UEFA’s showpiece, the £50 million match and other outstanding Football League issues

This weekend sees two of the most valuable prizes in football settled as the Champions League Final and Championship play-off final are played.  Both are eagerly awaited and hard fought and both should be cracking contests.  In addition, and by no means less important to the Football Leagues, the final spots in the Championships and League One will also be decided.  We’ll start with the games at Wembley before moving onto the Old Trafford Play Off games.

On Saturday evening, the Champions League final will be played at Wembley Stadium.  The match between Manchester United and Barcelona promises to be action packed with a plethora of quality world class players on show.  Let us skirt over the fact that the European Cup (as it was in its previous guise) should be played on a Wednesday night and move on…

Some years ago the format for the European Cup was changed to widen the field and allow clubs other than the champions of each country entry to the Champions League.  This led to a wider competition, making more money for the UEFA brand and also led to a disparity in winners status.  Let us not forget that Liverpool won the trophy in that epic match against AC Milan having entered the competition as one of the league runners up the previous season. Chelsea, beaten by Manchester United at the quarter final stage this year, were last years Premier League winners and may wonder what might have been had the competitions original format still be in place as United were their runners up.

That said, there can be no doubting that, this year, the two best teams in Europe will compete for the title.  Both have recently won their respective national championships and will field the kind of talent that most clubs could only dream of.  It promises to be a great game and a great finale to the competition this year.  Of course there is lots of talk, and rightly so, about Messi, Rooney, Xavi, Van Der Sar, Abidal and Giggs (although his footballing prowess hasn’t be focussed on too much this past week) but there are eleven on either side who could make the decisive play in this match. As with any game involving the genius of Messi, Uniteds chances will rest heavily on how they cope with his threat but, having lost to the same team in the final a few years ago Sir Alex’s team will have a gameplan to deal with him.

Barcelona have been installed as favourites such is their fearsome and well deserved reputation but I think that many have been underestimating the battling qualities along with their skilful play of Sir Alex Fergusons men.

Prediction: It will be a close contest but I will buck the trend and say that I expect Manchester United to win the game.  It will be close and cagey to start with but will plump for a 3-1 victory for the Old Trafford men.

With a clubs earnings in the Barclays Premier League estimated at £50m per season, all eyes will be on Wembley once more on Monday when Swansea face Reading in the Championship play-off with a much coveted place in the top flight on offer to the winner.  Swansea have been in good form for most of the season and have not been out of the top six for quite some time.  They play good football, with passes to feet and speed on the flanks with Scott Sinclair, who has been excellent all season, and Lloyd Dyer and are impressive at the back.  Their manager, Brendan Rodgers, was their opponents manager for six months in the 2009/10 season before being unceremoniously dumped.  He has turned Swansea into a real force to be reckoned with and will be keen to remind his previous emplyers of his managerial capabilities.  Reading have also blossomed under their manager, Brian McDermott, who having worked alongside previous managers including Rodgers has made the team his own.  They are just as impressive at the back and have plenty of attacking options with the likes of Noel Hunt, Shane Long, Jobi McAnuff and Jimi Kebe terrorising defences up and down the Championship this term.  It will be an especially close match and a tense affair - as all these games are - but I expect to see some scintillating football from two teams who would be a credit to the top flight should they get there.

For me this one is almost too close to call.  Swansea probably have the edge defensively but Reading are stronger in their attacking play. 

My prediction is a 2-2 draw, after extra time, and the game (and a place in the Premier League promised land) will be decided on a penalty shoot out which Reading will win.  

It is a hard struggle for any team who wins promotion through the play-offs to the Premier League.  Their planning for the next season is shorter than those who were promoted 4 weeks ago and it’s hard to catch up with the transfer merry-go round once its started.  Often the winners, such as Blackpool last season, become the following seasons hard luck story giving a brave effort before coming up a little bit too short by seasons end.  It perhaps highlights the gap between the Championship and Premier Leagues that significant investment is required to make a successful attempt at survival.  One can only assume that the £50m windfall is enough of a sweetener to accept being the top of one class and going straight to the bottom the following year.  For any club, both for reputation and financial purposes, the place to be is the Premier League and a season long scrap to finish 17^th is well worth the pain it may cause.

Lets not forget the 2 other play-off finals over this weekend.  Following AFC Wimbledon’s penalty shootout victory over Luton Town in last weekends play off to gain entry into League Two at Manchester City’s Eastlands stadium, the play off action switches to Old Trafford on the red side of the city.

On Saturday Stevenage take on Torquay United in the League Two match up.  Both have been in good form at the end of the season and will take confidence from their semi-final victories against Accrington Stanley and pre play off favourites Shrewsbury respectively.  At this stage last year Stevenage were being crowned Conference Champions and promoted to the Football League. Their rise has been extremely impressive and as if needed a highlight of their fine season was their 3-1 victory against Premier League Newcastle in the FA Cup in January.  Torquay have steadily improved over the course of the season and are, perhaps, the team entering the playoffs in form.  This fact, coupled with their victory over 2 legs against Shrewsbury and league experience makes them my favourites for the game.  This game will be a step too far for the brave Stevenage side. 

