TFF chit chat 10th, 11th and 12th January

[morganb]

FRIDAY 10TH JANUARY

Sheff Utd 20:00 West Ham

The Friday night fixture features high flying Sheffield United taking on West Ham at Bramall Lane. West Ham are under new management so it will be tricky to predict how well they will do today. Sheffield United have been consistent this season but Wilder likes a bit of striker rotation. Remember West Ham have an extra game later this month.

SATURDAY 11TH JANUARY

Crystal Palace 12:30 Arsenal

Would you Adam and Eve it – a London derby! Crystal Palace host Arsenal at Selhurst Park. The Gunners are another team under new management and have been performing better in their recent games, especially after Arteta gets all shouty. Palace are probably higher in the table than expected but are missing Milivojević and most of their defence.

Chelsea 15:00 Burnley

The first of the 3pm matches features Burnley travelling south to take on Frank Lampard's Chelsea. Chelsea's young guns have been a bit erratic of late but that is to be expected. Burnley lie in 15th and will be looking over their shoulder at the teams below them especially with their tough upcoming run. No Barnes for Burnley.

Everton 15:00 Brighton

To Goodison next where Brighton are the visitors. Everton are yet another team under new management and Ancelotti has apparently identified a batch of players he wants out the door in this window, including Siggy and all his spiders. Brighton were knocked out of the FA Cup last weekend so will want to bounce back here. Cheapie defender Dan Burn out for a while.

Leicester 15:00 Southampton

Southampton travel to the King Power to take on Leicester next. Both sides have in form strikers in the shape of Vardy and Ings respectively. Southampton have moved up to mid table but Leicester are a top 4 side so you would expect a home win today, but not a repeat of the 9-0 scoreline!

Man Utd 15:00 Norwich

To Ole Trafford next where Norwich are the visitors. United are still blowing hot and cold + Norwich are rock bottom of the table = would it be such a shock if Utd didn’t win today? Norwich will be sweating over an injury to Pukki. Maguire out for Utd.

Wolves 15:00 Newcastle

Next up is Wolverhampton Wanderers against Newcastle. Wolves are 7th but have played a lot of games this season so will this take its toll sooner or later? Newcastle are a team that have been surprising people by being comfortable in mid table for most of the season.

Tottenham 17:30 Liverpool

Saturday’s late game is this weekend's big match featuring Spurs against Liverpool. Jose’s new manager bounce has started to wear off but you would expect them to give it a go against the league leaders. The Liverpool juggernaut keeps on rolling. Kane out for a while so where will the Spurs goals come from?


SUNDAY 12TH JANUARY

Bournemouth 14:00 Watford

Just the one 2pm game this Sunday, Bournemouth against Watford, a game that pitches 18th against 19th. Watford are on the up whereas Bournemouth are on the way down. The Hornets look to have found a decent manager in Nigel Pearson but will the Cherries keep faith with Howe? Kabasele suspended and King injured.


Aston Villa 16:30 Man City

And finally, Aston Villa against Manchester City. Villa are just outside the relegation zone and Man City are just outside the top 2. Both Villa and City played in the Carabao Cup in mid week, City had a good win over Man Utd whereas Villa could only draw with Leicester. Will Aguero start? Wesley, McGinn and Heaton certainly won't due to injury.

[murf]

Sheff Utd v West Ham (20:00 GMT)

Sheffield United make wholesale changes from their win in the FA Cup against Fylde last weekend, but the only alteration to the side that lost 2-0 to Liverpool in the Premier League as Oliver McBurnie comes in for Lys Mousset.

New West Ham boss David Moyes makes three changes to his side that beat Gillingham 2-0 in the FA Cup, with Pablo Zabaleta, Aaron Cresswell and Mark Noble all returning.
Issa Diop and Robert Snodgrass drop to the bench. Injured Ryan Fredericks is, as expected, not in the squad.

[murf]

Do we assume Vardy will come back firing after what Rodgers called his "calf thing"?

And... does anyone else think Rodgers was trying to be cryptic and meant there was nothing wrong with Vardy but he was under the thumb and so on extended paternity leave? (a calf being the offspring of a cow)

[Jamjack]

Do we assume Vardy will come back firing after what Rodgers called his "calf thing"?

And... does anyone else think Rodgers was trying to be cryptic and meant there was nothing wrong with Vardy but he was under the thumb and so on extended paternity leave? (a calf being the offspring of a cow)

Yes to both questions albeit it I hadn’t made your calf connection. You’ve clearly taken this very personally Murf! I’ve certainly missed the steady goal a game return whilst the thumb has lingered over his noggin. I’m all for paternity leave for us mere mortals but I’m not quite sure it applies when you are on £250k a game

[happyhoppy]

Do we assume Vardy will come back firing after what Rodgers called his "calf thing"?

