Since the inception of the Premier League back in 1992, races to the finish line have been in short supply. On only three occasions has the title been decided on the final day of the season however if Manchester United and Chelsea can hold their respective nerves the destination of this years crown will not be know until May 11th.

With United beating Arsenal at Old Trafford in yet another classic, they hold all the aces as they strive for Premiership title number ten but to right off the Blues would be an act of folly as April 26th and a date a Stamford Bridge looms.

With four and five matches left for Sir Alex Ferguson and Avram Grant respectively lets take a look back at the five closest finishes in Premiership history and see if there are any lessons to be learned.

02/03: Champions Manchester United 5 points ahead of Arsenal

United finished the season in style, romping home against Blackburn, Spurs, Charlton and Everton. The title was effectively won the game before the Blackburn encounter though against…you guessed it, Arsenal. A thriller at Highbury saw Thierry Henry bag a brace, Sol Campbell sent off and the ageless, Ryan Giggs scoring the decisive equalizer.

98/99: Champions Manchester United 1 point ahead of Arsenal

The year of the treble and United simply wouldn’t be denied. A draw against big time rivals, Liverpool, made things scary as Arsenal beat Derby and then Spurs however when the Gunners choked against Leeds, United were ready to pounce – and yet if Spurs had not been beaten at Old Trafford thanks to a David Beckham special, Arsenal would’ve gone back-to-back.

97/98: Champions Arsenal 1 point ahead of Manchester United

With only a one-point gap the race to the title in 97/98 wasn’t as close as it sounds. In reality Arsenal won the title way back of March 14th beating United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Consecutive wins against Derby and Everton were offset by losses to Liverpool and Aston Villa. United did push Arsene Wenger hard winning five of their last seven but they couldn’t recover.

95/96: Champions Manchester United 4 points ahead of Newcastle

This was the year of Kevin Keegan’s infamous ‘I’d luv it’ meltdown. Newcastle were the favorites in February/March but United ground ‘em down – and once Ferguson’s front runners got their noses in the lead Leeds, Forest, Middlesbrough and much to Fergie’s delight, Liverpool, were nothing but window dressing for Premiership title number three.

94/95: Champions Blackburn 1 point ahead of Manchester United

The best Premiership race ever as last day nerves got the best of both Blackburn and United. A Kenny Dalglish inspired Rovers knew a win at Anfield and the crown would be theirs but they completely bottled it and lost 2-1 leaving the door wide open for the Red Devils who were at Upton Park. With news filtering through that Blackburn were losing on Merseyside, United, threw everything at West Ham but in a match that will go down in lore, they couldn’t find a winner as Andy Cole missed a last minute sitter that would’ve won the game and sent the title to the Theater of Dreams.

And so to the run-in for the 07/08 campaign…

United face Blackburn, a team that has had their number at Ewood Park, Chelsea at the Bridge, West Ham who beat them at Upton Park earlier this season and the punching bag of Wigan

Chelsea meets Wigan tomorrow, Everton on Thursday and with two wins, we’ll be tied with United at the top of the table setting up that juicy showdown on the 26th April. They finish with Newcastle and Bolton.

As many of you have commented, participating in the prediction game is a mugs business however I backed United at the beginning of the season and I’m not going to get of them now. If the results go the way I half expect them too, Sir Alex Ferguson will claim Premiership title number ten by the slimmest of margins – goal difference – now that’s a race!

Until then, I’ll see you at the far post.

When is enough not enough – how about three Premier League titles (’98, ’02 & ’04) and four FA Cups (’98, ’02, ’03 & ’05). For a perfectionist such as Arsene Wenger you can bet that it’s never enough. If Arsenal fails to advance against Liverpool on Tuesday night in the Champions League the ache will felt deeply as it will be three years since he last tasted that perfection in the form of silverware.

Three years is the longest trophy drought for the man known as the Professor since he arrived on English shores and took the reigns of Arsenal FC in 1996. In those days he was known as ‘Arsene Who’, no one calls him that anymore but one can’t help but wonder whether the three time Manager of the Year is beginning to lose his alchemists touch in the winning department?

You’ll find no argument from me regarding the quality of football that the Gunners have sometimes displayed this year. On occasions its reach a height that I’ve never seen before. The fluency, movement and sheer exhilaration of 100mph football being played flawlessly would take your breath away and it looked for much of the season that his boldness and belief in his kids would be rewarded – but then the lights were turned out.

Some may ask ‘where it all went wrong’ while others may say that this grand experiment in re-inventing football is a year ahead of schedule and that there were bound to be the odd hic-cup along the way.

If we look back at the campaign, Wenger’s decision not to aggressively enter the transfer market in July ’07 and in January ‘08 initially looked sound as they’ve topped the table for a total of 23 weeks. He only spent $16 million on Bakari Sagna and Lassana Diarra (who later moved to Portsmouth at a profit!) but its money that was not spent that looks like eventually hurting him.

I like many pundits thought that the squad while bursting with fresh, new and exciting talent was dangerously paper thin and above all lacked a ‘big’ personality. This has been borne out since the strange 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Manchester United in the 5th round of the FA Cup. What was once fast and stylish has now become slow and ponderous – it’s as though they’re punch drunk.

You can point to the win in Milan, which was epic, as was the comeback against Bolton last weekend but if you swing enough you’re bound to eventually connect. What’s missing is the stinging jab that’s landed over and over again.

