Couldn't think of a theme this week, plus I was a little jammed up otherwise.
Standalone picks are going to have to suffice.
Ok, I'll admit it. I'm just hungover from the Sounders/Union match last night.
Saturday:
* Birmingham City v. Arsenal -- (Live, FSC+, 11 a.m.) March is more like the Birmingham City we thought, 1-2-1. Granted, that's not the story here, it's Arsenal's return to St. Andrews, the sight of Eduardo's awful broken leg. (Interstingly, this link here show's Birmingham City's lineup for that match in Feb. 2008. Talk about turnover.) The Gunners have been exorcising the demons ground-by-ground the last few weeks. Does the trend continue here? Probably, though Arsene Wenger might air with the side of caution with the mega-match with Barcelona looming. Arsenal do face an defending mini-crisis, with Thomas Vermaelen's red card ban, plus the injury to William Gallas. Can Sol Campbell and his mystery partner hold the fort? Let's just say Niclas Bendtner's hot streak better continue. If Birmingham is "up" for this game and doesn't mail it in if Arsenal scores early (they're ought to at least try for the home fans) Camerone Jermone & Co. could cause from trouble. ... Birmingham City 1, Arsenal 3
* West Ham United v. Stoke City -- I can honestly say, West Ham might have played the worst 30-minute stretch of football this season in the EPL Tuesday vs. Wolves. Just and outright disaster. Owner David Sullivan said as much in an open letter on the club website, mind you a very very honest and ballsy letter. As much as you have to love honesty from the top, part of me wonders, if heaping even more pressure on the club really worth it at this point? It's not like they have a wonder-player like Carlos Tevez who can carry the burden all by himself? Blaming the manager, too, is an easy course of action but Gianfranco Zola hasn't done a good job. About the only player he's made better is Diamanti, everyone else has dropped. Granted a lot of the troubles at West Ham come to the ill-fated reign of Alan Curbishley, where players like Luis Boa Morte and Kieron Dyer. Zola's recent signees -- Mido, Ilan, Benni McCarthy and Guille Franco -- haven't quite gotten the job done either. All-and-all, it's a disaster. More than that though, it's survival too, since a drop down to the Championship could spell death for the club, which is about as celebrity endorsed (Russell Brand, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, etc.) as possible. It would be a shame. It just falls on the players to pull out of this tailspin. If Saturday, they can't stop the Delap Bombers, well, it's time to go down. ... West Ham 2, Stoke City 1
* Chelsea v. Aston Villa -- (Live, ESPN Classic, 11 a.m.) Chelsea righted the ship Wednesday at Fratton Park, with a big assist from David James' gaffe-a-roonie. The Blues do lose Ricardo Carvalho's who's craftiness will be missed, especially against Manchester United next month. Against Aston Villa, Alex will be just fine, assuming John Terry regains his form. Chelsea has stumbled vs. Villa, with only two wins in their last eight against the Birmingham club. That said, Villa might just be due for a let down. After a string of four matches in 11 days, Martin O'Neill's club took just six points, going 1-0-3 and are still four point behind Tottenham for fourth place, and would have to leapfrog Manchester City and Liverpool to do it. More concerning, since February in 11 matches, Villa have only kept two clean sheets. For a team based on defense, that doesn't bode well. Oh right, James Milner seemed to pick up an injury, too. Either Villa have thrown in the talent, or this is their last stand. ... Cheslea 2, Aston Villa 0
* Wolves v. Everton -- Sometimes you have to give credit where credit is due and Mick McCarthy has Wolves playing like a team that wants to get relegated in its *second* season in the top flight, not the first. Wolves aren't winning any beauty contests, but at least they're playing with spark and or a purpose. As for Everton, so long as Mikel Arteta is on the field and fit, maybe the Toffees can harbor faint hopes of an unlikely fourth-place run. They're arguably playing as well as anyone in the top half of the table not named Arsenal. ... Wolves 0, Everton 1
* Hull City v. Fulham -- If Hull City somehow survive the drop this season, the club would be wise to take a page from Fulham's current model and follow it. Of course, Phil Brown did have a core team that was successful, moving up the English football ladder until it reach both it and the ladder's peak. The parts Hull has brought it to supplement its core in the Premier League just haven't worked out very well. ... Hull City 1, Fulham 1
