It probably won't come until Wednesday night, but it's safe to say Sir Alex Ferguson has his favorite trophy engraver on speed dial alert.
Barring Wigan Athletic pulling off a stunning 180 over their perennial bullies, like the Lambdas at the Adams College Greek Games circa, the 2008-09 title chase is over. But we knew that already, didn't we?
Manchester United -- even with the press trying to drum up a Carlos Tevez controversy -- are going to win the Premier League. The potential pratfall against Manchester City was avoided with a standard 2-0 win Sunday morning.
While the title chase fizzled out, the relegation chase is getting crazier that a WWF 'Royal Rumble.' Just when you thought West Brom was flipped over the top ropes, they're pulling a Ric Flair-type miracle.
West Brom does host Liverpool on Sunday. By that point Manchester United might have already clinched the title, so who knows how Rafa Benitez inspires his charges for a meaningless affair in the Midlands? The Baggies end at Blackburn, which is all but safe, on the final game of the season. It's not impossible, but they do have the worst goal differential when it comes to breaking ties.
If the Baggies survive what does it even mean for the Premier League as a whole? West Brom has won a whopping three games in the 2009 calendar year.
On top of that what have Hull City, Sunderland, Newcastle United, Middlesbrough and maybe even Portsmouth shown to the worldwide television audience this season that they deserve to call themselves Premier League clubs?
As I've been writing every week lately, it's not even much of a fight. It's more of a battle of who can suck the least. It's like the old Mag Magazine feature -- "You're a winner and a loser."
At least Newcastle United and Middlesbrough have something to play for in Monday afternoon's insanely important Tyne-Tea derby.
Why I think of this ... -- Wouldn't it be fun to have a team of XI Wayne Rooney's running around. He's essentially playing every position for Manchester United these days. Plus we saw in those old Eric Cantona 'Joga Tv' ads, that Rooney Tunes enjoys playing goalie.
The question loyal reader 30f posted during the first discussion of this scenario, would a team of Rooneys even be able to make it out of the dressing room tunnel?
Another one -- The point of Dmitar Berbatov's string headband? I'll leave it at that.
Miscellania -- Nice goals by Diomansy Kamara for Fulham, though he prolly blinded Aston Villa keeper Brad Friedel with his chesthair. Maybe other teams will copy the Fulham blueprint, whatever that might be. ... Robert Green for England? Nice penalty stop on Gerard, but you're not going to deny the Scouse Lord in that spot, are you? ... Chelsea, that was a very "grr" performance against the Arsenal pups. I'll say it again, Chelsea have the most lethal, cold-blooded team in the Prem and really ought to be kicking themselves for whatever backroom drama Scolari caused, which in the end ruined the Blues' season. ... Speaking of Chelsea, here's a thought from the Ironic Steel Salesman via Facebook :
Good question.
Fantasy Team O' the week -- Honors fall to oldenballs run by Erik Kriebel with 64 points thanks to 28 points from Gerard. At the top, the victory lap is in full effect for La Academia.
Barring Wigan Athletic pulling off a stunning 180 over their perennial bullies, like the Lambdas at the Adams College Greek Games circa, the 2008-09 title chase is over. But we knew that already, didn't we?
Manchester United -- even with the press trying to drum up a Carlos Tevez controversy -- are going to win the Premier League. The potential pratfall against Manchester City was avoided with a standard 2-0 win Sunday morning.
While the title chase fizzled out, the relegation chase is getting crazier that a WWF 'Royal Rumble.' Just when you thought West Brom was flipped over the top ropes, they're pulling a Ric Flair-type miracle.
West Brom does host Liverpool on Sunday. By that point Manchester United might have already clinched the title, so who knows how Rafa Benitez inspires his charges for a meaningless affair in the Midlands? The Baggies end at Blackburn, which is all but safe, on the final game of the season. It's not impossible, but they do have the worst goal differential when it comes to breaking ties.
If the Baggies survive what does it even mean for the Premier League as a whole? West Brom has won a whopping three games in the 2009 calendar year.
On top of that what have Hull City, Sunderland, Newcastle United, Middlesbrough and maybe even Portsmouth shown to the worldwide television audience this season that they deserve to call themselves Premier League clubs?
