Premiership and SPL Fixtures Released

By Alan
Soccer City FC

The seasons of the major European leagues only finished a matter of a month ago but the fixtures for the 2008/2009 Premiership and Scottish Premier League campaigns have already been released. It is one of the most important dates on the calendar as fans eagerly find out who awaits them on the opening day and allows them to start planning for the new season.

The fixtures were decided through a structure that is designed to avoid international and European matches and hence the need for midweek matches as the 38 games, in the case of the Premiership and SPL, need to be completed by a certain finishing date. Fixture changes are inevitable though as clubs find themselves advancing further into competitions and so league commitments have to be re-arranged. The initial fixtures have been designed so that a home match should be followed by an away match, or vice-versa, and ensuring that there are not two consecutive home or away games together and making it as fair as possible for each club.

The fixture structure is additionally complicated as those teams very close to each other must have corresponding games, with one being home and the other being away for sufficient police resources to be present. Two home games would not allow this and when it does happen, they will appear on different days to make it easier to make the games easier to manage. No games will be played on New Year’s Day in the Premiership and the lower English divisions as the FA Cup is staged on the first Saturday in January. To have a match on Thursday 1st January would make it extremely difficult to have the FA Cup matches on the Saturday so the league games for then have been sacrificed for another date.

The dates below are of the first three and last three fixtures for each club.

Arsenal
First 3
August: 16th West Brom (H), 23rd Fulham (A), 30th Newcastle (H)
Last 3
May: 9th Chelsea (H), 16th Man Utd (A), 24th Stoke (H)

Aston Villa
First 3
August: 16th Man City (H), 23rd Stoke (A), 30th Liverpool (H)
Last 3
May: 9th Fulham (A), 16th Middlesbrough (A), 24th Newcastle (H)

Blackburn
First 3
August: 16th Everton (A), 23rd Hull (H), 30th West Ham (A)
Last 3
May: 9th Portsmouth (H), 16th Chelsea (A), 24th West Brom (H)

Bolton
First 3
August: 16th Stoke (H), 23rd Newcastle (A), 30th West Brom (H)
Last 3
May: 9th Sunderland (H), 16th Hull (H), 24th Man City (A)

Chelsea
First 3
August: 16th Portsmouth (H), 23rd Wigan (A), 30th Tottenham (H)
Last 3
May: 9th Arsenal (A), 16th Blackburn (H), 24th Sunderland (A)

Everton
First 3
August: 16th Blackburn (H), 23rd West Brom (A), 30th Portsmouth (H)
Last 3
May: 9th Tottenham (H), 16th West Ham (H), 24th Fulham (A)

Fulham
First 3
August: 16th Hull (A), 23rd Arsenal (H), 30th Man Utd (A)
Last 3
May: 9th Aston Villa (H), 16th Newcastle (A), 24th Everton (H)

Hull
First 3
August: 16th Fulham (H), 23rd Blackburn (A), 30th Wigan (H)
Last 3
May: 9th Stoke (H), 16th Bolton (A), 24th Man Utd (H)

Liverpool
First 3
August: 16th Sunderland (A), 23rd Middlesbrough (H), 30th Aston Villa (A)
Last 3
May: 9th West Ham (A), 16th West Brom (A), 24th Tottenham (H)

Man City
First 3
August: 16th Aston Villa (A), 23rd West Ham (H), 30th Sunderland (A)
Last 3
May: 9th Man Utd (A), 16th Tottenham (A), 24th Bolton (H)

Man Utd
First 3
August: 16th Newcastle (H), 23rd Portsmouth (A), 30th Fulham (H)
Last 3
May: 9th Man City (H), 16th Arsenal (H), 24th Hull (A)

Newcastle
First 3
August: 16th Man Utd (A), 23rd Bolton (H), 30th Arsenal (A)
Last 3
May: 9th Middlesbrough (H), 16th Fulham (H), 24th Aston Villa (A)

Middlesbrough
First 3
August: 16th Tottenham (H), 23rd Liverpool (A), 30th Stoke (H)
Last 3
May: 9th Newcastle (A), 16th Aston Villa (H), 24th West Ham (A)

