For those blissfully unaware, next season’s fixtures will be revealed to one and all in six days time.
SkyBet – sponsors of the Football League – have been asking us to guess who we expect our teams to be playing on the opening day of the season.
While a tad illogical (isn’t it *almost* random?) it did at least serve as a reminder – to me at least – of who we will be locking horns with next season.
While I’ve listened to much of the ‘next season could actually be more fun than the Prem’ rhetoric, I’d pretty much treated it all with a pinch of the proverbial.
How can watching Brentford, Rotherham and co be more fun than mixing it with Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool? How can a trip to Bloomfield Road compare to a trip to the ‘Theatre of Dreams’?
But now it’s almost upon us – the fixture list that is – it does to start to feel like it could be fun. Hell, we might even enjoy it.
It does of course all boil down to the start that Neil Adams’ men make to the new season but, for now at least, let’s assume they make a half-decent one.
Let’s also assume (and this is a biggie) that the majority of the Yellow Army have, by the time the first ball is kicked, thrown their full weight behind the Class of 2015.
Away trips may even start being enjoyable again. Remember those days when the Yellow Army would set off on a Saturday morning, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, full of hope and expectation?
While it seems an eternity since we’ve experienced said buzz, I expect there to be plenty to look forward to from road trips Adams-style.
In Gary Holt’s recent interview with the EDP he used a phrase that should be music to the ears. “You might as well be playing at home every week”, was the Scot’s way of describing the away-day surroundings that await City’s players next season.
Gone it seems – almost at least – are the days of turning up at decrepit stadiums with less-than-perfect playing surfaces (or as some call it, Selhurst Park), with most venues now affording more than a modicum of comfort for players and fans alike – even in the second tier.
If that ‘playing at home every week’ ethos can be carried over into positive, fear-free performances on the pitch then perhaps the doubters, over time, will re-enter the fold.
Certainly the noises emanating from Colney have been encouraging, but in truth we spent most of last season saying exactly that – and look where that ended.
I have no doubt that when Holt says “… it’s about getting that work ethic and belief back into them to go and win games, roll their sleeves up, work their socks off…”, he means it. The trick, as ever, is getting the players to do it regularly and consistently.
If that odd concept were to be achieved then there will be more than enough in the new fixture list to whet the appetite.
Aside from that joyful trip down the A140, where a warm welcome is always assured, the away trips to Elland Road and Molineux are positively mouth-watering; each one guaranteed to be bristling with venom and passion – just how they should be.
Because, however sophisticated and grown up it felt to be mingling with the so-called elite, there was one crucial element missing throughout our stay in the Premier League.
Needle.
The only games that came even close to generating a derby-type atmosphere were those against Villa (for obvious reasons), but given their tendency to end in defeat or to include the bizarre spectacle of a City player not celebrating a goal – or both – there was precious little fun to be had.
Away games at Portman Road, Elland Road and Molineux are sure to produce at least an element or two of mirth – regardless of the results – and each will provide a perfect Yellow Army foil for that quaint footballing phenomenon called banter.
While most Premier League fans – especially those in the top five – pride themselves on being the kings [of banter], most either rely on the Delia ‘let’s be avin you’ type humour (hilarious though it is) or condescending, belittling, displays of breathtaking arrogance.
Naturally all of the above will still be on offer in the Championship, but we’ll at least be able to comfort ourselves with the old ‘you won’t be laughing after ninety minutes’ – because City will at least begin every game with a chance of winning it.
Not something that could be said of last season.
So, as time goes by, and the pain of relegation makes way for pre-season optimism, things suddenly don’t seem quite so bad – unless it’s just me.
That doesn’t mean *everything* in the garden is rosy, or that we agree 100 per cent with how the board managed the Hughton/Adams transition, but as soon as August 9 comes round it’ll be time to put the differences aside and our trust in Team Adams.
With the blue, the white and the old gold lying in wait it could yet turn out to be an interesting one.
