Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Steve67 on June 11, 2025, 02:25:16 PM
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Released on Wednesday 18th at 9am. Seems quicker every year!
Who’s it to be?
Home, for once, surely? Leeds United.
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Away v Palace.
Leeds will get Liverpool or Arsenal
Chelsea v Sunderland
Burnley v Forest
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Opening weekend :
Liverpool v Chelsea
Man Citeh v Spurs
Arsenal v Man U
Burnley v Villa
SHA v Newcastle
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Isn't it an unwritten rule that we'll be away to a promoted club? Or at least a long away trek. Sunderland away would meet both criteria.
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We will play Man U away.
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Bournemouth away.
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Bournemouth away.
Not again. >:(
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Isn't it an unwritten rule that we'll be away to a promoted club? Or at least a long away trek. Sunderland away would meet both criteria.
Hasn’t it been more of an actual written rule recently? By request? Or have I made that up?
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We will play Man U away.
Please let this be the case. Out of the way.
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We will be away on the opening weekend and probably lose. We will be away on Boxing Day and on the final day and definitely lose.
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Isn't it an unwritten rule that we'll be away to a promoted club? Or at least a long away trek. Sunderland away would meet both criteria.
Hasn’t it been more of an actual written rule recently? By request? Or have I made that up?
We have asked to play away on the opening day at least once I think to allow more time for work at Villa Park yo be completed. We were supposed to play away at Man City in 2020 as well but they hadn't had a long enough close season so ur first game was slightly later at home to Sheffield United.
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We will be away on the opening weekend and probably lose. We will be away on Boxing Day and on the final day and definitely lose.
This. Its a absolute joke we are aaay 1st game and last game mosg seasons
I wouldnt mind if our first away game is manure get it out the way early
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Oh God.
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Man City will probably be away for the first two games due to their new stand being built.
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I’m positive that the rules for the fixtures state that clubs who are away on the first game are at home on the last, unless requested otherwise by the club.
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Sure it used to be but is more of a mixed bag lately. Twelve teams swapped from home to away first game to last game last season, as you'd expect, eight teams were at home both or away both.
We have been away for our last six opening/Boxing Day/closing fixtures.
It's something of a disadvantage considering we never win away on Boxing Day or in the last game, and have a patchy, at best, record away from Villa Park on the opening day.
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We will play Man U away.
Would prefer to get all of our horrendous away games at Man. United, Palace, Wolves, Newcastle and whoever else out of the way early, first ten games would be fine as we might actually shock everyone by getting a draw out of one of them.
Will probably be away again first as Sabbath is early July so likely a request to the prem to have an extra week to prepare the pitch.
If you're away first weekend you should always be at home on the final day. I don't really get last season how we came to a scenario where we were away for the first, last and Boxing Day so we need to be having a word to the league about that.
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We will play Man U away.
Would prefer to get all of our horrendous away games at Man. United, Palace, Wolves, Newcastle and whoever else out of the way early, first ten games would be fine as we might actually shock everyone by getting a draw out of one of them.
Will probably be away again first as Sabbath is early July so likely a request to the prem to have an extra week to prepare the pitch.
If you're away first weekend you should always be at home on the final day. I don't really get last season how we came to a scenario where we were away for the first, last and Boxing Day so we need to be having a word to the league about that.
Wasnt it the same the season before? Wasnt Opening day A at Newcastle, Boxing day A at Man Utd, and finished A at Palace?
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First H game is Everton APFU
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I reckon Leeds away
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Defo Burnley away.
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I'd like Manchester United away first, to banish a few demons.
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Defo Burnley away.
Agree, I’d bet it will be this
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Won’t mind Burnley away either, another gravy and chips stronghold.
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Whats odd evertons 1st home game at their new stadium is going to be us. You just know it
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19/1
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Surely it’s 38/1?
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Surely it’s 38/1?
There’s not 38 teams they can play at home
Unless I read the post wrong, which could be the case, sometimes it feels like spaghetti code.
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No, but there are 38 possible fixtures we can start the season with!
Edit. Okay yes, you are right!
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Probably about 18/1 as they won't host Liverpool first. Bookies would probably give you about 15/1 of they took odds on such things.
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I’m trying to make some money here. FFS.
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I'd say it's more complicated than that, depending on how many clubs have requested that their first fixture is away. If Everton have requested that their first game is away from home, there's probably a 0% chance.
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But surely they’ve not requested their first home game is played away from home?
;D You’ve fallen into the same trap as me.
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But surely they’ve not requested their first home game is played away from home?
;D You’ve fallen into the same trap as me.
