So let’s get this straight.
Tottenham Hotspur go off to Wemberlee and get rocked in extra time to the one hit wonders known as Portsmouth, only a week after getting shredded by Sunderland and a Mrs. Redknapp-trained (sans the spot) Darren Bent.
Naturally, then, most people assumed that with the Big Three waiting on their doorstep, Spurs would fold the tent up and slide down into sixth place. (And yes, before you say “You said that too!” I did in fact say that, too.)
Instead, Spurs overran Arsenal for the better part of 70 minutes (until RvP hit the field) and did likewise to Chelsea, winning both contests 2-1. The results, coupled with the result of the Manchester Derby, (also known as “When Old Guys Get Frisky”) suddenly see the title race and fourth place races blow themselves back open. Again.
City had a chance to not only go back to four points above Spurs but also drive the final stake into United’s title challenge. Instead, they’ve forced what was already an important showdown with Spurs on May 5th to hit all but critical mass. A clear-cut winner now almost assures themselves of fourth place.
Lost in this shuffle is the sudden disappearance of the Gunners. Having been throttled by Barcelona, they came out flat against Spurs, but still had a good shot of getting themselves back into the title race after Spurs gave them a lifeline back into the proceedings by beating the leaders. After scoring on either side of halftime, they suddenly capitulated to Schizoid Athletic in a way that can only be described as complete and total malfunctional failure. This was a Hull or Burnley like breakdown, not something you would expect from someone with the kind of players like Arsenal.
This leaves all but six sides with three matches left. Time is ticking away in the final fights of the season and a misstep may now prove fatal in the final push for places.
April 14
The start of Schizoid Wigan Athletic’s week was a porous 0-0 draw with Pompey, one that certainly set the bar low for what was later to come. In an overshadowed but equally important match to the evening’s main event, Villa were bailed out by a sad Phil Jagielka OG at the death to draw 2-2 in a match that might just keep Everton at bay in the race for Europe. You could understand how that one might have slipped through the cracks, though, considering the frenzy at the Lane as Danny Rose hit maybe the goal of the term (my money’s still on Maynor Figueroa’s half-line plus bullet against Stoke at the Britannia way back ago) in starting the Spurs’ win against Arsenal.
April 17
The day started with what was quickly becoming a drab encounter between United and City up until the death, when a certain Ginger fellow hit a header in that caused as much of a stir for the post-match, uh, ‘celebratory” smooch from skipper Gary Neville. Awkward, indeed, though it might be passed over as it wasn’t at a nightclub or anything exotic like that. Be forewarned, though: expect that to be all over the City banners next time United show up at Eastlands…or anywhere else for that manner.
Midday action was skittish as Hull, Wolves and Bolton all grabbed vital points. Hull kept the fight going by drawing at St. Andrews with Birmingham, Wolves missed out on total security but snared a point against Europa-looking Fulham at Craven Cottage, while Bolton grabbed three points in a last-gasp double raid by Matthew Taylor against Stoke at the Britannia. Sunderland saw off Burnley while Everton needed two replies against wonder-strikes from Blackburn to take three points at Ewood Park to keep the heat on Villa and ‘Pool in the European hunt.
Then the eyes of London turned to White Hot Lane where Spurs took a lackluster Blues side to task in a 2-1 win. Had Pavlyuchenko his shooting boots on, perhaps the score could have been three or four, but two it was. Gareth Bale was so dominant on the left that Paulo Ferreira got the hook at half time, mainly because he was turned so many times on Bale’s goal that he looked akin to someone fresh out of a large tire that had gone down a 400 ft hill.
(Note: Michael Dawson gets some credit for his block on Didier Drogba late in the second half, but watch the leadup to such said block. He looked like a dog chasing his tale in one big circle before snapping out of it on time to get in the vital block.)
April 18
Villa grabbed three points at Fratton Park, but let no one tell you it was a gimme-three as Pompey’s no-name side battled until Nathan Delfouneso sealed the points. Then, of course, there was that little matter of collapse at the DW Stadium that Arsenal concocted with Lukasz Fabianski at the heart of the matter, practically all but placing a cross onto the head of Titus Bramble of all people before watching the misery signals from the foot of Charles N’Zogbia save the bacon for Wigan Athletic this term.
April 19
West Ham managed to roll over and give Hull some hope of survival by laying down to Liverpool at Anfield 3-0. The Reds might be in a bit of a spot with the news that Fernando Torres will no longer be of service to them for the rest of the term, but if everyone plays like the Hammers did Monday, they won’t need him. I mean, they made David Ngog look like he was a competent striker all contest. That’s embarrassing.
The New Week
Wednesday features the desperate Tigers of Hull trying to stave off the Wolv-, er, Lions of Villa, who must win in order to stave off the Toffees. (Toffee just doesn’t strike fear like lions or wolves, does it?) That leads to the weekend, where United and Spurs kick off the weekend in dramatic style at Old Trafford. Bolton host Pompey, while Wolves and Blackburn square off at Molineux. Hull tangle with Sunderland while a critical-mass contest takes shape at Upton Park when West Ham host Wigan. That segues into another vital top half clash with Arsenal hosting City.
Sunday starts off with the big West Midland Derby as Villa host Brum. Burnley will attemept not to ship seven to Liverpool at Turf Moor while Everton host the Cottagers, who might be a bit travel weary after voyaging to Hamburg in the midweek. Those lead to a possibly contentious bout between Chelsea and the Stoke to close the week down.
