Baltimore World Cup Soccer @ Slainte Pub

I have to say that I have no ill will towards Arsenal  – especially the Baltimore Gooners types that split time between Slainte and that other bar… 4 or 5 years ago when I first started coming to games on a  regular basis – it was this unlikely bunch that tolerated my shenanigans the most. They found me annoying like a gnat but I pulled out some jokes and general enthusiam – which I think – for the most part – save for grumpy – they enjoyed.

So all-in-all the Arsenal and the Liverpool fans usually get my sympathy when it comes to games that have NO bearing on my season – and unfortunately – as the talent of City will grow it will be less likely that I root for them in any capacity outside of cups or end of the season game — or… of course… if they play Man U -

With all that lovey dovey stuff said – City v Arsenal weekend is just as Mega (for the standings at least) as last week’s City game vs United. Important for City – not really important at all for Arsenal. They don’t have much left to play for — and I hope they show up with that in mind — but I have a feeling seeing Kolo and Ade at the old yard – will get the blood flowing a bit – fortunatley for City half their team are in the hospital -

City’s lineup will look the following

…………………………..Given…………………………..

Richards……….Toure…………….Kompany……Bridge…

………………De Jong……………..Barry………………..

A Johnson…………..Tevez……………….Bellamy….

………………………….Adebayor…………………………

Richards will be the only change over last week – bench will have Viera, SWP, RSC, Onuoha, Ireland, and Zabelata – Mancini wants to give AJ a chance to make the WC team I think and will start him – even though SWP is the better match up here against Song – Bellamy looks to be breaking down from the practice reports I read online and both him and Nigel are looking for a break RIGHT after the season ends…

I hate to say it – but this race for 4th and the United Chelsea at the top – are the most interesting races to watch – I hope some people show up – despite your team affiliation  on Saturday afternoon and enjoy what could be a classic – City haven’t won at the Emirates in 10 years -

Final Score prediction – 2-1 City *heart -  2-0 Arsenal *gambling head

The perfect storm was created for the fans of Man City and Chelsea this weekend. The perfect storm of pain – Chelsea needed us to win – and even if we didn’t they needed to hang on – we obviously want to beat United already riding our 14-2 cumulative over our last 3 and were counting on Chelsea knocking Tottenham further out of 4th.

City, with the highest hopes in years, were brought down from their inflated pedestol by a 93rd header from ginger face. Neither team played exceptionally well – and I feel City deserved at least a point – but United played 9 men behind the ball all day – and shut down Bellamy and managed to neutralize Tevez. A shame there weren’t too many goals in the game – the pub itself was charged for a nice 3-2 game – in the end – the 93rder was just devastating to the boys in blue. It was great to see the pub -for the first time ever – 50/50 between blues and reds – testament to the plights of both teams I guess – -

So how better to drown your sorrows after a 93rd minute Derby Day defeat than to root for Chelsea? (ranks right up there with getting slapped in the nards) “No way they’ll lose.” – ugh -

Chelsea swiss missing the mattress wasn’t really on my radar. And for my day not to be completely shot they had to take it Tottenham – White Hart Lane is usually a lukewarm place to play at worst. Spurs fans aren’t exactly known for their tenacity or support – but – that team has some sick talent. I can’t wait to watch Modric playing for City next year and would love to have Corluka back at right back any time he wants – - lol – I’ll let a Chelsea boy or Tottenham – whatever they are – talk about their game I just wanted to extend a giant – pfffftttffftttt to you for laying an egg yesterday when I needed you most.

On to next week- Arsenal this weekend – don’t really know what more I can say about that game right now. I’m just on board for the ride.

On all the MCFC boards they are heralding this game as the next coming of the Lord. And apparently they are also saying that it will be a walk for City – I tend to disagree. Nothing is ever a walk – nor will it ever be – on derby day.

The cake walk the last 2 weeks against Burnley (expected) and then Birmingham (surprise) have set us up for this inflated sense of confidence just before a Derby… that usually equals trouble.

The big questions are going to be does Rooney play? If he plays how fit will he be? If he gets hurt – how long until someone from Leeds burns down Bacon Face’s house? Also Rio was hurt in the Blackburn game and may not be fit – - all of these things point to good news – but – City – as has been all year – has 1 glaring weakness – Left Back -

With Wayne Bridge out for most of the year and the other times – Wayne thinking he’s a left half instead of a left back – it’s been quite dicey. Any talent on the right side for the oncoming team and we automatically do two things 1) give him 20 yards to play with 2) don’t stand to stop until we are at the edge of the 18  – and by then – the momentum accrued by the oncoming player can either knock us back another 3 yards with a fake or blow by us because we look like a fence post in concrete. I personally think Wayne will get the start – which is an improvement over Garrido, Sylvinho, or Zabaletta back there – but with a 11-1 tally the last 2 weeks old Mancini may choose to stick with Garrido -  with that said – this is my call for the lineup

Onuoha – Kolo – Kompany – Bridge
DeJong – Barry
A Johsnon        Tevez          Bellamy
Ade

Don’t see them changing anything – the bench will have RSC, SWP, Ibrahim, Viera, Richards.

I love a derby – and with Tottenham upsetting Arsenal yesterday – this becomes a blood bath for City – at home – most important game since the 81 FA cup final -

With that said – 3-1 final – Tevez with the legend – See you at Baltimore’s Best Soccer Pub

To be honest – I wrote a completely different piece on why I “hate” Man U or even worse why I hate some “Man U” fans (not the normal lot – you guys are just fine) -  but then I read back over it and said… meh… there’s no need for that. I enjoy the Manchester United fans as much I enjoy fellow City fans – without each other – it’s just not the same… and that’s what makes the place we all go to watch the games special.

At some point I have to get over this sort of “soccer racism” – this ideological approach to fandom. It’s boring. It’s a community out there – and especially in the world of soccer it’s a community that – in this early stage of U.S. growth – should be overwhelmingly welcoming.

It’s always great to root. And believe me ….at the pub – that happens. And it’s also acceptable and very tongue in cheek to root against the other people in the pub rooting for the other teams. But at some point – and we talk about this sometimes – as the morning drags onto the afternoon and the beers turn to whiskey – that the pub that the owners and staff have created…along with the fans has always been a place where all fans of all teams have gathered (unlike some other pubs that only one particular team). Now… if they don’t have a sense of humor or some sort of thick skin – they may want to rethink their desire to get up at 7 am and head down 0nly to be chanted against — but… I think for the most part… we do as good a job as rooting for each other as we do for our own teams.

Like I mentioned — I was going to write a different kind of piece. But instead I’ll just wait to preview the game later in the week – hopefully someone can knock down a preview of Arsenal v Spurs for tom. especially with Van Persie coming back. Until later in the week – when I’ll give my breakdown of the City sides preperation and lineup for this game… and looking forward to a Man U rebuttal.

Til later this week -
BaC

BTW – it’ll be even more fun to see team alliances break this summer for the World Cup – as the once lovable English fans will run into the U.S. fans. I doubt the Sheffield United tune will be sung that day.

THERE’S ONLY 1 City

THERE’s ONLY 1 City

THERE IS ONLY ONE CITY!

Chant along if you want —

Birmingham at Home. After the trouncing of Burnley last week I doubt there will be much shake in the side. The problem is – this team may be playing for a tie on the road – don’t know why – they are 8 points shy of UEFA – and stuck firmly in the 9th slot.

Birmingham have proven to be a tougher side than in the past – and should measure up close to what Everton brings to the table – without the knuckle draggers in the middle. As always Tevez is the key – he’s the best player on the field and needs to create in order for us to win – if he doesn’t score we just don’t win.

Mancini has debunked going back to Juventus – but all is smoke and mirrors in the EPL press line.

Would LOVE to see this team ~~~~~~~

……………….Given……………….
Richards…Toure….Kompany…Onuoha

A Johnson…Ireland….Barry….Bellamy

…………Tevez…..Adebayor………..

Will Probably get this team ~~~~~~~~~

……………….Given……………….
Richards…Toure….Kompany…Garrido

A Johnson…Viera….Barry….Bellamy

…………Tevez…..Adebayor………..

