TFF chit chat 18th and 19th January

[morganb]

SATURDAY 18TH JANUARY

Watford 12:30 Tottenham

Saturday’s early game features Watford at home to Spurs. Watford's mid week game was postponed so they will have a bit of a fixture pile up at the end of the month. Spurs lost to Liverpool last weekend but crept through in the Cup. Assume you have all ditched Kane who is out for ages.

Arsenal 15:00 Sheff Utd

The first of the 3pm matches sees Sheffield United visiting the Emirates. Arsenal have improved slightly under Arteta but will be missing the suspended Aubameyang. Sheffield United are still significantly over achieving and are a handful of points away from the magical 40.

Brighton 15:00 Aston Villa

At the Am Ex, Brighton welcome Aston Villa. After the Seagulls poor start to the season their form has taken then to mid table safety but only a few points from trouble. Aston Villa are stuck in the relegation zone and have recently been rocked by injuries to key players, though Pepe Reina is now a Villain.

Man City 15:00 Crystal Palace

Oh, the hokey cokey! Aguero played last weekend and scored a hat trick. Unfortunately City couldn’t keep a clean sheet so defensive points were lost late on. Palace are another mid table side who have little to play for this season.

Norwich 15:00 Bournemouth

At Carrow Road we have a game between bottom club Norwich and relegation candidates Bournemouth. Both sides have had strikers injuries in recent weeks (King, Pukki) and coupled with porous defences it could be a long winter for both teams.

Southampton 15:00 Wolves

Southampton must be one of the form teams in the division and next up they have Wolves. Wolverhampton Wanderers played Man Utd in mid week and lost, but still have a grueling schedule ahead. The Saints Danny Ings for England?

West Ham 15:00 Everton

To East London next where Everton are the visitors to West Ham. Everton have been revitalised under Ancelotti but Moyes hasn’t had quite the same impact at West Ham though he will be hoping for a win against his old club.

Newcastle 17:30 Chelsea

Saturday’s late game sees Chelsea visiting Newcastle. The Magpies have so far managed to stear clear of the relegation zone and Almiron is in fine form. Even though Chelsea had a blip over Christmas they are still in the top 4.

SUNDAY 19TH JANUARY

Burnley 14:00 Leicester

Sunday’s early game is Burnley against Leicester at Fortress Turf Moor. Leicester haven’t been quite so good of late but are still outperforming expectations. Burnley are not as solid in defence as previously and are one defeat away from the bottom three.

Liverpool 16:30 Man Utd

And finally, the weekend’s big match – table topping Liverpool up against a Manchester United side sat in 5th. United could be without Marcus Rashford as he hobbled out of the mid week Cup match. Liverpool will be at full strength and hoping to continue their unbeaten run though United are the only team to take points off of them.

Then Tuesday 21st to Thursday 23rd (including Watford FA Cup replay)

[murf]

Not sure Liverpool are at "full strength" though many of those on the injury list are back in training (of some sort).

If you aren't rushing to buy Liverpool as last game this set then note they are last game in the midweek set too (Thurs) are still in the Cup next weekend, have the bonus rearranged game the midweek after that before getting a 3pm saturday slot. Could be a 5 for 1 or 4 for 0 in there somewhere if you get very lucky. 3 for 1 at worst???

[happyhoppy]

@morganb WRT Saints being a form team.

[morganb]

Not sure Liverpool are at "full strength" though many of those on the injury list are back in training (of some sort).

By full strength I meant the Ox is back!

[LenH]

Definitely up for some of the Liverpool extra games (probably gamble on the 4/1 or 3/0) but god knows who, what, where, when and how.

[murf]

With Liverpool likely to rotate in the Cup it could even be costly to sub out anyone who may start for their club. Very tricky one to judge.

[ventosus]

I'm in a dilemma now - having kicked the Aguero habit, that Rashford to Aguero is calling me...BUT dont want to burn a trannie (that would just be wrong) if Rashford up and running.

