TFF chit chat 17th, 18th and 19th October

[morganb]

SATURDAY 17TH OCTOBER

Everton 12:30 Liverpool

The first of this weekend's set of fixtures is the Merseyside derby featuring top of the table Everton against reigning Champions Liverpool. Dominic Calvert Lewin is the inform striker in this fixture though there are a number of good picks from this game - Richarlison (barring ankle injury), James, Salah, Mane (if recovered from Covid). Just remember Adrian is in goal for Liverpool and coincidentally they got drubbed last time out by the mighty Villa.

Chelsea 15:00 Southampton

Only the one 3pm game this Saturday - Chelsea versus Southampton from Stamford Bridge. Reese James performed well for England prior to his sending off but will Frank play him? Werner and Haverts played well for Germany in their recent games. Southampton's Danny Ings was used rather sparingly by England so should be well rested for this one and is also in good form.

Manchester City 17:30 Arsenal

The late afternoon match is a game featuring a couple of the traditional big four - Man City v Arsenal. City have performed rather badly so far this season and are below Arsenal in the table. Still no sign of Aguero and Jesus is injured so who is going to be up front for City? Was Sterling only suffering from a bout of friendlyitis? Arsenal will have Tierney missing due to Covid isolation.

Newcastle United 20:00 Manchester United

The Saturday Night Fixture, Night Fixture is Newcastle against Man United. Manchester United have been disappointing this season and didn't exactly pull up trees during the transfer window (perhaps a tree would play better at centre back?) Maguire embarrassed himself (again) on England duty and after the showing against Spurs will be under even more pressure today. Martial suspended. Newcastle have relied on Wilson to fire in the goals.

SUNDAY 18TH OCTOBER

Sheffield United 12:00 Fulham

The early game this Sunday is a clash between the bottom two teams - Sheff Utd and Fulham. A couple of seasons ago this would have been a Championship game and it could be again next season if these two don't buck their ideas up pretty smartish. Neither team has picked up a single point yet and between them they've shipped 17 goals. Have you shipped out all your SU defenders yet?

Crystal Palace 14:00 Brighton & Hove Albion

At 2pm it's the M23 derby. It will take Crystal Palace 1 hour and 5 minutes to travel the 45.7 miles from Selhurst Park to the Am Ex via the M23. Will it be worth the trip for Roy's boys? Brighton only have the one win to their name and lie 3 places behind Palace who managed to win their first two but it has been downhill since then.

Tottenham Hotspur 16:30 West Ham United

A London derby awaits us at 4:30pm - Spurs against West Ham. Tottenham had a good win last time out against Man U. Son returned from injury early and annoyed all of you who sold him after listening to Jose. Fortunately Kane got through the England games unscathed. West Ham are on a good run of form at the moment and are sat comfortably in mid-table and a win today will put them above Spurs. Antonio and Bowen are the pick of the bunch.

Leicester City 19:15 Aston Villa

The Sunday Night Fixture is Leicester hosting the mighty Villa at the King Power. The Foxes are in 3rd place in the table and will be looking to bounce back from their recent defeat to West Ham. Aston Villa are one of the two teams above them thanks to a couple of shrewd acquisitions in Martinez and Watkins (perhaps even Barkley) who have vastly improved the team. Unlike Southgate, don't forget that Grealish is a class act.

MONDAY 19TH OCTOBER

West Bromwich Albion 17:30 Burnley

First up on Monday is West Brom against Burnley. This is another foot of the table clash with 17th hosting 18th with a solitary point earned by the two sides combined. It is doubtful that there are many TFF picks involved in this match though Diangana is a useful enabler and Robinson performed well against Chelsea.

Leeds United 20:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers

And finally, the MNF is Leeds v Wolves at Elland Road. Patch Bamford has been a revelation this season and there are a number of useful midfielders playing behind him so Leeds have looked good so far. Wolves in contrast have got off to a slow start and are currently sat in lower mid-table. Jimenez is always a danger but hasn't scored in his last two outings.


Next fixture is on Friday.

Keep an eye out for any late signings before the latest transfer window slams shut later today.

[murf]

Just reading your Liverpool preview and I can confirm Mane has been training (as have fellow covid-victim Thiago and recovered Matip. Shaqiri is fine - didn't actually have covid)

[SamD]

Note also, unlike morganb's useful preview, that TFF Match Centre doesn't show amended fixture times for this weekend and the next two.
https://fantasyfootball.telegraph.co.uk ... re/by-week

Have contacted Telegraph about this.

[morganb]

Just a plug for a Champions League/Europa League goals competition that starts this week. Details in the following post:

viewtopic.php?p=3458509#p3458509

[morganb]

Taken from the injuries thread:

Kevin de Bruyne misses Man City game v Arsenal. Doesn't know how long he will be out. "Not long but next games."

