Lesser Footy Ides of March – Foxes Reborn

If it seems Shakespearean, that’s because it is…the no-longer interim manager and Leicester City are through to the Champions League quarterfinals and well on their way to Premiership safety.

Tis a mad fuckin’ world.  So much can change in a month’s time.

Special shout out to Litre_Cola’s Fulham Cottagers, who will qualify for the English Championship playoffs (for a promotion slot back to the Prem) with a win or draw this weekend.

Now, to the weekend’s fixtures, which are askew since British farmers cycle different than Yanks, I guess.

Arsene “Just Fire Me Already Goddamnit” Wenger leads his charges into West Brom first (8:30, NBCSN), both sides in dreadful form.  Good thing we are all planning/hoping to sleep through basketball/Irish heritage hangovers, eh?

The 11:00 window (Christ, that sounds so wrong) features Stoke hosting Chelsea (NBCSN) and Everton hosting Hull (CNBC).  Everton had a great week on the pitch (3-nil thrashing of West Brom) spoiled by an awful week off it (unsettling contract rumours regarding both Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley, calling the Board’s ambition into question).  It remains to be seen just how badly team morale has been impacted, and if a rejuvenated Hull side can take advantage.  West Ham/Leicester is the best Extra Time option.

Bournemouth/Swans is the 1:30 featured match (NBCSN), but hoops is back on, and it’s just channel flipping material.

Sunday, though, brings the heavy action.  Middlesbrough hosts Manure (8:00), followed by Soton at Spurs (10:15) on NBCSN.  Tricky matches for European contenders, certainly.  Setting up the main event, the Redshite’s visit to the Etihad to take on Man City, likely with 3rd place at stake (12:30, NBC).  There will be goals, and maybe some blood for the blood gods if’n we lucky.