Burnley & Chelsea, Xavi Quits Spain, MLS

Good Day, Friends. We'll hop right in with previews for the next two Premier League clubs, in alphabetical order, of course. Today's B to C platter provides two teams - one that could finish first and one that could finish last.

Burnley

Chelsea

As noted in the preview above, Courtois is back at Stamford Bridge after his loan spell in Madrid. Most would look at that as a good thing. Cech has a real fight on his hands and that'll only benefit the club as two world-class keepers look to claim the top spot. But is that really the case...? 

Can't get enough of Chelsea at the moment? Eden Hazard. Go.

The Mill. Plus One. Plus Plus One.

Michael Cox is a tactical dude. He likes to write about tactics. Today, he's writing about Alexis and his arrival at Arsenal. And what that means. Tactically speaking, of course.

Deuce scores from deep with the photobomb...

Talk about going out on a low. Everyone's favorite balding little Spanish midfielder with Barcelona in his DNA has retired from the national team. No outfield player has more caps than Xavi. He had a good run. Apparently he was going to retire after Euro 2012 but was convinced by Del Bosque to stick around for 2014. Doh. Anyway, it's obviously good news for Barca because he won't be bothered by international commitments, but at 34, is he pretty much done? We shall see.

We should probably catch up on what's going on in MLS. It is, after all, one of the few leagues that at the moment is producing matches that actually matter in terms of competing for some sort of title. Let's begin with some Power Rankings (wow, D.C. United is good again?), continue with more Power Rankings from Jeff Carlisle (he's got KC tops), get Three Thoughts from Bird on something called the MLS Homegrown Game, and end there.

Aston Villa. Yawn. Andy Brassell examines the Birmingham club and claims it's a symbol of Midlands Malaise.

And finally...Lupe Fiasco wants Jermaine Jones in Chicago.

Onward!!

-SSN