Portsmouth
First 3
August: 16th Chelsea (A), 23rd Man Utd (H), 30th Everton (A)
Last 3
May: 9th Blackburn (A), 16th Sunderland (H), 24th Wigan (A)

Stoke
First 3
August: 16th Bolton (A), 23rd Aston Villa (H), 30th Middlesbrough (A)
Last 3
May: 9th Hull (A), 16th Wigan (H), 24th Arsenal (A)

Sunderland
First 3
August: 16th Liverpool (H), 23rd Tottenham (A), 30th Man City (H)
Last 3
May: 9th Bolton (A), 16th Portsmouth (A), 24th Chelsea (H)

Tottenham
First 3
August: 16th Middlesbrough (A), 23rd Sunderland (H), 30th Chelsea (A)
Last 3
May: 9th Everton (A), 16th Man City (H), 24th Liverpool (A)

West Brom
First 3
August: 16th Arsenal (A), 23rd Everton (H), 30th Bolton (A)
Last 3
May: 9th Wigan (H), 16th Liverpool (H), 24th Blackburn (A)

West Ham
First 3
August: 16th Wigan (H), 23rd Man City (A), 30th Blackburn (H)
Last 3
May: 9th Liverpool (H), 16th Everton (A), 24th Middlesbrough (H)

Wigan
First 3
August: 6th West Ham (A), 23rd Chelsea (H), 30th Hull (A)
Last 3
May: 9th West Brom (A), 16th Stoke (A), 24th Portsmouth (H)

Scottish Premier League Fixtures
Opening Fixtures

Saturday, 09 August 2008
Aberdeen v Inverness CT, 15:00
Falkirk v Rangers, 12:30
Hearts v Motherwell, 15:00
Kilmarnock v Hibernian, 15:00

Sunday, 10 August 2008
Celtic v St Mirren, 12:30

Monday, 11 August 2008
Hamilton v Dundee Utd, 19:45

Closing Fixtures

Saturday, 18 April 2009
Celtic v Aberdeen, 15:00
Dundee Utd v Kilmarnock, 15:00
Falkirk v Hearts, 15:00
Hibernian v Rangers, 15:00
Inverness CT v Hamilton, 15:00
Motherwell v St Mirren, 15:00

2008 Premiership Best XI of the Year Sans the Big 4

Soccer City FC polled contributors, readers, and forum members to gather as much information as possible in naming the Premiership Best XI of 2007-2008. The list is made up of players from outside of the Big 4 clubs. The 4-4-2 format is used for the Best XI squad.

Image details: West Ham United v Aston Villa - Premier League served by picapp.com

Goalkeeper: David James (Portsmouth)
James reinvented himself this year. He guided Pompey to a top ten position in the Premiership as well as a historic victory in the FA Cup final versus Cardiff City. He also earned back his starting place with the English national team.

Right Back: Vedran Corluka (Manchester City)
Perhaps the shrewdest of Sven's summer signings, Corluka entered the Premiership as one of the lesser known summer transfer signings, but was soon recognized for his capable play. His versatility was a vital asset for City as he saw time at both centre back and holding midfield when injuries took their toll. The 22-year-old defender is year's away from his prime.

Centre Back: Martin Laursen (Aston Villa)
The 30-year-old defender was voted the Supporters Player of the Year for his outstanding play in 2007-2008. While Villa's attacking playmakers received the majority of attention throughout the season, Laursen and his backline mates where crucial to the club's success.

Centre Back: Phil Jagielka (Everton)
This past weekend, Jagielka received his first senior international cap for England against Trinidad and Tobago. His signing in the summer of 2007 helped to stabilize Everton's defense. The club now appears focused to make a run at the Big 4 with the help of the versatile Jagielka.

Left Back: Joleon Lescott (Everton)
Lescott began 2007-2008 in spectacular form providing solid coverage in the back coupled with three goals in his first eight matches. He also ended the season with the highest shot to goal ratio in the Premiership. He converted 42.1% of his shots into goals. On May 8, 2008, he was voted Everton's Player of the Year and the Players Player of the Year.

