Are you ready for some Football (Associated)

[Jimmy Higgins]

Week 1 EPL
Liverpool v Ipswich Town - When I first started watching the EPL, Ipswich in the EPL was a thing. They hadn't been there in over 20 years now. Their home return saw a happy and energetic crowd watch their side take on Liverpool with their new manager in charge, in a season of lots of unknowns regarding top talent and where Fenway Sports Venture Group wants to go financially. Ipswich Town stifled the more talented Liverpool squad in the first half with a press that kept knocking Liverpool from developing offensive possession of any merit, leading to a particularly forgetful first half. Ipswich lacked the stamina to keep that up in the second half and Liverpool was able to dictate the game's pace and possession and managed a couple goals. Salah set an EPL record for 8th straight campaign scoring in the opening game of the season, a rather absurd accomplishment. Liverpool took the three points on the road 2-0.

Week 3 Championship
Plymouth Argyle v QPR - Wayne Rooney working on helping the Plymouth side recover from losing Schumacher to Stoke City mid-season last year. Both teams looking for their first victory. QPR opened the account first early on, but Plymouth was able to turn it around relatively quickly and were in the driver's seat and scored to tie the game. But just as soon as the Green Army was sitting back down, the game, however, will be defined by two sloppy Forshaw challenges that turned yellow to red and Plymouth Argyle would play a man down for an hour. The rest of the game saw Argyle playing on their backfoot, with QPR generally dictating possession and chances. It'd take deep into the second half for QPR to get some solid chances, but the Argyle keeper made a number of stops and not allow a second concession. QPR, at home, would drop two points as the game finished 1-1, but not before Ossako decided to make an overly ambitious attempt at a ball that led to a straight red card around stoppage time.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Week 3 Championship
West Bromwich Albion v Stoke City - An incredible first half. WBA see themselves up 1-0 quickly and then a WBA attacked sneaks behind the Stoke defense, shoots the ball towards the attacking Stoke keeper who gets just enough hand to the ball to give a defender enough time to slide and sweep the ball away... but it went to another WBA attacker who quickly shot, but only managed to see the shot deflected by another Stoke defender driving in to the play. Almost immediately after, Stoke City head up the field. A brilliant pass into Koumas who was now behind the defense was able to slot the ball into the back of the net at the Brtittania.... Bet 365. WBA would get up the first later in the half and catch the Stoke defense sleeping, and line up a shot that neatly found itself into the far corner of the net. Stoke City came close to drawing even again late in the first half, but Koumas's shot would find the post. The second half didn't have as much drama, but Stoke City took advantage of some sloppy ball handling to steal the ball and hit the woodwork once again. WBA takes the three away points.

Week 2 EPL
Liverpool v Brentford - LFC have their first match at home. They start a bit slow again, but an incredible counterattack saw Jota perfectly weight a pass to Diaz, who finished the shot clinically. Salah would double up on it by the half. That would be the end of the scoring, but Brentford kept at it, not falling apart and keeping LFC honest.

Wolves v Chelsea - I only caught the first half, but it was a cracker that finished 2-2. The final wasn't as kind to Wolves at 6-2, but the first half was a back and forth affair that kicked serious butt.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Week 4 Championship
Stoke City v Plymouth Argyle - Overall, Stoke City was the better side. Both teams had opportunities, with Stoke City ultimately taking advantage of a chance that built from effectively no where. Stoke took all three points from Home Park.

Week 3 EPL
Liverpool v Man. United - This was set to be a test to determine where each team stood. Man U fans are desperate to return to the days of old when they were too good for my preferences, and have been managing a revolving door of managers since Moyes was appointed to lead the club. Liverpool are hoping to remain a top squad who ends up losing out to Man City year in, year out. And as things stood, Man U held control of the game well into the 3 or 4th minute, where Liverpool would then take control for the remainder of the match. Diaz, who'll be Salah's replacement when Salah likely leaves (why aren't we selling this guy after signing him to a nice contract?!) scored two, with the second one be deliciously slotted off balance into the near post, right around the keeper. Salah took the tally to 3 as he continues his record of scoring at Old Trafford.

We learned less about Liverpool as we did with United as United clearly just wasn't up to the task in their 3-0 loss.

