Another Pleasant Valley Sunday

 with apologies to The Monkees

Joelinton (l) gets Newcastle an early lead

Wow, what a great few hours last Sunday morning.  Despite some decidedly shaky moments, the results could hardly have turned out better.  First, Newcastle put up one of their best performances of the year, a complete 180 from the debacle at Brighton.  Bruce did make some adjustments to the line up, starting Ritchie, Murphy and Longstaff.  The Magpies were also buoyed by Joe L Linton's finest performance in a Newcastle kit; besides finding the net for a change, he also exhibited the hold-up play he always seemed capable of providing, something quite critical for a side that is not exactly built to string together a long sequence of passes.

Atypically, Newcastle were on the front foot from the start and the early lead was deserved, if short-lived.  First an unlucky bounce in the six yard box quickly tied it up, then another from Harry Kane and we were behind 1-2.  I was trying to remind myself that the most important thing here was a good effort but the quality of play made me greedy for something from the match.  Fortunately, we got the equalizer in the 85th minute.  Willock's goal is an easy choice for this week's YouTubeableMoment;  many fingerprints on this one - Manquillo, ASM, Joelinton, Ritchie, Almiron.  Note the key move by Allan Saint-Maximin who delivers the ball to Ritchie, who then sends a sweet cross into the box.  The draw was no less than they deserved.

We moved onto the second part of the Sunday brunch to watch Aston Villa host Fulham.  This was somewhat frustrating for awhile as the Grealishless Villans seemed unable to score.  It got worse after a sloppy attempted pass back by Tyrone Mings ended up with Mitrovic scoring the go ahead goal.  Fortunately, Villa responded admirably with three goals from 78 minutes on to take all three points.  

The net for Sunday morning was about 1.35 expected points - plus .13 for Newcastle and minus 1.22 for Fulham.  Relegation percentages at the end of the weekend went from 47 percent for both to 35% for Newcastle and 61% for Fulham.  Good day.

A Disturbance in the Force

Chelsea looked a gift horse in the mouth but didn't drink.  Or something like.  Home to West Brom, they had a perfect chance to strengthen their hold on fourth place.  A Pulisic goal had them up 1-0 but soon Thiago Silva was sent off with a second yellow.  Still, it's West Brom and you're at Stamford Bridge right?  Two goals in first half stoppage time said otherwise.  Two more second half goals and Chelsea were down 4-1.  A Mason Mount goal at 71 minutes gave some up that they might rescue a point but it was not to be.  With results elsewhere, this put a big dent in the Blues' Champions League hopes.

The Results Elsewhere

Man City were in control the whole way in a 2-0 win over Leicester City.  Their magic number is now 10 points, either earned by them or dropped by Man United.  Speaking of Man United and dropping points, the Red Devils looked in danger of doing just that versus Brighton; they needed an 83rd minute goal from Mason Greenwood to take a 2-1 win over the Seagulls.  Liverpool kept their thin Champions League hopes alive with a second straight league win, a 3-0 thumping of Arsenal.  The loss left the Gunners in 10th place, tied on points with Leeds United.

Biggest move of the weekend came from West Ham, who came close to coughing up a second straight 3-0 lead.  This time, against Wolves, they hung on for all three points and slipped into fourth place.  Jesse Lingard continued sparkle with another goal and an assist.  The finance text books say that loans do not pay dividends but this one sure has.  Even with the result, 538 still favors Leicester, Liverpool or Chelsea to grab the third and fourth Champions League spots.

The Dreaded E-word

Late in Aston Villa's comeback win over Fulham, the commentators suggested the Villans might still be in the hunt for one of next fall's three European league competitions.   Dennis was not amused. He has no interest in seeing his squad travel to former Russia states for midweek contests.  He probably doesn't have too much to worry about.  They are not really in the hunt for Champions League and the three Europa spots go to the 5th place finisher, the FA Cup winner, and the Carabao Cup winner.  According to 538 they have just a 1% chance of finishing 5th.  They are out of the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup which I believe means their chances there are 0%.  So the only danger is if either of those Cup winners already has a berth in European football and they reach down to 6th and 7th to fill the spots.  But 538 tips their chances for 6th at just 3% and 6% for 7th.   Probably okay.

