Saturday football

[Coffee]

"LUTON TOWN vs CHELSEA (1230) An intriguing one to get the weekend off to what could be a dramatic start. Luton, many people’s relegation certs, are a point and goal difference below the dotted line, but do have a game in hand. They’re not bottom by virtue of a swashbuckling approach and an admirable never-say-die attitude. With Chelsea, you just don’t know which expensively-assembled team will show up. Should be an away win, but under no circumstances should you bank on that. Draw. ASTON VILLA vs BURNLEY (1500) At last Burnley have rediscovered their mojo. They’re still deep in the mire, though, and few outside the northwest will fancy their chances at high-flying Villa. Is it all a bit too late for the Clarets? Home win. CRYSTAL PALACE vs BRENTFORD (1500) Both these sides have underperformed so far this season. With one or two unfortunate exceptions. Palace were unlucky to lose at Chelsea last time out, and Roy Hodgson will be keen to make amends lest he finds his backside sacrificed at the altar of poor form. All meetings in this Premier League fixture have ended with honours even. Here’s to a sixth. Draw. MANCHESTER CITY vs SHEFFIELD UNITED (1500) The champions take on the rock-bottom Blades. Sheffield have nothing to lose, apart from the game, which they will. Home win. WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs EVERTON (1500) There were more than a fair share of moans and groans among Wolves fans when the club appointed Gary O’Neil. Those voices have gone strangely quiet of late and not without good reason. On the face of it, there’s very little to choose between these two sides. Draw. NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs MANCHESTER UNITED (1730) Forest remain perilously close to the relegation zone and might find themselves in it at the end of the weekend’s fixtures. Man U are a ship in stormy waters, surfing the occasional swell but more often diving into increasingly familiar troughs. Another tough one for the visitors. They should win but it will surprise nobody if they don’t. Draw. *SUNDAY* FULHAM vs ARSENAL (1400) You can’t help thinking that Fulham, already in a rut, may find themselves on the receiving end of a mighty backlash. Away win. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs BOURNEMOUTH (1400) Three wins, two defeats and a draw in their last six is not the kind of form that will return Spurs to the highest echelon of the table. Contrast that with the Cherries, who were relegation fodder while their hosts led the rest, with five wins and a draw in the same period. This promises to be an entertaining fixture. Draw. *MONDAY* LIVERPOOL vs NEWCASTLE UNITED (2000) So recently full of northeastern promise, Newcastle have fallen to ninth while Liverpool top the table. The first Premier League fixture of 2024 seems to offer little further promise for the visitors. Home win. *TUESDAY* WEST HAM UNITED vs BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (1930) What a win it was at the Emirates on Thursday. Can we repeat that result against a tough and talented Brighton side, albeit one that has fallen on inconsistent times? Easier said than done, although we did win the reverse fixture in August. The Seagulls come into this on the back of two wins, two draws and two defeats in the last six. Make of that what you will. Injuries, illness and probable but as yet unknown AFCON departures look set to dent the manager’s ability to name his preferred first XI. In the old days, you might have added hangovers from New Year’s Eve. 2023 was a remarkable year for the mighty Irons. Can today’s game mark the start of something even better? “The future looks extremely bright,” said David Sullivan last week at the release of the club’s last accounts. Let’s hope that future starts today. Home win. *CHAMPIONSHIP* Championship action resumes on New Year’s Day and sees Leicester continue to lead the division. Ipswich in second lost more ground after only managing a goalless draw at home to lowly QPR last Friday and now find a hungry Southampton just three points behind them and snapping eagerly at their heels. Leeds, in fourth, also fell to play-off rivals West Brom. QPR, Sheff Wed and Rotherham fill the drop zone places at the start of this year, with an increasingly uncomfortable gap opening wither side of the dotted line. One place above are Birmingham, who have plummeted as only the mighty can since Wayne Rooney took charge."

[Sir Alf]

Arsenals demise in full flow as we speak. Losing at Fulham I mean you got to be pretty poor to be losing there ? Oh wait..

[Mike Oxsaw]

"I see that Man U's demise makes the landing page of their main news website. It's as if they couldn't give a fuck about the rest of football - THEIR team are in the shit and everybody must know/be told how bad that is, globally. I suspect that the whole of the BBC will go into a full-on 7 days mourning if they get beat by Wigan in the cup."

