Football

Joe Gomez returns to the starting line up after 16months out. Great news

Any result except a draw today, please. Not confident of our chances and a replay would hurt. Better to go straight out.

Any result except a draw today, please. Not confident of our chances and a replay would hurt. Better to go straight out.

You said no replays...

😂

Have to agree with Clive. Last thing we want is a trip to the south west coast on a cold midweek evening. Rather lose thsn draw this one

Nathan Ake will most likely get recalled from Bournemouth. Conte taking a good look at him before we buy another CB I guess. Also assume that this means that Ivanovic is on his way out this month.

There were 120 there altogether so probably 80-100 Clapton fans, which isn't loads but the trains weren't running either.

One of the best things about it was that the victory probably wasn't deserved but we got it anyway!

The home boycott is sadly still on, and after our 4-0 win over Basildon last Tuesday the players came straight out of the ground to celebrate with the fans afterwards.

The magic of the cup etc. There appear to be about 2000 people watching Cardiff v Fulham

Will bring the girls to another match soon.

Louisa enjoyed the boycott she went to as much as she enjoys the football

@WornCleat looks like the new stadium is going to get approved on Wednesday with a scheduled opening date of 2021. Thoughts?

So redeveloping Stamford bridge and no relocation? Any word on costs?
This was a reply to @jaw by the way...

CPO rights are being extended to 999 years. No relocation but we'll end up playing at Twickenham or Wembley for three seasons. Nothing re costs. It's a gift from Roman to the club.

Looking forward to the game this afternoon. Interested in how much rotation happens and really want janssen to score a goal, any goal from open play to get his confidence up.
Usually this would be a game to trip us up, just got a big win against league leaders, visiting team from the league below, not playing very well, host of changes as players are given a rest....
But we're more resilient nowadays, more bite and grit (I hope) and the Sheriff wants to win things, and six wins will get you this trophy, and those players on the edge of first team contention need this game to prove their good enough to earn a starting place for league games...
Hope we score early and often to put my mind at ease..

Three seasons! Fuck me, thought our season long crash at Wembley was long, but suppose you'll be able to hack it (financially) for the larger number of fans who'll be able to watch matches at those venues...

What about the other centre backs you've got on loan around Europe? Waiting until the summer window before having a look at them? Or not sure if they'll be able to hack it in the premier league? Or until you know how zouma looks after his return from injury?

Christensen hasn't got a recall clause.
Zouma and Ake will be our defensive additions this window and I imagine that Branno is leaving. I'm happy to see he's keeping his options open academy wise. Chalobah is getting minutes too. Would like to see more of Batshuayi but it looks like Conte isn't convinced. I take his judgement over mine any day.

Agents and players the real winners in Chinese Super League's spending spree

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/jan/08/chinese-super-league-spending-materialism-extravagance?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

Ed Aarons with another good piece.

Strong work, Mike.

plucky plymouth hold out for a draw and a lucrative replay

#stillpissedatcansperformanceagainstsunderland

Ffs. Really the last thing we needed. Fantastic for Plymouth though fair play

this game has been pish! until Dele's introduction, not playing quick enough, midfield apart from Winks sitting too deep, Villa not looking threatening in the least, and us knocking it slowly across the back three.

Dele's come on for Janssen (who worked hard, but got no service and when he did get it never looked like doing much with it) and he's slipped into the spaces of uncertainty and generally made us more attacking, and then we get the goal, and N'koudou's produced a great ball for it..

Are you not there Corney?

Apparently an Arsenal supporter living in Billing Street made numerous objections on a multitude of grounds against the redevelopment of Stamford Bridge.

Looks like he will be unsuccessful.

Reason for the long move out is that, unlike White Hart Lane, the new stadium is on the site of the old one. The pitch remains the same.

The permission will require work to commence within three years and be over within seven.

Local pubs will die off while we are away so heaven know what will happen when we return.

CPO is working with club to ensure failures of a Arsenal and West Ham are not repeated.