2011-12 Chelsea Premier League Schedule Analysis

Last Friday, the Premier League released the schedule for the upcoming 2011-12 season.  It is the first day of tangibility for many squads as they can begin to map out their route to the championship. 

For some teams, such as newly promoted QPR, Swansea City and Norwich City, the schedule really factors little into what they hope to achieve (mostly staying up in top flight football). 

But for the big boys, the schedule becomes a careful juggling act of resting players and getting results as often they are involved in two or three other competitions.  For Chelsea's new manger, whoever that may be, that balancing act may be a little easier this year.

Chelsea kick off the season with perhaps the easiest schedule in the entire league. 

Stoke (A), West Brom (H), newly promoted Norwich City (H), Sunderland (A) are the Blue's first four games and with week breaks in between. 

While Sunderland away can be tricky, there is absolutely no reason why Chelsea shouldn't at the top of the table with 12 points and a comfortable goal differential or the new skipper could feel the wrath of Abramovich early. 

Perhaps the only downside would be that you may want a string of winnable games like these to me in the middle of your schedule, when you are in FA Cup games and Champions League. 

As we saw last year, a hot start for Chelsea doesn't necessarily lead to a championship.

Chelsea's first test is one of their biggest of the season: Manchester United away on Sept. 17th.  It's early for both teams, so it should be a good game, but Man U already has played Spurs and Arsenal back-to-back a few games ago. 

Another string of winnable game follow.  Swansea City (H), Bolton (A), Everton (H), QPR (A).

The first difficult stretch begins Oct. 29th home to Arsenal.  Then Blackburn (A), Liverpool (H), Wolves (H), Newcastle (A), Man City (H), Wigan (A), Spurs (A). 

The combination of playing a top team every other game in this stretch combined with the fact that exhaustion will begin to set in as the FA Cup and Champions League are both in full swing, makes this the managers first true test.

Fulham (H), Villa (H), Wolves (A), Sunderland (H), Norwich (A), Swansea (A), gives the Blue's a much-needed break.  Then the return match at Man U on  Feb. 4th at home. 

After spending three of the last four weeks on the road, the return home for what could be a pivotal game for the league title is welcomed.

Everton (A), Bolton (H), West Brom, (A), Stoke (H), is a nice way to keep tight in the Premier league while simultaneously trying to advance in the knockout rounds of Champions League.

The schedule then reaches its most difficult stage.  Back-to-back-to-back games against Man City (A), Spurs (H), Villa (A) can prove to be difficult as all three of those teams will more than likely be in contention for Champions League of UEFA Cup spots for the following season. 

Perhaps the Man City game could be moved if one of the teams is still involved in the FA Cup.  The sixth round of the competition is scheduled top be played on the same day.  The move could benefit either team.

Wigan (H), Fulham (A), Newcastle (H), Arsenal (A), QPR (H), Liverpool (A), Blackburn (H) finishes the Premier League season. 

The good news for Chelsea is they spend the entire month of April in Premier League competition in London.  With the other competitions at their most difficult stages, it is nice to be able to have their home town where they will spend a majority of their time.

While Chelsea should be able to establish an early lead, they end the season with difficult games and many of them being away.  But looking forward, it is not the worst of possible schedules with most of their games against top clubs spaced out evenly throughout the season. 

This should give them ample rest and the coach greater flexibility in his rotation.  Then again when the ball kicks off, all of this means absolutely nothing.