Cartilage Free Captain

Good morning everyone -

Tottenham play Chelsea later today knowing that a point will all but guarantee Premier League survival. No pressure.

To calm nerves, let’s talk jazz. More specifically: Christian McBride - LIVE! At the Library of Congress.

The living legend returned to Washington to perform a free concert at the Library of Congress, which is a gorgeous venue for a small show like this one. This was my first time seeing McBride since he played in DC in 2003, so it’s been a really long wait.

McBride reunited with his old band - The Christian McBride Band - for a one-off show where they played songs from Live At Tonic and Vertical Vision. Backed by a terrific group (Rob Blake on sax, Geoffrey Keezer on the keys, and Terreon Gully on drums), McBride tore through some of the best bits to come out of contemporary jazz.

The group was in masterful control the whole time, showing they hadn’t missed a beat all these years, while McBride again showed why he’s perhaps the greatest bass player out there right now. Take the rockin’ Technicolor Nightmare for instance, where McBride ditched the bow for the classic finger-plucking style on the upright bass.

Some more melodic and experiential tunes from Keezer such as Tahitian Pearl brought a very nice balance to some of the more bombastic jams of the night. And it was refreshing to see how relaxed entire band was.

It was a long wait to see McBride again. And it was worth it.

Fitzie’s track of the day: Technicolor Nightmare, by Christian McBride

And now for your links:

BBC: “Big motivation if people want Spurs down - De Zerbi”

Alasdair Gold: “Roberto De Zerbi explains when he will speak with Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham about transfers”

The Athletic ($$): “Chelsea were all but relegated by Tottenham in 1975. Now, 51 years on, comes a chance for revenge”

The Guardian: “West Ham could have to raise £100m in player sales if they are relegated”

“What next season will look like, I can’t really tell you. But, I know that I’ll be pushing for the thing that probably will be the best for me and what I want for myself, not what other people will want for me.

“There’s obviously the buy option in the loan and stuff. It’s hard to say whether that’ll happen or that won’t happen, because in football things change so fast. I’ll be sure to pick something that’s right for me and if that takes time, then it takes time.”

“No, it is not [a] difficult [decision on who to choose]. It is easy. Vicario is number one, but we have to consider the physical condition, the momentum and everything. I have a big relationship with Kinsky and Vicario as well, and there will be no problem.

“Solanke is not good yet. Not available. He feels something, and I don’t want to take the risk for this game. We hope for Sunday, he can be available for one part of the game.”

“We have to play with confidence because in the last four games, the last five games with me, because we didn’t deserve to lose the game in Sunderland, but in the last four we made eight points. And if you analyze the performance, I think we could make more points than eight.

“And for that we have to be confident, to be positive. Anyway, we can’t forget one month ago what was the situation. We are not safe yet, it’s tough in the Premier League.

“Making one point is tough because all teams fight on the pitch, all teams are very tough to beat. But we have the quality enough and we have to show the quality with the right mentality, the right spirit. I want to see courage on the pitch, try the condition to win the game, like in the last period.”

On paper, this is exactly what everyone wanted. West Ham’s loss means Tottenham Hotspur is essentially a single point away from ending the relegation race. All that requires is a draw….at Stamford Bridge. Yes, this is about the last place on earth Spurs would want to be in this specific scenario, but when do things ever work out beneficially for this club?

Knowing that a result is enough to reach safety might be the jolt this club needs to finally perform against Chelsea. Furthermore, the Blues have been pretty poor in the league – and pretty poor at home – and likely have little motivation following the weekend’s FA Cup defeat. Those factors might go out the window in a derby, but hey, any little bit helps at this point.

Match Details

Date: Tuesday, May 19

Time: 3:15 pm ET, 8:15 pm UK

Location: Stamford Bridge, London

TV: NBCSN/Peacock (US), Sky Sports Premier League (UK)

Hmmm, I wonder how matches between these sides typically go…yes, Spurs have lost each of the past five contests, going back to the 2-0 win in February 2023 in North London and the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge earlier that season that featured a totally reasonable hair pull and a somewhat violent handshake. The last away win at this venue was back in 2017/18 with Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli scoring. Cool cool cool.

Two Things to Watch

At home on the road

Roberto De Zerbi lost his opening match away to Sunderland, but then recorded wins at Wolves and Villa, while only managing draws in the two home fixtures. This is certainly consistent with the team’s performance across this season and may be what saves Tottenham on Tuesday. It does not need to be a pretty display, but the strong defensive approach through the midfield is clearly what is working for this side right now.

