Premier League Festive Season

[Samid]

Best time of the year

Sat 21 Dec
Everton - Arsenal (12:30)
Aston Villa - Southampton
Bournemouth - Burnley
Brighton - Sheffield Utd
Newcastle - Crystal Palace
Norwich - Wolves
Man City - Leicester (17:30)

Sun 22 Dec
Watford - Man Utd (14:00)
Tottenham - Chelsea (16:30)

Thu 26 Dec
Tottenham - Brighton (12:30)
Aston Villa - Norwich
Bournemouth - Arsenal
Chelsea - Southampton
Crystal Palace - West Ham
Everton - Burnley
Sheffield Utd - Watford
Man Utd - Newcastle (17:30)
Leicester - Liverpool (20:00)

Fri 27 Dec
Wolves - Man City (19:45)

Sat 28 Dec
Brighton - Bournemouth (12:30)
Newcastle - Everton
Southampton - Crystal Palace
Watford - Aston Villa
Norwich - Tottenham (17:30)
West Ham - Leicester (17:30)
Burnley - Man Utd (19:45)

Sun 29 Dec
Arsenal - Chelsea (14:00)
Liverpool - Wolves (16:30)
Man City - Sheffield Utd (18:00)

Wed 1 Jan
Brighton - Chelsea (12:30)
Burnley - Aston Villa (12:30)
Newcastle - Leicester
Southampton - Tottenham
Watford - Wolves
Man City - Everton (17:30)
Norwich - Crystal Palace (17:30)
West Ham - Bournemouth (17:30)
Arsenal - Man Utd (20:00)

Thu 2 Jan
Liverpool - Sheffield Utd (20:00)

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

Will be interesting to see how much we rotate. If Pogba is back then it should be easier to do it in midfield. Up front though we probably need to play our main ones in all games.

 

[MsNuno]

Great for slobbing on the sofa who needs Christmas films when you've got back to back football.

 

[Samid]

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[Gandalf Greyhame]

I was searching for @Samid's usual 'Premier League Gameweek X' thread. This'll do just fine.

 

[Catt]

Thought this was Arteta's first game.

 

[PoTMS]

One day rest between Newcastle and Burnley. Can see us dropping at least two points.

 

[Gandalf Greyhame]

Thought this was Arteta's first game.

Yep me too. They're potentially throwing away a game to logistical issues, 3 points which could make the difference at the end of the season. Will be ignored if they win, of course.

 

[SilentWitness]

When was the last game where two interim managers played each other with the two new managers in the wings watching before taking over? Good pub quiz question.

 

[Samid]

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[FootballHQ]

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Spot on they all start. No Ozil in 18 and David Luiz returns (and Xhaka). Lacazette will be pleased Ljungberg is off, not starting again. Pepe also on the bench.

Think Everton will win this 2-0.

 

[VorZakone]

The feck is that Arsenal lineup?

 

[Acole9]

I never understand why a newly appointed manager sits in the stand. It's like they're too afraid to get their hands dirty.

 

[JJ12]

One day rest between Newcastle and Burnley. Can see us dropping at least two points.

That’s a farce

 

[SilentWitness]

That Arsenal lineup makes me confident so we will probably lose.

 

[FootballHQ]

That’s a farce

Wolves have been the team most abused by the schedule.

They play Man. City at home on Friday 27th December so don't even play on Boxing day. That game is at 7.45pm aswell as it's not a bank holiday. They then play Liverpool away at half 4 on the Sunday.

They don't even get 48 hours rest for two of their toughest games of the season. I'm surprised they haven't seriously protested to the league. Yes they all get TV money but surely you could've played that match on Monday 30th as I don't think Liverpool play until 2nd Jan.

 

[HisEarth]

Wolves have been the team most abused by the schedule.

They play Man. City at home on Friday 27th December so don't even play on Boxing day. That game is at 7.45pm aswell as it's not a bank holiday. They then play Liverpool away at half 4 on the Sunday.

They don't even get 48 hours rest for two of their toughest games of the season. I'm surprised they haven't seriously protested to the league. Yes they all get TV money but surely you could've played that match on Monday 30th as I don't think Liverpool play until 2nd Jan.

Considering that Wolves are fairly unlikely to get 3 points from those games in even the best of circumstances, those are actually the best two games for them to get in this tough period. Much better to get those two games than games where they'd be expected to pick up three points and then end up dropping points due to fixture congrstion.

 

[No Idea For Nickname]

So Ancelotti and Arteta at Goodison Park watching their teams. I bet they will be on tv screen more then players on the pitch.

 

[MsNuno]

Wolves have been the team most abused by the schedule.

They play Man. City at home on Friday 27th December so don't even play on Boxing day. That game is at 7.45pm aswell as it's not a bank holiday. They then play Liverpool away at half 4 on the Sunday.

They don't even get 48 hours rest for two of their toughest games of the season. I'm surprised they haven't seriously protested to the league. Yes they all get TV money but surely you could've played that match on Monday 30th as I don't think Liverpool play until 2nd Jan.

Makes sense for the team that’s played way more games than anyone to have the least rest between games to the FA anyway. Nuno has complained as has Pep but it’s all about money at the end of the day

 

[Wiltord02]

That defence is just upsetting.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

So two teams trying to impress new managers, either be a corker or full of mistakes.

 

[Catt]

So two teams trying to impress new managers, either be a corker or full of mistakes.

Hope for an explosion of mistakes and goals.

 

[IrishRedDevil]

If Everton don’t beat that Arsenal team, Big Dunc should be forced to wear a coat in the rain.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Hope for an explosion of mistakes and goals.

Yep. That's the best way to look at it.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Big Dunc continuing with a Simeone esque 442.

EDIT:

Interestingly enough, Ancelotti likes his 442 and used it at Napoli.

 

[FireballXL5]

So Ancelotti and Arteta at Goodison Park watching their teams. I bet they will be on tv screen more then players on the pitch.

Be interesting to see how long it takes them to get these two teams functioning properly.

 

[SilentWitness]

Really sloppy game so far.

 

[RedSky]

Saka is playing as a left wingback? Someone has been watching Alphonso Davies it seems.

 

[Jacko21]

Thought there might be a decent atmosphere at Goodison with Ancelotti present.

Apparently not.

 

[RedSky]

1 shot which was off target in the opening 18mins in this game.

 

[FootyGirl88]

Luiz is just stress

 

[One Night Only]

Saka is playing as a left wingback? Someone has been watching Alphonso Davies it seems.

Who picked the team? Ljungberg? Arteta? A child?

 

[Catt]

Ferguson apparently team Ancelotti.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Luiz is just stress

He is.

 

[Antisocial]

Luiz is getting away with all sorts

 

[Guy Incognito]

Yep me too. They're potentially throwing away a game to logistical issues, 3 points which could make the difference at the end of the season. Will be ignored if they win, of course.

Don't see it making any difference because they won't finish in the top four now.

 

[VorZakone]

This has a draw written all over it.

 

[Nick7]

What happened Iwobi?

 

[Bole Top]

such a bad game.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Saka is playing as a left wingback? Someone has been watching Alphonso Davies it seems.

He’s played there a lot at youth level so it’s not a new position for him.