Veni, Vidi, Vini

Been years since Latin classes but I believe it translates roughly as I came, I saw, I scored two goals against Liverpool in the first leg of Champions League quarterfinal. Vinicius Junior, or Vini Jr. for short, got Real Madrid started and then provided a little cushion in the first leg of tie with Liverpool.  Down 1-3 heading home with an away goal doesn't seem awful, but Liverpool were seriously outplayed here.  They'll have to be so much better at Anfield.

Lots of away goals in the first legs.  Chelsea got 2 and held Porto scoreless in their "away" match in Seville; they'll play their "home" match next Tuesday...in Seville. Gotta love those covid-19 travel protocols.  PSG got three goals in the snow at Munich and will have a good chance to put Bayern away in Paris on Tuesday.  Dortmund also got one on the road against Man City, who needed a late goal from Phil Foden to take a 2-1 lead after the first leg.  

A Hockey Game Broke Out

Apologies but the Concacaf Champions League action snuck up on me.  Sorry, the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.  The Union had their first ever action in this competition on Wednesday night against Saprissa, a Costa Rican club.  Normally the setting would be extremely unfriendly but instead of rabid fans, the stadium was filled with the sound of the howling wind and a flock of birds.  This was a very young and shorthanded squad.  The bench was filled with players who aren't even household names in their own homes.

Good effort from them as they were on the attack early.  An excellent cross from Mbaizo that CatsPurr shuh-BILL-koh expertly headed into the goal was the only tally of the day.  The boys looked tired near the end and were clearly hanging on for dear life in the last 15 minutes.  But they did and bring a 1-0 lead back to Subaru Park next week.  Great work from Jose Martinez at defensive midfielder and right back Mbaizo with numerous forays down the wing.  Fontana may have been a little out of place in Aaronson's role up top but that is probably only temporary until we get Santos or Burke back.

Things got messy towards the end, thanks in part to an overly lenient referee.  I would have shown some yellows before he did.  Matt Real's tackle was an orange card.  Blanco's tackle on Wagner in the closing seconds should have been a red but only got a yellow.  His tackle spurred a protective intervention by Glesnes, that rapidly degenerated into a larger scrum.  Video here.  No VAR at this stage so the ref was not able to reconsider his yellow.  Still possible a post-match disciplinary panel will correct that.  Good to see the young team not intimidated and a great result in the Union's first international showing.

Same Coach,  Same A-hole

After the most recent blown lead, Mourinho stepped up to the plate to take responsibility.  Not.  As detailed here, he was quick to transfer blame to the players.  I wonder, does he throw the players under the same bus that he parks during the match?  Just askin'.

Conversation That Could Have Taken Place But Didn't

Dennis: Did you say the Union's sporting director Tanner was getting some grief for lack of off-season moves?

Steve: No, I said he took Flach from someone.

Defining the Run-in

Arlo White offers an answer to the age-old question as to when does the run-in begin.  His take is that it starts after the spring international break.  Sounds reasonable to us.

Another Edgy Weekend

The fixtures again do not favor Newcastle.  Fulham are a prohibitive favorite as they host Wolves on Friday at 3 pm on Peacock.  Newcastle travel to the unfriendly confines of Turf Moor to take on Burnley Sunday morning (7 am on Peacock - ugh).  A pair of draws would be fine, and actually, so would a pair of losses.  But any Sunday in April on which you can end up in the relegation zone is a scary thing.

The Champions League relevant matches include Crystal Palace vs Chelsea (12:30 Saturday on NBC), West Ham - Leicester (Sunday at 9 on Peacock), Spurs - Man United (11:30 Sunday on Peacock - thanks a lot schedulers who put three Sunday morning matches on Peacock) and Liverpool hosting Aston Villa (10 am Saturday on NBCSN).  The West Ham/Leicester and Spurs/Man United contests look pretty tight.  

Midweek is crowded with the second leg of the Champions Leg quarterfinals on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Hard to choose which ones to watch.  I might go with PSG-Bayern over Chelsea-Porto on Tuesday, despite the EPL connection.  Liverpool-Real Madrid looks like the better choice on Wednesday.

And we have the second leg of the Union vs Saprissa at 8 pm Wednesday on FS1.  Good to be up 1-0 but that tie is far from over.  Also, interested to see if there's any carryover from the extracurricular activity at the close of the first leg,