Who cares about the royal wedding? WeâÂÂve got plenty of fascinating match-ups in the Premier League, and they each hold more interest than a bunch of inbreds distracting us while the economy crumbles and malnourished mothers collapse in the street with saliva drying on their gaping maws.
And not only is it an amazing weekend of football, itâÂÂs everywhere! Four games on the telly, seven on tâÂÂradio and all taking place over a four-day weekend. A weekend that doesn't start for anyone at FourFourTwo.com until this blog's finished, so let's crack on, eh?
SATURDAY
Blackburn v Bolton(3pm, 5 Live Radio Sports Extra)
The Lancashire hotpot derby, as it is called by absolutely nobody except lazy hacks, has been flipped on its head this year by each teamâÂÂs exploits. This season, itâÂÂs Bolton who are already assured of mid-table security and not-so-noisy neighbours Blackburn who are yet to peel themselves away from relegation.
Although it seems to be generally agreed that it will be three of Blackpool, Wigan, Wolves and West Ham who go down, Blackburn are but a point clear of the relegation zone. They could theoretically be bottom of the table after this weekend. They wonâÂÂt, but they could be.
Bolton, meanwhile, are more unpredictable than a hurricane on heroin. How do you follow up an unfortunate 5-0 trouncing by Stoke? By putting in a very good performance against Arsenal. How do you follow that up? By losing 3-0 to Fulham. God knows what theyâÂÂve got planned here.
What wonâÂÂt happen: A repeat of that drug-addled episode of childhood staple The Hurricanes
What will happen: Theoretically, itâÂÂs BoltonâÂÂs turn to have a fantastic game; in reality... they do, and win comfortably
Blackpool v Stoke(3pm, 5 Live Radio)
Stoke are basically safe now, reaching the magic milestone of 42 points, which means this bloggerâÂÂs prediction and bet on the Potters being relegated has reached its last vestiges of possibility. Apologies to offended Stoke fans; Paddy Power, weâÂÂll meet again...
Tony Pulisâ not-particularly-barmy army deserve credit, as they always do, for making themselves safe and in a strong position to finish in the top half (plus that little matter of an FA Cup final and the potential for European qualification).
TheyâÂÂve made some great signings, opened up and played some attacking football, too, using the wings well and introducing a touch of style. Pulis always said that to change the team would take time, and heâÂÂs proving that he had a plan all along: the defensive grit and set-piece prowess were the first stage, until they could metamorphose into a chrysalis of creativity.
Ian Holloway could learn a lesson here.
What wonâÂÂt happen: It turns out that Pulis has fooled us, and next year Stoke are going to go back to their evil, football-killing ways. Boo hiss
What will happen: The away side have little to play for but arenâÂÂt the kind to get distracted, frustrating Blackpool to a draw when they need a win
Sunderland v Fulham(3pm)
Now that Sunderland have arrested their slide, it should be business as usual for Steve Bruce â if, of course, that business is picking up the shattered remains of his porcelain strikers.
With Darren Bent sold, David Healy exiled to Siberia (well, Scotland) and Asamoah Gyan, Danny Welbeck and Fraizer Campbell out injured for the season â and beyond in CampbellâÂÂs case â the Black Cats have literally no strikers to call upon for their remaining few matches.
A chance for a first league start in any division ever may be thrown to 19-year-old Ryan Noble, front of the one-man queue on account of having two working legs. Bruce looks likely, though, to experiment with Beninianian midfielder Stephane Sessegnon upfront as a lone striker, with Steed Malbranque playing behind him.
Sessegnon is five foot seven. If thatâÂÂs not a sign that Healy needs to leave this club for good if heâÂÂs ever going to get a game, what is? Perhaps itâÂÂll take the entire team pretending he isnâÂÂt there for the Northern Irish international to leave, or Bruce changing the code to the playerâÂÂs locker. Fulham have tried a similar thing with Eddie Johnson, apparently, but he just wonâÂÂt leave. Crazy Yank.
What wonâÂÂt happen: This blog to ever be as short as the poor sod of an editor prays it will be
What will happen: More words! Ahahahaha. Draw
West Brom v Aston Villa(3pm)
Draw.
What wonâÂÂt happen: Not a draw
What will happen: Draw
Wigan v Everton(3pm, Absolute Radio)
As usual, Absolute Radio get the booby prize â but if Wigan pull their fingers out of whatever orifices theyâÂÂre exploring, they could take a sneaky three points and crawl closer to safety. Unlike last week, when they conceded four goals having taken a lead against Sunderland, a team that hadnâÂÂt won in nine matches and had no fit strikers.
Everton may be ruing the buggeration that is only the top five or six teams in the league qualifying for Europe this year. This isnâÂÂt a problem in itself â in fact, itâÂÂs to be encouraged, so the cups remain important and the likes of Birmingham get a go â but it is unfortunate for teams who rarely break into the magic Top Seven.
