Saturday football

[Coffee]

"US AND THEM So we’re nearly there after nine months of slogging, sweating, freezing and apoplectic ranting. Plus ca change. All for title or qualification, whatever’s the more valuable for you. For us, those bedecked in the only claret and blue that counts, it’s all boiled down to position and qualification, which now seems so unlikely that we can but look back upon a year that brought a quarter final and, probably, a change of guard, but little else to rise above the mundane. For today’s opponents, the ultimate analysis may yet deliver no more than that save a higher – a much higher – final position. Until a fortnight ago, the title was within Liverpool’s reach. Now that too has fallen by the wayside courtesy of excessive generosity to their dear neighbours in blue, and Crystal Palace. Another costly slip, you might say. Is a smidgin of fight left within them? Or, indeed, in us? Would those with the mightier testicles please stand up. THE RELEGATION GAME Everton, to all intents and purposes, are safe despite enduring months of points fined and even more months of truly crap play, and may now settle back and celebrate against the visiting Bees. The Blades will most likely see their long-anticipated return to the Championship confirmed this afternoon, while the three candidates for the other two places have yet to perspire a tad more. Forest, on 26 points, have an unappealing run-in (H City; A Sheff U; H Chelsea; A Burnley), while Luton (25) must negotiate Wolves A; Everton H; West Ham A; and Fulham H. And Burnley (23) can look forward to visits to Man U and Spurs, while hosting Newcastle and Forest. The Hatters have arguably the kindest get out of jail card, but do they have the wherewithal to use it? BEST OF THE REST Arsenal have to win at Spurs if they’re to retain a chance of lifting the Premier League trophy. Ordinarily, beating your bitter rivals on their turf is hard enough, but the current stakes raise Sunday’s encounter to a tantalizingly stratospheric level. Some less consequential fixtures are also available. CHAMPIONSHIP In what may readily be mistaken for a severe bout of dyspepsia, Leicester seem to have overcome their bout of late season hiccups to reclaim their place at the top of the Championship. Automatic promotion is there for the claiming. As it is for Ipswich and Leeds, though not necessarily in that order. Leeds visit QPR on Friday night in the weekend’s opener. Should Leeds pip the Tractor Boys to second spot, there’s a good chance of two intriguing play-off games between Norwich and Ipswich. Southampton and West Brom are the other two in the other, horribly intense, final battle for promotion. At the bottom, it’s a stomach butterflies-inducing battle between Huddersfield, Brum, Sheff W, Plymouth and, at a push, Blackburn (who not that long ago had their sights set on promotion) to avoid the two remaining relegation places. Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Saudi Liga, Chinese Liga, Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, Jurgen Klopp, Lady Diana, are you watching? WEST HAM UNITED vs LIVERPOOL (1230) Draw. FULHAM vs CRYSTAL PALACE (1500) Draw. MANCHESTER UNITED vs BURNLEY (1500) Home win. NEWCASTLE UNITED vs SHEFFIELD UNITED (1500) Home win. WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs LUTON TOWN (1500) Draw EVERTON vs BRENTFORD (1730) Home win. ASTON VILLA vs CHELSEA (2000) Home win. *SUNDAY* BOURNEMOUTH vs BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (1400) Home win. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs ARSENAL (1400) Draw. NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs MANCHESTER CITY (1630) Away win."

[irisiris95]

"Has Rice visually morphed into Arteta ?? Similar eyes, barnet increasingly looking like a lego piece..."

[only1billybonds]

"Exactly my feelings Manny. Big day for Villa and keeps City on their toes. As for the pen, it seemed pretty clear cut from my sofa, not sure why Oliver needed to look at the TV replay. Only oddity in those situations for me is that the ball is long gone when Rice kicks the bloke who wouldn't have got anywhere near the ball had the foul not been committed. Still, a foul is a foul I guess, just that a pen seems harsh when the player fouled he's no chance of getting near the ball."

[Manuel]

"Oliver had the best view in the stadium of the Rice penalty, he saw it very clearly, the fact that he never give it tells me he doesn't know the law with this type of foul when a player swings for the ball and kicks the player instead, as we saw at Wolves recently, seems to be a bit of a grey area? Anyway, didn't mind Arse winning, keeps the title race bubbling and harms Spurs for 4th."

