The Sunday Crunch
posted by The Blue Devil @ 8:17 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!
Sunday, September 23, 2018
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
- Saturday, Saturday, Saturday...is Football Day!
- Bielsa Rhapsody!
- The Champions League Begins!
- Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 5 Update
- (Not So) Super Sunday
- Premiership Football is Back!
- UEFA Nation's League Round-up
- England Begin their Nation's League Campaign
- The UEFA Nations League - What the Hell is It?
- Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 4 Update
247 Comments:
Good morning, mate. Up and ready to join you for a crunchy Sunday.
Morning, MUR - I'm crunching away on my brekkies - welcome!
Amid all the gushing adjectives swirling around Liverpool and Manchester City, Chelsea have been quietly going about their business in an impressive fashion, swatting aside opponents for fun. This is their best start to a Premier League season since under Carlo Ancelotti in 2010.
Key to any hopes of a West Ham upset will be Marko Arnautovic, the West Ham forward who has been at the heart of just about everything positive this campaign. It’s also another opportunity for the destructive duo, Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko, to wreak havoc.
Thanks, mate. Got a couple of not so crunchy donuts with the morning cuppa.
Teams lining up in the tunnel now:
West Ham United: Fabianski; Zabaleta, Balbuena, Diop, Masuaku; Rice, Obiang, Noble; Yarmolenko, Antonio, Felipe Anderson
Subs: Adrian, Cresswell, Fredericks, Ogbonna, Sanchez, Snodgrass, Lucas Perez
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Rudiger, Alonso; Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic; Willian, Giroud, Hazard
Subs: Caballero, Cahill, Zappacosta, Moses, Fabregas, Barkley, Morata
Referee: Mike Dean
Bubbles being blown now at the London Stadium, or Upton Park, as I like to call it.
I almost pulled into a donut shop on the drive back from Buffalo late last night. Hope you're enjoying the brekkies.
Thanks, mate. They're the Wal-Mart donuts.
The big showdown is the late one Saturday as Chelsea hosts Liverpool. We'll find who's the real deal.
They're off from a bubbly London Stadium
And we're away in the London Derby this morning.
Jon Champion and David Prutton on the mics.
Chelsea already clicking through the gears. I thought Hazard might have got a free kick there, but Mike Dean thought not.
Will you be around for that big match on Saturday?
Yeah - I should be. I think that Kate will be driving back from Virginia on Saturday evening.
Olly offside off a counter led by Kovacic off a Hammers counter. A fast start to this match
Yeah - both sides going for it early doors.
If Chelsea win then two teams will start this season with half a dozen wins for the first time in English top flight history. It can't be seven since the top two meet on Saturday
Promising Hammers attack ends with Zaba uncharacteristically running the ball out of play
Valbuena miss kicks a pass from Azpi for a Chelsea corner.
Olly volleys straight to Flappy off the corner. Both former Gunners, but at different times?
Long range powerful effort from Rudiger held by Flappy.
Hazard straight to Flappy as Chelsea are asserting their dominance
Willian wins a corner off yet another Chelsea attack.
Azpi wins another Chelsea corner.
Wayward header from Kante off a cross from MArcos Alonso as he was set free down the left by Kovacic.
Hazard really proving a handful. I wonder why he's blossomed again under Sarri's leadership.
A moment's applause that puts everything into perspective as a fifteen year old Hammers fan passed away after a battle with brain cancer. That's the reason for the moment's applause in the fifteenth minute
Welcome back, mate. I think Hazard does better with more attacking formations such as the current Chelsea one.May be trying to impress the new manager as well.
The fourth official, Stuart Atwell nit feeling Sarri as he shares a laugh with the Chelsea manager.
Felipe Anderson wins a corner on a Hammers counter.
Nice run by the Brazilian Felipe Anderson there. Best chance the Hammers have had so far. Sideshow clears for a corner.
Horrific corner from Anderson cleared then his return cross headed away then volleyed well wide by Noble.
Sure you are looking forward to Kate arriving home. Please send her our best.
Zaba fouls Kovacic near the touchline.
A Brazi clash as Anderson fouls Willian
Hammers fail to cl;ear the free kick from Willian and Kovacic has a shot blocked for a Chelsea corner.
Valbuena doing an imitation of Yours Truly as a clearance straight up into the air then eventually gets it right.
OH!!!! A great chance for the Hammers . Anderson showed Azpi a clean pair of heels and puts through Antonio who Hammers it high and wide with just the keeper to beat
BLOODY HELL! How did Antonio miss that one from a yard out? Great from work Yamalenko to set up Antonio. Couldn't tell whether it cannoned off the post or went across the box.