[Manuel]

"I suppose you could say that the Fergie era, although it was very long, was not normal for them to have all that success, so maybe they have just gone back to what they really are? That said, they're a huge club so at some point will come back to an extent. Not sure that sacking Ten Hag at this point will make much difference."

[El Scorchio]

It’s fucking delightful what’s going on at Man U. Turned a corner my arse. All they did was do Liverpool a favour by taking points off Villa. What a shitshow. Cracks me up that the weasel Gary Neville still can’t bring himself to say anything bad about that bald fraud of a manager they have. Apparently it’s everyone else’s fault he bought all those shit players. His anger about the state of that club is a joy to behold. Also why the fuck is there all this talk about the great saviour sir Jim Radcliffe and what he wants to do? Last I checked he doesn’t have any say in what will happen with the Glazers holding a 3:1 ratio in terms of shareholding and decision making power. Why will he seemingly be the one to answer to and wield the power?

[Mex Martillo]

"It really is a joy. After a shaky start I thought Ten Fags was getting them sorted, but it doesn't get better. So many managers with decent CVs shouts out that the the club is the problem. Love it."

[lowlife]

"A joy to watch indeed. They could be well and truly fucked in the January window too. Unable to shift old players on big wages, underperforming/shit young players might have to be sold at a massive loss, not many established pros will want to come (and if they do will be on very big money) and up and coming players could be hit or miss. Mix that in with the uncertainty in management position - they’ll probably not sack Ten Hag before the Ineos stuff is sorted, and Ferguson is (apparently) advising Jim Ratcliffe on future managers. Wondering if their back up keeper will fare any better than Onana when he fumbles off to the AFCON….. Joyful."

[Surfinglizard]

"Manure players getting so frustrated seems they just expected to win but didn’t even come close. Worst side they’ve had for a very long time, it’s a joy to watch."

[1964]

Somebody on the BBC comments called him Ten Fags. Ha ha ha ha

[happygilmore]

"anyone who feels bored with Moyesball, thank your licky stars we don't have 10Hag"

[lowlife]

I see Man Utd ‘turned the corner’ as noted in the BBC report following the Villa game. It does appear to be a hairpin corner though.

[fraser]

Well done Forest beating Man U without having to throw your previous game..

[ray winstone]

"Forest showing some spirit, having to endure an unwarranted extra 10 minutes is bollocks."

[Sir Alf]

Call from Premier League has just got thru to the ref. 10 mins added time. United to equalise asap

[goose]

2-1 forest So much for man united big turnaround. That Forest keeper is/was an accident waiting to happen. You’d think he’d have learned his lesson a few minutes earlier.

[happygilmore]

"Woy will see the season out, keep them up and retire. Five straight defeats for Brentford"

[happygilmore]

Celtic v Rangers was a decent watch. Celtic take the points

[Coffee]

"Thanks, Tom!"

[Coffee]

"Thanks, Tom!"

[Tomsdad]

Happy new year to you Coffee. Keep up the good work in 2024!

[Manuel]

"Faux - You might be right ref Woy if they lose today, if it's true they like Cooper than that could be the catalyst."

[Fauxstralian]

Hodgson is on the brink .... read that Steve Cooper is being lined up Luckily Brentfords recent form is appalling but reckon a defeat to them might see him done Today Wolves Everton & Forest Man Utd will be interesting

[Coffee]

"happygilmore 11:39 Sat Dec 30 Those two wins are sandwiched between four defeats, including the last three. Happy new year to you too!"

[happygilmore]

"Thanks Coffee, In the world, where you are only as good as your last game, it's interesting you describe Fulham as being in a rut, despite back to back 5 nil wins this month.. Which shows, we are only our next defeat away from being damned. Anyway, Happy New Year to everyone!"

[Manuel]

"Some good games this weekend - Luton home games are a good watch, old school atmosphere on top of the pitch etc, sadly think Chelsea win though. Palace have picked up lately, and think they will beat Brentford. A rejuvenated Forest vs Man Utd, looks interesting, hard to call. Would love to see the Cherries turn the screw on the Spuds, and fancy they might. Arse to bounce back at Fulham."