Premier League Fixtures Announced

It should properly fire up the fans, ensuring we have the sort of atmosphere that was being conjured-up back in May, and Frank will be abso-fucking-lutely desperate to tear them a new one.

The next 4 after that are all winnable, and then the derby will be whatever it will be (dodgy VAR decisions; prima-donnas claiming they were shot by blue-clad snipers; perfectly good goals ruled offside etc.)

UTFT!

Unlike last season, we will need to pick up points away from home if we are to stay in the top flight. Five points from Villa, Brentford and Leeds should set us on course for a relatively calm season.

I still cannot understand why, after years and years of watching football, people still try to predict the results. Don't we ever learn???

The biggest surprise is us being at home on Boxing Day. To quote my late father, "that hasn't happened since Adam was a lad"

The main and rather sad thing that occurs to me is that after last season (and the last few seasons?) there are basically no matches that I look at now and think 'that should probably be 3 points for us!"

I hate to say it but at points last season, my favourite fixture was no fixture. It saved a weekend of anxiety followed by pain, anger and a feeling of hopelessness!

As I see it, it'll be difficult for any club to oust the Rich 6 from the top 6 spots.

Below that you've got a few sides with good squads, good managers and a bit of money (and Newcastle who have a lot of money).

If Lampard is prepared to be pragmatic and we recruit effectively then we can be part of that group. None of them are outstanding.

In my view, next season is about reversing our downward trajectory, getting into the top 10, trying to sneak Europa League and going for the cups big time.

That's something to build on when we start our BMD era.

Home derby first – check.

Home on New Year's Day with a shit hungover atmosphere – check.

How does this happen every year, rather than 50:50 chance? Answers to the Premier League is bent.

That's interesting about the limited number of midweek fixtures – there is another, I think, in Newcastle at home, 25 April. By my quick count, we had 8 in 21-22 and 20-21.

Looks like only the FA Cup 3rd and 4th Rounds have dedicated weekends? But having the 5th Round midweek has been a thing, I guess.

Perhaps it's down to the dreaded International Breaks not disrupting the bulk of the season, albeit they are concentrated into 6 weeks in beautiful Qatar.

(Tony, I enjoyed the international weekends most as well.)

I do think opening against Chelsea could work in our favor. It should guarantee a fired up home crowd that will hopefully carry over the positivity and solidarity from the end of last season.

I suppose this will definitely increase the activity in the January transfer window with the majority of games still to be played. Also with teams now being allowed to use 5 substitutions, this will definitely favour the bigger clubs.

I think the other point is: How will this unusual break in the season affect the teams who have very few playing in the competition against those clubs who have most of their squad involved? Certainly it increases the likelihood of these players playing in the World Cup to pick up injuries.

Also what do the teams who have few players involved do, as arranging any possible friendly fixtures in this period would be almost impossible. Do these clubs give players not involved a couple of weeks rest during this period?

Did you have to announce the late kick off? I'll be in trouble before a ball is kicked as that's an overnight stop for me!! I think she watches ToffeeWeb to see what I'm planning!

Villa away. I need advice:

1. Do I make it a family day out with Mrs Danny?

2. If so, do I try to get away tickets and take her into the spirit of the blues, knowing that she knows Everton are the other woman in my life?

3. Or obtain home tickets and risk being evicted or complained about?

I hope she's not reading this.

Everton are unbeaten in their opening Premier League match in the past 10 seasons (W4 D6).

As for the Chelsea opener, it will be interesting to see who lines up in their defence – and ours? They have lost both Christiensen and Rudiger, but may sign Kounde, and also Chilwell may then be fit to play.

We may well have signed Tarkowski, who could potentially start with Mina, Keane or maybe Godfrey? I just hope we can strengthen where we need to in the Summer, and somehow cope with the inevitable sale of our talisman, Richarlison.

Liverpool to win everything, Lampard sacked by Christmas, and Billy Boy still telling everyone that we have had good times.

Other than that, I'm quite optimistic...

With two mini-seasons, maybe a little bit of innovation might just go a very long way?

It is interesting because it is not uncommon for teams to have two completely different half seasons.

For some, it's a welcome break so they can reset. For others, it takes the momentum out of a good first half and they nosedive.

It will be interesting to see how English clubs adapt to it.

The potential sale cannot distract the club from giving Frank Lampard and the coaches every opportunity to make us competitive.

It should galvanize the support and with the time winding down at Goodison before moving to the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, you'd like to think that opening days like this will be truly memorable.

