Man U away to Chelsea for first match. Wow talk about a biggie. Are fixtures in the premiership drawn or are they designed? http://www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,1-1140405,00.html
I don't know how the fixtures are worked out, but I would guess that they are designed. That first game is going to be massive. At Stamford Bridge. It is going to set an early precedence for the season. October 23rd is when Machester United plays Arsenal. I can't wait for the season to start.
August 14 Chelsea (A) 21 Norwich (H) 25 Everton (H) 28 Blackburn (A) September 11 Bolton (A) 18 Liverpool (H) 25 Tottenham (A) October 2 Middlesbrough (H) 16 Birmingham (A) 23 Arsenal (H) 30 Portsmouth (A) November 6 Man City (H) 13 Newcastle (A) 20 Charlton (H) 27 West Brom (A) December 4 Southampton (H) 11 Fulham (A) 18 Crystal Palace (H) 26 Bolton (H) 28 Aston Villa (A) January 1 Middlesbrough (A) 3 Tottenham (H) 15 Liverpool (A) 22 Aston Villa (H) February 1 Arsenal (A) 5 Birmingham (H) 12 Man City (A) 26 Portsmouth (H) March 5 Crystal Palace (A) 19 Fulham (H) April 2 Blackburn (H) 9 Norwich (A) 16 Chelsea (H) 20 Everton (A) 23 Newcastle (H) 30 Charlton (A) May 7 West Brom (H) 14 Southampton (A)
I think he'll be back around the first Liverpool game in September, but it will take a while to get up to full match fitness.
September 20 is the official end of his ban, which I think means he can start training with the first team. Hopefully it shouldn't take him too long to get up to fitness, so maybe we can expect him back for the game against Boro.
Is Rio able to even practice with the team? Besides playing in games, what else is he not allowed to do?
He can't play any games or train with any other team. Even if he plays with Hearts and Diamonds Pub Team XI, this would be seen by the FA as Rio not honoring the suspension and he could then see his ban lengthened.
What's important is that we welcome Jose Mourinho to the English Premiership by giving his team the smackdown. Anything less will be unacceptable, and will set a poor precedent for us for the rest of the season. I know its only the first game, but man how I've been wanting to beat the crap out of that guy for some time.
Hell freakin yeah... I know what you mean... I expect Ronaldo, Ruud, Scholes, Saha all to play... we will have to score more than 1 goal to win... Deco is dangerous and will create space for whomever their strikers will be...
I think Rio should be back September 20. He is allowed to train with the team but no play in any matches.