World Cup and European leagues

[Stinger]

Chelsea was an embarrassment to the EPL on Tuesday. I thought I was watching italian football out there.

Manchester United looked incredible and I'm still trying to figure out how they only got one in the back.  They absolutely dominated.

[ScotsFan]

Chelsea was an embarrassment to the EPL on Tuesday. I thought I was watching italian football out there.

Manchester United looked incredible and I'm still trying to figure out how they only got one in the back.  They absolutely dominated.

I didn't get to catch either match but I did see highlights of the ManU match and I hope they don't regret not being able to come away with more than just a 1-0 result.  I'm not trying to say that a 1-0 result isn't a good thing as the Red Devils did keep the Gunners from picking up a crucial away goal which is always a good thing.  But in all reality, ManU should have come away from that match with at least a 2 or 3 goal cushion heading to the Emirates.

As far as Chelea are concerned, I always think they are an embarrassment to the EPL...      8) 

[sac]

7 of the 8 bottom teams in the Premiership all lost this weekend, with Aston Villa/Hull coming on Monday.  A game Hull isn't likely to win, but it would be massive if they did.

Newcastle were poor vs Liverpool losing 3-0, not looking good for them at all.  Next match is with current relegation struggling partner Middlesborough.........loser goes down, book it........a draw could be disaster for both clubs.

Liverpool keep the pressure on at the top, still 3 back with a game in hand for United.


In promotion news, Birmingham sealed  a quick return to the EPL.......so Wolverhampton, Birmingham go up.............Sheff Utd, Reading, Burnley and Preston will battle in the playoff.

Interesting at the bottom of the Championship League, 3 teams go down who were recently in the Premiership.  Southampton, Charlton and Norwich.

[Joe Wally]

Charlton is really a shock.  They never reached the level of the top four, but were always a competitive club that employed its money reasonably, at least while Curbishley was in charge.  They removed him in order to shake things up, and have been sliding downhill ever since.

[sac]

Aston Villa 1 Hull 0...........alll 8 bottom teams lost last weekend.

[Gray Fox]

Would you call this "Excessive Celebration"?

Player on Fire

I'm sorry it is in Portuguese.

[ScotsFan]

ManU now just needs 4 points over the next 3 games to secure their 3rd straight Premiership Trophy with their win in the Manchester Derby yesterday!  Their 3 remaining fixtures are at Wigan on Wednesday, hosting Arsenal Saturday and at Hull City the final Sunday of the season.  I would be surprised if ManU didn't get the full 9 let alone not get the 4 points needed to secure the title.

In other notes, it looks as though Carlos Tevez wants out of ManU but wants to stay in the Premier League.  It's rumored that ManCity and Chelsea appear to be leading the way to secure his services for next year and Totty is joining the fray as well for domestic clubs.  Real Madrid is supposedly also interested.

[sac]

ManU for all purposes won it Sunday..........they have to lose twice and unless Wigan and Hull pull off miracles it isn't happening.

at the bottom........

Newcastle beat Middlesborough 3-1 today to pull themselves off the drop into 17th.  The win pulls a couple more teams back into the fray that were hopeing for a draw today.

13 Bolton  40
14 Blackburn  40
15 Portsmouth  38
16 Sunderland  36
17 Newcastle  34

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

18 Hull 34
19 Middlesbrough  31
20 West Brom  31

Technically Bolton and Blackburn are still in trouble but realisticly they're safe.

Bolton  ~  Hull City, @ Man City
Blackburn ~ Chelsea, @ West Ham
Portsmouth ~ Sunderland, @ Wigan
Sunderland ~ @ Portsmouth, Chelsea
Newcastle ~ Fulham, @ Aston Villa
Hull City ~ @ Bolton, Man Utd
Middlesborough ~  Aston Villa, @ West Ham
West Brom ~ Liverpool, @ Blackburn

Newcastle's finish is the hardest in my opinion  with #7 Fulham and #5 Aston Villa.  Thats why today's win was so huge for them.  They hold a 7 goal lead over Hull in goal difference.......11 and 12 over West  Brom and Middlesborough

Hull City hasn't won an EPL game since Dec 6 against Middlesborough, also the only win since October 25.  20 games with 5 draws.  They aren't likely to beat Bolton or United.  Though they may get a weakened United team if eveything's settled by then.


Also Liverpool still haven't clinched the free pass into Champions league group play yet.........3 points over Chelsea

Liverpool ~ @ West Brom,  Tottenham
Chelsea ~  Blackburn, @ Sunderland

[ScotsFan]

Well, now all ManU needs is a draw at home vs. Arsenal or away at Hull City after their 2-1 win at Wigan yesterday! 

