Well campers, so much for any late drama at the top.
It's still conceivably possible that Manchester United could go ass-up and Liverpool sneaks in to steal the title. It all comes down to Arsenal. Can the Gunners atone for the Champions League knockout and make Manchester United's life miserable?
Anyway, I'm pressed for time to write this. Since there's no drama at the top of the Premiership, look to Der Motherland if you want a title chase.
Five teams -- Wolfsburg, Bayern, Hertha Berlin, Stuttgart and maybe even Martin Jol's Hamburg -- have a chance to claim the big glided German plate with two rounds of fixtures left.
Meanwhile, there are five teams that still are fighting off the death sentence that is relegation to the League Championship -- Sunderland, Newcastle, Hull, Middlesbrough and amazingly West Brom. I'm personally saying Portsmouth is safe on 38 points.
Is it just me, or is this year's relegation fight less dramatic than years past since the teams involved in it have all be pretty lousy all season and haven't done anything that warrants their inclusion in what's considered the best league in the world? Maybe Newcastle, just for it's ongoing craziness around the club should stick around, but everybody else? You won't really be missed or forgotten.
Saturday
* Manchester United v. Arsenal -- (Live, Setanta, 7:45 a.m.) A draw and United pop the champagne and dust off the silly hats. Arsenal pretty much was shit-stomped by Chelsea last week. So do the Gunners even care anymore at this point? One thing to consider is that United's defense has been prone to errors and lapses as of late. ... United 2, Arsenal 1
* Bolton v. Hull City -- So what's the bigger surprise: that Hull City remained in the top half of the table for the first half of the season? or that the Tigers are now back at the bottom where we expected preseason? ... Bolton 1, Hull City 1
* Everton v. West Ham -- The Toffees best hope their run to the FA Cup doesn't follow the trajectory of West Ham's from 2006. ... Everton 2, West Ham 0
* Middlesbrough v. Aston Villa -- Middlesbrough likely needs to win both its games to have a chance. Considering Aston Villa mentally checked out in February, they should be up for the game. Too bad the 'Boro attack has been about as potent as one of Jack Donaghy's would-be fathers from last week's '30 Rock'. You know, the one with the gruesome war injury in a very sensitive spot. ... Middlesbrough 1, Aston Villa 0
* Newcastle United v. Fulham -- (Live, Setanta, 10 a.m.) Let me say this. If I wasn't so lazy, I'd be sure to order the 2008-09 Newcastle United team DVD. Even though Fulham is much improved, there are no excuses here Alan Shearer. Show some guts and get the win. ... Newcastle United 2, Fulham 1
* Stoke City v. Wigan Athletic -- Like teams looking in the mirror. Maybe Tony Pulis stole Paul Jewell's playbook from when the Latics were promoted. ... Stoke 1, Wigan 0
* Tottenham v. Manchester City -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) Spurs will probably spend like their usual drunken sailor selves over the summer. Meanwhile City will spend like Sheiks, which is probably better, I think. ... Spurs 3, City 1
Sunday
* West Brom v. Liverpool -- (Live, Setanta, 8:45 a.m.) How can you figure this game out? You can't. How do you figure this game probably means more at the kickoff to West Brom than Liverpool. You'd think Liverpool zombie-shuffles through this one, but Steven Gerrard has too much pride for that. ... West Brom 0, Liverpool 2
* Chelsea v. Blackburn -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Meh. ... Chelsea 3, Blackburn 0
Monday
* Portsmouth v. Sunderland -- (Live, Setanta, 2:45 p.m.) These two teams down the stretch have combined for about as much gusto as a pack of early 1990s Gen-Xers (remember that term) at a Bjork concert. Nothing personal, but as I've said for weeks, Sunderland has probably done the least this season to show it belongs. ... Portsmouth 1, Sunderland 0
Last round: 5-5
Season: 168-185
It's still conceivably possible that Manchester United could go ass-up and Liverpool sneaks in to steal the title. It all comes down to Arsenal. Can the Gunners atone for the Champions League knockout and make Manchester United's life miserable?
Anyway, I'm pressed for time to write this. Since there's no drama at the top of the Premiership, look to Der Motherland if you want a title chase.
Five teams -- Wolfsburg, Bayern, Hertha Berlin, Stuttgart and maybe even Martin Jol's Hamburg -- have a chance to claim the big glided German plate with two rounds of fixtures left.
Meanwhile, there are five teams that still are fighting off the death sentence that is relegation to the League Championship -- Sunderland, Newcastle, Hull, Middlesbrough and amazingly West Brom. I'm personally saying Portsmouth is safe on 38 points.
Is it just me, or is this year's relegation fight less dramatic than years past since the teams involved in it have all be pretty lousy all season and haven't done anything that warrants their inclusion in what's considered the best league in the world? Maybe Newcastle, just for it's ongoing craziness around the club should stick around, but everybody else? You won't really be missed or forgotten.
Saturday
* Manchester United v. Arsenal -- (Live, Setanta, 7:45 a.m.) A draw and United pop the champagne and dust off the silly hats. Arsenal pretty much was shit-stomped by Chelsea last week. So do the Gunners even care anymore at this point? One thing to consider is that United's defense has been prone to errors and lapses as of late. ... United 2, Arsenal 1
* Bolton v. Hull City -- So what's the bigger surprise: that Hull City remained in the top half of the table for the first half of the season? or that the Tigers are now back at the bottom where we expected preseason? ... Bolton 1, Hull City 1
* Everton v. West Ham -- The Toffees best hope their run to the FA Cup doesn't follow the trajectory of West Ham's from 2006. ... Everton 2, West Ham 0
* Middlesbrough v. Aston Villa -- Middlesbrough likely needs to win both its games to have a chance. Considering Aston Villa mentally checked out in February, they should be up for the game. Too bad the 'Boro attack has been about as potent as one of Jack Donaghy's would-be fathers from last week's '30 Rock'. You know, the one with the gruesome war injury in a very sensitive spot. ... Middlesbrough 1, Aston Villa 0
* Newcastle United v. Fulham -- (Live, Setanta, 10 a.m.) Let me say this. If I wasn't so lazy, I'd be sure to order the 2008-09 Newcastle United team DVD. Even though Fulham is much improved, there are no excuses here Alan Shearer. Show some guts and get the win. ... Newcastle United 2, Fulham 1
* Stoke City v. Wigan Athletic -- Like teams looking in the mirror. Maybe Tony Pulis stole Paul Jewell's playbook from when the Latics were promoted. ... Stoke 1, Wigan 0
* Tottenham v. Manchester City -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) Spurs will probably spend like their usual drunken sailor selves over the summer. Meanwhile City will spend like Sheiks, which is probably better, I think. ... Spurs 3, City 1
Sunday
* West Brom v. Liverpool -- (Live, Setanta, 8:45 a.m.) How can you figure this game out? You can't. How do you figure this game probably means more at the kickoff to West Brom than Liverpool. You'd think Liverpool zombie-shuffles through this one, but Steven Gerrard has too much pride for that. ... West Brom 0, Liverpool 2
* Chelsea v. Blackburn -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Meh. ... Chelsea 3, Blackburn 0
Monday
* Portsmouth v. Sunderland -- (Live, Setanta, 2:45 p.m.) These two teams down the stretch have combined for about as much gusto as a pack of early 1990s Gen-Xers (remember that term) at a Bjork concert. Nothing personal, but as I've said for weeks, Sunderland has probably done the least this season to show it belongs. ... Portsmouth 1, Sunderland 0
Last round: 5-5
Season: 168-185
Labels: Prem Picks, Premier League, Soccer
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