Prediction:  Stevenage 1 Torquay 2

Sunday sees Peterborough and Huddersfield go head to head for a place in the Championship.  The game, between two of the richer clubs in League One, is another intriguing fixture.  Peterborough were relegated from the Championship last season and are looking to bounce back immediately.  Huddersfield with an impressive set up and heavy financial backing have been working towards promotion for the past few years.  Both will make a good case for surviving in the Championship should they be successful on Sunday and whoever doesn’t quite make it will be pushing hard to atone next term.  In Lee Clark Huddersfield have an impressive young manager who has instilled determination into a team of quality players.  His side have seen Brighton and Southampton finish above them while themselves attaining 87 points, which would ordinarily be enough to gain promotion automatically.  They have also overcome the loss of Anthony Pilkington with a serious leg break as the seasons run in commenced but Clark has kept his troops focussed on the clubs aim.  His opponent Darren Ferguson returned to Peterborough mid-season following a dalliance with Preston who disposed of his services after a disastrous start to their Championship season.  No doubt he would love to finish the season in the division above his previous charges with what has become his spiritual home at The Posh.  His return to Peterborough signalled an upturn in their fortunes and the team turned in a number of impressive displays to earn their place in the top six.  Ferguson of course is familiar with Sundays location – his father has been manager there for a number of successful seasons – and of course started his playing career under him at United.

Again this game is hard to call and much will depend on how the Huddersfield defence deal with the likes of Craig Mackail-Smith and George Boyd who have scored 42 goals between them this season. Mackail-Smith is reported to be leaving the club in the summer and this will be his swansong.  He will be keen to improve his already lasting impression on their supporters.  I feel that Peterborough’s strong attacking threat will overcome the impressive Terriers and Ferguson’s men will come out on top.

Prediction: Peterborough 3 Huddersfield 1

For the supporters of all the clubs involved, I wish you well.  Enjoy your days and Good Luck !!

Sorrow for Birmingham and Blackpool but joy for St George

Super Sunday?  Oh yes…

The final day of the Premier League season didn’t disappoint, with more twists and turns than the off-spring of a helter skelter and a big dipper.

The day started with any of five teams with a possibility of joining West Ham in the Championship next year.  Two places were up for grabs and all five were willing to scrap to the last to ensure they did not fill one of them.

Blackpool always looked likely to go, with an away match against the Champions, Manchester United, on the final day.  Soon after half time though, an unlikely escape looked on the cards as goals from Charlie Adam and Gary Taylor-Fletcher gave them a 2-1 lead.

After 45 minutes it was Wolves, courtesy of a startling 3-0 reverse against relegation rivals Blackburn, and Wigan, goalless in their game at Stoke, who filled the relegation spots. At various times through this pulsating afternoon 4 of the 5 occupied relegation spots. Once Jason Roberts scored for Blackburn after 22 minutes they were never in any danger.  Hugo Rodellega scored the all important goal for Wigan which ensured their safety leaving Blackpool (whose afternoon turned from half time delirium to full time misery on the back of a 4-2 defeat at Old Trafford) and Birmingham falling through the trap door.  Wolves who had trailed so heavily leaving them perilously close - such was the closeness of this contest that goal difference was a serious contender to relegate the club – received, one can only assume, the hair dryer of all hair dryers from Mick McCarthy and it duly paid off.  Stephen Hunts fine goal after 87 minutes kept them clear. 

By the end of the 90 minutes Birmingham’s fate has been sealed by a thumping Roman Pavlachenko strike which consigned them to a 2-1 defeat to Spurs and relegation.

It was a truly scintillating afternoon and one which goes some way in demonstrating just how entertaining the Premier League can be.  It seems a shame that we are rarely, if ever, treated to such a close fight at the other end of the table. I for one would love to see a final day scrap between United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and the resurgent Man City all vying for the Champions spot on the last day.  Maybe next year I guess!

All three relegated teams have significant work to do to achieve automatic promotion next year from an incredibly difficult league.  Blackpool may have planned for a single season and however disappointed they may be to have lost their Premier League status have not spent wildly in trying to maintain it.  Yes, wages may have increased but there would have been relegation clauses built into any improved contracts they committed to and they may not feel the pinch quite as much as the other two.  There will be inevitable personnel changes such has the impact of players such as Charlie Adam been this term but they should have enough to mount a challenge next year.  Neither West Ham or Birmingham would have felt any danger about this season and now find themselves with steep challenges ahead.  With higher wages than Blackpool and with unsettled players keen to remain at the highest level they too will feel a serious pinch next year.  It is estimated that relegation means a revenue loss of around £25m and that is hard to swallow.  Sadly for all three for every Newcastle or West Brom who bounced straight back after relegation, there is a Norwich, Charlton or Leeds who spend seasons trying to get back to the top and fall further in their attempts.

