You can't make this stuff up and it's getting to be like a bad horror sequel -- Liverpool v. Chelsea in the Champions League...again.
If there's a mild silver lining, at least four English team's won't comprise the semifinals, otherwise it's 180+ minutes of the same play we've seen in four of the last five years.
On second thought, there might be another positive since Liverpool actually has the juice to oust Chelsea, and derail the Blues express to Rome. It's not like John Arne Riise is around to screw the pooch in the 90th minute for Liverpool this time around, right?
Other than Liverpool v. Chelsea Round XLII, the rest of the draw is pretty decent.
Villareal and Arsenal has potential assuming the Yellow Submarine decides to come out and play. For Arsenal, this is a dream draw of the six other possibilities and potentially has the ability to salvage the Gunners season.
Manchester United and Porto has the history of 2004 on its side, though the Red Devils already vanquished Jose Mourinho in the previous round. United should get through this round, but people are saying good things about Porto, so it won't be easy.
Finally, Barcelona and Bayern Munich has the most continental appeal, though it's doubtful the German giants have the ability to slow down the Barca attack. If anything, this one ought to feature a ton of goals. First team to an aggregate of 10, wins.
A good draw this morning, but not a great one.
Saturday
* Portsmouth v. Everton -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Troubling stats for Pompey, first they've won only one of their last six at Fratton Park. Second, they've allowed 17 goals in the final 15 minutes of a match. If that isn't a recipe for disaster, I don't know what is. Let's assume Portsmouth does get relegated, there are some nice pieces for the vultures to pick from like Glenn Johnson and Niko Kranjcar. Everton keeps chugging along and seems safe for a UEFA Cup/Europa League scenario, but is that even worth it for the club? It's not in David Moyes DNA to tank games, but I'm just saying... ... Portsmouth 1, Everton 1
* Blackburn v. West Ham -- If, and it's a huge if, Blackburn can snatch the full three points here then Sam Allardyce's crew can take a big sigh of relief. Of all the relegation candidates, Blackburn seems to have the most to lose because if they drop they could be facing a Charlton-like League One scenario. If a club ever needed a rich benefactor, it's Blackburn which had one in Jack Walker when it won the league in 1995. How West Ham is in seventh place is a mindbender, as is the future of U.S. player Jon Spector, who's working back from an injury. Will he be another flameout running back to MLS with his tail betwixt his legs, or stick it out? ... Blackburn 2, West Ham 1
* Fulham v. Manchester United -- (Live, Setanta, 10:30 a.m.) It's getting to the point where they ought to play 'Sweet Georgia Brown' during these matches. United have won 9-straight against Fulham, with the Cottagers last win -- if memory serves correct -- coming via a late goal from distance from the immortal Papa Baba Dioup. Put it this way, after that 4-1 shellacking from Liverpool, Manchester United needs a slumpbuster and it gets it in the form of the dudes in white. ... Fulham 0, Manchester United 2
* Stoke City v. Middlesbrough -- At the very least, Stoke is going down with a fight, while Middlesbrough appears content to let the lethal injection slowly waft through its veins. ... Stoke City 2, Middlesbrough 0
* Tottenham v. Chelsea -- (Live, FSC, noon) Game of the weekend, bar none. Amazingly, I read that despite all the wheeling and dealing, Spurs announced a record profit this year. Nothing makes sense at the Lane. Need further proof? Tottenham has only lost one of its seven matches against the top five teams in the table. Chelsea is on a roll, but this could be a matchup it doesn't like, witness last year's unreal 4-4 draw. This one seems to play out as Spurs get an early goal, only for Chelsea to equalize somewhere in the 80th-plus minute. It's simply how the script is written. Chelsea is due a hiccup. Yes, the Blues are 4-for-4 under Hiddink, but it's all by a one-goal margin. ... Tottenham 1, Chelsea 1
* West Brom v. Bolton -- Ok, so all the talk about how wonderful the Premier League is, I present Exhibit A to counter that argument. ... West Brom 2, Bolton 1
* Newcastle v. Arsenal -- (Live, Setanta, 1:15 p.m.) Is Arsenal officially over it's away-game hoodoo? Obviously the players and make-up of the Gunners far trumps what the Magpies have to offer. My one worry about Arsenal is that after a couple nice results, are the young players' egos out of control? I maintain this team still isn't that incredible. ... Newcastle 1, Arsenal 2
Sunday
* Wigan v. Hull City -- Will Wigan fans be upset that Hull wrested it's title of 'Least Fancied Team in the PL'? That's about all the juice this one has. ... Wigan 2, Hull 0
* Manchester City v. Sunderland -- The more I think about the Manchester City plan, the less I like it. In theory it's nice idea to pluck the best players money can buy and throw them out together. In practice, it doesn't always work. There has to be some sense of team-building and chemistry, most importantly a system. City, as presently constituted, seem stuck between Mark Hughes' practical approach vs. the rich Arab ownership's champagne dreams. Unless you're Team Evil from 'Kung-Fu Soccer' throwing out XI disparate players won't work. Sunderland, well, Sunderland is Sunderland. ... City 3, Sunderland 1
* Liverpool v. Aston Villa -- (Live, FSC, noon) Cue up the Gang Star because it's 'Moment of Truth' time for both teams. If you read this site, you know the parameters. I don't need to re-hash them yet again. In short, whichever team wins keeps hope alive, the loser goes back to its consolation prize. From watching Villa lately, Martin O'Neill can't put Humpty Dumpty back together again. ... Liverpool 1, Aston Villa 0
Last week: 4-6
Season: 130-153 aka 46 percent
One final thought, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Portland gets its MLS team today. The Timbers fans deserve it. Plus, that would be a nice Northweast corridor rivalry with Portland, Seattle and Vancouver. One of those teams ought to have flannel inspired jerseys.
