TFF chit chat 28th, 29th and 30th December

[morganb]

Monday 28th December

Crystal Palace 15:00 Leicester City

There are three matches left in the current TFF week, the first of which kicks off at the traditional time of 3pm and features Crystal Palace against Leicester. Palace have conceded 10 goals in their last 2 games so I would recommend avoiding their defenders. Leicester are 3rd and fought out a 2-2 draw against Man Utd a couple of days ago. Vardy, Maddison and Barnes are all looking good at he moment.

Chelsea 17:30 Aston Villa

At 5:30pm we have Chelsea versus Aston Villa. Villa are coming into a tough run of fixtures starting today with Chelsea. The Mighty Villa will be without Tyrone Mings due to his sending off on Saturday. El Ghazi has been in the goals recently and Traore has started to catch the eye. Chelsea have won once in four games, most recently they went down to 3-1 to Arsenal at the weekend with Jorginho missing another penalty.

Everton 20:00 Manchester City

The Monday Night Fixture features 2nd against 5th. Surprisingly Everton are the team lying in second place having recorded four win in a row. Siggy and his spiders have been restored to the starting line-up as captain and he even got a goal at the weekend. Man City played with Torres up front on Saturday (who scored) as Jesus has Covid and Aguero is still regaining match fitness. Do we need to talk about Kevin?


Tuesday 29th December

Brighton & Hove Albion 18:00 Arsenal

There are four games kicking off at 6pm on Tuesday, the first of which features Brighton against Arsenal. This is 15th v 16th with 4 points separate the two teams. Arsenal put in a good performance on Saturday with Saka probably the pick of the bunch. Brighton recorded their third draw in a row on Sunday, 2-2 against the Hammers. The Seagulls have only recorded two clean sheets in the past couple of months.

Burnley 18:00 Sheffield United

Next up, Burnley against Sheffield United at the Happy Place. Burnley are 11 points ahead of their opposition today but are still only a couple of points above the relegation zone. Their good run of results came to an end at the hands (paws?) of Wolves on Sunday. Sheffield United are rock bottom and are probably down already unless they have a phenomenal January window – I hear Messi has always wanted to play in South Yorkshire.

Southampton 18:00 West Ham United

In deepest, darkest Hampshire, Southampton welcome West Ham to St Mary’s. Southampton have slipped to 9th having only picked up 2 points from a possible 9, though a win today coupled with other favourable results would put them back into the top 4. Danny Ings is still out with a hamstring injury. West Ham earned a hard-fought point against Brighton at the weekend. Still no Antonio for the Hammers.

West Bromwich Albion 18:00 Leeds United

The final 6pm game is West Brom against Leeds. Both of these teams have recently come up from the Championship so probably know each other quite well. Leeds are currently sat in mid-table and have coped slightly better with Prem life than the Baggies. Bamford is becoming hard to ignore. WBA are in 19th but will be buoyed by the draw against league leaders Liverpool at the weekend. The Big Sam magic is starting to work.

Manchester United 20:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers

The only 8pm match features Manchester United up against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford. Man U have only dropped 4 points from their past 5 games, lie 4th and have a game in hand. Rashford has started to pick up points recently. Wolves have struggled without Jimenez though a draw against Spurs in not a bad result. In the Wolves defensive lottery, Saiss was back and scored, Kilman was left on the bench.


Wednesday 30th December

Tottenham Hotspur 18:00 Fulham

Two Wednesday games, the first of which kicks off at 6pm and is a good ol’ London derby. Spurs drew at the weekend to leave them in fifth. Their recent results have been poor and the Kane-Son combo has not been combo-ing as well as before. Fulham are officially King of the Draws – four in a row and counting. Decordova-Reid, De Cordova-Reid or plain ol’ Bobby Reid – discuss.

Newcastle United 20:00 Liverpool

And finally, the final Premier League match of 2020 features the reigning Champions and current top of the League, Liverpool, against Newcastle. The Magpies have collected one solitary point from a possible nine, Wilson was benched at the weekend with Bruce choosing to start Joelinton then bring on Carroll instead. Liverpool drew against WBA, but Mane’s form has picked up recently. Matip went off injured on Sunday.

Happy New Year!

[murf]

Dear Santa,

I know I'm a bit late but as I have been good lately (no over-tinkering, honest!) please for New Year could I have a few more days off from TFF. Anything you fancy including snow postponements welcome.

Thanks
murf (aged 8 and lots of quarters)

[happyhoppy]

Thanks Morganb. Rumours Antonio is now fit and he loves playing against us.

In TFF terms lots of popular players on low points returns atm. Must stay patient. Especially with cup looming.

