Can Anyone Stop Chelsea?
posted by The Blue Devil @ 7:13 AM
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Contributors
Previous Posts
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- Sunday in the Premiership
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- Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 14 Update
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- Books of 2016
- FA Cup 3rd Round Draw!
- Happy Birthday, Gooner!
504 Comments:
It's a foggy day in London town as Palace and Chelski prepare to come out of the tunnel. Here are the teams:
Crystal Palace: Hennessey; Kelly, Dann, Delaney, Ward; McArthur, Ledley; Zaha, Cabaye, Puncheon; Benteke
Subs: Speroni, Fryers, Mutch, Lee, Townsend, Husin, Campbell
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilcueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kanté, Matic, Alonso; Willian, Costa, Hazard
Subs: Begovic, Ivanovic, Zouma, Chalobah, Fábregas, Pedro, Batshuayi
So Jason Puncheon is back for Palace after a one-game suspension while Mathieu Flamini misses out with groin knack. For Chelsea, the 27th coming of Cesc Fábregas has been put on ice as Nemanja Matic regains his place in the starting XI. The Blues, not unlike Leicester last season, have been able to field a very settled side week after week with minimal changes, and that can’t hurt.
Palace fans are "Glad All Over" right now but will they be in 90 minutes? They are perilously close to the drop zone in 16ith, level on points with Boro and only three points off the relegation spots.
Good morning, mate. Great to join you for the early action. The answer to your post is that Palace will definitely not stop Chelsea. One team is on their way to the title and the other is in free fall.
Happy Winter Break, mate. I'm happy to have the pleasure of your company this morning.
They're off from a foggy Selhurst Park.
Cheers, mate. Happy Winter break to you as well.
And we're away at Selhurst Park, Palace in their traditional kits. Chelski have forgone the day-glo yellow numbers that they've been wearing of late for a classier all white kit.
It doesn't quite feel like Winter Break for me yet, as I've got loads of grading to do over the next few days. But I'll be enjoying the matches this morning.
These teams are separated by only eight miles in this London Derby, but they are much farther apart in the table.
I sure hope you get those papers graded soon because you have earned it , mate. I have to get up early Monday and Tuesday morning if not quite as early because I have drive the girls to school those mornings. Their break doesn't start until Wednesday
Palace is frustrating Chelsea early doors. Will they have to grind out a result as they did vs the Baggies and the Black Cats./
Palace look up for this. First Kelly and then Zaha wrestle feistily with Hazard in the corner and they eventually win a foul from the Chelsea man, to the home crowd’s delight.
Chelski starting to put some interesting moves together but Palace have done well to break them up around the box.
John Moss tells Kante that he Kant do that as he tackles MacArthur to the ground.
The mist has just about burned off at this point.
Elizabeth kindly fixed me birthday brekkies , which was a Mexican pastry and a tall mug of coffee.
Boom, boom - a good start to the punnery.
Sounds delicious, mate!
It was like that on my morning commute to work yesterday morning.
Cheers, mate. Fred was pestering me for the leftover crumb and has a question for you.
First yellow card of the match goes to Joe Ward. And now Cheslki have a really useful free kick chance.
What's that, mate?
Joe Ward is booked for a foul on Hazard just outside the box as Chelsea got through for the first time. Will it be a hazard for Palace.
The free kick Wiliian is deflected for a corner.
The commentator thinks it's Willian who took it but it's actually Hair Bear. Deflected out.
The short corner results in a miss hit cross that goes harmlessly out.
His Black Cats hots the Hornets while your Whites host the Bees. He asks if that is almost as if his team and your team are playing against the same mascots?
BOOM BOOM, mate.
The first decent chance of the match for Palace as Cabaye found Joe Ward down the right and his pass was shot wide by Puncheon in the six yard box. One of the few chances Palace will get
Diego Costa has been walking the yellow card tightrope, but there it is. He'll serve a suspension in the next match. He'll have his feet up on Boxing Day now.
Costa is booked for the first time in a dozen matches. That's his fifth booking of the season , so he will be suspended for the match on Boxing Day> it was a poor foul from behind on Joe Ledley
I've just left you a special birthday message on your Facebook feed, mate!
He will have a Winter Break like us as he won't be in action until New Year's Eve. A tough life!
Cheers, mate . I will check/.
I'll post it on the LOB later this afternoon. It's a corker!
Costa wants a booking for being fouled by MacArthur. Someone forgot to tell him it was James, not Douglas that fouled him.
Zaha fouls Hazard just outside the box. Will it pose a hazard for Palace?
Hazard continues to be one of the most fouled players in the Premiership. Chelski have a free kick now out wide left.
