TFF chit chat 21st, 22nd and 23th December

[morganb]

FRIDAY 21ST DECEMBER

Wolves 20:00 Liverpool

To start us off this week is that rare beast, the Friday Night Fixture. This time around it features Table topping Liverpool visiting Molineux to take on an over-achieving Wolves side. Liverpool have yet to lose in the League but it's games like this that see records broken.

SATURDAY 22ND DECEMBER

Arsenal 12:30 Burnley

Saturday's early match features a relegation threatened Burnley team taking on an Arsenal side coming off of the back of a couple of rare defeats. Mkhitaryan scored a brace for the Gunners last weekend but there's no guarantee he'll start today as he hobbled off in midweek.

Bournemouth 15:00 Brighton

The seaside derby is the first of our 3 o'clocks, featuring the resort towns of Bournemouth versus Brighton and Hove. The Cherries and not in the best of form at the moment and Brighton have got back to winning away ways of late so there's a chance of a Seagulls win.

Chelsea 15:00 Leicester

Down at the Bridge, Chelsea welcome a Leicester team who are in very poor form. Chelsea will be hoping to cement a top four place today and stay in touch with the leading pair. Leicester rested a lot of first teamers for the midweek Cup loss, will this have been the right thing to do?

Huddersfield 15:00 Southampton

A real six pointer next, where 19th plays 17th but there is only a couple of points between the two teams. Uddersfield haven't picked up a single point in December, always losing by a single goal. The Saints now have David Hasselhoff in charge and have recently recorded a victory against Arsenal.

Man City 15:00 Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace are this week's visitors to the Ethiad where they will take on second place Manchester City. You know when Christmas is here when Jesus gets a brace (he was a carpenter after all). Palace have Zaha back for this one after last weekend's suspension.

Newcastle 15:00 Fulham

Fulham are away to the lads of Newcastle this weekend. Fulham are rock bottom with a poor goal difference so even a win today would leave them at the foot of the table. Rondon appears to have rediscovered his goal scoring boots for Newcastle.

West Ham 15:00 Watford

Well, well, well - it's West Ham v Watford in the last of the 3 o'clock kick-offs. West Ham have put their shaky start behind them and are not missing the injured Arnautovic. Watford's rollercoaster is currently on the up so expect a thrilling game today.

Cardiff 17:30 Man Utd

Saturday's late fixture sees Manchester United travelling to the Cardiff Stadium in Cardiff to take on Cardiff. The Welsh Wizards from Wales have started to find their feet and have picked up a few points recently. The United of old would expect an easy win, their latest incarnation will be hoping not to lose! Perhaps a super-sub will score the winner?

SUNDAY 23RD DECEMBER

Everton 16:00 Tottenham

And finally, the Sunday afternoon fixture has Spurs travelling to Goodison to play Everton. Tottenham snuck past Burnley last weekend in a dire match but had a good win against the Gunners in the Cup. Everton will be looking to Richarlison or Siggy to score the goals to cause an upset today.

[morganb]

Christmas fixtures dates:

26/27 Dec

29/30 Dec

1-3 Jan

4-7 Jan (FA Cup)

I'll put up Chit Chats for the above nearer the time.

Merry Christmas!

[Spinynorman]

Merry Christmas and many thanks for the entertaining and informative write ups.

All the very best to everyone.

[murf]

Friday night and the gates are low.

Will the score be low as well as the gates (and lights) as we have lots of popular defenders in that one. (Not TAA, missing probably for last time)

[Eddie Elbows]

You know when Christmas is here when Jesus gets a brace (he was a carpenter after all).

Quality Morgan. Have a great Christmas.

[murf]

You know when Christmas is here when Jesus gets a brace (he was a carpenter after all).

Quaility Morgan. Have a great Christmas.

A brace - thought he got gold, frankenstein and meh. Usually gold when not in my team like last weekend. As soon as I buy him he'll turn meh before a frankenstein run on the bench. Then we'll be back to the Aguero hokey cokey for party season.

[buttonphobic]

Thanks Morgan. As always much appreciated.

[SamD]

Festive fixture span of top five in Premier League:

xmas_fixtures_top.png.jpg

Of the 20 clubs, Tottenham and Everton have the most demanding schedule - playing their four matches within the space of 10 days.
In contrast, Liverpool and Manchester City have the most recovery time, 14 and 13 days respectively.
Full analysis here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46279118

[admin]

With morganb's permission have reworked his post into an article for fiso's homepage (which I'll also put on fiso's FB and Twitter pages to help push TFF).

http://www.fiso.co.uk/tff-matches-21-to ... mber-2018/

I've also linked to SamD's fixture image file. Hope that's okay Sam.