Of course ‘Big’ personalities cost ‘big’ money and although Patrick Vieira, Sol Campbell and Thierry Henry were all past their ‘sell-by-dates’ when Wenger wisely moved them out, their charisma and strength of personality has not been replaced. It wasn’t that he didn’t have a war chest though and when you consider that his three main challengers have spent in excess of $200 million since 2007, you have to wonder why the Emirates purse has been kept stashed firmly in his codpiece. For sure the players that have replaced the three ‘Highbury Titans’ are fitter and younger but it takes years to own a dressing room. When you look at the current behavior of club skipper, William Gallas, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.

Supposedly Henry had too much of a say in the dressing room and with his diminishing skills was the reason that he was let go. Fair enough Arsene, I say but who is in charge now?

I know Wenger takes great pleasure in developing talent and his record is second to none but I can’t help but wonder whether he’s letting his ego get in the way of signing someone to boss his club where it matters – out on the park.

If you believe that Cesc Fabregas or Mathieu Flamini are the future, you’re correct, but they are not the complete finished article…yet!

At the end of the day Arsene Wenger wants to be in charge – he is in charge – he rules Arsenal and the Emirates, however, he needs to make available some space on his throne - for someone who is going to cost him a lot of money - and who will arrive in North London with an ego as big as his if not bigger.

Currently there is no danger of Wenger getting fired, in fact uttering that phrase would be considered sacrilegious but with football increasingly becoming more about the bottom line, Arsene Wenger and Arsenal Football Club need to start winning trophies again.

Until then, I’ll see you at the far post.

‘Grand Slam Sunday’ has emphatically established one simple fact – the ‘Big 4’ should now be renamed because certain memberships have been revoked. Lets now call it what it really is…the ‘Big 2’ – Arsenal and Liverpool it’s time to reapply.

Back on December 12th 2007 I did the first part of the A-Z of ‘GSS’ – here is part II.

Arsene Wenger you’ve been penny wise & pound foolish and now its cost you the title. I told you to buy in the January sales. You may get deals in the summer but you’ll have won nowt when it counts. What a time to have your worst run in over a decade?

Balls & bottle because Avram Grant finally demonstrated that he may have both when it matters.

Cristiano Ronaldo is putting together the finest season I can remember. Thirty-four goals is ridiculous and fifty cannot be ruled out. When one speaks of FIFA World Player of the Year, there can be only one serious candidate.

Didier Drogba maybe playing his last season in English football after sulking through most of the campaign but the man is still one of the deadliest strikers in the world when it comes to showing up in the ‘big’ games. Are you listening Adebayor!

Emmanuel Eboue you’re amazingly talent with a golden future but when are you going to grow up. Pouting, jawing and acting like a spoilt brat isn’t going to win you matches.

Frank Lamaprd you’re so overrated.

Gerrard, Steven you’re so overrated.

Home field advantage is massive.

Idiotic behavior is unacceptable at the highest level especially in matches that decide titles. What Javier Mascherano was playing at is anyone’s guess but if I was to offer an explanation ‘energy’ drinks must surely be the culprit because his mouth was working way faster than his brain.

Jamie Carragher has been a magnificent servant to Liverpool but you’ll need a mechanical digger to find him now. Wayne Rooney practically corkscrewed him down to China during one second half mazy.

Kalou, Salomon what a swing and a miss. Wow…what a sitter. What was missing…a silver platter, napkins, and waiters?

Liverpool Football club has now played almost 12 hours of Premiership football without scoring against Manchester United. When you wonder why it’s been eighteen years since you’ve had a sniff of domestic league glory…wonder no more!

Michael Carrick you’ll be truly appreciated by the OT faithful one day. I thought you were superb.

Nani, nice, nimble and naughty celebration after a sensational finish. I thought SAF had banned you from impersonating a gymnast.

Old Trafford has been a haven for the ‘prawn’ sandwich brigade for most of the campaign – it was positively exhilarating to hear it get back to ‘meat-and-potatoes’ mode on Sunday.

Pepe Reina you were United’s best player…Zoinks!

Questions that were answered: Chelsea just simply refuse to lose at fortress Stamford Bridge- that’s now 78 matches without defeat in domestic competition. United have had Liverpool’s number since 1993 – that’s a lifetime in football.

Rooney, Wayne you should’ve scored a couple but your all-round performance was a reminder that you are England’s greatest hope and most outstanding natural talent.

Steve Bennett you’re either a brave man or one big spoiler. I thought the first yellow card to Mascherano was well deserved for his late challenge on Paul Scholes - you’ve got to keep a lid on these pressure cookers before they explode. It then looked like the Argentine started badgering you, leading to the second yellow card as he sprinted 20-30 yards to get in your face. I guess we’ll never know what he said but I sure hope it was worth the red.

Ten…“Manchester United have all but wrapped up Premiership title number ten. Who wants to argue that?” If any of you do have a beef with that statement, come on down the FSC studios and I’ll buy you a snack from our deluxe vending machine and explain why you’re out to lunch.

Understated brilliance is the hallmark of Ricardo Carvalho. Forget the loss of John Terry and Petr Cech. When this man is out, the Blues are half a team.

Vidic, Nemanja reminds me of Jaap Stam with his beastly presence in the heart of the United back four. Ronaldo make take the plaudits but it’s the Serbian that provides the defensive steel making

Wesley Brown, so you think you deserve more money from the Old Trafford printing press? Putting one past the Scousers will certainly help loosen those purse strings...maybe!

X-cuses from the Professor and the Rotator are beginning to ring hollow because the Frenchman and the Spaniard are both brilliant coaches. The two men will meet three times over the next few weeks. Only one will have the opportunity to move on and possibly save their seasons. Who will it be…stay tuned?

Yesterday reminded me that the gap between the ‘haves and have nots’ is growing. We must find a way to redress the balance or the exclusive club that United and Chelsea have created will never accept new membership.

Zzzzzz’s, not a chance this time around. ‘GSS’ before Christmas was a snoozer while this was the real deal.

Until then, GTBI is retired and I’ll meet you at the far post.

Grand Slam Sunday, Fantastic Four, Judgment Day, whatever you want to call it, December 16th is a four-and-a-half hour period…THAT I WANT BACK!

My heart told me that Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea would play the kind of fantasy football we saw from the likes of AC Milan, Barcelona, Bremen and…Wigan.

My brain told me it would be cagey and short of entertainment.

Guess whom I’m listening to next time especially as the West Coast kick off for the Anfield rascal was 5.30am.

Here is the A – Z critique of the finest that England has to offer.

Arsene Wenger couldn’t beat Jose Mourinho with a big stick and a large bulls-eye attached to the ‘Special One’s’ posterior but show him Avram Grant and Chelsea become a 3 point ATM.

Benitez...you getting sacked in the morning, sacked in the morning, you’re getting sacked in the morning.

Capello…good luck mate, you’ll need it.

Defense…wins matches. If you don’t believe me, ask coaches in the NFL.

Edwin van der Sar…if I spent as much time as you waving at my mum, I’d be out of a job. The same goes for you Petr Cech.

Frank Lampard…you are so overrated.

Gerrard, Steven…you are so overrated.

Highbury, you’re missed but the Emirates packed for a night match is pure theater. You could move this fixture to the West End and it would still snap, crackle and pop.

Ian Wright, you’ve taught your son SWP well, but blimey, the lad couldn’t finish a fish and chip supper. My boy, right, could’ve tucked that 75th minute sitter away.

John Terry, just because you’re the England captain does not give you the right to act like ‘Billy big boots’. I’m certainly not saying you deserved to get crocked but it looked from my standpoint that you had it coming.

Kuyt, the Dirk kind. Endeavor, commitment, hustle are great words if you’re a player trying to impress Steve McClaren but when a match is screaming out for class, you’re well out of your league.

Liverpool…eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years, eighteen years…sorry did I say eighteen years...and counting.

Manchester United own Rafa Benitez. In the Barclays Premier League the record is this. Played 7, Won 6, tied 1.

Nemanja Vidic is the most commanding center back in England.

Owen Hargreaves may have cost Sir Alex Ferguson an arm and a leg but for every minute he plays take another ton of the hefty $34 million price tag.

Patrice Evra is the most exciting left back in England.

Questions were answered on Sunday and the grades are in. United and Arsenal get ‘A’s. Chelsea and Liverpool a big fat ‘F’.

Riise, John Arne, you used to be the darling of the Kop but I’ll wager a weeks wages that come January you’ll be surplus to requirements…why…try beating the first defender with a cross for once.

Shevchenko, Andriy. If we want players who can’t finish in the MLS we’ll stick with the lads we’ve got at 1/100th of the price.

Tevez, Carlos…form is fleeting, class is permanent. Have any of you ever seen a forward pairing (Tevez & Rooney) that works as hard as these two do on both sides of the ball.

Ugly…but three points is three points.

Van Persie, the Robin kind. I know you’re a little rusty but c’mon. How many ways do you want to beat a keeper before you score?

William Gallas, you know how to bite the hand that used to feed you however I suggest you find a new barber, you’re current one seems to be blind.

X-factor…just how important will that 5/6 point gap between the top two be at the end of the season.

Y…are we always led to believe that big four clashes will be epic.

Zero chance that either Liverpool or Chelsea will win the Premier League this season.
I’m not really that bitter about Sunday but wouldn’t it be nice, if just for once, the headline on foxsports.com was ‘wow…football’ and not the gridiron kind.

Until then, get the beers in.

Arsenal Football Club should be thrown out of the Premier League with immediate effect!

 

Firstly, manager Arsene Wenger doesn’t play English players and secondly they don’t play English football - perhaps, La Liga or the Serie A would be a more suitable environment for the finest football I’ve seen this season. Actually, on further reflection Spain and Italy don’t really deserves this dreamy stuff either.

 

 How about this…you and me start a mass petition and persuade Phil Anschutz, Randy Lerner, Tom Hicks, George Gillette or the Glazers to stump up the cash and bring the whole club, lock, stock, the bloody lot right here to the US of A. For those of you that remember the Lakers and ‘Showtime,’ forget that because it looks pedestrian when you compare it to Arsene and his Roadrunners…peep, peep!

 

One could argue that Tottenham is a team that is looking for an identity however this was the North London derby and regardless of their mental state the fans would supply the needed energy for this clash.  This makes the Gunners performance even more impressive as they went to hostile territory and simply blew Spurs away despite falling behind early on.

 

The statistics tell a story of domination as Arsenal took 16 shots of which 10 were on target forcing Tottenham goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, into one spectacular save after another. The possession percentage was ridiculous as Wenger’s kids controlled 59% of the game and they showed steel as well booting the home side in the air on 22 occasions. No wonder Wenger was moved to say “there is something in this side; quality, of course, but also a mental strength’.

 

It’s interesting to me that throughout Wenger’s post match interview, he constantly referred back to this ‘mental strength’ because before the season began I think that was an aspect of the team that was being questioned. With the departure of Thierry Henry to Barcelona, there was a void as the Frenchman was the talisman and undisputed spiritual leader. That void had also shown itself last season whenever Henry was missing which unfortunately for the Gunners was frequently. Now after a few matches it’s Thierry who as they sit unbeaten at the top of the table - and to think this has been achieved with a suspect goalkeeper in the form of Jens Lehmann makes it all the more remarkable.

 

I believe that the Professor is in the process of laying the foundations for his third great steam after the 97/98 double winners and of course the ‘Invincibles’ – and this one could be the best of the lot if it sticks together for a few more years.

 

There is a sparkle within the squad that was missing in the waning months of the Henry era and according to a conversation I had with ex-Arsenal great, Lee Dixon, the Frenchman carried far too much power within the dressing room. Without that powerful personality casting a shadow, Cesc Fabregas has simply taken his game to a new level while Alexander Hleb and Tomas Rosicky have a year of Premiership football under their belts. Up front, Robin van Persie now knows that he is the ‘man’ and Emmanuel Adebayor despite still missing chances has a hungry looked that he never previously possessed. And at the back, Gael Clichy looks better than ever alongside the super consistent Kolo Toure and new signing Bakari Sagna.

 

When you look for a possible weakness within the squad I think there are two main concerns. One may be a possible lack of depth, which was the Achilles heel during the last campaign and I’m not entirely convinced that this has been properly addressed either. Two is the desire to score pretty goals instead of just lashing it into the back of the net.

 

The key for Wenger and any team for that matter on topic number one are to avoid injuries at crucial times -will the Premiership gods smile on them?

 

Question number two is the essence of Arsene Wenger and is something that we’ll endlessly debate – sexy football versus effective football.

 

For the sake of football and the pleasure that Wenger’s team gives us let’s hope that injuries do not become a factor and that they’ll always play the sexy way.

 

Until then, get the beers in.

Nacogdoches, Texas is a mighty long way from Craven Cottage…and the oval ball maybe slightly more popular than the round ball - but rest assured, the 30,000 odd residents were probably ‘hooting and a hollering’ while line dancing down Main Street after a stunning performance by their favorite son, Clint Dempsey on Saturday.

Just how good was ‘Deuce’ against Spurs – well, in my humble opinion, he played the finest game an American outfield player has ever produced in the Premiership as he literally carried the Cottagers on his shoulders to a surprising and dramatic late draw.

One goal, an unstoppable thumping header plus two assists are his stats over ninety minutes but they don’t even come close to telling the true story. This was a performance that had energy, determination, class, trickery and most importantly a never-say-die attitude stamped all over it. I’m sure his club captain and fellow American, Brian McBride, was beaming from ear-to-ear like a proud Papa back here in the States as he rehabs his knee.

For sure, we’ve seen John Harkes, Claudio Reyna and McBride amongst others light up the green beige before but I don’t believe they’ve ever carried their side the way Dempsey did. It was almost ‘Maradona-esque’ circa World Cup 1986, which is ironic as the Argentine great was a favorite of Dempsey. If you’re going to model yourself on someone though why not pick the greatest player that ever lived.

Obviously I’m not putting Dempsey in that same bracket, however you can see certain similarities. The American has the confidence to take opponents on one-versus-one; he’s always prepared to try something different, he’s aggressive, he’s brave as a lion and he’s a team player - qualities that Maradona possessed in ####s.

I first noticed Dempsey playing for the national team in 2005 against Colombia. There were probably about seven thousand of us inside Titan Stadium, Fullerton but to be honest it felt more like one man and his dog down at the local park. Thinking back now perhaps that’s how Dempsey approached his first international start because he played with a street attitude – an attitude of no fear. The nerves you so often see from international rookies was non-existent – he believed that he belonged. His old New England Revolution colleague, Steve Ralston, may have taken the man-of-the-match award that night but it was Dempsey’s performance that made the biggest impression on me.

Strangely though, I don’t think his old national team boss, Bruce Arena quite fancied him. His playing time under Arena was spotty and rumors of a spiky temperament began to surface. Well, here’s a news flash, you need attitude, you need to be cocky, you need to feel that you’re the best if you’re going to make it to the top of the cut throat world that is top flight football. In a way Dempsey reminds me of his namesake, Clint Mathis, another highly skilled renegade, which could explain Arena’s reluctance to trust the Texan. Current USMNT boss, Bob Bradley hasn’t displayed that reticence yet and after Landon Donovan, Dempsey seems to be the next name penciled in on the team sheet and long may it continue.

The question for me is just how far does he want to take himself. The Premier League, week in and week out is the biggest showcase in the world but will a relegation dogfight be the best place to display his wares. BTW that’s not a knock on Fulham, just a fact because if they can’t start defending that’s the way the season will go down. When the pressure is on teams tend to play safety-first football and I’m afraid that Lawrie Sanchez may begin to see him as a luxury.