Hazard goes on a solo run and falls down in the D. The Dean of officials waves play on.
I am looking forward to Kate's return. It's been a bit lonely rattling around the place on my own.
West Ham have been better than I'd expected so far.
Arnautovic in the stands injured. Good to see him closely watching proceedings instead of playing on his cell phone. Hammers doing well considering his absence.
Happy for you, mate. Know how you feel.
Leeds have two challenging fixtures heading into the October break. At Hillsborough Friday then eight days later the Bees, who dropped down to 7th , visit ER for an early Saturday kickoff.
Well, we've got to win those if we're going to be challengers this season. The good news is that we'll start to get some of our starters back after the October international break.
No stoppage time to come?!
Agreed, mate. It should be a really competitive season . Leeds top ahead of the Teesiders on goal difference. The Baggies up to third with the Evil Blades fourth and Wigan surprisingly fifth followed by Lamps lads in sixth.Only two points between Leeds and the sixth placed Rams. Talk about a really tight race!
Correct, Bob. That seems to be the case. Makes sense since there haven't been any real stoppages.
Kante with a header not too far off from a cross by Willian.
Oh - Kante not too far away from opening the scoring with that header. Lacked a little conviction in the end and trickled wide.
Neen a decent half despite it being 0-0
It's 0-0 at the end of a decent half.
And there it is - no stoppage time and not a lot of incidents. 0-0 at the interval and WH will be the happier side.
The second half is underway from The London Stadium.
Back on for the second half now.
A draw would move Chelsea down to third place and keep the Hammers one place above the drop zone,but two points clear.
West Ham back at it, as they finished.
We will find out if Liverpool is the real deal. Face Chelsea at SB in the late one on Saturday and host Citeh in a fortnight. What a schedule!
Kante with his requisite booking with a foul from behind on Anderson.
Yeah, they would basically have the same record as Citeh, who had the one draw against Wolves.
The closest the Hammers have come to scoring. Jamalnko got the ball just outside the box , cut inside then shot inches over.
We could see a massive change in the PPP standings depending upon those results.
Anderson booked for a foul on compatriot, Willian midway between the corner flag and the box.
Could have been a penalty there for the grappling on Rudiger.
Nice one touch Hammers passing down the left and the ball goes into the box. Jamalenko then with a jammy fall in front of Sideshow Bob that will definitely not impress Bob.
The header from sideshow Bob off a corner from compatriot, Willian will not impress Bob either.
Antonio collects a long clearance then tries to beat Rudiger for pace and fails.
Just was chatting with Kate, who's on a boat in the Chesapeake. She says "hi."
Sounds like fun. Please tell her I say hello.
Chelsea appear to be growing more frustrated with affairs, as the West Ham brigade stands firm.
Time for some changes as this match has gone a bit flat.
Sorry to say I won't be around for Pool vs Citeh in a fortnight because I will be up in San Marcos.I was in January for the same fixture as well. Just a coincidence.
There's a change as Olly is replaced by Morata and the Hammers with a change as well as Lucas Perez is on for Antonio,.
It's a rare cameo for my former GBB Alvaro Morata, who comes on for the very pissed off looking Ollie Giroud. And he nearly scores straight away!
Hazard put through by Willian and Flappy with a close range block as the Hammers clear then a close range block by Flappy from Morata from point blank range.
Flappy the worse for wear for his endeavors.
Jon Champion says Flappy is polaxed. Not exactly the champion of puns.
Now Rudiger hobbling . Cahill should be the natural replacement . Would be his first Prem appearance of the season.
Flappy really kept his side in it there.
Now Rudiger has a problem; Gary Cahill getting readied.
There's that change.
Still 0-0 between the East End Boys and West End Boys.
Decent cross over but Hazard isn't really the kind of player you want on the end of those sorts of chances.
Zaba challenges Hazard for a header, resulting in a Chelsea corner.
It's not a Premiership day if there isn't an LUFC component. Here's comes Snoddy.
Bob should be none too pleased as Snoddy is on for Anderson. One substitution remaining for each side.
Not a Noble challenge as he and Kovacic are down off a challenge. Chelsea free kick just outside the Hammers box. Agreed with David Prutton that it seemed a 50-50 challenge.
Free kick driven through the wall by Sideshow Bob and easily saved by Flappy.
Oh - what a sitter missed by Yarmolenko!
OH!!!! A jammy mess of a miss as Jammy lenko had a free off a cross from two yards out and headed wide.
That might have wrapped it up for the Hammers. Terrible miss!
The final roll of the dice from Sarri as Barkley on for Kovacic . Will Sarri be sorry?
Agreed . A jammy mess of a miss.
