Shattering the Glass Ceiling

We have written before about how the top four places of the EPL are almost exclusively the domain of the Axis of Evil clubs - Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Man United.  Last year was no exception with all four places going to those teams.  But this year things are different.  You've probably already heard about Leicester defying the 5000 to 1 odds and clinching the EPL title last week.  Then there's Tottenham, which despite being locked out of the title, is guaranteed no worse than a third place finish.  And West Ham is mathematically not out of the chase for a Champions League spot, though they face long odds.  So at least two non-Axis faces in the top four and maybe a third.  If I read my own spreadsheet correctly, the last time there was more than one outsider in the top four was 1996.

Wait, wrong Captain Morgan

The real Captain Morgan

As predicted by the BFS model, the Man United-Leicester and Chelsea-Tottenham matches both ended in draws.  Man United struck early but Captain Rex (uh that's Wes) Morgan (above) leveled things at 17 minutes.  Frankly I don't remember anything much from there.  Leicester could have clinched things but with the draw had to wait for the outcome of Monday's match between Chelsea and Tottenham.  That contest was slightly more memorable, though not for entirely the right reasons.  With goals at 35 and 44 minutes, Spurs were pretty much in control of the contest, if not their tempers.  Not that Chelsea were being choir boys.  Then, pretty much against the run of play, Gary Cahill gave the Blues some hope with a close range goal at 58 minutes.  Eden Hazard, who all of a sudden looks interested in playing again, deflated Tottenham's hopes with a stunner at 83 minutes. Hazard's incredible bending strike, the one which sealed the title for Leicester, is this week's YouTubeableMoment. The match included more unsavory moments late. Alderweireld was the only Spurs field player not to get cautioned and there was some tussling in the tunnel.

I’ll be honest, I was sitting on the floor when Hazard scored the equalizer and couldn’t restrain myself from jumping up and celebrating.  At halftime, I was definitely getting a little nervous about Leicester’s chances – for both this match and the title - as this felt like a situation where the longer they dragged it out the harder it would be to finish.  But the announcers insisted on reminding us that Spurs had not won at Stamford Bridge for 26 years, and I guess this was just another example of why those historic trends might actually have some meaning.  In any event, Leicester managed to outfox [I see what you did there] everyone, finally bringing my season long dichotomy of cheering for the first and last place teams to the proper end.  No one can say that this title was undeserved and it will be fascinating to watch the off-season transactions, or hopefully lack thereof, and their approach to next season.  Seeing as I have only been a fan for roughly 1.75 seasons, this isn't exactly the most satisfying championship, but you better believe I was standing and holding my scarf high as the final seconds ticked away.      

We're Not Dead Yet

Heck, we're not even in the relegation zone right now.  Newcastle played just well enough to take a 1-0 victory from Crystal Palace, "spoiling" Alan Pardew's homecoming.  I use quotes because in the days before the match, the former Magpie manager had been quoted as saying he was "desperate" that his former club stay in the Premier League; so how broken up could he be that the three points lifted Newcastle clear of the bottom three?

The match resolved itself around two key events - Andros Townsend's nicely curled free kick from about 25 yards out and Karl Darlow's save of Cabaye's penalty kick.  The PK call had a U-11 feel to it, as Sissoko jumped and raised both hands in the air - what was he thinking?  Cabaye's attempt was not great - it needed to be more towards the post - but Darlow guessed right and might have saved even a better kick.  So we sweated out the last 25 or so minutes but Newcastle held on for the W.

The three points were so big that even bad news from Stoke, where Sunderland had snatched a draw on the strength of a stoppage time PK, wasn't all that disconcerting.  And, we'll thank Arsenal for their 1-0 defeat over Norwich.  The counter to the good news is that both Sunderland and Norwich have a game in hand over Newcastle.  And they both play Watford.  Have I ever mentioned what big Watford fans we are - Elton John's team and all that...


