TFF chit chat 28th and 29th December

[morganb]

SATURDAY 28TH DECEMBER

Brighton 12:30 Bournemouth

Saturday’s early game is a South Coast derby featuring Bournemouth who travel to the Am Ex to take on Brighton. The sides lie in 15th and 16th respectively and either side could easily slip into the bottom three with a loss today. Will home advantage give the Seagulls the edge or will the Cherries be victorious over their coastal cousins? Maupay only came off the bench last time out. Wilson and Fraser both featured for Bournemouth.

Newcastle 15:00 Everton

The first of the 3pm matches sees Newcastle taking on Everton. The Magpies will be hoping to have Shelvey fully fit for this one after only appearing on the bench against Man Utd. The Toffees are under new management - will this bring a new manager bounce to the team? They are unbeaten since the Merseyside derby at the start of December and won on Boxing Day.

Southampton 15:00 Crystal Palace

Down on the South Coast, Crystal Palace take on Southampton. The Saints will be hoping for another good result here after they beat Chelsea on Thursday, but 9th place Palace have become a tough team to beat this season with Ayew scored the winner against West Ham earlier in the week. There are a lot of teams either fighting against relegation or trying to break into the top 5 so small margins can make or break a season.


Watford 15:00 Aston Villa

Watford are still down towards the foot of the table, as are Villa, so this fixture can already be viewed as a relegation 6-pointer. Both teams got points on Boxing Day - a draw and a win respectively. There are a lot of games over Christmas so there are lot of points available and the table could look quite different come the New Year though Watford are quite far adrift from safety.

Norwich 17:30 Tottenham

There are a couple of tea time matches today, the first being Norwich against Spurs. Norwich are another relegation threatened team and they are heavily reliant on Pukki to score the goals. Tottenham have a similar situation with Kane who tends to blow most of their doors off. Norwich are rock bottom and will face a tough test today. Spurs got a good win over Brighton but we behind at half-time and do not keep clean sheets at the moment.


West Ham 17:30 Leicester

In East London, West Ham host Leicester in the other tea time match. You would expect Leicester to win against a Hammers side who have been poor recently, though there are no guaranteed wins in this division. The Foxes have had a poor run of results against several of the top 4 teams so really need a result against a 17th placed West Ham. Pellegrini seems to have been under threat of the sack for most of the season.

Burnley 19:45 Man Utd

The late, late match has Manchester United travelling to Fortress Turf Moor to take on Burnley. United have been playing Martial up front recently who scored a brace on Boxing Day. Pogba played the whole of the second half against Newcastle. McTominay is out with a knee injury. Burnley are a good mid-table outfit and the way Dyche sets them up will make them tricky to beat at home.


SUNDAY 29TH DECEMBER

Arsenal 14:00 Chelsea

The early Sunday match is a London derby with Arsenal welcoming Frank Lampard’s Chelsea to The Emirates. Arsenal will be hoping to get a home win under their new manager after their Boxing Day draw. Chelsea’s early season form has started to tail off recently with a surprise loss to The Saints last time out, so they could be there for the taking. Expect Frank to do some transfer business in the January window.

Liverpool 16:30 Wolves

The late afternoon game features table topping Liverpool against a Wolves team who play on Friday evening. Wolves come into this game off the back of playing City so they've had a tough run over Christmas. Liverpool swept 2nd place Leicester away last time out so would expect another victory today. Firmino is on a good goal scoring run at the moment and TAA picked up lots of points against Leicester.

Man City 18:00 Sheff Utd

The early evening match is Man City v Sheff Utd. Note: Due to the lack of a two hour window between games you will be unable to make transfers based on seeing the team sheet of game. Man City are one of the teams most prone to rotation especially as they played on Friday evening, though Chris Wilder does like to change his strikers about and at present Mousset is starting on the bench even though McGoldrick has yet to score this season. City would expect to win today but I’m sure Sheff Utd will have other ideas.

[Spinynorman]

Many thanks once again Morgan for all of your previews. All the very best festive and new years fun to you and yours.

[morganb]

Many thanks once again Morgan for all of your previews. All the very best festive and new years fun to you and yours.

Thanks, and the same to you too!

[Johnners]

Liverpool's postponed game against West Ham has now been confirmed for Wednesday 29th January.

Looks like there might be a fair few 3 for 0s, 4 for 1s, or possibly even 4 for 0s to be had, depending on how the Cup pans out in the meantime.

