Mad City Utd lost 3-1 in our first game of the year three weeks back. We played listlessly, lethargically, without any energy. Our passing was bad, our movement was bad—we were bad. I played out on the wing and wasn’t too involved. The other team played quite well and deserved their win. Last weekend, our game got canceled on account of lightning.
This weekend we arrived at the pitch to find a triple-whammy—high wind, a horribly slanted field, and muddy turf. We had our full lineup this time and reverted to our traditional 4-5-1 rather than the 4-4-2 we messed with during the opener. The result? A 4-1 win. We had about a dozen other good chances and the only reason they scored is because our keeper literally threw the ball to one of their forwards inside the box. I played in the defensive midfield role and I was happy with the performance, busting up play and getting the attack started. I was rewarded with cleat marks on my thigh and my calves. Onward.
The last thing Chelski wanted to see ahead of their semifinal clash with Barcelona was the Catalan club pasting Real Madrid 6-2 away from home. I haven’t seen the replays, but reports suggest it could have been 16-2. Chelski beware. Hopefully they’ll actually try to come out and play at home…
Things have gone a bit flat as this stage of the Premier League season. Man Ure would have to lose at least two of their last four? Not gonna happen. Villa has faded badly and the race for fourth was over a month ago. Blackburn, Pompey, Stoke, and Bolton have picked up enough points to steer them to virtual safety.
West Brom is down. But who will join them? Newcastle and Boro occupy the last two spots and three points from safety and Hull, who sits on 34 points, has won exactly once in 2009. What must be maddening for these clubs is that the tiniest amount of quality is all it takes to raise them from the mire, but all three of these teams have been as dire as the day is long. Sunderland (playing Everton as I type) is not out of the woods either, but they at least show flashes of competence. It’s almost a shame all of them can’t go down.
Current Mood: Okay | 
One Comment
It’s almost a shame all of them can’t go down.
No kidding. It says something–and not something good–when your best player in your last match was sent off for being a clumsy thug. Not just a thug, mind you, a clumsy, two-footed leopards-can’t-change-their-spots thug. Yuck. Whatever happens at Newcastle, it is my fervent hope that they have a whole new squad next year. And they’re well on their way to that, surely.