Eur in luck
Thursday’s Champions League group-stage attract Istanbul will solely convey house to followers simply how a lot a check of power even solely the FIRST half of the marketing campaign goes to be.
Tottenham’s return to the Euro elite could have a significant knock-on impact for N17 finances whereas Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have all been finalists over the previous two years.
But with shock Prem pace-setters Arsenal, in addition to Manchester United, having to attend an additional 24 hours earlier than discovering their Europa League schedule, all of England’s Big Six — plus doubtlessly West Ham — might be plunged right into a fixture listing like they’ve by no means identified.
The winter World Cup signifies that the home marketing campaign might be cut up in two, with 16 Prem video games by November 13 – a six-week break – after which 22 extra matches from Boxing Day.
Yet it has additionally pressured Uefa to redraw its regular timetable, that means an unprecedented programme from the beginning of subsequent month.
The six Champions League group video games – beginning on September 6 – might be compressed into simply 57 days, six midweeks out of 9.
Two of the opposite midweek slots are taken up by the lone worldwide break earlier than the World Cup, when England should take a minimal of 4 factors from matches with Italy and Germany to have any probability of avoiding Nations League relegation.
With boss Gareth Southgate seeking to fine-tune his Qatar preparations, there may be not a lot probability of gamers being rested.
And the ‘spare’ dates, October 18-20? An opportunity for respite, probably?
Nope. That has a full Prem fixture programme, together with Liverpool internet hosting West Ham, Manchester United in opposition to Spurs at Old Trafford and City’s go to to Arsenal.
And between the weekend earlier than the beginning of Europe, when Arsenal journey to United, to the one after it’s over – with Spurs taking part in Liverpool and Arsenal at Chelsea – there might be 12 Big Six Prem clashes.
