The WFP used to be something of an institution around these parts. Then it became an institution on the LSF Twitter feed. Then it just kind of vanished, and more team specific soccer info was getting leaked out via the LSF Tweets. Now, I feel like talking WFP again. Despite, most likely, not coming back in it's weekly form, I'm keeping the title because it makes me laugh to have "weekly" in the title and just have it come randomly. So, whenever I get the urge to write about soccer, you'll get the WFP thrown up in your face like a horse stable. With the Euro leagues ending, the MLS starting, and the World Cup on the horizon, we need some updates!
Newcastle United: If you follow the blog, you know how sweet the ECL season was to NUFC. Earning promotion after just one season on the juinor circuit is pretty spot on. The Mags finished with 102 points in their 46 games, earning a +55 goal differential (which, I figured Brandon would like; props on the double for the Blue, by the way). An 11 point lead atop the table has most fans feeling oddly confident about a near the middle finish in the EPL next season. Kevin Nolan was the Tooner with the golden foot over the season, getting 17 goals and 5 assists over 44 games he played in. He earned ECL Player of the Year honors, and looks to play a prominent role in the '10/'11 campaign with the big boys. The Toon Army never lost at home this season, and that spells big things. Manager Chris Hughton, though, won't be bank rolled just for being promoted. No extra cash will come down, and our eager beaver manager will have to draw strength from within. Let's hope he can.
Celtic: My favorite Scots, the Sligo side, went down in second place for the second year in a row in the SPL. Despite 6 straight wins to close out the hear, including on against Rangers, my boys finished 6 points back of the hated Protties in the table. 81 points and a +36 goal differential wasn't enough to secure the trophy this time around. Robbie Keane ended up fitting it perfectly as our Irish savior, netting 12 goals and 3 assists in his 16 games after getting transferred. Now, with Celtic poised to get revenge in the SPL in '10/'11, the hunt for a new manager is on. Will Neil Lennon shake the interim role and stick around, or will former Ranger Billy Davies be giving a pass and a chance? I'm just waiting for redemption.
Lazio: A 12th place finish for Lazio wasn't great, but at least we're still Serie A. 46 points in 38 games with a -4 goal differential sounds like what got Newcastle relegated back in late '09. This year, it was Sergio Floccari's 8 goals and 2 assists that led the team. Pathetic. 8 goals leads the team? Our manager came out in the media last week and said he was "pleased" that the squad avoided relegation. That is a pretty low bar to set for the team that sports fans from most of the priests at the Vatican, right? F. At least we stole a 3-1 win from a 10 man Udinese this weekend to end things on a high note. What's up with Tommaso Rocchi's poor play?
Sligo Rovers: The Bit 'O Red's season rolls along more with the MLS schedule, and my boys from Sligo are holding down 16 points from their first 13 games with a +5 goal differential, good enough for 7th on the table. Coming off an amazing 6-0 drubbing of Drogheda United this weekend, with a hat trick from Amond, Sligo are feeling good things coming down the pipeline this year, after an exciting finish last season. First place Dundalk present a challenge on Friday.
Chivas de Guadalajara: My Mexican Goat side nabbed 32 points in 17 games to lead group 1 of the FMF this campaign. That was better than América's second place 25 point finish in group 2. Ha! Arriba las Chivas! Now, the Red & White are going head to head with Libertad, as they march through the Copa Libertados. Chivas are up 3-0 on aggs heading into the second game. This squad is like night and day since last tournament, with Superman Javier Hernández Balcazar continuing to shine with 10 goals and 2 assists in 11 games. March on, Guada!
Chivas USA: Finally, we reach the young MLS season, where our beloved Goats are not starting out so well. After falling 0-1 to Columbus this weekend, Chivas are dead last in the West with just 10 points in 9 games and a -2 goal differential. Meanwhile, the hated Galaxy have 23 points in their 9 and are flying high (un-freaking-defeated). Jesús Padilla Cisneros is leading the squad with 3 goals in the young season, but without our studs there to shine, we're nothing. Braun, Kljestan, and Chijindu have 4 goals between the three of them, and that's not good enough. ZTB hasn't earned a win between the pipes, either. Who is this squad?
There you go. You're all caught up on the beautiful game.
The World Cup starts June 11 with South Africa and Mexico, and the US starts on June 12 against the Lobsterbacks from England. I think that we'll have some great coverage here at TLSF, and I hope you'll enjoy it.
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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