Boom, boom!
Looking forward to it. Thanks, mate
Jon Moss has pulled Zaha over with his skipper to calm him down.
This free kick has been delayed for ions as John Moss and Scott Dann combine to calm down Zaha , who should have been booked. The free kick from Willian is blocked way by Beardy Ledley
After a bit of an argument in the wall between Palace team-mates McArthur and Zaha, Willian eventually swings in the free-kick which Ledley heads clear.
Morning All
Happy Birthday David.
Hope you have a great day... and a United win!!
Are you guys all off for the break? I STILL HAVE TO GO ALL NEXT WEEK!!!!!
Welcome, UWS! All next week! Bloody Norah!
Palace are giving away too many free kicks around the box. One of these is bound to go in.
Cabaye fouls Costa just outside the box as Palace are riding their luck.
Well, that was a useless free kick enterprise.
Good morning, UWS. Thank you very much. A United win would be a great birthday present in a tough match at the Hawthorns.
Yes. I am starting Winter Break today. My daughters start on Wednesday. I'm sorry to hear that you have to wait to start yours. It will be here before you know it.
Since United are playing on my birthday this year, does anyone know what happened to Jose on my birthday last year?
I think we are going to struggle... especially at set pieces. We do love to give away STUPID fouls too!
Yes, all next week. We get that stupid emergency release day on Friday... 15 minutes!!!
Well over by Azpi
What a nonsense, mate. I'd go out on strike.
I don't mean to complain Bob but your picture for this match is false advertising. Bright and sunny and Chelsea wearing yellow
A 15 minute work day? Sounds like your vacation starts mid morning on Friday, but sounds really stupid and bloody useless to come in for fifteen minutes.
So I went over to watch the MLS Cup Final between Toronto F.C. and the Seattle Sounders on tape delay with a mate last night.
It was goalless through 90 minutes and extra time. Seattle won the title without a shot on goal!!
I know - I expected them to play in their day-glo yellow number today, especially with the foggy conditions!
Zaha goes on a solo run and is fouled just outside the box by Marcus Alonso. A rare opportunity for Palace.
Now a chance for Palace - Puncheon curves it well over.
We watched it. Why do Finals have to end up that way... just more ammo for the yanks to pick on soccer
And it's wasted as PUncheon shoots it well over.
Does anyone remember what happened to Jose on my birthday last year?
Who do Leeds have today?
Another top of the table clash?
Wally in the Brolly is being very annoying at Pride Park!
He is really making the difference
GOAL! Diego Costa again!!!!!
Bugger
Great ball over to Costa and he hangs in the air and puts it back across the keeper and into the corner. Great technique.
0-1 Chelski!
Is it still snowing in WNY Bob?
It is coming down hard here
Supposed to get messy stuff later too
I'm off for an early half-time snuggle with the missus - back in a tick.
It all started at the back and culminated in a great cross by Azpi as Costa leapt up between two defenders and scored with a well placed header.
Got the sack after losing to the future Champs
Two minutes of stoppage time./
Well done , UWS.
Chelsea is one up at the half as Palace have it all to do.
The second half is underway from Selhurst Park/
Jon Champion said that the goal was Diego Costa's first headed goal since March 2015 and Chelsea's first headed goal in eleven months. Both are surprises.
Back for the second half now - this one is looking ominous. Chelski tend to go one up through Costa and then bolt the door.
Better from Palace as a long Chelsea clearance was headed back and Zaha used his pace to headed a pass back for Cabaye,whose effort was saved by Courtois.
Welcome back, mate. Just in time for Palace's first corner of the match
Courtois easily catches the corner that was pUnceon into the box.
A swerving, powerful effort from Kante is straight to Hennessey, but is beaten away due to the power and pace.
Bob, you have TWC
Have they taken away NBSSN and a few other if you don't have some converter?
It means I can't watch the matches upstairs
I have to take Shadow on a walk in this frozen tundra right now.
I'll be back
Not that I'm aware of, mate. I've still got NBC SN.
Keep warm, UWS and see you back in a little while.
I don't have TWC, but Spectrum took them over in our area and I heard they're even worse than TWC if that's even possible.
Chelski seem to be inviting Palace on to them, as usual. Catennacio style from Conte.
Welcome back, mate. Palace have made a decent start to the second half.
According to the stattos, Palace have the worst record in the top four divisions for the 2016 calendar year. Alan PArdew is only around because he is the prodigal son.
Victor Moses breaks one of the Ten Commandments as he Puncheon into an illegal tackle and is booked for that
Another Palace free kick now - one in off the bum would change everything.
The free kick from Cabaye is headed out for a corner.
