What'd I Miss?

Didn’t see a minute of live soccer this weekend so I will have to rely on highlight reels and accounts from BFS readers in discussing recent events.

I Almost Walked Alone

Strolling down the street in Aix-en-Provence I caught a glimpse of a TV screen in a bar showing the players coming out of the tunnel.  What’s this?  It’s Anfield and the Liverpool-Newcastle match is on live.  Alas, the travel itinerary did not include a two hour break to watch soccer so we continued on. But it was hard to walk away, even though I would have been clearly on my own to get back to Saillans had I stayed.

Ah, probably for the best.  I would have been extremely disheartened by Daniel Sturridge’s goal in the just the second minute and ready to leave when Liverpool doubled the lead at 30 minutes.  Southampton disaster all over again.  On the other hand, the patrons of said bar might have thought me strange had I been there when Mignolet gifted the Magpies a lifeline with a tepid challenge on a cross Cisse cut the deficit with a header at 48 minutes; they would have thought me daft after Colback’s deflected shot leveled things at 66 minutes.  Not seeing the whole thing I can’t comment on whether this is a fair result (it most certainly was).   Mox nix as we used to say - matters not was our translation - it’s an unexpected point, especially on the road.  Plus, they rallied from an 0-2 deficit.  Apologies to Rafa, maybe he is making a difference.

Failure to Launch

Unfortunately Newcastle’s extra point was matched by Sunderland as they held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw.  Can this be right?  Possession advantage was 71-29 for the Gunners?  Other stats were more even so I don’t know what’s up.  Except that we were kind of counting on Arsenal taking all three points.  You know, if two of the last three Gunners’ opponents weren’t Norwich and Aston Villa, we might be talking about Arsenal failing to make the top four.  They might still be in trouble for an automatic Champions League berth.  Wonder how loud the dump Wenger volume will get if that happens.

Proud History What Future

I actually forgot that Aston Villa had a match this weekend (a fact that kind of summarizes the season) and only realized I hadn't watched it when I looked to see all the scores of the other matches I did not care to watch.  I spared myself and only watched a 5 minute highlight reel, but I think I can sum it up with one image:

Protest signs turned into airplanes littered the grounds once again (Birmingham Mail)

It's definitely all Lescott's fault (Reuters)

The entire match appeared to be one long protest of the Villans ineptitude, which is what I expect for the remaining matches as well.  Hopefully things don't turn nasty - I already caught a glimpse of fans throwing protest signs into the goal, trying to hit Guzan while he was making a save.  I do hope that more people attempt to come up with amusing personalized protest signs, like the guys who decided that Lescott was the reason for the team's failures (he kind of is, by the way [Ed note: Would it be more accurate to say he is symbolic of the team's failures?]).  If I can't have a decent team, then maybe I can least have some creativity and comedy from the protests.  Oh, and Southampton won the match 4-2, but nobody really cares about that.

Anything but Routine

Last week, I suggested that that the 4 most crucial matches to the bottom and top of the table would be rather unexciting and routine.  Steve already covered the 2 surprise draws at the bottom, and with one shocker at the top, my prediction could only have been slightly more wrong.  Leicester was the only top team that took care of business, absolutely smashing Swansea to the tune of 4-0.  Looks like that Vardy dive and suspension were basically meaningless.  Spurs came out firing against a lifeless West Brom, but didn't quite make the most of their chances - both Kane and Alli hit the post in the first half and Lamela hit one in the second- though they did take a 1-0 lead (on a Dawson OG) into the break.  A different West Brom team appeared from the tunnel in the second half and with 20 minutes to play, Lloris did his best Mingolet impression and made a weak challenge on a corner, allowing Dawson to make amends with a header into an open net.  Given 20 minutes to essentially save their season, Spurs could not find a winner and dropped 2 points - the looks on the player's faces after the final whistle showed they knew what a catastrophe this result was.  It leaves Leicester up 7 points with 3 to play - any Spurs loss or Foxes win means the trophy heads to Leicester.       

It’s Easier to Win If You Keep Eleven on the Field

Didn’t even get to see highlight but not to worry as BFS Union Fan Club President Jeff H was there in person and provides this account:

Boys looked solid and NY seemed to have no ideas in the 2nd half. No Pirlo either! Both goals were the result of good build up an Pontius and CJ being where they should be and taking care of business.  Barnetta played 75? and was awesome. Gaddis took Fabinho's LB spot 2nd half and def is keeping the pressure up for playing time. No heroics from Andre required this time and no red cards. Also Ilsinho made an appearance and looked crafty and Brazilian. Had a few nice forays towards the goal. 

Thanks Jeff.  I remember the first time seeing Ilsinho and thinking did the Union manage to get the only Brazilian alive who didn't have dribbling skills?  Turns out it was just a bad opening day, he's been fine since then.

Les Violette’s

I must correct myself - I did see live soccer this weekend.  Mackenzie’s team took the field Sunday morning and, well, they took the field and we’ll leave it at that.  Great to watch her in action again plus we got to see how Mackenzie, despite being the only non-Frenchwoman on the roster, had become the heart and soul of the team.  So much so that the end of season party on Saturday was really a surprise party for Mackenzie to thank her for being a part of the team.  Even the mayor was there to present her with a signed copy of the history of Aouste.  Good stuff. 

Champions League Update

So Michael B won't have to comment -  Atletico Madrid stunned Bayern Munich 1-0 at home in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.  Check out the winning goal by Saul, easily this week's YouTubeableMoment.  The other semi-final match was an incredibly boring 0-0 draw between Man City and a Ronaldoless Real Madrid.  Man City is likely in trouble as that tie heads back to Spain. 

Down to the Nub

Tottenham pretty much has to win out (and without Alli due to three match ban for punching a West Brom player), starting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.  Leicester must travel to Old Trafford to face a Man United side that might still be holding out hope for a Champions League berth.  The BFS predicator model has both matches as draws, which would clinch the title for the Foxes.

Down at the bottom, Newcastle welcome Alan Pardew and Crystal Palace for a Saturday match at 10 am (USA); a home win here could be enough to get the Magpies clear of the relegation zone.  That is assuming Arsenal do their job and beat Norwich at home and Stoke take care of Sunderland.  None of these results are a sure thing.  Perhaps NBC gets the "thrill" of the relegation battle - all three of these matches are televised.  

I'll be at Talen Energy Stadium Saturday to see the top-of-the-table Union take on San Jose.