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
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| 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
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| 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.
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| 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
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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
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| 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
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| Chicken Man |
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| Mick McCarthy's Man |
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| Scotsman |
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