The Prem is Back!
posted by The Blue Devil @ 7:25 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, April 03, 2021
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
- Another Big Day for England!
- England Continue Their World Cup Quest
- More International Footie
- Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 30 Update
- Qualifiers today
- Another name from childhood has gone.... Frank Wor...
- A Bit of the Cup and a Bit of the Prem
- FA Cup Quarterfinal Saturday
- Yer wot, ref?
- Friday Night Cracker!
547 Comments:
Morning, boys! Easter is upon us, the international break is in the rear-view mirror and the players of Chelsea and West Brom get the ball rolling as the Premier League rounds the final bend and enters the home stretch this season.
The team news out of the Bridge:
Chelsea: Mendy, Alonso, Silva, Zouma, Azpilicueta, James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Pulisic, Werner, Ziyech
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Rudiger, Christensen, Giroud, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Chilwell, Gilmour, Havertz
West Brom: Johnstone, Furlong, Bartley, Ajayi, Townsend, O’Shea, Yokuslu, Phillips, Maitland-Niles, Pereira, Diagne
Subs: Button, Robson-Kanu, Robinson, Livermore, Diangana, Ivanovic, Peltier, Snodgrass, Grant
The teams are out on the pitch but of course NBC are intent on selling us another Chalupa before kick-off.
We're away at the Bridge, then. I'm hoping that Chelsea can give the Baggies a right stuffing today.
Good to see Pulisic back in the line-up for Tommy Tuchel. But what on earth just Timo Werner have to do to spend some time on the bench.
Nice ball in from Pulisic there but unfortunately for the Blues, Ollie Giroud is in the stands today.
Early chance for the Baggies from a defensive error. Perreira with a speculative effort that Mendy caught easily.
Good morning , Bob . Here top join you for the return of Premier League Footie
And another defensive error! Perreira runs through from a pick-up and Thiago is forced to foul him. Early yellow card.
Thiago Silva fouls Perreira in the D. Great chance for the Baggies
Poor free kick from Perreira into the wall and a Chelsea break comes to nothing
Perreira curls one into the wall and Chelsea try to break again through Ziyech.
More wayward passing from Thiago and TT has some indigestion early on here.
WBA doing the high press well here as Chelsea struggle to play it out of the back. They're working hard.
Furlong wins a corner now. This is a good start from the Midlanders.
I will only be around for this match today because Elizabeth and I need to meet with her sister today to tend to a matter regarding their dad.
Morning, David - great to have you on board today after the interminable international break.
I remember well; there are always some affairs to tend to after a death in the family. I hope that the day goes well.
Thanks, Bob. Glad to join you. Strange as this sounds, the break helped because it gave me a chance to help Elizabeth get the house ready to sell. Still glad to be back for the return of Prem footie
Thanks, Bob. I will be around for all the matches tomorrow, but will be leaving around half time of United vs the Seagulls because we will be going for the second dose of the vaccine
Oh - great ball in from Reece James but Timo Werner couldn't find any contact. That's my Golden Boot Boy for you! ;-)
Great cross from Reese James , but another miscue from Werner in front of goal as there was a key one for Germany v North Macedonia on Wednesday
Well done, mate - my second jab is on Friday.
Wishing Leeds well in the Yorkshire Derby today and what in the Heck for the bottom club on his return to ER. Make sure has a miserable return
Werner was caught as he tried to cross and he's down for the count.
Thanks, Bob. I twill be a great feeling as it will be for you. Has Kate been vaccinated?
Only one Championship and only one L2 match today. All the other Football League matches were played yesterday with it being Good Friday
Thanks, mate - I'm hoping that we can do the double over them and put another nail in their coffin today. No love lost between the sides.
Great cross from Reese James and a superb defensive header from Darnell Furlong prevented a great Chelsea chance
Kate's got her first shot scheduled for Tuesday morning.
I read about Leeds clinching safety today. They're already safe even though they haven't reached forty points. I don't see the Seagulls and Toon both reaching 40 points. Yorkshire bragging rights and putting a nail in the Evil Blades coffin would be the main motivation for winning today
John O'Shea is down for treatment now with Chelsea old boy Ivanovic warming up.
Kovacic with a shot blocked by Kyle Bartley for a corner
That's probably true but my goal for the side at the beginning of the season was 40 points. It would be great to reach that goal in early April.
