Arsenal full back Gael Clichy has spoken publicly about the Gunners’ title prospects for the season ahead, and has rightly concluded that they can no longer hide behind the excuse of youth and inexperience should they fail to recapture the Premiership crown they last won back in 2003-2004. However, with Chelsea starting as title favourites and Manchester United not far behind, can Arsenal realistically challenge for top spot in the season ahead?

The North London side were in serious contention for the title right up to the middle of April last season, when a defeat to Tottenham and a second half capitulation against Wigan finally did for them. However, perhaps of greater concern for Arsene Wenger will have been the fact that they failed to take a single point off either Manchester United or Chelsea during the season, highlighting a gap in class which simply has to be narrowed if they are to stand any chance of winning the league.

There is no question that frustration is building amongst the Arsenal squad and supporters, with only a league title likely to quench their thirst for success. A victory in the FA Cup or League Cup is likely to be seen as merely a consolation prize, whilst a tilt at the Champions’ League looks like a remote possibility given the manner in which they were outclassed at the Nou Camp last April. So do they have a squad capable of mounting a serious challenge for the biggest domestic prize on offer?

The transfer window is yet to shut and it’s widely anticipated that Wenger will look to do some more business before it does, but to date he has been typically cautious in his dealings. As was widely anticipated, Marouane Chamakh has arrived for free, whilst Wenger has laid out £8.5 million for the services of French centre half Laurent Koscielny, recouping £6 million of that in the sale of Eduardo da Silva to Shakhtar Donetsk.

Wenger will expect Chamakh to provide a suitable attacking foil for Robin Van Persie, who he will hope can stay fit for the entirety of the season given the extent to which they missed his services in the last campaign. Similar to Thomas Vermaelen in the last transfer window, Koscielny is relatively unknown, but like the Belgian he will need to quickly live up to his price tag following the departure of William Gallas, Sol Campbell, Philippe Senderos and Mikael Silvestre.

The main talking point of the summer however has of course been Cesc Fabregas’s proposed move to Barcelona. Following a prolonged tussle and with both sides having their say on the matter, it appears that Arsenal are set to keep their captain having been unwilling to negotiate with Barcelona on a sale. Whilst this is likely to be widely perceived as good news amongst the club’s fans, there is an element of doubt as to whether he will continue to deliver his best when his heart seems set on a move away.

Elsewhere, Wenger will have familiar concerns. The goalkeeping situation has yet to be resolved but needs to be put to bed before the transfer window shuts. Mark Schwarzer, Mark Stekelenburg and Federico Marchetti have all been mooted as potential solutions. Further central defensive reinforcements also look to be required given the glut of depatures in that position, as well as Koscielny’s relative inexperience. Phil Jagielka and Per Mertesacker are the players that have been linked.

Further up the field, doubts continue to persist over Alex Song in the holding midfield position. Whilst competent, he has yet to put in the kind of commanding performances that Arsenal fans became so used to when Patrick Vieira was at the club. Elsewhere, the likes of Tomas Rosicky, Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott need to develop from bit part players to consistent performers who can provide reliable attacking support to Van Persie, Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin.

In order to compete at the top of the league, it is clear that Wenger needs to make a couple more shrewd purchases and work intelligently with the squad that he has at his disposal. Whilst the title race should be every bit as tight as it was last time out, Arsenal need to address the imbalance of results against the top two sides, or else the Premier League trophy may once prove to be out of their reach. Whilst it takes a brave man to bet against ‘The Professor’, it is all easy to see how Arsenal might come up short once again.

To the surprise of few, Manchester City have once again been dominating the headlines in the transfer window, with last summer’s splurge seemingly set to be dwarfed by their current transfer dealings. Whilst the City faithful might be looking forward to seeing the likes of Jerome Boateng, David Silva and Yaya Toure at Eastlands, with Mario Balotelli and James Milner yet to come, they may like to spare a thought for those players whose careers in sky blue are over almost before they started.

Over the past two years, a series of high profile signings have ridden into Manchester on the crest of City’s spending wave, ready to play their part in a club revolution of the most extreme type. However, what they probably should have realised is that they were a means to an end. Once they had sufficiently elevated City’s league status to the point where the club could attract bigger names, they would then be deemed surplus to requirements.

