On the concluding day of the English regular season, Americans should be involved in two of the three games to decide relegation from the Premier League, one to decide European qualification, and the League One play-off final.
Clint Dempsey's Fulham are gunning for Europa League qualification. A win at home to Tim Howard's Everton will be enough to send the West Londoners into Europe for only the second time, though a draw should suffice since the Cottagers' goal difference is five superior to rivals Tottenham's. A Fulham success will make for an all-American presence in England's Europa League cadre next season, Everton and Aston Villa having already made it through.
Jonathan Spector's West Ham will relegate Middlesbrough as long as they avoid a big defeat to Boro at Upton Park.
Brad Friedel's Villa can condemn Newcastle, the center of English media attention today, to relegation with a victory, or perhaps even a draw at Villa Park. The Toon are a point behind Hull, who host Manchester United, but six goals ahead. With United playing Barcelona on Wednesday in the Champions League final, Alex Ferguson's team selection is eagerly anticipated by Toon and Boro fans looking for a scapegoat.
Finally, in the early kick-off at Wembley, Zak Whitbread and Millwall face Scunthorpe in a winner-takes-all game for a place in next season's Championship. The Lions, whose average gate this season is less than 9,000, have sold 44,000 tickets for the game
It has been a fairly threadbare season for Americans in the EPL compared to a couple of years ago, when Reading and Fulhamerica were in full flow, but at least the boys involved should all be smiling at the end of today.
-Sean O'Conor
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment