This will be a bit of an abbreviated effort today because last night I went with Bigus to see the Star Trek movie. My verdict is a solid B+. Bigus got hung up on some of the large plot holes and is closer to a B/B-. (Headline fixed... I told you it was an abbreviated effort!)So, turning to footy, Sunday is the Manchester derby as well as the London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal. Oh, and on Saturday some team called Liverpool plays West Ham. Not that it matters, because Man U has already won the title. Full fixture list after the jump, along with your comments.
All times EST....
Premier League (suck it, Barclays)
Saturday
10:00 Blackburn v Portsmouth
10:00 Bolton v Sunderland
10:00 Everton v Tottenham (FSC)
10:00 Fulham v Aston Villa (Setanta)
10:00 Hull v Stoke
10:00 West Brom v Wigan
12:30 West Ham v Liverpool (FSC)
Sunday
8:30 Man Utd v Man City (Setanta)
11:00 Arsenal v Chelsea (FSC)
Other games...
Saturday
12:20 Burnley v Reading
2:30 Lazio v Udinese (FSC)
4:00 Valencia v Real Madrid (Gol)
7:00 Columbus v Kansas City (FSC)
9:00 Houston v Dallas (ESPN2)
Sunday
9:00 Chievo v Inter (FSC)
11:00 Werder Bremen v Hamburger (Gol)
1:00 Barcelona v Villareal (Gol)
2:30 AC Milan v Juve (FSC)
3:00 Atletico Madrid vs Espanyol (Gol)
6:00 Chicago Red Stars vs Sky Blue FC (FSC)
Rangers up 1-0 in 56th. WGS not happy.
ReplyDeleteAnd btw, "bolding"? Did Abrams screw that up?
ReplyDeleteRangers really showing no ill effects from their captain's and keeper's drinking escapades. Absorbing all the pressure that Celtic put on them. Part of that can be put down to Edu. He has really come from nowhere as far as Walter Smith is concerned.
ReplyDeleteDo all the Old Firm derbies kick at 10 am local time? Are they trying to curb the drinking related violence and doesn't this just encourage them to stay up all night?
ReplyDeleteAlso on the docket today, Germany-England in the Euro U-17 championships.
ReplyDelete12.30, in fact. Probably to curb all day drinking, and to accomodate pan-UK TV. 3.00 kickoffs would, of course, run up against EPL.
ReplyDeleteQuestion of the day--
ReplyDeleteBeyond Rangers and Celtic, how would MLS teams fare in the SPL? Consider Andy Dorman, who went from New England to St Mirren and has done well enough to attract attention from Rangers (I think) for a possible summer sale. Is it fair to say his transition was rather easy because of the equal level of play between the two leagues?
Rangers down to milking the clock after hard tackles. Under 2 minutes of regular time.
ReplyDeleteYeah, after Rangers and Celtic... the MLS might even be able to put a 3rd place team in the SPL. From what I've seen (which is not much) the two leagues seem on par.
ReplyDeleteA little more athleticism and better work rates from MLS players, but more skill (better first touch) in the SPL.
Last chance for Celtic.
ReplyDeleteThere it is. Rangers are in the driver's seat for the SPL championship.
ReplyDeleteJesus, Celtic and Rangers with GD of +46 and +45 respectively after this morning. The next best is +4.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone's in the DC area, I'll be at Fado tomorrow for Arse-Chelsea. If you were already going there, there's still time to make alternate plans.
ReplyDeleteu75--how did Edu do? That sounds funny if you say it out loud.
ReplyDeleteAll sorts of relegation zone match-ups today in Le Prem. I'm holding out hope that both Stoke and Hull survive.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I turned the game on late and then didn't even focus on him. Once I realized he was in the game (full 90 played) I started to look out for him. He looks to be the lynchpin that rangers funnel the ball through. Very involved in everything going forward, though Rangers were mostly in defending mode.
ReplyDeleteGood thing I hadn't planned on heading off to the bar today - a bunch of dejected/angry drunk Celtic fans would not have been the best company in the world...
ReplyDeleteI guess the world has a way of balancing things out. For every good thing like naked pictures of Rihanna, a bad thing like Chuck Daly dying has to happen.
ReplyDeleteJesus, West Brom refuses to die, and Hull refuses to live...
