Greeting Inter-nets. Sorry this post is a little later than usual on a Monday. I was out of my house and away from the computer/television from about 7 a.m. Sunday to about midnight Monday, henceforth I didn't catch a lot of the Premier League action this weekend ... not that there was a whole lot.
When I logged on Monday morning I saw headlines about Sir Alex Ferguson defending his FA Cup selection team in the eventual shootout loss to Everton Sunday. When I clicked over and saw said XI, my eyes almost popped out of my head cartoon style. Put it this way, when Sir Alex has that little respect/interest in winning the FA Cup, well, it's relevancy is about over with. (Good job by Everton, at least, where playing in the Cup final will actually mean something. Well done Tim Howard, et al. I might actually watch the final in a couple weeks.)
About all I saw this weekend was most of Stoke City's drab 1-0 win over Blackburn. Not the greatest game ever played, but Liam Lawrence scored a nice goal to put the Potters in nice position to stick around another year. The announcer made it seem like that was the goal to ensure safety, which I thought was a little premature, but since Middlesbrough could only draw and Newcastle lost to Tottenham on Sunday, looks like Stoke probably will be okay.
Did the relegation picture get any clearer? We know it's going to be Hull, Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough for two spots. All a team has to do is win maybe two games in a row, but that's easier said than done.
Anyway, as I said Friday, the real action is during the week.
Tuesday
* Liverpool v. Arsenal -- (Live, Setanta, 3 p.m.) For whatever the reason, this match seems to have the least juice of all the 'Big Four' crossovers. Maybe that's just me. The Gunners won't have Van Persie or Adebayor, which obviously is a huge boon for Liverpool, which can't settle for anything less than three points. With Fernando Torres up top, this might be the game Arsenal's makeshift defensive backline rears its ugly head. Considering Liverpool only has the league to focus on now, its slightly fresher legs and first choice team selection should see the Reds through. ... Liverpool 2, Arsenal 1
Wednesday
* Manchester United v. Portsmouth -- (Live, Setanta, 3 p.m.) Here's where Ferguson's gamble to play kids in the FA Cup will be justified, right? From what we've seen of Manchester United lately, are the Red Devils simply going to be able to step onto the field at Old Trafford and take care of business for 90 minutes? On the one hand they're due, but can you trust them? Portsmouth has given United trouble in recent years, which is something to consider. In the end, Ronaldo, as usual, bails the team out. ... Manchester United 1, Portsmouth 0
* Cheslea v. Everton -- (Live, FSC, 3 p.m.) Well...we get the FA Cup a month early, which is something. Actually the one thing to watch here is if Chelsea can get back to posting clean sheets. The Blues have allowed 10 goals in their last four matches, which isn't Chelsea football. ... Chelsea 2, Everton 0
Last round: 3-4
Season: 149-171
When I logged on Monday morning I saw headlines about Sir Alex Ferguson defending his FA Cup selection team in the eventual shootout loss to Everton Sunday. When I clicked over and saw said XI, my eyes almost popped out of my head cartoon style. Put it this way, when Sir Alex has that little respect/interest in winning the FA Cup, well, it's relevancy is about over with. (Good job by Everton, at least, where playing in the Cup final will actually mean something. Well done Tim Howard, et al. I might actually watch the final in a couple weeks.)
About all I saw this weekend was most of Stoke City's drab 1-0 win over Blackburn. Not the greatest game ever played, but Liam Lawrence scored a nice goal to put the Potters in nice position to stick around another year. The announcer made it seem like that was the goal to ensure safety, which I thought was a little premature, but since Middlesbrough could only draw and Newcastle lost to Tottenham on Sunday, looks like Stoke probably will be okay.
Did the relegation picture get any clearer? We know it's going to be Hull, Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough for two spots. All a team has to do is win maybe two games in a row, but that's easier said than done.
Anyway, as I said Friday, the real action is during the week.
Tuesday
* Liverpool v. Arsenal -- (Live, Setanta, 3 p.m.) For whatever the reason, this match seems to have the least juice of all the 'Big Four' crossovers. Maybe that's just me. The Gunners won't have Van Persie or Adebayor, which obviously is a huge boon for Liverpool, which can't settle for anything less than three points. With Fernando Torres up top, this might be the game Arsenal's makeshift defensive backline rears its ugly head. Considering Liverpool only has the league to focus on now, its slightly fresher legs and first choice team selection should see the Reds through. ... Liverpool 2, Arsenal 1
Wednesday
* Manchester United v. Portsmouth -- (Live, Setanta, 3 p.m.) Here's where Ferguson's gamble to play kids in the FA Cup will be justified, right? From what we've seen of Manchester United lately, are the Red Devils simply going to be able to step onto the field at Old Trafford and take care of business for 90 minutes? On the one hand they're due, but can you trust them? Portsmouth has given United trouble in recent years, which is something to consider. In the end, Ronaldo, as usual, bails the team out. ... Manchester United 1, Portsmouth 0
* Cheslea v. Everton -- (Live, FSC, 3 p.m.) Well...we get the FA Cup a month early, which is something. Actually the one thing to watch here is if Chelsea can get back to posting clean sheets. The Blues have allowed 10 goals in their last four matches, which isn't Chelsea football. ... Chelsea 2, Everton 0
Last round: 3-4
Season: 149-171
Labels: Monday recaps, Premier League, Soccer
Here's what I think is funny about ManU's XI this weekend...Sir Punchnutz says that the pitch was poor and he didn't want to risk his superstars. Fine enough, but he did start Tevez, which has gotta be yet another slap in the face of Carlito. Tough run up there from the end of last season 'til now. He'd start on, what, 17 or 18 other clubs in the league? Gonna be interesting to see where he goes this summer...