TFF chit chat 2nd and 3rd March

[morganb]

SATURDAY 2ND MARCH

Tottenham 12:30 Arsenal

Saturday's early match sees a London derby between two top six North London clubs. Spurs are having a bit of a wobble at the moment but a victory against their fiercest rivals will soon restore morale. Arsenal have been doing OK recently and Mkhitaryan and Ozil performed well in midweek.

Bournemouth 15:00 Man City

The first of the 3pm matches has Manchester City travelling to the South Coast to take on Bournemouth. City have been getting some decent results this year and Bournemouth aren't great so City will be hoping for another win today to keep the pressure on Liverpool. Wilson still out for the Cherries.

Brighton 15:00 Huddersfield

Another South Coast team in action next - Uddersfield are the visitors to the Am Ex to take on Brighton. Brighton can't buy a win at the moment and Uddersfield got a win last time out so will be buoyed by their rare victory and dreaming of back-to-back wins.

Burnley 15:00 Crystal Palace

Burnley are one of the most improved teams in the league and will be looking forward to welcoming Palace to Turf Moor. Both teams lie neck-and-neck on 30 points which will provide an added incentive for both sides. Zaha got nominated for Premier League player of the month for Feb!

Man Utd 15:00 Southampton

Southampton are the visitors to Old Trafford in the next of the 3pm games. United have been ravaged by injuries in recent weeks but have Rashford and potentially Martial back today. Southampton are still too close to the relegation zone for comfort.

Wolves 15:00 Cardiff

Last season's Championship winner and runner-up face up to each other in the final 3 o'clock game. Wolves have faired better than their rivals and the two teams lie at opposite ends of the table. Cardiff have been doing the relegation zone hokey cokey in recent weeks however Wolves were shocked by Uddersfield in midweek.

West Ham 17:30 Newcastle

Saturday's late match has 10th playing 13th - West Ham against Newcastle. Newcastle's form has been OK recently but West Ham still lie above them in the table. The Magpies have a few players that might be sidling onto your radar, like Schar and Longstaff.


SUNDAY 3RD MARCH

Watford 12:00 Leicester

Sunday's early match has a Leicester side which is under new management up against the Watford rollercoaster. Watford's last outing was a thrashing at the hands of Liverpool. Leicester will be hoping Brendon Rodgers will be able to revitalise their season.

Fulham 14:05 Chelsea

London derbys are like red buses - two come along at once (well, in the same weekend at least). Chelsea will be hopeful of an easy victory here especially as Fulham will be caretaker-managed by Scotty Parker. Who will be Chelsea's keeper today?

Everton 16:15 Liverpool

Another match, another derby. The weekend’s final match is the Merseyside derby featuring a Liverpool side who are scrapping it out with Man City at the top of the table against a mid-table Everton side who have little to play for. Mane is the man(e) in form ATM.

[brencarr]

I can see Aguero losing big minutes today - I just hope he starts and gets some points before being hooked. If Pep goes the other way (i.e. starting Jesus) then he might not get on.

[cnkp21]

Anderson hasn’t really been doing it so if I don’t get much today I’m tempted to ditch for a Leicester player. Who do you reckon is the best option out of Madddison, Barnes or Pereira?

[murf]

I can see Aguero losing big minutes today - I just hope he starts and gets some points before being hooked. If Pep goes the other way (i.e. starting Jesus) then he might not get on.

Thought Jesus was still crocked?

[Striker]

Not since Pep's last press conference.

[hancockjr]

Miraculous recovery.

[Tadpole]

Surely Pep won’t let up when the title race is so close? Aguero is key

And I’d lined up Laczette to Aguero after the lunchtime game

[hancockjr]

Anyone know a reliable source for players nearing a 2 match ban for 10 bookings? Interested in Luke Shaw but have a feeling he is near?

[Darbyand]

He is one caution away from a 2 match ban. Needs to stay clean until after the 32nd game.

[hancockjr]

Thanks

[murf]

He is one caution away from a 2 match ban. Needs to stay clean until after the 32nd game.

Link-
http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-gov ... uspensions

Ryan Bennett (Wolves) and a Liverpool reserve only other players on the 'one short' list.