It's all Palace now - I can't believe that Chelski are going to win the title playing like this.
The corner from Cabaye is cleared as Palace maintain possession.
Somehow, Kante was booked even though Moses committed the transgression. It was for persistent fouling and he will join Costa for a two week vacation as he will be out for the Boxing Day match vs the Cherries.
They have a six point lead, so they would have to have a collapse not to win it.
Fab is on for Willian. Tat will allow Chelsea to keep the ball longer and run time off the clock.
A clash of heads between Palace teammates , Delaney and Cabaye as both are down in the Palace box.
Chelski have decided to play a bit. Alonso with a volley at the back stick. Into the side netting.
Now Fabregas with a chance. Didn't really get his foot behind it.
Why is Andros Townsend still on the bench if Pardew's side need a goal?
Hennessey fumbled it, but gathered at the second attempt.
I agree. He should have been on at least ten minutes ago,. No wonder why Palace have the worst record in the top four divisions in 2016.
Did you see that Leeds vs the Bees is BEIN shown on the telly at 10 AM? Will you BEE watching it?
Great save by Hennessey from Kante after great foot work from Moses, then it was cleared away.
It's about bloody time as Andros is on for Puncheon. What as Pardew waiting for? An engraved invite?
Kante responds with a defensive change as Ivanovic is on for Moses, who gets a standing ovation from Palace fans as he was a former academy player.
Delaney tackles Costa for a Chelsea corner.
Delaney is booked for a foul on Hazard just outside the Palace box, an area where he has v=been fouled frequently. Delaney is booked for that
OH!!!! A curling free kick from Marcos Alonso crashed off the bar and the rebound was headed straight to Hennessey. Palace are still in this match.
Costa has been quiet in the second half, but then he was pretty quiet in the first and still had a decisive impact.
Zeke Fryers, the former United academy player, is on for Martin Kelly , the former Pool player
Fab save by Hennessey, but the Spanish playmaker was called for a foul.
Pardew is losing his mind now and Jon Moss has come over to calm him down.
Now that I discovered that I get PLET, I need to decide what match to watch, or do I switch around? I will be watch Leeds vs the BEES on BEIN plus one other match.
The Batman is on for Costa now.
What is PLET?
Batshuai is on for Costa, who is booed off the pitch by Palace fans, but he may have scored the goal that has put them nine points clear and on his way to a two week vacation.
Five minutes of stoppage time./
It's an acronym for Premier League Extra Time.
This is a carbon copy of Chelsea's win at the SOL.
Fab booked for tripping Scott Dann.
Andros with a free kick that it makes halfway across London. Like something out of Mary Poppins.
Chelsea look to be doing an Italian job , looking like Italian ice while Palace are more like Vanilla Ice.
Nearly time up, now.
It's over and Chelsea grind out a 0-1 win at Selhurst Park , looking like the Italian Job.
Boom, boom, mate - you're on a tear. Conte has eked out another ugly win for his side.
Chelski are now 9 points up on their opposition. Ugh.
Time for a refreshing birthday schedule ahead of a busy 10 AM/ 9 AM schedule.
Back inside the warmth just as the final whistle blows
Welcome, back, UWS
NBC showing Boro v Swansea
Is that the Bob Bradley affect?
There aren't a good patch of matches but I'd prefer to watch the Champions at Stoke or West Ham Hull
Of course, I can
Here's what's on the menu at 10 AM:
Leeds vs the Bees on BEIN
Middlesbrough vs Swansea on NBCSN
The black Cats vs the Hornets on CNBC
The following are on Premier League Extra Time:
The Hammers vs the Tigers
The Potters vs the Foxes
PLE goal rush
There's more on the menu than at some restaurants
'
I think I'm going for Leeds vs the Bees and the Potters vs the Foxes.
I'm back for the 10 am kickoffs, which are a bit like "Relegation Watch." With Palace already having lost, the bottom three have a chance to help themselves out. Sunderland are hosting Watford, Swansea are away to Boro and West Ham v. Hull is a real relegation dogfight.
I've got UWS' Soccer Saturday link blasting.
We'll be without the services of our top goalscorer Chris Wood, who's out with a hamstring injury today, but I'm still hoping that my beloved Leeds United can do the business against Brentford this afternoon.
I'll be watching the Boro v. Swansea match. Here is the team news, as we get underway:
Middlesbrough: Valdes, Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Da Silva, Forshaw, Clayton, de Roon, Ramirez, Negredo, Fischer.
Subs: Friend, Bernardo, Leadbitter, Rhodes, Guzan, Downing, Traore.