A run through the City squad list makes for interesting reading these days, with only a handful not having either arrived this summer, or linked with a move away. How much truth there is behind the speculation remains to be seen of course, but by all accounts there could be a number of players heading for the exit door who have only recently signed for the club, just over a year ago in some instances. So who is likely to plying their trade elsewhere in the forthcoming season?

Starting at the back, Roberto Mancini has stated his desire to have two players to cover each position, but will Wayne Bridge really be content to play understudy to new £17 million arrival Aleksandar Kolarov at left back? Bought for £10 million in January of last year, the former Southampton and Chelsea man wouldn’t be short of suitors, but as will be the problem for a club trying to buy any of City’s off casts, they are unlikely to be able to match the extremely generous wages being offered at Eastlands.

In midfield, World Cup final villain Nigel De Jong is another name mentioned as a potential casualty. His price in January 2009? £16 million.  With Premier League clubs now restricted to a squad of 25 players for the season, Mancini has admitted that De Jong may be one of those that does not make the cut. The Dutchman is unlikely to hang around in the reserves to see if he can force his way back into the reckoning in January, so a move away from City seems a distinct possibility.

Up front, much depends on the arrival of Balotelli and, even more speculatively, Fernando Torres or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but it seems highly likely that both Craig Bellamy (£14 million in January 2009) and Roque Santa Cruz (£17.5 million in June 2009) will be moved on as part of the shake up. Santa Cruz has admirers in the form of Stoke City, who are looking to pay half what City did to Blackburn Rovers for the forward whose career at Eastlands never got going courtesy of injury.

Stoke’s valuation of Santa Cruz is typical of what City can expect: for the players they are looking to sell, they will most likely make a significant loss on each. Whilst, this is almost inconsequential for a club whose owners have virtually limitless funds, questions have to be raised as to whether this instability will ultimately prove detrimental to their chances of smashing the top four cartel and lifting the Premier League trophy.

So whilst nobody is suggesting that we should start to feel sorry for a number of players who will undoubtedly find another club to pay their exorbitant wages, it can hardly be in either the player’s interest, nor the club’s, to have been seemingly bought on a whim, only to be spat back out when the transfer window opens again. Time will tell if the end justifies the means, but for now the cash piles seem to have eliminated the need for some more balanced long term planning in the blue half of Manchester.

The 2009/2010 campaign will surely be one of the best remembered in the history of Blackpool FC, no matter the outcome of their first season in the Premier League. Ian Holloway led the Seasiders to unlikely promotion via the play-offs in his maiden season at the helm, after being given just a one year contract by the board, and won over the fans and the media with his spontaneous and quirky quotes and personality.

But as 14 August approaches, and the euphoria from promotion slowly dissipates into anticipation of the new season, Blackpool’s luck seems to have run out. An extensive check of the relegation odds from prominent bookmakers finds the best odds at 1/3 for them to beat the drop, from Paddy Power. There are even low odds for Holloway’s men to lower the bar for least points ever managed, set by Derby County during a tortous 2007/8 season where they managed just 11 points.

Seamus Coleman and DJ Campbell, both important cogs in the play-off success, have returned to Everton and Leicester, respectively. Coleman looks set to stay at Everton and fight for his spot, as he is highly-rated by manager David Moyes, and the Irishman poised to break into the first team at the expense of againg Tony Hibbert. Campbell is still a possibility, but Leciester gaffer Paulo Sousa has repeatedly stated that Campbell is a part of his plans.

Holloway has yet to make a signing, but it seems he sees the loan route as the preferred option. He wants to bring in Manchester United youngsters Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley, and this could well happen as Alex Ferguson is eager for both to gain first team football. And if the team is to play attractive, attacking football, as Holloway intends to, then reinforcements are indeed needed.

In the current squad, there are just three strikers; Billy Clarke has no Premier League experience, and is likely out for the season, Louis Almond is just 18 and has made no senior appearances for the Tangerines, and Brett Ormerod is nearing the end of his career and would struggle to get playing time at any other top flight club. Gary Taylor-Fletcher has often been employed at the center of the three strikers, even though he is a midfielder by trade. Even if the club were to bring in Welbeck or Campbell on loan, the 4-3-3 formation that Holloway employs would call for at least four quality strikers in the squad.