An Everton win would help them close the gap on Liverpool, even if David Moyes claims this isnâÂÂt a goal at the club. Sure, and Phil NevilleâÂÂs a supermodel.
What wonâÂÂt happen: Wigan to come back up next year, despite sound financial planning (ã6m for Mauro Boselli aside)
What will happen: Everton win in their glorious pink shirts. This blogger still wants to know the gender split in their sales
Chelsea v Tottenham(5.30pm, Sky Sports 2, HD2 & 3D, TalkSPORT Radio)
ItâÂÂs odd for Sky to have a late kick-off and ESPN to run with a Sunday game, but clearly thereâÂÂs been some swaperoo somewhere. Sky definitely benefit more than lovable losers ESPN. Watch football all day, with Leeds v Burnley at lunchtime then the 3pm kick-offs before settling into a cracking London derby in the evening, or get up at 11am on a Sunday to watch Liverpool v Newcastle? Hmm.
This is TottenhamâÂÂs last chance, really. We said that many times last year, but itâÂÂll take a minor miracle for them to claim fourth spot now â and Harry âÂÂtwo points in eight gamesâ Redknapp is all miracled out.
Not that he likes to remind us of what state Spurs were in before he arrived, of course. Expect that to come up in a few press conferences next year when heâÂÂs asked about the comedown from the Champions League to the Europa League. Or nothingness.
What wonâÂÂt happen: Torres scores a hat-trick, does a lap of honour, injures himself and joins Manchester United on a free
What will happen: Home win, and a death in the office if this isnâÂÂt finished by 5pm
SUNDAY
Birmingham v Wolves(12pm, TalkSPORT Radio)
Alex McLeish promised his team would bounce back after a 5-0 thumping by Liverpool last week, and youâÂÂd hope so: Maxi Rodriguez shouldnâÂÂt be allowed to put three past a defence across several seasons, let alone in one game.
Mick McCarthy almost seems to have accepted that Wolves are going to be relegated this season, which is just one of many reasons why the board should have sacked him months ago. The others, if youâÂÂre wondering, are his hair and his face.
Clearly McCarthy has a hold over the men in suits by threatening to go into commentary full-time if they cut him loose. And nobody wants that.
Wait, is that the Veron?
What wonâÂÂt happen: TalkSPORTâÂÂs listening figures to rocket with the rights to this game
What will happen: 0-0, but not in cards
Liverpool v Newcastle(12noon, ESPN & ESPN HD)
ItâÂÂs hard to gauge what reception Andy Carroll will get from the away fans. Did he betray Newcastle by leaving, as Pardew claims? Was he forced out, as he claims? Was it a combination of the two, as nobody claims but which is probably true?
The majority of the fans probably wonâÂÂt care, instead splitting into two camps: one recognising his achievements and thanking him for his goals for the Toon, the other aiming to slice off his ponytail with a broken bottle.
What wonâÂÂt happen: Newcastle fans to ever get a sighter of Nile RangerâÂÂs goal celebration
What will happen: Carroll scores in a feisty Liverpool victory
Arsenal v Manchester United(2.05pm, Sky Sports 1, HD1 & 3D, TalkSPORT Radio)
Sky were probably wetting themselves in anticipation when this once potentially title-deciding fixture turned out to be taking place in the last few weeks of the season. Now theyâÂÂre probably seeing it as something between a waste of time and a tasty taster of UnitedâÂÂs tactics against tippy-tappers ahead of their inevitable Champions League final against Barcelona.
Still, keep those 3D cameras on Arsene Wenger. HeâÂÂs the reason 3D cinema was invented: to scare the toss out of viewers expecting him to jump through the screen and straggle them with his tie. Look out! HeâÂÂs got a plastic bottle!
What wonâÂÂt happen: A calm Wenger sits down, cross-legged for the entire match, never rising once but to adjust the crease in his trousers
What will happen: Wenger to win the battle, Fergie to win the war. On second thoughts, Fergie to win the battle as well
Manchester City v West Ham(4.10pm, Sky Sports 1 & HD1, 5 Live Radio)
ItâÂÂs becoming ever clearer that no one pays any attention to this bloggerâÂÂs pleas to stop featuring Manchester City on the television quite as much, so we might as well get used to it.
As dull 2-0 wins go, this could be a cracker. Scotty Parker should play despite sustaining a back injury from carrying most of east London on his shoulders, but West Ham donâÂÂt need him anyway: they have Danny GabbidonâÂÂs words of wisdom to see them through.
âÂÂWe have to go there and feel as if we are top of the league,â said the Welshman, ignoring the laughs from those around him. Suffice it to say that if West Ham did do this, theyâÂÂd be soundly thrashed as each and every player stumbled around blindly, confused by the scenario that took them to the top of the league despite playing like a trampâÂÂs hairy danglers.
The manâÂÂs a genius.
What wonâÂÂt happen: West Ham instead adopt the âÂÂPretend weâÂÂre top of the Championshipâ approach and win 3-2
What will happen: Dzeko and Balotelli both score without looking at each other once