It’s easy to sympathise with the supporters of these clubs for whom every defeat would have felt like a hard kick in the unmentionables.  Any supporter who has felt the pain of relegation can’t fail but relive it with every crying child on Survival Sunday.  For the clubs involved the truth is probably harder to take.  If you finish in the bottom 3 at the end of the season, even if it’s a close run thing as it was this year, it’s because you’ve not been good enough. 

At the other end of the table and for those teams whose safety was ensured some months ago, the latest managerial casualty took the form of Cheslea’s Carlo Ancellotti.  A trophyless season for the Blues made the dismissal sadly inevitable for the wealthy West Londoners.  It’s a direct message to whoever takes the helm – second place in the Premier League and a quarter final in the Champions League is not enough.  It will be a brave man who takes the role on but with the talents available to them expectations will be high that the Premier League trophy will be regained and the long awaited Champions League success will follow. 

And so the Premier League ends for another year.  The managerial merry-go-round is warming up and agents up and down the land are watching their charges go off on their summer holidays whilst they try and secure valuable contracts for them to return to.  Just one Premier League space remains for next season now and that will be taken by Swansea or Reading who meet at Wembley next Monday.  My advice (for what its worth) for whoever wins and takes that spot along with QPR and Norwich – Buckle up guys, its going to be a hell of a ride!

De Ja Vu for De Gale

After all the trash talk and bad mouthing between James DeGale and George Groves “The Grudge” match finally came about at the O2 Arena on Saturday night.   Both had started boxing at the same amateur boxing club in West London as youngsters and DeGale always saw a defeat by Groves in the amateur ranks as the unacceptable stain on his otherwise unblemished record.  Both boxers dismissed the others chances with many believing that DeGale would prove superior in their long awaited re-match. 

DeGale seemed surprised by Groves strength and ability to take a punch and the latters footwork gave him time and space to avoid punches and land some good shots himself. 

The fight was a good advert for British boxing and had as much good about it as the last heavily built up clash between two British fighters, namely David Haye and Audley Harrison, had bad.  Both DeGale and Groves were fearless and by the end of 12 gruelling rounds both were cut and both were going all out to win the contest.  Personally I had DeGale ahead although it was close.  Not for the first time in my time watching boxing, the judges opinion differed from mine.  One scored the fight 115 each and the other two scored it 115-114 in favour of Groves.  As the decision was announced DeGale leapt forward in anticipation of being named as the winner when the ring announcer said “..and still undefeated” clearly forgetting that Groves was also undefeated upon entering the ring.  He looked stunned when Groves was called and Groves and his entourage, including the aforementioned Haye were understandably jubilant. 

DeGale will feel aggrieved that the decision went against him and will feel that he made most of the running in the fight whereas Groves was the more defensive, although this would do a disservice to Groves who fought an intelligent tactical fight, knowing how to attack DeGale and when to take evasive action.  He came under heavy pressure at times but rarely looked shaken and doggedly stuck to his plan.  DeGale was dominant at times but was guilty of failing to make that dominance pay and Groves looked stronger as the fight developed.

There was plenty of ill-feeling during the bout but it never went beyond comments made by both at the end of each round.

DeGale had genuine ambition to add a World title to his Olympic gold but that aim will have to wait while he gets his career back on track after this setback.  Groves finds himself with a big scalp and his team will have to find the right opponent to further his title ambitions.   It’s inevitable that, at some stage down the line, these two fighters will meet again and the trash talk and bad mouthing will restart but a rematch will be a riveting watch just as this one was.  I can’t wait.  

The trash talk for Haye’s next bout, against Wladimir Klitscho in Hamburg on July 3^rd will, will now restart in earnest and I look forward to updating you between then and now as to exactly what Haye claims he will do to the big Russian next.

Super, Scary, Scintillating Sunday (and grown men crying)

Manchester United duly wrapped up the Premier League title with a Wayne Rooney penalty which won their required point at Blackburn.  In the tale of two cities at Wembley their Manchester rivals were victorious against a thoroughly outplayed Stoke with Yaya Toure scoring the only goal to give City their first silverware in 30 odd years.  Toure, on a reported £220k per week, looked absolutely thrilled to have scored and won the cup.  The foreign legion at Manchester all celebrated as though this was the pinnacle of their careers and Mario Ballatelli, who has been much criticised this season following his big money move from Inter Milan was absolutely jubilant having turned in one of his best performances for City.  Having confirmed their entry into the money-spinning Champions League next year City fans must be drooling with anticipation of good times coming to their side of the city, but they’ve some way to go to overcome their illustrious neighbours.  United show no signs of weakening and it will interesting to see how both match up to the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham as well as each other next year.  Money talks, and it is the additions to the squad which will tell us what to expect next year.  City will spend big.  They have the funds and the inclination to do so.  Whether they spend on the right players is yet to be seen but the lure of Champions League football should suffice for many players as yet undecided as to whether to join the blues ranks.