The midfield situation is a bit better, but still needs a lot of work. Charlie Adam enjoyed a resurgence at Bloomfied Road following his move from Rangers, and his heart and grit is unquestioned, but the Scot has never been given the chance in the top flight. Jason Euell impressed for Blackpool last season, and the 33 year old’s Premier League experience may prove useful, even if his legs aren’t quite as fresh as they once were. 

Keith Southern and David Vaughan are both dependable, hard workers, but their quality is in question and with little depth behind them, an injury to either would be disastrous. Ishmael Demontangnac and Stephen Husband have a combined age of 37, and despite the promise that each have shown (rewarded by underage caps for England and Scotland, respectively) they have only mad 11 combined appearances for Blackpool.

Alex Baptiste and Stephen Crainey are useful and experienced at for the back four, but Coleman’s departure leaves Holloway searching for a right back; Neal Eardley was easily displaced upon Coleman’s arrival, and is not thought highly of by Holloway. Rob Edwards is one of the tougher centre backs in England, and all of his determination will be needed to keep out ravenous attacks this season. Matt Gilks and Paul Rachubka have alternated at keeper in recent years, and both are very experienced. It seems Holloway is content at that position.

The pending addition of Dekel Keinan from Maccabi Haifa brings some much needed quality to the defence. The centre back has 15 caps for Israel, and will certainly go straight into the starting eleven. For months now Celtic’s Pat McCourt has been linked with Blackpool, and the winger would certain bring some pace and creativity to the side. However, fellow Northern Irishman Neil Lennon seems to have taken more of a liking to McCourt then predecessor Tony Mowbray, and this season could see McCourt feature more often for the SPL side, lowering chances of the move. Francis Jeffers could be given a second chance in the Premier League, with the former Everton wonderkid being given a trial. Holloway could do well by inquiring about a few of Arsenal’s young guns, many of whom go out on loan each season. A lot of work is left to be done.

This season’s Premier League looks to be the toughest in years.  Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are all looking typically strong. Tottenham were able to break into fourth spot last year, and there are genuine opinions that they and Manchester City, powered by their seemingly limitless millions, can mount real title challenges. It is also impossible to forget Liverpool, who look to rebuild after last year’s disappointing finish in seventh, as well as Aston Villa and Everton, both full of European ambition.

Roy Hogdson swapped Craven Cottage for Anfield, but the majority of the side that almost won the Europa League remains intact. Roberto Martinez has improved Wigan with a batch of new signings from around the world, and Birmingham and Blackburn Rovers will be keen to improve on their top half finishes. Sunderland and West Ham are traditionally considered “big clubs,” and their fan support will expect much more than last year, where
 relegation was closer than European competition. Newcastle defied the doubters to come back up on the first try, and their huge fanbase and strong squad is a tough task for almost any opponent.

It seems there are almost no easy matches anymore; Blackpool may find out the hard way.

By Andrew McCarten

Following on from the success of our World Cup prediction game (congratulations go to Dobbo for victory in that), here at The Football Blog we are now launching our very own Premier League prediction competition in conjunction with our sister site, SportGuru. The key to winning is simple: correctly predict as many Premier League results as you can. If you’d like the chance to prove yourself against other readers, then read on. 

As any player or manager will tell you, it’s a very long season and as such our competition won’t follow every fixture of the Premier League because it would just be too exhausting to try to pick so many results. Instead, we’re following the top eight sides from last season: Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Everton. Any matches involving one of these teams will appear in the competition.

Entering our league couldn’t be more simple, the hard part begins when you start to predict the outcome of the games. To get involved, here is what you need to do:

1. Head over to SportGuru and, if you haven’t already done so, register to play
2. Join the Premier League tournament
3. Under ‘Pools’, click on ‘Join a pool’ and enter the following code: kalealum
4. You are now part of The Football Blog league and are ready to start making your predictions

With the start of Premier League competition now just three weeks away, now is the time to start swotting up on the pre-season form of the teams involved and assessing how well you think they can do in the new season. You have right up to kick off to make your predictions for each round, although the game is already up and running so feel free to make your opening predictions now if you are feeling bold. Be warned however: once made, your picks can not be changed.

Our prediction game is the perfect way to drag yourself out of the post-World Cup lull and ignite your interest in the domestic season ahead, so get involved today and prove what you really know about top flight football.

In the aftermath of England’s World Cup debacle, the name of Roy Hodgson has been widely touted as a possible replacement for Fabio Capello should the Italian’s services be disposed of in the next week or so. Liverpool have beaten the FA to the punch however, with Hodgson having signed a three year contract for what he has described as ‘the biggest job in club football’. Whilst he may consider swerving the England job as a lucky escape, the size of his to-do list at Liverpool is comparable to that of the national job and expectation levels are equally as high.

So what are his priorities? First and foremost is the need to secure the futures of a seemingly ever growing list of key players who want out of Anfield. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are the most prominent of these, with neither player having exactly made encouraging noises about their commitment to Liverpool over the summer, with the handy excuse of having a World Cup to play in. The same is true of Javier Mascherano who is wanted by Rafa Benitez at Internazionale, with Dirk Kuyt also apparently adding his name to this list in the past week or so.

Without the lure of Champions League, Hodgson will certainly face an uphill task in convincing all of this quartet in staying, but perhaps equally as pressing is the need to perform surgery on the over bloated squad left by his predecessor. With a well publicised debt of around £350 million, the club would certainly benefit from a reduction in a wage bill augmented unnecessarily by the presence of numerous fringe players who simply have not shaped up in the Premier League: think Damien Plessis, Nabir El Zhar and Phillip Degen for starters.

The absence of key players for large periods of last season also highlighted the need for some reinforcements to the squad in certain areas. Hodgson is thought to have a budget of around £12 million to work with, a relatively modest budget when you consider Manchester City have just spent £30 million on David Silva alone. Brede Hangeland has been widely linked despite a price tag which is likely to prove prohibitive, but perhaps more pressing is the need for alternative striking options to Fernando Torres.

Last season’s reliance on David Ngog in the absence of Torres was a clear failure, with Daniel Pacheco hardly a prolific alternative either. Milan Jovanovic will hope to do better when he finally arrives from Standard Liege, but Hodgson may wish to strengthen further in this area. Left-back also seems to be a problem position for the club currently, with question marks over Emilio Insua’s ability to deal with the rigours of the Premier League. Doubts also continue to exist about the much criticised Lucas Leiva, with Hodgson apparently ready to offer Danny Murphy a return to Anfield.

Hodgson will also need to ensure that he wins over the Liverpool fans early, especially given the fierce hatred that exists for those running the club and the way in which they forced out Benitez, for whom they retain much affection. There also appears to be doubts as to whether Hodgson is a big enough name for the job, after all it was not that long ago that Jose Mourinho was being touted as a potential replacement. The names of Frank Rijkaard and Guus Hiddink have also been linked to the position in the past month, not to mention a possible return to management for Kenny Dalglish.

However, Hodgson could well be the steadying hand that Liverpool require to stabilise and once again press for the elusive nineteenth league title. He will be entering into the position under no illusions under as to the financial position the club are in, the boardroom wrangling with which Benitez grew so tired, and above all the expectations the club’s fans have for success. With Arsenal and Manchester City first up next season, we should get a good early indication of how well his 34 years of management at both club and international level will serve him in handling these pressures.

Stories emerged last night that Rafa Benitez has been offered £3 million to walk away from Liverpool after talks with chairman Martin Broughton, as the club seek to avoid paying the £16 million Benitez would be entitled to if he were to be sacked. Whilst there are no indications yet that the Spaniard will accept the payoff, Liverpool fans must be wondering who would want the position should he depart.

Benitez’s position has been in doubt since January when he was targeted to replace departing Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara. He passed up that opportunity in the hope that there would be renewed investment and subsequently a healthier transfer budget to bolster a squad which was drastically underperforming. However, it appears the board are not able to assure him of this and have effectively issued a vote of no confidence.

Somewhat understandably, Benitez is understood to have stressed that Liverpool cannot recover without an end to Tom Hicks’s and George Gillett’s calamitous ownership. However, it appears that any takeover could be some way off with any investor having to meet the American duo’s £600-800 million asking price for the club, and as such the board has sought to end the impasse by offering Benitez a way out.

Benitez’s departure would throw up a number of questions, some more easily answered than others. In the first instance, it is hard to imagine that Benitez would be out of work for long with Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti known to be an admirer. More difficult to predict would be the future of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres who both want evidence the club can strengthen the squad and compete for honours next season.

However, perhaps the most pressing question is: who would want to replace Benitez? With no money to spend, owners that nobody wants and who are actively looking to sell the club, an imbalanced squad whose star performers are unsettled, yet expectations for silverware as high as ever, it is difficult to see who would leap at the chance of jumping into the hot seat at Anfield.

Martin O’Neill and Roy Hodgson have both been mentioned as potential replacements, but they have now committed their futures to Aston Villa and Fulham respectively. Jurgen Klinsmann, who Tom Hicks scandalously admitted to ‘sounding out’ over the position back in 2008, is currently out of work but his poor spell at Bayern Munich highlighted his unproven ability at club level.

Beyond that, it is hard to see who is available and would want the job. In all likelihood, the club may be required to appoint a short term option before any takeover is completed. This is unlikely to go down well with the fans of a club who are desperately seeking to end their title drought and recover from a largely disastrous season. It is also difficult to imagine that this would do much to encourage Gerrard and Torres to stay.

Whilst Benitez’s faults were obvious last season, his position has been severely undermined by owners who have financially crippled the club and shown him no faith whatsoever. Few could blame him for accepting their offer and walking away, head held high having guided his team to a European Cup and FA Cup. He would be a tough act to follow, and given the circumstances, most would struggle do a better job.

Don’t get me wrong, the efforts of West Ham’s new owners, David Gold and David Sullivan, to stabilise the finances at Upton Park is great for the club. But with all their background interference in the clubs on field affairs since the pair joined in January, would any manager worth their corn really want to move to Upton Park?

Gianfranco Zola, despite doing a fairly good job at West Ham, clearly wasn’t part of their plans. Now, I’ve got no problem with this in principle, new owners deserve the right to bring in their own man. Particularly as Zola and assistant Steve Clarke – through no fault of their own were on astronomical wages.

But why all the mid-season interferences? Gold and Sullivan were being honest, which is a lost trait in football ownership at the top level, but when the ship looks like it might be sinking, there’s no need to make the hole any bigger.

Firstly it was signing Mido and Benni McCarthy – two awful footballers. McCarthy’s so far over the hill he can’t even see the peak any more, and Mido – as admirable as his alleged £1,000-a-week base rate contract was in a league of hyper-inflated wages - isn’t cut out for Premiership football.

Then there was announcing proposed savage pay cuts across the board at the end of the season. Talk about kicking a team while they’re down. Again, another admirable move that was announced at totally the wrong time.

But Sullivan really took things to far after the 3-1 defeat to Wolves in March. In an open letter to the fans on the clubs website, he slammed the teams “pathetic” performance and expected a “dramatic” improvement. It was what every fan was thinking, but Sullivan was the only one stupid brave enough to say it.

I’ve got great respect for what West Ham were, and what they could be. And despite what I’ve said, I’ve got great admiration for the owners breaking the all too common silence at top level football management.

But West Ham can count themselves lucky that (along with Bolton, Wolves and Wigan) there were 3 teams worse than them in the Premier League this season. In the sense of trying to save the Hammers’ top flight status, Gold & Sullivan did very little help.

Today the pair announced a 10-point pledge going to get the club moving forward. Nothing alarming in there. “Appointing the right manager” (don’t expect any Christmas cards Gianfranco), sign new players and continuing to clear the debt are three big musts for the club moving forward.

Most intriguing is the clubs plan to move to the Olympic Stadium. A bold plan, from a pair whom we should expect nothing less.

Bob Bamber

It is being reported today that Barcelona are stepping up their efforts to secure the signature of Cesc Fabregas. In a similar situation to that which was played out last summer, the Catalan club have clearly stated their desire to bring the Arsenal captain to the Nou Camp, with the player himself appearing equally as eager for the move. Having held onto him for longer than most realistically expected, it might be time for Arsenal to let Fabregas get his way.

Fabregas is undoubtedly Arsenal’s most influential player and he demonstrated on numerous occasions this season the impact his presence and attacking threat can bring. Take for example the Gunners’ home match against Aston Villa back in December. With 57 minutes gone and the game at 0-0, he was introduced as a substitute, still recovering from the effects of a hamstring injury. When the full-time whistle was blown, Arsenal had run out 3-0 winners and Fabregas was on the score sheet. Twice.

So why would Arsene Wenger even consider letting him leave? Firstly, the Arsenal manager is likely to respect the fact that Fabregas has given the club several years of fine service in a period which has seen him pick up a solitary FA Cup winners medal. Wenger knows more than most that the club’s failure to seriously compete for major honours is hindering his capacity to hold onto a player of such talent and ambition.

Looking at the issue from a more pragmatic standpoint, Arsenal could be in line to make a very significant profit from selling Fabregas back to the club from which they signed him. Wenger deserves immense credit for nurturing a player whose potential had clearly not been appreciated at the Nou Camp, and turning him into a world class midfielder. This oversight by Barca may well cost them something close to £40 million if rumours are to be believed.

This would prove a very useful sum of money for Wenger to reinvest in a squad with weaknesses which he has himself recognised. Their defensive frailties were all too obvious as their title challenge spluttered, and a new goalkeeper and central defensive partner for Thomas Vermaelen are a must for Wenger, with William Gallas also seemingly wanting out. Could Fabregas’s sale provide the capital required for these signings?

The possibility of Yaya Toure moving to the Emirates as part of the deal has also been mooted, something which should be welcomed given the club’s need to recruit in the defensive midfield position which has never properly been filled since it was vacated by Patrick Vieira. Alex Song continues to show promise but has been found wanting in some key fixtures, a problem Wenger can no longer continue to overlook.

Furthermore, the cash from Fabregas’s sale is also likely to stretch to the purchase of a replacement attacking midfielder. Another former Barcelona trainee has been heavily tipped as a target for Wenger and would be a perfect fit for Arsenal’s fluid style of play: Mikel Arteta. His playing style is similar to that of his fellow countryman’s and he also contributes important goals. How willing Everton would be to do business is another matter however.

Arsenal are starting to look overly reliant on Fabregas and, as Manchester United showed this season in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, that is not a good thing. Fabregas has stated he wants his future resolved before the World Cup which would be in the interests of all parties involved. Arsenal should grant him his wish in order to move on and regroup in time for next season.

The 2009-2010 Premier League season was brought to a close yesterday and, as expected, it ended with Chelsea securing the title in emphatic manner too. With all top flight matters now settled and as the nation starts to gear up for the World Cup, it’s time to reflect on what has been a fascinating season, as we hand out our own end of season awards.

Manager of the season

Harry Redknapp won the official version of this award, and his achievements should not be overlooked. However, our award goes to Carlo Ancelotti. In his first season in the English game, the former AC Milan manager seamlessly adapted to the rigours of the Premiership and broke Sir Alex Ferguson’s three year grip on the title.

Whilst Redknapp spent freely to recruit a team in his own mould, Ancelotti worked with what he inherited (admittedly not a bad selection of players) to play attractive and winning football. The 8-0 drubbing his team handed out to Wigan yesterday was symptomatic of their free scoring football this season, and they are worthy winners having been beaten United, Arsenal and Liverpool home and away this season.

Player of the season

It’s difficult to go against the grain on this one. Wayne Rooney was in inspired form for the majority of the season and without his goals and presence, United would surely have fallen off the title pace long ago. England fans will be hoping he can replicate this form at the World Cup, whilst Rooney himself might be hoping for a decent strike partner at United next season.

Game of the season

20^th September 2009 – Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City. It was a derby game which had all the twists and turns you could want in a game, as City came from behind three times at Old Trafford. They thought they had secured a point when Craig Bellamy struck in the 90^th minute, until the fourth official indicated four minutes of stoppage time and Michael Own did what he does best.

Goal of the season

14^th April 2010 – Danny Rose vs Arsenal. OK, it may have been slightly dodgy keeping from Manuel Almunia, but put this goal into the context of the game (Arsenal needed to win to keep their title hopes alive, Spurs needed to win to keep in the race for fourth, it was a bitter local derby) and the fact that it was Danny Rose’s first Premiership appearance, and it comes out as a worthy winner.

