I think for those who rely on increased match day income would be keen to have at least one a year.
I have no idea if it means we're stuck with it. If they get relegated we couldn't play them so could change then. Which means it's not concrete that we'll play once a year. But whoever wrote the algorithms for the fixture creating computer programme obviously sees it as a factor.
Is similar to why we quite often play Sunderland on boxing day. Don't want to make people travel too far but also don't want to make it a (possibly) heated rivalry (Liverpool or Manchester team) when people will be drinking twice as much. There are only a few teams that fit the parameters.
yep.
i don't think it'll matter too much with city this year, but we saw it last season when they lost their first 4 aways or something, new manager and new players etc. doubt they'll change much this season. but playing chelsea early may be good for us, new keeper you'd think (defence has played with cech behind for a long time now), fabregas will probably slot in nicely, but it'll be a bit of a new era with cole and lampard not in the dressing room and a new main striker.
arsenal could well be buying a new striker, new centre mid, new keeper, new full backs, players tend not to gel in well at arsenal straight away, they take time.
everyone will say the same about us though and rightly so.
