Final Day Mayhem
For the sake of space, I'll rattle through a few unimportant ones quickly:
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Come on. Come on now. As funny as it would be, and I would pay good money to see Aston Villa, the cannon fodder of the Premier League, beat Arsenal on the final day of the season, it's just not going to happen. That said, I think this won't be a goalfest either. Arsenal look like they're already on their holidays so will probably take it easy and win this one say 2-0.
Prediction: 2-0 Arsenal
Chelsea v Leicester
Weird to think that this one is meaningless. Leicester have won the title, Chelsea have finished 9th or 10th in mediocrity and neither team has anything to play for but pride. That said, it should be a really good game of football, but if Leicester turn up like they did last weekend at Everton, then I can see a similar result.
Prediction: 3-1 Leicester
Everton v Norwich
A game that nobody (even Everton and Norwich fans) struggle to care for. Norwich are already relegated, Everton have finally sacked their manager after a second dismal season in a row. Both teams once again only playing for pride, and I reckon it'll be a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Newcastle v Spurs
Another one that even a week ago looked like it would have a lot riding on it. But with Newcastle relegated and Spurs only needing a point to finish above Arsenal, I'd imagine this one will be a simple Spurs win, although their wretched recent form would suggest otherwise.
Prediction: 2-0 Spurs
Watford v Sunderland
Sunderland will be riding high on their own survival, and Watford have been turgid for several months now. You'd expect this one to be a narrow away win, but it all depends on how much motivation Sunderland will have, now that they've secured their main goal.
Prediction: 2-1 Sunderland
Now onto the serious stuff. Working our way up...
West Brom v Liverpool
Yes Liverpool could finish sixth, so this game technically has something tangible (European qualification) riding on it. No we won't finish sixth (and hopefully will win on Wednesday) so it's basically meaningless. Klopp is going to leave every single player that starts on Wednesday out of his starting line up today, but it'll be interesting to see if Ings, Origi or Hendo make the bench. Despite the poorish run that our kids are on in the league, given that West Brom haven't won in over two months, I'm backing us here.
Prediction: 2-1 LFC
Southampton v Crystal Palace
Southampton need a win to secure seventh, a result that would almost certainly secure them Europa League football next season (no offence Palace fans) and I thoroughly expect them to get it (still no offence Palace fans). Having beaten Man City and Spurs in their last two games, and picking up thirteen points from their last five, with their only defeat in nine games coming to the Champions, this game should be easy pickings for the Saints, against a Pardew side one of the contenders for worst team of 2016 (or rather they would be but you know, Villa).
Prediction: 3-1 Southampton
Stoke v West Ham
Despite a shock defeat last weekend at home to Swansea, West Ham's terrific win over Man United in midweek leaves them in pole position to finish at least in the top six, if not higher. It's almost mathematically impossible for them to make top four now, but if United slip up, they'll be ready to grab fifth. That said, priority one is beating Stoke and nabbing sixth, guaranteed Europa League football, something I thoroughly expect them to do. Despite the Hammers worryingly bad defence, Stoke have scored three goals in their last five games, picking up a solitary point from them, conceding fifteen in the process. It's been a devastating couple of months for the Potters, and I think West Ham will see them off.
Prediction: 3-0 West Ham
Man United v Bournemouth
Man United are in with a long shot at top four after losing to West Ham in spectacular fashion in midweek and to do so, they need to start by beating a Bournemouth side who have only beaten Aston Villa in the last two months. It's another classic case of a team having something to fight for against opposition who are in bad form and have no motivation, and I expect a similar result.
Prediction: 1-0 Man United
Swansea v Man City
Easily the most interesting game of the day in the Premier League. City need a point to secure top four qualification, but Swansea have good home form and are playing well, decimating a second string Liverpool and West Ham in recent weeks. That said, City have to and will go for this, and although I expect it to be a good game, the quality of Aguero and De Bruyne is unignorable and I expect City to win in the end.