Best summer transfer

He may have forced through his move to Sunderland in acrimonious circumstances with a little help from Twitter, but Darren Bent arrived at the Stadium Light with a point to prove. After bagging 24 league goals, it’s fair to say he’s proved it. In spite of this, he probably won’t get a place in the England squad this summer, but can consider his reputation well and truly restored.

Worst summer transfer

In fairness to Alberto Aquilani, this award might have more to do with Rafa Benitez’s decision to purchase him rather than his own form. In obvious need of a striker and a fit and ready replacement for Xabi Alonso, the Liverpool manager blew his entire £20 million budget on Aquilani, who was injured at the time. And he has remained that way pretty much all season, with the Anfield fans granted only brief glimpses of his talents. A lot to prove next season.

Team of the season

The PFA have delivered their own verdict on the 2009-2010 Premier League team of the year, here is ours:

Joe Hart (Birmingham on loan); Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), Jody Craddock (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Gareth Bale(Tottenham Hotspur); James Milner (Aston Villa), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Florent Malouda (Chelsea); Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Darren Bent (Sunderland)

So there you have it, another season done and dusted. The planning for next season will already have started for most managers, and there will have been many a lesson learnt over the past nine months. Let us know your thoughts on the season just gone. How did your team fair? What were your highlights? And what are your hopes for next season?

Just when you thought the battle for fourth place couldn’t get any closer, both Spurs and Manchester City managed to win their games at the weekend, meaning Wednesday’s game at Eastlands still has a possible Champions League berth riding on it.

After being defeated by Manchester United last weekend, Tottenham managed a not entirely convincing 1-0 win against Bolton. Meanwhile, City comfortably beat fellow fourth spot chasers Aston Villa 3-1, ending Martin O’Neill’s side’s Champions League dreams for another season. 

Like Chelsea and United at the summit, there is just one point between City and Spurs. Tottenham are currently occupying fourth spot with sixty-seven points while Man City remain close behind with sixty-six points. Spurs will be looking to beat City on Wednesday evening and put an end to the issue ahead of the final game of the season.

Roberto Mancini’s side won’t give up easily though and will also be looking for that all important win and three points. City have an advantage over Redknapp’s side given the game will be held at their home ground, although the influence of nerves and expectation on the players should not be overlooked.

Saturday’s game at White Hart Lane saw Tom Huddlestone score the only goal of the game with a superb strike from 22 yards in the last few minutes of the first half. Gareth Bale once again had an excellent game. Bale’s pace and agility left Bolton struggling to keep up with the home side, leaving Wanderers in fourteenth place with just thirty-six points, a total which surely would have seen them relegated in any other season.

It was a nervy affair but the win was all that counted. Given Arsenal’s failure to win at Blackburn yesterday, Spurs now also have the added incentive of beating their bitter North London rivals to third place, an achievement which would cap a season of steady improvement and punish Arsene Wenger’s team for their late season profligacy.   

However, Manchester City proved against Villa that they will be no pushovers. In spite of all the talk of dressing room unrest and dissatisfaction amongst the players with Mancini’s approach to training, he has still managed to guide City to within touching distance of fourth spot, his principal aim after having replaced Mark Hughes as manager.

Ironically, it was the three players who have been perceived as being the greatest disruption to the City dressing room that gave Mancini’s side the win, with Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Craig Bellamy all finding the back of the net in their victory

City’s emergency loanee goalkeeper Marton Fulop was thrown in at the deep end for this one and he looked to be overawed by the occasion at first, especially when John Carew had put Villa in front after sixteen minutes. He gradually improved however, making a decent save from James Milner, and Mancini will be hoping he can build on this on Wednesday.

O’Neill was understandably disappointed by the result claiming Villa were in command for much of the game. Whilst the Northern Irishman can once again reflect on an impressive season which had included a League Cup final and FA Cup semi-final, he must be wondering what he has to do to bring Champions League football to Villa Park, having this season been leapfrogged by City and Spurs. 

Mancini was however thrilled with his team’s win saying, “We kept playing football against a good Villa team. We must now beat Tottenham in a massive game”. He has billed it as his team’s ‘cup final’, and whilst he can go into confidently given his side’s recent form, Redknapp is equally determined for his side to secure the chance of Champions League football. Frankly, this one is too close to call. 

Rachel Thompson