First off, check out our playoff coverage right here. And then try to scrub the images of the Seattle-Houston game out of your mind. What a foul-fest.

Then: One of the biggest games of the year in American soccer to date will take place this weekend. It is not, unfortunately, part of the MLS playoffs.

The game is Arsenal against Tottenham, and it will be the first big-four clash to air on ESPN2’s morning EPL slot. How it fares in terms of the ratings will be a harbinger for the game over here for the year — and decade — to come

ESPN’s biggest success of the year so far was back in August, with the Liverpool-Villa game that pulled in almost 400,000 viewers. Since then, the net’s ratings have dipped — last week’s Wolves-Villa game drew just over half that with 204,882 — but so have the quality of the games and teams. (The ratings for the entire season have been published on EPLTalk)

So: If, as many people think, and the Premier League does post good ratings on ESPN2 with this week’s Arsenal-Tottenham game, it will represent a vindication of the American network’s attempt to dive into world soccer. It will also represent a success for the Premiership itself and it’s ambitious five-year plan to stage some of its games in America. Last, but not least — and this bit should worry MLS fans — it could provide the most concrete evidence yet that even with a 14-year head start, MLS is not gaining traction.

DAILY READS:

Ugh.

How much of a bully is Sir Alex? Wel,l get this: Ref Wiley offered to resign if he was indeed unfit.

Wigan sack jailed Marlon King; King to appeal but has troubled history of violence, especially towards women

Blanco to Veracruz?

DEPT OF BEING TOO HONEST: This cost Kevin Payne $5K. He's right, of course.

DEPT OF FLASHES IN THE PAN: First, Tampa Bay outlets reported that Manchester United owner Glazer lost $400m in Madoff scheme; may sell Bucs; Then, Glazers fired back on link to Madoff; calling  it "100% false."  This morning, Clear Channel radio station suspended host who made original comments.

Phil Brown gets one game to save his hide at Hull

TV THIS WEEKEND (All times EDT/ET and our picks in bold)
TODAY
U17WC: Germany v Honduras    1100    ESPN360
U17WC: Argentina v Nigeria        1100    ESPN360
U17WC: Japan v Mexico        1400    ESPN360
U17WC: Switzerland v Brazil    1400    ESPN360
QPR vs Leicester            1545    ESPN360

SATURDAY
Moscow v Zenit St. Pete        0700    Setanta
Arsenal v Tottenham            0830    ESPN2
Stuttgart v Bayern Munich        1030    GolTV
U17WC: Gambia v Colombia        1048    ESPN360
U17WC: Holland v Iran        1048    ESPN360
Fulham v Liverpool            1100    Setanta
Bolton v Chelsea            1100    FSC/FSE
Sunderland v West Ham        1100     (SDD FSC 1800)
Stoke v Wolves            1100    (SDD Setanta 2130)
Pompey v Wigan            1100    (SDD Setanta 2315)
Burnley v Hull                1100    stream only
Everton v Villa            1100     Setanta X* (SDD 1800)
Getafe v Real Madrid            1255    ESPND
Juventus v Napoli            1300    RAI (SDD on FSE 1730)
Real Madrid v Getafe            1300    stream
Man U v Blackburn            1330    FSC
U17WC: Burkina Faso v CR        1348    ESPN360
U17WC: New Zealand v Turkey    1348    ESPN360
Osasuna v Barcelona            1500    GolTV
AC Milan v Parma            1545    FSC/FSE
St. Etienne v Lyon            1600    Setanta
Bilbao v Atletico Madrid        1700    GolTV
Braga v Benfica            1715    ESPN360
Columbus v RSL            1800    DK/RSNs/MLSNET.com
Cruz Azul v Atlante            1900    Azteca
San Luis v Monterrey            1900    Telefutura
Tigres v Tecos                2100    Telemundo
Indios v Puebla            2100    Azteca
Atlas v Pachuca            2300    Telemundo

SUNDAY (TIME CHANGE TOOK EFFECT TODAY AT 2 AM)
Ajax v Feyenoord            0600    ESPN360
Spartak v Rostov            0700    Setanta
Dundee United v Rangers        0745    stream

Sampdoria v Bari            0900    RAI
Roma v Bologna            0900    ESPN360
Livorno v Inter Milan            0900    FSC/FSE/360
U17WC: Malawi v Spain        0948    ESPN360
U17WC: USA v UAE            0948    ESPNU/360
Almeria v Zaragoza            1055    ESPN360
Birmingham v Man City        1100    FSE/FSC
U17WC: Korea v Algeria        1248    ESPN360
U17WC: Italy v Uruguay        1248    ESPN360
Palmeiras v Corinthians        1300    GolTV
Morelia v Chivas            1300    Azteca
Toluca v Queretaro            1300    Telemundo
Fire v Revs                1400    FSC
Coruna v Gijon            1500    GolTV
Palermo v Genoa            1545    FSC
America v Jaguares            1700    Univision
LAG v Chivas                1700    ESPN2
Santos v Pumas            2100    Telefutura