As I've been writing every week lately, it's not even much of a fight. It's more of a battle of who can suck the least. It's like the old Mag Magazine feature -- "You're a winner and a loser."
At least Newcastle United and Middlesbrough have something to play for in Monday afternoon's insanely important Tyne-Tea derby.
Why I think of this ... -- Wouldn't it be fun to have a team of XI Wayne Rooney's running around. He's essentially playing every position for Manchester United these days. Plus we saw in those old Eric Cantona 'Joga Tv' ads, that Rooney Tunes enjoys playing goalie.
The question loyal reader 30f posted during the first discussion of this scenario, would a team of Rooneys even be able to make it out of the dressing room tunnel?
Another one -- The point of Dmitar Berbatov's string headband? I'll leave it at that.
Miscellania -- Nice goals by Diomansy Kamara for Fulham, though he prolly blinded Aston Villa keeper Brad Friedel with his chesthair. Maybe other teams will copy the Fulham blueprint, whatever that might be. ... Robert Green for England? Nice penalty stop on Gerard, but you're not going to deny the Scouse Lord in that spot, are you? ... Chelsea, that was a very "grr" performance against the Arsenal pups. I'll say it again, Chelsea have the most lethal, cold-blooded team in the Prem and really ought to be kicking themselves for whatever backroom drama Scolari caused, which in the end ruined the Blues' season. ... Speaking of Chelsea, here's a thought from the Ironic Steel Salesman via Facebook :
"How is it that Fabregas gets off hate-free by everyone? Chelsea players are (rightly) called out for being jerks, but Cesc is a jackass of the highest order. He's dirty, he bitches at the officials, he's had two spitting incidents, stomped on Cole when he first came back to the Emirates...does he rescue kittens with feline leukemia or something?"
Good question.
Fantasy Team O' the week -- Honors fall to oldenballs run by Erik Kriebel with 64 points thanks to 28 points from Gerard. At the top, the victory lap is in full effect for La Academia.
Labels: Monday recaps, Premier League, Soccer
You run a hell-of-a-site here. Thanks for all the updated news. I'm sure it take a fair amount of your time.
So, if La Academia pulls through in fantasyland, would you be willing to expand the coverage and give us some real life love next season? Argentina's league, I mean...of course, not our subsequent fantasy team. And while, this Argentine sessions is not over yet, maybe, just maybe, our love of Racing Club has provided 'em with that exxxxtra little push to avoid relegation. Probably not, but one can wish, eh?
My real point in this comment section is to point out that I absolutely agree with Ironic Steel Salesman. I am surprised that he's given a pass for his antics and cheap-as-shit dirtiness. I'm also a bit surprised that more players don't get more physical on him. He's not THAT hard to catch.
Kent
My guess is Team Roon stumbles onto the pitch from the tunnel - amidst a full 'Three Stooges' eye gouge and "Nyuk"-athon.
I believe that Cesc's petulance has grown. Could it be that he is frustrated by the lack of progress at Arsenal?
Picking Fabergas as captain was essentially Wenger's only choice once he stripped Billy G - but that is the problem. It points out how Arsenal doesn't have any grown ups on the team. That is the larger issue for the Arse.
I do not like the rumors of Wenger sniffing around Hangeland. Don't like that one bit!
I think it'd be even funnier if it were a team of Rooneys but Crouchbot as striker. For contrast.
I was a Fabregas fan until be got Arteta sent off at Goodison last season. He did it through faking facial injury on incidental contact (I'm sure you can picure the hands to the face and writhing on the ground.) It had been a cracking game to that point and the Arsenal needed that advantage to sew up the game. That in my mind is not the attitude of a competitive player. I couldn't care less if he never wins anything, in my mind he doesn't deserve it.
Or to keep the 'out of position' vibe going - Blackburn's Samba as the towering striker.
Yes, Fabregas is a prick of the highest order. I'll always remember an incident that happened agains Spurs a few years ago.
Davids got sent off and Fabregas put a consoling arm around his shoulders as he walked off. As soon as the ref turned his back, he took his arm off and gave Davids a huge shove in the back. Davids turned around to complain, but by then, everyone had looked away already. Fabregas walked away with a huge shit-eating grin.
He's not a colossal jackass, he's more of a dirty underhanded weasel, which makes me hate him even more.