Boxing Day in the Omicron Era
Jingle bells, ManYoo smells, Tottenham ran away, oh what fun it is to see Leeds win on Boxing Day - ay! But sadly not today, as three matches, including Leeds' visit to Anfield, has been postponed due to Covid. That's given us a chance for a Boxing Day lie in Alexandria and Steve and I are up and ready for the Arsenal match at Carrow Road.
Happy Boxing Day, boys - join me for the festive footie!
posted by The Blue Devil @ 9:13 AM
127 Comments:
Merry festivities to everybody! It’s a time for giving, and many of the nation’s footballers have been given the day off as the Covid crisis hits. It leaves us with four 3pm kick-offs in each of England’s top three divisions, and only three in the fourth.
Happy Boxing Day !!
Just read that Leeds Villa is off as well on Tuesday
Morning, Dave - I just reposted the image for this thread with a picture of Steve and me that Kate took this morning.
Not surprised that the match is off on Tuesday. I still think that teams should be forced to play or forfeit but we're really suffering an injury/Covid crisis right now. It might be a bit farcical.
We'll be watching the Arsenal match from Carrow Road. Here's the team news:
Norwich: Gunn, Aarons, Kabak, Gibson, Williams, Dowell, Gilmour, McLean, Placheta, Pukki, Sargent. Subs: Byram, Cantwell, Tzolis, Lees-Melou, Mumba, Giannoulis, McGovern, Idah.
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Lacazette. Subs: Patino, Leno, Smith Rowe, Pepe, Tavares, Pablo Mari, Sambi Lokonga, Elneny, Nketiah.
Referee: Graham Scott
Come on, the Gunners!
Can't wait to see it!
Great picture!!!
Shame about the shirts!
Of course, I need Spurs, Arsenal and West Ham all to drop points today
I have the Spurs/Palace match on
I guess I picked the wrong one
All the other matches have goals
City 1 up v Leic
Arsenal 1 up at Norwich
Sotton 1 up at West Ham
City two up!
Sala got the Gunner goal
I'm just back from a delicious eggs and biscuits brekkies. Really thrilled to see that Saka goal fizz in. Great Arsenal team goal.
City three up...I HATE THEM
Not happy to see that Soton have taken the lead against the Hammers at Upton Park. WH have to pull their fingers out.
I hate them, too. Bloody hell, Leicester - pull your fingers out.
Oh - Laca so close to a second there. Nodded it wide.
City FOUR UP
Bloody hell - Sterling has rattled in a fourth goal from the spot. City are rampant.
Kane gives Spurs the lead
nice finish
Two nil Spurs
Luca Mo set up the first, scores the second
STUNNING....a decent cross to head in
People are saying that the race for fourth is between Arsenal, Spurs, United and West Ham.... I don't think West Ham will stay on the pace.... I also think Chelsea are going to come back to the pack and I think it is a race for 3 and 4th
I think City are going to romp away with it
Harry Kane has fired Spurs into the lead against Palace. That suits me but Steve's not pleased.
Oh - and as I type Lucas Moura has added a second.
Zaha is off.... a second yellow for a stupid challenge. The first yellow was harsh
All he is doing is complaining
He just pushed him way
I think that's probably right - the top three have broken away, although Chelsea have faltered recently. Then there's that clump that you mentioned fighting for the fourth spot or the Europa spots.
Apparently, you are ignoring my comments
Really stupid yellow for Xhaka Khan there - no need for that.
Lucas Mo headed goal was Spurs first league goal scored off the noggin
No - I'm right here with you, mate. Just a bit behind at times because of the distractions in the house here. We've got a couple of dogs jumping about, breakfast doings and the like.
Really? That's odd - I would have thought that they would have had a goal from a corner off the noggin before now.
GOAL! Tierney adds a second for the Gunners right before half time with a clinical strike.
Zaha is always good for a silly red card. Bit temperamental, as you saw at OT. It works for me - I'm happy to see Spurs romping it.
Congrats Steve.
Ht at WHL2...Spurs 2-0 up
Over to the Olympic Stadium... HT there too
Did you see Desmond Tutu died today
There was a headline: Tutu Full Time
Just realized....United's "Boxing Day" fixture..... Newcastle!!!
What a great memories!!
I was at Old Trafford two years ago this very day!
Half-time scores around the country:
Manchester City 4-0 Leicester City
Norwich 0-2 Arsenal
Tottenham 2-0 Palace
West Ham 0-1 Southampton
Oldham 1-0 Scunthorpe
I'm happy with all of those apart from the WH-Soton.
You lot are playing tomorrow, right?
I did see that - bit of a tasteless headline, IMHO.
Another thing that annoys me about BLOODY PEP!!
Two penalties....let me be a genius and let two different players take the spot kicks
I totally agree with you about the headline but have they ever had taste? Class?
Back underway at WHL2...no changes for either side
Surely that SFL2, no?
I know it is different with Covid stuff but I hate all the complaining about the hectic schedule over the holidays....they have been doing it for years and years and years!
Players are so pampered, in such better shape but there is still all the complaining!
Mostly... from foreigners coming in....leave England then!
Players prefer to play than practice
Im not so anti-Spurs as you are
The Hammers get the ball in the net.... VAR checking for offside
It counts....Antonio equalizes
Wahay! Michail Antonio has equalized for West Ham. Good for Leeds, not so good for your lot.
