Top v. Bottom Sunday
At 11:30, Chelsea take on neighbors West Ham who have had a rough first year at the London Stadium. They're a few points clear of relegation right now, but a couple of wins for the bottom sides could well plunge them into it. Who would bet against them playing Championship football in their white elephant of a stadium next season?
Join me for all the answers this morning, won't you?
posted by The Blue Devil @ 8:34 AM
266 Comments:
Good morning, Bob. Great to join you for top vs bottom.
Talking about top vs bottom, Celtic 1-2 up at George Hamilton Academical.
Morning, MUR - I hope you've enjoyed a relaxing weekend. Thanks for joining me!
The headline Arsenal news there is the selection of Reiss Nelson, making his full Premier League generation. There’s something for Gunners fans to be excited about. Nelson is 18 and has been hailed as the next big thing for some time, in the fashion of Jack Wilshere at the start of this decade, though maybe not with the same level of advance notices of the veteran 26-year-old who is on the bench today.
As fate may have it , the majority of the bottom teams play teams near the top for the majority of their run ins. Sounds like this will be a familiar situation for us over the weeks.
My pleasure. Glad to be around for the EFL Trophy Final from Wembley. Is that why we're around today?
NBC is not as quick as Bob Sports Center with the Reiss Nelson announcement. Well in, Bob.
WOW !!! One of our favorites is on this afternoon: Men in Blazers.
Teams in the tunnel at the Emirates now:
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Chambers, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Elneny,
Xhaka, Iwobi, Nelson, Welbeck, Aubameyang.
Subs: Lacazette, Wilshere, Ozil, Holding, Monreal, Macey, Nketiah.
Southampton: McCarthy, Cedric, Stephens, Hoedt, Yoshida, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Romeu, Tadic, Long.
Subs: Austin, Boufal, Gabbiadini, Redmond, Pied, Sims, Forster.
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
I'll definitely be DVRing that Men In Blazers special.
I looked at all the Prem team's run ins and made some predictions . Going down Saints or Terriers, Potters , and Baggies. Another prediction is that any teams on 37 points are already safe based on the remaining fixtures.
A deserved minutes applause for our beloved Butch. Sparky and he were teammates at the beginning of Sparky's United career.
The Gunners vs the Saints is underway from the EM.
So we're set to go after a nice tribute to Butch Wilkins. Peter Drury and Andy Townsend on the microphones this afternoon.
The mouthpieces are Peter Dreary and Andy "Pete" Townsend, who was in the Saints side that last won away to the Gunners 30 years ago.
This are safe predictions, mate. I agree. The Hammers are too close for comfort but I think they'll survive.
What do you think of my predictions ? I based that on the fact that for some odd reason several strugglers have some rally wicked run ins
It sounds really quiet at the Em compared with the atmosphere at Anfield during mid-week. The Guardian blog says it's a "sparse" crowd today.
The Hammers are on 33 points. They play the Potters a week from tomorrow. A win puts them on 36 points Surely they will find a way to pick up a point somewhere. I don't see the Saints or Potters surpassing 37 points.
Are they at the EM or the Highbury Library. No talking permitted at the library.
Oh - Ward Prowse was in there but Bellerin cleared off the line. An early scare for the Arsenal.
OH!!! First chance of the match goes to the Saints. Tadic passes to JWP and his shot is cleared off the line by Bellerin then more shaky Gunners defending as Tadic wins a corner.
The corner from Tadic is headed out and Hoijberg volleys wide,
Celtic won 1-2 at George Hamilton. Celtic should have done better , being a man up half the match. Celtic one win away from clinching the SPL.
Sparky had his first full week with the Saints and it seems they have responded by playing with more commitment.
Iwobi has a pass cut out for a corner by Yoshida off a pass from the debutant.
GOAL! More commitment, indeed - Saints are ahead through Shane Long!
GOAL !!!! SHANE SCORES HIS FIRST SAINTS GOAL IN A LONG TIME . A SURPRISE LEAD FOR THE SAINTS.
Mustafi was caught napping there, thinking that Cech was coming for that cross. Long, the predator that he is, nipped in and tucked home nicely.