Speaking of Seattle, by all accounts it was a smashing 3-0 debut over the Red Bulls. I've never seen so many people wearing a jersey of an MLS team before. That's a good sign. Let's just see if the Emerald City fans sustain that passion into August.
If there's a mild silver lining, at least four English team's won't comprise the semifinals, otherwise it's 180+ minutes of the same play we've seen in four of the last five years.
On second thought, there might be another positive since Liverpool actually has the juice to oust Chelsea, and derail the Blues express to Rome. It's not like John Arne Riise is around to screw the pooch in the 90th minute for Liverpool this time around, right?
Other than Liverpool v. Chelsea Round XLII, the rest of the draw is pretty decent.
Villareal and Arsenal has potential assuming the Yellow Submarine decides to come out and play. For Arsenal, this is a dream draw of the six other possibilities and potentially has the ability to salvage the Gunners season.
Manchester United and Porto has the history of 2004 on its side, though the Red Devils already vanquished Jose Mourinho in the previous round. United should get through this round, but people are saying good things about Porto, so it won't be easy.
Finally, Barcelona and Bayern Munich has the most continental appeal, though it's doubtful the German giants have the ability to slow down the Barca attack. If anything, this one ought to feature a ton of goals. First team to an aggregate of 10, wins.
A good draw this morning, but not a great one.
Saturday
* Portsmouth v. Everton -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Troubling stats for Pompey, first they've won only one of their last six at Fratton Park. Second, they've allowed 17 goals in the final 15 minutes of a match. If that isn't a recipe for disaster, I don't know what is. Let's assume Portsmouth does get relegated, there are some nice pieces for the vultures to pick from like Glenn Johnson and Niko Kranjcar. Everton keeps chugging along and seems safe for a UEFA Cup/Europa League scenario, but is that even worth it for the club? It's not in David Moyes DNA to tank games, but I'm just saying... ... Portsmouth 1, Everton 1
* Blackburn v. West Ham -- If, and it's a huge if, Blackburn can snatch the full three points here then Sam Allardyce's crew can take a big sigh of relief. Of all the relegation candidates, Blackburn seems to have the most to lose because if they drop they could be facing a Charlton-like League One scenario. If a club ever needed a rich benefactor, it's Blackburn which had one in Jack Walker when it won the league in 1995. How West Ham is in seventh place is a mindbender, as is the future of U.S. player Jon Spector, who's working back from an injury. Will he be another flameout running back to MLS with his tail betwixt his legs, or stick it out? ... Blackburn 2, West Ham 1
* Fulham v. Manchester United -- (Live, Setanta, 10:30 a.m.) It's getting to the point where they ought to play 'Sweet Georgia Brown' during these matches. United have won 9-straight against Fulham, with the Cottagers last win -- if memory serves correct -- coming via a late goal from distance from the immortal Papa Baba Dioup. Put it this way, after that 4-1 shellacking from Liverpool, Manchester United needs a slumpbuster and it gets it in the form of the dudes in white. ... Fulham 0, Manchester United 2
* Stoke City v. Middlesbrough -- At the very least, Stoke is going down with a fight, while Middlesbrough appears content to let the lethal injection slowly waft through its veins. ... Stoke City 2, Middlesbrough 0
* Tottenham v. Chelsea -- (Live, FSC, noon) Game of the weekend, bar none. Amazingly, I read that despite all the wheeling and dealing, Spurs announced a record profit this year. Nothing makes sense at the Lane. Need further proof? Tottenham has only lost one of its seven matches against the top five teams in the table. Chelsea is on a roll, but this could be a matchup it doesn't like, witness last year's unreal 4-4 draw. This one seems to play out as Spurs get an early goal, only for Chelsea to equalize somewhere in the 80th-plus minute. It's simply how the script is written. Chelsea is due a hiccup. Yes, the Blues are 4-for-4 under Hiddink, but it's all by a one-goal margin. ... Tottenham 1, Chelsea 1