* Tottenham v. Portsmouth -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) This one is an FA Cup semifinal preview, which certainly means a lot more to Spurs than Pompey. How Tottenham is going to hang onto fourth with half its team injured will be a marvel, but I have a funny feeling they'll pull it off. Who would have thought Eidur Gudjohnsen would've been the best move in January? The Icelandic forward is a winner. It would be typical Tottenham to follow a gritty away win at Stoke and a nice second half charge in the midweek FA Cup replay vs. Fulham with a giant, sulfur-smelling egg at White Hart Lane against the last place team in the league. Somehow I feel this team might be different. ... Spurs 2, Portsmouth 1
* Bolton v. Manchester United -- (Live, FSC, 1:30 p.m.) No Wayne Rooney? Can United find a way to avoid a major stubbed toe? Since the start of 2010 United haven't won a game where Rooney hasn't scored. So yeah, a little pressure on the Continental & his Merry Band of Red Devils. Barring a fluke set piece, hard to see Bolton scoring here. Whether it's been Paul Scholes, Park Ji-Sung, or even a guy like Nani, every match United is getting somebody to step up when it needs it. Figure that happens here, too. (Update -- Apparently Rooney is fine and will play. Okay, then.) ... Bolton 0, Manchester United 1
Sunday:
* Burnley v. Blackburn -- (Live, FSC+, 7:45 a.m.) Last real chance for Burnley to make an impact this season. Even if they go down to the Championship, the Clarets can at least take some bragging rights by beating their Northwestern rivals. ... Burnley 1, Blackburn 0
* Liverpool v. Sunderland -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Two teams who've disappointed their fans, albeit with a different set of parameters. Guess Liverpool can always point to the beach ball that Darren Bent scored off as the reason it's season derailed. ... Liverpool 2, Sunderland 0
Monday:
* Manchester City v. Wigan Athletic -- (Live, ESPN2, 2:45 p.m.) Seems like some variation of these two clubs are always on the Monday afternoon match, doesn't it? Unless Tevez takes over, this one might not have a lot in it with Roberto Mancini still thinking he's in Italy. Settle down buddy. ... City 1, Wigan 0
Last round: 1-4
Season: 162-141
Standalone picks are going to have to suffice.
Ok, I'll admit it. I'm just hungover from the Sounders/Union match last night.
Saturday:
* Birmingham City v. Arsenal -- (Live, FSC+, 11 a.m.) March is more like the Birmingham City we thought, 1-2-1. Granted, that's not the story here, it's Arsenal's return to St. Andrews, the sight of Eduardo's awful broken leg. (Interstingly, this link here show's Birmingham City's lineup for that match in Feb. 2008. Talk about turnover.) The Gunners have been exorcising the demons ground-by-ground the last few weeks. Does the trend continue here? Probably, though Arsene Wenger might air with the side of caution with the mega-match with Barcelona looming. Arsenal do face an defending mini-crisis, with Thomas Vermaelen's red card ban, plus the injury to William Gallas. Can Sol Campbell and his mystery partner hold the fort? Let's just say Niclas Bendtner's hot streak better continue. If Birmingham is "up" for this game and doesn't mail it in if Arsenal scores early (they're ought to at least try for the home fans) Camerone Jermone & Co. could cause from trouble. ... Birmingham City 1, Arsenal 3
* West Ham United v. Stoke City -- I can honestly say, West Ham might have played the worst 30-minute stretch of football this season in the EPL Tuesday vs. Wolves. Just and outright disaster. Owner David Sullivan said as much in an open letter on the club website, mind you a very very honest and ballsy letter. As much as you have to love honesty from the top, part of me wonders, if heaping even more pressure on the club really worth it at this point? It's not like they have a wonder-player like Carlos Tevez who can carry the burden all by himself? Blaming the manager, too, is an easy course of action but Gianfranco Zola hasn't done a good job. About the only player he's made better is Diamanti, everyone else has dropped. Granted a lot of the troubles at West Ham come to the ill-fated reign of Alan Curbishley, where players like Luis Boa Morte and Kieron Dyer. Zola's recent signees -- Mido, Ilan, Benni McCarthy and Guille Franco -- haven't quite gotten the job done either. All-and-all, it's a disaster. More than that though, it's survival too, since a drop down to the Championship could spell death for the club, which is about as celebrity endorsed (Russell Brand, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, etc.) as possible. It would be a shame. It just falls on the players to pull out of this tailspin. If Saturday, they can't stop the Delap Bombers, well, it's time to go down. ... West Ham 2, Stoke City 1
