OSG Prem: How Do You Allow 8 GOALS IN A GAME???!!!

((HT: NBCSN/BPL))

Honestly, the short answer is: Ask Sunderland manager Gus Poyet...

Who, in all actuality, may not be Sunderland manager after this display of epic failness and futility- losing 8-0 on the road at Southampton. The Saints are now third in the table because of an outburst we haven't seen in a while...

Two own goals added to six offensive displays put Sunderland on the ropes for the full 90 minutes.
This effort by Sunderland keeper Vito Mannone seems to sum the whole day up...


Graziano Pelle continues his torrid pace early on with two more goals on the day. Cork, Tadic (who is turning into a fantasy beast after a 4-assist day), Wanyama, and Mane all scored for the winners.

Remember all those people who thought all the sales to Liverpool and all the off-season change would be a disaster...???

Not yet...

Pelle was understated and sounds pretty shocked...

OSG Prem: ManCity Closer, Sunderland Even Closer Than That

((HT: BPL on NBCSN/BBC Sport))

It took an hour, but Manchester City finally got the best of Aston Villa and poured it on in the last 30 for a 4-0 win at home setting up the idea that they'll only need a point Sunday in the game against West Ham.

Dzeko scored the first two and then, Jovetic and Yaya Toure scored in the last five minutes for a clinical and professional win.

Here's your highlights...


And just so you know, Yaya Toure's goal now makes him just the second central midfielder to score 20 or more goals in a single EPL season.

At the other side of the table, Sunderland decided to put it all to rest as they scored a 2-0 win over West Brom. The Black Cats were at the bottom of the table at Christmas and have claimed safety with a game to spare. A lot of assistance came from Liverpool loanee Fabio Borini


In reality, Norwich is relegated even with a win on Sunday since the goal differential with the Baggies is substantial. West Brom plays Stoke in a game that should be low-scoring. Norwich hosts Arsenal.

OSG Prem: ManU Problems Continue In Cap One Semi

By losing to Sunderland in penalty kicks...

How is that going to sit with the Red Devil faithful...???

Here's the evidence from the shootout...
((HT: beInSports))


In a dreadful start to the season, the Black Cats have now made it to a cup final to play Manchester City...

"My feelings are for them (the Sunderland fans)," Poyet told Sky Sports after the game.

"It's been a difficult season, nothing to enjoy. They deserve that, so let's see if we can go one better and win the final as well.

"This match was immense. What we need(ed) to do to win this game! This is the good thing with cups, you never know what is going to happen."

Here's David Moyes- still confident he has a job, but refusing to answer questions about obtaining Juan Mata in a very expensive transfer...


In a note purely based on capitalism, Manchester United have dropped to fourth place for the first time in a list of the world's highest earning clubs.

United's total revenue has increased from £323.7m to £346.5m in the last season, but Bayern Munich passed them with a revenue increase by 17 percent to £352.5m

And United's books are based on trophy success... which they're not having this year at all...

OSG Prem: Boxing Day Recap Borders On The Wacky

((HT: BPL on NBCSN))

Let's start with the less eventful...

An own goal saved Manchester United's hind-quarters at Hull City FC, 3-2...

Chelsea scored once and beat an offensively-crippled (at the moment) Swansea, 1-0...

Tottenham and West Brom tied at ones...

Arsenal took care of a tiring West Ham squad in the second half, 3-1, but are concerned over an Aaron Ramsey injury as the weekend continues...

Tony Pulis' turnaround with Crystal Palace continues with a stoppage time goal win over Aston Villa...

Fulham needed a win over Norwich to start a climb out of the bottom of the table and got one, 2-1...

And now for the final four matches of the day...

We'll start with Cardiff and Southampton since the HQ is under the impression that the porous defensive showing in the first half in a 3-0 loss may have buried manager Malky Mackay in the eyes of joke of an owner Vincent Tan. Protests by Cardiff City fans outside the stadium before the match numbered in the hundreds, and there were a lot of fans wearing the team's original color, blue, in the stands...

Here's Mackay's post-match interview...
((HT: BBC Sport))


Everton keeper Tim Howard was sent off for the first time in ten years after getting a red against Sunderland- the team at the bottom of the table. And one goal was all that the Black Cats needed as Gus Poyet continues the team's climb from the basement...


Stoke was leading 1-0 until all hell broke loose, The Potters went two men down on red cards, manager Mark Hughes exploded and was sent to the stands and Newcastle scored 5 in a row to win 5-1.