[Mins]

With Allison out as well, I'll be down to 32 subs by the end of the weekend at least! Doh!

[Jamjack]

With Allison out as well, I'll be down to 32 subs by the end of the weekend at least! Doh!

I hate to show off but I haven’t used a transfer for almost 2 weeks.

[Mins]

lol, literally lol

[murf]

With Allison out as well, I'll be down to 32 subs by the end of the weekend at least! Doh!

I hate to show off but I haven’t used a transfer for almost 2 weeks.

That isn't clever - you really should have done some on Monday so you'd still have 5 left to sort out the remains of your team over the weekend!

[Jamjack]

I never said I was good at this game Murf. It would have taken a better player than me to spot that opportunity.

We do need to talk about Kevin though. Pep’s rather vague comment has the whiff of a tiny problem that frustratingly stretches beyond 2-3 games.

I’m not yet mentally prepared enough to rake through the rest of the international injury damage. A couple of beers post this evenings macaroni cheese savoury should put me right in the zone though.

[murf]

Not seen the interview to get the context and read between the lines.

In theory 'games' could be just 2 including midweek so back next weekend, one TFF game missed, not worth the waste of a transfer OR.....


PS Did he say anything about Sterling's Friendlyitis?

[Canaryfan]

Kevin to Son seems the way to go for me (not Kevin's son obviously, maybe he doesn't have one anyway).

[Jamjack]

Pep says Sergio is pushing for a return. There is a bullet proof, what could possibly go wrong option if I’ve every seen one. At least KDBs price means you can just about replace with anyone.

[Thomarse]

I have to deal with Alisson, Tierney with 'Rona, KDB, Greenwood misfiring, Ake not starting and already used 6 trannies. Too early to write this season off?

[murf]

I have to deal with Alisson, Tierney with 'Rona, KDB, Greenwood misfiring, Ake not starting and already used 6 trannies. Too early to write this season off?

No... but only because they don't do the wooden spoon prize any more

[morganb]

Soyuncu flagged with a muscle injury

[happyhoppy]

Kevin to Son seems the way to go for me (not Kevin's son obviously, maybe he doesn't have one anyway).

Yeah back to Son or Kane with a clip round the ear.

[Darbyand]

Not seen the interview to get the context and read between the lines.

In theory 'games' could be just 2 including midweek so back next weekend, one TFF game missed, not worth the waste of a transfer OR.....


PS Did he say anything about Sterling's Friendlyitis?

Watch the video in the link on the injury thread. Infuriating.


KDB to Son, someone expendable to KDB when he's fit and firing.

[LenH]

Son for me to. Simple solution.

I might pretend that we're back at the 30 only subs for the season mark we had a few years back when they started messing things up. It did go 20, 30 then 40, didn't it?

[happyhoppy]

Son for me to. Simple solution.

I might pretend that we're back at the 30 only subs for the season mark we had a few years back when they started messing things up. It did go 20, 30 then 40, didn't it?

Exactly my thinking. Get to 24.

[LenH]

I should imagine I'll be there by next week at this rate!

It's crazy, it has to settle surely?

[murf]

Matip starts for Liverpool - Gomez benched

Triple O midfield for Liverpool - Thiago, Fabinho and Hendo. Wijno on bench.

Adrian in, rest as expected.

[Darbyand]

Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Keane, Digne, Gomes, Allan, Doucouré, James, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Liverpool XI: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson, Mané, Salah, Firmino.

[SPR]

Gomez DCL seems a no brainer right?

[murf]

Gomez DCL seems a no brainer right?

Not convinced, I may well have jinxed DCL by buying him before the break. Didn't see much of the England games but he didn't get rave headlines then.

Gomez is a liability TFF-wise but not many will have that spare £1.5m! I might wait and see how Matip goes, Liverpool are 4th game next weekend so still some selling options after that.

[SPR]

Gomez DCL seems a no brainer right?

Not convinced, I may well have jinxed DCL by buying him before the break. Didn't see much of the England games but he didn't get rave headlines then.

Gomez is a liability TFF-wise but not many will have that spare £1.5m! I might wait and see how Matip goes, Liverpool are 4th game next weekend so still some selling options after that.

I have £2.5m spare putting Foden in gave me a load of cash and there's more to come when Meslier goes in.

[murf]

I'm clinging to the vague hope Liverpool score and Klopp brings Gomez on to help maintain a (partial) CS....

[SPR]

I don't think I can cling to that. Gomez will probably be a good pick at some point but he seems like he needs upgrading PDQ ATM and hard to resist doing that with all the spare cash.

[SPR]

Maybe I can cling to the hope and get the consolation of Kane later if it doesn't pay off...

[happyhoppy]

Mane (Robertson)