[happygilmore]

"Rice gives away a penalty. I thought he got the ball, just not sure if itvwas the left or right ball he connected with"

[onsideman]

Some of you went a bit early

[Fauxstralian]

I guess if our current managers standard is getting dicked by 6 goals (going on 10) by Arsenal then 0-3 & having more than 25% possession isnt TOO bad Arsenal have been ruthless against a soft team with D Rice mopping up when required

[goose]

"Yeh right on feet!! Fuck being 5th and being 0-3 down to Arsenal, I’d much rather get done 0-6 and be fighting Bournemouth for 9th place."

[,]

Spurs are winning really because they are clocking up 70% possession.

[twoleftfeet]

I‚Äôd love to have big Ange at West Ham ?ü§£?ü§£?ü§£

[Fauxstralian]

Son had to score Been very good for Tottenham over the years but never seems to be the subject of transfer speculation Does he take a shit in the team bath or have questionable personal hygiene?

[goose]

0-3 arsenal Weird as spurs haven’t been that bad.

[Fauxstralian]

All gone SPURSY Nice corner by Rice but it landed 3yds out in the centre of the goal and the Italian coward was nailed to his line Bournemouth winning ...would bring them to within a point of us

[RBshorty]

North London Derby. You just can’t call yourself a West Ham fan and ever want N17 too get a result. And how most Goon fans come across in the recent pass. Ain’t exactly endearing either.! Barring a astroid impact. Any sane person is going for a draw.

[nich the d]

"Birmingham can go from that lot - absolutely deserve it for sacking Eustace for ""big name"" Rooney."

[Fauxstralian]

Ipswich still have the advantage with 2 games to Leeds 1 with both on 90 & Leeds 7 ahead on G/D Would guess the playoffs will be Leeds Southampton Norwich & West Brom At the bottom Rotherham done with Huddersfield (unless they can turn around 15+ goals) Last relegation place between Blackburn 50pts (16) G/D Sheff Wed 50 (26) Plymouth 48 (12) Birmingham 47 (16)

[only1billybonds]

Cracking game at Hull. 3-3

[Steady]

Hoping for a spurs arsenal draw tomorrow which doesn’t help either side

[Tomshardware]

Looks like Chelsea are going to lose again. Villa more than deserve a Champs league place.

[twoleftfeet]

"Great to see Emma Hayes losing, couldn‚Äôt happen to a nicer person ?ü§£?ü§£"

[Mex Martillo]

So Coffee you see Man City tightotheir grip on winning the league... I think Arsenal win. WEST HAM UNITED vs LIVERPOOL = Home win (looking good at HT); FULHAM vs CRYSTAL PALACE = Away win; MANCHESTER UNITED vs BURNLEY = Home win; NEWCASTLE UNITED vs SHEFFIELD UNITED = Home win; WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs LUTON TOWN = Home win; EVERTON vs BRENTFORD = Draw; ASTON VILLA vs CHELSEA = Agree Home win; BOURNEMOUTH vs BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION = Draw; TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs ARSENAL = Away win; NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs MANCHESTER CITY = Agree Away win. Thanks Coffee

[jfk]

"nychammer, Likewise,spend a bit of time Suffolk way weekends(with the mutt,hunting,shooting)love to see the tractor boys in the premiership if only for a short stint. Plenty of good folk up there."

[jfk]

"nychammer, Likewise,spend a bit of time Suffolk way weekends(with the mutt,hunting,shooting)love to see the tractor boys in the premiership if only for a short stint. Plenty of good folk up there."

[Sydney_Iron]

"Cant believe im posting this but i hope Spurs win this weekend! We need to beat Liverpool and hope Sheffield united pull a rabbit out of their hat! Oh and Villa stuff Chelsea which has the added benefit of taking the smug grin off Spurs fans faces if they win as 5th (and No CL) will be about as good as they can get. Burnley can beat ManU as well, although i think they are as good as nailed on for 6th and the other Europa spot, 7th and the Conference will be as good as it gets for us"

[nychammer]

Excellent result for Ipswich with 2 games in hand!! Nice club andAlways been a team I followed being local to where I used to live and worthy of promotion!

[goose]

Will Leicester now face PL sanctions for FFP?