TFF chit chat 30th and 31st December

[johnmc]

That was Maine with the back heal, I already watched the game you see!

Oh I have no idea then.

[Tom QC]

Did he perhaps pass to Milner for his assist for the second goal?

[Gonzague]

He did. Provided a KC for the second goal.

[SPR]

Lukaku being rubbish is a bit overblown, he has been ticking over with the odd goal or assist, just not blowing doors off.

[Tom QC]

I need at least heavily aspirated doors for £6.6m.

[jjmatadormc]

Deceptive liar adopts facade of wealth heir to front EPL sting operation (11)

[LenH]

Any more concrete news on Valencia doing the rounds?

After a shocking week so far I'm considering a switch to a City defender with their 'decent' run coming up and Utd looking more than shaky. Is Otamendi nailed on atm (looks like it)?

[Always Next Year]

Is Salah just missing the one game?

[Tom QC]

Re Valencia/Salah injuries - if they're hammies they could drag on.

jjmatadormc - which crossword is that from?

[Tom QC]

No Aguero. That makes that decision easy.

[brencarr]

Crystal Palace
Hennessey Riedewald Tomkins Dann van Aanholt Townsend Cabaye Milivojevic Fosu-Mensah Benteke Zaha
Substitutes Speroni Lee Chung-yong Souaré Kaikai Delaney Kelly Puncheon

Man City
Ederson Walker Mangala Otamendi Danilo De Bruyne Fernandinho Gündogan Bernardo Silva Jesus Sané
Substitutes Bravo Stones Sterling Agüero Adarabioyo Zinchenko Y Touré

[Tom QC]

Ederson, Walker, Mangala, Otamendi, Danilo, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Gundogan, B. Silva, Jesus, Sane
Subs: Bravo, Stones, Sterling, Aguero, Adarabioyo, Zinchenko, Toure

Noting Stones is back but does not start ahead of Mangala (yet).

[jjmatadormc]

Liking that team selection

[Sieben]

Makes a nice welcome change to have my 3 City players starting instead of warming the bench.

[ChrisD]

No Aguero. That makes that decision easy.

Yep, temptation removed (for now- I presume he'll start at home to Watford though, which may prove too much!!)

[LenH]

Re Valencia/Salah injuries - if they're hammies they could drag on.

jjmatadormc - which crossword is that from?

What I'm thinking so going for it (watch him be back next game).

[Aristotle19]

Looks like my quintet of Hazard, Morata, Christensen, Aguero and Sterling is exceptional this weekend!

Tempted by Hazard to De Bruyne for the 2-0 just to get some points this week.

[Tom QC]

Tempted by a Salah Zaha tinker. Could be a 4 for 0. This is what happens when I have a run of good transfers. I start thinking about rubbish like this.

[murf]

All we know about Salah is that Klopp said he was limping. When/how did this turn into a medium term hamstring injury?

[Tom QC]

No one said it's definitely a hammy. But it's possible. And quite possible even if it's not a serious injury that he gets a rest against Burnley. Some of us are still a long way back from the leaders so some gambles aren't totally ridiculous.

[murf]

My glass is half full. Salah will get a rest v Burnley then be fit and healthy for the FA Cup game (no game in midweek after) where he will score 4 goals.

[joshchelseafc]

Salah may well get a rest against burnley but that just means he will play the fa cup game where most other players will miss out so your not gaining much by getting rid.

[murf]

Onto more pressing matters... what to do about my planned bringing in of Sterling.....

[Tom QC]

Okay. I'm taking my son for a walk to get away from the transfer button! Watch Zaha score a brace now!

[jjmatadormc]

Man City are going to be all over the place with two league cup semi-finals, impossible to predict, not sure if Guardiola will prioritise winning the cups or going unbeaten in the league.

I'm going to be overweight on Jesus and Ali, that's my play for the next month.

[buttonphobic]

Im trying to be optimistic about Salahs limp. I mean when I used to play (pub team) I'd always end the game limping and play the next game. However, throw into it playing on an injury could lead to longer term injury which could lead to Liverpool being without their star man for a while and the fact that these are cosseted beings makes me think my optimism is foolhardy. And don't call me Hardy! He's also got that award ceremony the day before the FA cup match!!

[johnmc]

Aguero benched so I'm sitting on my hands, until Tuesday. In fact I'm off to the kitchen to see if the Mrs. needs any help , just so I don't give in and bring Jesus in, because I'm very tempted.

[ChrisD]

So many permutations, unknown injuries/illnesses, award ceremonies, cup games on a Friday following a congested fixture list. I've accepted I can't have them all, but I could blow transfers trying to do it. Going to let whatever be, and tuck into another chocolate orange, washed down with prosecco..

[Jamjack]

Okay. I'm taking my son for a walk to get away from the transfer button! Watch Zaha score a brace now!

I’ve just done exactly the same (with my own boys), such is my level of transfer self control!

[buttonphobic]

My optimism won. All Salahs left in! After all the FA cup match is a derby so If there's a whiff of him fit he's likely to play and if he doesn't well everyone else is in the same boat. Too many other headaches to deal, literally in Lukaku' s case. Like you a Murf - I'm stuck with the Belgian.