TFF chit chat 1st and 2nd January

[morganb]

Wednesday 1st January

Brighton & Hove Albion 12:30 Chelsea

Happy New Year! The first Premier League game of 2020 features Brighton welcoming Chelsea to the Am Ex Stadium. Brighton pulled off a good win last time out and went ahead against Spurs in the game before. Chelsea are shaky at the back but had enough in attack to score two goals in the final few minutes against Arsenal at the weekend. Who will Frank bring in during the January Transfer window?

Burnley 12:30 Aston Villa

Two 12:30 kick-offs? The second of the first Premier League games of 2020 takes Aston Villa to Fortress Turf Moor. Burnley are sat in 12th place, marginally closer to the bottom three than the top 5. Villa are still in the bottom three and have a reinvigorated Watford breathing down their neck, but they are within a win of both West Ham and Bournemouth.

Newcastle United 15:00 Leicester City

The first of the 3pm matches has Leicester travelling to Newcastle. Leicester are still sat in 2nd place and have got through their tricky Christmas period. An ecstatic Jamie Vardy should be back at work today, hopefully he'll bring the first choice defence with him after Rogers rotated the back four at the weekend. Newcastle are up to 11th but have a poorer goal difference than those around them.

Southampton 15:00 Tottenham Hotspur

A revitalised Southampton side welcome Spurs to St Mary's. Tottenham haven't been great of late - a win, a loss and a draw over Christmas. Kane has blown the obligatory doors off but the defence is still porous. Southampton have a fit and firing Danny Ings up top - a good differential striker? Saints form appears to be better away than at home recently.

Watford 15:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers

W v WW next. Watford welcome Wolves to Vicarage Road. Watford have been a different side since Pearson took the helm. Deeney being back has also been an important factor. Wolves got a good result against Man City and were unlucky against Liverpool so will be hopeful of a result today. Wolves have played a stupid number of games already this season so may look to rotate again here.

Manchester City 17:30 Everton

There are three early evening matches today, the first features 3rd place Manchester City taking on Everton at the Ethiad. Man City had a topsy turvy Christmas period - having their keeper sent off, losing against Wolves then a lucky win against Sheff Utd. Will Aguero start today? Everton are in 10th place, having fully embraced both a caretaker manager bounce and a new manager bounce. Calvert-Lewin anyone?

Norwich City 17:30 Crystal Palace

The second of the 17:30 games has Norwich welcoming Crystal Palace to Carrow Road. The Canaries versus the Eagles. You would expect the Eagles to win, though they've only picked up 5 points from the last 12 available. Norwich are spirited but are just not getting enough points to stay up - perhaps they will be bouyed by the draw against Spurs? Pukki is still a class act though.

West Ham United 17:30 AFC Bournemouth

The last of the early evening games has Eddie Howe's Bournemouth travelling to East London to take of West Ham. The Hammers are another of those teams who have reappointed a previous manager. Will Moyes have more luck this time around? Bournemouth are only a couple of points off of the drop zone, though the team appears to have been ravaged by injuries of late.

Arsenal 20:00 Manchester United

The late, late match features a poor Arsenal side welcoming an erratic Manchester United team to North London. Arsenal were ahead after 80 minutes at the weekend but still contrived to lose. Aubameyang scored again though. United kept a cleansheet against Burnley last time out and have a potent strike force in Rashford and Martial.

Thursday 2nd January

Liverpool 20:00 Sheffield United

And finally, the Thursday Night Fixture features Champions-to-be Liverpool against Sheffield United. Liverpool have put in a few bad performances and ridden their luck at times this season but are still well clear of the chasing pack. Sheffield United are the best of the promoted side and will not be daunted by playing against the division's top team.


Next up - the FA Cup on Saturday

[Johnners]

Thanks for all of your threads throughout the year, Morgan, they're much appreciated. Enjoy the New Year celebrations, but not too much - you've another 18 matches to cover for us before the week's out!

[Jamjack]

Well said. Many thanks Morganb, for all your hard work in getting the ball rolling every fixture set. Much appreciated. Happy New Year when it comes (and to all on fiso). Cheers.

[LenH]

And same here, thanks Morganb, it is all very much appreciated. A very Happy New Year to you and all fellow fisoers.

Now, back to my Guilbert quandry. Finally chuck for Burn (and keep flexibility/cash) or go to Blades def after Lvpl.

[murf]

And same here, thanks Morganb, it is all very much appreciated. A very Happy New Year to you and all fellow fisoers.

Now, back to my Guilbert quandry. Finally chuck for Burn (and keep flexibility/cash) or go to Blades def after Lvpl.

Dropped players may appear at the weekend - so I'm waiting.

[ventosus]

cheers Morganb - i always read this weekly thread before i head to BBC and google - high praise indeed. Here's to a wonderful new year of Leicester clean sheets, benched Agueros and a reinvigorated Villa lifting the trophy.

[happyhoppy]

Happy new year Morganb et all. I had Ings in a couple of teams but got rid after we lost at home to WHU and a tougher run of fixtures. Trouble is we are so hit and miss and don't tend to score many especially at home. Probably better value with Martial or Alli.

[MagicIsay]

And same here, thanks Morganb, it is all very much appreciated. A very Happy New Year to you and all fellow fisoers.

Now, back to my Guilbert quandry. Finally chuck for Burn (and keep flexibility/cash) or go to Blades def after Lvpl.

