4th Place

With the Premier league all but wrapped up, I wanted to look down the league table and raise a couple talking points.

The 4th Champions League spot is still up for grabs. Man City play Spurs tonight. I really hope that Spurs can close the 6 point gap on the Millionaires of Manchester. It will be a big ask because they have a clown in goal, and seem to have lost their swagger... I am guessing that injuries have slowed Harry's men's progress, along with the reliance on Rafa van der Vaart for goals. Spurs' strikers have had one to forget. They desperately needed Defoe, Pav and Crouchy to be prolific if they were going to challenge for a Champion's League spot again. I fear for them because I can see them losing their prize assets (Bale & Modric) even though Harry says that they not for sale. Personally, I would love to see them both in the red strip at Old Trafford.
So where to from here for Spurs? If they win tonight and on the weekend they could be level on points with City (City are playing the FA final). That match on the weekend is against a resurgent Liverpool team at Anfield though. I cannot see Spurs beating both teams to be honest, not in their current form. I would have to say their little fairytale is over for now.

Liverpool on the other hand are looking incredibly good. It has been said many times already (more than 400 million times by Liverpool fans) that Kenny has done a great job, and he really has. You have to take notice of a team that looks as if they have their mojo back (Kenny has even got Maxi to perform - That is more of an achievement than if they were to reach the Champions League place). They are  playing attractive, attacking football and have climbed up the league table from 12th to 5th since Kenny started calling the shots.
They could still make that 4th spot theirs, but it would require City and Spurs to drop points. Not impossible, but I hope they do. Its good for the football world that traditional footballing philosophies that Man City do not get that Champions league place. The Liverpool fans would absolutely drive me to drink (very bitter, unable to give credit where its due and carry an arrogance) but in the interest of football, Man City must not get that 4th spot.
I think looking at the fixtures and form going into the remaining 2 games, I will be counting on Liverpool to carry on their good form and get that 4th place.

Man City, however, play their remaining games against Stoke (Home) and Bolton (Away). I am hoping that Stoke also get in on the act and help spoil the Arabs' party and beat them to win their 1st trophy and then again to help Spurs and Liverpool knock them out of the Champions League place.


I wish Everton had a little more luck with injuries. I believe David Moyes could push Liverpool, City and Spurs and even Arsenal (next season) for that 4th spot. I have great respect for him. He has incredible financial restrictions that he over comes to continually compete. There is no "real" money for new transfers on an annual basis and he also manages to keep the majority of their star players like Arteta and Cahill. He is forced to bring through youth through their academy (he stays competitive with young players) and has done a great job finding "bargain buys". I hope that his luck turns around and that he has an opportunity to compete with a full squad next season.

Over and Out

Fletch