0-1!
It all started with Kolasinac gifting possession just outside his box. Tadic played Cedric the entertainer down the right and Mustafi provided some entertainment with comical defending as he allowed Shane , who was a long shot to get to that pass to cut in front of him to easily score when all the defender had to do was routinely clear the ball.
The Gunners might be thinking about the trip to Russia instead of this match. The groans in the crowd suggest that
The EFL Trophy Final kicks off in about twenty minutes from Wembley and it looks like a decent one: Abe Lincoln vs the Shrews with both teams in a playoff position in their respective divisions.
I wondered if this match might go this way. Arsenal have absolutely nothing at stake here. They can't be caught in 6th, for what that's worth, and they can't catch Chelsea in 5th.
Will you be trying to dial up a dodgy link for that lower league classico?
GOAL! Arsenal are level through a tidy finish by Aubama!
Lovely team goal there from the Arse, their speciality really, with loads of little one-touch passes and flicks. Aubama nipped in with a delicate touch.
Bloody Hell! I've been hit by the Nocito curse as I missed a goal while in the bog. Did Aubama score?
An acrobatic effort there from Chambers. Not exactly Cristiano Ronaldo quality though.
Oh - Long nearly retains Soton's lead there. He was caught offside.
Better now from Arsenal - that goal was a tonic. The museum crowd was starting to get on their backs a bit.
I rewound the DVR. That was the Gunners first sustained spell of possession of the match with close to about 50 passes. It culminated into EL Neny passing to Iwobi and his pass came off of Wellie to Aubama , who got behind the Saints defense to finish easily past McCarthy.
Alpha Romeu concedes a free kick just outside the Saints box , but Xakha Khan is well off the mark.
The Gunners seem to have grown in confidence since the goal as they have had a couple of chances off of set pieces.
GOAL! Welly have turned this one around, Welly firing them into the lead!
GOAL !!!WELLIE DONE AS HE SCORES WITH A DEFLECTED EFFORT TO GIVE THE GUNNERS A 2-1 LEAD.
McCarthy was unlucky there in the Soton goal. On the replay, it looked a comfortable save for him until Welly's shot took a wicked deflection over his dive.
2-1 Arse!
Kolasinac won a header off a Saints clearance . Iwobi involved again as he passed to Wellie , who cut inside Stephens and scored with a deflected finish
Peter Dreary announced the Saints remaining fixtures. Other than the a South Coast Derby vs the Cherries and a match at the Swans, which I see the Swans winning , I don't see the Saints getting anything , let alone getting to 37 points.
Saints now holding on after a great start. Sparky will need to spark thew Saints to life. May be thinking about some tactical adjustments.
Ryan Bertrand with a slide tackle for a Gunners corner.
They would have to get a maximum six points from Bournemouth and Swansea. And then hope for a one or two here and elsewhere. It looks unlikely.
Into a pair of stoppage time minutes and the Gunners have a shot blocked for another corner.
I'm off to do some dishes during the half-time break.
The next corner from Xakha Khan is cleared then play is stopped as Hoijberg is down.
Cheers, mate. I should do the same.
It's halftime and after a slow start , the Gunners have come from behind to lead 2-1.
The second half is underway from the EM.
Oh - early chances for Arsenal in the second half. Great saves by McCarthy, keeping his side in this one.
Aubama has a shot saved by McCarthy off a pass from Iwobi then McCarthy does well to turn around a shot from Xakha Khan
Saints host Chelsea in the early match on Saturday
Another great save from McCarthy. This time he turns around a long range effort from El Neny.
Oh - another great from McCarthy, this time from Iwobi.
Great close range reflex save by Cech from Hoijberg
Sparky has Nathan Redmond and Charlie Austin on the bench.They may see action before this match ends.
Mustafi cuts out a Saints cross for a Saints corner.
There's still some life in this match. If Arsenal were to take the foot off the gas, Soton look capable of ushering in Desmond.
Oh - just as I type that, a header off the line from Elneny!
El Neny heads off the line from Hoedt off the corner . Then head tennis before the Gunners eventually clear.
Agreed. Desmond is lurking the streets of Islington.
