It has officially been 21 days in the latest Brandon/Jon/Andrew post strike, which is too bad, because I'd really like to hear about Jon's feelings during this Western Conference Finals. I bet they're sad.
I kind of feel as though this should officially end my weekly football posts here on the LSF. Could it get any worse? This was far and away the most downtrodden I have felt after a European football weekend. If you're ready to go along suffering with me, keep reading.
It was supposed to be so easy (yes, Brandon, that is a "The Streets" reference). All that Newcastle needed was a draw against Aston Villa, and we would have headed to the 09/10 season in the EPL ready to turn things around for the franchise. Newcastle had been up in the big leagues for the past 16 years, and Magpie Nation wasn't interested in seeing that run come to an end. 38 minutes into the game, a Damien Duff own goal became a microcosm for the entire season. Duff deflected a shot from Gareth Barry of Aston that went right past Steve Harper to seal our fate. Just like that, the Barcodes were officially relegated. There is so many things to consider as we head down to the English Championship League (ECL, for short). The Mags will be joining the likes of Reading, Preston North End, Cardiff City, Ipswich, Crystal Palance, Nottingham Forest, and even Norwich City! Man, it is going to be a different year next year. Rumors are already circling about the future of Newcastle. Will Michael Owen be off after yet another so so year? Will owner Mike Ashley bring back Alan Shearer despite his inability to rally the troops for a miracle in the last 8 games? Will the team really lose somewhere around 30-60 million pounds just from being sent to the Championship? The post-game quotes were quite gnarly, "We are all hurting, and I feel desperately sorry for everyone associated with Newcastle." Shearer was even worse, "I'm raw, angry, frustrated, disappointed and I am hurting- you can put all those words together and that still doesn't sum it up. The simple fact is that over 38 games, Newcastle United have not been good enough and deserve to go down- and it hurts for me to say that." Oh well, my favorite soccer team from England is no longer among the greats, I guess it is time to move on for now.
It doesn't get much better for me, as a gaze over to Scotland for my favorite SPL squad. A quiet 0-0 draw against Heart of Midlothian was obviously no enough for the Hoops, leading to being denied their fourth straight SPL title. Andrew's bloody Rangers earned the championship by 4 points, despite the clean sheet from Artur Boruc for Celtic, and we are left wondering what we are going to do in 09/10. Rangers won their game against Dundee, which made the Celtic/Heart match unimportant, but at least we could have gone out in style. And, as if that wasn't enough, Celtic coach and whiz kid Gordon Strachan resigned less than 24 hours after his team failed to retain the title. The rumors have Stacs going to Sunderland, and no matter what happens it leaves Celtic wide open in terms of coaching. You'd think there would have been more for Boruc, McDonald, Gorgeous Georgios, Naka, McGeady, and Vennergoor, but no. I guess it could have been much, much worse. Remembering that we didn't get relegated always helps. Can't wait until next year Celts!
With Pachuca & UNAM making their way to the finals of the FMF Clausura 2009, Chivas has no games to play after a fairly shaky season. Would you believe that Necaxa was relegated to the Primera Division A? Sad. What will the Apertura 2009 hold for the Mexican Goats? Can't wait.
In a rough football weekend, I couldn't even look toward Chivas USA to make me happy. Chivas drew with the Kansas City Wizard (who may, or may not, be Brandon's favorite MLS squad). I guess after the 1-1 match, the rivalry (again, if there is one) between Brandon and Tommy on the MLS pitch has only intensified. It was a match littered with eight cards and two ejections, and in the end Chivas was able to at least add something to their MLS leading point total with a 1-1 draw. After a quiet 45 minutes, the Wiz's Claudio Lopez netted the game opening goal for KC only to have Chivas' Eduardo Lillingston know things up. Of course, Chivas was able to score the game tying goal thanks in part to KC having two players ejected (Wolff and Hirsig), leaving them with just 9 players for the final 7 minutes. Props to Paulo Nagamura for leading the way with 3 shots for the Goats, and love from my to Maykel Galindo for earning four fouls with a little rough play. Nice work, as usual, by Zach "The Beast" Thorton, who made 3 saves in the near clean sheet. Heading into a Thursday evening game against Chicago (Jon's favorite MLS team?), Chivas USA are rolling their 7-1-3 record (24 points) at the top of the conference. Seattle sits back in the 2 hole with 16 points, and Houston is coming hard. Chicago, the East's top squad, is undefeated at 4-0-6 (18 points) and should present quite a challenge for the Red & White. I guess with Chivas USA being the only football team on my list of favorite squads left playing, it is time to really get into the Goats run at the title. Arriba last Chivas!
What is going to happen with the Davis family with Chelsea and Everton going head to head in the FA Cup final? Man, that is going to be fun.
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