* West Brom v. Bolton -- Ok, so all the talk about how wonderful the Premier League is, I present Exhibit A to counter that argument. ... West Brom 2, Bolton 1
* Newcastle v. Arsenal -- (Live, Setanta, 1:15 p.m.) Is Arsenal officially over it's away-game hoodoo? Obviously the players and make-up of the Gunners far trumps what the Magpies have to offer. My one worry about Arsenal is that after a couple nice results, are the young players' egos out of control? I maintain this team still isn't that incredible. ... Newcastle 1, Arsenal 2
Sunday
* Wigan v. Hull City -- Will Wigan fans be upset that Hull wrested it's title of 'Least Fancied Team in the PL'? That's about all the juice this one has. ... Wigan 2, Hull 0
* Manchester City v. Sunderland -- The more I think about the Manchester City plan, the less I like it. In theory it's nice idea to pluck the best players money can buy and throw them out together. In practice, it doesn't always work. There has to be some sense of team-building and chemistry, most importantly a system. City, as presently constituted, seem stuck between Mark Hughes' practical approach vs. the rich Arab ownership's champagne dreams. Unless you're Team Evil from 'Kung-Fu Soccer' throwing out XI disparate players won't work. Sunderland, well, Sunderland is Sunderland. ... City 3, Sunderland 1
* Liverpool v. Aston Villa -- (Live, FSC, noon) Cue up the Gang Star because it's 'Moment of Truth' time for both teams. If you read this site, you know the parameters. I don't need to re-hash them yet again. In short, whichever team wins keeps hope alive, the loser goes back to its consolation prize. From watching Villa lately, Martin O'Neill can't put Humpty Dumpty back together again. ... Liverpool 1, Aston Villa 0
Last week: 4-6
Season: 130-153 aka 46 percent
One final thought, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Portland gets its MLS team today. The Timbers fans deserve it. Plus, that would be a nice Northweast corridor rivalry with Portland, Seattle and Vancouver. One of those teams ought to have flannel inspired jerseys.
Speaking of Seattle, by all accounts it was a smashing 3-0 debut over the Red Bulls. I've never seen so many people wearing a jersey of an MLS team before. That's a good sign. Let's just see if the Emerald City fans sustain that passion into August.
Labels: champions league, English Premier League, Prem Picks, Soccer
Wasn't there talk of the Portland owner balking at the entry fee? I wonder if MLS awarded Vancouver a team first to put the screws to Portland to pony up the cash. I'm sure they wouldn't want to be stuck in the USL with their two best Northwest rivals in MLS.
It's a good time to be a soccer fan in Seattle right now. I'm really pulling for Portland. I miss the old AFC West rivalries. It'd be nice to have a collection of local teams to hate again.
That Barca/Munich draw is looking fun. That is what CL is all about.
Serious question here, what would have been a GREAT Draw?
As a Chelsea fan I hate to see the Blues play liverpool, not that I don't think they will win, I do, but that I don't want to see the games, this would have been my ideal for viewing purposes, hence great:
ManU v. Pool
Aresnal v. Villa
Barca v. Porto
Chelse v. Bayern
I think that would have been the most appealing from a viewers point of view.
I was at the Sounders game last night, the atmosphere was great! Thankfully there are no more 6:00 games scheduled on weekdays, otherwise taht would have been the last weekday game I attended. Traffic was a nightmare. Overall that game was great, but the outcome seems too good to be true. Part of me wonders if MLS forced RB to throw the game, they looked so bad.
Fixed? Not by the reaction of the RB players who were bitchin at each other all night.
Angel looked old and pedestrian compared to Freddy M.
Rojas is a fuckin' goon, btw.
As a Chelsea fan, this draw terrifies me. Not only are Liverpool a difficult matchup in the quarters, but then we play Barca or a Bayern team that dick-stomped Lisbon and then beat Barca.
On the other hand, that will make it that much sweeter to beat Man U in the finals. Which should have happened last year, had it not rained all day and JT lost his footing. Before which, he was Man of the Match by a mile. Was this a post built by a pent-up need to defend John Terry? You betcha!