Yoshida concedes a free kick to the Gunners
The Terriers host the Hornets next Saturday with both teams in poor form.The Terriers remaining matches after that are all against top six teams. The Saints only hope is to perhaps be level on points with the Terriers and finish ahead of them on goal difference.,
The taming of the Shrews as Abe Lincoln takes the lead in the EFL Trophy Final.
Cech does well to turn a header from Shane Long off a cross from Tadic.
OH!!!! A long range effort from Cedric the Entertainer deflects off of Shane Long for a goal, but it's disallowed for offside.
Oh - Long turns in a great shot there, but is ruled offside. On the replay, it appears a good call. Still - Arsenal are riding their luck here as Arsenal continue to look dangerous.
Reese Nelson gets a standing ovation for a creditable first team debut as he's replaced by Wilshere, the player with which he draws comparisons. Like for like.
I didn't really notice him that much - Wilshere on for him now.
Wilshere's first contribution is to slip and fall so the ball runs out of play.
Tadic should have had a free kick for a body check by Mustafi
Cech turns around a powerful long range effort from Hoedt after Wellie was sloppy in possession.
HI Boys
I am back from errands and walkies
I hope to be here for a while
I do have to go pick up Jon in Saratoga... and your horse it naturally won
Aubama gives way to Lacazette - like for like there.
I was reading La Cazaette and learned that Aubama is being substituted by another striker in a like for like switch
Morning, UWS - sounds like you've had a busy Sunday morning. Welcome!
An attacking switch from Sparky as Charlie Austin is on for Yoshida.
Big Charlie Austin comes on for the ineffectual Yoshida. Austin could be just the type of striker to put the frighteners on Arsenal's back line.
Good morning, UWS. Agreed with Bob. Sounds like a busy day.
The attendance has just been announced for this match - 59,374. Poor. Lots of empty seats!
GOAL !!! DESMOND AT THE EM AND CHARLIE AUSTIN SCORES A MINUTE AFTER COMING ON.
Desmond!!!
It has been on the cards from what I've seen!
They really need all three points here
Arsenal, could they be caught by Burnley!
GOAL! Call me Nostrabobus! Austin ushers in Desmond with his first touch!
2-2!
Actually, I reckon that a point is okay today. A point is necessary at home against Chelski next week as well. That's doable as Chelski have nothing to play for at this stage. Then two wins against Bournemouth and Swansea and they're in the picture with 36 points.
Talk about an instant impact. Charlie Austim immediately won a free kick that wasn't properly cleared. Tadic then passed to Cedric the Entertainer and is pass was tapped in by Charlie Austin.
Another corner for Soton now. Arsenal looking a bit ropy. They thought they'd won this one already.
Love to see Southampton play like this in the Cup Semi Final...knock off the Blues. They should have beaten United in the League Cup Final last season at Wembley
Chelsea play Southampton next week? Then in the Semi
How did Welbeck miss that one!!!
Oh - how did Welly miss that chance!
Agreed. The Gunners had been really sloppy in defense the past few minutes and were merely holding on.
He should have let it go to The Gazette
Where the hell were the Saints's defenders??
Austin almost in at the other end
Oh - Austin nearly in for that Route 1 ball. Just didn't get enough on it. End to end now.
Great question. Not Wellie done as it was a great cross field pass from Iwobi to wilshere, who volleyed across the box and the sitter was volleyed at the far post from a yard out
Josh Sims about to come on for Shane Long, who looks knackered.
Now Shane Long is down.
That's back to the original formation as sparky seems content with a piont
Ten minutes left to settle this one.
GOAL! Welly gets his goal!
Welbeck atones for his horrible miss
3-2 Arsenal
Southampton can't be throwing games away
GOAL !!!! THAT'S WELLIE DONE AS A TAP IN AT THE FAR POST GIVES THE GUUNERS A 3-2 LEAD.
Sparky is fairly arsed off there. Iwobi does well with the cross but how did Welly beat the two defenders at the back post? Sparky will want an inquest.
Sorry it was a far post header off a cross from Iwobi as he got between two Saints defenders to head in from close range. As things stand the Saints have a must win vs Chelsea or they look almost certain to be relegated.