At the other end of the Premier League, the most fascinating final day ever awaits with no less than five teams still battling for the two remaining relegation slots.  West Hams poor season was finally put to bed at the DW Stadium on Sunday, squandering a two goal half time lead to Wigan and the final nail in the coffin was provided by a 94^th minute strike from Charles N’Zogbia.  It was nothing more than Wigan deserved in a real ding-dong battle which did the Premier League no harm at all.  Whether this fixture is repeated in the Championship next year will be decided on what looks like being a truly Super Sunday.

As things stand Wigan, on 39 points and -22 goal difference and Blackpool, on 39 points and – 21 goal difference make up the bottom three along with the already doomed Hammers.  Birmingham sits just above them on 39 points with a -20 goal difference.  Above the Blues are Wolves on 40 points and -19 goal difference and the final candidates are Blackburn on 40 points with a -14 goal difference.

To be in with a shout of staying up on the last day shows the credit which must be given to Blackpool who were most peoples favourites for relegation at the start of the season.  That they travel to Manchester United for their final game adds to the intrigue.  United, with the Premier League title already in their grasp will have both eyes on the Champions League final the following Saturday when the teams meet which must give Blackpool some hope of getting the result they need to keep them up.  But United have been unbeaten at Old Trafford this year dropping just 2 points at the Theatre of Dreams.  Their pride, determination and quality (in whatever team Sir Alex chooses to field) makes this a massive task for the Seasiders.

Such is the closeness of the battle above them a narrow defeat coupled with heavy losses for Wigan and Birmingham could still see the Tangerine men safe on Sunday evening and it certainly looks like being an enthralling climax to the season.

That all 5 teams could reach the often deemed sufficient 40 points this year and 2 still be relegated on this total speaks volumes for the type of season we’ve seen this year.  All the bottom six have secured fine results against superior opposition and yet have struggled at the wrong end of the table for the most part. Only 3 times in the last 15 years have teams been relegated with a points total in the 40’s and those who join West Ham will be distraught to have come so close this year.

Wolves host Blackburn on the final day and should secure their own safety whilst leaving Blackburn perilously looking over their shoulder.  Tough games for Wigan (away at Stoke, eager to end the season on a high after their flat FA Cup Final appearance) and Birmingham (away at Tottenham, eager to confirm fifth place and Europa League football next term) make their efforts incredibly hard but the Premier League is notoriously hard to predict – once you take the top four out of the equation – and both have shown their fighting qualities in recent weeks.  As much as their efforts have been appreciated this year, I predict that the table come six o’clock next Sunday will look exactly as it does now, other than Wolves leapfrogging Blackburn for 15^th spot.  Blackpool in particular have added a great deal to the league this year and will be missed if things don’t go their way on Sunday but whoever goes down will be devastated and will have to manage the financial ramifications and inevitable player disruption in order to achieve a quick return from an extremely tough Championship which will have an even stronger field following the promotions of Brighton and Southampton.  At least for Championship fans, should Blackpool go down, there will be some nice days out at the seaside for away trips next year!

The season has shown Blackpool, and all teams promoted from the Championship that the gulf in class can be extreme but they and most others are well capable of competing with at least half of the teams in the league.  It is the knack that the likes of West Brom, Bolton, Stoke and Fulham of turning draws into vital wins and losses into vital draws which keeps their heads above water without ever threatening to break into the top 6 sides in the country.  For an ambitious chairman the opportunity to throw money at the problem and buy players of varying quality at inflated prices must be tempting but it is a risk that can badly backfire.  The board at West Ham made up of the Gold/Sullivan/Brady partnership which reaped such rich dividends at Birmingham City before selling the club off for a huge profit have already admitted that several of their more high profile players will leave this summer and for a club with huge existing debts their spending cannot be as free as they would hope.  They also have to find a manager to get them promoted having dispensed with the services of Avram Grant within an hour of their defeat at Wigan.

So often in the football leagues the final days fixtures leave virtually no bearing on final league positions so it will be an enjoyable day, with plenty of twists and turns over the 90 minutes which will decide this seasons final slots.  Expect Sky TV to be full of supporters tears, jubilation and devastation and hopefully some quality play to settle these tight games.  For players like Charlie Adam, Charles N’Zogbia, Cameron Jerome, Brett Emerton and Kevin Doyle this could be the last 90 minutes they play in the Premier League for their current clubs and will be looking to exit on a high. 

Embrace it and enjoy it!

19 for Utd, 875000 for QPR, 3 for Vettel and a second fiddle Cup Final

The Classic West End FA(rce)

After 8 months of waiting and much speculation over possible points deductions and relegations, the result of the FA’s investigations into QPR’s breaches in procedures finally arrived on Saturday.  At 11.45.  An hour before the R’s last home game of the season against Leeds. 

