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out a week today and we're supposeldly in talks with the league to secure an away day first up to ensure that our place is ready

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ue-5853990

Such a non-story though isnt it, talk about dramatising the fact that we asked to be away for the first game, it was a 50/50 chance we would be anyway. Also what a fucking depressing old picture they used as well. I bet when Liverpool ask for the same next year when their new stand is almost ready, they will use an artists impression of their ground with a holy grail above it!

Deposed champions want extra time as they add 6,000 seats to take capacity to more than 55,000 and make the Etihad the top-flight's third biggest ground


City's ground development in full swing

Manchester City want to start the new season away – to give them maximum time to prepare their newly-expanded stadium for the big kick-off.

Deposed champions City are adding 6,000 seats to the south stand at their Etihad Stadium, which will take the overall capacity to more than 55,000 for the new season.

That will make it the third biggest club ground in the top flight after Manchester United’s Old Trafford, which holds 75,000, and Arsenal’s 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium.

Although City insist their stadium will be ready for the start of the new season, on the weekend of August 8-10, they have asked the Premier League for an away game to maximise the time they have to ensure it is fully operational for their first home match.

Talks between City and the Premier League are ongoing, with the fixtures for the new Premier League season set to be released at 9am next Wednesday - June 17.

On this subject - don't we need a 'trial' game to ensure the stand is safe for crowds, like they do for new stadiums, or is that kind of thing more for stewards/policing than structural stability?

BlueinBosnia wrote:On this subject - don't we need a 'trial' game to ensure the stand is safe for crowds, like they do for new stadiums, or is that kind of thing more for stewards/policing than structural stability?

I am sure thats needed, but I dont think its an event thats required as its only a single tier of the stand. I am just assuming, I have no fact to back up that assumption.

Wonderwall wrote:

BlueinBosnia wrote:On this subject - don't we need a 'trial' game to ensure the stand is safe for crowds, like they do for new stadiums, or is that kind of thing more for stewards/policing than structural stability?

I am sure thats needed, but I dont think its an event thats required as its only a single tier of the stand. I am just assuming, I have no fact to back up that assumption.

Will they just let a load of schoolkids up there to run and jump around for 90 minutes instead, or summat?

I was kind of hoping for a one-off re-initiation of the Thomas Cook Trophy. (Incidentally - I just looked up its history, and noticed that Yaya scored against us in it during his time at Olympiakos!)

BlueinBosnia wrote:

Wonderwall wrote:

BlueinBosnia wrote:On this subject - don't we need a 'trial' game to ensure the stand is safe for crowds, like they do for new stadiums, or is that kind of thing more for stewards/policing than structural stability?

I am sure thats needed, but I dont think its an event thats required as its only a single tier of the stand. I am just assuming, I have no fact to back up that assumption.

Will they just let a load of schoolkids up there to run and jump around for 90 minutes instead, or summat?

I was kind of hoping for a one-off re-initiation of the Thomas Cook Trophy. (Incidentally - I just looked up its history, and noticed that Yaya scored against us in it during his time at Olympiakos!)

Nice bit of Trivia right there!

Today's the day. Let's see how we get on, and for those who've joined the fixture comp, you're lucky I didn't join in ;-)

out @ 9am

There was a rumor we have spuds at home on the first day.... Would be typical of the league to not allow our request!

wba away
chelsea @ home

liking the look of october

Full Fixture list here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/tea ... y/fixtures

Fantastic run in all things considered. Last 10 games, really only one of great concern would be chelsea away.

Just an observation though. In recent years, the fixtures have run through one set, then the opposite fixtures have been scheduled in the same order in the 2nd half of the season.

Looks like TV has had some part to play, as some of these fixtures don't look particularly random. Why for example we play Chelsea in April as opposed to playing them in our 20th game? Another example is the swapping of the order of the Swansea and Arsenal games in the 2nd half of the season......almost as if the league intentionally doesn't want a last day decider.

It doesn't always follow that pattern.
I'm sure some teams were played home and away in fairly short order the season just gone. Leicester sticks in my mind for some reason.