Bournemouth v Everton - As long as people in Everton left the stadium (home game) before the 86th minute, they managed to take the full 3 points, winning 2-0. For the fans that didn't make the early exit, they got to see their team drop 3 goals in 8 or so minutes, to lose 3-2 to Bournemouth. It is odd because while the crowd was angry and booed a lot at the whistle, Everton had played 87 or so minutes of really good, we are definitely taking all 3 points, football.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Week 4 EPL
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest - Nottingham entered Anfield having not won a game their since the 1960s. They developed a game plan. Let Liverpool have as much possession 20 yards from their goal they want, but not any closer. And it worked. Liverpool were incapable of breaking through Forest's defensive line. It was too crowded. Nottingham shortened the field enough that they didn't need to press hard, just press shorter distances to hold it for the length of the game. Nottingham had a counter attack which would end up with a glorious shot to go around Allison and ping off the far post into the net. With Salah having a real off game, that goal would be enough to end Liverpool's perfect record for the season, and Forest win 1-0.

In League Two Wimbledon AFC blanked MK Dons 3-0. MK Dons let in an early goal, but then controlled most of the first half, to no avail. Wimbledon would score two late goal to finish 3-0. The rivalry is similar to Baltimore and Cleveland in the NFL, except Wimbledon AFC couldn't just replace themselves in their current league. They had to promote like nuts through several leagues. They made it to League One, but then fell back to League Two (fourth tier).

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Well, nearing the end of the season. Liverpool have a game in hand and a 9 point lead. They are effectively 5 wins out of 9 games away from the title. Man City, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Brighton are jockeying for 4th and 5th. Man City are just awful this year, which goes a long way to say just how awesome they've been in the last ten plus years to consider 5th place as "awful".

The real shocker is at the bottom of the table. It isn't that the three promoted sides are fighting to prevent relegation... it is that they have almost certainly been relegated.

In Championship, Plymouth Argyle has not survived losing Schumacher and Rooney is proving to maybe not be a good manager. Argyle aren't entirely down and out, but it is getting to be a hard slog to survive at this point. They can't score on the road, and at home, they usually have to score more to tie games up. It has been a mess of a season.

Atop that table Sheffield, Burnley, and Leeds are fighting for the top two spots. Sunderland are safe in the playoff. Fifth through Eighth are fighting for the two remaining spots. Bristol City would be a new team to make it up top, if memory serves.

 

[bilby]

Atop that table Sheffield, Burnley, and Leeds are fighting for the top two spots.

Sheffield United. Wednesday are bang in the middle of the table, in 12th place.

The old schoolyard banter in Leeds went:
"Your dad's so stupid, he thinks Sheffield Wednesday is a Bank Holiday";
"Well your dad's so stupid, he thinks Sheffield Wednesday is a football team".

The Blades play Burnley on April 22nd; As a Leeds fan, I am hoping for a draw

All three teams are head and shoulders above the rest of the league, with only Sunderland within 20 points. Whichever of the three ends up in the playoffs, it will be undeserved torture for their fans, and devastating if they are pipped at the post by one of the other playoff teams.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Atop that table Sheffield, Burnley, and Leeds are fighting for the top two spots.

Sheffield United. Wednesday are bang in the middle of the table, in 12th place.

The old schoolyard banter in Leeds went:
"Your dad's so stupid, he thinks Sheffield Wednesday is a Bank Holiday";
"Well your dad's so stupid, he thinks Sheffield Wednesday is a football team".

The Blades play Burnley on April 22nd; As a Leeds fan, I am hoping for a draw

All three teams are head and shoulders above the rest of the league, with only Sunderland within 20 points. Whichever of the three ends up in the playoffs, it will be undeserved torture for their fans, and devastating if they are pipped at the post by one of the other playoff teams.

As a Leed's fan, I'm pretty certain you have already accepted they'll fall to third and lose the first playoff game.

 

[bilby]

Atop that table Sheffield, Burnley, and Leeds are fighting for the top two spots.

Sheffield United. Wednesday are bang in the middle of the table, in 12th place.

The old schoolyard banter in Leeds went:
"Your dad's so stupid, he thinks Sheffield Wednesday is a Bank Holiday";
"Well your dad's so stupid, he thinks Sheffield Wednesday is a football team".

The Blades play Burnley on April 22nd; As a Leeds fan, I am hoping for a draw

All three teams are head and shoulders above the rest of the league, with only Sunderland within 20 points. Whichever of the three ends up in the playoffs, it will be undeserved torture for their fans, and devastating if they are pipped at the post by one of the other playoff teams.

As a Leed's fan, I'm pretty certain you have already accepted they'll fall to third and lose the first playoff game.

It could be worse, they could be apostrophised.

But yes, that's my expectation, based on past fortune.

 

[bilby]

Five matches remaining, and the top three are level on points scored (The Blades had two points deducted for defaulted transfer payments).

Without the points deduction, the positions would be unchanged, as the top three are currently ranked in goal difference order.

Only one of the top four can win it from here, with Sunderland still a mathematical possibility. Realistically, one of the top three will win the league; One will be promoted in second place; And the third will have to play against three much lower ranked teams for the last promotion spot. Anyone down to QPR in 16th could, mathematically, still make it to the playoffs.

