After the Arsenal game on Saturday we will have played 16 games in 8 weeks. Then during the remaining 8 weeks we will only play 9 games. My question is why were the Fulham and Man Utd games not rearranged for later in the season to help spread our workload ? Neither of the two games were postponed originally at our request yet it appears we had no say in when the games were eventually played.

I think they were getting games in as fast as possible in case of extra postponements for covid tests throughout the season. Games had to be rearranged for the earliest possible date to keep later dates free.

When we came up from the Championship - where this type of schedule was more normal - Sean used to say 2 games a week was not an issue, a bit different now.

I have long maintained that the extra mental fatigue and need to properly prepare for games in the Premier League would see us struggle with 2 games a week over a sustained period in the Premier League, it was what I cautioned against re Europa League football. We always struggle in these kinds of circumstances. I will also say that football every day is making it tough for everyone.

It was more of a shock when Sean said only City had played the same amount of games over that period, and Leeds had only played 8 or 9 games to our 13. I still think there is a pecking order to the premier league, and a bigger club would have got some of the games rescheduled.
He said neither Burnley or Fulham wanted to play the rearranged fixture when it was, but were forced to.

We have 12 points from the 11 pl games so far with 2 more this week. Hopefully we can pick up a few more points

Arsenal dont play midweek, however we have had our March 20th fixture v Leicester brought forward to Wednesday, then we play lunch time kick off Saturday...
That's games on Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday this week, and 3 in 6 days.

Leicester are in the FA cup but out of Europe, I'm not having this was the best or only week we couod have played the fixture.

Why was there a need to try and squeeze this game in I'll never know.

We then have no games from 13th March until 3rd of April...

I very much doubt any of the big boys wouod be told to play Sunday , Wednesday and then Saturday lunch time if they were important fixtures

MACCA wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 12:17 pm

I very much doubt any of the big boys wouod be told to play Sunday , Wednesday and then Saturday lunch time if they were important fixtures

Manchester City did that last week.

Tall Paul wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 12:29 pm

Manchester City did that last week.

The clubs that play in Europe do it a lot

The club have had 2 transfer windows since it became clear this type of schedule would have to happen , and have chosen not to stengthen the squad

Tall Paul wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 12:29 pm

Manchester City did that last week.

City were able to make 7 changes to their team and not weaken it such is their squad size

Tall Paul wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 12:29 pm

Manchester City did that last week.

Which fixture was brought forward and put in between a Sunday and Saturday lunch time kick off?

I cant find it

Chester Perry wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 12:33 pm

The clubs that play in Europe do it a lot

They do but they know they're in that competition, and the fixture dates so can plan.

Not sure bringing a fixture forward to then put it into an already tight schedule was a great or fair idea to be honest.

There must be some dates later when the busy schedule quietens.
Seems some sides can pick and choose what dates they'd like to play these postponed games.

MACCA wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 1:29 pm

They do but they know they're in that competition, and the fixture dates so can plan.

Not sure bringing a fixture forward to then put it into an already tight schedule was a great or fair idea to be honest.

There must be some dates later when the busy schedule quietens.
Seems some sides can pick and choose what dates they'd like to play these postponed games.

Every single side that has been impacted has complained they have had no say in when these games are played, but in reality all have, as it was their clubs that were required to vote on the policy, managers may say the Premier League has created the policy but everything in the Premier League is ratified by the clubs

Sounds like we have come through a hard period and can look forward to a lot easier schedule.
Which should be in our favour as we approach the run in.

Chester Perry wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 1:38 pm

Every single side that has been impacted has complained they have had no say in when these games are played, but in reality all have, as it was their clubs that were required to vote on the policy, managers may say the Premier League has created the policy but everything in the Premier League is ratified by the clubs

Why was the Man Utd and Fulham game moved then?

They should just crack on.

Also let's just play every Saturday Wednesday Saturday right the way through and either start the season later, have a winter break or finish it sooner.

If the figures are correct and leeds have played 4 less games in the same period, then how is that a fair spread.

its ok saying clubs voted on these things, but they probably didn't vote for such a busy schedule, or at least allow clubs to offer a few dates that they can agree on.

I just think the Man Utd, Fulham and now Leicester games could have been handled a lot better, and its certainly had a big negative impact on us each time.

MACCA wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 1:25 pm

Which fixture was brought forward and put in between a Sunday and Saturday lunch time kick off?

I cant find it

Nice goalpost shift.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 1:44 pm

Sounds like we have come through a hard period and can look forward to a lot easier schedule.
Which should be in our favour as we approach the run in.