Prediction: 2-1 City
La Liga Champions
It's rather fitting that on the final day of La Liga, it was Luis Suarez who scored a hat-trick to in the end comfortably win Barcelona the La Liga title. It's been Suarez's season in many ways, easily the top scorer in Spain this year and he has stepped in so many huge games for Barcelona, including the first leg of their UCL quarter final, and of course yesterday. Suarez is not just a world class finisher, but a true great of the game and seeing him flourish at Barca is truly something special. He has been better than Messi and Ronaldo this year and so for him to be the man to win Barca the title, yet again feels fitting.
And this was a title that Barca never lost. Even when they were wobbling a few weeks ago, they were still top of the league, and in the run in, they never lost the advantage. There was never a point in the title race, at least not in the last six months, maybe even longer, where any team had the run on Barca. Even when they lost to Valencia and the gap was 0 points, you just fancied them to go on and win all of their remaining games. Their fate was always in their own hands and they always had the quality to prove it. For all the talk of a tense final day, there was a real sense of inevitability and when Suarez slammed home to give Barca the lead, that feeling only grew.
Barcelona remain arguably the greatest team in world football, certainly they have the most talent and although they'll be gutted not to have won the Champions League, any season where they can win their domestic league, probably their domestic cup and still be branded an unsuccessful season just demonstrates how truly remarkable this side is.
England Squad and Team
Before Roy announces his squad on Monday, I thought I'd quickly run through mine, as well as what I think is England's best eleven at the moment.
Keepers: Hart, Forster, Heaton - these pick themselves really with Butland injured. Hart has to be first choice and Forster is the only other good keeper with Premier League experience.
Defenders: Bertrand, Rose, Walker, Clyne, Stones, Jagielka, Smalling, Cahill - again the defence picks itself for me. I'd want four specialist full backs so that Roy can rotate them and these four have all had outstanding seasons and are all match-fit. As for the center of defence, it's clearly our weakest area and these are about the only four we've got.
Midfield: Milner, Lallana, Dier, Alli, Drinkwater, Barkley, Sterling, Henderson - a tough one, but I needed to pick a balance of CMs and attacking midfielders and this felt like a good balance. Dier, Alli, Lallana, Milner and Drinkwater all pick themselves based on their phenomenal seasons, Sterling and Barkley have a lot of talent and offer something different and Henderson will be fit, and may not have had the best season, but I feel he's the best natural replacement for Drinkwater in the middle of the park. This was the toughest area to choose and I could see arguments for the likes of Albrighton, Noble and Wilshere.
Attack: Vardy, Kane, Sturridge, Carroll - again, three of these pick themselves. Vardy and Kane are the league's two top scorers and Sturridge is arguably as good as both, his goals per game ratio is insane since he's been fully fit and flying these last couple of months. Carroll is also in really, really good form and he offers, crucially, something different, A plan B. Someone who can do something with limited minutes on the pitch.
And finally, my best XI: Hart, Clyne, Smalling, Cahill, Rose, Dier, Drinkwater, Milner, Alli, Lallana, Kane
I think the best formation is a 4-2-3-1, although I'd occasionally pull off Lallana and go 4-4-2. Hart has to start, Rose and Clyne have been the best and most balanced full backs this season. Dier and Alli pick themselves, Drinkwater is the best option alongside Dier because he has had the best season and offers the most energy in there, Milner and Lallana have had storming seasons, better than any of our other options and offer the most defensive cover of our wing options. Likewise Kane picks himself. Centre back is a tough area but Smalling has had a terrific season and Cahill has a lot of experience at international level. Plus I don't think I can justify an Everton CB when they've been utterly incompetent this season and Stones has been dropped for a significant portion of it.
And yes, that means no Wayne Rooney.
The Hard and Fast Section
- Hull battered Derby 3-0. Play-offs.
- Likewise, Wednesday beat Brighton 2-0.
- Hamilton finally finished on pole for once.
- And Robson continues to hit good form for Middlesex.
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