My plan A/B is wait til 19th, if Rashford fit fine - i'll step away from the transfer button, if not i'm thinking 4-5-1 - ditch Rashford, and go James to Chilwell in Defence and bring in Salah (and possible extra games) in at Mid... am convincing myself could be worth a punt as a long term format....

Or not.

[brencarr]

#THFC: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen (C), Tanganga, Winks, Lo Celso, Dele, Lamela, Son, Lucas

[brencarr]

Watford unchanged from last weekend's win!

Kabasele & Pussetto replace Dele-Bashiru & Success on the bench.

[brencarr]

Tanganga for 2.1 .... anyone?

[happyhoppy]

Tanganga for 2.1 .... anyone?

Soon he might be hard to ignore.

[murf]

Fed up rotating cheap defenders (every year). Will he stay til May? Can't see it.

[Sieben]

Tanganga has looked very good unlike Tottenham's defence.

[murf]

Tanganga has looked very good unlike Tottenham's defence.

Good but raw when I saw him. No use being good though, in this game, if your team mates aren't.

You don't need many CSs to justify £2.1m though. Just regular starts...

[Spinynorman]

I just mentioned Mr T on the enablers thread and here you all are discussing him here.

He's gone into my block team but only as a money saver and not a points gainer.

[brencarr]

That was my thought - 2.1m means a lot more money if your budget is tight

[murf]

Caveat, caveat.....

Alleged rumours on tw@tter that Rashford has a fracture in his back which could end his season.

Caveat, caveat....


To muddy this further.... before the Norwich game he was photographed carrying a box containing a 'Melmak Ultrasound Bone Healing Device'.

According to the product's website, it is used for 20 minutes a day to deliver ultrasound to the afflicted area 'in the treatment of delayed or non-union fractures and the acceleration of fresh fracture healing'.

(Last paras from Mirror a few days back)

[morganb]

Not looking good for England at the Euros then - possibly no Kane or Rashford, or them not being match sharp (but nicely rested I suppose)

I can see the headlines now:

Ings-land win the Cup
VAR-dy party at Euros
Etc

[brencarr]

PENALTY SAVE!

Paulo Gazzaniga guesses correctly and parries Troy Deeney's powerful spot-kick

Still Watford 0-0 Spurs (71 mins)

[Darbyand]

City: Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Fernandinho, Mendy, Gundogan, Silva (C), De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero

Bravo, Walker, Jesus, Rodrigo, Mahrez, Otamendi, Foden

[brencarr]

#MCFC Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Fernandinho, Mendy, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, Agueroooo

[happyhoppy]

Sterling needs to score 6 to make up for recent no shows. Even when he’s played...

[MagicIsay]

I have 41 mins to talk myself out of Rashford for Ings.. already have vardy and aguero

[brencarr]

I have 41 mins to talk myself out of Rashford for Ings.. already have vardy and aguero

Do it!

[LenH]

Sterling needs to score 6 to make up for recent no shows. Even when he’s played...

To say the least!

[LenH]

With Liverpool likely to rotate in the Cup it could even be costly to sub out anyone who may start for their club. Very tricky one to judge.

Agreed. I'm sure I'll make some rash, foolish, last minute decision and mess it all up.

So something to look forward to.

[murf]

Sterling needs to score 6 to make up for recent no shows. Even when he’s played...

Not just that but they need to win by enough such that Ederson is awarded 5 clean sheets.


[shame about start times or I could have sold him for Pepe Reina to hark back to the days when I thought I was good at TFF]

[murf]

That's going well...

Going to walk the dog now. Never score points when I'm watching the scores so I may as well head out. At least I can't lose points at half time....

[Thomarse]

Couple of goals for Aguero

[murf]

Couple of goals for Aguero

Walking the dog always works!

Aguero gets 12 points and Citeh drop 2.

(Presume my Eggcup transfer of Aguero didn't go through as that is a clear cursing)