OT - Premier League Championship Sunday
One of the best days of the year for soccer fans is the last day of the season. All the games are played at the same time and there's usually something at stake at the top of the table and at the bottom. If you want a taste of what this day can be like, you can check out this video of Survival Sunday 2011, when there were 5 teams at risk of going down the final day: Link And here's a video of the final day of the 2011-12 season, when City won in stoppage time to take away the title from United Link
Unfortunately, the Premier League has somewhat of a dull final day overall. The top spot is up for grabs. Manchester City sits at top and only needs a point to win the league. Liverpool need to win their match and hope City lose. The only other spots really up for grabs is one of the final Europa League places. Tottenham currently sit in the last one, with Manchester United 3 points behind, but hold the goal differential advantage by a wide margin. So if the Spurs lose and United win, the Red Devils will stay in European play next season (although I think it's best if they miss out and focus on the league next year).
But something that has never happened in the States before will happen today - every single Premier League match will be televised.
10:00 a.m. ET: Manchester City vs. West Ham United – NBC
10:00 a.m. ET: Liverpool vs. Newcastle – NBCSN
10:00 a.m. ET: Tottenham vs. Aston Villa – USA
10:00 a.m. ET: Southampton vs. Manchester United – SYFY
10:00 a.m. ET: Cardiff City vs. Chelsea – CNBC
10:00 a.m. ET: Norwich City vs. Arsenal – MSNBC
10:00 a.m. ET: Hull City vs. Everton – Bravo
10:00 a.m. ET: Fulham vs. Crystal Palace – E!
10:00 a.m. ET: Sunderland vs. Swansea – Esquire
10:00 a.m. ET: West Brom vs. Stoke City – Oxygen
And of course, European soccer provides a wonderful excuse for day drinking here in the States, so I'll be cracking open some brews throughout the excitement.
It's really a no win for me. As a huge fan of parity in all sports, I despise the money spent by City and the other top teams. And even though I haven't been alive for any Liverpool dominance, I can understand my English and longtime soccer fan friends' annoyance with their fans and arrogance. I'm just hoping for some excitement.
came down. Diminished squads for Champions league play only. Like 2 fewer players
Michigan fans are so humble
Guys, do yourself a favor and get into the Championship (2nd tier). Games are on Bein Sports once or twice a week. It's fantastic. My Wolves got relegated from it last year, but it was the most enjoyable season of soccer I've ever had following a league. Only 14 points separated the last playoff spot and the final relegation spot. There were 14 points b/w 1st and 3rd in the Prem last year. And 12 points separating 7th and 8th. And that's with playing 8 games less, allowing fewer games for teams to separate themselves. Wolves got relegated receiving 1.1 points a game. That would have been good enough for 13th in the Prem last year.
Newcastle have taken the lead, at the hands of a Martin Skrtel own goal.
Liverpool 0-1 Newcastle
Manchest City 0-0 West Ham
Go City.
I still regret sleeping and missing out on the 2012 Championship Sunday.
I'm awake now. Skrtl own goal lol.
The title, to City.
City have scored
Delete.
YNWA
Kompany with City's second. That should be it. Hammers won't be able to score 3 goals.
Go Chelsea!!!! Fuck Man City.
You know Chelsea was eliminated from the title chase last week, right?
yep and still fuck man city and liverpool.
Wait - why was Ameobi sent off?
Two yellows in 30 seconds for dissent. What an idiot.
Kind of looked like he was baited into the second one. The official kept talking to him as he was setting up the ball for kickoff. Either way - he should definitely know better.
I hate City. Poor Fulham, finally heading down after so many years of fighting to stay top flight. :(
And some Europa League years in there as well. They had a good run and will hopefully be right back up instead of suffering the hangover and dropping down a couple of leagues.
is clueless. Wouldn't be shocked to see Fulham in league 1 by 2016
has had financial issues but their drop to the 3rd tier and subsequent difficulty getting back to the Prem speaks volumnes. That's a really big club struggling.
The real issue is flopping to draw fouls. But the NBA has that problem just as much.
Dude, don't confuse English Football with Continental Football. If you're going to play the anti-soccer card, get your prejudices straight.
Manchester is blue
Derby and Brighton (club that Sunderland's manager Gus Poyet was previously employed at) will play the second leg of their Championship Promotion Playoff in about 10 minutes as well. Derby won the first leg at Brighton 2-1 (no away goal rules in Champ. Playoffs).
Pretty good season for Arsenal. 79 points and probably/hopefully/maybe the FA Cup for a squad that fought more injuries than anybody all season.
Ok. I'm going to make an effort to get into soccer this year. I need a team to root for in Europe. I have an initial idea of who I like but I'm taking all suggestions. Shoot me your recommendation and why?