Premier League / Andrew French / 16 June 2008 / Leave a comment

Arsenal host West Brom, Scolari's Chelsea are visited by Portsmouth and Newcastle travel to Man Utd. But will the Man Utd number seven shirt still be worn by Ronaldo? And will Sir Alex Ferguson still be in charge? Andrew French asks the questions but is in the same boat as everyone in not knowing the answers.

If you've been gorging on Turkish comebacks, German shocks or Dutch masterclasses, then it may have slipped under your radar that the fixtures for the new domestic season were announced this morning.

For me, this day has always been one of the best of the summer. The dust has barely settled on the events of the previous campaign and suddenly : 'Boom', you're hit with the full fixture list for the new season.

It's a bit less than eight weeks to the Football League kicks-off - a bit more than that to wait for the new Premiership season. Great I say. As much as Euro 2008 has been a refreshing breath of fresh air that has contradicted the stereotypical dull nature of major finals, you still can't beat the bread and butter of nine months of a league season.

At 10am, I wanted to know the first game of the season, the first home fixture, what we're doing over Christmas - you know the score, and I'm sure I'm not alone. If you're a fan of Hull, Stoke and West Brom reading this, what a morning you must have had.

However, when the excitement subsides I don't suppose the first day of the season looks that appealing with a couple of low-key opening games for the Tigers and the Potters, and a likely beating for the Baggies at Arsenal.

However, if that's a disappointing way to start the new season at the glamorous end of things, spare a thought for followers of Aldershot and Exeter on their return to the Football League. Did the fixtures computer hand them a nice home start to enjoy in the August sunshine with their triumphant fans? Not a bit of it. The Shots start with a particularly unglamorous trip to Accrington Stanley, while the Grecians and their fans face a 665-mile round trip to Darlington. I mean, with all due respect to the town of Darlington, it doesn't even lend itself to a little weekend break does it?

Back to the Premiership though, and 'Big' Phil Scolari begins his Chelsea tenure with a home game against Portsmouth. Unless he's ever sailed into the port, you have to wonder if the new Blues boss knows too much about his first opponents. It's difficult now to guess just who will fill the 11 Chelsea shirts on August 16 although Harry Redknapp will surely relish the chance to end that long unbeaten league record at Stamford Bridge on a day when the media will focus so much on the home team.

The champions start at home also, although it's too early to say whether the Manchester United team sheet will include the name of Ronaldo for their opening game with Newcastle. The latest rumours suggest Sir Alex will leave if his star man is sold without his consent. What a double loss that would be.

Betfair's 2008/09 Premiership winner market still shows United as favourites at [2.48] to back. No surprise really as although the title race went down to the last day, as things stand you'd expect them to enjoy the more settled summer and therefore probably find it easier to hit the ground running in August.

Scolari will have money to burn and he's in the ideal place to eye up potential signings. But if there is a significant turnover in the Stamford Bridge squad, the new boss will be doing well to get all his ducks in a row between the time he arrives and that first game. For me, the [3.2] to back the Blues to regain the title is unappealing.

I'm far keener on Arsenal at [6.6]. It is often overlooked that the Gunners were the pacesetters for a good chunk of last season, and with a slightly bigger and more experienced squad, they may well have stayed top of the pile. A year's knowledge and that bit more streetwise, Arsene Wenger's side appeal to me, even if only for back-to-lay purposes if you think they might struggle to last the pace again.

All the fixtures from the first two Premiership weekends:

Opening weekend - Saturday, 16 August

Arsenal v West Brom
Aston Villa v Man City
Bolton v Stoke
Chelsea v Portsmouth
Everton v Blackburn
Hull v Fulham
Man Utd v Newcastle
Middlesbrough v Tottenham
Sunderland v Liverpool
West Ham v Wigan

Saturday, 23 August

Blackburn v Hull
Fulham v Arsenal
Liverpool v Middlesbrough
Man City v West Ham
Newcastle v Bolton
Portsmouth v Man Utd
Stoke v Aston Villa
Tottenham v Sunderland
West Brom v Everton
Wigan v Chelsea

Tags: Cristiano ronaldo transfer, opening ay Premiership fixtures, Premiership fixtures