The FA had initially said that the results of their deliberations would be published at 4pm on Friday but by Thursday they had issued a press release that their findings would not be available unit, well, they didn’t actually say.

The timing of the statement on Saturday morning was far from ideal for many but as the BBC were covering the game it gave ideal opportunities for lots of whooping and dancing in the streets of Shepherds Bush live and in HD where available.

In the end Rangers weren’t hit by a points deduction.  There was no threat of relegation.  Of the 7 charges levied on the club, only two were proven and these related to a breach of the 3^rd party ownership rules and of using an unlicensed agent.  The result was a combined fine of £875,000 which should matter little to billionaire owners and a club who will earn £50m from their season in the Premier League.

This whole affair demonstrates if nothing else that the processes employed by the league to investigate, charge and adjudicate on such matters is at best inefficient and at worst downright stupid.  To charge a club with charges of such seriousness would, you would hope, be the result of detailed investigation and the authority should feel that there is a better than half chance of their findings backing up the charge.  As it turned out QPR were cleared with only a fraction of the brouhaha that was shown in the initial charge reports.  They are free to commence their Premier League campaign and the necessary rebuilding of the team to attempt to maintain that Premier League status come May next year.

Let’s be perfectly clear about this.  QPR were the best team in the Championship this season.  Their form, especially at the start of the season was scintillating.  Considering where the club finished last season and the disjointed management of the club they were simply amazing.  They deserve to be promoted.  What they don’t deserve is to be left with the noose round their necks until the last game of the season when the authorities made their initial accusations 8 months before.

The FA and FL are often accused of shambolic administration processes and this sorry affair demonstrates why it’s hard to defend them.  We still await the full details of why the charges were unproven.  This would give all the clubs in the league the opportunity to know exactly what they can and can’t do and diminish these instances of reputation damaging accusations and the mud-slinging that goes with it.

Vettel makes the rest look like real Turkeys

The Formula One roadshow breezed back into Europe on Sunday for the Turkish Grand Prix.  Sebastien Vettel fought his way to pole position for the 4^th time this season but there were to be no heroics from Lewis Hamilton this time round and Vettel eased his way to a 3^rd victory of the year.  Such was his dominance from start to finish, repeating the pattern in his previous 2 victories its hard to see him not wrapping up the drivers championship long before the end of the season, saving him from the last day dramatics of last years finale. 

Vettel is out-performing his Red Bull team mate, Mark Webber, with frightening ease and Webber himself is no slouch.  We’re told that the two cars are identical which leaves the only and easiest solution as to the dominance as being that, quite simply, Vettel is a far superior driver.

To make this season anywhere near interesting the other teams, notably McClaren and Ferrari will need to be significant improvements to their cars to allow the likes of Hamilton, Button, Alonso and Massa a chance of competing.   All the teams will talk a good fight but whether they succeed we will wait to see.

Reds far from Blue at Old Trafford

After being billed as a title decider Sundays match between the top two in the Premier League was effectively finalised, as was the destination of the Premier League title, after 36 seconds as Javier Hernandez scored a decisive goal against Chelsea.  Chelsea had their chances in the game but were 2 down (following a second goal from Vidic) before Frank Lampard scored his goal.  In truth the match was a far more one-sided affair than the score suggests and United romped to the 3 points leaving them 6 ahead of the Blues with 2 games to go.  Their success will be confirmed with at least a point against Blackburn on Saturday. The title deservedly will reside at Old Trafford for a 19^th season and extraordinary figure which Sir Alex Ferguson’s men will hope to add to next term.  Neither United of Chelsea have been scintillating this season and Chelsea will rue a period mid season where they suffered poor result after poor result but will look to be stronger and more potent next season. Whether their wealthy owner will add to the purchases made in January and whether their current manager Ancellotti and most potent striker, Drogba, will be there is still to be seen.

Ups, Downs and Play-off shaking around

Congratulations to all those teams who have won promotion to the next league.  QPR and Norwich are worthy Premier League new boys, Brighton and Southampton came out on top in a mighty tussle in League One, Chesterfield, Bury and Wycombe will join the League One ranks next year.  Crawley will appear in the Football League for the first time following their stroll through the Blue Square Premiership.

