PL: Season Review: Manchester United

Retaining the Premier League, playing attractive attacking football all the way and possessing some of the best players around. A great season could still get even better for Manchester United.


We can all look back and laugh at most pundits suggestions that Rooney and Tevez couldn't play up front together. They were 'too similar' apparently. The first three game of the season added ammunition to these claims as United failed to win. Slowly but surely they found their form, the catalyst behind this probably being Cristiano Ronaldo. After the season he had last year, you would be forgiven for thinking: how can he follow this? Well 41 goals in all competitions answered that question emphatically. It's not just been up front that United have excelled. Rio Ferdinand deserves special mention, he's had the same impact at the back as Ronaldo has up front. Vidic, Evra and Brown have also contributed to a rock solid back four that has conceded the least amount of goals in the league. The season doesn't end there for Sir Alex Ferguson and his men either. The small matter of facing rivals Chelsea in the first ever all English Champions League Final. Finally Paul Scholes has the opportunity to win that elusive European medal, but Chelsea will be desperate to end the season with silverware. As long as it's better than last season's FA Cup Final between the two sides....


So what's stopping United from making it a hat-trick of consecutive titles? Constant rumours surround Cristiano Ronaldo's future, but they aren't exactly rich in substance. Still Ferguson looks set to delve into the transfer market again this summer. A striker is most likely top of his list, with Louis Saha making Darren Anderton look a perfect bill of health some backup and competition for Rooney and Tevez is needed. Apart from that it's hard to find an area on the pitch that United are lacking in. The midfield is packed with players each offering their own unique talents, promising youngsters like Gerard Pique are making their way into the first team defence and Ben Foster is set to stake a claim for Edwin van der Sar's position between the sticks. You have to say it's going to take a pretty special team to knock United off the top next year.

Player Of The Season: Cristiano Ronaldo

PL: Season Review: Manchester City

Everyone would agree it's been a good season for Sven Goran Eriksson and his side. Everyone except Thaksin Shinawatra of course. Something tells me it's going to be an eventful summer at Manchester City.


A busy summer saw new ownership (Shinawatra), a new manager (Eriksson) and new players. The likes of Elano and Martin Petrov have proved very shrewd buys, some others have been less successful (the recently departed Rolando Bianchi being at the top of that list). Just three games into the season and Sven was being hailed as the new messiah on Eastlands after beating arch rivals Manchester United 1-0. The momentum didn't stop there, at the end of the calender year City were still unbeaten at home in the league and battling for a Champions League spot. Unfortunately their season started to burn-out from the start of 2008, ending in an embarrasing 8-1 defeat at Middlesbrough. Shinawatra has made no secret of his disappointment of the team's drop in form, and it seems Eriksson is going to bore the brunt for the team's failings. Understandably City fans are outraged they could be losing the best thing to happen to their club in years, and are hoping Sven can be persuaded to stay. The only thing known for sure is that Shinawatra will have the final say in the matter, and that could spell doom for Sven.


So what needs to happen to ensure an improved season for the Citizens? It's paramount Sven stays. He has a proven track record in domestic management, and achieved Shinawatra's aim of a top half finish this season. He's blended youngsters like Nedum Onouha and Stephen Ireland into the team well, mixing them with more experienced players like Elano and Petrov. Bringing in a different manager would mean a transition season, and would Shinawatra have the patience for that? In terms of the playing squad, a right-winger would be an useful addition to give the same width Petrov does on the left. And question marks remain over Benjani, and whether he is capable of getting 20 goals a season. The biggest signing for City, and their fans, would undoubtedly be the news Sven Goran Eriksson will still be in charge come August.

Player Of The Season: Richard Dunne

PL: Weekend Roundup

What an end to an incredible season! Starting at the top, Manchester United sealed their tenth Premier League title with a two goal win at Wigan. Challengers Chelsea could only manage a draw at home to Bolton, in a result that ended up meaningless.

At the bottom, congratulations to Fulham, who pulled off the great escape thanks to Danny Murphy's header against Portsmouth. That result meant irrespective of what Reading and Birmingham could achieve, they would be relegated. Even so both teams won and scored four against Derby and Blackburn respectively.

The other issue yet to be resolved was the UEFA Cup spot. Everton claimed it with victory over Newcastle, meaning Aston Villa had to settle for a InterToto Cup place after drawing at West Ham.

In the day's meaningless games, Tottenham succumbed to a home defeat to Liverpool, while Sunderland also lost at home to Arsenal. If Sven does leave Manchester City this summer, he left on the back of an astonishing 8-1 thumping inflicted by Middlesbrough.

If you think the end of the Premiership spells the end of Blog Of The Season, think again! With the FA Cup Final, Champions League Final and the Championship Play-Offs still be contested, there's a lot more football to be played. And I'll be here to follow it!

PL: Season Review: Liverpool

Yet again the season where a title challenge was finally going to be mounted has ended in failure. It's been another one of those years for Liverpool.


A big summer of spending under new foreign ownership was supposed to herald a new era for Liverpool Football Club. With a new stadium on the horizon, everything's in place for a Premier League triumph. No trophy on the field, and all kinds of problem off it, Liverpool haven't progressed at all. Heartbreak in the Champions League Semi Final to Chelsea was the closest they came to success, following a shocking 2-1 defeat to minnows Barnsley in the FA Cup. In the league, again it was a case of failing to beat the rest of the 'Big Four.' Any title aspirations were ended in December following defeats to Chelsea and Manchester United. Rafa Benitez's rotation policy also came under fire, following dropped points at home to the likes of Birmingham and Wigan. Of course the absolute turmoil off the pitch hasn't helped Benitez at all. Tom Hicks and George Gillett, for supposedly shrewd and experienced businessmen, should know a million times better than to publicise their board room struggles in the press. At least Champions League football is guaranteed for next season, and again summer spending will be key to where the club go next.


