Observations from BPL Round 28

photo by C.P.Storm	via PhotoRee

Columnist Randy is back with some random musings from the latest round of fixtures:

Tottenham to be renamed ColdSpurs

Tottenham again lost to a club they should have defeated, in a 1-nil loss at Everton. This marked the first time Spurs have lost three consecutive Premier League games under Harry Redknapp. Over this losing streak, Gareth Bale has all but disappeared and has looked uncomfortable on the right side. Spurs have taken a meager seven of the last possible 21 points, while Arsenal has taken 16 to climb to within one point of third in the table.  Spurs' upcoming games, while mostly winnable, are against teams that are tough to play and could easily see Arsenal pass them by.

Chelsea has petitioned the FA to play only against 10 man squads

Chelsea got their first post-AVB win in the League against Stoke this weekend. While playing fairly poorly, they were able to hang on to beat a 10-man Stoke team after an incredibly stupid red card by Stoke’s Ricardo Fuller. Winning 1-nil against 10 men for 75 minutes is not very confidence inspiring for the future.  Chelsea have taken only nine out of the last 21 possible points while dropping to 5^th in the table, and are only five points clear of Newcastle for the Europa League spot. Unless they turn things around they could be on the outside looking in very soon.

Man United in the driver's seat

While United has had a pretty dismal record in European play, they have taken care of business in the BPL when they've needed to. With this weekend's win against West Brom, coupled with Man City’s loss to Swansea, the Red Devils are back on top of the table, one point clear of City. With players starting to return from injury (Valencia, Cleverly, etc.) look for United to keep the lead heading into their April 30^th clash with City at The Etihad. That fixture will most likely decide the Premiership.

Wolves and QPR signed their relegation cards

Oh, how easy it is to pick on Wolves. After being thrashed by Fulham 5-nil last week, they had a chance this week to help themselves with their fixture against relegation fighting Blackburn. But alas, they showed their true form in a 2-nil defeat, putting them squarely in the relegation zone. Joining them there is QPR, home of bad boy Joey Barton. QPR had recent opportunities to help themselves and stave off a free fall to the bottom with fixtures against Bolton, Blackburn and the toothless Wolves, only to lose all three. It looks as if it will be one and done for QPR in the BPL.

This is farlieonfootie for March 15.