The perfect situation and one I believe that Dempsey will excel in is to mimic the displays of another Argentine great. Carlos Tevez, almost single-handedly carried Fulham’s London neighbors, West Ham, to Premiership safety last year. Dempsey has the ability to produce the goods as Tevez did - and who in American soccer wouldn’t be line dancing if the kid from Nacogdoches gets a dream move to one of the ‘big four’. Yes folks…he could be that good.

Until then, get the beers in.

Wow…we’re only nine days into the 07/08 campaign and the men in black have already taken center stage!

According to conventional wisdom, a good referee should be seen but rarely heard - obviously Rob Styles, Alan Wiley and Andy D’Urso didn’t get that memo. At Anfield, Ewood Park and Craven Cottage they had their megaphones turned up to number eleven (one louder than ten) along with their best ‘don’t you look at me’ frowns this weekend as controversy raged.

Let’s take a quick look at this bumbling trio, review their respective matches and perhaps come up with a solution before anarchy reigns.

Rob Styles, who increasingly reminds me of the public school master and ex-referee, David Ellary, had an absolute rascal on Merseyside. Firstly he let the players impose their will over him. Secondly he gave the worst penalty decision I’ve seen in years against Steve Finnan. Thirdly he booked, Michael Essien twice but didn’t show him the red card and lastly he also managed to caution a further eight players in ninety minutes of rather tame play considering the history of the two teams.

Over at Blackburn, Alan Wiley also had his date book out with eight players cautioned along with Ryan Nelsen seeing red. Admittedly the Kiwi deserved to go but once again you couldn’t help but feel that the man in the middle was not in control of the proceedings. Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, claimed that Rovers waged ‘violence’ on his charges, which in typical Wenger fashion was way over the top however, Wiley needed to take control of this contest from the first whistle. Like the Liverpool/Chelsea encounter this match up had plenty of ‘previous’ and needed a firm early hand.

The biggest mistake of the weekend though goes to Andy D’Urso as Fulham lost to Middlesbrough. Subbing in for Lee Mason who limped of after seven minutes, D’Urso failed to spot, Boro goalkeeper, Mark Schwarzer cuddling the ball whilst in the back of the net denying Fulham and David Healy a last gasp equalizer. I suppose we can’t pin all the blame on D’Urso who did consult with his assistant but even from a terrible TV angle it was so obvious that the ball had crossed the line. It was Pedro Mendes versus Roy Carroll all over again (Man U v Spurs). When they tab up the points at the end of the season and Boro have plus two while Fulham have minus one, this basic error could be worth millions of dollars.

If we look at major sports from around the world nearly every one of them employs some form of video/graphic replay – not to change the game – but to help the officials make the right decision. In the States the NFL, NBA and NHL all use technology while cricket, rugby union/league and tennis have also joined the 21st century. That leaves two major sports with their heads stuck in the ground…football and baseball. Two sports steeped in tradition and yet unable to grasp the simple fact, that people make mistakes. If you can identify why they refuse to acknowledge this…I’m all ears.

Let’s end 99% of the arguments once and for all and employ video replays in the following circumstances when there is and this is the important phrase…and ‘element of doubt’: 1) penalties 2) red/yellow cards 3) balls crossing the goal line. So what if it stops the game for a minute or two. At least the decision will be correct and just think of the drama as you await the outcome from the video referee.

Another possible solution is to employ two referees who patrol one half of the pitch each. High schools in the US use this system as a money saving device for soccer (not paying two linesmen). With the riches of the Premier League another official is hardly going to dent the finances. This will allow referees to view different angles of the same incident and if they need to collaborate to get it right, so be it.

Look, at the end of the day the sport has become too difficult to officiate. The rules were established over 100 years ago when the players moved at a snail pace and the referees could keep up with the play. Now they fly around the field and obviously in a professional game attempt to gain an advantage wherever and whenever possible. Let’s do the likes of Styles, Wiley and D’Urso a favor. Give them another set of eyes so that when they come home after a hard day at the office, they can turn on their TV sets, smile contendly and view a job well done.

Until then, get the beers in and my thoughts are with Brian McBride for a speedy recovery.

Sven Goran Eriksson may not be everyone’s cup of tea when it came to coaching the English national team however his resume as a club coach is second to none. The Swede can proudly boast to being the only manager to have won domestic doubles in three different countries - his homeland of Sweden, Portugal and finally Italy.

The respective fans of IFK Gothenburg, Benfica and Lazio happen to think that the Sven is a genius and after cashing close to $30,000 a day from the English Football Association this past year for doing ‘####’ all, I’ve got to agree!

But now he’s back in football with the sleeping giant that is Manchester City. Despite myself, I’ve got to say that it’s good to see him return to the sidelines because there can be no doubt that he does bring that cool continental style to the Premiership that us English loudly denounce and yet at the same time secretly admire.

Thanks to the generosity of his highly controversial chairman, ex-Thai prime minister, Dr. Thaskin Shinawatra, Eriksson has been given a virtual blank check to remake a City side that disappointed in many areas last season – and he’s not been shy in spending lavishly but we’ll get to that in a moment.

What Sven has done is basically clean house and he’s done it by turning his back on the product that he’s worked closely with for the last five years…English players. Does the Swede know something we don’t…maybe?