And... does anyone else think Rodgers was trying to be cryptic and meant there was nothing wrong with Vardy but he was under the thumb and so on extended paternity leave? (a calf being the offspring of a cow)

I’ve hung on to the eff for this game so I’m hoping for a 3-4.....

[brencarr]

I was just about to type ..... will my clean sheet be ruined in the last minute

[brencarr]

GOAL Sheff Utd 1-1 West Ham (90+2 mins)
Rice plays in Snodgrass who slots the ball in at the near post to net the equaliser .... but VAR checking

[brencarr]

DISALLOWED GOAL
Sheff Utd 1-0 West Ham

RULED OUT!

[murf]

Phew. That was close.

High = 35

Low = 7

[happyhoppy]

Ridiculous hand ball.

[Spinynorman]

High: 0

Low: 0

Best team: 0

[LenH]

A lucky 7 for me.

[Eddie Elbows]

Phew. That was close.

High = 35

Low = 7

Forgive me for sticking my dirty great hooter into your business Murph
but how is your Sheffield block doing positionally?

[murf]

Phew. That was close.

High = 35

Low = 7

Forgive me for sticking my dirty great hooter into your business Murph
but how is your Sheffield block doing positionally?

Had got as high as 175th but drifted out with lack of CSs lately. Rose from 915th to 265th last night. Bound to drop today as others get some CSs.

Still only 2nd in the FISO Block league. Topspur is 19pts ahead in 110th with Leicester (presumably in top 100 before last night).

[murf]

New Palace signing Cenk Tosun starts on the bench while Gary Cahill makes his first Premier League start since 7 December. Cheikhou Kouyate also returns and James Tomkins captains the side in the absence of the suspended Luka Milivojevic.

Arsenal are unchanged from the side that started the last Premier League game - a 2-0 win over Manchester United on 1 January.

Crystal Palace
31Guaita
34Kelly
5Tomkins
24Cahill
44Riedewald
7Meyer
22McCarthy
8Kouyaté
18McArthur
11Zaha
9J Ayew
Substitutes
6Dann
13Hennessey
20Tosun
21Wickham
35Woods
37Kirby
40Pierrick

Arsenal
1Leno
15Maitland-Niles
5Papastathopoulos
23David Luiz
31Kolasinac
11Torreira
34Xhaka
19Pépé
10Özil
14Aubameyang
9Lacazette
Substitutes
16Holding
24Nelson
26Martínez
28Willock
29Guendouzi
35Martinelli
77Saka

[Spinynorman]

Big relief for me that Aubameyang is playing.

[brencarr]

GOAL!

Brilliant combination play! 18 passes in the move that ends with Alexandre Lacazette finding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the opener.

Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal

[murf]

GOAL!

Brilliant combination play! 18 passes in the move that ends with Alexandre Lacazette finding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the opener.

Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal

Penultimate pass was zil (according to text)

[happyhoppy]

Nearly went from Son sent off to Kane injured to Aubameyang sent off. Only him not starting in cup game made me rethink and decide on Vardy. So what odds on Vardy getting a red?

[Spinynorman]

Well that's gone all poo shaped for me.

[happyhoppy]

At least he scored Spiny so think of it as a positive daisy chain!

[Spinynorman]

Every lining has a silver poo or so the saying goes.

[MagicIsay]

Thinking James to Troare, anyone wish to talk me out of it? Ppm pretty similar but Troare runs a little bit faster and seems to be nailed on to start

[happyhoppy]

Thinking James to Troare, anyone wish to talk me out of it? Ppm pretty similar but Troare runs a little bit faster and seems to be nailed on to start

I was hovering over this one too. But replay mid week was putting me off. Plus it felt tinkery. Guess if you’re transfer flush unlike me then maybe go for it.

[murf]

Not sure on Traore although a non start is a good excuse to ditch the underperforming James. Cantwell, Mount, Leicester defenders instead?

[MagicIsay]

I decided not too and perhaps wait for Sarr tomorrow who seems to have found some form and starting regular. Plus may play tranmere

[murf]

Bang goes the Wolves CS. Al Miron scores. Seems like a few he has of late. Maybe I should be checking his stats.....

[murf]

Wolves equalise - Den Doncker

Leicester go ahead - Praet (Vardy, Perez) acc. radio

[MagicIsay]

He was quite high up on the form guide Almerion when I was looking into James replacements, however I dont trust Newcastle and I am not 100 percent sure he wont get an injury soon like most of their team seems too. Perhaps cabbage head is working them too hard

[murf]

Bang goes the Leicester CS!

(PS TFF Live was showing 'null' for all non Premier League teams in the cup last week. They are now getting a bit ahead of themselves as the Leicester v Southampton game is showing as "LEI v null". Next year....)