The playoffs start in earnest this week and will end over the late May Bank Holiday weekend with one of Swansea, Cardiff, Reading or Notts Forest £50m richer on winning promotion to the Premier League.  Peterborough will be looking for an immediate return to the Championship but favourites Huddersfield, who ran both the Seagulls and Saints so close for the automatic spots, MK Dons and Boumemouth desperate to take their place. Shrewsbury, Stevenage and Torquay will compete for a space in League One with Accrington Stanley who will be keen to shake off that “Accrington Stanley? Who are they?” tag that they’ve had since the 1980’s milk advertising campaign.  Meanwhile in the Blue Square Premier Luton will take on AFC Wimbledon for a place in the Football League through the play-offs.  A tale of polar opposites here with Luton looking to regain league status after a huge fall from grace which saw them plummet from the old First division through the leagues until relegation, and huge points deductions left the in the conference.  At the other end of the spectrum AFC Wimbledon, formed by fans of Wimbledon FC who refused to support their clubs move to Milton Keynes have had an equally rapid climb through the non-league ranks and their fairytale will be complete if they can overcome Luton.  For any fans of Roy of the Rovers style stories will delight in their success.  The club and supporters should be rightly proud of their successes and it will surely come sooner rather than later.  Whether this game is one too many for them we will discover shortly.

For every team celebrating that this time of year there are inevitably those whose supporters have been left devastated by their teams disappointing seasons.

Stockport, relegated from the Football League, were joined on the last day by Lincoln City who were leapfrogged by Barnet.  Plymouth, beset by financial problems and associated points reductions will be playing their football in League Two next year along with Swindon, Bristol Rovers and Dagenham & Redbridge.  From the Championship the relegated teams were decided 2 games ago with Preston and Scunthorpe joined by Sheffield United whose supporters can look forward to two Steel City derbies next year and whose relegation follows that of Norwich, Leeds and Charlton as teams with the opportunity to become established Premier League teams who suffered 2 relegations in the space of a few seasons.  The competition for promotion from all leagues is intense and teams that bounce back immediately are few and far between.  United’s work starts now and their rebuilding will commence with the search for a new manager, having dispensed with the services of Micky Adams this week – the first of many managerial departures we can expect this summer??

The big money of course is in the Premier League where Manchester United’s victory at home to Chelsea all but clinched the title for the Old Trafford side.  They can now work towards the near impossible task of beating Barcelona in the Champions League Final at Wembley.  United have been far from their usual dominant self but have rarely been troubled in the league this year.  Chelsea and Arsenal are confirmed as fellow Champions League competitors for next season and Manchester City’s victory over Spurs this week has confirmed their 4^th place finish.  For City their result justifies in some part the money they have spent over the past 2 years and one would expect additionally huge amounts of money to be spent to cement their place both as a Premier League and European force.  Their whimpering exit from the Europa League this season would indicate that a successful Champions League campaign is some way off and next season will demonstrate just how successful they can be with a season of spending whilst being able to offer top flight European football to potential signings.

At the other end of the top flight, six teams are still scrapping to avoid the relegation trap door and the financial struggles which inevitably follow.  Birmingham and Blackburn would hope to be safe with 39 points each with 2 games remaining leaving West Ham, Wigan, Wolves and Blackpool in the proverbial mix.  Wigans home game with West Ham at the weekend should be an intriguing affair.  A win for Wigan, although not guaranteeing safety for the home side, will relegate the Hammers.  A win for the visitors will probably seal Wigans fate also but it will be the results elsewhere for Blackpool and Wolves which will decide the running (or more like, falling) order.

FA Cup Final day with Elton Welsby et al

The FA Cup final takes place on Saturday but will probably be over shadowed by Manchester Untied winning their record 19^th League title. 

As one who fondly recalls the long FA Cup final days on TV which often started with breakfast in the team hotels, the teams leaving the hotels, on the coach with the team on their way to Wembley, interviews with the players wives and girlfriends (this was a by-gone age before the acronym WAG was invented), the teams arriving at Wembley, accompanying the teams on their walk around the Wembley pitch with Saint & Greavesy and associated retired players commenting on all of the aforementioned events.  The TV would then mainly be turned over to BBC because the picture always seemed better than on ITV.  The match was a huge event however poor the games were, and they were often poor.  Millions around the World would be watching and because there were no other games on most UK football supporters would tune in, just to see where the cup was going to be spending the next season.

It didn’t matter who you supported through the football season, you had to have a team to support in the FA Cup Final.  Mainly it was whoever the underdog was.  The game itself almost transcended all normal rules.  You hoped for a good game.  You hoped for drama and often it came. 

The FA Cup Final gave rise to some of the most memorable moments in football history whether it be the White Horse, Stanley Matthews, Dave Beasants penalty save, Kevin Moran being the first player red carded in the match or even Liverpool’s Spice Boys white suits (nice lads, nice!). 

