The Dugout Discussion kicks into gear for five more fixtures of our penultimate gameweek. unfortunately today’s television broadcasts are aimed in the direction of the only two games with “nothing left to play for” (don’t blame them too much, they have to make these commitments months in advance).
Later today Arsenal will have their final home game of another barren season versus Aston Villa for our viewing pleasure. Elsewhere in the four o’clock kick-offs Liverpool and Spurs will jostle for fifth place and a spot in the Europa league, West Ham travel to Wigan needing a victory for any faint hope of survival this year. That may not even be enough, if Birmingham can get just a point at home to Fulham at the same time then The Hammers are Championship bound.
But first we’ve got Chelsea playing host to Newcastle in a dead rubber fixture. Ancelotti keeps his word and Torres starts (alongside Nicolas Anelka and Yossi Benayoun) with Josh McEachran, Alex and Ramires also coming in. Alan Pardew keeps to his word and rests Cheikh Tiote for the remainder of the season to avoid a record 15 yellow cards and 3 game ban. Line-ups in full are…
Chelsea XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Cole; Ramires, Lampard, McEachran; Benayoun, Torres, Anelka
Newcastle XI: Krul; Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique; Gutierrez, Barton, R Taylor, Ferguson; Ameobi, Lovenkrands
The Dugout Discussion will be open through all the days games until young Greghammer gets teary eyed as the Fantasy Premier League bonus points roll in. Whether that’s through seeing his side getting relegated or captaining Thomas Vermaelen (or both) is yet to be seen.
