With a fair few distractions so far this summer with the off-pitch issues Dr Tony Xia and Aston Villa are facing, it’s nice to turn attentions back to a purely football related topic.
2⃣ days until the fixtures for the 2018/19 campaign are released but who do you want us to face first, Villans?#PartOfThePride #AVFC
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) June 19, 2018
We had hoped to already know the layout of the season ahead with the announcement of the Premier League fixtures last week, but defeat to Fulham in the Play-Off Final put paid to that and we have been forced to wait another week to find out who we face and when.
So the big Championship reveal comes this Thursday and the fixtures should be with all fans by 9am.
Of course, that won’t be the final fixture list as the television people will still have to get their hands on games and then we find out just how often, and how badly, fans are inconvenienced. Given Aston Villa’s issues over the last few weeks though, there is a sense of ‘the more the merrier’ when it comes to selections for the extra cash boost it brings.
Sky Sports and the EFL will, however, be announcing the opening round of fixtures for live broadcast on Thursday as well, so some plans can start being made.
This season we obviously welcome West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Swansea City to the second tier following relegation, and Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and Rotherham United following promotion from League One.
Some fans have already made their shouts for opening day but I’m pretty convinced they aren’t serious – well apart from the last one.
What’s your preference?
A win against our creditors would be nice?
— Neil Belton (@Neil_Belton) June 19, 2018
Hopefully not the tax man.
— Christhevillan ???????? (@christhevillan) June 19, 2018
Someone in the Premier League would have been nice.
— Nayson (@Nayson) June 19, 2018
HMRC and a victory would be nice
— Graham (@thegrahamcullen) June 19, 2018
If we’re still solvent WBA at home.
— Gary Costello ???????????????????????????? (@B31villa) June 19, 2018
Forest
— ????Jack_av???? (@Jack1YT) June 19, 2018