Couple odds and ends:
* MLS goes to Philly. Cue the Rocky music. It's hard to find any downside here. It creates a nice Northeastern corridor with DC, Philly, New Jersey and New England, so away fans can actually go to some matches within reasonable distance.
Now, if only the league were to wisely move Kansas City to St. Louis, we'd be onto something.
* The Houston Dynamo power drain continues. After losing forwards Joseph Ngwenya and Nate Jaqua to second division Austrian teams, the club released Paul Daglish, who went to Kilmarnock in Scotland. That leaves the senior roster at 22 players. Factor in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the CONCACAF Champions League, the SuperLiga, the Open Cup and the MLS season and Houston might be pwned. If this situation doesn't show the dire need to change or relax the salary cap constructions, what does?
Perhaps getting Oscar De La Hoya and his fishnets on board in the owner's box might finally get them out of the grasp of AEG, meaning single-owners for every club.
* This is a little late, but if Real Madrid blows its La Liga lead to Barcelona, it's probably because of this all-time gaffe.
Aye carumba.
Saturday
* Arsenal v. Aston Villa -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) Huge game. Yuuuuuuuge game at the top end of the table. Villa are 0-3-7 in its 10 against the Gunners, so perhaps it's due. After two goals last week, the onus will clearly be on Theo Walcott for Arsenal, to help stem the blow suffered by the injuries to Eduardo and Van Persie. It might be heresy, but it seems Cesc Fabregas has cooled off just a bit too, so goal at the Emirates will be at a premium -- hear that Emmanuel Adebayor. While Villa should be able to trouble to Arsenal's defense, they're succeptible at the back with slow-footed Curtis Davies, Martin Laursen, Olof Mellberg and Wilfred Bouma in for long days. ... Arsenal 1, Villa 1
* Middlesbrough v. Reading -- Here are some nuggets to digest: Reading hasn't won a game since Dec. 22. In 2008 the Royals have three goals in nine games. So in that regard, as much as I like Marcus Hahnemann, it wouldn't be a shame if Reading were relegated. They're really brining nothing to the table, literally and figuratively. Just to throw it out there, 'Boro only have 25 goals in the league this year, which is only better than Derby County. Go figure. ... 'Boro 1, Reading 0
* Birmingham v. Tottenham -- Intriguing game for many reasons. From the Brum standpoint, you want to see how they play after the headline-carrying post-Eduardo game. For Spurs, do they actually carry the momentum from Sunday's Carling Cup win, or slip back to mediocrity. ... Birmingham 0, Spurs 1
* Newcastle v. Blackburn -- (Delayed, FSC, 4:30 p.m.) Maybe all the worrying about Newcastle is justified. The Magpies have given up 52 goals -- 10 to Manchester United in two games, to be fair. The worry is, that could a "big" the club go down and suffer the same fate at Leeds United. The circumstances are very different, but the fear still lingers for the Geordie faithful. Blackburn, meh. Let's get stoked for the InterToto Cup. Overall, Newcastle is simply due. ... Newcastle 2, Blackburn 1
* Derby v. Sunderland -- This is simple -- a must win for Sunderland. Must win. If the Black Cats win Saturday, and assuming Fulham loses to Manchester United, Sunderland would be 10 points clear of the Cottagers. At this point, Derby's only motivation is avoiding the lowest points total achieved (15 points, Sunderland 2005-06.) Right now they have nine. It'll be close. ... Derby 0, Sunderland 2
* West Ham v. Chelsea -- (Live, Setanta Xtra, 10 a.m.) Is there a rift in the Chelsea locker room? Or is it your typical English media creation? This game will tell a lot. ... West Ham 1, Chelsea 1
* Fulham v. Manchester United -- (Live, Setanta, 10 a.m.) Maybe Clint Dempsey can impress SAF. There's not much else to say here. ... Fulham 1, Manchester United 3
* Manchester City v. Wigan Athletic -- (Live, FSC, noon) Might as well throw some Rugby Union lines down on the pitch for this one. ... City 2, Wigan 1
Sunday
* Bolton v. Liverpool -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Tom Hicks is a summbitch. If the filthy rich Dubai group wants to buy him out, why not just do it and make a profit? He obviously could give two shits about the team and is a carpetbagger in the purest form. Liverpool aren't the Texas Rangers. People actually care about this club. Away, Fernando Torres should be able to single-handily secure three points for the Reds Sunday. ... Bolton 0, Liverpool 1
* Everton v. Portsmouth -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Best game of the weekend. Portsmouth needs to win this one to even think about fourth place. Everton are on a major roll, they're yet to lose in 2008. The Toffees are without Mikel Arteta, but are still managing results with an eye on the Champions League. Portsmouth should be a full stretch, making this a must watch. ... Everton 2, Portsmouth 1
Last week: 6-3
Season: 133-133
* MLS goes to Philly. Cue the Rocky music. It's hard to find any downside here. It creates a nice Northeastern corridor with DC, Philly, New Jersey and New England, so away fans can actually go to some matches within reasonable distance.