It will be an interesting season and I agree that our form will be all important in generating the fanatical following we had last time we were in the Championship.Adams talks about emphasis on attack and ,while I don’t doubt his intentions,we have to bear in mind that if we keep all our players currently contracted,several have not experienced Championship football before. RVW,Tettey,Garrido,Whittaker,Bassong,Fer and several youth team players come to mind.
Whilst I have no doubt that our back room team,particularly Gary Holt, will tell them what its all about I would not be averse to unloading one or two who might not be up for it,(RVW and Fer?)to bring in players who know what its all about eg Matt Smith,Adam Clayton .
I think Leicester last season demonstrated that a mixture of pace and muscle will be needed to win this hard division,
The only “downside” to me, not living in the Fine City, is all those midweek games. Yes, floodlit games at Carrow Road are special, but the post midnight returns to Essex are a chore, unless accompanied by three points of course! OTBC.
A good read as always Gary, I’m looking forward to a run of games that we might actually win, rather than parking the bus and attempting damage limitation. Sod the World Cup, bring on August 9th! OTBC
Jarrolder, I don’t think you’ll need to worry about Bassong not having experienced Championship football before – Neil Adams made it plain in his team selection at the end of last season that Bassong isn’t part of his plans. As for the rest, well RVW may well be on his way, and if Fer gets some attention at the World Cup, there may be a premiership or overseas team coming in for him. The others are likely to adapt fairly quickly – Tettey in particular could be awsome.
How the fixtures come out can have more effect than anyone recognises sometimes. Last year it wasn’t just the final stretch it was bad luck not to face, for example, Fulham under Jol and Sunderland with Di Canio. The previous year we had MU and Arsenal in quick succession whilst they were off the boil, and boy did that pay off when you looked at the end-of-season table. That’s the way it goes.
As for the start of next season I don’t expect us to make a fast start; those still with us and tainted by relegation need a few games to prove, as much to themselves as to us, that they are decent players. So much of the game is played in the head.
That’s why I also hope we avoid promoted teams early on; they are still mentally “on a roll” and many start well only to fade later.
With Wigan also now able to concentrate on the League rather better than last year I hope it’s not them, and Blackburn would be a good one to miss. They underachieved until mid-March but then were unbeaten in 12 with 24 points i.e. table-topping form.
I’d take Derby, still in disappointed mode, or one of the long trips – Bournemouth, Middlesborough – just to get them out of the way, rather than wait until midweek in February. A couple of likely stragglers – Milwall or Charlton say – would be welcome.
Let’s save the bigger boys until we have had a good chance to regroup and gel again.
(PS And one other player who people forget has NOT played in the Championship is Pilkington, who missed it out when he joined us. Now Huddersfield away, with chip butties on offer and a bespoke cover for our programmes again, that would do for me.)
Gary, the rest of us will have an idea of fixtures 24 hours earlier than yourself, as they are actually out on Wednesday, not Thursday…
Nice analysis, both by Gary and follow-up commenters.
I’m beginning to feel strangely optimistic about this season. Team Adams looks much stronger than Adams alone, and their energy should blow away some of the relegation cobwebs. They clearly have a sense of the players who’ll compete in this league and set up situations for our class to show through.
No doubt Dave B will come on shortly to set me straight…
I have a sneaking feeling that someone with a malevolent sense of humour will make sure we’re away to Fulham on 9 August….. 🙁
Got a feeling for Wolves or Rotherham away on opening day. #8. Wouldn’t mind Fulham away. Nice day by the river, and we have to lay that hoodoo at some time! Surely?
Looking forward to a few new grounds, as I have pretty much done all the Prem grounds. Mind you, I tend to pick the wrong ones – in our League one season, I chose Brentford, Orient, Exeter, Yeovil and Gillingham. 2 defeats and 3 draws, missing all those great wins!
“Got a feeling for Wolves or Rotherham away on opening day.”
Wow great shout! Got any more ‘feelings’ you’d like to share?! Who do you like for the World Cup?