeling that if we ever went up it would be similar. We might have gone down on each of the first two seasons in the Premier League but thankfully there was never anything like that Derby season. One win all season.

[claret10]

when was the last time the Champions played the Championship wionners (2nd Division champions) 1st day of season?

I remember Fulham's first game in the PL was against Man United away.....Not sure if United were champions but there is a fair chance they were?

[ClaretTony]

I remember Fulham's first game in the PL was against Man United away.....Not sure if United were champions but there is a fair chance they were?

Fulham went up in 2001 and United had won the Premier League in the previous season.

[RammyClaret61]

Well that’s a spoiler. 12th September 1970 was my first ever game. Was hoping for a good home game on that day. 50th anniversary. Oh well.

[groove]

I still can't understand why we are starting this season at all. There just doesn't seem any point. You can sense the apathy on this thread. It's a shame because Leeds away on Boxing day would have been a cracker. Imagine if we got to a cup final. Although highly unlikely, watching us at an empty Wembley Stadium on the TV is never how I envisioned it. I just wish they'd pull the plug on the whole season.

[ksrclaret]

Seeing those fixtures and knowing we probably won't get to see a single game in person, and we don't even know if they'll be shown on telly, means this has been very anticlimactic for me. Finding it hard to be enthusiastic as I'm usually planning all my away trips at this point.

I think though when the games come around it'll be just like it always was.

[CrosspoolClarets]

A very tough start, especially given how fresh the European qualifiers will be (for once) with just having had two extended breaks and no international action.

Then the Blades away to finish, if we’re not allowed on I can watch either on TV or from my attic bedroom (I can see about 1 sqm of the grass so it will be great if the entire game is played by the corner flag).

[NottsClaret]

Didn't realise how apathetic I was until the fixtures came out. First game we're not playing. Browse down to Christmas fixtures.. well, probably won't be in by then anyway. Meh.

Not much point to it all really, especially if they're not even on telly. Just a series of behind-closed-doors friendlies. Honestly don't know how armchair fans get excited by this every year, if we're not going to the matches I don't get it.

[Woodleyclaret]

What's the latest re live game coverage
After Leeds on every week what other arrangements are in the pipeline?

[AfloatinClaret]

Leeds away on Boxing Day.

The home game in May will be better still; it could well be that victory which confirms Leeds' relegation.

[tiger76]

Not an ideal start we have a blank weekend, and then a tough trip to Leicester, puts some early pressure on that Southampton game even in the opening weeks of the season, I always feel calmer when we get a win on the board early, but even as an armchair fan I'm struggling to get excited, it all feels surreal especially with no atmosphere at the grounds, however it's worth remembering that these are actual matches and not friendlies, and if we don't put points on the board, we'll quickly find ourselves in relegation trouble.

Normally this site would be rocking over the prospect of hosting Utd first up, but even if the game had got the go ahead, it would be behind closed doors, so it's not the same without any fan participation, and even United doesn't get the veins flowing when nobody can attend.

I will be very surprised if any clubs in the top 2 tiers are allowed to have fans in the grounds this side of Xmas, and there must be a severe doubt if they'll even be able to attend at all this season.

For all those asking why the season is getting the go ahead, then the small matter of the billions in TV monies answers that question.

[ClaretTony]

First set of TV games to be announced early next week.

The number of games to be screened has been increased to 220.

[leelad]

Interesting to hear that the number of games to be screened has been increased for next season. TV companies may be planning ahead here on the premise that it may take longer for fans to return back to stadiums to watch football matches? Or is there more money sloshing around for TV companies to agree deals with the Premier League?

As for the new fixtures, a bit anticlimactic for me, but it's a new season and all that, Leeds on Boxing Day is the stand out fixture for me. So let's approach it one game at a time as SD would say. May be a blessing in disguise to start a week later than the rest of the league. We have got some work to do in the transfer market and get some new signings in and gel with who we have already. And also we need to get our injury list down as much as possible.

[jdrobbo]

Thanks for this Tony. No matter how well you finish the previous season and no matter how short the gap between seasons, fixture day is a kind reminder of just how brutal the Premier League is and how survival is always a realistic but very tough primary aim.