Snatching Defeat from the Draws of Victory

Does this say Aston Villa or what?  They go up a goal on Watford (one of our favorites) only to give it back in first half stoppage time.  They take the lead in the second half only to have Cissoko sent off (looks like straight red) in the 73rd minute.  The victory is gone with an equalizing goal by Troy Deeney in the 90th minute.  Deeney scores again in stoppage time and the Villans come home with no points for their efforts.

For already being relegated, this was actually a pretty painful loss.  A win here would have salvaged some amount of pride as well as be a huge step forward towards meeting my last goal for them of not being doubled up on points by every other team.  But of course, they couldn’t even let me have that.  Coming on the weekend of Leicester’s title, I guess it was appropriate that Villa would manage another stunning 3-2 defeat, since the last one was a huge factor in setting both the Foxes and Villans on their current trajectories.  Then there was the whole business of Agbonlahor stepping down as captain this week, after being suspended for improper conduct several weeks ago (he was caught partying on the night after the team was relegated, supposedly with laughing gas canisters).  Just another black mark on a hideous season.

Next Time, Let's Decline the Penalty

Things were going pretty well at Talen Energy Stadium.  The Union were up 1-0 (could have/should have been at least 2-0) and they were regularly cutting through San Jose with beautiful combination passing.  Then Godoy got his second yellow and the Union were up a man.  I said to Jeff K, this never works out well for the Union.  Sure enough.  The organized play we'd been seeing all day was gone and none of the substitutions seemed to help.  The inevitable equalizing goal came in the 83rd minute.  Opportunity lost.

Soccer America has cited the Union with two of the best offseason player moves - the trade for Chris Pontius and the Superdraft pick of Keegan Rosenberry (who has played every minute so far).  The Red Bulls put a hurtin' on FC Dallas and have escaped the cellar.


Ich Bin Ein Mattress Maker

Michael B came back from Spain (seen here with daughter Allison at Calderon Stadium) with an Atletico scarf for me so what choice did I have?  So I was rooting for them as they took on Bayern in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final.  It wasn't pretty but it was riveting.  The Mattress Makers went in with a 1-0 lead but Bayern levelled things early.  Then there was the save of Muller's PK, which would have put Bayern up.  Then Griezmann got Atletico the crucial away goal.  Lewandowski's header meant the final 15 minutes plus five stoppage time minutes were tense but Atletico held on.  They'll face Real Madrid, a 1-0 aggregate winner over Man City in what was a two-legged snooze fest.  Neither team did anything of much interest and we will be in Atletico's corner for the final.


Chester Win the Double

And the excitement continued on the virtual pitch as Chester ending up taking seven of nine points in their final three matches to win the Premier League by six points over Man City.  We followed that up with a 3-1 win over Bayern (bad week for them) to take the Europa Cup.  Awards are piling up, including Manager of the Year for yours truly.


More Relegation TV

NBC again shows it knows drama when it sees it.  All three relegation relevant matches will be televised starting Saturday at 7:45 am with Norwich-Man United.  The two televised 10 am games are Aston Villa-Newcastle (NBCSN) and Sunderland-Chelsea (USA).

I suppose there's some relevance to the Man City-Arsenal match at 11 on Sunday.  That was tongue-in-cheek because the third automatic Champions League berth is still up for grabs.  An Arsenal win would seal it for them; Man City is probably out even if they get a draw.  Europa Cup spots are still up for grabs so the West Ham-Swansea, Tottenham-Southampton and Liverpool-Watford (have I mentioned we're big fans?) contests all have meaning too.

The mid-week clashes are incredibly crucial.  On Tuesday West Ham hosts Man United; a win for one or the other is critical to have any hope at a top four finish, a draw probably sinks both.  Wednesday is big in the relegation battle.  Norwich hosts Watford and Sunderland takes on Everton at the Stadium of Clinging Onto Premier League Status for Dear Life.  Combined with this weekend's results, we could have anything from the relegation battle being wrapped up to a set up for a wild final Sunday.

I hear that the Spanish La Liga title is up for grabs between Barcelona, Atletico and Real Madrid.

European Championships start June 10.  Oh baby!