Gone in double quick time from the City of Manchester Stadium are in no particular order, Trevor Sinclair, Stephen Jordan, Nicky Weaver, Joey Barton with Danny Mills and Paul Dickov soon to follow.

While coming into Manchester is a version of the United Nations. Geovanni (Brazil), Rolando Bianchi (Italian), Gelson Fernandes (Switzerland), Martin Petrov (Bulgarian), Javier Garrido (Spain), Vedran Corluka (Croatian), Elano (Brazil), and Valeri Bonjinov (Bulgarian) have all been seduced by the Swede and that in my view is a stunning message to English football!

Here is a man who had the cream of the English crop at his disposal but on three occasions he could only take the supposed ‘golden’ generation as far as quarterfinals. Who can doubt by these signings that he’s telling us that we’re just not very good? Judging by the results we saw at Upton Park I think it’s obvious that foreign players understand his method of coaching. This is a tough pill to #### but based on the ninety minutes I saw his cosmopolitan side play today, one that I may be forced to gulp down. Eight of the players who appeared at Upton Park on Saturday had never played Premiership football before and yet they spanked West Ham with a display of quality football.

For sure, one result does not make a season but it will certainly capture your attention especially when you think of the pressure the Swede was under. Rest assured the Upton Park press box was packed with jackals just waiting to feed on his carcass had he failed.

The same could be said for the City fans that initially weren’t keen on a failed and tarnished manager. Having spoken to a few City supporters recently though, they’re willing to forgive Sven his England follies if he can do the one thing that no City manager since 1976 has achieved…bring them a major trophy. With seventeen, that’s right, seventeen major club honors to his name, you’d be a fool to bet against him.

Eriksson has proven that he knows how to win at club level and he’s also proven that he is consistent at international level with those three consecutive last eight appearances. We slated him for not getting enough out of our players or bringing home the silverware but if City do win a trophy this year, he’ll deservedly have the last laugh.

Until then, get the beers in.

Every season, 20 Premiership clubs start level on points and for a single day we all believe that maybe, they each have a chance of glory. Then reality sets in and the big four start to pull away. They’re chased by the wannabe biggish other four. The six remaining wannabe, wannabes then look down their noses at the scrambling six. Those poor half dozen will fight it out for survival. It’s sort of like ‘Beyond the Thunderdome’, but instead of one man enters…one man leaves, it’s more like six teams enter…three teams leave.

So will someone gatecrash the big four - is there a pretentious wannabe thinking above their station - and just who will slug it out for the untold millions that is Premiership survival…? All will be revealed. (Last years finish in brackets)

20th Derby (Newly Promoted): When the bookies make you odds on favorite for the drop before a ball is even kicked even the most optimistic Ram must fear for the worst. Billy Davies will do well to last the season and he’ll rely heavily on Rob Earnshaw. The boy’s a born scorer but can he get the twenty plus needed to make life interesting at Pride Park – check back in May.

19th Wigan (17th): If you offered the Latics the same scenario as last season right now - a do-or-die match for Premiership survival they’d bite your hand off. There is a funk around the JJB that screams relegation. The fans aren’t interested, they can’t attract talent and their best players want away. No wonder Paul Jewell did a runner. It’s a shame he’s leaving his mate Chris Hutchinson to go down with the ship.

18th (16th) Fulham: Like a lot of pundits, I was a fan of Chris Coleman fan was sorry to see him sacked last year. Laurie Sanchez is the new man-in-charge however with a new gaffer, comes new ideas and I wonder if they will include the American trio of last seasons top scorer, Brian McBride, defender Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey. The Cottagers seem to have too much class to go down but don’t we say that about one team every campaign.

17th (Newly Promoted) Birmingham City: I’m glad to see the Blues back in the big time after a year slumming it in the Championship – not for their football mind – that’ll be horrible but their annual dust-ups with Villa are always worth watching. I think Steve Bruce has learnt his trade and he’ll make the Brummies very hard to beat. The question mark for me is goals. Having failed in their attempt to sign Egyptian hothead Mido, just who will get the twenty plus goals to ensure Birmingham survive.

16th (7th) Bolton: From Champions League pretenders to relegation contenders. It sounds rough but I don’t think its possible to overlook the shadow that Sam Allardyce cast about the Reebok. His number two, Sammy Lee just doesn’t carry the same weight. With an aging squad, no cash, European commitments and the highly disruptive duo of El Hadji Diouf and Nicolas Anelka waiting to explode, I see them doing a West Ham.

 

15th (8th) Reading: The Royals will be hoping to avoid a nasty case of ‘second season syndrome’. Ipswich, West Ham and Wigan all previously caught a heavy dose after having their heads in the clouds after stunning first seasons back in the big time however I’m convinced that Steve Coppell will not allow that to happen. Saying that though, it’ll be a struggle of sorts because they’re now a known factor. A solid start is crucial so facing United and Chelsea straight off the bat will be the ultimate test.

14th (Newly Promoted) Sunderland: The last time the Black Cats were in the Premiership they were a joke - no one is laughing this time around. The reason why…Roy Keane! It’s hard to change the habits of a lifetime and the Irishman has one very serious addiction…he’s a winner. The turnaround at the Stadium of Light since the Irishman kissed and made up with Niall Quinn has been nothing short of remarkable and I can’t wait for September 1st when Keano takes his lambs to the slaughterhouse known as the Theater of Dreams. This is what football’s all about - Darth Vadar and Luke Skywalker, “I am your father Roy.”

