Wow. I didn’t expect Man Ure to field an under-strength side against Chelski at the Bridge, and I certainly didn’t expect them to lose. Title race on? Man Ure is home to West Ham and away to Wigan whereas the Russians are away to Newcastle and home to Bolton. You’d have to give the edge to Man Ure. I also wonder about potential payback from West Ham. Sir Alex and Alex Curbishley are awfully chummy and Man Ure played a severely understrength side against the Hammers last year when they needed to win to stay up. Will they return the favor? Stranger things have happened.

Things are going right down to the wire for the first time in ages. A result for Fulham means they now have two more games to try and pick up a point while hoping that Reading and Bolton lose out. Not draw, lose. Quite unbelievable. And the Champions League shouldn’t be half interesting either, now that it appears as though Man Ure peaked just a touch early and Chelski have grabbed something of a second wind with a string of big results. Interesting days ahead.

I watched some of the Chicago Fire vs. Colorado Rapids game and went to dinner just before things got interesting. Overall, I thought this game typified MLS—these teams were neither spectacular nor awful but lacked that oh-so-important bit of magical creativity to open the game up. It made me think that it’s time for the salary cap to double or go bye-bye. Three more quality players per side and it would have been far more interesting. There was lots of talent out on the pitch for both teams, but that talent was nullified by the averageness of the rest of them. Really, just a few more impact players—you’re talking maybe 20-30 spread around—and this league could really be something. That’s totally doable if the salary cap goes away.

Speaking of really something, I watched the Galaxy vs. Chivas USA derby match last night and my word—had any soccer skeptics been watching they might have been converted on the spot. David Beckham hardly put a foot wrong in the first half (although his performance fell off a cliff in the second) and Landon Donovan, despite what I feel about him personally, had a monster of a game. The Galaxy went up only to be pegged back, then went up again only for Chivas to equalize a second time. Then bang-bang-bang, the Galaxy dished a trio of goals in the last fifteen minutes and there was no way back. A crushing defeat for their rivals.

Don’t get me wrong, the football wasn’t always of the highest quality (Guzan’s error on the eventual game-winner was ridiculous) but the fans were jacked up, the pace was insane, and the challenges were flying in hot and heavy. If this is what true rivalries can add to the league, then put another team in New York ASAP, please.

I’m so far ahead of the game for finishing out the semester that I’m beginning to get suspicious that I’ve forgotten something major.

Current Mood: Good |