Right Midfielder: David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers)
Bentley ended the 2007-2008 Premiership season with 8 goals and 13 assists. He truly excelled in his right wing position and his crossing ability did not disappoint. How will the new manager utilize him now that Mark Hughes is off to Manchester City?

Central Midfielder: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa)
With over 325 appearances for Villa, Barry has finally begun to garner worldwide recognition as Aston Villa returned to the upper echelon of Premiership clubs this past season. Liverpool appears ready to make an offer for the central midfielder. Will his career in the Second City come to an end?

Central Midfielder: Elano (Manchester City)
Brazilians historically have not performed well in the Premiership. Elano broke down the stereotype with his performance in 2007-2008. He ended the campaign with 8 goals and 9 assists. When he was healthy, he was nearly unstoppable. He was clearly a cut above during the first half of the season.

Left Midfielder: Martin Petrov (Manchester City)
When City was at its best, the attack ran through Petrov who ended with 5 goals and 8 assists. He would have ended with double-digit figures in assists if City's forwards could have finished off several of his sublime crosses.

Forward: Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers)
One could make a case that he was the best transfer signing of the 2007 summer period. He ended with 19 goals. The Paraguayan striker was named Barclays Premier League “Player of the Month” for December 2007.

Forward: Yakubu Aiyegbenji (Everton)
The 25-year-old Nigerian striker finished the campaign with 15 league goals and 21 goals in all competitions. His brace in the last match of the season versus Newcastle United sealed Everton's 5th place standing in the Premiership table.

Honorable Mention for the 2008 Premiership Best XI of the Year Sans the Big 4

Goalkeeper: Tim Howard (Everton), Joe Hart (Manchester City)

Defenders: Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Sol Campbell (Portsmouth), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), and David Wheater (Middlesbrough)

Midfielders: Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Niko Kranjčar (Portsmouth), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth), and Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)

Forwards: Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham Hotspur), Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Kenwyne Jones (Sunderland), and Michel Owen (Newcastle United)

Who did Soccer City FC leave off of the list? Let us know in the comment section.

Hughes Next at Manchester City

It now appears that Manchester City will bring in Mark Hughes for the 2008-2009 Premiership campaign.

City have landed Hughes and his back room staff. Reports claim that 5 million pounds in compensation was reached between the two clubs.

At Blackburn's official site a recent statement reads, "Blackburn Rovers can confirm they have reached an agreement with Manchester City on compensation terms for Mark Hughes."

In other Manchester City news:

• Joe Hart earned his first international cap this weekend against T&T. England won 3-0.
• Own Thaksin Shinawatra loves Brazil. Elano (arguably the club's most valuable player from last season is already under contract and now it the club is rumoured to be recruiting the services of Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho and CSKA Moscow forward Jo.
• Ronaldhino is demanding 200,000 pounds a week. Would City commit that much money to one player?

Premiership Best XI of the Year Sans the Big 4

Soccer City FC will soon be releasing a list of the Best XI of the Year comprised of players from outside of the Big 4 clubs. Feel free to post comments and suggestions on who deserves to make the squad.

I have a feeling we may see Ashley Young on this list. David James? Probably. Roque Santa Cruz? Certainly.

After these three, the list is up for great debate. Drop back in and find out who has made Soccer City FC's Premiership Best XI - Sans the Big 4

Blackburn Rovers Announce First Friendly

English Premier League member Blackburn Rovers F.C. announced their first friendly for their upcoming 2008 summer preseason tour. The club will travel to the Molineux Stadium to take on Coca-Cola Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. on August 2nd at 3:00 P.M.

Players of note for the Wanderers include:

* Sylvan Ebanks-Blake: 22 year-old English forward who scored 12 goals in 20 league appearances. He arrived in January 2008 via Plymouth Argyle F.C. He won the Golden Boot in the Championship for 2007-2008 with 23 goals.

* Seyi Olofinjana: 27 year-old Nigerian midfielder who has notched 147 league matches at the Wanderers. He recently signed through 2011.

* Andy Keogh: 21 year-old Irish forward scored 11 times in 2007-2008. Prior to the season, he was awarded the famous Number 9 shirt.

* George Elokobi : 22 year-old Cameroonian left back who made 15 league appearances with the club in 2008.