Not really. If both Villa and Everton have requested that first games are away, then both our second games will be at home. That would rule us out of being Everton's first opponents at their new ground.
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Also, e.g. if 10 clubs (sxcl. Everton) have requested an away game first (and we're one of them), then the odds of us being Everton's first opponents at their new ground would be 9/1. So it's more complicated, given some clubs can make specific requests.
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Ive opened a can of worms.
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Would like to avoid any of the really horrible teams in our first Villa Park game. If we avoid defeat, we would have effectively been a whole season unbeaten at home in the league. Which is pretty fucking mad considering we scarcely went a fortnight without a home loss for much of the 2010s.
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Would like to avoid any of the really horrible teams in our first Villa Park game. If we avoid defeat, we would have effectively been a whole season unbeaten at home in the league. Which is pretty fucking mad considering we scarcely went a fortnight without a home loss for much of the 2010s.
First four home games being Arsenal and the three promoted would mean we'd played all the Premier League teams at home without being beaten since the first game of last season.
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...you'll never sing that.
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Haven't the redfilth had something along the lines of unprecedented levels of opening games at home?
So you can guess who we will have
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...you'll never sing that.
Love it!
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Forest away itk
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Forest away itk
That's a good one if true. Think they may drop right off this year after great season last
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I’m still trying to get over being held illegally by the police in the Nottingham station concourse the time we played them first under SGT.
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I miss all those fake opening day fixture lists that used to do the rounds.
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The leaked list is Forest(A), then Brentford(H) Newcastle (A) Spurs (A) Dirty Leeds (H).
Boxing Day Man U(A)
Final day Arsenal (A)
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Well we can be fairly sure we will be away first game, Boxing Day and last match because that always seems to be the way.
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There's probably a leaked list for 26/27 which has us away to Small Heath on the final day.
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Well the one team it definitely won't be is forest as thats the fake leaked one with loads of errors
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Newcastle home first
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I did say Bournemouth but it wouldn't surprise me if it was Everton away, being the most played fixture and all that.
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According to some one on twatter first 6
Newcastle H
Brentford A
Palace H
Everton A
Sunderland A
Fulham H
The last two are apparently
Liverpool H
A Citeh
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I want Man U at Villa Park on Boxing Day & to pulverise the c**ts.
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16th Newcastle home 12:30pm
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December is absolutely fucking horrendous. We have clearly annoyed Father Christmas at some point.
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16/08/2025 12:30 Aston Villa v Newcastle United
23/08/2025 15:00 Brentford v Aston Villa
30/08/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
13/09/2025 15:00 Everton v Aston Villa
20/09/2025 15:00 Sunderland v Aston Villa
27/09/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Fulham
04/10/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Burnley
18/10/2025 15:00 Tottenham v Aston Villa
25/10/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Manchester City
01/11/2025 15:00 Liverpool v Aston Villa
08/11/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Bournemouth
22/11/2025 15:00 Leeds United v Aston Villa
29/11/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Wolves
03/12/2025 20:00 Brighton v Aston Villa
06/12/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Arsenal
13/12/2025 15:00 West Ham United v Aston Villa
20/12/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Manchester United
27/12/2025 15:00 Chelsea v Aston Villa
30/12/2025 20:00 Arsenal v Aston Villa
03/01/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
07/01/2026 20:00 Crystal Palace v Aston Villa
17/01/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Everton
24/01/2026 15:00 Newcastle United v Aston Villa
31/01/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Brentford
07/02/2026 15:00 Bournemouth v Aston Villa
11/02/2026 20:00 Aston Villa v Brighton
21/02/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Leeds United
28/02/2026 15:00 Wolves v Aston Villa
04/03/2026 20:00 Aston Villa v Chelsea
14/03/2026 15:00 Manchester United v Aston Villa
21/03/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v West Ham United
11/04/2026 15:00 Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa
18/04/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Sunderland
25/04/2026 15:00 Fulham v Aston Villa
02/05/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Tottenham
09/05/2026 15:00 Burnley v Aston Villa
17/05/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Liverpool
24/05/2026 16:00 Manchester City v Aston Villa
They'll change to a Sunday because of Europe.
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https://www.premierleague.com/news/4324541
How the fixture list is compiled.
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Away in bloody Manchester again, last day.
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December is absolutely fucking horrendous. We have clearly annoyed Father Christmas at some point.
Two London games away that week.
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We could have had a worse opening 7 fixtures to be fair.
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Not again Man City away last game not too bad a start for us.
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I know we won't, but individually I would actually expect us to win all the games up to Burnley at home in October
But, also, December looks very tough with EL games around that time to contend with as well
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No boxing day fixtures?