13th (12th) Middlesbrough: Gareth Southgate maybe an awful post match interview but in his first season at the Riverside he carved out some rather successful results. They took points from all of the big four, enjoyed a cup run of sorts and were never truly threatened with the drop. Losing striker, Mark Viduka to Newcastle has been offset by the signing of Arsenal’s, Jeremie Aliadiere, while Jonathon Woodgate has made his Real move permanent. Perhaps the biggest factor though is the remarkable Academy that continues to produce Premiership caliber players. In a few years, Boro could conceivably be a contender…you read it here!

12th (14th) Manchester City: After a year of cashing Football Association checks, SGE (Sven Goran Eriksson) has dared to put his little toe back into the frigid water of football management. The response from City fans has been tepid at best however SGE has a highly impressive resume in club football. If he can bring a trophy home to Manchester, Soho Square (home to the FA) will be even redder faced than usual. The cash has certainly been splashed thanks to new chairman and ex-Thai Prime Minister, Dr. Thaskin Shinawatra and we await the results with baited breath. It couldn’t be any worse than last year…10 home goals in 18 matches.

11th (15th) West Ham: I thought ‘Eastenders’ was the soap opera of choice until ‘Hammer Time’ came along. Carlos Tevez, point deductions, pre-season injuries, club captain (Nigel Reo-Coker)…gone, troublemakers in (Craig Bellamy). One thing is for sure, Alan Curbishley has his hands full and they’ll be no room for excuses this time around as he’s in charge from the off. I like to start a book as to who will be the first player to get red carded, fined or suspended…Bellamy 2/1, Bowyer evens, Boa Morte 3/1. Take your pick.

10th (9th) Portsmouth: Having completely humiliated myself by predicting Pompey would get relegated last season, the tune has to change. Harry Redknapp has made some smart moves in the transfer market especially in the attacking department. David Nugent has a nose for goal despite a lack of Premiership experience, while Nigerian, John Utaka links up with his countryman, Kanu. Matty Taylor will look to build on a fantastic year and if and it’s a fairly big ‘if’ the back four stay healthy, a challenge for Europe is not that far fetched.

9th (6th) Everton: The key to Everton’s season is simple…get knocked out of all the cup competitions early - David Moyes doesn’t need this additional strain because his squad is thinner than Nicole Richie. On the bright side the team is battle hardened, tested, committed and capable of playing with the best. To push for another European spot they’ll need a special year from Andrew Johnson and hope that a few of the youngsters keep developing. With Tim Cahill already crocked though, it’s all gone a little gloomy at Goodison Park as the look enviously at their neighbors across Stanley Park.

8th (10th) Blackburn: How Mark Hughes has retained the services of Benni McCarthy, Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Bentley is a mystery to me but the fact that he has sends a strong message. This is a team that knows itself and is moving in the right direction. The addition of Roque Santa Cruz is a mouthwatering prospect and I believe Rovers will take the extra step and make a cup final this campaign. This is a team that can look after itself and yet play highly attractive football. If Arsene Wenger leaves Arsenal next year, look for Hughes to be poached because he is a manager going places.

7th (13th) Newcastle: Perhaps this is the season that the Black Crows that have been masquerading as Magpies leave St. James’ Park to ruin some other clubs life…er, maybe not! Michael Owen is injured…again. New signing Joey Barton is off to court. Kieron Dyer is off to West Ham and Big Sam Allardyce looks like he has a chairman (Mike Ashley) that prides himself on having all eight fingers in eight different pies. If it was any other club than Newcastle you’d forecast relegation but with the signings of Mark Viduka, Alan Smith, David Rozehal, Geremi, the above mentioned Barton, quality oozes from every pore. Rest assured it won’t be dull for the Toon Army.

6th (11th) Aston Villa: Martin O’Neill’s ‘get out of jail free card’ has expired and he’ll need to produce the goodies ‘early doors’. Once again they’ll be tough to beat but they must turn a majority of those seventeen draws from last season into wins. The tools are in place with Rob Carew, Ashley Young and the addition of Nigel Reo-Cocker and Marlon Harewood but does O’Neill know how to use them – I’m backing he does and so are 24,000 punters who have already snapped up season tickets.

5th (4th)Arsenal: ‘You can’t win the Premiership with kids’ said famed pundit Alan Hansen one year. He was talking about Manchester United and Fergie Fledglings who then shoved it down his throat storming to the title. The Gunners will not repeat that feat. One thing we do know is that they’ll be no TH14 which should be a good thing as he apparently ruled the dressing room or Freddy Ljunberg who has moved east to West Ham. This is for all intents and purposes a brand new team. Wenger has cleaned shop and I admire his #### but will he stay to see the four-year job through?

4th (5th) Spurs: I backed Tottenham for fourth last year but a shocking start to the campaign doomed them to a fruitless chase. Martin Jol will be well aware that there are no second chances and this time he’d better get it right. Keeping Dimitar Berbatov was definitely a good move but spending $34 million on Darren Bent seems strange when you’ve already go to keep Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane happy. Then tab on an extra $20 million for the teenager, Gareth Bale and Spurs are either making a statement of intent or gambling with their sponsors money (Mansion!). One thing is for sure, 100%, a slam-dunk – the WHL faithful will not be patient.