Having said that, we could get smashed up… who knows? Chelsea could be out for some revenge, particularly after Firework-gate, lol.

As someone has already stated, however, we badly need to improve our rancid away record.

You can win 12 home games but our away form is so bad that you probably still wouldn't get a top-half finish.

I'm looking at beating Crease Head Gerrard's Villa this time, getting sick of letting them do us over.

Trips to Brentford and Leeds, one of those needs winning in my opinion.

Start as you mean to go on.

Because it doesn't include Millwall, Boro, Blackburn, Coventry and Stoke.

I couldn't care less about what order we play our games in... as long as they're against Premier League clubs.

Nothing else matters.

Whew.

And most of all... our useless boardroom need to go!

But I do hope our crowd carries on from where it left off, especially now we all know how important we really are.

We don't even know who our owners will be come the start of the season – let alone the playing squad – so predictions at this stage are a bit meaningless.

I just hope we get at least 10 points more than this season and play some good stuff.

I think and hope Tarkowski will be the influence we have needed in the back 4 and with the addition of a couple of midfield players, in addition to keeping Richarlison, to replace Gomes, Delph and Van de Beek, we will see a massive improvement.

On the bright side, get a few decent signings in and we could do well. The Top 8 will also have European games to play in a very broken and disrupted season.

C'mon, Everton, with this bizarre winter World Cup, that was won by Qatar and was all above board and is all about growing the game! The top teams could be well and truly running on empty in 2023, we may have half a chance.

The Euphoria of the Palace game and survival was a building point for the club.

I hope there's stability pre-season and the Everton squad can go about their business unhindered and without doubts.

A great start, consistency, fire in the players' bellies every game, create the unrivalled bastion of Goodison Park, every home game, and take the same tempo and play with the same heart and desire on the road.

A long road ahead, but that would be nice.

Not interested in conspiracy theories of fixtures being selected to favour the Big Boys. Everyone will have a tough run of games against the Big 6, and everyone will have a run of matches against the bottom half teams.

Just play better.

In the last 4 weeks of the season, I was having nightmares of Everton v Wigan next season.

Question: does the carabao/Carling cup begin in September, august or october? I'm planning a trip to England for September maybe and knowing that would be great so as to being able to go to goodison.
COYB!

The second round when we join in is scheduled August 22/23 with third round in November so it looks like your September trip will miss it.

Kind of expected and thought that answer but maybe I'll try and watch the derby then. Not really too enthusiastic about it by the last results against them but thinking I never saw one live and probably being one of the last ones at Goodison makes it a no-brainer, I believe... Heh!

Got to carry on what we started end of season and make it the most uniquely supported team in the league next year.

Fuck them all… marching down the Goodison Road, all the windows open wide…

Unless Lampard and his team now reveal hitherto invisible attributes (and that's not a criticism of them in the least) in terms of turning water into wine, we're fucked before the next two or three seasons even begin.

And yet many Evertonians still go on record expounding their optimism on new ground being planted by those still on high, who've long-since crucified our status worldwide.

What actual intoxicant are these fellow Toffees consuming, and why?

"What actual intoxicant are these fellow Toffees consuming, and why?"

I drink a lot.

I find it helps.

If Jesus can do it, Don, I'm on the wine.

Get down to Goodison Park. We're going on a European Tour.

I have long-suffering dogs. It helps. Well, helps me.

What we clearly need is to repeat our points pickup between March and April 2022, in every month of the new season. That would give us 99 points and probably the league title to boot.

I can dream, can't I?

I am concerned that the powers that be will not rest till we are obliterated from their Kingdom into the Never Never Land. They would love to give us a points deduction for the FFP for our own reckless spending in the past, and the likes of Burnley won't let it go unnoticed either.

So I for one will be holding my breath till we are finally out in the clear. Have a great Summer to all Blues. Cheers.

So polish the tin hats, it's likely to be a season of attrition – let's just hope Lampard & Co are up to it!

I'm just hoping we can improve our away form, make us tough to beat at Goodison Park and I'd be happy with a mid-table finish. I'd be ecstatic with anything higher. COYB

I feel I need a break from watching football so can't get too excited about the list. I didn't care about the internationals just gone by, not that I care about the England team anyway.

Nice to have a ‘big boy' at home first game, though, and a home game last.

We're going to have a massive amount of churn in the squad between now and August so it's more about who we'll have in the team being the important thing for now. (At least I'm hoping we'll have a lot of churn in the squad.)

Add to that the possibility the club may be sold, the next few weeks are anyone's guess. Just keeping an eye on transfers for now and not much else.