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No boxing day fixtures?
Nothing to do with Amazon not having the Christmas fixtures?
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Also, the week of our EL Final looks tough
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I know we won't, but individually I would actually expect us to win all the games up to Burnley at home in October
We play Crystal Palace in that period? Are you mad???!!
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December is absolutely fucking horrendous. We have clearly annoyed Father Christmas at some point.
Two London games away that week.
4 London away games in 4 weeks around Christmas.
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I remember a couple of years ago seeing the Arsenal and Man City games back to back and feeling that was tough…
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No boxing day fixtures?
I think they have just provisionally scheduled them for the Saturday. Expect to see them spread from the 26th-29th and the "New Year" games stretched out from 30th-5th January once TV companies get their say.
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Can't wait to see Liverpool players giving us a guard of honour at Villa Park before we lift that Premier League trophy 👌🏻
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Why do we never get to play Arsenal late in the season when they're in bottling mode? Why do we always get to play Man City late in the season when they're in twat everybody mode?
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No boxing day fixtures?
I think they have just provisionally scheduled them for the Saturday. Expect to see them spread from the 26th-29th and the "New Year" games stretched out from 30th-5th January once TV companies get their say.
Each week will have them stretched. Just surprised that they weren't officially scheduled for the 26th even if that was a Friday.
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The ones with a star are the ones subject to movement to Sundays with regards to either our, or our opponents participation in European football.
16/08/2025 12:30 Aston Villa v Newcastle United
*23/08/2025 15:00 Brentford v Aston Villa
*30/08/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
13/09/2025 15:00 Everton v Aston Villa
*20/09/2025 15:00 Sunderland v Aston Villa
*27/09/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Fulham
*04/10/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Burnley
18/10/2025 15:00 Tottenham v Aston Villa
*25/10/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Manchester City
01/11/2025 15:00 Liverpool v Aston Villa
*08/11/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Bournemouth
22/11/2025 15:00 Leeds United v Aston Villa
*29/11/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Wolves
03/12/2025 20:00 Brighton v Aston Villa
06/12/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Arsenal
*13/12/2025 15:00 West Ham United v Aston Villa
*20/12/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Manchester United
27/12/2025 15:00 Chelsea v Aston Villa
30/12/2025 20:00 Arsenal v Aston Villa
03/01/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
07/01/2026 20:00 Crystal Palace v Aston Villa
17/01/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Everton
*24/01/2026 15:00 Newcastle United v Aston Villa
*31/01/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Brentford
07/02/2026 15:00 Bournemouth v Aston Villa
11/02/2026 20:00 Aston Villa v Brighton
21/02/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Leeds United
28/02/2026 15:00 Wolves v Aston Villa
04/03/2026 20:00 Aston Villa v Chelsea
14/03/2026 15:00 Manchester United v Aston Villa
21/03/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v West Ham United
11/04/2026 15:00 Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa
18/04/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Sunderland
25/04/2026 15:00 Fulham v Aston Villa
02/05/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Tottenham
09/05/2026 15:00 Burnley v Aston Villa
17/05/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Liverpool
24/05/2026 16:00 Manchester City v Aston Villa
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Just take a look at the fixtures for 27 and 30 December, and see how all the fixtures have been arranged for the London clubs.
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Let's put the fucking Geordies in their place. Take Brentford with their new manager and without decent players, Palace at home, stuff them as payback. Take advantage of Everton trying to settle in on the docks, Sunderland when they're running out of that giddy new arrival mode, then a routine win against Fulham.
That'll see us top at the end of September, momentum, and do what Liverpool did last season and ride that wave to glory.
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Easy 2-0 win on the opening day. Grealish with both.
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Two-thirds of our post-Europa League games are at home. Good from the point of view of getting points, I'd have thought. Shite from the point of view of getting Saturday home games to attend.
Given that Arsenal is bound to be on the telly, we won't play a Saturday 3pm game at Villa Park until at least 3rd January.
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It’s potentially a very favourable start to the season. We need to hit the ground running.
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About 80 percent of our home games will be Sunday this year.... Absolute shite.
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The ones with a star are the ones subject to movement to Sundays with regards to either our, or our opponents participation in European football.
