TFF chit chat 20th, 21st and 22nd January

[morganb]

SATURDAY 20TH JANUARY


Brighton 12:30 Chelsea

Saturday's early kick off sees Brighton pitting their wits against Chelsea. The Blues will be without Morata and Pedro for this clash after they both saw red in midweek. The Seagulls will be hoping that Chelsea's goal drought continues. Rumours of Crouch or Carroll to Chelsea.

Arsenal 15:00 Crystal Palace

Let's have a knees up - it's a London derby! Arsenal are currently in the doldrums what with all their players leaving them and squandering a lead again Bournemouth last weekend. Palace on the other hand are in relatively good form.

Burnley 15:00 Man Utd

Off to Fortress Turf Moor now, where Burnley welcome high flying Man Utd. Burnley sit in 7th, comfortably above mid-table but slightly off top 6. United will be going for the win hoping City will slip up again. Will Sanchez be a United player soon?

Everton 15:00 West Brom

The Toffees may give home debuts to their couple of new players, Tosun and Walcott. The Baggies got an unexpected cleansheet last weekend and will hope to build on it. I remember when Dawson was a popular pick.

Leicester 15:00 Watford

The Foxes snuck past Fleetwood in midweek and now take on the Hornets at the King Power. Mahrez has been racking up the points. Watford are 10th and still feature a nice pair of enablers in the shape of Richarlison and Doucoure.

Stoke 15:00 Huddersfield

Will Stoke rediscover their rufty tufty side now they are under new management or will they keep their recent namby pambyness? Uddersfield will be looking to bounce back from last week's drubbing.

West Ham 15:00 Bournemouth

The Hammers welcome the Cherries to the London Stadium. Bournemouth were unceremoniously dumped out of the Cup on Wednesday whereas West Ham qualified for the next round and have the momentum here. Carroll out injured.

Man City 17:30 Newcastle

Saturday's late match sees Newcastle visit the League leaders at the Ethiad. City lost their unbeaten record against Liverpool last weekend but Newcastle are a different proposition entirely.


SUNDAY 21ST JANUARY


Southampton 16:00 Tottenham

Sunday's solitary match sees Spurs visiting deepest, darkest Hampshire. Lowly Southampton will need reinforced doors in order to stop Harry blowing them off. Son is also on song at the moment.


MONDAY 22ND JANUARY


Swansea 20:00 Liverpool

The Monday night fixture sees Liverpool visiting the Liberty where the Welsh Wizards from Wales await. Jordan Ayew is in the form of his life at the moment. Liverpool don't appear to be missing Coutinho. Is VVD fit?

[SPR]

Southampton 16:00 Tottenham

Sunday's solitary match sees Spurs visiting deepest, darkest Hampshire. Lowly Southampton will need reinforced doors in order to stop Harry blowing them off. Son is also on song at the moment.

Didn't Southampton sell their solitary reinforced door to Liverpool?

[murf]

As the not-so-proud owner of a Saints block I can report that their doorways have not featured any form of reinforcements since about mid September.

[Fabien]

Just plagiarising Murf's post from the other chit chat thread.
**********
Ross Barkley makes the squad - Chelsea's new signing is on the bench.

There are only five survivors from the much-changed line-up that started Wednesday's FA Cup win over Norwich as the regulars return - Eden Hazard, Marcos Alonso, N'Golo Kante, Antonio Rudiger, Victor Moses and Andreas Christensen are all back in.

Pedro and Alvaro Morata - both sent off on Wednesday - are suspended, while Cesc Fabregas and Gary Cahill are out with hamstring problems.

Chelsea XI: Caballero, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Moses, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso, Willian, Batshuayi, Hazard.

Subs: Barkley, Musonda, Zappacosta, Luiz, Eduardo, Ampadu, Sterling.

(nb Courtois also AWOL - injured)

As for Brighton, there are five changes from the team that lost 2-0 to West Brom last Saturday.

The club's new record signing Jurgen Locadia (a reported £14m) couldn't be registered in time, but in come Connor Goldson, Solly March, Tomer Hemed, Ezequiel Schelotto and Markus Suttner. Out go Gaetan Bong, Anthony Knockaert, Jose Izquierdo, Bruno and top scorer Glenn Murray.

