In theory Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson should be crowned Premier League Champions for the 10th time in two weeks but if they somehow fail - we’ll never forget the Stamford Bridge blunder.

When you’ve had the success that SAF has had over the last two decades it’s not easy to criticize because obviously something is working. However, who in their right mind leaves out the current best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo, with the defining match of a nine-month season on the line. It is without a doubt the biggest gamble SAF has ever taken.

Can you imagine Bill Belichick saying to Tom Brady ‘take a breather today’ with the Super Bowl up for grabs or Phil Jackson asking Kobe Bryant to sit out game 6 of the NBA Finals as game 7 is a day away – its never going to happen – except on Saturday for some inexplicable reason it did.

Before I delve into possible reasons for this ‘brain ####’ lets first give credit where credit is due. Chelsea fully deserved their victory and Avram Grant can finally breathe easy for a day or two.

The Blues were better in every department even though Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba seemed ready to roll around the Bridge pitch scratching each other’s eyes out. The reaction of Michael Essien as the two of them played kindergarten snatching the ball from their hands at a free kick late in the second half was priceless.

And to think that we’d almost written them off after that horrible 1-1 tie with Wigan – now that’s all forgotten and in a rich ironic twist, United, have to go to the JJB on the last day of the season and in all likelihood win.

If the Blues do happen to #### the title it will surely be one of the most unlikely victories in the history of England’s top flight.

But back to Sir Alex and why he sat Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez who have scored a combined 56 goals on the bench…

The obvious reason is that they’re being saved for Tuesday night and the return leg with Barcelona in the Champions League but it can’t be that simple can it?

I can’t help but feel that he’s being too clever for his own good (just look at the trouble Rafa Benitez has given himself by messing around with his team) and if he’s concerned that they’re tired I’d also be very surprised. These kids are 23 and 24 respectively – they don’t get tired and I can’t imagine that they were happy sitting on the pitch for the biggest domestic game of the campaign either.

Football is a confidence game and Ronaldo and Tevez possess that quality in ####s most of the time however the Nou Camp experience may have dented that slightly. What you need in that situation is another game not an opportunity to sit and stew.

Ferguson must know that victories cannot be guaranteed in the Premiership and with the points dropped at Boro and Blackburn now looming large, West Ham, cannot be taken for granted as they’ve owned the Red Devils recently.

Sir Alex famously coined this time of the season ‘squeaky bum time’ however if anyone has a ‘squeaky bum’ right now it has to be the Old Trafford supreme. United have been the favorites for both big trophies for months and the pressure just maybe beginning to tell – decisions like Saturday’s prove that.

At the end of the day I still fully expect United to do that double but as we’ve seen football can be a cruel game. You know Arsenal have been the best team of the year and won nothing, United have been the most consistent side and could yet win nothing while Chelsea have been dogged, unattractive and stubborn yet they could end up winning everything.

I hope SAF hasn’t spent the weekend second-guessing himself however that is the curse of the man who likes to gamble.

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

 

When the final whistle blows at the end of the Barclays Premier League on May 11th one member of the ‘big four’ will be writing a new chapter in their history.

When the final whistle blows at the Champions League final in Moscow on May 21st one member of the ‘big four’ will maybe writing a new chapter in their history.

It’s incredible to think that after eight months of the most intense competition on the footballing planet, in seven weeks time, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool could end the season empty handed – that means trophy-less.

Last season it was Arsenal and Liverpool that spent a summer asking ‘what if’. This season it’s almost impossible to predict ‘what if’ however the draw for the Champions League and a tense weekend in the Premiership have given me a clue where the last two major pieces of silverware are heading as far as the ‘B4’ are concerned.

Manchester United: 1st in the Premiership and a quarterfinal tie with Roma in the Champions League.

When you’re top of the league with nine to play its obvious that the title is in your own hands but in a way it isn’t. Sir Alex Ferguson still has to play his fiercest rivals, Liverpool, host Arsenal, who boast a decent record at Old Trafford and visit Stamford Bridge in late April. Three draws and tonking everyone else will guarantee Premiership trophy number ten. They’ll do it.

Last year Roma were slaughtered 7-1 at the Theater of Dreams, this year it’ll be slightly different. If there was one club to avoid in this round it was Roma. The Italians led by Francisco Totti are a serious footballing outfit as demonstrated by their remarkable victory over Real Madrid. If United do not get a positive result in Rome, the Premier League trophy will be the only piece silverware the cleaning lady gets to polish over the summer. A one-trophy season.

Arsenal: 2nd in the Premiership and a quarterfinal tie with Liverpool in the Champions League.

Four consecutive draws have cost Arsenal the title, which is a crying shame. For my money the Gunners have been the best footballing team in the world for the last seven months but a lack of depth will deny them the title their football so richly deserves. Dropping six points to the bottom feeders of Birmingham, Wigan and Boro is like losing the winning lottery ticket. Arsene Wenger must put his ego aside this summer and sign the best.