16/08/2025 12:30 Aston Villa v Newcastle United
*23/08/2025 15:00 Brentford v Aston Villa
*30/08/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
13/09/2025 15:00 Everton v Aston Villa
*20/09/2025 15:00 Sunderland v Aston Villa
*27/09/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Fulham
*04/10/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Burnley
18/10/2025 15:00 Tottenham v Aston Villa
*25/10/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Manchester City
01/11/2025 15:00 Liverpool v Aston Villa
*08/11/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Bournemouth
22/11/2025 15:00 Leeds United v Aston Villa
*29/11/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Wolves
03/12/2025 20:00 Brighton v Aston Villa
06/12/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Arsenal
*13/12/2025 15:00 West Ham United v Aston Villa
*20/12/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Manchester United
27/12/2025 15:00 Chelsea v Aston Villa
30/12/2025 20:00 Arsenal v Aston Villa
03/01/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
07/01/2026 20:00 Crystal Palace v Aston Villa
17/01/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Everton
*24/01/2026 15:00 Newcastle United v Aston Villa
*31/01/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Brentford
07/02/2026 15:00 Bournemouth v Aston Villa
11/02/2026 20:00 Aston Villa v Brighton
21/02/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Leeds United
28/02/2026 15:00 Wolves v Aston Villa
04/03/2026 20:00 Aston Villa v Chelsea
14/03/2026 15:00 Manchester United v Aston Villa
21/03/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v West Ham United
11/04/2026 15:00 Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa
18/04/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Sunderland
25/04/2026 15:00 Fulham v Aston Villa
02/05/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Tottenham
09/05/2026 15:00 Burnley v Aston Villa
17/05/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Liverpool
24/05/2026 16:00 Manchester City v Aston Villa
Palace, Brentford and Sunderland won't necessarily be Sunday fixtures, as the EL group stage doesn't start until 24th September.
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Tough December and if we need to win 1 of our last 2 games of the season to win the league that will also be difficult
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I know we won't, but individually I would actually expect us to win all the games up to Burnley at home in October
We play Crystal Palace in that period? Are you mad???!!
Ha ha, yes I am, but I think we should have the measure of them at home, if it was anywhere else I'd agree!
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Tricky set of league fixtures with us having to play Citeh, Liverpool and Arsenal 3 times.
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That Brentford away so early on is going to smash the old away ticket scheme right up
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Any ideas when the tv companies change the fixtures?
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Any ideas when the tv companies change the fixtures?
https://www.premierleague.com/news/4324684
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Thanks, Drummond
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The ones with a star are the ones subject to movement to Sundays with regards to either our, or our opponents participation in European football.
16/08/2025 12:30 Aston Villa v Newcastle United
*23/08/2025 15:00 Brentford v Aston Villa
*30/08/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
13/09/2025 15:00 Everton v Aston Villa
*20/09/2025 15:00 Sunderland v Aston Villa
*27/09/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Fulham
*04/10/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Burnley
18/10/2025 15:00 Tottenham v Aston Villa
*25/10/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Manchester City
01/11/2025 15:00 Liverpool v Aston Villa
*08/11/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Bournemouth
22/11/2025 15:00 Leeds United v Aston Villa
*29/11/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Wolves
03/12/2025 20:00 Brighton v Aston Villa
06/12/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Arsenal
*13/12/2025 15:00 West Ham United v Aston Villa
*20/12/2025 15:00 Aston Villa v Manchester United
27/12/2025 15:00 Chelsea v Aston Villa
30/12/2025 20:00 Arsenal v Aston Villa
03/01/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
07/01/2026 20:00 Crystal Palace v Aston Villa
17/01/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Everton
*24/01/2026 15:00 Newcastle United v Aston Villa
*31/01/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Brentford
07/02/2026 15:00 Bournemouth v Aston Villa
11/02/2026 20:00 Aston Villa v Brighton
21/02/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Leeds United
28/02/2026 15:00 Wolves v Aston Villa
04/03/2026 20:00 Aston Villa v Chelsea
14/03/2026 15:00 Manchester United v Aston Villa
21/03/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v West Ham United
11/04/2026 15:00 Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa
18/04/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Sunderland
25/04/2026 15:00 Fulham v Aston Villa
02/05/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Tottenham
09/05/2026 15:00 Burnley v Aston Villa
17/05/2026 15:00 Aston Villa v Liverpool
24/05/2026 16:00 Manchester City v Aston Villa
Palace, Brentford and Sunderland won't necessarily be Sunday fixtures, as the EL group stage doesn't start until 24th September.
Yes that's right, whilst these ones will definitely be on a Sunday:
Burnley(H)
Manchester City (H)
Bournemouth (H)
Wolves (H)
West Ham (A)
Newcastle (A)
Brentford (H)
Fulham (H) will also probably be on the Sunday, but the first round of Europa league games are split over both the Wednesday and Thursday.