Swansea: Fabianski, Rangel, Mawson, Amat, Taylor, Fulton,
Britton, Barrow, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Llorente.
Subs: van der Hoorn, Fer, Borja Baston, Nordfeldt, Montero, Naughton.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
I have Leeds vs the Bees and the Potters vs the Foxes on my telly. Home fans are singing MOT and they're off from ER
Swansea have come out of the blocks well. Siggy with an excellent strike that Valdes has to turn around.
Bob will be interested to note that this Leeds final match at ER in the 2016 calendar year
Is it on BEin? I had no idea!!!
You're not watching Leeds vs the Bees on BEIN?
Thanks, mate - I had no idea. I've got the Leeds boys on now. Marvelous!
It's unusual for BEin to show a match at 10am, so I hadn't noticed.
Great close range block from Kasper as the Potters have dominated early doors.
Congrats Bob
You watch your United now and our United next
No probs, mate. It's all part of the birthday festivities.
Evil Cardiff take an early lead vs Barnsley
A goal in the Championship - Sean Morrison has put Cardiff a goal up against Barnsley.
The tractor Boys take the lead at struggling Wigan
Rob Green is about to turn 37. A bit long in the tooth?
My link for SS isn't working today
The bloke is show the Darts World Championship
We’ve had another goal in the second tier, where Ipswich Town have taken the lead against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium. Brett Pitman was the scorer with a contentious penalty.
Yeah - that's what I found, too. I thought I had it going but it's darts.
Ipswich one up at Wigan
Cardiff the same at home to Barnsley
Grant did well to tip over a header from Huth , the former Stoke defender.
Missed the earlier updates...sorry
How are Leeds looking
Hull City goalkeeper has been down for an extended spell getting treatment on a groin injury.
We're all over Brentford, but I want some chances before long. Without Chris Wood, we don't have the sharp edge up front.
fFter early Stoke dominance , it looks set to be a fairly even contest
It's been kind of a scrappy start at ER.
What is Wood's injury update? I read that he was taken off against Reading for precautionary reasons
Sacko wins the first Leeds corner of the match
He's got a slight Hammy problem - he's supposed to be back on Boxing Day.
If got a link going on the desktop
Newcastle one up at Burton
Ah - Roofe did really well to nick the ball and then feed Dallas but Stu launched it into outer space.
Dwight Gayle scores his 17th of the season with a near post flick after getting on the end of a good cross from Matt Ritchie. It’s Burton Albion 0-1 Newcastle United.
The Toon take the lead in the opening act of their first ever league meeting at Richard Burton
Link sucks!!
Nice and clear for ten seconds and then... nothing
Oh - Doukara played a lovely cross over and Roofe was nearly on the end of it. Wood would have nodded that home for sure.
Boro ahead
Lionel Ritchie assisted on a goal scored by Crystal Gayle?
First decent chance for Brentford. Scott Hogan nipping it to nod toward goal from a cross. Rob Green was behind it.
Burton tie it up vs the Toon
So have Barnsley at Cardiff
I switched over to the match at the Riverside. More defensive woes for Bob's lads. Bradley that is.
A free kick for Boro. Gaston to take. He nearly put Boro two up as he curled it inches wide.
Some twists and turns in the playt performed by Richard Burton.
No Premier League team has scored fewer goals this season, but Middlesbrough have chalked up another one in the credit column. Alvaro Negredo has scored on the back of an Adam Clayton assist.
Nice take by Rob Green.
PNE take the lead Ashton Gate and that's not idle gossip.
You will be pleased with that assist , but even more so if the men in white can do so at ER
PENALTY BORO AS JORDI AMAT TRIPS ADAM FORSHAW IN THE BOX,.
Leicester City down to ten men
Vardy is off for a lunging tackle...not studs up though
Not like Rojo
Preston lead Bristol City 1-0 courtesy of Simon Makienok.
GOAL !!! NEGREDO PUTS BORO TWO UP FROM THE SPOT, SENDING FLAPPY THE WRONG WAY
Adam Clayton is dead to me now.
So the Champs won't win again away from home
I'm not sure why Bob is complaining at the fourth official. That seemed an obvious penalty
What is Bob complaining about?
Who is Adam Clayton?
The champs will be without their top scorer until the Third Round of the Cup, which is a four week vacation.
I think the Vardy red will be rescinded
He's complaining about the penalty decision. Bradley that is.
I saw the replay of the sending off . it seemed really harsh
Agreed. It should be.
Barnsley now winning at Cardiff
Luton take the lead at the Tangerines.
While we've had the dominance of possession, Brentford have had the actual shots on goal.
Ipswich pegged back at lowly Wigan
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