ReplyDeleteBaggies making a strong drive towards safety. And what the hell is happening at Villa? Fulham isn't a bad team by an stretch of the imagination, but for Villa to be losing to them 3-1 is kinda shocking.
ReplyDeleteZaki injured after only 8 minutes as a sub. Looks very bad too.
ReplyDelete@TFA: Really sucks about Chuck Daly.
ReplyDeleteWho wants to text me updates for the second half of the Pool game.
ReplyDelete@Spectator: Yeah. Can't say I was ever a Pistons fan, but Daly was a good coach. Well respected.
ReplyDeleteCrap. That is sad about Daly. Though I don't like the NBA now precisely of the defense-first attitude that Daly instituted as coach of the Pistons, I loved it when they were winning with said defense. For better or worse, he changed the game.
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I've been paying attention, but the Turkish league has a team kind of like Hoffenheim vying for the title. Sivasspor have never won the Turkish title, and have only been in the Super League for 4 season. With four rounds leaft, they lead the league by a point over Besiktas, who lost earlier today. However, Sivasspor hiccupped last week and are down early this week against a relegation threatened club. Nervy times for the club.
ReplyDeleteAnd while I was writing that, Sivasspor went 0-2 down in the 19th.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Hoffenheim, they got their first win since January (maybe?). 2-0 versus Cologne.
ReplyDeleteLast Hoffenheim win--Jan. 31. Frontrunners Wolfsburg lost 4-1 to Stuttgart to fall into a tie on points with Bayern. Mario Gomez hit all four for Stuttgart.
ReplyDelete78 seconds. Wow.
ReplyDeleteHey Georger, what did you choose today?
ReplyDeleteI'm going at halftime.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you'll miss much.
ReplyDeleteStrike what I said about Besiktas earlier, that was from last week. Besiktas are up against Ankaraspor and would leapfrog Sivasspor with a win.
ReplyDeleteWow, I go pee and Liverpool's 1 up already. Pretty good start I'd say.
ReplyDeleteI think you're safe to leave already.
ReplyDeleteGeorger: I should be able to update via text.
ReplyDeleteIs it bad that I think these two colors are more confusing than if Liverpool wore their red shirts today?
ReplyDeleteI love these kits, love them.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, thanks.
ReplyDeleteApparently Arbeloa thought they were wearing red today, if you go by his undershirt.
ReplyDeleteJesus where was this ruthlessness during the holiday season?
ReplyDeleteStevie used it up when he wanted to listen to his Phil Collins
ReplyDeleteSivasspor just got lucky with a desperate, last man back tackle. Got just enough of the ball before the man, I guess.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me or is Upton Park very narrow?
ReplyDeleteI got a text at 4am today from my Man U supporting buddy bragging about their CL win. Such a twat.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Upton Park is a short and narrow field. From my view, one of the smallest in the Prem.
ReplyDeleteYou haven't dropped him as a friend?
ReplyDelete110 x 70 yards; Anfield is only 110 x 75.
ReplyDeleteGot a feeling West Ham are definitely gonna score at least one.
ReplyDelete@Umlaut: Naw, he's good people, when he's not drinking. Alas, he may be an alcoholic, so . . . yeah.
ReplyDeleteAlbert Riera in goal apparently ...
ReplyDeleteDoesn't 'Pool operate better, tactically, when going through the middle?
ReplyDeleteSivasspor can't catch a break. Free kick hit the underside of the bar, bounced out to one of their players who was then saved on the immediate shot from a keeper who knew nothing about it.
ReplyDeleteGotta say, I like this Turkish presentation. highlights from other games get Picture-in-picture treatment. Goal flashes are run along the bottom of the screen.
Where are you watching the Turks?
ReplyDeleteWith no Alonso it's not shocking they're focusing a bit more on the flanks.
ReplyDeleteWhen did Sky start using sideline reporters?
ReplyDeleteOnline, natch. If you go to our friends at ONTD, their matchday thread has links to various sites which DO NOT HOST their own content for streams. Anyway, I like using the first one, it has lots of options, usually.
ReplyDeleteThat's now the second time I've heard a "sideline" reporter in the EPL.
ReplyDeleteGrunga Lunga?
ReplyDeleteField Goal!