Wigan made the defending champs sweat taking the early 1-0 lead.  But ManU responded as Carlos Teves may have had extra incentive given the transfer rumors as he leveled the match in the 61st minute!  And then Michael Carrick ended the suspense in the 86th minute for yet another late United game winner!

I'm sure that the Gunners would like nothing better than to spoil ManU's party or at least postpone it.  But given Arsenal's recent poor form, I'm not too sure they will be able to pull off the upset at Old Trafford even if they wanted to...

[Hoosier Titan]

Congratulations to Manchester United for securing the EPL title this year.  And good luck to Carlos Tevez, wherever he finds himself next season.

Liverpool still have a lot to be proud of.  They have scored more points in the league than ever before, they've outscored Man U and lost fewer games, and they beat the champions twice (4-1 at Old Trafford.)  And they still have a lot to play for:  second counts for a lot in Champions League qualifying.  And there is a score to settle with Tottenham in the last game (Robbie Keane can be excused for having a score to settle with Liverpool as well).

[sac]

at the bottom.........

disaster for Newcastle as Hull City gain a point with a 1-1 draw at Bolton and Newcastle lose at home to Fulham.
16 Sunderland 36
17 Hull  35
-----------------------------
18 Newcastle 34
19 Middlesborough 32
20 West Brom 31

Newcastle finishes at 6th placed Aston Villa next weekend.  Hull faces Man Utd.  Middlesborough plays West Ham.  Newcastle does hold the goal differential edge over Hull, Middlesborough and WestBrom.  Sunderland have 2 matches left, they should squeek by.

West Brom plays Liverpool tommorrow, wouldn't expect anything from that.......and a loss sends them down.

[Joe Wally]

Just wondering, when a team goes down a division, do they usually lower ticket prices?

[Hoosier Titan]

I am at Manchester Airport before flying back to the States, and I just realized I haven't posted anything from here yet.  For the record, this trip was for research, not for footbal!

I have little to report on the Premier League that can't have been gotten in the States.  I got to hear a live broadcast of Liverpool at West Brom Albion last weekend which I found very unnerving; I can't visualize football from the radio as quickly as I can either baseball or basketball.  Plus, when I watched Match of the Day, I realized that West Brom really did create a lot of chances so maybe I was right to be nervous listening to the radio.  They are an attractive side:  they play attacking football, and their fans are incredible.  Even after Liverpool had put the game away--and WBA was doomed to relegation--the fans stayed, close to 20,000 strong, singing and supporting them.  Hope that they keep Tony Mowbray on and that he is able to strengthen the side enough to keep them up when they next return to the EPL.

When I'm on sabbatical at the University of York next spring, our local side will be York City, who played right before I came over against Cambridge United in the FA Trophy Match at Wembley (different to the FA Cup).  About 10,000 YCFC supporters followed them to Wembley, only to see a 0-2 defeat.  Not surprising considering that YCFC finished near the bottom of the Blue Square Premier League while Cambrdge narrowly missed promotion to League Two.  I'm looking forward to seeing some matches at this level.  YCFC is sponsored by Kit Kat, the candy bar, and their park is called the Kit Kat Crescent.  It still has terraces.  Should be interesting.

Back home, we've been invited to the home of an Everton fan next Saturday morning at 8:45 for an FA Cup final party.  I guess we will have to find something blue to wear to support the Toffees against Chelsea.  Our Everton friend has finally accepted that American Liverpool fans can support Everton at times, something he finds personally incredible.

[ScotsFan]

Back home, we've been invited to the home of an Everton fan next Saturday morning at 8:45 for an FA Cup final party.  I guess we will have to find something blue to wear to support the Toffees against Chelsea.  Our Everton friend has finally accepted that American Liverpool fans can support Everton at times, something he finds personally incredible.

Too funny!  +1!   

[Gray Fox]

at the bottom.........

disaster for Newcastle as Hull City gain a point with a 1-1 draw at Bolton and Newcastle lose at home to Fulham.
16 Sunderland 36
17 Hull  35
-----------------------------
18 Newcastle 34
19 Middlesborough 32
20 West Brom 31

Newcastle finishes at 6th placed Aston Villa next weekend.  Hull faces Man Utd.  Middlesborough plays West Ham.  Newcastle does hold the goal differential edge over Hull, Middlesborough and WestBrom.  Sunderland have 2 matches left, they should squeek by.

West Brom plays Liverpool tommorrow, wouldn't expect anything from that.......and a loss sends them down.

Bad news for Newcastle.  Own goal does them in.

http://www.premierleague.com/page/MatchReports/0,,12306~44096,00.html#

Newcastle United's 16-year spell in the Premier League came to an end as Damien Duff's own goal doomed them to a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

Duff deflected a 38th-minute shot from stand-in skipper Gareth Barry past his own goalkeeper Steve Harper to seal their fate.