Meanwhile, Chelsea has been really bad at home lately. Four straight league losses were preceded by a pair of draws, with the last four contests resulting in a 1-8 scoreline. Spurs would probably take another low-scoring outcome, and if the visitors can find a way to sneak in a goal, expecting a draw at worst would be totally reasonable given the home side’s form.

Aside from the well-documented history of this derby, it would seem like the crowd will be especially hostile, relishing the chance to send Tottenham down. However, it is far less given that this mentality will transfer to the players themselves who may be quite checked out at this point of the year. Even if they really did want to put the nail into Spurs, is this squad really capable of doing so?

Penultimate Intangibles Update

The math is pretty simple now, which actually is a bit surprising, as I assumed the final day could bring a ton of stressful situations. Spurs could absolutely still bungle it, but at least the logic on how it gets to that point is pretty simple? West Ham will max out at 39 points — after it felt like it would take over 40 points just a couple weeks ago — with goal difference basically out of reach at this point. Even a draw against Leeds would not be enough to escape 18th place.

That means Tottenham has two chances to get a single point. Statistically this seems pretty reasonable, even knowing that Tuesday is unlikely to yield anything. It would definitely be annoying (and stressful) to have to wait until the weekend and see if Spurs can do just enough at home to survive, but at least we are not dependent on scoreboard watching.

But maybe, just maybe, Spurs go out and take care of business on Tuesday. It feels somewhat foolish to hope for that, but this Chelsea side is really nothing special. To ensure safety at Stamford Bridge of all places would be perhaps the lone bright spot on this cursed season; it is not deserved nor expected, but man would that be a great way to finally end this nightmare.

Good morning everyone!

Today’s hoddle is a PSA: There was some chatter in yesterday’s open thread that provided false information on the Cheslea match this week. That match is NOT today (Monday),

I don’t want this person to be embarrassed about how wrong they were in the thread to get some cheap recs which quickly made it turn blue. It’s just not gonna happen. Not on my watch, no thank you.

So please do not go and look for them.

Here are the details:

Tottenham play Chelsea TUESDAY at 8.15pm GST / 3.15pm ET / 12.15pm PT. That is what we know

The match will be played at Stamford Bridge (given our home form that might not be a bad thing)

Tottenham need a point to virtually clinch survival. A win would definitely do it.

So for those of you who thought today was matchday and set aside your entire afternoons to watch Chelsea-Spurs, you now have an additional two or so hours of your life back that you can use as store credit for Tuesday.

This is the end of the PSA.

Fitzie’s track of the day: Kung Fu Girls, by Blondie

And now for your links:

The Athletic ($$): “Tottenham getting closer to seeing the Conor Gallagher that De Zerbi loved at Chelsea”

BBC: “Fans fury as West Ham on brink of drop - how have they got here?”

The Independent: “Hearts broken as Celtic snatch glory but Scotland’s thrilling season ends in disgrace”

The Telegraph: “Celtic apologise to Hearts after 14 arrested during ugly scenes”

More in General

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I can’t believe I’m saying this, but GO BRENTFORD!

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Football’s back!

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Happy FA Cup Final Day! That means there’s only one English football match taking place today, Chelsea vs. Manchester City for the domestic Cup that has all the magic. Except for the fact that the teams contesting for tine final are Chelsea and Manchester City — not much magic going on there.j

If you want a match with some REAL stakes, you’ll have to get up early if you live in the USA. Celtic and Hearts will play on the last matchweek of the Scottish Premier League season; with a win or a draw over Celtic, Heart of Midlothian can break up a Glasgow monopoly on the SPL title that goes back to 1984-85. Yes, it’s been THAT long since a club not named Celtic or Rangers has won the Scottish first division, and in fact Celtic has won the title 14 out of the past 15 years.

Or if you’d rather actually watch Tottenham Hotspur football, Spurs Women are playing their final match of the season, away at a high-flying Brighton squad. Spurs have got fifth place locked up cementing their return to “best of the rest” status, but this will be a notable match in part because it’s the last match for Bethany England in a Tottenham shirt.

Celtic vs Hearts (Scottish Premiership)

TV: CBS Sports Network (USA), Sky Sports Main Event (UK)

Stream: Paramount+

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Tottenham Women

TV: Not televised (USA/UK)

Stream: ESPN Select (USA), Sky Sports App (UK)

Chelsea vs. Manchester City (FA Cup Final)

TV: ESPN2 (USA), TNT Sports 1 / BBC One (UK)

Stream: ESPN Select (USA)

“Yeah, no matter what happens now, this club’s been a huge part of what I’m going to become and it’s helped me so much. So, for me, no matter what happens, I’m a fan of this club for the rest of my life now. So, it’s been a special experience.

