Outside the Premiership

Following up on a couple of items not directly related to the EPL.


Ipswich Yes, Sheffield Wednesday No

One Monday night last year, a basketballer in our group asked sarcastically how did Ipswich do over the weekend, thinking he had picked a city without a team.  But, of course, they do have a team - the Tractor Boys - in the Championship Division.  So he (Chris) has been assigned as a fan of the team and at BFS we don't need much more of a reason to follow them.  Turns out they are doing really well.  Ipswich Town are currently in second, which would mean automatic promotion to the Premier League and would create a whole new set of Monday Night Basketball derbies.  Even a 3rd through 6th finish would get them into a playoff for a promotion spot as well.

Earlier in the year we noted that Bob K is involved in a wager in which Sheffield Wednesday have to finish higher than Derby County.  Not going so well, as Derby sit in third with 45 points and Sheffield Wednesday languish in 10th with 35 points.


Who Read That Scale?

Spent some quality time at home recovering from the plague that left me couchside with barely enough energy to watch some of the FA Cup matches.  Liverpool at AFC Wimbledon (4th division) was an absolute blast, partly because of the home side's reluctance to go quietly into the night and partly because of - THE BEAST - Adebayo Akinfenwa!  He would be the one on the left in the picture below.  It was his goal that tied the score late in the first half.  Alas, the fairy tale would end with Steven Gerrard's second goal but the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool was nothing to be ashamed of.    Oh, the AFC Wimbeldon website lists Akinfenwa at 5'11" and 189 pounds.  I want that scale...





A Metaphysical Question

Can superstitious rituals work if you're not watching the event real time?  How can you affect the outcome by wearing your team's scarf while watching the match a day later on dvr? Not that I would tempt fate but I do wonder sometimes.


Return to Normalcy

Slightly more than halfway through so we can't say the second half of the season starts Saturday but close enough. Since Chelsea will be in charge of the ball boys this time, there's no chance for a repeat upset by Newcastle when they travel to Stamford Bridge.  Most interesting match of the weekend for me is Sunday's 11 am match between third place Manchester United and fourth place Southampton at Old Trafford.  Tottenham will hope to keep momentum in another London derby at Crystal Palace - this really should be three for Spurs.  Even at Goodison Park, Man City look to be the favorites over Everton (unless that stoppage time goal in the FA Cup match against West Ham has miraculously turned things around for the Toffees).  And Arsenal should be careful against Stoke; this is always a tough fixture for them.  Relegation flop sweat could be in the air in several matches - Burnley hosting QPR, West Brom hosting Hull City and Aston Villa at Leicester.


And as of 10:30 (ET) on Wednesday, Moussa Sissoko is still with Newcastle...