TFF chit chat 29th and 30th December

Post by **morganb** » 28 Dec 2018, 11:40

Saturday 29th December

Brighton & Hove Albion 15:00 Everton

No early fixture this Saturday so straight into the 3 o’clocks, the first of which has Everton travelling to the South Coast to take on Brighton. Everton got a fantastic win in midweek with the usual suspects of Siggy and Richarlison getting a goal each. Keep an eye on Digne too. Brighton got a respectable draw against the Gunners. Glenn Murray hasn’t scored for a couple of games, Dunk and Duffy are finally reunited and Ryan has now gone off to the Asian Cup.

Fulham 15:00 Huddersfield Town

A real six-pointer down at Craven Cottage where Uddersfield are the visitors. Uddersfield haven’t won for an absolute age and it is games like this that can make or break your season. Fulham have a couple of draws under their belts in December and would love to sign 2018 off with a win. Tricky one to call this as there is little quality in either of these sides.

Leicester City 15:00 Cardiff City

The all-conquering Foxes are next up. The Welsh Wizards from Wales are today’s visitors to the King Power. Cardiff are still just outside the bottom three but appear to be better at home than on the road and with Leicester being in good form having recently beaten Man City and Chelsea this has home win written all over it.

Tottenham Hotspur 15:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers

We are on our way to Wembley (again) where Spurs are taking on Wolves. Tottenham are another of the form teams in the Prem and have snuck up into second place thanks to Harry blowing the doors off on a regular basis. Wolves are still ticking along nicely but will probably end up second best today. Son has NOT gone off to the Asia Cup yet (see below).

Watford 15:00 Newcastle United

The Watford rollercoaster might just be about to be heading downwards again as they lost last time out against Chelsea, however Newcastle are a different kettle of fish, so the Hornets could simply have hit a temporary bump in the track. Newcastle were unsurprisingly thrashed by Liverpool on Boxing Day and have settled into a lower-mid-table/upper-low-table position.

Liverpool 17:30 Arsenal

Saturday's late match feature top of the table Liverpool versus fifth-placed Arsenal. Liverpool are flying high this season, Salah is in good form and even with a patched-up defence Liverpool have progressed well over the Christmas period. Arsenal have stalled a little of late and a defeat today could see them becoming detached from the top 4. Aubameyang is in good form though.

Sunday 30th December

Crystal Palace 12:00 Chelsea

Cor blimey, Mary Poppins – it’s a London derby! Sunday’s early fixture sees Chelsea travel the short distance to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace. Chelsea have suffered a couple of defeats recently, but Hazard is in good form and they still sit inside the top four. Crystal Palace are currently sat in lower mid-table, and Wilf ‘The Talisman’ Zaha isn’t in great form.

Burnley 14:15 West Ham United

The first of the 14:15 (I repeat, 14:15) matches is Burnley against West Ham. Burnley have been rooted in the bottom three for the majority of the season – what a difference a year makes. West Ham are comfortably sat in mid-table mediocrity but have some quality players in their squad, especially a Mr F Anderson Esq. who scored a couple against the Saints recently. Will Hernandez be fit for this one?

Southampton 14:15 Manchester City

The second of the 14:15s sees a slightly improved Southampton side taking on a Man City side who are in a bit of a slump at the moment. City have a few players back from injury (Dave Silva, De Bruyne, Aguero) so will be hoping for an improved performance today. Southampton have been revitalised since David “the rabbit hutch” Hasselhoff has been in charge though lost against the Hammers last time out.

Manchester United 16:30 AFC Bournemouth

And finally, the final Premier League match of 2018 sees OGS’s Manchester United hosting Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Solskjaer has certainly rung the changes since he took over, perhaps not in personnel but in moral. Bournemouth had an excellent start to the season but their form has tailed off since and are now in the bottom half of the table. Will Wilson find his shooting boots again soon?

Happy New Year!

Post by **Toffeeman** » 28 Dec 2018, 12:42

Son still available until the Utd game I think

Post by **morganb** » 28 Dec 2018, 12:58

Toffeeman wrote: ↑28 Dec 2018, 12:42 Son still available until the Utd game I think

Thanks, you are correct - will correct my write-up above:

Which Tottenham games will Son miss? If South Korea were to be eliminated at the group stage then Son wouldn’t miss any Spurs games at all. However, if they were to reach the final then he would miss four games. (Three of which are of interest to TFF players)

20 Jan – Fulham (a) – Premier League

(22 Jan – Chelsea (a) – League Cup)

30 Jan – Watford (h) – Premier League

2 Feb – Newcastle (h) – Premier League

South Korea have reached at least the semi-finals in four of the last five editions of the Asian Cup. If they were to lose out at the semi-final stage in 2019 then Son would be available for the Newcastle game, but almost certainly not the Watford match. Spurs are still to play Wolves, Cardiff and Manchester United in the Premier League, Tranmere in the FA Cup and Chelsea in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final before Son departs.