Piccsnumberoneblue wrote:It doesn't always follow that pattern.
I'm sure some teams were played home and away in fairly short order the season just gone. Leicester sticks in my mind for some reason.

there have been many occasions down the years where we have played a team H and A before we have even played another team once.

Im_Spartacus wrote:Fantastic run in all things considered. Last 10 games, really only one of great concern would be chelsea away.

Just an observation though. In recent years, the fixtures have run through one set, then the opposite fixtures have been scheduled in the same order in the 2nd half of the season.

Looks like TV has had some part to play, as some of these fixtures don't look particularly random. Why for example we play Chelsea in April as opposed to playing them in our 20th game? Another example is the swapping of the order of the Swansea and Arsenal games in the 2nd half of the season......almost as if the league intentionally doesn't want a last day decider.

I never bother looking at a run of fixtures anymore. We got more points off Chelsea than Burnley last season!

Great to see the new fixtures out already. It really wets the old appetite for the new season

Great to see the new fixtures out already. It really wets the old appetite for the new season

08/08/2015 15:00 West Bromwich Albion v Manchester City

15/08/2015 15:00 Manchester City v Chelsea

22/08/2015 15:00 Everton v Manchester City

29/08/2015 15:00 Manchester City v Watford

12/09/2015 15:00 Crystal Palace v Manchester City

19/09/2015 15:00 Manchester City v West Ham United

26/09/2015 15:00 Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City

03/10/2015 15:00 Manchester City v Newcastle United

17/10/2015 15:00 Manchester City v A.F.C. Bournemouth

24/10/2015 15:00 Manchester United v Manchester City

31/10/2015 15:00 Manchester City v Norwich City

07/11/2015 15:00 Aston Villa v Manchester City

21/11/2015 15:00 Manchester City v Liverpool

28/11/2015 15:00 Manchester City v Southampton

05/12/2015 15:00 Stoke City v Manchester City

12/12/2015 15:00 Manchester City v Swansea City

19/12/2015 15:00 Arsenal v Manchester City

26/12/2015 15:00 Manchester City v Sunderland

28/12/2015 15:00 Leicester City v Manchester City

02/01/2016 15:00 Watford v Manchester City

13/01/2016 19:45 Manchester City v Everton

16/01/2016 15:00 Manchester City v Crystal Palace

23/01/2016 15:00 West Ham United v Manchester City

02/02/2016 19:45 Sunderland v Manchester City

06/02/2016 15:00 Manchester City v Leicester City

13/02/2016 15:00 Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur

27/02/2016 15:00 Newcastle United v Manchester City

01/03/2016 20:00 Liverpool v Manchester City

05/03/2016 15:00 Manchester City v Aston Villa

12/03/2016 15:00 Norwich City v Manchester City

19/03/2016 15:00 Manchester City v Manchester United

02/04/2016 15:00 A.F.C. Bournemouth v Manchester City

09/04/2016 15:00 Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion

16/04/2016 15:00 Chelsea v Manchester City

23/04/2016 15:00 Manchester City v Stoke City

30/04/2016 15:00 Southampton v Manchester City

07/05/2016 15:00 Manchester City v Arsenal

15/05/2016 15:00 Swansea City v Manchester City

Fixtures subject to change

I can already see a flaw in the fixture list. It has us down for playing Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday 1st March. There is a Europa league game (they should reach that far) on Thursday 25th Feb, which means Liverpool will be playing on Sunday 28th Feb. Therefore, our game will definitely be played on weds 2nd March. Also the game on the weekend before we play them is the Merseyside Derby. Plenty of injuries or suspensions following that game! I want us to batter them at Anfield this year!

I'm gonna come over for a game this fall. Will probably be looking at one of the following (although away tickets to the derby might be hard to come by):

03/10/2015 15:00 Manchester City v Newcastle United
17/10/2015 15:00 Manchester City v A.F.C. Bournemouth
24/10/2015 15:00 Manchester United v Manchester City
31/10/2015 15:00 Manchester City v Norwich City

Ultimately I would like a week with a CL home game as well, so I can watch City twice in one trip (and preferably some EDS as well).