Short preamble to picks today. Very short.
In fact here it is. Click on this link to the Guardian featuring readers photo-shopping the entire Newcastle boondoggle.
At this point what else is there to do for fans of Newcastle? The team you live-and-die with is in the hands of borderline morons out to make a buck. Guess the Brits truly love gallows humor, or humour as it were.
On to the games...
Saturday
* Everton v. Liverpool -- (Live, Setanta, 7:45 a.m.) Ah, the ol' Merseyside Derby, a match that recently hasn't seemed to disappoint the neutrals like myself. Amazingly, Liverpool is tied for second with only five goals scored in five matches. After a rocky start, Everton appears to have maybe righted the ship, maybe. (I must admit, I forgot they landed Louis Saha.) Liverpool has won two of the previous three times at Goodison Park. Maybe this match comes down to the Spanish stars on each side -- Mikel Arteta and Fernando Torres. Whoever is able to establish himself in the match might make the difference. More likely the difference is Everton's suddenly shaky defense, which has already let in 11 goals -- a one one-third of what they let in over 38 games last season (33). ... Everton 0, Liverpool 1
* Aston Villa v. Sunderland -- Five games is a small sample size, but Villa is where it wants to be -- fourth place. To stay there it needs to take all three points from matches like these. ... Aston Villa 2, Sunderland 0
* Fulham v. West Ham -- For Fulham its been four games played, four goals scored, four goals allowed, so something has to give, right? Unlike the start of last season Fulham have stuck with a set, predictible, albeit it low-ceiling first choice XI. It should insure a nice, safety and sexy 13th place finish. Fun! West Ham has to be considered a team to watch now that the managerial hubub is cleared up. This team does have a lot of talent in its ranks and if Gianfranco Zola pulls the right strings they can flirt with a UEFA Cup spot. Apparently Carlton Cole got a DUI, or as they call it in England, a drink-driving arrest. Good way to spur on team chemistry. ... Fulham 1, West Ham 1
* Manchester United v. Bolton -- (Live, Setanta, 9:45 a.m) Turn Ronaldo loose, or else. ... Manchester United 3, Bolton 1
* Middlesbrough v. West Bromwich Albion -- Yeah baby! This has all the sex appeal of a Miss Chernobyl pageant (too harsh?) ... Middlesbrough 2, West Brom 1
* Newcastled United v. Blackburn Rovers -- Sometimes a ridiculous scenario that's unfolding at Newcastle galvanizes the team. Too bad it doesn't have a coach, a leader or any clue whatsoever. At this point I'm guessing they'll be at least four angry, drunken Geordies running onto the playing field during the games -- clothes optional. On the other end, Paul Ince can't let his team lose focus because these are three road points waiting to be had. ... Newcastle 1, Blackburn 1
* Stoke City v. Chelsea -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) So, yeah, Stoke packed it in against Liverpool and got a draw. Unless they call Jose Mourinho and field his famed "yellow bus" in front of the goal, lightning aint striking twice. Expect Frank Lampard to score on a deflection that takes more twists and turns than Roger McDowell's 'magic loogie' on 'Seinfeld.' ... Stoke 0, Chelsea 3
* Arsenal v. Hull City -- (Live, FSC, 12:30 p.m.) Hats off to Hull, who've already banked eight points. Saturday evening at the Emirates is a whole new ballgame. Pray for rain. Just for shits and giggles, Hull ought to start the immortal Dean Windass for this one. For fantasy team purposes, this is the kind of team that Adebayor likes to turn the hat trick on. Just saying. ... Arsenal 4, Hull City 0
Sunday
* Portsmouth v. Tottenham -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Portsmouth have won two games despite only five goals scored, one more than hapless Tottenham -- which sits in 20th place. Funny game this, no? ... Portsmouth 2, Spurs 1
* Wigan Athletic v. Manchester City -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Mark Hughes' Flying Circus takes its act to the JJB Stadium, fresh off a six-goal smackdown of Portsmouth. Meanwhile, Wigan have only let in four goals this season, only bettered by Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea. Naturally something is going to have to give. ... Wigan 1, City 1
Last week: 4-6
Season: 21-28
In fact here it is. Click on this link to the Guardian featuring readers photo-shopping the entire Newcastle boondoggle.
At this point what else is there to do for fans of Newcastle? The team you live-and-die with is in the hands of borderline morons out to make a buck. Guess the Brits truly love gallows humor, or humour as it were.
On to the games...
