Calmer Waters

Isaac Hayden's goal sealed Newcastle United's win at Cardiff City

With the raid of SJP and the arrest of Lee Charnley starting to look like a heavy handed overreaction on the part of tax authorities, the week was a little better Tyneside.  The players, for their part, seemed unfazed by the buzz, and managed a fairly easy 2-0 win over Cardiff City; combined with Brighton's loss, first place in the Championship Division is still up for grabs this Sunday.  Much of the talk, as it should have, returned to speculation as to Rafa's targets in the upcoming transfer window.


Tis But A Scratch

Jamaal Lascelles will miss the final match of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a double hernia.  We just learned that he's been playing with the injury for almost four months now.  Tough kid.  Benitez must have seen something in him as well, as the manager knew of the injury but often chose Lascelles over a healthy Mbemba or Hanley.  To be honest, Lascelles did struggle at times this year but now you have to wonder how much of it was the injury.  BFS obtained secret footage of Lascelles attempt to persuade Benitez that he could still play.


St Totteringham's Day Cancelled

St Totteringham is the patron saint of Arsenal football whom the Gunners' fans honor on the day that Arsenal mathematically clinch a higher spot in the table than Tottenham.  The day has been observed for 22 straight years, though careful watchers will have noted that it had been coming later and later in the year.  Last year, it was on the final day of the season.  This year, it's cancelled altogether because the Gunners 0-2 loss at White Hot Hart Lane means Arsenal will not catch Spurs this year.  Tottenham gained no ground on Chelsea though, who destroyed Everton 3-0; the cliche about already having the flip-flops on, preparing for summer holiday, clearly applied to the Toffees.

Arsenal's loss should have been more costly but their chief rivals could only manage draws against weaker competition.  Man City needed Jesus to save them with a late goal at Middlesbrough and Man United were undone by a late equalizer from Gylfi Sigurdsson.  Man United has home draws against Swansea, Everton, West Brom, Bournemouth, Hull, Liverpool, West Ham, Burnley, and Stoke.  We'll give 'em Liverpool, Everton and even West Brom.  But the other six draws have cost Man United 12 points, which would put them equal with Spurs and safely into next year's Champions League.

With less than satisfactory results from the chase pack, Liverpool moved to solidy their hold on third place, thanks to this incredible bicycle kick from Emre Can.  The YouTubeableMoment of the year?  I particularly like Lallana's pass to Origi that gets the play started.


Stadium of Turn Out the Lights The Party's Over

Sunderland's relegation fate was sealed by a late goal from Bournemouth.  You won't hear much gloating from me.  Could easily be us again next year.  Swansea's draw kept a few teams from claiming safety although Southampton and Bournemouth are now effectively clear based on an insurmountable goal differential.  Magic numbers for Leicester, Stoke and Watford are now one point, Burnley and West Ham are at two points and Crystal Palace are at three.


If I Had A Nickel For Every Time...

The announcer said Diego Costa is down but the referee is unmoved...

I'd be rich.

Better Is Not Good But It's Better Than Worse

The Union traveled to the little stadium of horrors out on the west coast but did manage to bring home a point with a 0-0 draw against the LA Galaxy.  For once, they got a bit of luck, as Pedro's shot richoted off both posts but stayed out (video here at about 30 seconds).  Obviously better play from the back line (shout out to Jack Elliot) and Med did some nice work in the midfield.  But I think this quote from mlssoccer.com sums things up well:

While sloppy play and low confidence prevails in general for these teams at the moment, the goalkeepers acquitted themselves well in this game.

Earnie Stewart interviewed today says he does not see the need for major changes.  Not quite the dreaded vote of confidence in Jim Curtin but...


Chester Finish Season

A second consecutive EPL title for us, by 15 points this time.  FA Cup Final coming up versus Arsenal.  Already working on July transfer window.  I'm feeling like there will be pressure from the board and fans to go deeper in the Champions League next year.  We made it out of group stage but were well handled by Real Madrid in the first knockout round.


Early Start to the Weekend

Blow off work early and take in Friday afternoon's West Ham-Spurs match (3 pm on NBCSN).   Feature match of the weekend is easily Sunday's Arsenal-Man United contest (11 am NBCSN); neither team, but especially Arsenal, can really afford anything but a win here.

Saturday's TV coverage has a decidedly relegation bias to it.  Hull-Sunderland is at 10 on NBCSN, the featured NBC match at 12:30 is Swansea-Everton and you can catch Leicester-Watford at 10 on CNBC (one or both of those two teams could be safe at the final whistle).  Knowing that one or both of the chasers is going to drop points this weekend, Man City host Crystal Palace at 7:30 Saturday on NBCSN.

Newcastle will host Barnsley while Brighton travels to Aston Villa as the Championship season concludes on Sunday.  There are actually multiple scenarios which could see the Magpies capture first as they are just one point back and have the superior goal differential.  None of those scenarios involve a Newcastle loss.  A win combined with a Brighton loss or draw is enough.  A draw combined with a Brighton loss would also work.  The playoffs are set with Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield and Fulham just competing for seeding at this point.

I'll be at Talen Energy Stadium to see the Union take on the Red Bulls Saturday night.  The Jersey boys were always favored in this one and I'm not happy to see they got smacked by Sporting KC midweek; that will just have them angry.

Champions League semis continue on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Real Madrid put a 3-0 hurting on Atletico so the second leg of that one may already be over.  And for that matter, Juventus 2-0 road win over Monaco puts the French side in a huge hole too.  DVR just in case there are wild comebacks?