It's the taming of the Shrews as Abe Lincoln is one up at the half in the EFL Trophy Final.
Team News from the Bridge....hate the damn formations!!!! Whatever happened to 4-4-2?
Chelsea (3-4-2-1) Courtois; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Cahill; Moses, Kante Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Hazard; Morata.
Substitutes: Caballero, Christensen, Emerson, Drinkwater, Bakayoko, Pedro, Giroud.
West Ham (3-4-2-1) Hart; Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Zabaleta, Kouyate, Noble, Masuaku; Fernandes, Joao Mario; Arnautovic.
Substitutes: Adrian, Evra, Pask, Cullen, Diangana, Hugill, Hernandez.
Referee Kevin Friend.
Cech does well tot turn aver a shot from Tadic off a pass from Bertrand.
Tadic with a decent effort
Following corner cleared
Arsenal will have been very luck to get two wins in their last two home games. Stoke and Southampton have been very lucky
Of course, United should have been 6-0 down at half time yesterday
Agreed, UWS - I want a return to the Little and Large strike partnerships.
4 added minutes
Nocito/Menditto wouldn't be bad
Not Welllie done as he's involved in hand bags with Stephens.
Johnno had to bugger off to Rome, NY before we could play together at the high school
Into a quartet of stoppage time minutes.
UWS - your little sis has just posted that she was having "Pornstar Martinis" with her mates in Ipswich last night. Any thoughts?
Saints down to ten men
Stephens off for a clash with Wilshire
The Gunner gets a yellow
Wilshire could have gotten a red too
Second time Stephens has been involved in a confrontation and Wilshere is sent off . Stpehens sent off as well. Now El Neny . A crazy end. Not sure what he did.
Wow! Elneny has been sent off right at the death here for something that he said!
Arsenal down to ten men for a few seconds.
One last chance then for the Saints here. Could they score a third?
Arsenal down to ten
El Men off for some reason
He pushed someone too
I think Wilshire should have been punished more
Just a yellow for Wilshere , but the replay shows a push by El Neny.
How much time will be added to added time
USELESS free kick
A professional and you can't get it into the box
I'm guessing that Sparky will be reading Stephens the riot act as that was two incidents in a minute and he will miss close to half the relegation run in.
No comment on my little sis!!
Good point MUR
His season is almost done
LOL! You miss a lot not being on FB, mate.
Agreed. Not sure why Wilshere wasn't sent off.
Hoedt booked for nasty challnge on Lacazette.
BTW, there were no cards given in the Merseyside derby yesterday...where's the passion
That's it
Arsenal get all the points
That's it - after that early promise, Soton have succumbed again. They remain three point shy of Palace in 17th.
Don't do BookFace
It's over and the Gunners hold on to win 3-2. It will be tough to see the Saints staying up and there will be an inquest by Sparky as to why the players lost their heads at the end of the match
Whipping up a batch of egg salad for lunch now.
Teams out on the pitch at SB ahead of a London Derby between Chelsea and the Hammers.
An early lunch, mate. Elizabeth is getting ready to eat breakfast.
A moment's applause for Butch where he started his career as did his three brothers.
They're off from SB
We are off at the Bridge
Should be a tight match vs the Hammers who are almost safe.
LOL! I suppose so. I was up at 7am EST this morning.
Hope we are blowing bubbles
In essence, a win for Chelski today is moot. A win for the Hammers brings them up to 37 points and probably survival in the top league for another season.
Worrying sign there as Arnautovic holds his hammy early on.
Chelsea still want to get CL
Blonde Boys looks hurt
Oh - Hazard with a trademark slinky run and shot across the bow. Just wide of the mark.
OH!!! A long range effort from Hazard was just wide.
They do, but they don't have a hope of catching Spurs at this point.
Love watching the Masters this afternoon
Hard to see Chelsea in the CL, eleven points behind Pool and Spurs this late in the season even if they win all their remaining matches.
Why do players have to try and cheat and not have the ball in the arc for a corner!!! It makes no difference....just don't cheat
Hammers ladies in great form as they were ten up at QPR at the final whistle. Now that's what I call a hammering!