I agree - I love the holiday schedule. Robbie Mustoe was whinging about it this morning, but Robbie Elliott told him off. He said that he enjoyed playing over the holidays.
I'm not anti-Spurs today - hoping that they thump Palace.
Fourth President scores for the Foxes
Glad one Robbie was smart
Klopp is the biggest complainer!!
City score again
Leicester City that is
Saints retake the lead
JWP with the goal
What a shame - Ben White played a brilliant ball to Martinelli and his deflected shot looped in, but he's been flagged offside.
From the spot
I do not like that Soton scoreline. Boo!
That's a right old ding dong at Maine Road.
The Hammer equalize!
Great pass and great finish!!
Desmond
I've turned it over to the Hammers 'match
STRUTH....IT IS 4-3!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fire PEP!!!
Gunners make it three!!
GOAL! Saka gets his brace with a raking left-footed drive to put Arsenal 0-3 up!
Bugger... 5-3 City
Wow - what a match there at Maine Road!
BLOODY HELL....Boxing Day is raining goals
Saints take the lead for the third time
Goals are flying in now - great entertainment for the punters. Soton now 2-3 up.
What are the Hammers playing at?
Sonaldo gives Spurs a three goal lead
LM with the assist...a goal and an assist for him today
All three front men for Spurs have hit the net today
That works for me, but it's somewhat spoiled the Boxing Day mood for the Gooner.
He needs to just enjoy his 3 goal lead
Arsenal have got a penalty chance now - Laca felled in the box.
I think so, too. Can't be too choosy.
Arsenal have a pen.... The Gazette makes it four
0-4. Laca with a stutter step effort.
Offside....but a rubbish cross by Bowen
Four 3 o'clockers....TWENTY GOALS
Make that 21!
City are 6-3 up
So Arsenal have beaten Norwich with a wider margin than against us. That's all I wanted this morning.
West Ham taking their sweet time to get the ball in the box!
GET IT IN THE BOX...finally they do and go close!
SIX added minutes
Lovely! Emile Smith-Rowe comes off the bench to add a fifth goal.
Atrocious corner...doesn't beat the first man
Smith-Rowe makes it FIVE
Smith-Rowe looks offside there. VAR check now.
Why is he only on the bench so many times?
He's one of their best players!
No - Smith-Rowe is given the benefit of the doubt. It is 0-5.
Get the ball in the box West Ham!
Matt has a bet on them not to lose!
And that's the end of a very satisfying win for the Gunners. Norwich remain bottom and have hurt their GD even more.
Doug just came in and asked how WHU....White House Union are doing
6-3
0-5
3-0
2-3
Quite a day of goals with still two more matches to go
Watch the NBC match be a nil niller
That is it
The Saints have beaten the Hammers
That's the only scoreline that didn't suit me.
Next up is Villa v. Chelsea from Villa Park. Villa were meant to be our Tuesday opponents but that one's off.
Of course, I'm hoping for an away win.
And we're underway at Villa Park.
Not sure why Chelsea are wearing yellow and black here.
Villa have made a really positive start, with most of the early action in Chelsea’s half.
Chelsea have had 81 per cent of the possession in the last 10 minutes, yet Villa have been the more dangerous team in that time. It’s a really interesting game.
Thought you'd like that stat update, Dave.
Bugger! Villa have taken the lead through an own goal from Reece James. It went straight through Mendy's fingertips.
That's better - penalty to Chelsea now. Hudson Odoi brought down by Cash.
Jorginho converts with a hop and a skip. 1-1 at Villa Park.
Half-time at Villa Park - 1-1. I suppose that's adequate but I'd really prefer a Chelsea win.
Off to eat in Saratoga in a few minutes
Christian Pulisic is coming on for the second half.
Where are you eating, Dave?
Thiago Silva has hobbled off, replaced by Thomas Christiansen.
Oh - nearly an own goal from Cash there - great save by Emi Martinez.
Wahay! The Chunk steps in to nod Chelsea into the lead. Lovely header!
1-2!
Oh - Mason Mount should have had the third there. Got around the keeper but missed from an acute angle.
Full-time: Chelsea have run out 1-3 winners, with two penalties from Jorginho and a useful headed finish from The Chunk. It means that Chelsea stay in 3rd and Villa stay in 10th.
The late one between Brighton and Brentford has started on NBC Sports.
We've just wrapped up a lovely Boxing Day lunch of Parker's sausage rolls.
I suppose that a draw is the best result for Leeds in this one.
Halfway through the first half - 0-0. Suits me.
Oh - great finish from Leander Trossard to put Brighton 1-0 up. Long ball over the top and Trossard controlled it beautifully on the run to pop it over the keeper's head.
2-0 Brighton! Neil Maupay with a stonking finish from the top of the box.
Ridiculous dive there from McAllister to set up a late free kick challenge.
Back on for the second half at the Amex. No changes to either side as of yet.
Steve has just let me know that the Arsenal match against Wolves is off due to Covid.
I was hopeful that there might be a Brentford comeback but apart from one decent save by Sanchez, they haven't really threatened. Still 2-0 in the waning moments.
Full-time - Graham Potter's side have run out 2-0 winners today against Brentford. Not exactly the best result for us but it's okay.
That's the end of a long Boxing Day schedule. I'll be back for the Newcastle v. United match tomorrow. Cheerio!
Post a Comment
<< Home