Starting on the brighter side, the Tractorboys made it 7 points out of a possible 9 in their past 3 games with a solid 2-0 win at home against QPR. One of the biggest problems for the Town this year has been the lack of consistency at Portman Road, with far too many indifferent performances seeing the team mired in mid-table. However, the silver lining of playing in the Championship is that it is always tight. Just 10 points separate the 6th placed team from the relegation zone. In the latest turn of the ever-rotating starting lineup, Jonathan Stead was the hero, coming off the bench to score twice in 4 minutes and secure the 3 points. With upcoming games against Blackpool and Doncaster, maybe the team can put togeth
er a run and give us some hope, for at least a shot at a play-off spot. Though, the constant rotation of Magilton’s starting lineup is puzzling at best. It’s one thing for Rafa Benitez, Sir Alex, and the Arsene to mix up the lineup, but they have squads that could field 2 teams in the Premier and survive. This is Ipswich – Jim pick a team already. But there is hope.Moving to the dark side, 3 hours of Sunday afternoon was spent watching a Seahakws performance drearier than the Seattle November day that it was. The clocks moved back but darkness was enveloping Qwest Field shortly after the first quarter. When Seneca Wallace hit Koren Robinson for a franchise record long 90 yard TD play on our first possession, hope seemed eternal. A win would keep us within 2 games of the division lead. Hasselbeck might convince his doctor he can walk sometime soon. McNabb was confused either by the defense or by the noise of the 12th Man. The ‘Hawks were in control. Can we call it early and all go home happy before it starts pissing down again?!! Then the second period began. McNabb went on to complete 20 of his next 22 passes, moving his team at will through the depleted ‘Hawks defense. On offence, bad habits returned with receivers dropping key passes that killed any decent drive Seattle could muster. Seneca Wallace deputizing at QB, as Hasselbeck missed his 4th straight start, did ok but Philly wasn’t about to be fooled again and reeled off 26 straight points for an emphatic victory. Seattle punted the rest of the game. At 2-6, this season has come and gone, and it’s time to level our expectations. In Big Mike’s farewell season he deserves better, and despite the injuries some of these players just aren’t performing.
Weekend TractorHawk Grade: C
Held up by the Town this week as we move into 8th place in the Championship (tied on points with 5 other teams mind you)
Weekend Tractor Driver:
Jonathan Stead, 2 goals in 3 minutes from the bench in his latest role as super-sub.
Note-a-balls:
The happy ‘Arry revival continued at the Lane as last placed Tottenham welcomed, got outplayed for most of the game, and then defeated league leading Liverpool. Dirk Kuyt got the scousers started and it looked to be business as usual for the ‘Pool looking to grind out another close win. But when Reds defender Jamie Carragher headed into his goal, Spurs were sparked into action, and just as they had shocked the Gooners a few days earlier, they struck again in injury time as Pavlyuchenko knocked in the winner. Spurs moved off the bottom for a couple days until Bolton beat the now seriously under-achieving Arabians of Manchester and Newcastle scored an unlikely 2-0 win over the previously impressive Aston Villa. So much for me stating Villa being a potential top four squad. Spurs back to bottom but 7 points in a week has them believing again – in what exactly I’m not sure but you get the point.
Talking about the shocking Gooners, a 2-1 defeat at Stoke, combined with Van Persie seeing red, and Adeboyor and England wonderkid, Theo Walcott off hurt has seen Arsene’s lads spiral. Dropped points this season already to Fulham, Hull, Sunderland, Tottenham, and now Stoke has got the Arse looking more like UEFA cup hopefuls than title contenders.
Chelsea take over top spot on goal difference after a 5-0 win over a pathetic Sunderland performance at the Bridge – see my previous article on Big Phil and his lads.
Hull decided to play attacking football at Old Trafford in a 7 goal affair. You’d be forgiven in many circles for thinking that if Hull were daft enough to attack United on the road they could be in for a 7 goal drubbing. United edged it 4-3 and again HCFC has everyone rooting for the underdogs in brown and gold. With 20 points they are half-way to safety which, at the beginning of the season, not many gave them a snowball’s chance of achieving.
In the land of the pigskin, America prepares to elect the new president. But first there was a typical busy fall weekend to get through. The pre-season unfancied Tennessee Titans remained the only unbeaten team in the league with a close 19-16 overtime victory over the Cheeseheads. I respect the Titans – they are a team that get very little media attention but this year they have overcome a bit of adversity at the QB position, and at least for now, continue to prove themselves as the best team in the NFL. You can’t argue with an 8-0 record and hats off to their unassuming and professional Head Coach Jeff Fisher.
In the NFC, the marquee game saw Eli Manning and the Giants welcome the Romo-less and suddenly dysfunctional Dallas Cowboys. While Jessica nurses her boy’s thumb back to health, the Cowboys tried 2 different quarterbacks to no avail, as the Giants romped 35-14 to take control of the very competitive Eastern division.
The college front needs a dedicated article, or thesis for that matter, and there will be one coming in a few weeks as the season progresses. Once again the sort of voted champions-elect-number one team went down as Texas Tech downed Texas with an incredible touchdown with 1 second to play (just as well they don't let the refs decide on injury time in US sports). There is no doubt that on any given week college football can produce some amazing games. But until they figure out a way to objectively and competitively rank these teams, I still struggle to find the point. Errr make them play each other….maybe….just a thought mind.
And how was your sporting weekend?
Cheers!
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