Burnley and Sheffield United play each other on April 21st, which will be a huge match. Any result will help Leeds to stay in the top two (unfortunately they can't both lose).

Leeds beat Middlesbrough 1-0 this morning (my time) to go top. All of Leeds's remaining matches are against teams in the bottom half of the table, except Bristol on April 28th. Our season finishes away at cellar dwellers Plymouth on May 3rd.



The bottom of the table is very close, and the relegation battle will be fierce - which could make playing against low-ranked teams a dangerous business. Any team from West Bromwich Albion down could theoretically end up in relegation, though QPR and above are probably feeling fairly confident. The bottom eight will likely be playing with some desparation until the very end.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Plymouth Argyle managed some serious offense against Norwich, something they haven't done much of this season, unless they are coming back from 2-0 to draw... again. They were flattened by Swansea in what should have been a 7-0 loss. Plymouth aren't mathematically out yet, but that loss had to make them feel they are now.

Stoke City are looking to sputter across the line. Their GD will be very helpful against Cardiff.

Quite the run to go here, the relegation battle in the EPL is effectively set in stone already.

Meanwhile Wrexham, the only team that in is League One apparently, is close to promoting to the Championship automatically, but Wycombe is snapping at their heels. Wrexham famously are the team saved by Hollywood celebrity Ryan Reynolds. The trouble is, Championship is a lot harder these days and the pockets are much deeper. I hope the best for Wrexham as I don't want to see them collapse once profit taking is done.

 

[bilby]

The trouble is, Championship is a lot harder these days and the pockets are much deeper.

It seems to have become much harder for teams to stay promoted, at every level, since the Premier League was introduced.

And the names of the leagues are daft; How can you take seriously a structure in which the Third Division is called "League One"?

 

[bilby]

Well, after Burnley beat Sheffield United 2-1 this morning, Leeds and Burnley have secured the two automatic promotion spots, and the Blades will have to fight their way through the play-offs.

Leeds hosted Stoke this morning, and started fairly well, with Joel Piroe (who had gone nine games since his last goal) scoring a hat-trick inside the first twenty minutes of the match. Junior Firpoe scored six minutes later, and then Piroe scored a fourth just before half-time, making it 5-0 at the break.

The match finished 6-0, with Willy Gnonto scoring the only goal of the second half.

It remains unclear why Gnonto doesn't have an 'e' at the end of his name.

Sheffield were left needing a win away at Turf Moor to remain in contention, but Josh Brownhill put an end to that, scoring first, and then after United equalized in the 37th minute, scoring his second from the penalty spot just before half-time.

Both Leeds and Burnley could still finish the season on 100 points, if they win their remaining two fixtures.

It's still very close at the bottom of the table, with five teams (including Stoke) still at risk of falling into the relegation zone, and even cellar-dwellers Plymouth still having a mathematical possibility of escape, after their 3-1 defeat of Coventry at Home Park this morning. Plymouth still have to play Leeds on the last day of the season, so I suspect their fans may be relieved by the news that Leeds no longer have quite as much incentive to win points.

Leeds, Leeds, Leeds, Leeds, Leeds, Leeds, as we say at Elland Road.

 

[bilby]

The sense of relief is justified by Leeds's play-off record: Four times we have been in the play-offs since they were introduced in 1987; Three of those four times we have reached the play-off final; Zero times we have won promotion via the play-offs.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Leeds United is stunned as they are the benefactor of someone else collapsing. Sheffield United have lost 4 of their last 5.

Plymouth Argyle have been frantic. Their loss against Middlesbrough was despite some gorgeous opportunities to win the game. They defeated Coventry who is scraping by to finish in the promotion playoffs.

This leaves Argyle with Preston (struggling) and Leeds United (who have absolutely nothing to play for, and it'll be at Home Park) to finish the season. Four teams, two at 46, two at 43 (including Plymouth). Hull City are at 48 points. Plymouth can finish at best with 49 points.

They can win out, but they need Hull City to lose out to have any chance as otherwise, they need all of Luton Town, Cardiff, and Derby to draw at best (or Luton Town win and draw).

Long story short, Plymouth Argyle have a chance, in a Dumb and Dumber sort of "have a chance".

 

[bilby]

Leeds United is stunned as they are the benefactor of someone else collapsing. Sheffield United have lost 4 of their last 5.

Plymouth Argyle have been frantic. Their loss against Middlesbrough was despite some gorgeous opportunities to win the game. They defeated Coventry who is scraping by to finish in the promotion playoffs.