Saturday
* Everton v. Liverpool -- (Live, Setanta, 7:45 a.m.) Ah, the ol' Merseyside Derby, a match that recently hasn't seemed to disappoint the neutrals like myself. Amazingly, Liverpool is tied for second with only five goals scored in five matches. After a rocky start, Everton appears to have maybe righted the ship, maybe. (I must admit, I forgot they landed Louis Saha.) Liverpool has won two of the previous three times at Goodison Park. Maybe this match comes down to the Spanish stars on each side -- Mikel Arteta and Fernando Torres. Whoever is able to establish himself in the match might make the difference. More likely the difference is Everton's suddenly shaky defense, which has already let in 11 goals -- a one one-third of what they let in over 38 games last season (33). ... Everton 0, Liverpool 1
* Aston Villa v. Sunderland -- Five games is a small sample size, but Villa is where it wants to be -- fourth place. To stay there it needs to take all three points from matches like these. ... Aston Villa 2, Sunderland 0
* Fulham v. West Ham -- For Fulham its been four games played, four goals scored, four goals allowed, so something has to give, right? Unlike the start of last season Fulham have stuck with a set, predictible, albeit it low-ceiling first choice XI. It should insure a nice, safety and sexy 13th place finish. Fun! West Ham has to be considered a team to watch now that the managerial hubub is cleared up. This team does have a lot of talent in its ranks and if Gianfranco Zola pulls the right strings they can flirt with a UEFA Cup spot. Apparently Carlton Cole got a DUI, or as they call it in England, a drink-driving arrest. Good way to spur on team chemistry. ... Fulham 1, West Ham 1
* Manchester United v. Bolton -- (Live, Setanta, 9:45 a.m) Turn Ronaldo loose, or else. ... Manchester United 3, Bolton 1
* Middlesbrough v. West Bromwich Albion -- Yeah baby! This has all the sex appeal of a Miss Chernobyl pageant (too harsh?) ... Middlesbrough 2, West Brom 1
* Newcastled United v. Blackburn Rovers -- Sometimes a ridiculous scenario that's unfolding at Newcastle galvanizes the team. Too bad it doesn't have a coach, a leader or any clue whatsoever. At this point I'm guessing they'll be at least four angry, drunken Geordies running onto the playing field during the games -- clothes optional. On the other end, Paul Ince can't let his team lose focus because these are three road points waiting to be had. ... Newcastle 1, Blackburn 1
* Stoke City v. Chelsea -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) So, yeah, Stoke packed it in against Liverpool and got a draw. Unless they call Jose Mourinho and field his famed "yellow bus" in front of the goal, lightning aint striking twice. Expect Frank Lampard to score on a deflection that takes more twists and turns than Roger McDowell's 'magic loogie' on 'Seinfeld.' ... Stoke 0, Chelsea 3
* Arsenal v. Hull City -- (Live, FSC, 12:30 p.m.) Hats off to Hull, who've already banked eight points. Saturday evening at the Emirates is a whole new ballgame. Pray for rain. Just for shits and giggles, Hull ought to start the immortal Dean Windass for this one. For fantasy team purposes, this is the kind of team that Adebayor likes to turn the hat trick on. Just saying. ... Arsenal 4, Hull City 0
Sunday
* Portsmouth v. Tottenham -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Portsmouth have won two games despite only five goals scored, one more than hapless Tottenham -- which sits in 20th place. Funny game this, no? ... Portsmouth 2, Spurs 1
* Wigan Athletic v. Manchester City -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Mark Hughes' Flying Circus takes its act to the JJB Stadium, fresh off a six-goal smackdown of Portsmouth. Meanwhile, Wigan have only let in four goals this season, only bettered by Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea. Naturally something is going to have to give. ... Wigan 1, City 1
Last week: 4-6
Season: 21-28
Labels: English Premier League, Prem League, Soccer
This whole bit about Lampard scoring many -- if not most -- of his goals off lucky deflections is getting old, isn't it?
I mean, if it's so damn easy to score 20+ goals a season off deflections, why isn't everyone doing it?
I know Chelsea haters and England national team supporters can't bear to admit it, but Lamps is actually an incredibly special player with a goals/game ratio that anyone in the world would take in a heartbeat.
Blackburn 2, Newcastle 1
/shakes head
I would have bet the house on that one. The Magpies have totally given up.
By the way, here's how insane it is at Tyneside right now.
The team appoints Joe Kinnear as caretaker manager thru Oct 30. However, he still has an old 4-game touchline ban from his coaching days years ago, which he has not yet served.
So the caretaker boss, appointed to serve until Oct 30 can't actually manage his team from the sidelines until Oct 20.
That about sums the whole season up, right there.