Man City-08 won the EPL title in the most dramatic of circumstances. Their fans now have a lifetime of bragging rights over their hated Manchester United rivals. Winning the league provides short term satisfaction, but to do so having won 6-1 at Old Trafford earlier in the season, and scoring the winner in ‘Fergie Time’ while denying his team the title on goal difference, will add to the folklore. Hollywood could not have scripted it any better.
Spurs did well to finish fourth, but it could, and should, have been so much better. Harry Redknapp’s side should have comfortably finished third and qualified for the group stages of the next year’s Champions League. They must now wait to find out if Chelsea-03 beat Bayern Munich to deny them their place. If it happens, Spurs fans cannot blame UEFA, Bayern, or Martin Fulop. They are in this predicament because of their own doing.
But what did Spurs do to their former keeper, Fulop, that he would gift Arsenal three goals in the manner he did in West Brom’s 2-3 loss to the Gunners at The Hawthorns?
The table, as they say, does not lie. That is not entirely true. The table does not lie only after the final game of the season. Therefore, Man City-08 are worthy champions; Spurs deserved to finish behind Arsenal, but ahead of Chelsea-03; Bolton, Blackburn, and Wolves were not too good to go down; and Liverpool finished four points behind Everton and 37 points behind City. The latter point is the reason Kenny Dalglish was fired.
Spurs did well to finish fourth, but it could, and should, have been so much better. Harry Redknapp’s side should have comfortably finished third and qualified for the group stages of the next year’s Champions League. They must now wait to find out if Chelsea-03 beat Bayern Munich to deny them their place. If it happens, Spurs fans cannot blame UEFA, Bayern, or Martin Fulop. They are in this predicament because of their own doing.
But what did Spurs do to their former keeper, Fulop, that he would gift Arsenal three goals in the manner he did in West Brom’s 2-3 loss to the Gunners at The Hawthorns?
The table, as they say, does not lie. That is not entirely true. The table does not lie only after the final game of the season. Therefore, Man City-08 are worthy champions; Spurs deserved to finish behind Arsenal, but ahead of Chelsea-03; Bolton, Blackburn, and Wolves were not too good to go down; and Liverpool finished four points behind Everton and 37 points behind City. The latter point is the reason Kenny Dalglish was fired.
The second most famous man in the world met the most famous man in the world at the White House this week. David Beckham and his LA Galaxy teammates visited with President Barack Obama when the two superstar VIPs came face to face. Obama’s poll numbers should get a little boost this week.
Alan Pardew was honored by the Football Writers Association and the League Managers Association as the Manager of the Year in the EPL. Pardew spent the Andy Carroll transfer money wisely when buying the likes of Demba Ba. He deserves acclaim for what he accomplished at Newcastle United. However, the pressure will be on Pardew next year as he seeks to juggle a wafer thin squad which will now have European football with which to contend. His ace scout Graham Carr will need to unearth a few more diamonds if Newcastle is to finish in the top five again next season.
Borussia Dortmund destroyed Bayern Munich in the German Cup Final with a performance full of pace, power, and attacking quality. The Bavarians looked vulnerable every time Dortmund ran at their back four. If Chelsea-03 are to win the UEFA Champions League they will need to attack Bayern with a similar level of speed and attacking play. The Blues might not match up as well against Munich as they did against Barcelona, so this might be a case of one game too many for the West Londoners. Spurs fans everywhere certainly hope so.
The UEFA Champions League Final is the biggest game in world football this weekend, but the all-Edinburgh Scottish Cup Final between Hearts and Hibs, and the Championship Play-Off Final between West Ham United and Blackpool, are just as important to the four teams involved. In a perfect world Blackpool and Hibs will win the respective games.
Alan Pardew was honored by the Football Writers Association and the League Managers Association as the Manager of the Year in the EPL. Pardew spent the Andy Carroll transfer money wisely when buying the likes of Demba Ba. He deserves acclaim for what he accomplished at Newcastle United. However, the pressure will be on Pardew next year as he seeks to juggle a wafer thin squad which will now have European football with which to contend. His ace scout Graham Carr will need to unearth a few more diamonds if Newcastle is to finish in the top five again next season.
Borussia Dortmund destroyed Bayern Munich in the German Cup Final with a performance full of pace, power, and attacking quality. The Bavarians looked vulnerable every time Dortmund ran at their back four. If Chelsea-03 are to win the UEFA Champions League they will need to attack Bayern with a similar level of speed and attacking play. The Blues might not match up as well against Munich as they did against Barcelona, so this might be a case of one game too many for the West Londoners. Spurs fans everywhere certainly hope so.
The UEFA Champions League Final is the biggest game in world football this weekend, but the all-Edinburgh Scottish Cup Final between Hearts and Hibs, and the Championship Play-Off Final between West Ham United and Blackpool, are just as important to the four teams involved. In a perfect world Blackpool and Hibs will win the respective games.
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