Due to the Champions League final being held at Wembley on Saturday the 28^th May and the UEFA requirement that no games should be played on the hosting pitch for 2 weeks prior to the game it has been necessary for the FA to play the FA Cup final this Saturday.  The game will still kick-off at 3pm – so some tradition remains (for this year at least) – but because the Premier League season has not yet concluded there are 4 games in the top flight to be played at 12.45 kick off including the Red Devils match at Blackburn.  Much attention will focus on these matches and the final will play second fiddle with TV spectators switching on as kick off approaches rather than enjoying/enduring* (*delete as appropriate) the traditional pre match fare.  I miss the excitement of those 70’s and 80’s cup finals where for the players involved this was the highlight of their career.  These weren’t players who earned tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds each week.  These were players who wished desperately, from the time they first kicked a ball, to one day play at Wembley. There were no semi finals at Wembley, or play off finals.  You played at Wembley either for your country or in a cup final.  Of course, they were the days of bubble perms and short shorts so not everything was better but I hope you’ve got the drift.

Maybe I’m just overly cynical and for the likes of Mario Balatelli and Yaya Toure on £150k - £200k per week salaries this could be the long time desired pinnacle of their respective careers but I’d imagine that its fairly low on their list of priorities.  Players like Rory Delap and Ryan Shawcross would seem more tuned towards a cup final ambition and I hope they’re successful tomorrow as Stoke will arrive at Wembley as that often admired and supported underdog. 

Blood (in Toronto), Sweat (at Loftus Road) and Tears (in New York)

Can anyone else feel a draft?

Full of all the razzmatazz you would expect from US Sports, the 2011 National Football League (NFL) draft took place at the weekend from Radio City Music Hall, New York City. 

For those not familiar with the process, the draft follows the usual American tradition of taking the best available players from the nationwide college network and drafting them into their professional ranks. 

The premise is great.  To try and improve competition across the league the worst performing team has the opportunity to pick first in each round, of which there are seven.  As the process continues teams are able to ‘trade’ picks to take the players they wish.

Imagine if you will that English football ran a similar process.  Wayne Rooney (assuming he was intelligent to graduate from college) rather than being signed by Manchester United may have ended up drafted by Derby County having finished with the record low points tally in the Premier League.  Of course there is no promotion/relegations within the NFL and, being a closed competition, teams successes often run in cycles, essentially down to the opportunities lower ranked teams have to draft the most talented young players to their rosters.

As last years worst team the Carolina Panthers picked first and took a 248lb Quarterback from Auburn University, Cam Newton.  Newton arrived at the draft highly rated and highly thought of, hence his place in the 1^st round of talent to be selected.  The Quarterback position is one which requires leadership as well as extraordinary talent.  Newton had this in abundance in his years in a successful Auburn team and will hope to get his chance in the Panthers team sooner rather than later.

Over the past 14 years 11 Quarterbacks have been drafted as 1^st round picks.  From those eleven only a handful have gone on to be starters for their professional side.  The NFL offers extreme challenges to all players and the pressure on a young quarterbacks shoulders (despite all that padding!) can be great.  Much of Newtons success will be down, along with his undisputed talent, to the Linemen whose job is to protect the teams offensive ringmaster.

Possibly the most sought after players in the first round were Von Miller, a linebacker from Texas A&M, and AJ Green, a wide receiver from Georgia.  Miller ended up at Denver (he was in tears as his deal was announced – surely Denver isn’t that bad, despite the snow in Winter!) and Green in Cincinnati.  Both will be successes at their respective teams.  It is only hoped that all those drafted at all levels enjoy the rewards that their talents and perseverance have brought about. 

Just by signing a professional contract in one of the richest sports in the world is a life changing occurrence for any one of these young men and their families.  At the highest echelons players in the league earn hundreds of millions of dollars.  For many of these young men football has given them not only a college education but has secured their families futures.  It was noticeable just how proud those families were when watching their reactions throughout the weekends events.  I’ve not seen so many tears from grown men since Newcastle were relegated from the Premier League! 

Story of the first round, and the weekend, for me was the drafting of Danny Watson from Bayler College.  He was drafted 23^rd in the first round by Philadelphia.  He will be the oldest rookie when he arrives at pre-season training with the Eagles.  Watson is 26 years old.  The oldest first round choice in 30 years.  An ex firefighter from British Columbia he only played the US version of the game for the first time at Junior College having played rugby, among other sports, during his formative years. Having invited a large number of firefighters from both New York and Canada to the draft event, the crescendo of shouts of “Danny, Danny, Danny” was a joy to experience.

It's Squeaky Bum Time

Having complained last week that the Easter weekend decided little domestic football wise, the May Day Bank Holiday fixtures injected a small dose of life into the scene.

A lenient referee at Stamford Bridge and Aaron Ramsay at the Emirates sparked some life into the Premier League title race.  Chelsea’s win against Spurs, and Arsenals against Man Utd, mean that Chelsea visit Old Trafford on Sunday 3 points behind the long term leaders.  A win would take them above their rivals, on goal difference at least, and it will be theirs to lose.  A win for the home side will just about confirm their retaking of the title from the West London side.

All the teams at the bottom are still hopeful of a revival which will move them away from the bottom 3 spots, currently occupied by West Ham, Wigan and Wolves.  In 2 games time I would expect the picture to be clearer but the final day dramas which supporters all over the country look forward to may still be on the cards.