[blahblah]

Fun new comp here: viewtopic.php?f=32&t=129564&p=3277490#p3277490

[Spinynorman]

Defenders and attacking players from both sides in my teams tonight so I'm sure what sort of score I'm after.

I suppose a good game and no injuries would be good.

[murf]

0-1 Salah (Fabinho, Mane)

You gain some, you lose some. Even if you have Mo & Coady/Doherty

[Spinynorman]

That was a nice finish.

[happyhoppy]

Mane starting to get some points again...

Merry Christmas morganb and all.

[Jamjack]

I reckon I was 2 more flat weeks away from dropping Salah a few weeks back....

Merry Christmas all

[Spinynorman]

Van Dik (Salah)

I don't think I have any Van Dik's.

[murf]

That was a nice finish.

[happyhoppy]

Liverpool are a defensive fortress these days.

[Thomarse]

Anyone found any nice fixture runs over the Christmas period? Any 3 for 1 s etc? Been crazy busy and not had time to fully look. Only 15 PTS off the top of my SL so could do with a push to get me to 1st

[murf]

Liverpool are a defensive fortress these days.

Lovren

[Jamjack]

Liverpool are a defensive fortress these days.

Lovren

One of the best defenders in the world - somebody once said.

[Spinynorman]

High: 27

Low: 10

Best team: 25

[edmo33]

High: 38

Low: 15

Best Team: 38 - Moved into top 100 ... 1st venture here since finishing 77th a few years back.

The view up here is as good as i remember

[Always Next Year]

High: 38

Low: 15

Best Team: 38 - Moved into top 100 ... 1st venture here since finishing 77th a few years back.

The view up here is as good as i remember

Well Done!

Out of interest how many transfers have you made on that team in the top 100?

[edmo33]

High: 38

Low: 15

Best Team: 38 - Moved into top 100 ... 1st venture here since finishing 77th a few years back.

The view up here is as good as i remember

Well Done!

Out of interest how many transfers have you made on that team in the top 100?

I've 23 left, but not sure how that compares with the rest of the leaderboard.
I know many are 'hare' teams potentially running on fumes, but they might be very happy with their current teams.

[Always Next Year]

High: 38

Low: 15

Best Team: 38 - Moved into top 100 ... 1st venture here since finishing 77th a few years back.

The view up here is as good as i remember

Well Done!

Out of interest how many transfers have you made on that team in the top 100?

I've 23 left, but not sure how that compares with the rest of the leaderboard.
I know many are 'hare' teams potentially running on fumes, but they might be very happy with their current teams.

I would say you have used quite a lot considering we aren't half way through the Premier League season and the FA Cup hasn't started yet.

I would try and keep as many banked for a few months, and only transfer when you have injuries. That's if you want a shot at winning the money.

[LenH]

So anyone else considering the Aguero hockey cokey later then? I had it pencilled in for Aubameyang.

[happyhoppy]

High: 38

Low: 15

Best Team: 38 - Moved into top 100 ... 1st venture here since finishing 77th a few years back.

The view up here is as good as i remember

Well Done!

Out of interest how many transfers have you made on that team in the top 100?

I've 23 left, but not sure how that compares with the rest of the leaderboard.
I know many are 'hare' teams potentially running on fumes, but they might be very happy with their current teams.

I would say you have used quite a lot considering we aren't half way through the Premier League season and the FA Cup hasn't started yet.

I would try and keep as many banked for a few months, and only transfer when you have injuries. That's if you want a shot at winning the money.

I would say 23 is plenty. In the old days we only had 24 for the season. Opportunities to use all the extra transfers are rarely fruitful, quite often doing nowt works better.

Most of your team will be settled in and you’ll just be rotating forwards for form and fixtures.

Good luck!

[happyhoppy]

So anyone else considering the Aguero hockey cokey later then? I had it pencilled in for Aubameyang.

I’m looking at Hazard as he has great fixtures and their main man. Aguero is just too frustrating a hold and is likey to lose even more playing time to Jesus now he’s banging them in. Doubling up on Sane and Sterling may be an option mind.

[LenH]

Hmm, good shout and tempting but Hazard has frustrated once already this season. But looking good now again obviously.

I'll mull it over till 2.59pm and then make the wrong choice no doubt.

Also if City blow another cs change is a coming at the back for me.