Now, if only the league were to wisely move Kansas City to St. Louis, we'd be onto something.
* The Houston Dynamo power drain continues. After losing forwards Joseph Ngwenya and Nate Jaqua to second division Austrian teams, the club released Paul Daglish, who went to Kilmarnock in Scotland. That leaves the senior roster at 22 players. Factor in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the CONCACAF Champions League, the SuperLiga, the Open Cup and the MLS season and Houston might be pwned. If this situation doesn't show the dire need to change or relax the salary cap constructions, what does?
Perhaps getting Oscar De La Hoya and his fishnets on board in the owner's box might finally get them out of the grasp of AEG, meaning single-owners for every club.
* This is a little late, but if Real Madrid blows its La Liga lead to Barcelona, it's probably because of this all-time gaffe.
Aye carumba.
Saturday
* Arsenal v. Aston Villa -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) Huge game. Yuuuuuuuge game at the top end of the table. Villa are 0-3-7 in its 10 against the Gunners, so perhaps it's due. After two goals last week, the onus will clearly be on Theo Walcott for Arsenal, to help stem the blow suffered by the injuries to Eduardo and Van Persie. It might be heresy, but it seems Cesc Fabregas has cooled off just a bit too, so goal at the Emirates will be at a premium -- hear that Emmanuel Adebayor. While Villa should be able to trouble to Arsenal's defense, they're succeptible at the back with slow-footed Curtis Davies, Martin Laursen, Olof Mellberg and Wilfred Bouma in for long days. ... Arsenal 1, Villa 1
* Middlesbrough v. Reading -- Here are some nuggets to digest: Reading hasn't won a game since Dec. 22. In 2008 the Royals have three goals in nine games. So in that regard, as much as I like Marcus Hahnemann, it wouldn't be a shame if Reading were relegated. They're really brining nothing to the table, literally and figuratively. Just to throw it out there, 'Boro only have 25 goals in the league this year, which is only better than Derby County. Go figure. ... 'Boro 1, Reading 0
* Birmingham v. Tottenham -- Intriguing game for many reasons. From the Brum standpoint, you want to see how they play after the headline-carrying post-Eduardo game. For Spurs, do they actually carry the momentum from Sunday's Carling Cup win, or slip back to mediocrity. ... Birmingham 0, Spurs 1
* Newcastle v. Blackburn -- (Delayed, FSC, 4:30 p.m.) Maybe all the worrying about Newcastle is justified. The Magpies have given up 52 goals -- 10 to Manchester United in two games, to be fair. The worry is, that could a "big" the club go down and suffer the same fate at Leeds United. The circumstances are very different, but the fear still lingers for the Geordie faithful. Blackburn, meh. Let's get stoked for the InterToto Cup. Overall, Newcastle is simply due. ... Newcastle 2, Blackburn 1
* Derby v. Sunderland -- This is simple -- a must win for Sunderland. Must win. If the Black Cats win Saturday, and assuming Fulham loses to Manchester United, Sunderland would be 10 points clear of the Cottagers. At this point, Derby's only motivation is avoiding the lowest points total achieved (15 points, Sunderland 2005-06.) Right now they have nine. It'll be close. ... Derby 0, Sunderland 2
* West Ham v. Chelsea -- (Live, Setanta Xtra, 10 a.m.) Is there a rift in the Chelsea locker room? Or is it your typical English media creation? This game will tell a lot. ... West Ham 1, Chelsea 1
* Fulham v. Manchester United -- (Live, Setanta, 10 a.m.) Maybe Clint Dempsey can impress SAF. There's not much else to say here. ... Fulham 1, Manchester United 3
* Manchester City v. Wigan Athletic -- (Live, FSC, noon) Might as well throw some Rugby Union lines down on the pitch for this one. ... City 2, Wigan 1
Sunday
* Bolton v. Liverpool -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Tom Hicks is a summbitch. If the filthy rich Dubai group wants to buy him out, why not just do it and make a profit? He obviously could give two shits about the team and is a carpetbagger in the purest form. Liverpool aren't the Texas Rangers. People actually care about this club. Away, Fernando Torres should be able to single-handily secure three points for the Reds Sunday. ... Bolton 0, Liverpool 1
* Everton v. Portsmouth -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Best game of the weekend. Portsmouth needs to win this one to even think about fourth place. Everton are on a major roll, they're yet to lose in 2008. The Toffees are without Mikel Arteta, but are still managing results with an eye on the Champions League. Portsmouth should be a full stretch, making this a must watch. ... Everton 2, Portsmouth 1
Last week: 6-3
Season: 133-133
Labels: MLS, Prem League, Prem Picks, Soccer
Can you explain what exactly Tom Hicks has done at Liverpool? They've obviously spent money so he's not just taking the money and running. Is it just that expectations are too high for a club that really isn't one of the top clubs in Europe despite the UCL results?
Magpies are now 3 pts from relegation with Liverpool up next.
Newcastle hasn't won an EPL match since the 2nd week of December.
Shameful.