The leagueth returneth

fletcherpost

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So we've taken down the decorations, we've endured the 3rd round of Fa Cup Matches - now we're back to some semblance of what we now call normal. Three Premier league matches today.

Starting with what is bound to be a goal fest thriller - Free Scoring Blades at home to Scintilating Freeflowing Magpies (i'm doing ma best here).

Then we have Burnley v Man Utd and Wolves V Everton.

Currently no goals at Sheffield with 20odd mins to go...didn't see that coming.

Edit: Dunno what other league matches are going on around the globe - but all updates are welcome.

And early congrats to Rangers - no way they are gonna fluff their lines - Celtic's 10 in a row is but a dream dashed in the sands of Dubai (not bad that i thought.)

If people want to get poetical, I'm all for it.
 

fletcherpost

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Ryan Fraser is no longer in the pitch. I've just tuned in, but he got two yellows. Newcastle have ten men...i hadn't really noticed.

Come on Blades this is your chance.

VAR decision poss penalty pending. It's a pen and Sharp puts it away. 1-0 to Sheff Utd - I can hear Dummy Hoy cheering from his lofty perch, don't soil yer hockey shirt son.
 

fletcherpost

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I think Steve Bruce might be the first EPL managerial casualty of the new year. Sheffield struggling to keep hold of the ball, even though they're a man and a goal up. Brewster almost scored there...off the post...he's had a couple of chances this half - where's that Liverpool pedigree, chum?

Edit: That joke works better with a comma.
 

fletcherpost

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Good grief, The Sheffield defender tries to chest it back to the goalie and nearly scores an own goal in the last minute of injury time.

The mighty Blades hang on...the fight back starts now.
 

ninjacornelius

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Everton will be without Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who's got a hamstring injury. So Ancelotti's running out what looks like a 3-4-3 with Gylfi as a false nine? Maybe?
 

PedroSpecialK

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I went full galaxy brain and used my free hit to bring in 2 Newcastle defenders and Callum Wilson. AMA
 

fletcherpost

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Iwobi opens the scoring for Everton early doors.

Wolves get the equalizer - Neves with a sweet finish from an Aït-Nouri cross that eluded the protruding heads of two Everton defenders - don't forget neck day lads.
 

fletcherpost

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Burnley play some decent stuff, they really do. Just strung some lovely one touch passes together. Chris Wood had a square ball to a free man on the left side of the 18 yard box...he'd have been favourite to score...but Wood went for it and Bailly was there to block.

Bailly still not injured.

Edit: Luke Shaw is a chunky lad isn't he? I'd like to see his BMI.
 

Zomp

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A couple of interesting var decisions coming up. Shaw goes on Gudmunsen, gets the ball first and his follow through catches his shin. Then Cavani has a break on goal and Robbie Brady takes him out with a bit of a wild challenge.
 

Zomp

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To be honest I think the ref got that spot on.

Shaw on yellow because of a high challenge, so Brady's foul doesn't count ala Pickford's
 

fletcherpost

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Agreed.

Dyche would have went daft if it went against his team. A yellow for Shaw is fair, even though he's having a wee moan about it.
 

fletcherpost

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More VAR...

But man o man that Burnley player with the Kung FU attempt to get to the ball - that was a thing of beauty in slow motion.

Edit: Might have been another martial art.
 

Zomp

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Yeah i wasn't having a go at him, just that he's not the regular build for the modern full back. If you look at say Robertson and Tirney there's more meat on a butcher's pencil.

He's still pretty young too. 25. When we signed him from Southampton he was a phenom and supposed to be the left back for year's to come. Every time he gets playing well he gets injured. The thought after signing Telles was Shaw would be phased out and the team would move on but since Telles has come in Shaw has played really well. Telles is much more complete, especially when it comes to going forward, but Shaw and Rashford usually click down that left hand side.


I wouldn't mind seeing Rashford and Martial switch sides for the second half. Unless you're going to bring Telles on for Shaw.
 