Here's Hughes eviscerating everyone in ref's colors...
((HT: BBC Sport))


And the finale was Liverpool and Man City...

After Liverpool got the early lead, the rest of the game was Man City's with goals from Kompany and Negredo for the three points and a 2-1 win...

Reds manager Brendan Rodgers was less than pleased...
((HT: BBC Sport))


And that's the beginning of the weekend...

OSG Prem: Looks Like Poyet To Sunderland

Let's face facts...

Paolo DiCanio left his old club in nothing short of dumpster fire condition...

So, the Black Cats have turned to former Brighton manager Gus Poyet to turn things around on a two year deal...

"It's a huge challenge but one I am excited about and I am grateful for the opportunity to manage in the Premier League," Poyet said, via Sunderland's official Twitter feed.

"I look forward to proving my ability to the fans. I want them to believe because we need to stick together."

Interim manager Kevin Ball, who lobbied hard for the gig, has no idea about his future with the club:

"No idea at the moment. I don't know whether they are going to give me a ring, speak to me or anything like that.
"But I am sure in the next couple of days, they will do something."

This was how Poyet was sacked from his time in Brighton... on live TV...
((HT: BBCNews Manchester))


Just as odd how DiCanio got sacked this season...

OSG Prem: di Canio Sacked, World Not Shocked...

((HT: BBC Sport))

The HQ had figured out that Sunderland manager was on the clock after the shocking 3-0 loss to West Brom over the weekend, and especially, after Paolo di Canio's reaction to the Black Cats fans he was motioning to when the game was over.

Having some kind of intellectual conversation with hand signals...

Here's your standard panel reaction with Alan Shearer, Kevin Kilbane and Michael Owen ...


Odds makers (or Book Makers) have former Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo and former Brighton manager Gus Poyet as the favorites to take over the post...

Why anyone would take the gig, currently, is anyone's guess...

Poyet Confirms Taking Brighton To Court Over Firing

Or "sacking" as they call it overseas...

Gus Poyet has confirmed he's taking his old club, Brighton and Hove Albion, to court...

Poyet was suspended after their play-off semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace before being sacked for gross misconduct in June. BHA chairman Tony Bloom claimed Poyet informed him back in March that he wanted to leave the club at the end of last season- even as Poyet was under contract until 2016.

Poyet said: "There are several reasons but unfortunately this will probably go to court. Because I totally disagree with every allegation and accusation the club has put on me. I will take action because I think it's important for me. I'm quite confident and relaxed but I hope we will go to court because it is the best way for the truth to come out.

"But I think I deserve better respect and the way they sacked me when I was on TV was disrespectful and unfair."

See for yourself...
((HT: BBC3))


It'll be interesting to see just how this plays out...

Football Manager Finds Out He's Fired On Live TV

((HT: BBC/Youtube))

Gus Poyet's term as manager at Brighton and Hove Albion ended on not-so-good terms in the Championship...

Poyet led Brighton to the playoffs last season but, following their semi-final loss to Crystal Palace, Poyet, his assistant Mauricio Taricco, and coach Charlie Oatway were all suspended.

And the HQ, along with everyone else, really doesn't know why... could be something to do with a bizarre incident in his locker room where someone spread crap on the walls of the Crystal Palace dressing room they were housed in... and the HQ means "literally smeared crap..."

Taricco's suspension was eventually lifted, but Poyet failed to appear at a disciplinary hearing last week- although he did attend a subsequent hearing Thursday.

Thing is... Poyet didn't know he was fired until, as a color commentator for BBC's coverage of Confederations Cup, his host told him...

Here's the announcement as it went down...


Nothing like finding out from someone not your boss...

The League Managers Association (the British version of the coach's union) is backing Poyet in his appeal...
Appeal for what... we dunno...

But it could be all a load of crap...

MONDAY UPDATE: Brighton disagree with Poyet (of course)

"In relation to comments made by Gus Poyet, the club would like to point out that its disciplinary panel considered the matter on the afternoon of Friday June 21 and for most of Saturday June 22.

"The club spent much of Sunday June 23 in discussion with Gus and his representatives.

"For legal reasons we cannot say anything about the content of those discussions but Gus was well aware, before he appeared on the BBC last evening, that his dismissal was pending.

"Given Gus has a right to appeal the decision to dismiss him, the club will not be making any further comment on this matter at this time."