Last season, Arsenal pulled down Liverpool’s shorts and spanked them harder than they’ve ever been spanked before in Cup competitions – it won’t happen this season unless Arsenal take a 2-0 lead to Anfield which in their present condition is almost impossible. Wenger has shocked us in the Champions League but they’ll be no more electricity coming from the Frenchman. A trophy-less season.

Chelsea: 3rd in the Premiership and a quarterfinal tie with Fernabache in the Champions League.

After consecutive draws versus Portsmouth and Liverpool it looked all over for the Blues however if they beat Arsenal next Sunday they’re right back in it especially as they host United on April 26th for a potential title showdown except…under Avram Grant this is a side incapable of winning the ‘big one’. Chelsea does not regain their crown.

What is it about Cup competitions and the Blues getting the softest draw imaginable? If there was one name in the hat ‘everyone’ wanted it was Fernabache. Granted and no pun intended, the 1st leg in Istanbul might be a little hairy but just look at the respective squads. Unfortunately this means another semi-final clash with Liverpool (pull my eyes out please!), a team they can’t beat. A trophy-less season. 

Liverpool: 4th in the Premiership and a quarterfinal tie with Arsenal in the Champions League.

The gap is eight points so stop thinking you’ve got a chance of the title – you blew that back in December when you thought the Champions League was more important. Rafa Benitez has all but rotated himself into the sack unless…

Call me crazy but Liverpool are peaking at exactly the right time. They’ll beat Arsenal, bore us to death against Chelsea and win a sixth Champions League title against Barcelona or Manchester United. I know it doesn’t seem fair after their horribly inconsistent season but that ladies and gentlemen is football. A one-trophy season.

You may wonder how I can predict with such certainty what will happen – it’s called ‘genius’ and when you look at all the available information plus the knowledge of twenty plus years - you too will come up with exactly the same conclusion if and only if you follow your brain and not your heart.

No one likes to be empty handed at the end of the season but at least two of the ‘B4’ will be asking ‘what if’.

Until then, get the beers in.

 

 

 

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

 

With Old Trafford sizzling on Saturday as Manchester United and Arsenal readied for battle, the menu was set for a feast of football. The two best chef’s in the business, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger all set and ready to cook us a masterpiece but sometimes too many cooks spoil the broth. This time around the Frenchman was left with egg on his face because United deep fried, battered, poached, broiled and finally baked his Arsenal team with a performance that would’ve had Gordon Ramsay licking his lips.

 

Ferguson got his ingredients just right despite not having the secret sauce of Cristiano Ronaldo. Picking Darren Fletcher off the shelf looked a stroke of genius as the Scotsman only responded with his first two goals of the season while Nani was a times deliciously unplayable. Can you also imagine what the score would’ve been if Wayne Rooney had had his shooting boots on. The England striker by my own generous count missed three stone cold sitters that on any other day he would’ve tucked away with relish, dip and mustard. Throw in a majestic performance from the often criticized, Michael Carrick, and you can start talking about breakfast, lunch and dinner because the ‘Treble’ won in 1999 looks to be back on the table.

 

I don’t know the FA Cup draw yet but rest assured United will probably get Chelsea in the last eight after meeting Villa/Spurs and now Arsenal. Lyon provide the opposition in the Champions League while in the Premiership the Gunners currently have a five point lead but have yet to visit Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford for a massive six-pointer. No wonder the Scotsman has a spring in his step.

 

Arsenal and Arsene Wenger on the other hand looked to have lost the recipe that has made them the tastiest morsel this season. Wenger surely must’ve known that he couldn’t pull off an Anfield special at the Theater of Dreams. If Justin Hoyte and Armand Traore were waiters your meal would’ve surely been all over the floor. Whether it was a case of nerves, rust or lack of confidence, Wenger got it wrong defensively. What a time to relegate Mathieu Flamini to the bench as well. Flamini has been the engine room for the Gunners allowing Cesc Fabregas to prompt and conduct – not to knock Gilberto but the Brazilian’s best days are behind him.

 

And a problem that I thought Wenger had finally solved came back to leave a bad taste in the mouth…discipline. Emmanuel Eboue is an athletic chap but having an outstretched leg six feet of the floor with studs leading is asking for trouble – a straight red was the only course of action for the maitre d’, Alan Wiley. Luckily for captain, William Gallas, Wiley must’ve have spotted a fly in his soup because he missed the Frenchman lashing out at Nani, which would’ve been an instant red card. With Emmanuel Adebayor flopping around like the fish of the day and Gilberto somehow escaping a second yellow card after booting Luis Saha up in the air, there are some worrisome signs for Wenger ahead of their epic AC Milan clash in midweek.

 

Of course writing off Arsenal has proven to be a mugs game this year but we’re now at the stage of the season where the Michelin stars are being handed out. The pressure cooker is steaming and simple, silly mistakes can ruin the entire dinning experience. Wenger has a young squad that plays with a verve and panache unmatched in England they’ve just got to watch out for the wet floor.

 

So get your diaries out and make a reservation for April 12th and a battle between the Iron Chefs. You know that on that day, Old Trafford will be the culinary centerpiece of the universe.

 

Until then, get the beers in.