[murf]

Liverpool 16:30 Wolves

Man City 18:00 Sheff Utd

Note: Due to the lack of a two hour window between games you will be unable to make transfers based on seeing the team sheet of game.

* CAUTION *

* OVERLAPPING FLANGE *

* !!!! *

* OVERLAPPING FLANGE *

* CAUTION *




You HAVE been warned.

[Spinynorman]

So Aguero is back as Jesus is poorly which is a shame considering the time of year. I presume that Aguero will be very doubtful for the Sheffield game unless Jesus has something serious???

[morganb]

This could get confusing as I have parallel running chit chat threads!

[Spinynorman]

This could get confusing as I have parallel running chit chat threads!

It's made even more confusing due to people like me posting in the wrong one.

[murf]

Not just the flanges that are overlapping. At this rate people will be posting in the 18/19 Eggcup thread soon

[murf]

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk returns to the starting line-up as Graham Potter makes 7 (SEVEN) changes from the Boxing Day defeat by Tottenham.

Neal Maupay, Yves Bissouma, Leandro Trossard, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Martin Montoya and Davy Propper also come into the team.

Dale Stephens, Adam Webster and Pascal Gross all drop to the bench.

Brighton: Ryan, Montoya, Dunk, Duffy, Burn, Propper, Bissouma, Mooy, Jahanbakhsh, Maupay, Trossard.
Subs: Stephens, Gross, Webster, Murray, Button, Bernardo, Alzate.

Diego Rico returns from suspension as Bournemouth make 5 (FIVE) changes from their 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

Harry Wilson, Philip Billing, Junior Stanislas and Dominic Solanke also start.

Ryan Fraser and Callum Wilson are among the substitutes.

Bournemouth: Ramsdale, Stacey, Steve Cook, Mepham, Rico, Stanislas, Gosling, Billing, Harry Wilson, King, Solanke.
Subs: Boruc, Surman, Lerma, Callum Wilson, Lewis Cook, Fraser, Simpson.

[Darbyand]

Jahanbaksh (Maupay) according to Livescore.

[murf]

Jahanbaksh (Maupay) according to Livescore.

And maybe a Mooy 2nd KC according to text commentary.

[Darbyand]

Dan Burn goal and cleanie makes it a happy Christmas for 3.7% of managers.

[murf]

Dan Burn goal and cleanie makes it a happy Christmas for 3.7% of managers.

?

20% of this manager is happy enough with just his CS.

[Johnners]

His goal was chalked off by VAR.

[murf]

His goal was chalked off by VAR.

Seen that now.

I was happy enough with 7 now you've made me upset I didn't get 12....

[Johnners]

His goal was chalked off by VAR.

Seen that now.

I was happy enough with 7 now you've made me upset I didn't get 12....

Sorry murf, but at least 80% of you is still having a good day!

[murf]

His goal was chalked off by VAR.

Seen that now.

I was happy enough with 7 now you've made me upset I didn't get 12....

Sorry murf, but at least 80% of you is still having a good day!

A good day? They are all still on 0pts according to TFF Live (even the one with ****ing Guilbert - can't sell him now, bound to play in the Cup).

[Darbyand]

Sorry, will try to stick to eyes on the game updates in future.

[murf]

16:24 on comes Guilbert
16:25 Villa concede

[Canaryfan]

Five Leicester players in my team and only Schmeichel plays today! Guaranteed clean sheet now!

[Jamjack]

Anyone fancy a game of spot your Leicester player who starts tonight? I’ll go first.

Err.....

[Canaryfan]

I suppose this is good preparation for finding out none of our players are playing next weekend in the cup!

[murf]

Always disliked Rebekah Vardy....

[happyhoppy]

Football first. Baby second. Priorities!

[Spinynorman]

All going well for my Spurs block team.

[Joey Navinsky]

Finally 2 of my players appear on the team sheet today. Shame they are Rashford and Pope, which really means it's just one player as whatever one does it will pretty much cancel the other one out. Still there's always next week, and the FA Cup....

[Spinynorman]

I have never ever in any way shape or form not even come remotely close to having a 3-0, 4-1, 5-2 or any of these supposed ways to get extra games or points pay off.

Not ever!

Thank you.

[murf]

Always disliked Rebekah Vardy....

I'd be posting on the 1000+ brag thread if that b**** had let her hubby out to play.

[Eddie Elbows]

After a brilliant boost from the Wolves v Man City game my best team is currently on 1 point for today.