Let the Sacking Begin

Two managers gone.  Some interesting results heading into the international break.

A Better Quality of Suck

Newcastle got a great shift from teenager Sean Steur

Newcastle reminds me a bit of my golf game - if you can't be good, just strive for a better quality of suckiness.  The Magpies 1-1 draw with Fulham aptly fits that description.  Slight underdogs heading into the match at Craven Cottage, Newcastle played just well enough to keep it at 0-0 until the 80th minute.  Then, Jacob Murphy came up with a steal and a solo run capped by a brilliant finish seen here.  But high handicappers are going to get their double bogeys and Newcastle got theirs just three minutes later, giving up a messy goal after failing to get the ball out of the final third.  

Hornicek was brilliant in goal after last week's howler.  Sean Steur was excellent in midfield, the best we've seen from the 18 year-old and sparking hope for the future.  Dedic, Hall and Burns were decent on defense.  But Wissa, Barnes and Osula were quite disappointing up top, failing to generate much offense.  

The result leaves Newcastle 12th in the table, four points from 6th but also just four points from the relegation zone.  

What the Hell Was That?

I hope you got to see Man United vs Aston Villa because my account couldn't possibly do it justice.  Villa were up 2-0 within four minutes, leading me to wonder if a manager has ever been sacked at half time.  Incredibly, United did not fade into oblivion, helped by a stupid by Kamara in the box (Fernandes converted the PK), then a late first half goal from Tielemans (former Villan, now villain).  

Then they proceeded to repeat the whole process over again in second half.  Aston Villa were up 4-2 by 53 minutes.  So Carrick was going to be sacked before he got back on the bus?  Nope, unbelievably United tallied two stoppage time goals from Zirksee and Dorgu.  Here's the equalizing goal. I didn't feel real strongly at the time but watching the replay again, that looks like a foul by United keeper Lammens.  He never looks at the ball, looks for Villa keeper Suzuki, then backs into him.  

Watching live, it felt like two points thrown away by Aston Villa but stats heavily favor United.  The irony is that the comeback still left United in the relegation zone and probably wasn't enough to save Carrick's job (it wasn't, see Tis the Season below).  

Unexpected Results

Three losses in a row? This can't be happening
Photo: Catherine Ivill AMA/Getty Images

I did expect Leeds to play Spurs tough but I thought Tottenham would get something out of the match. Felt like a draw to me but the 1-0 win for Leeds doesn't look crazy based on the stats.  Definitely did not see Nottingham Forest knocking off Man City.  The 3-1 final looks to flatter Forest.  Three league losses in a row for the Citizens?  Sunday saw Sunderland upset Chelsea 1-0 and from what I saw, that was a fair result.

Arsenal did not exactly bury Hull with their 1-0 win but it was enough to keep a five point cushion over now second place Brighton, who were 2-0 winners over Brentford.  Liverpool crept into the top four with a win over Crystal Palace.

Tis the Season?

Most of the managers under the gun got a result over the weekend. Regis Lebris saw his Sunderland catch Chelsea off guard and Oliver Glasner's Nottingham Forest stunned Man City.  Jaissle and Newcastle held on for a draw at Fulham and Carrick's Man United twice overcame two goal deficits to walk away with a 4-4 draw.  

Pierre Sage at Palace was not so lucky as the Eagles fell 1-3 to Liverpool, though the stats say it was an even match.  And so he became the season's first sack victim after just 16 matches in charge.   With just two wins and a draw against seven losses in league play, Palace are at the bottom of the table.  On the other hand, they have reached the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup and were on pace to make it to the playoff round of Europa League.  On the other, other hand, there are reports (see here) that it's not just results driving the decision but issues with an "unhealthy atmosphere" around the team.

And, before I could publish this post, Carrick got the sack. Efforts to sign Pochettino as his replacement are well-along already, though there has been some talk that Eddie Howe or Julian Nagelsmann are also under consideration.  And now, even Pep Guardiola's name is being tossed about as a candidate.

The other survivors of this weekend should not get too comfortable.  As the graph below indicates, we are heading into prime sack season.  

Managerial departures in the Premier League since 2016-17

The most common months to make a change are November, December and January

1

6

9

12

13

12

9

6

8

1

Source: Premier League

Domino Effect

Another annoying aspect of sackings is they can cause other dominos to fall as well.  In the case of Michael Carrick, his sacking will likely cause chaos for the USMNT; we don't need Pochettino leaving just when the program looks to have some momentum.  His departure will set off another mad scramble for a new manager, who will have his own ideas about how the team should play and who should be on the pitch.  They'll end up taking somebody like BJ Callaghan at Nashville, which will have it's own domino effect within the MLS.  And the stupid thing is that Carrick's not the problem at Man United; it's questionable front office choices (debt and recruitment) leading to difficulties in getting the right players for the team. 

Sullivans Put On a Really Big Shew (you might have to be over 60 to get the reference)

The Union came out ready to clinch a real playoff spot and pretty much dominated Toronto.  Yet, despite seeming to have the ability to score at will, the halftime score was only 2-1.  It probably felt like more of a rout since two goals had been called back (correctly) for offside.  Two second half goals made the final score 4-1, which felt more like what we were watching.  To wit, expected goals were 4.2 - .5.  Cavan had two goals, Quinn had a goal and two assists, including one for his brother.  We make the Sullivan to Sullivan connection this week's YouTubeableMoment.  

The result got the Union 6th place and they will face New England in the first round of the playoffs. First match in that best of three series is Saturday 11/21.  Part of me thinks they are playing with house money at this point and we should be happy just to be there given that they were buried deep in last place at the World Cup break.  On the other hand, as the table below shows, only Nashville gathered more points in post-World Cup action than Philly.

Granted, one of the Union's only two losses after the World Cup was a 1-2 defeat at home to New England; they also lost up in Massachusetts in May 2-1.  But they were ten points better than the Revolution over the last 20 games.  There is every reason to think this series will be competitive.

Line of Honor

Bedoya says goodbye
Photo: Chris Szagola

Alejandro Bedoya announced his retirement at the end of this season.  I have mixed thoughts about his time with the Union.  For me, compared to other teams' Designated Players, he was expensive for what we got.  Also, I never liked how he was quick to visibly berate teammates on the field for their mistakes.  I'm more of an encourage and educate kind of person but I guess you lead how you lead and I'll lead how I lead.  But his service to the team really can't be questioned.  He's appeared in nearly 300 matches for the club and served as captain since 2017.  During his tenure, the Union have won two Supporters Shields, been to an MLS Cup Final and made the playoffs 9 of 11 years.  

On the facing of the west stand at Subaru Park, they have a tribute to all-time Union greats laughably called "The Ring of Honor." Right now it has one name - Sebastien LeToux.  Geometry says that's a point, not a ring.  I expect we'll see Bedoya's name up there next year, deservedly so.  Soon it will be "The Line of Honor."  

Head Over Heels

BFS Track and Field Consultant Jack W sends along this goal by the Texas Tech women's team.  It's been so long since I saw a flip throw, I had forgotten that it is legal.  It's specifically addressed as an FAQ on IFAB's website:

According to Law 15, a player must stand to take a throw-in. Is it allowed to do a somersault beforehand?

Yes – if at the moment of delivering the ball the player has both feet on the touchline (or on the ground outside the touchline), is facing the field of play and throws the ball with both hands from behind and over the head.

What isn't legal is the somersault long jump.

Don't forget USMNT vs Haiti in CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals on Saturday and Tuesday.