If we qualify directly for the Last 16 round of the Europa league then these would also be on a Sunday:
Manchester United (A)
West Ham United (H).
If we have to go through the previous play-off round of the Europa League, then these are also on a Sunday:
Leeds United (H)
Wolves (A)
Manchester United (H) would not necessarily be on a Sunday, as there is no Europa League round in the preceding midweek.
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I hope some of our "Sunday" games get moved to Monday night. Sunday is literally my least favourite day to play matches on.
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Two-thirds of our post-Europa League games are at home. Good from the point of view of getting points, I'd have thought. Shite from the point of view of getting Saturday home games to attend.
Given that Arsenal is bound to be on the telly, we won't play a Saturday 3pm game at Villa Park until at least 3rd January.
Palace at home I doubt will be moved for TV.
Did think Fulham would be moved but apparently the first week of Europa league they play the games between Tues-Thurs so if we're on the first two days then it could stay at Saturday 3pm.
Beyond that slim pickings.
It is a shame Boxing Day has been scrapped this year but at the same time can get a train down to London on 27th. Watch Sky put Arsenal away at 8pm now....
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What happened to the winter break? I thought they had been having 5 fixtures one week and the other 5 fixtures the following week but doesn't look like they're doing that this year.
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What happened to the winter break? I thought they had been having 5 fixtures one week and the other 5 fixtures the following week but doesn't look like they're doing that this year.
Dropped because of the World Cup?
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I hope whatever it is we need to qualify for is addressed before the last game of the season.
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The winter break was scrapped last season as a result of the increase in European fixtures.
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Two-thirds of our post-Europa League games are at home. Good from the point of view of getting points, I'd have thought. Shite from the point of view of getting Saturday home games to attend.
Given that Arsenal is bound to be on the telly, we won't play a Saturday 3pm game at Villa Park until at least 3rd January.
Palace at home I doubt will be moved for TV.
I was going by Drummond's asterisked list, but I think Palace would only need to be moved if they're in the Conference League playoffs. However, it should be Europa League or nothing for them, I think. Hopefully that one stays on the Saturday.
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We'll be 1st team tonscore at Everton's new stadium, it's a tradition...like, Arsenal, Bolton and er....
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The Club referred to out opening fixture as a "tie". Poor form, it's not a Cup game.
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For purely selfish reasons I quite like the 5 games on the trot at home that are getting moved to Sunday in Sep to Nov, as my lad plays on a Saturday morning, and it frees the day up.
Although if any get moved to Monday night, I'll get my pitchfork out, as that's training night.
At least a couple of those Thursday nights are going to be away, so hopefully it won't be to Azerbaijan or the like, which makes the home game that follows trickier.
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Two-thirds of our post-Europa League games are at home. Good from the point of view of getting points, I'd have thought. Shite from the point of view of getting Saturday home games to attend.
Given that Arsenal is bound to be on the telly, we won't play a Saturday 3pm game at Villa Park until at least 3rd January.
Palace at home I doubt will be moved for TV.
I was going by Drummond's asterisked list, but I think Palace would only need to be moved if they're in the Conference League playoffs. However, it should be Europa League or nothing for them, I think. Hopefully that one stays on the Saturday.
Think Palace thing with Europa league will be sorted out. Forest the only side to face a european play off currently, everyone else through to the group stages.
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We'll be 1st team tonscore at Everton's new stadium, it's a tradition...like, Arsenal, Bolton and er....
Villa Park. 🙂
We must also have been the first team to score a league goal at Dudley Road (Wolves' ground before Molineux), a top flight goal at Bournemouth, Millwall or Wimbledon or a Premier League goal at Portsmouth or Stoke, off the top of my head.
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I'm surprised it is taking so long for the Palace decision. Drogheda has already been announced.
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Maybe the Drogheda owner has announced he has no intention of selling the team or challenging the decision. Palace are considering bids, by the sound of it. A sale would make them eligible to compete, I think.
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This opinionated article (https://www.eureporter.co/lifestyle/sport/football/2025/06/14/heres-this-years-fix-to-uefas-multi-club-ownership-nightmare/) states the cut-off date was in March and UEFA had to be informed of work in place for changes of ownership then. Palace's take is Textor has no influence at either club and also a sale might be happening but you would have thought there was a further cut-off date for the change (like with Drogheda) because other clubs could get the spot and need the time to prepare.
I agree more with the article though that Palace are English league and Lyon French so which would draw more views to the matches then Drogheda/Silkeborg would for theirs and money is the main decision maker.
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The cut off date for putting the club in a blind trust was 1st March. They can still sell them I think. Also a possibility Drogheda have less time because they would have been in an earlier round. No English club will be in Europe until August.