This leaves Argyle with Preston (struggling) and Leeds United (who have absolutely nothing to play for, and it'll be at Home Park) to finish the season. Four teams, two at 46, two at 43 (including Plymouth). Hull City are at 48 points. Plymouth can finish at best with 49 points.

They can win out, but they need Hull City to lose out to have any chance as otherwise, they need all of Luton Town, Cardiff, and Derby to draw at best (or Luton Town win and draw).

Long story short, Plymouth Argyle have a chance, in a Dumb and Dumber sort of "have a chance".

Yeah, it would be an astonishing escape if Argyle stayed up. If they win against both Preston and Leeds, they only need either Luton or Derby to draw (or lose) one of their remaing two fixtures, so it's not asking for a miracle; But they need both two wins, and some good luck with results elsewhere, if they are to pull it off.

The last time Argyle won two Championship matches in a row was back in February, when they beat WBA 2-1, then Milwall 5*-1 (three days after they beat Liverpool 1-0 in the FA Cup 4th round match!).

*Yes, five. Not a typo.

But these are the reasons why we keep watching bottom of the table matches.

You can view any league success as being due to competitors collapsing, but the fact is that Leeds and Burnley didn't collapse. Winning 6-0 is not just cruising along waiting for results elsewhere to go your way, and the reason Leeds are top and Burnley are not is the huge gulf between them in terms of goal difference.

Indeed, a Championship table ranked only by goal difference would have the same top four, in the same order; and that was true four weeks ago, too, with the same teams in the same order on the table. Even the docking of two competition points from the Blades for not paying their debts hasn't made a material difference to the standings.

If Sheffield United want to know why they didn't get an automatic promotion spot, the answer can be found in the mirror.

Let us hope that their collapse doesn't continue into the play-offs; as I said before:

Realistically, one of the top three will win the league; One will be promoted in second place; And the third will have to play against three much lower ranked teams for the last promotion spot.

There are still seven teams battling for the last two play-off spots, and the Blades have a twenty point margin over the current holder of the last of those spots. It seems almost unfair that those twenty points (twenty two, before deductions) get them nothing more than the advantage of playing the lowest ranked opponent, and playing at home in the second leg of the first round.

Been there. It's not a great place to be.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Plymouth go up 2-0, win 2-1, but Luton Town won as well. Plymouth Argyle need everyone to lose and Luton Town to lose by 8 goals and Plymouth to win by 7. Or Preston North End losing by 12 and Plymouth winning by 11. So... it'll either be the most glorious turnarounds in history... or Plymouth Argyle need to get things set and finish top two next season in League One.

It seems very unlikely. Wayne Rooney can add Plymouth Argyle to his cap of teams he was able to plow into the ground. Not having the career managing that he had while on the pitch.

Meanwhile, Liverpool went down 1-0 early to Tottenham because Liverpool just had to... and then rallied two relatively quickly and ultimately defeated a Tottenham side that finishes in their worst position in a long time. They join Manchester United with not yet eclipsing the 40 pt "safe" mark. 4 games left, they'll both make it... presumably, but these two teams have had a rough year. I think we are 10 years now since Manchester United sucked and the their fans might be getting used to it again now. Liverpool still are on pace for a 90+ pt season to help finish off an anti-climatic trophy season where they cruised in the dumb round robin but then were taken out by an inspired PSG side.

2 points separate 3rd and 6th, who battle for differing things. This would have mattered more before the Champions League became a 'everyone and the brother gets in' cash cow. Aston Villa at 5 points back of 3rd. Top five are in Champions League apparently. Which means Nottingham Forrest and Newcastle could both make it. If City or Chelsea falters, Aston Villa could as well.

 

[bilby]

Plymouth go up 2-0, win 2-1, but Luton Town won as well. Plymouth Argyle need everyone to lose and Luton Town to lose by 8 goals and Plymouth to win by 7. Or Preston North End losing by 12 and Plymouth winning by 11. So... it'll either be the most glorious turnarounds in history... or Plymouth Argyle need to get things set and finish top two next season in League One.

What, you don't think Argyle can beat Leeds by a dozen goals?

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Plymouth go up 2-0, win 2-1, but Luton Town won as well. Plymouth Argyle need everyone to lose and Luton Town to lose by 8 goals and Plymouth to win by 7. Or Preston North End losing by 12 and Plymouth winning by 11. So... it'll either be the most glorious turnarounds in history... or Plymouth Argyle need to get things set and finish top two next season in League One.

What, you don't think Argyle can beat Leeds by a dozen goals?

Well... maybe if they play Gaelic Football.

 

[bilby]

Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds Leeds

That is all.

 

[WAB]

Could you repeat that, bilby, I didn't quite catch it?