Post by staggerstag on Dec 22, 2017 8:39:24 GMT
It gets going on Friday with what could be a cracker, as Arsenal (6/4) host Liverpool (15/8) The 'Pool find themselves in the top four following a whacking of Bournemouth last time out which was, it seems, an all-out redemption of the pathetic 0-0 at home to WBA a few days earlier. Sturridge should be fit for 'Pool after an 'illness' but Moreno is a major doubt after doing his ankle. Giroud and Ramsey are doubtful for AFC. Arsenal can leapfrog the visitors into fourth spot with victory. Wenger has already started the banter, saying that Oxlaide-Chamberlain is not guaranteed a start tonight for Liverpool. “What do you want? To be a big player and not have to fight? What do you want on top of that – sitting in your rocking chair and saying: ‘I’m a big player? I don’t need to fight?’ No. It doesn’t work like that," said Wenger of Ox.
Top half Everton (13 pts from last 15) host the midday kick off on Saturday, facing Chelsea - a game that CFC, despite Conte's resignation to City in the title race, will be all out to win if there is still an iota of belief in catching City. Are Everton overpriced at 5/1? Hmm. CFC come in at 4/6 which seems a bit tight to me. Best bet could be the draw here. It's give and take whether Bolasie will return for Everton but the good news (!) for them is that Barkley is set for a possible Boxing Day return after hamstring injury. The mysterious injury to David Luiz (apparent knee) looks set to continue and I don't expect him to start, whatever the heck is going on behind the scenes. “I understand that someone thinks I’m not telling the truth. I’m disappointed about this but I can understand it. I’d rather tell you a bad truth rather than a good lie," Conte said last week of Luiz' 'injury'. Make the f*** of that what you will.
There's six 3pm kick offs, and Brighton (13/8) and Watford (2/1) will both be looking to get back on track following a string of dismal results for both sides. Watford's injuries include Frmenia and Kaboul while the hosts are good to go with only Sidwell out. Brighton boss Hughton has made it clear he's looking for goals and he may make changes to find them (Brighton have potted once in the last six)
Well, here we go. Man City (1/8) roll out the carpet for 16th placed Bournemouth (22/1) What's to say? "It's a funny old game"? "Anything can happen in football"? "Stranger things have happened"? No, I fancy the juggernaut that is Man City will not be politely waved down and asked to pull into the lay-by for a ticking off just yet. As you were (Kompany is targeted to return for City)
Huddersfield were the coupon-busters versus Watford last week and they travel south to take on equally unpredictable Southampton. A couple of injuries for the Saints (8/13) but nothing too serious while Huddy (11/2) should have keeper Chris Lowe available for selection. With Pellegrino on the warpath, declaring defiantly he will ditch any player not fully committed, can we expect a Saints' result here? Well, following a goalless draw up north in August, the men from Huddy may say otherwise.
S*** hot Sack Race favourite Mark Hughes will probably be for it should his Stoke (13/10) lose at home to WBA (5/2) I don't know what it is with Sparky, he seems motivated enough post-match but I don't see much from him during play apart from the odd mad outburst. The times I've seen the tenacious Hughesy donning a CFC shirt and getting right in there, leading the way, but I don't see much of that lately on the touchline. CFC loanee Kurt Zouma should be fit for return for the Potters.
Swansea (9/4) and rooted to the bottom welcome (although I'm sure the Swans could think of less welcoming sides to play right now) Palace (6/4) unbeaten in six and quite flying at the moment. I'm looking forward to seeing Zaha turn it on again. He has impressed me lately, as I've said before. The combo of him, Loftus-Cheek, Townsend, Cabaye et al quite excites me, I have to say. Bony should return next week for Swansea and they will possibly miss Routledge and Sung Yeung.
Newcastle's form is truly shocking. Look at it. One point from a possible 27. They travel to West Ham (6/5) and their odds of 11/4 for the away win is downright stingy to me. At least they have a medical room free of injuries, so expect a strong line-up. West Ham have one or two but nothing major.
The 5.30pm kick off is Burnley (a truly overpriced 6/1, eh?) v Spurs (11/20) Burnley, a point above Spurs, will be hoping to nab all three points on home turf following the away point gained in August at Wembley. Nowt serious in the way of injuries for the visitors but Burnley still missing Ward, Brady and others.