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Skim reading that article, it does seem ridiculous that they changed the cut-off date for such deals from June to 1st March, and only announced it on 26th February.
On the other hand, Palace are perhaps more worthy of sympathy than Drogheda given that they had no idea they would be in Europe on the cut-off date. Drogheda did, because Ireland runs a summer league.
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But the owners had no idea Silkeborg was in Europe until June 1st, with potential inkling of a possibility in May. So whilst it was tough on Drogheda in the end, it was when the other team qualified that it became an issue.
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A fair point.
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Nice end to the season. We will prob need to beat them both to make sure of the title.
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Two-thirds of our post-Europa League games are at home. Good from the point of view of getting points, I'd have thought. Shite from the point of view of getting Saturday home games to attend.
Given that Arsenal is bound to be on the telly, we won't play a Saturday 3pm game at Villa Park until at least 3rd January.
Palace at home I doubt will be moved for TV.
Did think Fulham would be moved but apparently the first week of Europa league they play the games between Tues-Thurs so if we're on the first two days then it could stay at Saturday 3pm.
Beyond that slim pickings.
It is a shame Boxing Day has been scrapped this year but at the same time can get a train down to London on 27th. Watch Sky put Arsenal away at 8pm now....
I've got to miss Palace at home against my will. Thanks to a pre-booked weekend away by the in-laws to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
That said, I'm not quite sure I'm ready to face them again yet. Palace. Not in-laws.
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Nice easy fixtures to start, but then it is the Villa!
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Maybe the Drogheda owner has announced he has no intention of selling the team or challenging the decision. Palace are considering bids, by the sound of it. A sale would make them eligible to compete, I think.
Selling, just to stay in one competition?
Isn’t that throwing the baby out with the….
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A semi-interesting aside from the little lad who covers Villa for the Evening Mail is that we play Man Utd (H), Chelsea (A) and Arsenal (A) during the AFCON group stages, which ought to deplete them a bit. I can't think of any of our current big guns who'd be playing in it.
https://x.com/johntownley11/status/1935309700448534704
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Isn't Martinez banned for this game, for his sending off against Man Utd?
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Yes. (Or whenever his next PL game is if not with us anymore).
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Oh bugger, I'd forgotten that. Can't we loan him to a Championship club for a week so he only misses their game? I'm assuming they start a week before us as usual.
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We need to replace Olsen with a decent back-up anyway.
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I hope some of our "Sunday" games get moved to Monday night. Sunday is literally my least favourite day to play matches on.
I wouldn't get your hopes up too much. I think the only two of the current 'Sunday' games that could get moved to a Monday, are West Ham(A) in December and Brentford (H) in February. All the other games are followed by either another round of Europa League, a Premier league midweek round, the EFL Cup or an international break for World Cup qualifiers.
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A semi-interesting aside from the little lad who covers Villa for the Evening Mail is that we play Man Utd (H), Chelsea (A) and Arsenal (A) during the AFCON group stages, which ought to deplete them a bit. I can't think of any of our current big guns who'd be playing in it.
https://x.com/johntownley11/status/1935309700448534704
How many Africans do that lot have? I think we're just down to the Reverser, now.
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Maybe the Drogheda owner has announced he has no intention of selling the team or challenging the decision. Palace are considering bids, by the sound of it. A sale would make them eligible to compete, I think.
Feel bad for the Drogs. They were the Irish claret & blue team to get behind.
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I hope some of our "Sunday" games get moved to Monday night. Sunday is literally my least favourite day to play matches on.
I wouldn't get your hopes up too much. I think the only two of the current 'Sunday' games that could get moved to a Monday, are West Ham(A) in December and Brentford (H) in February. All the other games are followed by either another round of Europa League, a Premier league midweek round, the EFL Cup or an international break for World Cup qualifiers.
Ah, bollocks.
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Apart from the fact that we are Aston Villa , looking at those fixtures we should be clear at the top at the end of October allowing us then to coast to total word domination. Or am I missing something?
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(https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/624/cpsprodpb/91b2/live/00571e30-4c1c-11f0-b2f9-bd12ee184ed5.jpg.webp)
So, according to Opta, we've the easiest set of opening 5...
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But I thought the authorities were against us?
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But I thought the authorities were against us?
They're saving it up for the end of the year.... Merry Christmas!
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On another one, they have Sunderland easiest and Newcastle hardest with us about 4th. But that has a different system of colours which I think leans shades of red if an expected loss and blue if expected win.