Yes, we have 3 weeks off coming up from 23th March, it will probably coincide with when we get the fittest and most players available as we've had all season ...

Tall Paul wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 1:46 pm

Nice goalpost shift.

Nope, I specifically mentioned having a fixture brought forward.
Not just keeping with the schedule that's in place, that can be planned for.

Bringing one forward and squeezing it in was my issue, I think I did put that, in the first paragraph.

MACCA wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 1:50 pm

Nope, I specifically mentioned having a fixture brought forward.
Not just keeping with the schedule that's in place, that can be planned for.

Bringing one forward and squeezing it in was my issue, I think I did put that, in the first paragraph.

So when you said:
"I very much doubt any of the big boys wouod be told to play Sunday , Wednesday and then Saturday lunch time if they were important fixtures"

you actually meant something completely different? OK, got it.

Tall Paul wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 2:01 pm

So when you said:
"I very much doubt any of the big boys wouod be told to play Sunday , Wednesday and then Saturday lunch time if they were important fixtures"

you actually meant something completely different? OK, got it.

You've picked out 1 bit if the post, my initial point was about the game being brought forward, and none of the big 6 would get the same treatment.

I very much doubt should Man City ( you used them as an example so I will ) have a game Sunday and then Saturday lunch time the premier league decided to bring a game forward 3 weeks and plonk it in between on a Wednesday they would be best pleased.

In fact I'd go as far as saying it wouldn't happen.

But I suppose if you think playing in the Champions league whilst keeping to the set schedule is the same thing then fair enough.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 1:44 pm

Sounds like we have come through a hard period and can look forward to a lot easier schedule.
Which should be in our favour as we approach the run in.

You'd hope so, let's try and pick any points we can in the next 3 games, then let the lads get a breather, the following 2 games after that longish break are Southampton & Newcastle, 6 points out of those games, and we'll be virtually safe, so touch wood we can get most of our regulars back by then.

MACCA wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 2:13 pm

You've picked out 1 bit if the post, my initial point was about the game being brought forward, and none of the big 6 would get the same treatment.

I very much doubt should Man City ( you used them as an example so I will ) have a game Sunday and then Saturday lunch time the premier league decided to bring a game forward 3 weeks and plonk it in between on a Wednesday they would be best pleased.

In fact I'd go as far as saying it wouldn't happen.

But I suppose if you think playing in the Champions league whilst keeping to the set schedule is the same thing then fair enough.

As I said, nice goalpost shift, then doubling down by creating a strawman argument.

But I suppose if you think the moon is made of green cheese, fair enough.

Tall Paul wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 2:26 pm

As I said, nice goalpost shift, then doubling down by creating a strawman argument.

But I suppose if you think the moon is made of green cheese, fair enough.

Let's save time, you're right again

Tall Paul wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 12:29 pm

Manchester City did that last week.

And are playing again tonight!

I thought we were always better in the Championship when the games came thick and fast. International breaks are usually pretty disastrous for us on return.

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:59 pm

I thought we were always better in the Championship when the games came thick and fast. International breaks are usually pretty disastrous for us on return.

In the Championship when we were on a roll maybe, but this is the PL, and the break can surely only benefit us, mainly to give us a chance to clear our injury list more than anything, it's obvious in recent weeks the lads are running on empty, and sadly we don't have the squad to rotate as other clubs enjoy, so this 3 weeks of rest could be critical to our run in when we have 3/4 winnable games on the horizon.

2 games a week no big deal

International games in the present climate and all Europa/Champions league games scrapped
Klopp is spot on about Covid dangers
Regardless of reports it's very much still with us

The national league clubs have Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday schedules for the whole of March and April with no respite.

Some of those players have proper jobs on top.

Tall Paul wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 12:29 pm

Manchester City did that last week.

They have a huge squad of top class players to switch around.....ours play every game all game.
BIG difference!

timshorts wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 04, 2021 7:52 am

The national league clubs have Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday schedules for the whole of March and April with no respite.

Some of those players have proper jobs on top.

The first four words of your post made the comparison irrelevant.

Taffy on the wing wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 04, 2021 8:10 am

They have a huge squad of top class players to switch around.....ours play every game all game.
BIG difference!

So we should get preferential treatment on the scheduling of fixtures because we dont have lots of money and a large squad?

Its a strange take when this discussion started with someone morning that the big clubs got favourable treatment to then when someone points out an example of it not being true to suddenly suggest favourable treatment is the answer but just to us and not them

Madness!