[murf]

Old man Vardy benched as many predicted. The umlauts also return to the Leicester bench after being injured.

Just the 12 changes across the two teams.....

Crystal Palace
31Guaita
17Clyne
8Kouyaté
5Tomkins
27Mitchell
10Townsend
4Milivojevic
44Riedewald
15Schlupp
20Benteke
11Zaha
Substitutes
1Butland
2Ward
3van Aanholt
9J Ayew
12Sakho
18McArthur
22McCarthy
23Batshuayi
25Eze

Leicester
1Schmeichel
2Justin
18Amartey
6Evans
33Thomas
20Choudhury
24Mendy
17Pérez
26Praet
15Barnes
14Iheanacho
Substitutes
4Söyüncü
5Morgan
7Gray
8Tielemans
9Vardy
11Albrighton
12Ward
25Ndidi
28Fuchs

[Spinynorman]

What's happened to Maddison?

[Canaryfan]

Penalty to Leicester with Vardy on the bench

Penalty saved.

[Darbyand]

Times thinks City at Everton might be postponed.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ever ... -vp8kzcbtz

[Joey Navinsky]

Tonight's City V Everton has just been called off (Covid)

[Darbyand]

Makes me feel good about removing KDB yesterday

[Jamjack]

Makes me feel good about removing KDB yesterday

Makes me feels slightly better about removing KDB yesterday

[happyhoppy]

Yes I got rid of KDB good news! Oh I put DCL in one

[murf]

I've got very limited Everton and Citeh coverage.... til the rearrangement.

1-0 Zaha (Townsend, either dodgy keeping or a slight deflection)

[happyhoppy]

Actually still have 2 KDBs so will be moving them out with their next away to CFC and unlikely to play in the cup, some good extra game opportunities there now.

[Darbyand]

No Zouma or James for Chelsea and at last Werner hits the bench.

[happyhoppy]

Villa duo looking very tempting despite their tricky run, they're playing so well who's to say Grealish and Watkins can't outscore Zouma and KDB...

[murf]

No Zouma or James for Chelsea and at last Werner hits the bench.

I wouldn't rush to buy in Chelsea as they are due to play Manchester Covids at the weekend.

[Darbyand]

Actually still have 2 KDBs so will be moving them out with their next away to CFC and unlikely to play in the cup, some good extra game opportunities there now.

Gary Neville speculating that Chelsea game and the Carabao semi the following midweek might well be off too:

https://twitter.com/GNev2/status/134359 ... 33312?s=19

[murf]

1-1 Barnes (someone with a header who probably wasn't Vardy)

[happyhoppy]

1-1 Barnes (someone with a header who probably wasn't Vardy)

Evans apparently - BBC

[Spinynorman]

Poo.

[happyhoppy]

Poo.

Giroupoo (Chilwell)

[Jamjack]

Actually still have 2 KDBs so will be moving them out with their next away to CFC and unlikely to play in the cup, some good extra game opportunities there now.

Gary Neville speculating that Chelsea game and the Carabao semi the following midweek might well be off too:

https://twitter.com/GNev2/status/134359 ... 33312?s=19

The training camp being closed “until further notice” does not suggest we will be seeing City anytime soon.

[murf]

That was the Newcastle issue. Can then use the 'health and safety' issue of using untrained players as an excuse to postpone.

[Canaryfan]

El Ghazi (Cash) levels at Chelsea

[morganb]

El Ghazi has been in the goals recently

[happyhoppy]

I actually looked at his price tonight 3.2 I’ll have you know.

[Darbyand]

Everton seem a bit..... suspicious of the decision.

"Whilst Everton will always have public safety uppermost, we will be requesting full disclosure of all the information that Manchester City provided to the Premier League so the Club can be clear on why this decision was taken."

[buttonphobic]

Think I might gamble and assume Chelsea games off and do Zouma - Neto or Sousek today. Like to get Mendy out as well but nobody appeals at the moment

[SamD]

News on two of this evening's matches:

Burnley v Sheff Utd, 18:00
Sheffield United have announced that “a number” of individuals are self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19.

Southampton v West Ham, 18:00
So'ton coach Ralph Hasenhuttl will miss the game. He will manage from home after a member of his household tested positive.

[murf]

Think I might gamble and assume Chelsea games off and do Zouma - Neto or Sousek today. Like to get Mendy out as well but nobody appeals at the moment

Gambling on Chelsea being off is fair enough. Losing Zouma just for someone else's extra 2 games is maybe not as logical, especially as we could have other games off to by the weekend....

Mendy out permanently is more sensible IF you want the funds.