With the fixtures for the 2011/12 season just days away and fans eagerly waiting to start planning for the games they are most wanting to see, it got me thinking, is it worth it just yet?
Long gone are the days when if you had a weekend fixture it kicked off at 3pm on a Saturday. The TV companies like to mess fans around more than most with all sorts of ridiculous times and days chosen.
You only have to look at last season for games involving Leeds that were changed for live coverage.
Leeds were chosen for eleven championship games to be shown on live TV last season and it all kicked off on the opening day with a teatime kick off at home against Derby.
In fact, Leeds opening two games were shown live, with Leeds travelling to Nottingham Forest for a Sunday lunchtime game the following week.
Some of the more ridiculous ones that showed no consideration for travelling fans were Leeds home games with Cardiff City and Reading that were both moved to midweek, with an evening kick off time.
Leeds had to travel to Swansea for a Saturday lunchtime kick off, it just so happened to be Leeds longest trip of the season. Hats off to Leeds fans though, as nearly 3,000 made the trip to South West Wales.
The police also like to intervene, Leeds home game with Millwall once again being moved for the third season in a row. This time to Saturday lunchtime with a 12.30pm, kick off time.
Also after a busy Christmas period and funds beginning to run out for many, the trip on Bank Holiday Monday, January 3rd was moved to the following day, Tuesday with a 7.45pm kick off.
In total, fourteen of Leeds fourty-six games last season were moved for one reason or another.
Including midweek games, Leeds played just eleven games at home last season with a Saturday 3pm kick off.
It was even worse away from home with just ten kicking off at the old traditional time.
If and when Leeds eventually make it back to the Premier League expect this to get worse with Saturday lunch and teatime, Sunday lunch and teatime and Monday night games the norm in Premier League.
I am already expecting Leeds first visit to Blackpool since 1971 to have a midweek slot in mid November or December. Can you really see the Football League giving us a game on a Saturday?
So when the fixtures come out on Friday give it at least a couple of weeks before planning for the season ahead.
Let the TV companies and the Police mess around with the fixture list first, I don`t know why the Football League doesn`t just send it to them first.
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