If you want to preview your team’s match leave a comment and we’ll hook you up –

I would have to say that this weekend(Saturday for me) at the pub was pretty legend.

Aside from the show the Chelsea boys put on – there was a last minute goal to get the Gooners hopping,  Sunderland beating Tottenham to give Liverpool a better chance and move City to it’s rightful place in the top 4. And then there was the City slaughter of Burnley at Turf Moor. All this happened in one day and lead to lots of laughs and a general great time for all.

I think one of the best things were the times when we were all outside at half – and people walk by to read the breakfast menu – and sometimes we lure them into the pub – and EVERY TIME those people say along the lines of the same thing: “I can’t believe a place like this exists. It’s awesome.”

I have recently been bringing my friend Chris down to the pub. He’s new to the entire Soccer world – but if there’s one thing I know about Chris – when he likes something he gets pretty wrapped up in it. And to see his face there this weekend for a good ole’ classic Slainte Row between 2 power houses at 7:45 AM – I think he became an official convert. As a matter of fact I know he did – we’ve been going to sporting events since we were teenagers and I know now – he’s been converted as an official evangelist of Baltimore’s best kept sports secret – Soccer at Slainte -

It is the ONLY place in Baltimore where you show up at 7:45 AM, have a pint, and see truly knowledgeable and excited fans that represent every team (not just one team in particular *wink at that other place). The chants, the food, the regulars, and just the entire atmosphere were really on point this weekend.

As a matter of fact – we had two happenstance moments:

1. A Chelsea fan got up at 6 AM to drive to Baltimore because he “would never ever find a place like this in Harrisburg.” and it is “completely worth it.” -

2. A friend of mine who is a United fan – had his friends enjoying breakfast at Koopers run over to see if a short, fat guy in blue with a paper boy hat on was making a fool of himself – and of course I was – and of course it was predictable that they would find me.

All of the things above make the pub that we all adore that much more inviting to return to over and over again. Cheers to all the lads and ladies! Top time as always.

Later this week - look forward and I mean – REALLY LOOK FORWARD to my review of the upcoming City v Birmingham game and… I would love to see some of you fans out there that can string 3 words together- get on here and really round out the field for opinions and entertaining stories. Contact Willy or myself so we can sort you out.

Onwards and upwards – especially in the table – B

Oh and cheers to Frenchy II (Seb) for coming in and taking photos -

So… the game EVERYONE is talking about for SATURDAY is OBVIOUSLY the City v Burnley match. I expect all the hardcore fans to sit around until 12:30 to view a team’s battle for 4th and another’s battle to avoid relegation.

Burnley are getting their captain back in Caldwell – who may be the missing man since Burnley haven’t won a game since Turkey season – even their 1-0 win over the lowly Rovers haven’t spurred their return to the safe zone. Burnley have also been city doormats forever – City having won 6 in a row there – but we actually tied 3-3 earlier this year – - in a game – at the pub with Irish Dave – that could be only be described as “The Day I almost got Banned from the Pub” – I was so mad – Dave had to take me for a walk…

City will be missing the usual suspects in Petrov, Johnson, Zabaleta (cards), Ireland and Lescott. City need EVERY game. There is no wiggle room the rest of the year – with Birmingham next week and then United and Arsenal at home – Turf Moor has to be a do or di 3 points – ManCity projected lineup for City -

Richards – Kolo – Onuoha – Garrido

Johnson – Kompany – Barry – Bellamy

Tevez

Adebayor

Also – if you haven’t seen him play yet – the new magic left foot of the EPL has landed – in Adam Johnson –

Visit the Baltimore City’s Best Soccer Bar SlaintePub.com – for all the schedules – and specials!

Prediction – a bit of drunkenness since I will have been there with my trusty sidekick Chris for almost 6 hours – he is in charge of keeping the whiskey away – but the score -

City 83- Burnley 1 – actually 84 – 1 – SWP with a Brace… everyone else with 7 or 8 a piece

Prediction for the Chelsea – United game – Chelsea 3- United 1

COME ON CITYY!