(most teams played 28 so still 4 games (+ Cup) to go to qualify for a free fortnight off)

[hancockjr]

Is it only premier league bookings that accumulate or do fa cup and previous carabao count as well?

[happyhoppy]

Aubameyang can do one.

[SamD]

#THFC XI: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose,
Wanyama, Sissoko, Eriksen, Son, Kane.

Subs: Lamela, Llorente, Gazzaniga, Aurier, Lucas Moura, Davies, Skipp.

#AFC XI: Leno, Mustafi, Papastathopoulos, Koscielny, Monreal,
Guendouzi, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Iwobi, Lacazette.

Subs: Cech, Maitland-Niles, Kolasinac, Torreira, Suarez, Ozil, Aubameyang.

[Jamjack]

Aubameyang can do one.

I was a bit surprised to see him benched albeit haven’t watched many of his games so don’t know if this is form/tactical.

[happyhoppy]

Aubameyang can do one.

I was a bit surprised to see him benched albeit haven’t watched many of his games so don’t know if this is form/tactical.

Well the decision to keep him through his easy run of games v Aguero’s tougher run has turned out to be costly. To say the least.

[buttonphobic]

Bizarre Arsenal selection in such a big game. Auba and Ozil benched (ok I know but he played well the other day). Could be inspired though as Auba and Ozil not the kind of players for blood and guts derby but good to bring on towards the end when things have died down a bit. We shall see.

[SPR]

Shaw isn't going to make it to is he . I don't remember him being banned for 5 yellows though?

[Darbyand]

He played a lot less before the first cut off point i.e. under Mourinho. Must have been racking them up since.

[murf]

Is it only premier league bookings that accumulate or do fa cup and previous carabao count as well?

Not sure to be honest, it used to be they all counted together but I think there is something that changed to stop deliberately timing bans for the League Cup.

EDIT - Looked on their page and there is a 'competition specific' page which shows, for example, that Ashley Young is banned from his next FA Cup game (no idea how he'd get 5 FA Cup yellows! red?)

[Sieben]

Aubameyang can do one.

You can add Trippier to that

[sarllm]

Bizarre Arsenal selection in such a big game. Auba and Ozil benched (ok I know but he played well the other day). Could be inspired though as Auba and Ozil not the kind of players for blood and guts derby but good to bring on towards the end when things have died down a bit. We shall see.

Torreira on the bench for Arsenal is even more questionable. It’s like Emery wants an even harder challenge


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[murf]

Aubameyang can do one.

You can add Trippier to that

Fortunately they had both done one from my teams. Trippier was regularly rotated but Aub is a bit weird.

PS Presume nothing came of Kane's "headbutt"

[jonesbones]

Lacazette can’t play Europa League the next two Thursdays, so Auba being saved for that I guess. Combined with the resurgence of Ozil and Mkhitaryan, looks like we may not see Auba and Laca starting together for a while, will prob be one or the other.

[brencarr]

Goal - RAMSEY
Assist - LACAZETTE
Spurs 0-1 Arsenal (16 mins)

[buttonphobic]

Bit of hype around re how Leicester are going to perform under Rogers especially with their fixtures. Not entirely convinced given Leicester haven't got anything to go for. Also with a Liverpool it took a while for him to get the team to play the fast high pressing game.

[brencarr]

Goal - KANE (Pen)
Assist - None
Spurs 1-1 Arsenal (74 mins)

[brencarr]

XI | Ederson, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Gundogan, Silva (C), De Bruyne, Sterling, Bernardo, Aguero

Subs | Muric, Danilo, Kompany, Sané, Mahrez, Jesus, Foden

[Spinynorman]

I had set up quite a few teams so that I could replace Van Dyke for Kane but decided not to after the last set of results. Only time will tell.

[Eddie Elbows]

Is it only premier league bookings that accumulate or do fa cup and previous carabao count as well?

Not sure to be honest, it used to be they all counted together but I think there is something that changed to stop deliberately timing bans for the League Cup.

EDIT - Looked on their page and there is a 'competition specific' page which shows, for example, that Ashley Young is banned from his next FA Cup game (no idea how he'd get 5 FA Cup yellows! red?)

I make it 9 yellows 2 of which were in the cup!