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December is a tough month, given the EPL fixtures as scheduled. Also, finishing up with Liverpool at home followed by Citeh away is a tough end to the season.
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Hard to tell whether it's a tough end of the season, yet. Liverpool only managed two points from their final four games last season, so playing them then was probably the optimal time to play them. It will depend on whether they still have anything to play for in the league and possibly also if they have one eye on the FA Cup and/or Champions League Final.
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Yeah, it will probably be as easy as the end of last season was. As in easy but not easy enough.
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Last two times we played plop at our place, we took points off them. So as long as a win isn't needed, we should be fine. And as CD points out, one or both could be on the beach by then (same for us as well).
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(https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/624/cpsprodpb/91b2/live/00571e30-4c1c-11f0-b2f9-bd12ee184ed5.jpg.webp)
So, according to Opta, we've the easiest set of opening 5...
The Athletic has come up with this ranking.
The most difficult at the top, easiest at the bottom.
Manchester United 62
Arsenal 60
Liverpool 57
Bournemouth 55
Newcastle United 54
Brentford 54
Wolves 53
Everton 53
Leeds United 53
Brighton 51
Crystal Palace 51
Tottenham Hotspur 48
Nottingham Forest 47
Fulham 47
Manchester City 46
Aston Villa 44
Chelsea 43
West Ham United 42
Burnley 41
Sunderland 39
So Sunderland to be top of the table in September?
All a bit premature, given that we've got a transfer window to get through, during which the relative strengths of squads might rise or fall with signings and departures, and you could also get some significant injuries in pre-season friendlies.
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For anyone interested in the domestic cup dates for 2025/26:
League Cup
3rd Round (definite): w/c September 15
then depending upon progress:
4th Round: w/c October 27
5th Round: w/c December 15
Semi-final first leg: w/c January 12
Semi-final second leg: w/c February 2
Final: Sunday March 22
FA Cup
3rd Round (definite): Friday Jan 9 - Sunday Jan 11
then depending upon progress:
4th Round: Friday February 13 - Sunday February 15
5thRound Proper: Friday March 6 - Sunday March 8
Quarter Final: Saturday April 4 - Sunday April 5
Semi-Final: Saturday April 25 - Sunday April 26
Final: Saturday May 16
There will probably be some random Thursday and Monday games in the earlier FA Cup rounds as well.
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Brighton on a bloody weeknight again. Ergh.
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This "easiest opening five fixtures" stuff is a load of cock
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(https://scontent.fbhx4-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/506765507_1345178646967089_4833920436584609668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s640x640_tt6&_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=zJ4x5jkez7kQ7kNvwHd5Cam&_nc_oc=AdnuTgEHE_nwPMQcrwSvv4uG1aLL6fnJECDXzSzk53gDn0EgiBBMjlekey5-F7v75RM&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fbhx4-2.fna&_nc_gid=z3VAnEbyeZT0ehsaSvVQ5g&oh=00_AfM2039GJilwxIgt6KHOqzCczJjMl4k6S4wiv5exfkKyWA&oe=6858E513)
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There doesn't seem to be a spare date for us to play a Champions League-qualified team in the Third Round of the League Cup, so assume it will have to be seeded to prevent that scenario. If a Conference League team plays a Champions/Europa League team in the quarter-finals, it will have to be played on Christmas Eve.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cd9de5kq7vlo
From last season
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Ah so will presumably just be the Champions/Europa League teams seeded, then, so we could still get Forest.
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Oh bugger, I'd forgotten that. Can't we loan him to a Championship club for a week so he only misses their game? I'm assuming they start a week before us as usual.
Get rid, I say if he can’t play in the next most important game we have.
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Two-thirds of our post-Europa League games are at home. Good from the point of view of getting points, I'd have thought. Shite from the point of view of getting Saturday home games to attend.
Given that Arsenal is bound to be on the telly, we won't play a Saturday 3pm game at Villa Park until at least 3rd January.
Palace at home I doubt will be moved for TV.
Did think Fulham would be moved but apparently the first week of Europa league they play the games between Tues-Thurs so if we're on the first two days then it could stay at Saturday 3pm.
Beyond that slim pickings.
It is a shame Boxing Day has been scrapped this year but at the same time can get a train down to London on 27th. Watch Sky put Arsenal away at 8pm now....
Have they announced that the games scheduled for the 27th won’t be moved for TV then?
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No. My guess is Premier League games will be spread across the weekend, they'll confirm once they know whether anyone is playing on Christmas Eve. Now that Amazon are out of the picture, it is possible Sky will decide to fill actual Boxing Day with EFL games and have Premier League on 27th plus other days, I suppose.