So what is needed to make Liverpool genuine title challengers? The spine of the side is there. Reina, Carragher, Mascherano, Gerrard and Torres are very good players and provide a solid backbone to Benitez's plans. It's a matter of now finding the right players to play alongside them. A right winger is a priority, with the likes of David Bentley being mentioned. Another Englishman being strongly linked with a move to Anfield is Gareth Barry, however whether Martin O'Neill will let him go or not is another question. More strength in depth is the main thing, and a summer clearout is expected. The owners have to grow up as well, show their support to the manager with funding and get the fans back on their side. Maybe then, we could see Liverpool back at the top.

Player Of The Season: Fernando Torres

PL: Weekend Predictions

Birmingham City 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
Chelsea 3-0 Bolton Wanderers
Derby County 2-2 Reading
Everton 3-2 Newcastle United
Middlesbrough 2-1 Manchester City
Portsmouth 2-0 Fulham
Sunderland 2-1 Arsenal
Tottenham Hotpsur 2-1 Liverpool
West Ham United 2-2 Aston Villa
Wigan Athletic 1-2 Manchester United

Where is the Premier League trophy heading? Chelsea should have no problem rolling over Bolton, so it's down to Manchester United's visit to Wigan. I think there's too much importance on the game for United to slip up, so I anticipate a tenth league triumph for Sir Alex Ferguson.

Down at the bottom, Birmingham will do their bit by beating Blackburn at home. Reading will end up frustrated at Derby and earn a draw that won't be enough to keep them in the league. Portsmouth will point towards Wembley with a win over Fulham, which will mean Roy Hodgson suffering relegation, and Alex McLeish leading the celebrations at St Andrews.

In the other games, Everton will seal fifth spot with a win over Newcastle. Closest challengers Aston Villa will have to settle for a point at West Ham, while Middlesbrough should end their season on a high with a win over Manchester City, in what could be Sven's last game in charge. Arsenal and Liverpool have nothing to play for and that will show, as I expect both to ring the changes and end up losing against Sunderland and Tottenham respectively.

Last week I again got only FIVE correct results and ONE perfect score. Let's hope I can end the season on a high!

Need a second opinion? Check out what Mark Lawrenson thinks.

PL: Season Review: Fulham

As the club prepares for one of the biggest games of its history, we look back on the season so far for Fulham.


Yet another club who axed their manager mid-way through the season, the responsibility of keeping the football club in the Premier League was passed on to Roy Hodgson after Lawrie Sanchez's sacking. About a month ago Fulham were written off as relegation certainties, who had failed to win away from home all season. Now with one game left, Fulham are a point above the relegation zone, knowing a win away to Portsmouth on Sunday will secure top flight at Craven Cottage for at least another season. The season didn't start too great for the club, influential striker Brian McBride was ruled out with a knee injury he only came back from a few months ago. Jimmy Bullard was still out injured, and Sanchez's summer signings were hardly setting the world alight. Following Sanchez's dismissal, Roy Hodgson was the surprise choice as manager. It took a while to get results, but with the combination of McBride and Bullard back to full fitness the real Fulham are starting to come out of their shell. Success or failure will be determined by whether they stay up or not.


So what do Fulham need to do to avoid another season of struggle? Providing they stay up, it is vital they keep hold of Bullard and McBride. Bullard has been linked with a move away, while McBride is stalling over a new contract. If they can be convinced to stay, Hodgson needs to get rid of the deadwood and start shaping the squad how he wants it. A new central defender would be high on the list, with Zat Knight never really replaced at the back. Another goal threat to take the pressure off McBride would also be useful, with neither David Healy or Dimonsay Kamara delivering enough this season. If they go down, it's going to be a challenge to keep the nucleus of the team together, and finance may mean selling most of the squad. It's a vital weekend for everyone connected with Fulham Football Club.

Player Of The Season: Jimmy Bullard

PL: Is Any Manager Safe?

One man has transformed last season's relegation battlers into a top ten side. He has also brought attacking football to a team that scored only ten home goals last season. He has brought in an array of talent, and given the side's supporters something to cheer about at long last. And it looks as though he's going to be sacked.


Sven-Goran Eriksson has done a great job at Manchester City. There cannot be any argument with that statement. Yes, they have dipped in the second half of the season, but they were never going to qualify for the Champions League. Like all managers in their first season, Sven is still learning about his squad and his new signings are still settling into England. He's made some good signings (Elano, Petrov), a few that haven't worked out (Bianchi) but all in all, he's been a success at the City of Manchester Stadium. The fans want him to stay, but that won't be enough. So why on earth is he getting the sack?!?!?


Only Thaksin Shinawatra can answer that. 'Big Phil' Scolari is being lined up as a replacement, a man who has never managed in English football. He will need time, and won't achieve anything more than Sven did this season. It's madness to think Eriksson, a man with a proven track record in domestic leagues, isn't good enough to take Manchester City forward. Stability is an over-used word, but it's what football clubs need in order to progress in the long-term. Look at Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, and where their clubs were when they took over. Look at their clubs now. Stability is key.

Shinawatra (or Frank as he's known to the City fans) should take a leaf out of Randy Lerner's book. He's kept out of the spotlight, allowing Martin O'Neill to get on with things at Villa. They finished 11th in O'Neill's first season, now they are fighting for European places and improving all the time. There's no reason why Sven can't do the same. Unfortunately, he won't get the chance.