Lesser Footy – Saving Us From el Beisbol

At least FOAR a few weeks longer.  Christ, I had forgotten what a drag it is when sport is dominated by nap-sport.  Ah well, I have my books, my music, and my suicidal thoughts.  Onto the fixtures!

Spurs, fresh off their mad late comeback at Swansea midweek, host 10th position Watford to start us off (7:30, NBCSN).  The pundits were desperate to declare the title race back on…but Chelsea held onto its 2-1 lead and beat City, maintaining the comfortable 7-point margin with 8 matches to play.  Just like last season, Tottenham are in great form at the 3/4 mark, but can’t make up enough ground.  We will see if they collapse in the final 4/5 matches again…

City host Hull in the most interesting of the 10:00 slate (NBCSN), as the Tigers are on fucking fire recently.  Swans’ capitulation was enough to lift Hull into 17th, at least temporarily.  They still have much work to do.  Speaking of Swans, they look to rebound against reeling West Ham (Extra Time), not out of danger themselves on 33 points and in 15th.  Though increasingly, it does look like it will be Swans or Hull for the 3rd relegation slot (Boro and Sunderland being totally doomed).  8th place West Brom also face 9th position Soton on Extra Time, whilst the unwatchable Redshite/Stoke match gets the CNBC treatment.

Big NBC gets Chelsea on the road against pesky 13th position Bournemouth.  The Cherries rallied to take a late point off the Redshite midweek, and have the talent and speed to keep up with the Blues.  Could be a very lively and entertaining match.  Spurs playing first theoretically keeps some semblance of pressure on the leaders.

Sunday is rather sleepy, with doomed-to-dead-fookin-last Sunderland hosting “draw 2, win 1 forevs” United first up (8:30, NBCSN).  Not exactly setting my alarm for that.  Everton hosting Leicester (11:00, NBCSN) looks much better on paper, with the Foxes having won 6 in a row across all competitions.  That said, they now have 36 points and are 99% safe from relegation, with the first Champions League quarterfinal tie ahead on Wednesday.  Supposedly, they will rest at least 4 key starters.  As a Toffee supporter, I am glad to take the 3 points.  But for the neutral observer, this is kind of a letdown, as these sides would otherwise make for a fun clash.  Everton are fixed in cement in 7th.