OCST

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Iwobi opens the scoring for Everton early doors.

Wolves get the equalizer - Neves with a sweet finish from an Aït-Nouri cross that eluded the protruding heads of two Everton defenders - don't forget neck day lads.
I can't figure what formation Everton are playing. Sometimes looks like a back 3 with Digne and Iwobi as wing backs, Sigurdsson is the striker, James wanders wherever he wants... it's odd.

Beautifully worked goal, but then they beshat themselves on the Wolves goal, Tom Davies tripped over the ball and squirted it out for the corner, and then Wolves pinged it around and Toffees left Neves alone without a blue shirt within ten yards of him.
 

fletcherpost

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He's still pretty young too. 25. When we signed him from Southampton he was a phenom and supposed to be the left back for year's to come. Every time he gets playing well he gets injured. The thought after signing Telles was Shaw would be phased out and the team would move on but since Telles has come in Shaw has played really well. Telles is much more complete, especially when it comes to going forward, but Shaw and Rashford usually click down that left hand side.


I wouldn't mind seeing Rashford and Martial switch sides for the second half. Unless you're going to bring Telles on for Shaw.

Is Jamie Redknapp a Sosher cos he just said the same thing?
 

OCST

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76' into a weird and cagey match at Molineux, Big Mick Keggers sends a powerful header past Patricio to put Toffees up 2-1.

Let's see if this bag of mismatched spare parts can see the Toffees through.
 

Kliq

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Unstoppable cross from Reguilon finds Kane for a free header in the box. Fulham's CB play has been...not good.
 

Kliq

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Fulham very fortunate to be down only one goal. Kane, Son, Reguilon and Hojbjerg have all missed good chances.
 

Kliq

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...And Jose takes his foot off the gas and Fulham tie it up. Spurs seriously should have like., 4 or 5 goals right now.
 

Kliq

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Ndombele has been incredibly wasteful today. I enjoy his flair and he probably should have had an assist when Son hit the post, but he has been poor.
 

Tuff Ghost

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This game absolutely feels like a Xhaka mistake waiting to happen. Overall, he's been decent, but that bold slide tackle in the box on Zaha (nicely timed... this time) and then stomping on Zaha's foot just outside the 18 yard box feel like precursors to an incoming bad-Xhaka moment in the second half.

The drop-off on the Arsenal attack going from Tierney to Maitland-Niles on the left is quite noticeable. I hope Tierney's just getting some well deserved rest and the muscle tightness does not turn into something more sinister.

I'd like to see Partey on early for Xhaka (if Partey's fit enough for it). I really would prefer Gabriel (still returning from COVID, but on bench) or Mari (who has a calf-strain and is out) in there over Luiz, too, but I guess he's what Arteta has available today.

My bold prediction is Xhaka or Luiz give away a penalty to Zaha early second half, ha.
 

Tuff Ghost

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Arteta makes one of the bolder substitution decisions I have seen him make. Rather than a simple like for like, he brings in Pepe (will play on right wing) for Maitland-Niles, who was playing left back. Saka is dropping to left back.

And now Partey comes on for Ceballos, happy to see him back.
 

Tuff Ghost

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Well, I’ve now spent over 3 hours of my week watching 0-0 Arsenal ball (first goal against Newcastle was in the 109th minute).

Gunnerblog sums up this tired performance:
It’s not just about Tierney. Arsenal missed Martinelli. They missed balance, with two right-footers on the left-hand side. And I think they needed more from the full-back on the opposite flank too.
View: https://twitter.com/gunnerblog/status/1349836471541387267?s=21
 

candylandriots

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I know that people aren’t into the Bundesliga so much here, but since I don’t get to brag all that often about Palace, allow me the indulgence of bragging about Union Berlin...who just defeated Bayern Leverkusen for the first time, and will end the first half of the season in the top 6 for sure and currently sit 4th (having played one game more than Dortmund as of now). I’m thrilled.