Dara O'Shea down for the second time and old man Ivanovic about to come on for him
That change is now being made
O'Shea is having to come off and Ivanovic trots on. If there was a home crowd in today, he might have got a smattering of polite applause, but not today.
Agreed, Bob. It will be great seeing Leeds getting 40 points at this stage. I think 50 is a challenging , but realistic goal this season and then steady improvement each season
LOL! I've just noticed that WBA's shirt sponsors are "Ideal Boilers." Not exactly AIG, are they?
Sampdoria takes a surprise lead at AC Milan Sampdoria went down to ten men a couple of minutes after that
That's hilarious. They're a small club compared to when we were high school students
It is challenging as the April schedule is a bit frightening with us having to play you lot, Liverpool, Man City and Spurs in quick succession. But that should be fun - you never know.
GOAL! Great strike from Alonso off the post and Pulisic was Johnny on the Spot to tap home.
Chelsea 1-0 up!
GOAL !!! PULISIC GIVES CHELSEA THE LEAD.CURLING FREE KICK FROM MARCOS ALONSO FINGER TIPPED ON TO THE POST BY SAM JOHNSTONE AND PULISIC EASILY PUT AWAY THE REBOUND
Well, well, well, what's happened here. Chelsea have pressed the self-destruct button. A bad giveaway, Thiago has dived in and he's off!
Chelsea down to ten men!
WOW! CHELSEA DOWN TO TEN MEN AS THIGAO SILVA IS OFF FOR RECEIVING A SECOND YELLOW FOR A NASTY FOUL ON YOKUGLU IN THE D. What was he thinking?
Morning all
I have been out and about so far this morning. I am here now
1-0 but down to ten!
And now the Baggies have a chance from the free kick....
Morning, Dave - this has been a quite absorbing one.
Free kick from Perreira well over
Rubbish shot by Townsend well over the bar.
Good morning, Dave. Welcome
Terriers take a surprise lead vs the Bees
Do you think a change has to be made.... Chelsea won't be pressured much....still
It will be interesting to see how Tommy Tuchel reshuffles the pack now. I wouldn't do a thing.
But no - TT is going with the conservative move, sacrificing Ziyech for another defender Christiansen.
Usually, I am always in the Any Team Playing Chelsea corner but I don't want Liverpool to have a sniff of the top four
Full round of matches in the Football League yesterday because it was Good Friday. Just one Championship match and one L2 match today
I agree with you - Chelsea have just been creating their own problems. If they knock it off playing stupid balls in the back, WBA won't create much on their own.
What about Werner's miss for Germany?
Golden Boot indeed!
I was thinking despite playing the second from bottom team Tuchel will play defensively as he usually does with eleven, let alone ten men
Chelsea break through Werner who goes down looking for a penalty. Nothing doing. Meanwhile Ivanovic has done his hammy. It's all happening here!
That miss from Werner was atrocious. You would have put that one away with your eyes shut
I have all the luck, Dave. It seemed obvious to me - red hot striker on the Continent making a big move to a title contender clubs. What could go wrong? Well, he's been stinking it up all season.
Pompey and Cambridge both got home wins... Cambridge top of the lot... Pompey in fifth. All of Pompey's remaining matches are teams in the bottom 12 and includes all of the bottom four
Fingers crossed!
The sub subbed as Ivanovic goes off injured just a few minutes after coming on. AN attacking change as he's replaced by a striker, Cally Robinson
Definitely a good chance for Pompey. You will also be hoping for slip ups from the Tigers, Posh ,and Black Cats. That sounds like a circus act
Now it's Diagne throwing himself to the ground looking for a penalty. Nothing doing once again.
It is crazy about Germany and WCQs....they have now only lost THREE matches!!! In 1985 and of course in 2001....the first two times they lost....they made the World Cup Final!!
Low's last three matches in tourneys.... World Cup Finals-Lost to S. Korea 0-2, Nations League-Lost 0-6 to Spain, WCQs-Lost 1-2 to North Macedonia
I like that move from Fat Sam. The reality is that it doesn't matter whether West Brom lose 0-1 or 0-15. They need points and preferably three points. They're playing against ten men now so they need to throw everything they've got at the Blues.