Willian offside off a pass from compatriot, Jorginho.
Willian goes past Zaba down the left, beating him for pace then his pass blasted over by Kante.
Now it's Kante who blows a chance. Granted that was a bit more difficult. Wouldn't really want him on the end of that chance.
Willian wins a corner off of Zaba.
Corner from Willan is catching practice for Flappy.
Willian fires a corner straight into Flappy's arms. He's been poor today. Wonder what's happened to him this season?
West Ham may have turned a corner with that big win against Everton last weekend. They look nothing like the hapless side that lost their first four matches.
Mark Noble off and Sanchez on for a late run out.
The final roll of the dice from Manny Pelligrini. A Noble change as Carlos Sanchez, A Colombian , who had a thuggish World Cup, come on.
Agreed about the Hammers. They look much improved.
Kante offside off a pass from Hazard off a long possession.
Hammers aiming to avoid losing their first three home matches of the season for the first time ever.
Oh - good save, Flappy from a teasing effort from Barkley.
A quartet of stoppage time minutes as Flappy turns around a shot from Barkley
A few more minutes for chances now in stoppage. It would probably be unfair on either side to lose this one now.
Oh - Willian nearly in there at an acute angle.
Willian put through , but shoots well wide from a difficult angle.
Chelski finishing the stronger of the two.
Snoddy picks up a yellow from Mike Dean as he chops Willian. Late free kick chance now.
Snoddy booked for a trip on Willian . Free kick near the corner flag.,
Free kick acrobatically by Jammy.
Willian plays Hazard in but he chooses to shoot straight at Flappy.
Then straight to Flappy from Hazard.
it finishes 0-0, which is a fair result. Only pool,have a perfect record. Chelsea down to third with Citeh up to second. Hammers remain fourth from bottom , but now two points clear of the drop zone.
And that's it - it ends 0-0. Chelsea will drop to third, albeit still level on points with Citeh who have a better GD.
West Ham get a valuable point. They're still perilously perched just about relegation, two points ahead of Newcastle.
Next up is Everton's visit to the Emirates, with Theo Walcott returning to his old stomping grounds.
Teams getting ready in the tunnel at the Em now:
Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Monreal; Torreira, Xhaka; Ozil, Ramsey, Aubameyang; Lacazette.
Substitutes: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Elneny, Guendouzi, Iwobi, Welbeck.
Everton (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Kenny, Zouma, Keane, Digne; Gueye, Davies; Walcott, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin.
Substitutes: Stekelenburg, Holgate, Baines, Tosun, Schneiderlin, Bernard, Lookman.
Referee Jonathan Moss.
Back for the late one. A change in managers , but the Gunners should continue their excellent home record vs the Toffees.
They're off from The EM
Teams getting ready in the tunnel at the Em now:
Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Monreal; Torreira, Xhaka; Ozil, Ramsey, Aubameyang; Lacazette.
Substitutes: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Elneny, Guendouzi, Iwobi, Welbeck.
Everton (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Kenny, Zouma, Keane, Digne; Gueye, Davies; Walcott, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin.
Substitutes: Stekelenburg, Holgate, Baines, Tosun, Schneiderlin, Bernard, Lookman.
Referee Jonathan Moss.
Not sure why the Toffees are not wearing their traditional; colors. Blue shouldn't clash with red if sky blue and royal didn't
Sorry for the LOB hiccup there. Calvert Lewin nearly in there on goal. Cech did well.
Calvert-Lewin put through with just Cech to beat , but kept in check as his close range effort was repelled. SHould have given the Toffees the lead.
It was a nice through ball from Tom Davies as Bellerin kept Cal_Lew onside.
LOB hiccup? What was that, mate?
The Gunners win a corner.
Torreira making his first start for the Gunners. The Gooner should be pleased.
Gunners struggling at the back and concede possession when a clearance was in order. Lucky to get away with that.
Everton have really come out of the traps well here.
Big Dunc on the Toffees bench
Their high press is causing the Gunners defense all sorts of problems.
Arsenal looking really rattled at the back by this Everton start. Emirates faithful expressing their frustration.
Good chance there for Nacho. He scuffed his shot and Pickers saved it.
Great save by Pickford from Nacho off the Gunners best possession of the match. Great cross from Bellerin laid off by the 44th President as Nacho had the close range volley saved.,
Siggy feeling sicky off a challenge from Torreira.
a booking for the Uruguayan for that challenge.
Lucas Torreira is booked for literally biting Sigurdsson’s ankles.