“I think, mentally, I’ve just changed so much as a person. The way I look at stuff now, I think I’ve realized that every day means something. So, before, maybe I’d have days where I was a bit switched off and I’d come into training and I’m kind of not on it as much as I need to be.

“But if you want to go and win every single game, that’s the way we need to be. I think, as a team, we need to learn that as well. So, we need to realise that every day means something and it’s a chance to improve. So, for me, that’s been the biggest learning point for me.”

“You need people to think of you, that you’re going out there and giving your all. I’ve had many days this year where I’ve not been good enough and I’ve not showed enough, but I think I’ve shown that I’m still trying and I’m trying to give my all. So, it’s nice to have that respect. Obviously, the gutting thing is that we don’t have that as a team to really make your mark. I think people remember winning titles, not just individuals. So, that’s the disappointing thing for me.

“Obviously scoring at Celtic Park was my best moment being there. I think that day I realised what that game meant to people. When I see, even after the game, we pulled up at Ibrox and there were loads of fans waiting for us, celebrating. That was the best moment of my Rangers career and I’ll remember that goal really for the rest of my life.“

“For me now, it’s hard because it’s the same as for me last year. A new manager was in at Tottenham and I had to go back in and see what he was saying about me and then see what everyone was doing. To be honest, I think it will be the same sort of process. I think there’s a new manager at Spurs at the minute and obviously I’m a Spurs player, so we’ll have to see what he says about me, what he wants me to do, what the people around me want me to do. I think that’s all I can say at the moment. I’m going to go back there and see what the new people say in the building and from there I’ll make a decision.”

The rock band from Leeds exploded onto the scene when they released The Overload in 2022. The album peaked at #2 in the UK before their sophomore album, Where’s My Utopia, climbed up to #4.

Well now they’ve got another coming out this summer: You’re Gonna Need a Little Music

Yard Act released their first single in support of the album last week. Redeemer is unlike any other song they’ve done so far. And, wow, what a different sound.

And what a different point of view.

The pop-driven post-punk sound is gone. Instead is something far darker, far heavier in what frontman James Smith said is an exploration into the question of individualism and shared realities.

It’s a hell of a way to promote this record. And it shows how this band is evolving into a more mature sound, exploring different themes and textures in their music. We’re still a few months away from the album’s release, but I’m seriously excited for this one and it’s immediately jumped to the top of my most highly anticipated releases this year.

Fitzie’s track of the day: Redeemer, by Yard Act

And now for your links:

The Athletic ($$): “How ENIC’s stake in Tottenham is growing – and what it means for minority shareholders”

The Guardian: “Sam Kerr confirms she will leave Chelsea at end of the season”

BBC: “Play-off final may be delayed by Spygate hearing”

The Independent: “Into the ‘lion’s den’: Hearts take ‘us against everybody’ approach into Celtic showdown”

Tottenham’s injury crisis took an unexpected turn: Your hoddler-in-chief’s fantasy baseball team.

My league is only one-third of the way through the season, and already injuries have derailed it. Even worse, I am on track for my worst-ever finish in this fantasy baseball league.

This is my ninth season in the league and I’m competitive just about every year. Here are my previous finishes: First, Eighth, Third, Third, Ninth, Third, Third, Fourth.

Now I’m sitting in 12th place out of 12 teams. My last two weeks I went 0-9 and 0-10.

The culprit: Injuries.

At one point there were seven players on the Injury List (the 10-day, 15-day and 60-day lists). I ended up dropping three but I still have four on the IL. And I can’t really drop them: Ronald Acuna Jr, Wyatt Langford, Ryan Helsley and Josh Hader.

They occupy all four of my IL spots. I was forced to drop the other three because they were occupying valuable bench slots. It looks like some of the injury crisis will fade by the end of May or early June, but a lot of time will be lost since then.

In the meantime I’m trying to plug as many holes as I can to not fall too far behind in the playoff spots (currently 16 games back - that’s a lot). I’m not sure how I’m going to make up the gap, and it’s probably too late already which sucks because I’m used to fighting for a top-four place.

At least I know when it’s time to panic. The problem is I feel like I don’t stand a chance this year. Nevertheless I’ll keep pushing to claim each category and maybe - maybe - I’m through the other side of this dark tunnel next month.

Fitzie’s track of the day: The Creature from the Black Leather Lagoon, by The Cramps

And now for your links:

Dan KP: “Daniel Levy did not envisage Tottenham being in a relegation battle ‘in a million years’”

BBC: “Hearts’ McInnes rages at ‘disgusting’ Celtic penalty”