ReplyDeleteWe've entered the doldrums here at Upton Park.
ReplyDeleteAlright, Turkey's back from HT.
ReplyDeleteHow long before Noble is in a ManU/Chelsea kit?
ReplyDeleteHow was that not a foul on Masch? And then a penno? This guy was inspired by Ovrebo.
ReplyDeleteYeah, dubious call.
ReplyDeleteBoth were fouls.
ReplyDeleteWhy did Yossi cut his hair, that's the bigger question.
Sampdoria is slaughtering Reggina 5-0 in the 53nd.
ReplyDeleteGood job by Green at the initial stop.
ReplyDeleteNot saying that the penalty wasn't one, but the ball never should have been down there.
ReplyDeleteUm, 52nd, I meant above.
ReplyDeleteYeah, you're right.
ReplyDeleteBoa Morte is definitely getting sent off in this game.
Hey buddy, no marking is 100% secure. Otherwise the game would be very boring.
ReplyDeleteIf Skrtel puts on fifteen pounds of muscle he could be one of the best central defenders in the world.
ReplyDeleteDi Michele, that was embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteZola needs to think about taking Boa Morte off at the half.
ReplyDeleteDi Michele - Fail!
Im out, Andrew do me well.
ReplyDeleteFight! IstanbulBB keeper fumbled a ball and Sivasspor player went after it. Keeper got on top of the ball and got kicked. Retribution ensued. Waiting on any cards.
ReplyDeleteNo homo, right Georger? Congrats on the graduation.
ReplyDeleteKeeper still down, but not for the first time. To be fair, he got spiked on the knee. But, he has had various owies in the second half, so who knows how hurt he actually is?
ReplyDeleteOnly a single yellow from the fracas. Ankaraspor have tied up Besiktas, as I can see from the PIP.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, two Sivasspor players try to slide in a ball from 2 yards out, it goes over the bar.
IBB keeper is on the ground again. Sivasspor players do not like it and are surrounding him. This is great.
IBB keeper stretchered off and subbed. Yelled at the whole way by the home side's players.
ReplyDeleteQuestion, are Arsenal going another season without a trophy? Anyone help?
ReplyDelete70th minute and I think the last IBB foray was in the 50th. Sivasspor have to score at some point, but don't seem to be allowing themselves to do so.
ReplyDeleteNope. Arsenal already won the (women's) FA Cup.
ReplyDeleteBesiktas back on top against Ankaraspor. This PIP thing is great. Really wish EPL could steal this, especially for the last day.
ReplyDeleteAlright, Sivasspor are never going to score. Intercepted a backpass, but stonewalled on the one on one.
ReplyDeletePIP now to show me that Besiktas was offside on their last goal, though not called.
ReplyDeleteThere it is. The breakthrough. Sivasspor beat the offside trap and power one home 1-2. Game on, for real.
ReplyDeletethose pics of UPson changing his shorts are going to be ONTD in about two hours.
ReplyDeleteOr not. IBB have pretty much stopped Sivasspor's ability to do anything on the ball. 5 minutes left.
ReplyDeleteThank God!
ReplyDeleteWith just a touch of speed, Kuyt would be very very dangerous
ReplyDeleteha...Drogba disgrace rap.
ReplyDeleteBesiktas have iced their match, while Sivasspor just blew another good chance.
ReplyDeleteAnother Sivasspor shot cleared off the line. Gonna be second after today.
ReplyDeleteSix minutes of added time in Sivas. Besiktas have scored again.
ReplyDeleteFun (?) fact: Yellow card in Turkish is "Sari Kart" or, as I read it, a "sorry card".
ReplyDeleteFinal 1-2 IBB. That was fun. I'll have to pay more attention to this league. Now there's another fight on the pitch between the teams, players and coaches. Mostly shoving, pulling and finger-pointing. For most, at least, some guys really want to mix it up for real, but aren't being allowed to by their own teammates. There's something funny about three guys in the same shirt holding back one of their own.
ReplyDeleteI've heard the Turkish league is very active, with lots of attacking.
ReplyDeleteBurnley take the lead, 1-0 over Reading
ReplyDeleteanyone see the Valenica - Madrid score? 3-0 to Valencia. Yippee!
ReplyDeleteYeah Steve, was a good game.
ReplyDelete