Week 5 Power Rankings

Hard to believe that we're already talking about week 5 of Major League Soccer (MLS). We are and the MLS Underground has offered up it's power rankings for the week. No surprises in seeing New York Red Bulls (1st) at the top and Toronto FC at the bottom (13th). But the team ranked 2nd, Chicago, I expect to see slip downward during the next few weeks. I wouldn't be surprised to see them lose 3 of their next 4 including being on the wrong end of Toronto's first ever league win as a franchise.

Championship Relegation Settled

Technically Leeds in to officially relegated from the Championship (England; Div 2). But the only team they can catch, Hull, has to lose their last game at home against Plymouth, Leeds has to win and somehow in between those 2 games Leeds would need to overcome a 9 goal gap for goal difference. It could be done. For example, if Hull lost at home 4-0 and Leeds beats Derby (on the road at Pride Park) 6-0. Nevertheless, the chances of that happening are only slightly better than Audrey Tatou showing up at my doorstep tonight for a very special happy birthday. So with just a game left in the season Leeds, Southend and Luton are relegated.

The Battle Thickens

An update on the premiership relegation battle. Things don't look good for Charlton. And with Wigan failing badly at home today, they very well may be going down instead of West Ham. But Sheffield United go the job done today. What will Fulham do tomorrow? Sheffield United - 38 points Fulham - 36 points Wigan - 35 points West Ham - 35 points Charlton - 33 points Watford - 24 points And the remaining games : Charlton's remaining games : @ Man City April 6th ~ 0-0 Tie Reading April 9th ~0-0 @ Everton April 14th ~ 2-1 Loss Sheff Utd April 21st ~ 1-1 @ Blackburn April 28th ~ 4-1 Loss Tottenham May 7th @ Liverpool May 13th Fulham's remaining games : @ Everton April 6th ~ 4-1 Loss Manchester City April 9th~ 1-3 Loss @ Reading April 14th ~ 1-0 Loss Blackburn April 21st ~ 1-1 @ Arsenal April 29th Liverpool April 5th Middlesbrough April 13th Sheffield United's remaining games : Newcastle April 7th ~ 1-2 Loss West Ham April 14th ~ 3-0 Win @ Man Utd April 17th ~ 2-0 Loss @ Charlton April 21st ~ 1-1 Watford April 28th ~ 1-0 Win @ Aston Villa April 5th Wigan April 13th West Ham's remaining games : @ Arsenal April 7th ~ 0-1 Win @ Sheff Utd April 14th ~ 3-0 Loss Chelsea April 18th ~ 1-4 Loss Everton April 21st ~ 1-0 Win @ Wigan April 28th ~ 0-3 Win Bolton May 5th @ Man Utd May 13th Wigan's remaining games : Bolton April 7th ~ 1-3 Loss @ Aston Villa April 9th ~1-1 Tottenham April 15th ~3-3 @ Liverpool April 21st ~ 2-0 Loss West Ham April 28th ~ 0-3 Loss Middlesbrough May 5th @ Sheff Utd May 13th

Paul Allen's Southampton Takeover

To some it may seem the rumor that Paul Allen is looking to buy Southampton FC (English Championship; division 2) has been put to rest. A spokesman for Allen has denied any interest in buying Southampton or any English club. It seems simple enough that if the spokesman says there is no interest, there is no interest. But the last time we saw that happen, it was a spokesman denying that Kroenke had any interest or intention to buy Arsenal. But soon after that, Kroenke ended up buying ITV's stake in the club. Could it be that a bid by Paul Allen is still in the wings?

English Championship (Div 2) Promotion Race

With 2 games left it's a 3 way battle for the 2 automatic spots. Birmingham - 83 points Sunderland - 82 Derby - 81 Birmingham Games Remaining : Sheffield Wednesday Sat April 28th @ Preston North End Sun May 6th Sunderland Games Remaining : Burnley Fri, April 27th @ Luton Sun May 6th Derby Games Remaining : @ Crystal Palace Sun April 29th Leeds Sun May 6th The worst any of them can do is a playoff spot. But surely at this point they're all looking to go straight up and not risk the playoffs. Derby may have the easiest last 2 if Leeds loses next week and Hull wins. If that happens Leeds is relegated no matter what their result at Pride Park on the last day. As mentioned, the one play-off spot is settled. The question is who will land in the other 3 spots. Technically Cardiff could get their closing out the year with 2 wins and a few of the teams above them closing out with loses. That scenario is very unlikely. So I'll leave them out. As it stands Preston North End - 71 Points West Bromwich Albion 70 Wolverhampton Wanderers 70 Southampton - 69 Stoke City - 69 Colchester United - 69 Sheffield Wednesday - 68 Wolves are at a bit of a disadvantage to the others with their -2 goal difference since they'll lose that tie-breaker to the others. The same with Preston North End. Their +12 isn't bad but with 2 games left other than Wolves the others have 16-20 and PNE won't be closing that gap baring some improbable 8-0 win. With Colchester playing at Stoke this Saturday it's likely that whomever loses that game is out of the picture. A draw would likely have the same affect for both teams. And who would've thought that Colchester would be in the mix for promotion?!?!?!??? Preston North End Remaining Games : @ Plymouth Sat April 28th Birmingham Sun May 6th West Bromwich Albion Remaining Games : @ Coventry Sat April 28th Barnsley Sun May 6th Wolverhampton Wanderers Remaining Games : Q.P.R. Sat April 28th @ Leceister Sun May 6th Southampton Remaining Games : @ Norwich Sat April 28th Southend Sun May 6th Stoke City Remaining Games : Colchester Sat April 28th @ Q.P.R. Sun May 6th Colchester United Remaining Games : @ Stoke Sat April 28th Crystal Palace Sun May 6th Sheffield Wednesday Remaining Games : @ Birmingham Sat April 28th Norwich Sun May 6th At this point I'd give PNE the best chances of nabbing one of those play-off spots with Southampton's relatively easy last 2 games giving them the best chance of winning their last 2 to get a play-off spot. And hopefully for the sake of Cinderella stories Colchester can nab the 4th playoff spot.