The Premier League (in their wisdom) have rescheduled Newcastle’s postponed games against Southampton and Everton, by ‘shoe-horning’ them in on two Thursday nights in March.
The new arrangements not only present a gruelling schedule for the club – with FOUR of March’s games now set to be played over just 10 days – but a nightmare for away fans’ travel plans, as the fixture list shows below:
- Brighton (H) – Saturday 5th March, 3pm
- Southampton (A) – Thursday 10th March, 7.30pm
- Chelsea (A) – Sunday 13th March, 2pm
- Everton (A) – Thursday, 17th March, 745pm
- Crystal Palace (H) – Saturday, 19th March – 3pm
Thanks to the EPL (who claim to put fans first), the travelling toon army now face a 12 hour, 640 mile round trip on a Thursday for the Southampton game (causing jeopardy for work commitments), followed by a 9 hour, 550 mile round trip to Chelsea, just three days later.
For the club, the schedule presents obvious concerns relating to potential fitness and injury worries; but we can take heart in the fact Eddie Howe has enhanced players’ fitness levels all round – not to mention the fact they have played like absolute ‘warriors’ in the last three games!
As for the travelling fans, well nothing will stop them seeing their beloved, rejuvenated team…isn’t that right any kind, caring employers reading this?!
Fixture pile-up was always going to happen, not one of us moaned when this games where proposed, we all knew that we would be in a stronger position when the games where re-arranged. As for work commitments aka ‘Jeopardy’, it’s simple you go if you have a ticket or you don’t! The lads and lasses who follow away every other week would take this pain to make sure we survive!
Rafalistic(Quote)
Yes it’s tough but I would sooner play in March with a better attitude from the team and a strengthened squad than what we had.
It seems certain teams are out to get us anyway, some of the filthy tactics like Aston Villa and Everton produced has caused injuries to key players.
Joseph(Quote)
“…we can take heart in the fact Eddie Howe has enhanced players’ fitness levels all round”
Don’t think Fede, Wilson Hayden and St Maximin are too fit at the moment, all crock with soft tissue injuries.
Daveys **** mate(Quote)
??????
Freddd(Quote)
It is what it is, we will play these games and just move on, hopefully to stronger days , follow the toon home and away we are UNITED
Chris(Quote)