QPR, as expected, won promotion and the Championship title at Watford on Saturday with a strong performance which has become their trademark this season.  They are currently involved in their biggest game of the season though, with a Football League tribunal deliberating over the charges levied at them over the signing of Alejandro Faurlin.  An unfavourable decision could see the Hoops docked points which would put them in the play-offs or even back in the Championship for next season. 

If that were to happen, Norwich would be crowned Champions in their place.  The Canaries confirmed their own promotion to the Premier League with victory at Portsmouth on Monday night, just hours after Cardiffs own challenge failed with a devastating home defeat by mid-table Middlesbrough.  The Bluebirds are in the play-offs though, and depending on the outcome of the QPR hearing may be promoted without the need for the stress of the play-offs.  They’ll be pushed hard for their final league position by Swansea though.  The other contenders for the end of season lottery are Reading and Nottingham Forest (who should make it barring a heavy defeat by Crystal Palace, coupled with a win by Leeds away at the Champions).

At the bottom, Sheffield United and Scunthorpe will join Preston in League One next year after failing to get the results they needed at the weekend.

A Legend Departs - for now anyway 

On Saturday night the drama was more Blood, Guts and Glory than Glory, Glory Queens Park Rangers though as the Ultimate Fighting Championship arrived in Toronto for UFC 129.  Ring Announcer Bruce Buffer told us that “IT’S TIME!” and indeed it was.

The main event was the championship bout between

Georges St Pierre

and Jake Shields.  Eagerly awaited it comes as no surprise that the fight was a slight anti-climax.  From 30 seconds into the bout Shields looked like he was waiting to be finished by the usually supreme champion.  After a number of spinning leg kicks and overhead rights the challenger looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights of GSP’s shining UFC record.  In the third round he caught the Champion in the left eye which, hampered St Pierres vision from that point on.  Shields started the final round both amazed to still be in the fight and glimpsing a chance to win the contest, bringing the fight to the champion with jabs to that damaged left eye and nullifying the threat that the champion posed.  GSP finished as bruised and battered in the face as I’ve ever seen but won this battle on all three judges cards.     

The major action on the night happened on the under card though.  Among the usual one sided affairs and 45 second knockouts which come at all UFC events a couple of the bouts stood out.

Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture is one of the most eponymous names in the UFC along with the likes of Georges St Pierre and Chuck Liddell.  In Toronto on Saturday Couture was undone by a second round jumping front kick to the face by Lyoto Machida.  A devastating blow to Couture and as soon as the kick landed The Natural was laid out flat on the Octagon floor.  For Couture it was ione too many defeats and he announced his retirement immediately after the fight.  But legends like Him do not disappear and only time will tell whether it is the last we see of him in the Octagon.

The most brutal fight of the night, a title bout at 145 lb over “FIVE, FIVE MINUTE ROUNDS” (Thanks Bruce) was between the holder Jose Aldo and challenger Mark Hominick.  A brutal, bloody battle between two fighters at the top of their games ended with Hominick suffering from a grotesque swelling to the left side of his forehead which for a time gave the impression that he had 2 heads, a la Zaphod from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.  Sheer determination from the challenger kept him in the fight but Aldo’s class told, as it usually does on these occasions and he won the fight easily on points.

55,000 people watched the action live in Canada which is a phenomenal amount of people for any sporting event.  Large screens erected around the arena gave them a super view of the despair of Couture, the spilt blood on the canvas and, of course, that swollen head of Hominick.  The UFC TV producers aren’t afraid of showing numerous replays from numerous angles and its no wonder that Mixed Martial Arts in all its forms is becoming one of the fastest growing spectator sports in the World.

It’s a sport which although bloody and violent is totally, totally watchable.  The protagonists in each bout show incredible craft and technique demonstrating the months of hard training that go into each contest and literally put their bodies on the line when they step into the Octagon.  They deserve credit for their commitment to the cause.  Over the time I have watched the sport I can recall only a few occasions where total respect has not been paid by one fighter to the other at the end of the match which in my mind shows that all appreciate the endeavours of their opponents.

If the 55,000 odd people who attend the Premier Leagues big game on Sunday see as much passion and determinations from the ‘gladiators’ in that arena they’ll have done well.

And Finally...

No Sports column/blog this week can pass without mentioning the sad loss to the World of Henry Cooper.  Our 'Enery died this week and will be greatly missed by the boxing and wider fraternities.  Ever a gentleman who worked tirelessly raising money for various charities during and since his retirement from boxing.  His legendary fight with Cassius Clay was before my time but how different might his life had been had the bell not saved Clay at the end of that round or if he had stronger scar tissue around that eye. 

A true British sporting hero.  RIP Henry.

Next Week?

The QPR result and fallout; that big game at Old Trafford; Formula One in Turkey; and DeGale v Groves (see above on the respect issue at the end of their battle)