The Perfect Group of Promotion Clubs

Leeds, Forest, and Derby. They are three of the biggest clubs in the history of English football, but there is a small problem they are all in the Championship and not the Premier League. The three historic clubs seem to have thing going well, going through a Championship Revival. I would love to see the three clubs back in the big time. It would make the Premier League a better place.

The power of TV

There used to a time when I would have to watch the Premier League on an illegal box at my then girlfriend's, current wife, parents house. Fast forward 15 years and you can watch a variety of different leagues on your tv. This week that is what I did.

Friday:
French League: Stade Rennais vs. AS Saint Etienne

Saturday:
FA Cup: Wigan vs. Everton
Premier League: Aston Villas vs. Reading
League Championship: Crystal Palace vs. Leeds United
MLS: New England at Chicago
Spain: Barcelona vs. Deportivo La Coruna
Mexican League: Cruz Azul vs. Jaguares

Sunday
FA Cup: Millwall vs. Blackburn
FA Cup: Manchester United vs Chelsea
Premier League: Spurs vs. Liverpool

Now I'm not saying I watched all of these games in their entirety, but I did flip between all of them. It's amazing to know that soccer fans in this country have more options than people in Europe or even South American. Isn't cable great.

ESPN Fail

On the front page of ESPN.com around 12:30, the lead story was Arsenal draw with Sunderland. Small problem. The World Wide Leader in sports put a picture of the Championship game between Charlton and Birmingham with the story. How can u get this wrong especially since they have been promoting the season starting so much.

Nothing beats dancing with a Mascot

Nothing beats knocking a Premier League side out of the FA Cup when you are a lower league side. Brighton did that by knocking out Newcastle 1-0 over the weekend. The fun of the Cup was shown by Brighton's Adam El-Abd as he dances with an FA Cup mascot after the win. This is my favorite moment of the weekend.

Fashion Disaster

I know they are not as bad as Newcastle United yellow look, but Readings neon green road kit might rank right up there. The Royals unveiled them today when they played Chelski in a friendly. Neon green letter on a white shirt and neon green shorts, just screams classy.

It's Schedule Day in the EPL

The schedules have been released in England now its time to plan and look to the future. Thanks to Setanta for this pix

The Premier League will look a little different next season

I started watching the Premier League in the mid-90 and there have been a couple of things that have stayed the same during that time. The Champions League representative almost always come from the Big Four, Liverpool will not win the title, and Newcastle United will pack St. James for any game. But next year that will not happen as the Toon were relegated yesterday afternoon after falling to Aston Villa 1-0.

While not a big fan of the Toon, the black and white shirt meant something, but now because of bad management and spine less players Newcastle will have to fight to rejoin the Premier League. But next season the Toon Army can enjoy their trips to Sheffield and Forest.

Did you ever think that Burnley would be in the Premier League and Newcastle would not.

The Trap Door

Leeds, Charlton, Southampton, and Norwich have something in common. During the last decade all four of they have been in the greatest league in the world, the Barclays Premier League. Next year they might have something else in common, playing in League One, the third division of English football.

The lure of the Premier League is great but dropping out of the League can almost drive a team off a cliff. When teams go down they are saddled with large wage bills and have to do their best to trip them without the killing the product on the field and usually that is a dangerous balancing act.

Just take Charlton for example. A couple of years ago they were the model premier league team finishing safely out of the relegation zone, then something happened the fans at The Valley wanted more and that is when the slide started. First they parted ways with long time manager Alan Curbishley and then they tanked with the end of the season two years ago seeing them relegated to the Championship. Large wage bills and bad decisions saw them end this season relegated to League One.

At this rate Newcastle should watch out, going down could lead to the same slippery slope.