I don't know if either of you saw the bizarre error from the Spanish keeper vs Kosovo. Dave will refer to it as modern footie. Inn a moment of madness the keeper thought he was Maradonna and wen on a solo run, before being tackled 35 yards from goal. The player then scored with a first time superb chip from 35 yards out in an empty net
I wouldn't fancy this German side making the final in 2022, but you never know. They're in a very difficult group, so qualifying is going to be a job in itself.
Agreed, Bob. I think the Baggies may be sensing a chance of getting something out of this. They have to attack because draws won't help them at this point
Who was playing in goal for Spain, David?
Reese James twists and turns then his shot comes off of Johnstone for a corner. The corner from Reese James headed wide by Zouma
Zouma got his head to that corner and might have done better. Chelsea still have plenty of weapons, as we saw when we played them.
Chelsea break....James with a shot blocked
no idea...I don't think it is De Gea
The keeper for Spain was Unai Simon of Athletic Bilbao. Wasn't that the club where Chelsea signed a Kepa?
Oh - Chelsea break again and Reece James is played in. His fierce shot is parried away by Johnstone.
Another free header now from the corner. Christiansen should have done better!
I saw that goal.... crazy goalkeeping
I think Germany will qualify even though they may have to do it via the playoffs., That group wide open. Germany third, behind North Macedonia on goal difference and three points behind Armenia. Not sure if Armenia and North Macedonia can keep up the pace throughout the qualifiers
GOAL! WBA are level right on the stroke of half-time. Route 1 stuff from the keeper and Perreira just lobbed it over Mendy.
1-1!
THE BAGGIES TIE IT UP!!
Good news for Liverpool... I guess Chelsea struggling .... aint bad!
Cool finish
GOAL !!!! SCORED FROM A ROAD CALLED ROUTE ONE! LONG CLEARANCE FROM JOHNSTONE HORRIBLE MISJUDGED BY THE CHELSEA DEFENSE AND A SUPER B CHIP FROM PERREIRA BEAT MENDY
Great effort... off the top of the bar
OH! Maty Phillips nearly bagged the baggies a lead as he turned then his superb curler came off the corner of post and bar
Oh - now Matty Phillips has bent onto the bar! It that had gone in, the bowling ball really would be among the skittles.
WOW.... 2-1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I do love Chelsea sucking!!!
Oh my word - Perreira has his brace! Chelsea are all over the place!
1-2!
WOW ! PERREIRA AT THE DOUBLE AS HE GIVES THE BAGGIES A 1- 2 LEAD. NICE FINISH
HT... what a shame... Baggies could have scored more!!
Poor defensive header and N'Diaye found Robinson , who fooled two Chelsea defenders then twisted and turned to beat Mendy. Baggies lead 1-2 at the half
I have to give it to Fat Sam. When Ivanovic had to come off, he could have easily gone with another defender. Instead he threw on Cally Robinson who just set up Perreira for that one.
The Baggies are in dreamland as they go in for the half-time break.
Milan ties it up vs ten man Sampdoria as that match enters stoppage time
Carlisle takes the lead at relegation threatened Southend on Sea in L2. Carlisle up to tenth place
The Baggies should not change the way they are playing because they have the lead! Play the way you were playing and score more
This match has not be a pass-laden bore fest
I agree, Dave - for once I've been impressed by Fat Sam's tactics. Why not throw caution to the wind. They need a win!
Pulisic off for Mount
Werner must have been in the loo and late out!
Off we go
Chelsea's first half performance didn't Tuchel Thomas's fancy and he's made a substitution as Pulisic has been mounted off the pitch. Second half underway
We're back on for the second half. Can the Baggies pull this one out? It should be fascinating to watch.
Both teams with one substitution remaining. That should avoid the rash of stoppage time changes
I really hope WBA go after Chelsea this half.... I feel they won't
Milan vs Sampdoria finished 1-1. A great chance for their city rivals , Inter, to increase their lead at the top of Serie A
way-hay David!!
Typical nonsense from Tommy Tuchel - Pulisic was probably Chelsea's most dangerous player in the first half. Why not take off a player like Jorginho who has done nowt.
I agree, Dave. Why not go after them. The Baggies need wins, not draws and they're playing against ten men
Thought you would like that, Dave. We all do.
