Through the magic of Amazon, I recently acquired a new Everton fleece throw. Since its addition, the Toffees are 2-0 and have yet to concede (albeit against a shockingly shite League Two side in the FA Cup, and the Barcodes in the League). I can only hope neither of the cats pisses on it, as it was $8 (including shipping from the UK) and I am less than sanguine as to its ability to survive a good laundering, especially on the “steam” cycle.

There’s good news and bad news this weekend. Good news? You get a classic #1 vs. #2 showdown, as barbarians at the gate Leicester City take on moneybags supreme Manchester City! Should Foxy Footy break everyone’s hearts and lose, the two sides would be tied on 50 points, but City would edge ahead on goal differential.

The bad news? It kicks off at 7:45am EASTERN standard time (Saturday, NBCSN), which is an even bigger kick in the balls/ladyballs for you midwesterners and Best Coast types. Maybe set your DVRs?

After all, unless you are me, the 10:00 window is nothing special. NBCSN features #3 Tottenham Hotspur against #9 (and falling) Watford. No doubt the Hornets will try to slow the Spurs attack down to a crawl and grind out a result, but an early goal would pretty much put this one to bed. USA is showing a horrid game, so you need to flip over to Extra Time to see Everton and Stoke battle for 10th place.

The 12:30 NBC fixture is very good this week, with red hot, 7th in the table Southampton taking on the 6th place Hammers. Saints can’t vault into 6th even with all 3 points, but they can continue to serve notice that they are real contenders for a European place, at minimum. Oh, how they would desperately like to have the first 5-6 weeks of the season back.

Don’t look now, but Arsenal have faded back into their “comfortable slippers” 4th position as they take on the Cherries to lead off Sunday (8:30, NBCSN). Speaking of fading, Manure and Chelski (NBCSN, 11:00) loses a great deal of its mojo when they sit at 5th and 13th, respectively. And neither team is any better than their current positioning, despite what the British press would have you believe.