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2018/12/28/heung-mi ... to=cbshare

Post by **Darbyand** » 29 Dec 2018, 14:03

#THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies, Sissoko, Winks, Eriksen, Dele, Son, Kane.

Everton XI vs Brighton: Pickford, Zouma, Digne, Keane, Coleman, Mina, Gomes, Gueye, Bernard, Richarlison, Walcott

Post by **LenH** » 29 Dec 2018, 14:14

Just got back home after UK Xmas family visit and the -5hr time difference is confusing me greatly this morning with the lineups popping up.

Post by **buttonphobic** » 29 Dec 2018, 14:20

Does anyone know what Pellegrinni said in his press conference this morning about Hernandez fitness?

Post by **Maldini** » 29 Dec 2018, 15:26

Spurs 1-0 Kane (Son)

Newcastle 1-0 Rondon (Ritchie)

Post by **murf** » 29 Dec 2018, 16:29

Spurs CS gone

...and Maddison has a penalty saved as does Kamara of Fulham

Post by **LenH** » 29 Dec 2018, 16:31

Well that makes a decision for me!

Post by **Maldini** » 29 Dec 2018, 16:33

Maddison wins and takes penalty.

Maddison misses penalty.

Post by **LenH** » 29 Dec 2018, 16:36

TAA or Van Dijk? Is TAA only a regular starter due to to injuries currently or not?

Post by **Maldini** » 29 Dec 2018, 16:39

Neither.

Arsenal and City next two games.

Post by **murf** » 29 Dec 2018, 16:40

LenH wrote:TAA or Van Dijk? Is TAA only a regular starter due to to injuries currently or not?

TAA has been regular. Missed a couple due to his own injury but OK now. Does occasionally get rotated when Gomez and CBs fit.

Post by **LenH** » 29 Dec 2018, 16:46

Maldini wrote: ↑29 Dec 2018, 16:39 Neither.

Arsenal and City next two games.

I know, I know but not sure I can resist/ignore any longer.

Post by **LenH** » 29 Dec 2018, 16:46

murf wrote: ↑29 Dec 2018, 16:40
LenH wrote:TAA or Van Dijk? Is TAA only a regular starter due to to injuries currently or not?
TAA has been regular. Missed a couple due to his own injury but OK now. Does occasionally get rotated when Gomez and CBs fit.

Ta murf.

Post by **Spinynorman** » 29 Dec 2018, 16:52

So what's that all about?

Post by **happyhoppy** » 29 Dec 2018, 17:11

Mad results again. Leicester fans will be back on the warpath against Puel again.

I’ve decided to launch into LFC tonight can see them keeping a c/s every game whilst I don’t have enough coverage. Just Alonso to VVD left for now.

Post by **Spinynorman** » 29 Dec 2018, 17:23

No doubt Laporte will keep a clean sheet tomorrow just to rub things in.

Post by **happyhoppy** » 29 Dec 2018, 17:41

Job done.

Post by **Spinynorman** » 29 Dec 2018, 17:42

Well that's a relief.

Post by **Maldini** » 29 Dec 2018, 17:46

Cheers Hoppy.

Post by **Always Next Year** » 29 Dec 2018, 17:53

Lichsteiner probably the worse defender I have ever seen! He is terrible!

Post by **happyhoppy** » 29 Dec 2018, 18:03

Spinynorman wrote:Well that's a relief.

Only team I left was the Egg one Spiny.

You’re welcome Maldini glad I could assist.

Post by **SPR** » 29 Dec 2018, 18:03

3-1

Third goal was Mane (Salah, Robertson)

Too easy.

Post by **edmo33** » 29 Dec 2018, 18:18

Salah

Post by **SPR** » 29 Dec 2018, 18:30

edmo33 wrote: ↑29 Dec 2018, 18:18Salah

... scores penalty which he won.

Post by **SPR** » 29 Dec 2018, 18:55

Firmino hat-trick (penalty won by Lovren)

Post by **Quin** » 29 Dec 2018, 20:31

Points updated

Post by **Spinynorman** » 29 Dec 2018, 20:59

High: 98

Low: 69

Best team: 97

Post by **buttonphobic** » 29 Dec 2018, 23:54

High:109
Low: 71
Best team: 109

FISO