Fixtures

Its been over a month now since they came out and I still feel a little disappointed. Having ensured that I'm off work for the first two and a half weeks of the season I was looking forward to a Plymouth or Preston away. The kind of trek that involves being out all day and not coming home until everyone else has long since gone to bed.

Wolves away on the opening day isn't one I'm particularly excited about. I haven't been to Molineux but do feel I've driven up and down the M40 more than enough lately. Also the fact the game has been moved by Sky to 5.15 somehow lessens the excitement further.

I get cross with my Dad for moaning about games never being played anymore at 3pm on Saturday afternoon, but on the opening day there is something magical about playing at that time. Maybe its simply that along with the last day of the season, it seems to be the only time you can get away with just wearing a football shirt on your top half. The liberation of not having to take a sweater to football!

5.15pm is a horrible in between time for football supporters. For a start, what time do you eat? Big feast at lunch time or starve yourself until enjoying a late supper?

I understand this season that the 5.15's have been introduced purely as a spoiler for Setanta. They'll show their Premiership game at this time and as a non incentive to switch, Sky promise to show a match at the same time so you don't feel your missing out. I can sort of see the logic of this but at the same time I'd prefer a game on Sky to be just that, ooh we're on Sky, rather than we're trying to tempt people away from Sunderland v Blackburn.

After opening day we have a familiar foe returning to the Vic in the shape of Gillingham. A team we seem to play far too often and this season we're not even in the same Division.

Two games against them stick in the mind. A 2-0 loss in 1998 that was my fiancee's 2nd ever football match played out ironically on Sky. It was dismal.

Also the 3-2 loss on the last day of the Vialli season which included that super goal from McNamee and Nigel Gibbs last appearance in the yellow shirt. One of the few good things Vialli did was ensuring Gibbo got 5 minutes in front of his home faithful.

This is, of course, a League Cup game. A competition that Aidy says he wants to take seriously after the FA Cup run to the semi's. In an odd way I actually prefer the League Cup to the FA now. I like the immediacy of the League Cup in that you know whatever happens the game will be decided on the night. The FA Cup's habit of holding the replays a week and a half after the first game makes the whole thing too disjointed. I was a big fan of unlimited replays and would like to see them brought back. If not the tie being decided on the night, or the afternoon (imagine how exciting 5pm on FA Cup 3rd Round day would become) is the way to go.

After the Gills its Sheffield Utd at home. If Warnock was in charge I'd be depressed about this prospect. However with Bryan Robson in charge the whole division must feel they've got a chance.

Then Leicester away. Another fixture that doesn't really do anything for me. Maybe I'm odd but I prefer the alternative sort of games. Leicester, Wolves and Palace are such predictable Championship games. Scunny, Blackpool and Colchester will be far more interesting.

Then the 2nd round of the cup if we are still in. I hope so cos I've even taken an extra 2 days off to accommodate what I assumed would be a Bank Holiday Monday League fixture. I'll be very fed up if we get through but end up playing on the Wednesday as is indicated in the fixture list at the moment as that's when I'm due back at work.