3rd (3rd) Liverpool: Is the best cup side in England ready to show consistency over 38 matches? Can they find another 21 points? Is Rafa just a rotator or a genius? Are the American owners in it for the love of the game or the love of the buck? Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel are class but can they quickly adjust to life in the Premiership? So many questions and no simple answers. Last year I predicted Liverpool would win the title but like Spurs their start was appalling and away form beyond a joke. Benitez like Jol must get it right because the Reds have spent like never before and the Anfield crowd wants a title before they say goodbye to the Kop. It’s been eighteen years!

2nd (2nd) Chelsea: My gut tells me the Blues will win the Premiership but my head says no for this reason…The African Cup of Nations. No team in the world could afford to lose Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou for one day let alone four weeks. How Jose Mourinho copes with this could well define his Blues legacy. Don’t get me wrong, the ‘Special One’ has cover but in Drogba and Essien he loses in my humble estimation the two best players in the world in their respective positions…simply crippling.

1st (Champions) Manchester United: Give SAF credit, he is not resting on his laurels after regaining the title. Nani, Anderson, Owen Hargreaves and Carlos Tevez represent some serious talent to go alongside a squad that is relatively unchanged from last season. My only concern would be Edwin van der Sar who seems to be aging but if the back four stay healthy and the Gabby Heinze situation doesn’t prove to be a headache, United will not be stopped.

The prediction business though is a funny old game and other than Derby and the top five anything can and will happen.

Until then, get the beers in.

 

The Community Shield is not the most reliable guide as to who will win the title however as a day out it certainly looked splendid from my vantage point – and thankfully the two teams, Chelsea and Manchester United replaced the bore fest that was served up at the FA Cup Final 79 days earlier with something resembling a game of football.

Over ninety minutes there was very little to choose between the teams but I think a couple of markers were laid down for the coming campaign. In no particular order here are ten things that caught my attention, wetted my appetite or left me scratching my head.

Cristiano Ronaldo: After being anonymous during the FA Cup Final, Ronaldo showed up on the wide expanse of Wembley and showed just why he is rightly considered the world’s best player. I thought his desire, decision making and attitude were spot on especially as he took some tasty hammerings. The highlight was the pass to Patrice Evra for the goal by Ryan Giggs. Played with backspin, Evra did not have to change stride.

Wayne Rooney & Tal Ben Haim: I would love to see what would happen if these two ran into each other after a few beers on a Saturday night. The animosity is so apparent I’m surprised it didn’t kick off into something else. Watch out for this match-up when they meet at Old Trafford in September. Rooney has the temper while Ben Haim takes no prisoners.

Florent Malouda: Playing in a Lyon team that has strolled six consecutive league titles, Malouda sometimes struck me as a player who didn’t really fancy it ‘up him’. His 51 minute performance today certainly dispelled that thought. He took his goal so well but more importantly showed how brave he is. At 6’5’ Edwin van der Sar is a big lad, however Malouda never took his eye of the ball even though he knew he’d pay a price. Arjen Robben, if you were watching, you can see why Mourinho brought him!

Ryan Giggs: It’s hard to believe that this will be Giggsy’s 17th year as a Manchester United player. I remember asking him during the summer of 2003 when United were here in the US whether he could keep going for another two years at this level! I’m not surprised he gave me a dirty look as he put in another vintage performance.

Petr Cech: For my money Petr Cech continues to prove that he is the best goalkeeper in the world. Sure, he didn’t come up trumps in the shoot-out but throughout the game he is such a presence. In a way he reminds of the great Peter Shilton who according to his dearly departed old manager, Brian Clough, was worth ten points a season (2 points for a win back in those days).

Rio Ferdinand: As well as Malouda took his goal I can’t help but feel Mr. Casual should’ve done better. The ball over the top by Ashley Cole was a bread and butter delivery but Ferdinand was slightly wrong footed then didn’t have the strength to keep up with the Frenchman despite wanting to swap jerseys. Rio wait until the match is over next time.

John Obi Mikel: There is no doubting the skill of the twenty-year-old but boy has he got a temper. I don’t know if I was imaging it but I’m sure that on two occasions he was on the verge of man handling referee, Mark Halsey. You can’t touch a ref son and I’m sure it has been noted by Halsey’s colleagues. In 25 appearances for the Blues he already has nine yellows and two red cards – that is too many.

It meant something: Regardless of the fact that this match carried zero points you could see by the intensity of the tackling and the reaction of the United players as Rooney finished the job that it meant something. These two teams will meet up at least another two times this season and who’d bet against them tangling in the latter stages of any of the cup competitions. Players like to win whether its tiddly-winks or on penalties and every extra edge counts.

Ricardo Carvalho: They call Mourinho the ‘Portugezzer’ but it should be his countryman. If there is a player I love to hate it is Carvalho. He just knows all the tricks, the tugs, the pushes, the trips and he does them all so subtly. In my humble estimation he is the best defender in the Premiership by a country mile – it’s so annoying!

Nothing between them: Chelsea was missing the big guns of John Terry, Michael Ballack, Andry Shevchenko and Didier Drogba. United were short of Paul Scholes, Luis Saha, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves to name a few. There is nothing between these two teams and unless the chasing pack comes out flying, it will be Mourinho and Ferguson battling for the title once again.

Enjoy the season and don’t forget to check out my predictions.

Until then, get the beers in