Timo Werner must have his own bathroom curse.
was surprised with Pulisic coming off too. I would take Jorginho off as Chelsea don't need two holding midfield players
Connor Townsend down off a challenge with Reese James. Seems to be okay
West Brom are visibly growing in confidence. They look dangerous every time they break.
Werner must be using the bathroom frequently since joining Chelsea because he sure has been cursed since joining them
Off the post from Chelsea.... Baggies are going to blow this
Oh - how did that not sneak in for Chelsea! Off the bar!
It was blocked on the line...great defending there
This one feels like a Leeds match now!
OH! Nearly Desmond. Cross from Reese James poorly tipped away by Johnstone then a volley from Marcos Alonso off Ajayi off the post then cleared for a Chelsea corner
Now Chelsea has a free kick just outside the Baggies box
Fat Sam with his feet up having a good chomp on some gum, as usual.
Bees equalize vs the Terriers
Free kick mounted had a bit too much curl and goes off the side netting
Oh - now Zouma has a chance from the corner. Volleys it well over.
Kovacic receives a pass then turns and a shot from 25 yards out is several yards wide. Corner volleyed over by Zouma
Werner just looks hopelessly out of form. I'm surprised that Giroud hasn't replaced him yet.
Perreira through but shoots right at Mendy as it's beaten away
Oh - Perreira was in for his hat-trick but Mendy saved well with his legs.
I'm surprised Tuchel didn't start Olly. If he makes that change that will be his final roll of the dice
GOAL! Oh what a goals from the Baggies! Cally Robinson with a corker!
1-3!
THREE ONE!!!
Love TT being knocked down a few pegs.....big Arsenal fan this afternoon.... please don't have Liverpool have a sniff
Lovely cross in from Maitland-Niles and a controlled side footed volley from Robinson. Superb!
GOAL !!! SURPERB FINISH BY CALLY ROBINSON ON THE BREAK GIVES THE BAGGIES A 1-3 LEAD. NICE ONETOUCH PASSING THEN A SUPERB CROSS FROM DARNELL FURLONG WAS SUPERBLY PUT AWAY WITH A POWERFUL FINISH IN THE UPPER 90 BY ROBINSON
This doesn't Tuchel Tommy's fancy based on his grimace
Kovacic with his requisite booking for a typically poor challenge
Powerful cross from Marcos Alonso beaten away by Johnstone then cleared for a Chelsea corner
Alonso fizzes a cross in and Johnstone decides to punch away. Not sure why goalkeepers don't catch those.
West Brom are 1-4 up! Outrageous! Diagne with the latest and Chelsea are making them look like Bayern!
Baggies break off the Chelsea corner.
AND GOAL!!! DIAGNE GIVES THE BAGGIES A SURPRISE 1-4 LEAD
Struth... I leave the room for 30 seconds and it is FOUR
textbook break and it culminated in Connor Townsend laid it back for Perreria to pick out Diagne for a great finish
Here's how crazy this match is - the Baggies have only won three matches all season before today. This will be their fourth.
Chelsea trying to mount a comeback as his shot was blocked for a corner. Should have scored
Another goal!!
GOAL! The goalfest continues, with Mount tapping home a second goal for the Blues. Werner with a nice set-up.
2-4!
GOAL !!! COMEBACK NOW MOUNTED. LONG BALL PLAYED WIDE LEFT TO MARCOS ALONSO , WHO PASSED IN THE BOX TO WERNER, WHO DUMMIED A DEFENDER THEN LAID IT OFF FOR AN EASILY MOUNTED TAP IN TO MAKE IT 2-4
Surely they can't come back!
No one needs coffee this morning, with this match one. What a ding dong match it's been!
Chelsea make their last change
That's the right move to make - the ineffectual Jorginho off and Kai Havertz on for additional firepower.
The final roll of the dice from Tommy Tuchel and a must needed attacking one as Kai Havertz on for Jorginho
Chelsea playing around at the back.... looking so edgy
Commentators want the Shop Shut!! WHY? Score another two!
I agree, Dave - it feels like there are more goals in this one. And why not?
The score now is 2-4 who do we appreciate. Schlemeel Chelsea , positives incorporated from the Baggies
Oh - Zouma with another gilt-edged chance! Put it over the bar at the backpost!
