My Favorite Cinderella

photo by OiMax	via PhotoRee

Correspondent Ed offers some insight into the final weekend's action:

The fight for first place in the League ended this weekend with Manchester United getting the tie at Blackburn.  Yawn.  Congratulations to United.  Who knew you could pull this off?  I mean, you’ve only done it about 18 times before. 

Fortunately, there is a better battle going on right now, and that’s the fight for 17th place.  Why is 17th so much better than 18th?  Well, because when you come in 18th place (or 19th place or 20th place) you no longer can play in the EPL next year but are relegated to the lower and poorly named Championship Division.  As in:  “Sorry, please give us your ball and your arm patch, and be sure to return your ID to the man at the front desk.” 

FOF favorite Blackpool, the team that brought the fun back into the EPL, is unfortunately on the brink.  Two weeks ago they gave it their all and were snake bit by Spurs in the last ten minutes or so and had to settle for one point instead of three.  This week they played the game of the week against Bolton.  They went down 1 to 0 at the very beginning of the game, only to rally back and go up 2 to 1, and then 2 to 2, 3 to 2, 3 to 3 and finally, 4 to 3 on a Charlie Adam exclamation point to win the game and keep their hopes alive. 

So now, here’s where Blackpool stands vis-a-vis the rest of the teams near the drop zone:

                                       

                Points          Goal Differential                  Final Opponent

                                    

Blackburn             40                    -14                                    at Wolves

                                    

Wolves                  40                    -19                                    Blackburn                                   

                                    

Birmingham          39                    -20                                    at Spurs                 

                                    

Blackpool              39                    -21                                    at Man United

                                    

Wigan                    39                    -22                                    at Stoke

                                    

West Ham              33                    -24                                    Sunderland

From this it should be obvious that West Ham is out.  See ya Hammers, it’s been fun! The next five, however, are all either in or out depending upon what happens on Sunday.

With respect to Blackburn and Wolves, either a tie or a win should be enough.  A loss is also enough for Blackburn due to goal differential, and may even be enough for Wolves.  Regardless, these two are most likely to remain, leaving Blackpool realistically in a fight only with Birmingham and Wigan. 

Birmingham looked absolutely awful against Fulham, and now must go against a Spurs team that has the Europa league to play for.  I’m thinking Loss, and if so, they’re out.  That’s leaves either Wigan or Blackpool.

Wigan has to play at Stoke.  Stoke just lost the FA cup final and will have played on Tuesday.  I’m thinking the odds of them putting up at least a tie are pretty good. 

So where does this leave Blackpool?  Well, it’s simple:  Win and you’re in; lose and your probably out (though not definitely); tie and your odds are 50/50.

Can they beat United?  Or to put differently, considering United have nothing to play for and will have only their backups’ backups in the game, can Blackpool steal a win?  As Coach Holloway put it:

“To put it in gentleman’s terms if you’ve been out for a night and you’re looking for a young lady and you pull one, some weeks they’re good looking and some weeks they’re not the best. Our performance today would have been not the best looking bird but at least we got her in the taxi. She weren’t the best looking lady we ended up taking home but she was very pleasant and very nice, so thanks very much, let’s have a coffee.”

Oops, wrong quote.  Here’s what I meant to quote:

"He’s six foot something, fit as a flea, good looking – he’s got to have something wrong with him. Hopefully he’s hung like a hamster – that would make us all feel better. Having said that, my missus has got a pet hamster at home, and his c***’s massive. "

Oops, wrong again.  That one was about Cristiano Ronaldo.  Here’s what I meant to end with:

“We are still in the fairytale and, if we go to Old Trafford next weekend and win, it will top Cinderella. In fact, it’ll top any story ever written! But I believe it can happen.”

So do we, Ian, so do we.

This is farlieonfootie for May 18.