Finally on Saturday (7.45pm) it's Leicester (7/2) hosting Man Utd (10/11) No Fellaini and Carrick for Utd and Huth still out for Leicester, although he may be back for Boxing Day action. “My thoughts are they were a bit lucky, but they fought hard to be lucky,” said Mourinho of the midweek defeat to Bristol City. "For some of us it was like one more day in the office, probably a day for some of them where they don’t even want to come to the office." Hmm, better get used to office work, man. It can be boring, unexceptional, but sometimes, just sometimes, those cheeky little upstarts from level one can come along and bite ye plumb right on the ass.
And that's it till Boxing Day.
Top half Everton (13 pts from last 15) host the midday kick off on Saturday, facing Chelsea - a game that CFC, despite Conte's resignation to City in the title race, will be all out to win if there is still an iota of belief in catching City. Are Everton overpriced at 5/1? Hmm. CFC come in at 4/6 which seems a bit tight to me. Best bet could be the draw here. It's give and take whether Bolasie will return for Everton but the good news (!) for them is that Barkley is set for a possible Boxing Day return after hamstring injury. The mysterious injury to David Luiz (apparent knee) looks set to continue and I don't expect him to start, whatever the heck is going on behind the scenes. “I understand that someone thinks I’m not telling the truth. I’m disappointed about this but I can understand it. I’d rather tell you a bad truth rather than a good lie," Conte said last week of Luiz' 'injury'. Make the f*** of that what you will.
There's six 3pm kick offs, and Brighton (13/8) and Watford (2/1) will both be looking to get back on track following a string of dismal results for both sides. Watford's injuries include Frmenia and Kaboul while the hosts are good to go with only Sidwell out. Brighton boss Hughton has made it clear he's looking for goals and he may make changes to find them (Brighton have potted once in the last six)
Well, here we go. Man City (1/8) roll out the carpet for 16th placed Bournemouth (22/1) What's to say? "It's a funny old game"? "Anything can happen in football"? "Stranger things have happened"? No, I fancy the juggernaut that is Man City will not be politely waved down and asked to pull into the lay-by for a ticking off just yet. As you were (Kompany is targeted to return for City)
Huddersfield were the coupon-busters versus Watford last week and they travel south to take on equally unpredictable Southampton. A couple of injuries for the Saints (8/13) but nothing too serious while Huddy (11/2) should have keeper Chris Lowe available for selection. With Pellegrino on the warpath, declaring defiantly he will ditch any player not fully committed, can we expect a Saints' result here? Well, following a goalless draw up north in August, the men from Huddy may say otherwise.
S*** hot Sack Race favourite Mark Hughes will probably be for it should his Stoke (13/10) lose at home to WBA (5/2) I don't know what it is with Sparky, he seems motivated enough post-match but I don't see much from him during play apart from the odd mad outburst. The times I've seen the tenacious Hughesy donning a CFC shirt and getting right in there, leading the way, but I don't see much of that lately on the touchline. CFC loanee Kurt Zouma should be fit for return for the Potters.
Swansea (9/4) and rooted to the bottom welcome (although I'm sure the Swans could think of less welcoming sides to play right now) Palace (6/4) unbeaten in six and quite flying at the moment. I'm looking forward to seeing Zaha turn it on again. He has impressed me lately, as I've said before. The combo of him, Loftus-Cheek, Townsend, Cabaye et al quite excites me, I have to say. Bony should return next week for Swansea and they will possibly miss Routledge and Sung Yeung.
Newcastle's form is truly shocking. Look at it. One point from a possible 27. They travel to West Ham (6/5) and their odds of 11/4 for the away win is downright stingy to me. At least they have a medical room free of injuries, so expect a strong line-up. West Ham have one or two but nothing major.
The 5.30pm kick off is Burnley (a truly overpriced 6/1, eh?) v Spurs (11/20) Burnley, a point above Spurs, will be hoping to nab all three points on home turf following the away point gained in August at Wembley. Nowt serious in the way of injuries for the visitors but Burnley still missing Ward, Brady and others.
Finally on Saturday (7.45pm) it's Leicester (7/2) hosting Man Utd (10/11) No Fellaini and Carrick for Utd and Huth still out for Leicester, although he may be back for Boxing Day action. “My thoughts are they were a bit lucky, but they fought hard to be lucky,” said Mourinho of the midweek defeat to Bristol City. "For some of us it was like one more day in the office, probably a day for some of them where they don’t even want to come to the office." Hmm, better get used to office work, man. It can be boring, unexceptional, but sometimes, just sometimes, those cheeky little upstarts from level one can come along and bite ye plumb right on the ass.
And that's it till Boxing Day.
