Saturday football

[Coffee]

"The next couple of weeks sees the Premier League down to five games each weekend. The PL will also be deprived of our football until next month, a heavy burden indeed. Diet football, no defeats and time for the AFCOM to play itself through. Burnley and Luton played out a draw last night thanks to a last minute equaliser for the visitors. That did little for either side, and particularly for Burnley, as both remain in the relegation zone. Burnley are four points adrift of the two sides above them – Luton and Everton – with a worse goal difference and having played a game more. Things look grim for the Clarets. *SATURDAY* CHELSEA vs FULHAM (1230) It’s got increasingly tricky to predict Chelsea’s results. They should win this one, as they should have won many of their other games, but they have managed to eclipse even West Ham in the screwing up promising positions game. Add to that the local rivalry and Fulham having beaten Arsenal. So how do you choose between these two? Dunno. Home win. NEWCASTLE UNITED vs MANCHESTER CITY (1730) Speaking of inconsistency, Newcastle are just one point and one place above Chelsea. City, in third, are aiming to get their season back on track and will hope to close the gap over leaders Liverpool to two points. Another hard one to predict. Away win. *SUNDAY* EVERTON vs ASTON VILLA (1400) Villa started the weekend in second and within spitting distance of Liverpool. The Toffees have lost their last three and are above the drop zone by virtue of goal difference. Everything says Villa. Away win. MANCHESTER UNITED vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (1630) Who, apart from his bank manager, would be in Erik ten Hag’s shoes? He surely has one of the most difficult manager jobs in English football. Spurs, in contrast, have a swagger about them under boss Postecoglou. Whether they’ll still have confidence and attacking vitality without Son, who’s away with the Korean national side, is anyone’s guess. It will be interesting to see if Timo Werner does any better with them than he managed at Stamford Bridge. Draw. *CHAMPIONSHIP* Leicester resume their customary position at the top of the pile, with a 10 point lead over Ipswich – thanks also to Ipswich’s poor recent form, having failed to notch up a win in their last five. The Foxes visit ninth-placed Coventry in today’s early game, while the Tractor Boys visit Sunderland in the late kick-off. Southampton are licking their lips at Ipswich’s misfortune and will overtake them briefly if they beat Sheff Wed. Leeds go to Cardiff and West Brom host Blackburn in the other play-off-related games. Millwall have their peckers up after three straight wins that have pulled them away from the danger area. They host Boro this afternoon. At the bottom, Rotherham look done for, but QPR, Sheff Wed and Huddersfield – and possibly Birmingham, Stoke and Plymouth – continue their battle to avoid joining Rotherham in League 1 in August."

[Iron Duke]

"How dare you have a different opinion to me, Manny. You know nothing rancid knob cheese."

[Manuel]

"Duke - I didn't see the keeper flapping at all, he came out for the ball but was clearly blocked off by the Luton player who stood his ground, it was physically impossible for him to reach the ball, then again VAR give it so fuck knows. Since this is WHO don't get yourself all angry and aggressive, just my view and I'm pretty sure I know what I saw. For the record, I couldn't care less, two poxy, little shithouse clubs. goose - Agree two good games tomorrow, but also think Chelsea Fulham could be good, would love to see Fulham win, they have a chance but Chelsea likely to nick it for me."

[goose]

Sunday games are both intriguing. I reckon Everton will beat Villa and Ten Hag takes another step towards the door.

[Iron Duke]

"The media are going on about Luton’s controversial equaliser. I didn’t see a foul on the keeper. All I saw was the keeper getting nowhere near the ball, flapping, and jumping into Adebayo. It was poor, weak goalkeeping and the correct decision."

[happygilmore]

Four draws No winter break for the lads in the championship etc who are playing twice a week. Thanks Mr C

[Mike Oxsaw]

We probably want a Man U win this weekend; retain 6th and Spurs don't start to put more daylight between us and them. Draw is probably the better long-term result though as both teams drop 2 points.

[jfk]

Not too much to get excited about this weekend for us but as always a good read. Nice one Coffee.