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 !!