The English Premier League super scheduling computer often throws up mouthwatering match-ups but rarely has it allowed the ‘fantastic four’ Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal or more appropriately the managers Jose Mourinho, Rafa Benitez, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger to collide on the same day with so much at stake.

With the phrase ‘must win’ being tossed around like dice at a Las Vegas craps table for the Gunners and the Reds in their respective road trips to Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, you knew that goals would be at a premium – however pride, power and passion, the intangibles of football would be the key factors and so it proved in 180 minutes of compelling, absorbing and utterly fascinating Sunday morning action.

With the smoke now clearing the battlefield it’s time to evaluate the performances and what it all means to the managers of the ‘FF’.

Chelsea & Jose Mourinho

Much was made of the ‘handshake’ row between Mourinho and Benitez before the start of this contest in the hopes of ####ing it up to Tabasco proportions – not that it needed it. My own view is that it’s a football match not an arm wrestling contest and thankfully that antagonism was put to rest in the tunnel between the two managers.

As for the Blues display it was typical Mourinho football and he summed it up perfectly in his post match comments. "Sometimes if you win with just quality, playing fantastic and scoring a lot of goals you can feel you are a great team. But you need these matches where you feel you are a team ready to fight. My players were very brave and the team fought very hard."

There was no doubt about the fight in Chelsea’s play as they had to compete for 40 minutes while playing a man down after Michael Ballack departed the pitch after a nasty and spiteful challenge on Mohammed Sissoko. With John Terry and Ricardo Carvallho  marshalling the back four in the most dominating central pairing in the Premiership, it was always going to be a long day for the visitors. The fact they didn’t create as many quality chances as Liverpool will not rankle the ‘Special One’ either especially if Didier Drogba can keep finding the net in spectacular fashion. His 41st minute strike was a goal worthy of the occasion and a fitting way to decide the destination of the points.

Liverpool & Rafa Benitez

Benitez has an abundance of riches at his disposal for the 1st time in his Anfield reign and that is his problem at the moment. I believe he doesn’t yet know who his best XI is yet. Leaving the red hot Peter Crouch on the bench seemed a waste and slap in the face to a man who is in the best form of his career while Chelsea killer, Luis Garcia didn’t even make the trip to London.

“I think that we deserved more because we created clear chances but at the end you need to score to win” he said, obviously not looking in Crouch’s direction. 
An eight point gap has now opened up between the two teams however Benitez isn’t being trapped into pushing the panic button just yet. "We need to think about the next game (Newcastle). It's a long race and the most important thing is that the team is improving. If we can win the next three points we will be closer and we will see what happens”, he said. If they don’t get the maximum against the Magpies on Wednesday that finger will start looking for that button.

Manchester United & Sir Alex Ferguson

If there is one thing in life Sir Alex Ferguson loves doing it’s beating Arsenal and in particular Arsene Wenger - their psychological battles over the years have been legendary. With Chelsea now in ascendance though the spotlight has been off the two competitors in recent seasons, however that hasn’t stopped Fergie owning the Frenchman in the Premiership in their last eight meetings.

With the chance to all but cosign Arsenal to also-rans this season the Red Devils fluffed it big time. Previous defeats of this nature have seen the Scotsman blame all and sundry and true to form he pointed to the exertions of Wednesday nights Champions League game against Celtic as the culprit for a flat performance. “With the emotions of it and the pace of the match, it was a real Scotland-England type of match with that type of tempo. It was end to end all night and that's without question one of the things I have to look at. Today we lost momentum in the second half when we stopped passing forward, and that was a sign of tiredness. It was the second-half that disappointed me. We tired as a team in the last 20 minutes.”

Perhaps Sir Alex should look to the fact that Arsenal was the first real side his club has played this year and that maybe the 100% start was a little smoke and mirrors. United is still a team in transition despite the addition of Michael Carrick who surprisingly didn’t start and was instead replaced by the limited John O’Shea. Wayne Rooney is still not match fit while the central pairing of Wes Brown and Rio Ferdinand does not fill me with any confidence.
With three relatively easy fixtures before the visit of Liverpool on October 22nd there is enough time for the Scotsman who recently stated his desire to stay at the helm for another two years to get the machine humming to the right tune.

Arsenal & Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger attempted to play down the importance of this match but even he would’ve been aware that if Arsenal had lost, the gap between them and United would’ve been a massive and insurmountable 13 points – but in epic fashion they did the unthinkable.

One can’t help but think that this Arsenal team is a club in transition and not capable of mounting a serious challenge for the title this season however Wenger believes differently, “transition is a word you don't want, we want to win the championship. I said it before the game and I say again afterwards this team has great potential and spirit as they have shown again today and I strongly believe in the ability of the players and the team.”

Without their talisman, Thierry Henry, I thought that the Gunners would be very lucky to escape with a point but they outplayed and outfought United in every department playing Arsenal football. It was fast, lively, and attractive and more importantly disciplined defensively – no doubt the result of the season to date.

Over the course of these two matches the ‘FF’ will have learnt more about the character of their new look teams and I’m sure come the dog days of January they’ll all be at their familiar places in the table.

Until then, get the beers in.