OK, so the fixture list has been released for next season and at first glance the word I would use is tricky, it could have been a better start for us but could have been worse as well, however, I have to admit the run in does look a bit daunting.
Let’s take the first six games of the season
Newcastle Away
Burnley Home
Liverpool Away
Tottenham Home
Watford Away
Aston Villa Home
A lot will depend on how we perform away, if it is the same level of performance as the last two seasons then it really does not matter who we are playing on the road.
Tottenham are beatable at the Emirates we know that and Burnley and Villa will also struggle to get anything from a visit to us, so in theory that is a very possible nine points.
Liverpool away is daunting for sure but you have to think that if we get it right away that we can pick up six points at Watford and Newcastle.
If we get through these six games with between 12 and 15 points I will be very satisfied.
However, anything less than nine and we could be in for a very hard slog.
Now the run in, our last six games will be
Wolves Away
Leicester City Home
Tottenham Away
Liverpool Home
Aston Villa Away
Watford Home
Well, a home game in the final fixture is positive but playing two top-six teams in the run-in is not ideal and we know that Wolves and Leicester will not be easy at all.
Put it this way, compare that run in to what we had last season and you will soon realise that is one hell of a difficult run in.
Finally, the Christmas, New year period, from the 21st December until 1st January we have four games and they are
Everton Away
Bournemouth Away
Chelsea Home
Man Utd home
That looks a tough festive period of games and I had a quick look at Spurs games in that period and they have Chelsea at home, Brighton at home, Norwich away and Southampton away, significantly easier in my opinion.
So there you have it, a tricky start to the season, a difficult festive period and a daunting run in.
Any of those three periods can define our season one way or another, hopefully, it will be positive.