* Chelsea v. Aston Villa -- (Live, ESPN Classic, 11 a.m.) Chelsea righted the ship Wednesday at Fratton Park, with a big assist from David James' gaffe-a-roonie. The Blues do lose Ricardo Carvalho's who's craftiness will be missed, especially against Manchester United next month. Against Aston Villa, Alex will be just fine, assuming John Terry regains his form. Chelsea has stumbled vs. Villa, with only two wins in their last eight against the Birmingham club. That said, Villa might just be due for a let down. After a string of four matches in 11 days, Martin O'Neill's club took just six points, going 1-0-3 and are still four point behind Tottenham for fourth place, and would have to leapfrog Manchester City and Liverpool to do it. More concerning, since February in 11 matches, Villa have only kept two clean sheets. For a team based on defense, that doesn't bode well. Oh right, James Milner seemed to pick up an injury, too. Either Villa have thrown in the talent, or this is their last stand. ... Cheslea 2, Aston Villa 0
* Wolves v. Everton -- Sometimes you have to give credit where credit is due and Mick McCarthy has Wolves playing like a team that wants to get relegated in its *second* season in the top flight, not the first. Wolves aren't winning any beauty contests, but at least they're playing with spark and or a purpose. As for Everton, so long as Mikel Arteta is on the field and fit, maybe the Toffees can harbor faint hopes of an unlikely fourth-place run. They're arguably playing as well as anyone in the top half of the table not named Arsenal. ... Wolves 0, Everton 1
* Hull City v. Fulham -- If Hull City somehow survive the drop this season, the club would be wise to take a page from Fulham's current model and follow it. Of course, Phil Brown did have a core team that was successful, moving up the English football ladder until it reach both it and the ladder's peak. The parts Hull has brought it to supplement its core in the Premier League just haven't worked out very well. ... Hull City 1, Fulham 1
* Tottenham v. Portsmouth -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) This one is an FA Cup semifinal preview, which certainly means a lot more to Spurs than Pompey. How Tottenham is going to hang onto fourth with half its team injured will be a marvel, but I have a funny feeling they'll pull it off. Who would have thought Eidur Gudjohnsen would've been the best move in January? The Icelandic forward is a winner. It would be typical Tottenham to follow a gritty away win at Stoke and a nice second half charge in the midweek FA Cup replay vs. Fulham with a giant, sulfur-smelling egg at White Hart Lane against the last place team in the league. Somehow I feel this team might be different. ... Spurs 2, Portsmouth 1
* Bolton v. Manchester United -- (Live, FSC, 1:30 p.m.) No Wayne Rooney? Can United find a way to avoid a major stubbed toe? Since the start of 2010 United haven't won a game where Rooney hasn't scored. So yeah, a little pressure on the Continental & his Merry Band of Red Devils. Barring a fluke set piece, hard to see Bolton scoring here. Whether it's been Paul Scholes, Park Ji-Sung, or even a guy like Nani, every match United is getting somebody to step up when it needs it. Figure that happens here, too. (Update -- Apparently Rooney is fine and will play. Okay, then.) ... Bolton 0, Manchester United 1
Sunday:
* Burnley v. Blackburn -- (Live, FSC+, 7:45 a.m.) Last real chance for Burnley to make an impact this season. Even if they go down to the Championship, the Clarets can at least take some bragging rights by beating their Northwestern rivals. ... Burnley 1, Blackburn 0
* Liverpool v. Sunderland -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Two teams who've disappointed their fans, albeit with a different set of parameters. Guess Liverpool can always point to the beach ball that Darren Bent scored off as the reason it's season derailed. ... Liverpool 2, Sunderland 0
Monday:
* Manchester City v. Wigan Athletic -- (Live, ESPN2, 2:45 p.m.) Seems like some variation of these two clubs are always on the Monday afternoon match, doesn't it? Unless Tevez takes over, this one might not have a lot in it with Roberto Mancini still thinking he's in Italy. Settle down buddy. ... City 1, Wigan 0
Last round: 1-4
Season: 162-141
Labels: English Premier League, EPL, Prem Picks, Soccer
Mancini was a total hothead as a player so it's not surprising that he would freak out on the sideline. However, Moyes seems like the last guy you'd wanna get aggro with.
Man City plays on Mondays more than the Dallas Cowboys.
Rooney owns Bolton...I predict a hatrick. What's with the ESPN game not in HD? And Chelsea at that? Someone in Bristol can't figure it out, Chelsea is probably the second most popular team in the USA (purely subjectively speaking, they are actually probably 4th). But great, we get to see Man City and Wigan in HD. Cuz, you know, Tevez and Rodallega look more handsome in HD. (Ugh)