OH! Corner from Reese James headed on by Werner and well over by Zouma at the far post
Matty Phillips wins a corner off of Zouma off a pass from Diagne , who superbly tackled Kovacic
Corner headed well over as Mendy was beaten to the ball
Leeds up next....they will play like this as well.....and then..... it will be City passing and passing and passing
Shame
This is the type of game the Prem used to have
Oh - my GBB was nearly in there from that Kovacic through ball. Just couldn't get to it and the goal drought continues.
Nice through ball from Kovacic intended for Werner as Johnstone superbly rushed out to paw it away
Let's hope the Leeds match lives up to this one. It's been thrilling.
Surely Big Sam can't do it again?
They are now seven points from safety
With this score, West Ham can over take Chelsea with a win at Molineux on Monday
Spurs could overtake Chelsea tomorrow with a win at SJP
Liverpool could move within two points
I'll be going on walkies before the Leeds match. I do like to listen to all the build up on 5Live on the walk
So David, I read that you might be moving! What is the deal?
We're going to put our house up for sale and move in to the house where my in-law's lived. After that we will be looking to move to the Southwest corner of N.C. near the Georgia border. If we move there we will be about four hours from Charlotte and two and a half hours from Atlanta. We researched and picked that area for it's climate and scenery
The final roll of the dice from Fat Sam and pretty much shutting up shop as Liverwurst on for Matty Phillips. Chelsea definitely looking like Liverwurst and the wurst they've played since Tommy Tuchel took over
WOW!!
FIVE!
LOVE IT
A Barber Shop Quartet of stoppage time minutes.
GOAL !!! THE BAGGIES TAKE A 2-5 LEAD
GOAL! Cally Robinson gets his brace and West Brom are improbably 2-5 up!
That is great. I love Charlotte area.. Such a lovely small city!
What happens with your pension?
Kathy and I have been talking about moving out of NYS because of how much the taxes are!! We were thinking about Charlotte but my pension would be taxed. Possibly Florida to move near Kathy's brother
We could get good money for our house!!
I'd take another seven-goal thriller next, of course 7-0 Leeds.
VAR checking for offside as Cally Robinson scored with a well placed clipped finish. It stands as it was a nice through ball from Diagne and great pass from Perreira
That's it - what a shocker!
That is it
FIVE TWO!! MORE OF THE SAME AGAIN IN THE NEXT MATCH PLEASE!!!
Then City will bore us to tears
It's over and the Baggies record a shock of a result , winning 2-5 at SB
That's it for me. I will be around for the matches tomorrow. Great chatting with everyone.
Enjoy the rest of the day.
CHEERS!
Next up - The Return of the Heck. Let's hope it's not a warm welcome for him.
The Leeds squad for today's match:
Meslier, Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Alioski, Phillips, Roberts, Dallas, Raphinha, Harrison, Lord Bamford.
Nice tribute for Peter Lorimer with our players wearing his name on their warm-ups.
Teams coming out at Elland Road now!
We're set to go then. Come on, you Whites!
I am back as they kick off.....COME ON LEEDS
Early free kick chance now with Raphinha to swing one in.
Raphinha goes for goal but fires well over. Just a sighter early on.
Heard a good interview on my walk with Jack Harrison
I didn't know he was in the United academy before he moved to the US at 14 years old. Joined NYFC and then City
Tyler Roberts favored today, despite having been sent home from Welsh duty for a curfew violation. Part of that is Matty Klich's Covid diagnosis and Rodrigo's continued injury problems.
Early yellow card for Lundstram there for a cynical one on Tyler.
I need a clean sheet from Leeds today!
I put in Coop and I chose Meslier instead of De Gea
Of course, I have Dallas and Phillips as well
Morning Chaps! I feel better already about the state of my barnet. I've been periodically trimming it in the mirror, but with a much better outcome than poor Bielsa did. It grows out Marcello.
Welcome Steve
Oh - the Blades press and Raphinha blocks one that could have easily gone in for an o.g. Fortunately, it's only a corner.
Morning Dave. The Family alright this weekend?
Nice wasted corner there... I still prefer that type of corner than a short one that eventually goes back to the keeper
Hiya, Steve - thanks for joining us for the proceedings. I hope that this one lives up to the early match.
Everyone is good thank you
Looking forward to our ham dinner tomorrow
Post a Comment
<< Home