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https://www.premierleague.com/news/4324541
How the fixture list is compiled.
Just one thing they forgot to mention, it is imperative that any of the Sky 6 don't play other on the final day of the season. 2025/26 will be the 17th season there have been no meetings.
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Two-thirds of our post-Europa League games are at home. Good from the point of view of getting points, I'd have thought. Shite from the point of view of getting Saturday home games to attend.
Given that Arsenal is bound to be on the telly, we won't play a Saturday 3pm game at Villa Park until at least 3rd January.
Palace at home I doubt will be moved for TV.
Did think Fulham would be moved but apparently the first week of Europa league they play the games between Tues-Thurs so if we're on the first two days then it could stay at Saturday 3pm.
Beyond that slim pickings.
It is a shame Boxing Day has been scrapped this year but at the same time can get a train down to London on 27th. Watch Sky put Arsenal away at 8pm now....
Have they announced that the games scheduled for the 27th won’t be moved for TV then?
If we're talking about Boxing Day I'm sure in the past Arsenal have cancelled games in the past when they've been put at home on Boxing day.
They'd much rather play 27th or 28th due to how many of their fans use public transport to get to the Emirates.
I am fairly sure it will stay on the 27th as if it was moved to the 28th then we'd have to play Chelsea on NYE and given that is a weekday it could only be an evening kick off and that would be inconvenient for fans, matchday staff and the Met wouldn't want it either.
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The tube runs on Boxing Day, and Arsenal played at home on that day in 2022. I'd take all those fixture dates with a pinch of salt at the moment, they can quite easily just move the Boxing Day games and the following New Year games to accommodate them. Sky will want matches on pretty much every day over the festive misery period if they can.
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It is being suggested it will be down to the clubs regarding Boxing Day
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From Sky:
No matches scheduled for Boxing Day
There are no games scheduled for Boxing Day but the Premier League has clarified that the matches listed for Saturday December 27 are available to switch to Boxing Day for live broadcast.
A full round of EFL games are expected to be scheduled for Boxing Day.
The Premier League has also confirmed that no top-flight club will be requested to play twice in fewer than 48 hours between December 27 and December 30, when another full round of games will be held.
Each club has a home match on either December 27 or January 3, with travel reduced on December 27 and December 30.
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https://www.premierleague.com/news/4324541
How the fixture list is compiled.
Just one thing they forgot to mention, it is imperative that any of the Sky 6 don't play other on the final day of the season. 2025/26 will be the 17th season there have been no meetings.
Id argue we are a top 6 club now so we have broken that record this year unless of course citeh get punished and points deducted. But more chance of me growing wings and flying round Solihull than that happening.
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Maybe the Drogheda owner has announced he has no intention of selling the team or challenging the decision. Palace are considering bids, by the sound of it. A sale would make them eligible to compete, I think.
They let Man Utd and Man City play in the same competition despite owners having shares in other clubs in that competition. Why are Palace having so much trouble when the precedent has already been set with the 2 Manchester clubs. But is this just proving beyond any reasonable doubt that there is 1 rule for clubs like Citeh and Man Utd and 1 rule for the rest.
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^^ I’ve been told on Twitter that it’s the same set of rules but those clubs passed them. I haven’t researched it beyond that though.
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A major change seems to be that the date when you are allowed to move things into a "blind trust" has moved from June to March which is why Palace have been caught out.
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Sorry but why the fuck are we playing Arsenal twice in less than a month?
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Sorry but why the fuck are we playing Arsenal twice in less than a month?
It's an oddity that crops up every now and again, although can't recall it happening for a while, where every club faces a team H+A in a short space of time.
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Sorry but why the fuck are we playing Arsenal twice in less than a month?
Everyone knows Arsenal are always brilliant in the first half of the season then bottle it, so they have got us playing them twice before New Year just to annoy me.
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I think we will beat them in one of the games. Arsenal rarely beta the same side twoce in a month. Habit of choking. At least we get them games out the way early in season
Just wish we were not finishing the final game of the season in fucking manchester again
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Sorry but why the fuck are we playing Arsenal twice in less than a month?
Everyone knows Arsenal are always brilliant in the first half of the season then bottle it, so they have got us playing them twice before New Year just to annoy me.
Why not? The league does everything else for that reason.
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Finally, you're coming round.
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I think in Italy and Spain, they mirror the same sequence of who plays who from "matchday" 20 to 38 based on the first half of the season.
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Seems a fairer way of doing it, to me. Ideally make sure that if you're at home in week one you're also at home in week nineteen so that teams who start at home finish away and vice versa.