Not going to waste anybody's time on a preamble, as we ease back toward club season.
Crazy day Thursday left me with little time to write. Let me just say, it would be nice for the Premier League to have some consistency in its scheduling. For example, why no noon-ish game on Saturday? Doesn't make sense. If you want to emulate the NFL, at least be consistent with the games each week, no?
Saturday
* Aston Villa v. Chelsea -- (Live, ESPN2, 7:30 a.m.) Villa have been a bit of a bogey team for Chelsea. Villa, however, might share the same "juice" pot as Randy Lerner's other team, the hapless Cleveland Browns. Perhaps they can work on some sort of cross-sport trade, with Derek Anderson moving to the Midlands and unhappy striker Emile Heseky going to northeast Ohio. Hell, crazier things have happened. Something to note with Chelsea, its quietly resigning core players, which should be key since it can't bring in any new transfers. ... Villa 1, Chelsea 3
* Arsenal v. Birmingham City -- Let's just put it this way, Birmingham has five goals on the season. Arsenal has two six-goal games and two-four goal games. Let's hope Eduardo doesn't have some kind of strange, Vietnam-vet like flashback if he sees the field. ... Arsenal 3, Birmingham 0
* Everton v. Wolves -- The Toffees are back into the middle of the table, which makes sense. If you've seen those new "FIFA 10" ads, try to spot the quick Tim Cahill cameo. ... Everton 1, Wolves 0
* Manchester United v. Bolton -- (Live, Setanta, 10 a.m.) What goes through Sir Alex Ferguson's mind when he sees Nani score and play well on Portugal duty. Does he quietly fume? Usually this is a match United rolls, but last time we saw them, the stench from Old Trafford could be smelled across the Pond. Bolton? Eh? Not outright terrible, but don't seem to have any consistent mojo from week-to-week. ... Manchester United 2, Bolton 1
* Portsmouth v. Tottenham -- (Live, possibly, Fox Sports en Espanol, 10 a.m.) Little known factoid, Portsmouth players won't wear their usual numbers for this match, instead price tags to hopefully woo and distract old Harry Redknapp. Wonder what kind of reception he gets at Fratton Park? Can you blame him for leaving? ... Portsmouth 1, Tottenham 2
* Stoke City v. West Ham United -- A loss here, and the whispers around Upton Park continue to grow. ... Stoke City 2, West Ham United 0
* Sunderland v. Liverpool -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) Very interesting game, since Sunderland has shown whiffs of friskiness, simply from its Darren Bent/Kenwyne Jones combo up top. For comparison's sake, Bent has seven goals and Jones has five. Fernando Torres leads the Premier League with eight, but the next highest on Liverpool are Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun with three, and Yossi's all came in one match. Does this mean much? We'll see. Sunderland 1, Liverpool 1
Sunday
* Blackburn v. Burnley -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Worth getting up early for due to the hatred both teams, well, small industrial towns have toward each other. Definitely one of the best "More Than A Game" features from an old 'FourFourTwo' magazine. Winning this match might be able to kickstart Blackburn's otherwise flat-lining season. ... Blackburn 2, Burnley 1
* Wigan Athletic v. Manchester City -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Man, we sure have gotten a healthy dose of Wigan this year, haven't we? ... Wigan 1, City 3
Monday
* Fulham v. Hull City -- (Live, ESPN2, 3 p.m.) Doubtful we'll see Clint Dempsey, maybe we'll get Jozy. Really, Phil Brown, why not play the young American striker? The game is on in the States. You'll win some fans in the process. He wants to score for Charlie Davies. Come on. Do it. If that doesn't do anything, watch the wry smile on Roy Hodgson's face when he looks over to see an injured Jimmy Bullard on the Hull bench. The check has probably already cleared on that one. ... Fulham 1, Hull City 0
Last week: 3-7
Season: 43-33
Crazy day Thursday left me with little time to write. Let me just say, it would be nice for the Premier League to have some consistency in its scheduling. For example, why no noon-ish game on Saturday? Doesn't make sense. If you want to emulate the NFL, at least be consistent with the games each week, no?
Saturday
* Aston Villa v. Chelsea -- (Live, ESPN2, 7:30 a.m.) Villa have been a bit of a bogey team for Chelsea. Villa, however, might share the same "juice" pot as Randy Lerner's other team, the hapless Cleveland Browns. Perhaps they can work on some sort of cross-sport trade, with Derek Anderson moving to the Midlands and unhappy striker Emile Heseky going to northeast Ohio. Hell, crazier things have happened. Something to note with Chelsea, its quietly resigning core players, which should be key since it can't bring in any new transfers. ... Villa 1, Chelsea 3
* Arsenal v. Birmingham City -- Let's just put it this way, Birmingham has five goals on the season. Arsenal has two six-goal games and two-four goal games. Let's hope Eduardo doesn't have some kind of strange, Vietnam-vet like flashback if he sees the field. ... Arsenal 3, Birmingham 0
* Everton v. Wolves -- The Toffees are back into the middle of the table, which makes sense. If you've seen those new "FIFA 10" ads, try to spot the quick Tim Cahill cameo. ... Everton 1, Wolves 0
* Manchester United v. Bolton -- (Live, Setanta, 10 a.m.) What goes through Sir Alex Ferguson's mind when he sees Nani score and play well on Portugal duty. Does he quietly fume? Usually this is a match United rolls, but last time we saw them, the stench from Old Trafford could be smelled across the Pond. Bolton? Eh? Not outright terrible, but don't seem to have any consistent mojo from week-to-week. ... Manchester United 2, Bolton 1
* Portsmouth v. Tottenham -- (Live, possibly, Fox Sports en Espanol, 10 a.m.) Little known factoid, Portsmouth players won't wear their usual numbers for this match, instead price tags to hopefully woo and distract old Harry Redknapp. Wonder what kind of reception he gets at Fratton Park? Can you blame him for leaving? ... Portsmouth 1, Tottenham 2
* Stoke City v. West Ham United -- A loss here, and the whispers around Upton Park continue to grow. ... Stoke City 2, West Ham United 0
* Sunderland v. Liverpool -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) Very interesting game, since Sunderland has shown whiffs of friskiness, simply from its Darren Bent/Kenwyne Jones combo up top. For comparison's sake, Bent has seven goals and Jones has five. Fernando Torres leads the Premier League with eight, but the next highest on Liverpool are Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun with three, and Yossi's all came in one match. Does this mean much? We'll see. Sunderland 1, Liverpool 1
Sunday
* Blackburn v. Burnley -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Worth getting up early for due to the hatred both teams, well, small industrial towns have toward each other. Definitely one of the best "More Than A Game" features from an old 'FourFourTwo' magazine. Winning this match might be able to kickstart Blackburn's otherwise flat-lining season. ... Blackburn 2, Burnley 1
* Wigan Athletic v. Manchester City -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Man, we sure have gotten a healthy dose of Wigan this year, haven't we? ... Wigan 1, City 3
Monday
* Fulham v. Hull City -- (Live, ESPN2, 3 p.m.) Doubtful we'll see Clint Dempsey, maybe we'll get Jozy. Really, Phil Brown, why not play the young American striker? The game is on in the States. You'll win some fans in the process. He wants to score for Charlie Davies. Come on. Do it. If that doesn't do anything, watch the wry smile on Roy Hodgson's face when he looks over to see an injured Jimmy Bullard on the Hull bench. The check has probably already cleared on that one. ... Fulham 1, Hull City 0
Last week: 3-7
Season: 43-33
Labels: English Premier League, Prem Picks, Premier League, Soccer
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