An interesting problem for you to solve. The bottom two are Evil Neil's lads and the Toon. Both tied on points , goal difference and goals scored, and tied head to head. The Prem Puts Evil Neil's side second from bottom due to alphabetical order.How does that work for those of us who picked Evil Neil to be bottom?
I suppose that I have to go with the official Premier League table and only award a point for those who picked Cardiff for bottom.
Sorry Evil Neil ahead of the Terriers due to alphabetical order, not the Toon. Also tied head to head.
Sorry, I meant three points for correct prediction but not quite right order. Interesting conundrum, though.
Makes sense unless you want to go with Fair Play, which is not an LOB favorite.
Everton have had the better of this one so far. I suspect that there is some cursing going on in Alexandria. I'll check in gently with Gooner at half-time.
Oh - Richarlison did well to spin his man and have a go.
Lots of twists turns always occur in a Prem season. Sure that is a temporary conundrum.
Cech palms around a shot from Richarlison for a corner then Cech fists away for another corner. Catches the cross of the next corner.
I would imagine so. I don't know how they would sort that out if say the 17th and 18th side were tied on all of those metrics and one side had to go down.
A draw moves the Gunners up to sixth. They would need a five goal win to move ahead of their North London rivals to fifth. The Toffees would remain 11th as they are starting off the season as draw specialists.
I think the fairest solution would be a playoff at a neutral venue.. Sure would make it exciting.
That would be a cracker!
Diane picks up a yellow for a cynical nibble on Aubama.
Mustafi, as usual, concedes a set piece opportunityt to the Toffees. The Gunners counter and Digne booked for digging in to the 44th President to stop a Gunners counter.
Still nary a goal to be scored today.Seems a good bet that you will have lunch before we witness a goal.
Oh - Richarlison in again and curls one that just whistles by the post. He's getting closer.
Richarlison curls an effort wide.
I think you're right. Fortunately, I've got a lovely lunch planned. I was up at an Asian supermarket yesterday, so I picked up a nice udon noodle dish for lunch today.
Mustafi coughs up possession then Socrates booked for a linebacker style block on Theo just outside the Gunners box.
Digne rifles a free kick and Cech tips over.
Cech does well to tip over the free kick from Digne.
Oh - nearly a quick break through Ozil to Ramsey. Just didn't come off.
A gunners chance as Ozil was through and his pass attempted for Ramsey was short and intercepted by Michael Keane.
As a historian , would you say that Socrates was anything but philosophical with the challenge that resulted in a booking?
Graham Stuart has been into the sides since playing for the Toffees.
The Gunners win a free kick off a striker's challenge from Richarlison.
Oh - Theo was in for a hero moment, but Cech did really well off his line.
OH!!!! Theo put through, but kept in check with a great block by the Gunners keeper while Gana was down injured for the Toffees. Theo holding his eyes.
LOL! I think you've got Sokratis pegged. And he's getting the hook now. Rob Holding on for him.
Socrates off injured from that less than philosophical challenge and his replacement will be holding down the fort.
Play resumes after that stoppage. Gunners attacking, but can't get a shot off.
Cheers, mate. Thought you would appreciate that
Oh - Aubama hung up a speculative cross that came off the angle!
The latest while reading Lacazette . I read that the Gunners were never Gana get a shot off.
Always enjoy a good historical pun.
The 44th President wins a corner a minute after nearly scoring.
Lacazette gets a cheap one and Arsenal can swing a free kick in late on in the half.
Cheers. I will try another if that opportunity arises.
Cech saves well from Richarlison again - he is a threat.
OH!!! Great Toffees counter and Theo puts through Richarlison and his shot is tipped over by Cech
A trio of stoppage time minutes.
Play stopped as Digne is down injured, or so he says.
Jon Moss blows the halftime whistle and 0-0 at the end of an eventful half.
The second half is underway from The EM.
Digne wins a corner off Bellerin
Corner headed away by the first man.
Back with my lunch. I'm officially goal starved, so I thought I'd at least have a nibble.
Theo clears for a Gunners corner.
Oh - Ramsey tried a first time shot from the corner. Nearly found it's way in.
Ramsey with a volley straight to Pickford off the corner that looked like something from the training ground
Welcome back. Hope it's a good lunch. I'm starved too, that is goal starved.
It's a lovely bowl of udon noodles, one of my favorites from my time in Japan.
Theo heads straight to Cech off a great cross. It all started with a tackle won by SIggy off the high press.
Seems like a productive trip to the Asia Mart. Digne in , mate.
Arsenal are wilting under this Everton pressure. They've got plenty of skill in the side but no bottle at all.
Big shout for a penalty there - Jon Moss not impressed.
Gunners calling for a spot kick for handball.A rolling stone is not gathering any of this Moss. .
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