Meanwhile Pompey Ladies played up winning 0-3 at Swindon.
Clapping at the Bridge
I would guess the 8th min for being #8
A moment's applause in the =eighth minute because Butch wore number right. His former teammate, Clive Walker applauding , announcing on what must be a difficult day for him.
Did you know that Butch and his three brothers were ALL briefly together at the same time at Chelsea. Also his father was a professional footballer and manager
Wilkins was a gentleman
He was captain of United and England and lost both armbands to Robbo....accepted it with no problem
He also said in an interview something that I think everyone should do..... He said he'd never retire from international football.
I don't think players should retire. If they don't get picked...so be it. Always be available
Remember Clive Walker well
It's 1-1 in the Madrid Derby in the second half.
Ronaldo scores in his 10th straight match
My favorite Butch Wilkins moment was that lovely goal he scored against Belgium for England in Euro 1984.
Arna almost in!!
Oh - Arnautovic had a chance there from Masuaku's ball. Should have hit it on the full volley!
Just watched it this morning
My favorite was his curling effort for United in the 83 Cup Final
Arnautovic has a shot blocked by Cahill for a corner. The Coyote heads wide from the corner.
I also love a match on Match of the Week on ITV on Sunday afternoon
He had something to do with a goal but the camera missed the ball going into the net. They showed the replay... it was of Butch falling in the mud and wiping his eye..... all in slow motion
Agreed with both statements about Butch.A shame there are not more like him. Surely four brothers on the same team at the same time, albeit the youth team is surely a record of some sort.
Great job by United for the comeback but didn't really need to celebrate so much.....STILL 13 POINTS BEHIND!!
I think that was his last season with Chelsea when they were relegated in '79. Think it was vs newly promoted Bolton when they came from three down to win 4-3.
I'm thinking the celebration was due to the fact that it was a Manc Derby. Those are important regardless of the league positions.
Can you name Butch's three brothers that were Chelsea teammates in the youth team. One should be automatic, but the other two will be more tricky.
Oh - that effort from Willian could have gone anywhere!
Willian has a shot take wicked deflection for a corner.
No idea
Azpi heads over from the corner.
One of them was a blond that played in the first team with him and moved to the Bees around the time Butch left for United.
Half the way through this first half and the Hammers will be happy with their effort here. A point would be very serviceable.
My GBB Alvaro Morata has the ball in the net at the Shed End but it's called back for offside.
Morata has a goal disallowed for offside off a nice pass from Hazard off a great team move.
Morata offside as he places the ball in the net
Kane wanted Spurs second goal yesterday
He says he touched Erickson's free kick
It has been given got Eric but Kane wants it and MOTD agrees with him
Sorry. This brother played in the Chelsea first team as a fullback from 1972-1982. Then spent two seasons with the Bees, then retired.
Mr. Wilkins
I'm guessing you're calling uncle even though it's a father and his four sons.
Oh - Hazard nearly in there. A goal seems to be coming for the Blues.
Uncle
I am saying they are all Mr Wilkins
Sorry, MUR - that's a great question but you've stumped me as well.
I am off to Saratoga
Hope to be back later
TTFN
The Wilkins footballing family:
Butch- We know about him.
George (father)- Started his career with the Bees then had spells at Bradford P.A. , Forest and finished with three matches for Leeds. Managed Hayes three different spells.
Graham - Made his first team debut as a fullback around the same time Butch made his . Made 137 appearances in ten years then played two season for the nearby Bees as did his dad.
Dean-Never made a first team appearance for Chelsea. Failed to make it at QPR. Primarily known for playing in the lower divisions for the Seagulls from the late 80s to mid 90s
Steve- Probably the least successful brother. Followed more dad's footsteps. A solitary appearance for the Bees then played for Hayes and Hendon.
GOAL! The goal finally comes. A jammy one from Azpi.
GOAL !! AZPI GIVES CHELSEA THE LEAD.
Wow - that's quite a family heritage. There might be a documentary or book in the subject. I read one about the Summerbees a while back - fascinating!
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