Brighton XI: Ryan, Goldson, Duffy, Dunk, Suttner, Schelotto, Stephens, Propper, March, Gross, Hemed.

Subs: Hunemeier, Kayal, Baldock, Murray, Izquierdo, Rosenior, Krul.

[Latic]

Trying to convince myself that the lunchtime game isn't going to a bore-fest! Some magic from Willian perhaps? Struggling

[SPR]

Excellent start for Hazard!

[brencarr]

What a lovely goal

[brencarr]

Willian (Batshuayi, Hazard)

[SPR]

10 points for Hazard already. Holding out on getting Kane back hasn't been too costly then (I'm ignoring the FA cup as wasn't around to do anything about that).

If he gets more, I might have to rethink plans to get Kane back.

[brencarr]

....If he gets more, I might have to rethink plans to get Kane back.

Nah - you need Kane back

[murf]

IMO No KC on 1st goal as it was deflected into a different "area". Not much different to a recent Liverpool one that was given (TTA to Mane) but worse than a Liverpool one that wasn't given (Coutinho to Salah) so I wouldn't rule it out with their recent inconsistency.

[Latic]

Will be Moses if they award the KC.

[Jamjack]

10 points for Hazard already. Holding out on getting Kane back hasn't been too costly then (I'm ignoring the FA cup as wasn't around to do anything about that).

If he gets more, I might have to rethink plans to get Kane back.

Delighted with that but I’m not being fooled. This just means I’ll break the news of his sacking from my team to him on Monday morning rather than Sunday.

[SPR]

....If he gets more, I might have to rethink plans to get Kane back.

Nah - you need Kane back

Yes I'm not sure I want to risk not having him on Sunday against Southampton while making the same bet which failed last time that he won't play in the cup

The question (I think) is if Lukaku or Aguero do something to make me replace one of them instead.

EDIT actually no reason to keep Hazard as he's unlikely to play in the Cup and is one of the last games in the round!

[murf]

Caballero looking dodgy. Should have given a pen away (will Conte mention that one??) and shaky at other times.

[SPR]

I'm expecting more points for Hazard, but I'm very worried about my double cleanie at the other end!

Is it acceptable to hide behind the sofa for cleanies?

[brencarr]

Caballero looking dodgy. Should have given a pen away (will Conte mention that one??) and shaky at other times.

No - like all managers he will have polarised vision .... great save there by big Willy though

[murf]

Caballero looking dodgy. Should have given a pen away (will Conte mention that one??) and shaky at other times.

No - like all managers he will have polarised vision .... great save there by big Willy though

Good save then dodgy punch. Providing entertainment. Not good for my CS hopes!

Another valid pen turned down (Not Willy's fault)

[brencarr]

I'm not up with the latest news - is VAR in action for this game?

[Jamjack]

I'm expecting more points for Hazard, but I'm very worried about my double cleanie at the other end!

Is it acceptable to hide behind the sofa for cleanies?

I’ve stopped watching. 3 potential cleanies for me. I’d forgo any further Hazard points for the game to stop now. Budge along.

[Latic]

I'm not up with the latest news - is VAR in action for this game?

It is being trialled in a few cup games is my understanding.

[brencarr]

Don't let Christensen go off before 60 minutes ....

[SPR]

Don't let Christensen go off before 60 minutes ....

Please tell me this isn't happening?!

[brencarr]

Don't let Christensen go off before 60 minutes ....

Please tell me this isn't happening?!

he's ok

[SPR]

No he's not . Has concussion it seems.

[brencarr]

Don't let Christensen go off before 60 minutes ....

Please tell me this isn't happening?!

he's ok

... oh no, he's off .... 57 minutes

[SPR]

Don't let Christensen go off before 60 minutes ....

Please tell me this isn't happening?!

he's ok

... oh no, he's off .... 57 minutes

So max of 4 points there.

[Troopon]

Can’t believe how many clean sheet points I’ve lost by having Christensen despite Chelsea keeping loads of clean sheets.

[Canaryfan]

So last week Christensen came on 3 minutes too late to qualify for a full clean sheet, this week he goes off 2 minutes too early

[reds363]

Two weekends in a row he's played 57 minutes