Deadspin
There doesn't seem to be a bevy of interesting games — even for soccer fans! — save for one game, Man City and Everton. They're separated by a mere three points at the top of the standings "tables," and Man City hasn't lost a game "match" to anyone recently except Tottenham. That kind of consistency is impressive "right good."
Meanwhile, Everton's Joleon Lescott seems to be coping all right after scoring an own goal in stoppage time against Chelsea in the Carling Cup earlier this week. Although it didn't help his psyche after he got home from the game, he unpeeled a banana and accidentally threw away the innards. Before that they lost a stunner in the FA Cup to League One (think FCS in college football) Oldham 1-0. Hmm. Oldham. Note to self: throw away expired Carl Buddig lunch meat.
So they're not doing so hot. But Man City hasn't won at Everton in their last nine trips, so this matchup here has tie written all over it. That has to be an interesting outcome for footie fans to experience over and over. Of the 209 games in the Prem League this year, one quarter of them (53) have ended with nobody winning. Can you imagine if MLB teams ended with 40 ties? Although I suppose salvaging a tie instead of losing in extra innings wouldn't be too bad of a change of pace for Cubs fans.
10 a.m.
Arsenal at Birmingham
Aston Villa at Reading
Chelsea at Tottenham
Derby at Wigan
Everton at Man City
Middlesbrough at Liverpool
West Ham at Fulham
12:15 p.m.
Man United at Newcastle
Comments
Dear Suss,
Eat a bag of Harry Caray-flavored dicks.
Love,
Tuffy
P.S. Chelsea just bought their latest player, which ought to be fun to root against.
Will be interested to see if Pompey can survive the African Cup of Nations without getting into the relegation zone.
I wonder what Bill Simmons take is on this important game
also of interest today: seeing how much better anelka is than shevchenko. i'm so glad they got another striker to fill in for drogba and give him some help when he gets back.
I love Anelka (yes, yes, he's a traveling man, etc.), but how could I possibly root for him now? And his arrival at Stamford Bridge all but assures that Drogba is gone after the season.
@SuperFrankieLampard:
Anelka is French, ergo:
Anelka>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Sheva
@BigTenObsession: that was kind of what i thought. also i'm going to be so sad to see drogba go.
@BigTenObsession:
I would have liked Anelka if we picked him up over the summer. Now, he must be loathed!
Looks like Arsenal is going with a 4-4-2 with Adebayor and Eduardo up front. I am interested in how those two work up top. I have felt that Bendtner is kind of lazy when paired with Eduardo.
Ahhhhh yes... we get Martin Tyler for the game.
@hockalees:
He had expressed some interest in coming back to the Gunners, but I guess we weren't all that serious, considering we have Van Persie and Adebayor, and Eduardo's form is much improved.
Also, over-under on the number of times I wake up my wife this morning by yelling at Senderoos - 5
I keep confusing Nicolas Anelka with Anelka from the short lived ABC reality series "One Ocean View".
@hockalees: There's something about having Martin Tyler do the game that makes me feel smarter for watching it...kind of like the way that Gary O'Connor's dueling neck tattoos make me a wee bit ashamed to be Scottish.
@Tuffy: ...and then he drove away...
/Louis CK
@BigTenObsession:
Phillippe scares the crap out of me.
Sagna is really bossing the game from right back and Clichy and Gallas are solid. Did you see that Mad Jens' deal fell through?
please dont let alan shearer become the new newcastle manager.
please dont let alan shearer become the new newcastle manager.
please dont let alan shearer become the new newcastle manager.
@thefuseproject:
Yes, Tyler is Ying to Dave O'Brien's Yang.
@hockalees:
Yin...dumbass
@hockalees:
Lehmann doesn't realize that he is now old and useless.
@praglodyticjames:
He doesn't have the requisite coaching badges, does he?
@praglodyticjames: Maybe it's just the Geordie accent, but Alan doesn't strike me has having the, ah, "ability" to coach a pub side. Great(!) player, don't get me wrong, but...
@hockalees: i dont think he does, but neither does Gareth Southgate.
PK!
@BigTenObsession: He's 38 and is reportedly turning down $120,000 a week from Dortmund. I'm 38 and am ashamed of the things I would do for $120,00 a YEAR!
nicely worked by Arsenal
Nice penalty from Adebayor... harsh call on Birmingham, though.
@hockalees: I agree, and that last angle just proved it.
@thefuseproject: Exactly...Id rather NUFC bring in Martin Jol (he's expressed interest) and play a more entertaining style. At least that way they could suck with some class.
@praglodyticjames: +1
@praglodyticjames:
I could see Jol taking the Ajax job and going back to Holland, though. I agree with you. Newcastle could do a lot worse than Jol.
Liverpool is being dominated. Simply dominated.
Boro is ahead of Liverpool.
@hockalees: I'd love to see Jol get the gig. But ever-deluded NUFC fans seem to think they have a shot at Jose Mourinho. I've been to Newcastle. There is no fucking way Mourinho will bring his little dogs to that city.
The side judge should be afraid of Mids. BAM!
The one interesting game on today isn't actually on. Why am I paying $15/month for Setanta if I can't actually watch Everton?
@Avoid the Clap, Jimmy Dugan: You're not missing much.
@Avoid the Clap, Jimmy Dugan:
If you stop looking at the scoreline right now, you can watch it later this afternoon at 3:30p CST on FSC and pretend it is "live".
Wow... Spurs might want to put a body on Belletti.
@hockalees: Don't get FSC here in Canada... the match isn't on here. Of the usual weekend slate Setanta shows 8 (live or tape-delayed), Rogers Sportsnet shows 1 live on Saturday, and "The Score" shows 1 live on Sunday. But for some reason today Setanta's not showing Everton-Man City at all.
@Avoid the Clap, Jimmy Dugan:
I think that Setanta didn't get the game this week, Sky got dibs on it.
There's always the intertubes.
a skull injury? So he's hungover, right? God knows I am.
Dammit.
and Birmingham with the equalizer.
I take it back Gary, I take it all back.
FUCK ME IN THE PANTS!
Walcott is just not strong enough on the ball.
Ah.... the timewasting begins.
Good sub by Wenger... get Theo off the pitch.
Torres just equalized. Arsenal looks done.
Come on Birmingham!
Maik Taylor is having a good one.
wow, rolled in front of an empty net
Good match.
not a good result for the Gunners
@hockalees: Wait, Theo was on the pitch? Could have fooled me.
its never a good sign that your keeper is the most mentioned player in your squad during the telecast.
@MrRedDevil:
Well... you guys got