Sunday 13 May 2012

The Premier League Final Day Preview


Today is the climax to just over nine months of blood, sweat and tears (possibly a lot of tears if you’re a Wolves or Blackburn fan). It’s all come down to one last game and with the Premier League title, Champions League places and relegation yet to be decided, it’s all still to play for. What is already decided is the fact that by the end of play today we will have witnessed possibly the most dramatic end to a Premier League season ever, my advice to you sit back and enjoy the ride.

The Race for the Title/Relegation
The Barclays Premier League
Never before has the Premier League or as Owen Coyle so brilliantly puts it his enthusiastic Scottish accent, 'The Barclays Premier League' been decided on goal difference, today it could and most probably will be with both United and City odds on to win.

Game 1 - Manchester City vs QPR
Pantilimon
As much as I'd love City to lose and United to win the title, frankly I just can’t see it. Personally I fancy Sergio Aguero to get the better of Clint Hill and put a few past Paddy Kenny and although QPR do possess a couple of class players in their team, City have a squad full of them and if Toure doesn't get you, Tevez will and if Tevez doesn't get you, Silva will and if Silva dosen't get you, Pantilimon will and so on.

Man City's Key Man - Yaya Toure - One word sums him up - BEAST

QPR's Key Man - Djibril Cisse - He will either get sent off or score, I’m hoping for the latter

My Prediction - Manchester City 4-1 QPR

Game 2 - Sunderland vs Manchester United
I expect this to be a much tighter game than the one at the Etihad, although Sunderland haven't been in the best of form recently, they'll raise their game for the visit of United. As for United it’s a case of 'what if' for this season, what if they hadn't played their reserves in the Champions League, what if they had signed a decent central midfielder and what if they actually tried to defend against Everton. Whatever happens today United need to spend in the summer if they want to keep up with City in the future, my advice to them is go and get two of Sneijder, Kaka, Kagawa and Schweinsteiger so they can let Giggs and Scholes retire gracefully.

Sunderland's Key Man - Stephane Sessegnon - If Benin's greatest ever player is on song the Mackems may have a chance.
Benin's Greatest Ever Player

Man United's Key Man - Wayne Rooney - Without his goals united would have fallen well short

My Prediction - Sunderland 1-2 Manchester United

Champions League Chasing
At the start of the season many would have predicted Arsenal and Spurs to both challenge and probably qualify for the Champions League, but no-one would have backed Newcastle yet here we are game week 38 and all three are still going for the two spots left or will it be one.

Game 3 - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal 
Bring on the Euros
The game at the Hawthorns today will be Roy Hodgson's final game in charge of the Baggies before he departs to manage England to Euro 2012 glory. As a result of this I believe that the players will want to give Roy a good send off and maybe even a win. Another trophy-less season for the Gunners could only get worse if they fail to qualify for the Champions League (well it could get worse if RVP leaves.....nah he won't leave at Arsenal he can win trophies and play in the champions league.....oh dear) and for me this is a possibility.
What a Player

WBA's Key Man - Peter Odemwingie - Is he the man to shoot down the Gunners

Arsenal's Key Man - Take a guess and no it’s not Sebastian Squillaci

My Prediction - WBA 2-2 Arsenal

Game 4 - Tottenham Hotspurs vs Fulham
How on earth Spurs let a ten point lead over Arsenal slip no-one knows, yet they are still if with a great shout of finishing above their North London rivals. Wherever they finish I fully expect them to beat the Cottagers. As regards Fulham their only disappointment this season is not going further than the group stage of the Europa League, apart from that Martin Jol has had an efficient first season. All they need to do know is hang onto their star players Dempsey, Dembele and Pavel Pogrenebebrebebbenyak.
The Big Russian

Spurs's Key Man - Gareth Bale - When the Welshman is in full flow he is unstoppable

Fulham's Key Man - Alex kacanikkniclicklic - The Swedish trickster has looked good since returning from a loan spell at Watford.

My Prediction - Spurs 2-1 Fulham

Game 5 - Everton vs Newcastle 
With the unpredictability of this season we probably shouldn't be surprised that Newcastle have had the season they've had. You have to applaud Alan Pardew, three years ago he was sacked by League 1 Southampton and now he's on the brink of getting the Magpies into the Champions League. A special shout-out has to go to his back room staff of John Carver, Steve Stone and especially Graham Carr the club's Chief Scout. As for Everton it’s been a regular season for them, start crap, end well and bottle it against Liverpool on a number of occasions. But fair play to David Moyes on his ten years at Goodison Park and for getting one of the signings of the season Nikica Jelavic.
Goal of the Season

Newcastle's Key Man - Papiss Cisse - Who else

Everton's Key Man - Leon Osman - All of the Toffee's best play goes through him

My Prediction - Everton 1-1 Newcastle

Relegation Battle
It’s simple, QPR or Bolton

Game 6 - Stoke City vs Bolton Wanderers
The Master Tactician
Personally I'd rather Stoke were going down than QPR or Bolton with the dire football they play, but it’s a results business and Bolton just haven't got the results. In all fairness it’s been a traumatic season for the Trotters, with both Tyrone Mears and Chung Yong lee breaking their legs before a ball had been kicked and then the awful Fabrice Muamba situation who is thankfully on the road to recovery. What can I say about Stoke, their football is the most boring, abject, long ball I've ever seen and I've watched a season of Aidy Boothroyd Clive Platt Hoof ball, their fans have no respect for some of football's Legends such as Arsene Wenger and they bottled it against Valencia in the Europa League.

Stoke's Key Man - Peter Crouch - Maybe he will score another screamer and liven up the game a bit

Bolton's Key Man - Mark Davies - Makes Bolton tick

My Prediction - Stoke 0-1 Bolton

The Rest
Chelsea 5-0 Blackburn
Norwich 2-1 Villa
Swansea 2-1 Liverpool
Wigan 3-2 Wolves

On a lighter note I'd like to show my appreciation to the three best managers this season





Chicken Man




Mick McCarthy's Man




Scotsman