Gil and bert start, Id keep I think Smith has just been resting him as he looked a bit tired against the saints.

Also as a wing back today as Villa have gone to a back 3, so potential there for some more attacking points

[LenH]

And same here, thanks Morganb, it is all very much appreciated. A very Happy New Year to you and all fellow fisoers.

Now, back to my Guilbert quandry. Finally chuck for Burn (and keep flexibility/cash) or go to Blades def after Lvpl.

Dropped players may appear at the weekend - so I'm waiting.

Spot on murf and correct. I see a lesser spotted Guilbert!

[LenH]

And same here, thanks Morganb, it is all very much appreciated. A very Happy New Year to you and all fellow fisoers.

Now, back to my Guilbert quandry. Finally chuck for Burn (and keep flexibility/cash) or go to Blades def after Lvpl.

Gil and bert start, Id keep I think Smith has just been resting him as he looked a bit tired against the saints.

Also as a wing back today as Villa have gone to a back 3, so potential there for some more attacking points

Thanks for the info. Will hang on a bit more and see how we go. A total enabler so can't grumble too much, just hope he keeps playing.

[murf]

Brighton make two changes to the XI that started in the 2-0 win against Bournemouth.
Iranian Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who scored his first goal for the club last time out, makes way for Steven Alzate.
Adam Webster returns and Shane Duffy drops to the bench.

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


Chelsea make three changes to the line-up that started in the win 2-1 win at Arsenal.
Jorginho, Reece James and Christian Pulisic return to the XI, with Mateo Kovacic, Fikayo Tomori and Emerson making way.

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, James, Rudiger, Zouma, Azpilicueta, Kante, Jorginho, Willian, Mount, Pulisic, Abraham.
Subs: Christensen, Caballero, Kovacic, Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi, Emerson Palmieri, Lamptey.


Sean Dyche makes just one change to the Burnley side who suffered a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday.
Robbie Brady comes in for Jeff Hendrick.

Burnley XI: Pope, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Hendrick, Westwood, Cork, McNeil, Wood, Barnes


There are five changes to the Aston Villa team who were heavily beaten by 10-man Watford on Saturday.
Conor Hourihane, Ahmed Elmohamady and Henri Lansbury drop to the bench. Left-back Matt Targett is ruled out with a hamstring injury and Jota is also not in the squad.
In come Neil Taylor, Marvelous Nakamba, Trezeguet, Frederic Guilbert , as well as Tyrone Mings who has recovered from a thigh injury.

Aston Villa XI: Heaton, Taylor, Douglas Luiz, Wesley, Grealish, Nakamba, Konsa, Trezeguet, Guilbert, Hause, Mings

[Darbyand]

Dave scores for Chelsea. A defender blocked an Abraham shot on the line and Dave banged in the loose ball.

[murf]

Dave scores for Chelsea. A defender blocked an Abraham shot on the line and Dave banged in the loose ball.

VAR should have disallowed it for the colour of Chelsea's socks.

[Spinynorman]

The mighty Villa are currently surging ahead.

[Darbyand]

Goal and an assist for Grealish and should have had another but for a pathetic VAR offside decision.

[murf]

Goal and an assist for Grealish and should have had another but for a pathetic VAR offside decision.

A few years ago they brought in the rule(/interpretation) that level was onside.

The reason being to make football better and more attacking, giving the advantage to the forward.

VAR has killed that.

Mind you bring in any defined 'margin of error' and you'll still have a line in the sand for VAR to judge on so you can't improve the system that way.

[Johnners]

And same here, thanks Morganb, it is all very much appreciated. A very Happy New Year to you and all fellow fisoers.

Now, back to my Guilbert quandry. Finally chuck for Burn (and keep flexibility/cash) or go to Blades def after Lvpl.

Gil and bert start, Id keep I think Smith has just been resting him as he looked a bit tired against the saints.

Also as a wing back today as Villa have gone to a back 3, so potential there for some more attacking points

Thanks for the info. Will hang on a bit more and see how we go. A total enabler so can't grumble too much, just hope he keeps playing.

Good call. Burn was subbed off injured midway through the first half.

[Spinynorman]

No Vardy.

[Jamjack]

No Vardy.

What is that all about?!

[Spinynorman]

No Vardy.

What is that all about?!

Babies I presume.

[LenH]

Good call. Burn was subbed off injured midway through the first half.

Phew!

[LenH]

No Vardy.

What is that all about?!

Babies I presume.

Skittle vodka last night?!

[murf]

No Vardy.

What is that all about?!

Who not what.

[murf]

All the CSs gone again.

PS I didn't realise that every game is live on BT. Sky missing out on this lark....

[Jamjack]

No Vardy.

What is that all about?!

Who not what.

Rebecca?

[LenH]

All the CSs gone again.

[LenH]

Happy new year Morganb et all. I had Ings in a couple of teams but got rid after we lost at home to WHU and a tougher run of fixtures. Trouble is we are so hit and miss and don't tend to score many especially at home. Probably better value with Martial or Alli.

Don't look now...

[Darbyand]

Good call. Burn was subbed off injured midway through the first half.

Phew!

Burn out for 6-8 weeks according to Sky.

[murf]

Good call. Burn was subbed off injured midway through the first half.

Phew!

Burn out for 6-8 weeks according to Sky.

Who to replace him with?

Any good/playing ultra cheapies or get (more) Sheff U?

[Darbyand]

Kane just twanged a hammy scoring a disallowed goal for Spurs. Walked straight off.