There’s no rest on the football calendar and MNF, European fixtures and FNF have meaning it’s pedal to the metal with live soccer this fine week.
On a Saturday that poses the salivating match-up of Liverpool and Chelsea, here’s edition 13 of Premier League Bingo…
Waking up on Saturday morning to the horror that there’s no early kick-off
It’s a reassuring feeling on a Saturday morning that, come 12.30pm, you’ll be firmly sat in your designated armchair, cup of tea at the ready, waiting for Premier League action to commence. But for all fans finishing up their morning jog, scour of the newspaper, or anaemia-esque lay in, they’ll have to settle for the Yorkshire derby of Barnsley v Leeds on the box.
Southampton v Everton being the most depressing game this season
Thanks to the humdrum football under Claude Puel and unidentifiable style under Mauricio Pellegrino, Southampton have become a staple penultimate/last showing on Match of the Day. They sit only one point above Everton, who, with David Unsworth still in the hotseat, are more directionless as ever. Don’t expect any thrills from this one.
Paul Clement’s vote of confidence ending in inevitable defeat
When clubs are in dire straits, some chairmen will enter the media foreground and declare their backing for the manager; vis a vis Claudio Ranieri (Leicester), Tim Sherwood (Aston Villa) and Roberto Mancini (Man City). Clement expressed this week that the board have full faith in him, but should struggling Swansea lose to Bournemouth on Saturday, another referendum may be on the way.
Alan Pardew being offered a fashionable, six-month contract at West Brom
West Ham’s semi-acknowledgement of David Moyes being damaged goods was reflected in the short-term, six-month contract the was given. It’d be pleasant if that became a fashion for managers in the Indian summer of their careers, who are known for having dated outlooks on football, which some left-wing Twitter users describe as “Brexit opinions”. Pards fits that category, and his jobs always become untenable after a good first year or so. Perfect match for the bored Baggies.
Arsenal having the most PG Twitter coverage for their game against Burnley
If you’re not one for Twitter or Sunday Supplement (in which case you’re probably not reading this), a runaway story of last week was Arsenal’s cheeky reply to journalist Adam Crafton, who said no players would make a combined Arsenal-Spurs XI. The Arsenal account replied with a Mesut Ozil wink GIF, and every journalist lost their rag. Best stick to the good old “41: GOAL! Sanchez slots home from close range” now anything remotely different is offensive, ay.
Ashes coverage displaying the glaring differences between football and cricket lexicon
Such is the long format of Test match cricket, that pundits have copious amounts of time to prepare in-depth analysis of the game. It’s quite the antithesis with football, but that’s only where the differences begin. Adam Hurrey pointed out how cricket doesn’t take to football’s penchant for pluralisation…
Cricket coverage not really into football's vulgar pluralisations, apparently.
