Day Of Destiny

It's one of if not the biggest day in the club football calender as today the Championship Playoff Final and the Uefa Champions League Final will both be contested later on today.

The Playoff Final is between West Ham and Blackpool, both sides are looking to bounce straight back up to the Premier League after the pair were relegated last season.









 






Sam Allardyce took over at Upton Park following the Hammer's demotion last term, his side racked up an impressive 86 points but missed out on automatic promotion on the last day of the season. The East London outfit only have themselves to blame for not going up automatically following a winless run at home towards the end of the campaign which saw the team draw many games. With that being said West Ham United only lost 8 games in the Championship this season fewer then any other team while the team set a club record of away wins and also battered Cardiff City 5-0 to get to the playoff final. They beat their opponents Blackpool twice this season, 4-0 at home and 4-1 away and even last season the Hammers beat the Seasiders 3-1 with a 0-0 draw in the other fixture. With the club being unbeaten in those last 4 games against Blackpool and consisting of a squad that already has Premier League quality within it West Ham are my favourites to win today, they have the fire power within the team to win as the likes of Kevin Nolan (13) Carlton Cole (14) and Ricardo Vaz Te (11) have an impressive 38 goals between them. They also have players such as Sam Baldock, Nicky Maynard, Henri Lansbury, Mark Noble and Jack Collison who will look to put their stamp on today's final. The team scored 81 goals this season, the second highest in the Championship, and had the best defensive record of any of the 4 playoff teams which showed when the team didn't concede in either of the two games against Cardiff. The likes of youngster James Tompkins and England Goalkeeper Robert Green will be crucial at the back for West Ham today as they look to lift the trophy and move back up to the bigtime at the first time of asking.

But although the odds are stacked against them Blackpool are certainly no pushovers, Ian Holloway's men were nowhere near contenders when they first got promoted to the Premiership and after getting relegated in their first season in the top-flight many wrote off the team going back up as the likes of Charlie Adam left the club once the team went down. Holloway himself said that a win in today's final would eclipse the achievement of when the side first got promoted, his team got through a nervy 20 minutes against Birmingham as they held on to win 3-2 which shows the resilience and capabilities within the Blackpool ranks. Veteran goal machine Kevin Phillips looks to end a personal playoff hoodoo as he has previously lost two finals as a player, he himself has scored 17 goals this season and has been influential in Blackpool's road to Wembley. Holloway's achievements during his time at Blackpool can not be overlooked, he has a great captain in Barry Ferguson. A player who seasons ago people would have laughed at Blackpool for having a chance at signing. The likes of him and Phillips will have to be at their best if they are to beat a very strong West Ham team today, other key players for the Tangerines will be youngster Matt Phillips, 12 goals this season, and Gary Taylor-Fletcher, 8 goals, who stuck with the team despite their relegation last term.

One thing's for sure, in a one off game in any sport anything can happen. Today's match is the most valuable match in football financial wise as it is worth an estimated £90 million to the winner. As well as that it puts the winner in best league in the world and can have devastating affects on the losers. Both team's will be raring to go come 3 o'clock this afternoon with their fans singing their hearts out at the historical venue that is Wembley. Personally my money is on West Ham, I think the class in their side will edge it but don't be surprised if the game goes to extra time or even penalties!

The Champions League Final is the showpiece event for today's football. German giants Bayern Munich take on Chelsea at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The Blues will have to go in to Bayern's backyard and try to get a result in order to lift Europe's biggest prize whilst Munich will look to become the first team to win the trophy at their own ground.

Chelsea's interim manager Roberto Di Matteo has already won his side the FA Cup and looks to propel himself in to legendary status with a win tonight, well with his time at the club as a player that is already confirmed but if his side doesn't win tonight he could sadly suffer a fate many others have under club owner Roman Abramovich and find himself jobless. He has turned the clubs fortunes around since AVB was sacked but with the team finishing 6th in the Premier League tonight is a good moment in the West London clubs future. If they lose they will not only have lost a second Champions League final, the first being on penalties to Manchester United in Moscow, but they will be out of the competition next year which could have a serious knock on effect financial as well as meaning they may not be able to attract the high calibre players they seek. But Chelsea beat Barcelona to get here, on their day Di Matteo's men have shown they can beat anyone and the Spanish side are not just anyone after all let's remember they are a side that has been branded as possible the best footballing side ever. Captain John Terry was sent off on that memorable night for the club in what was a unmemorable night for him personally, after missing the crucial penalty in that final against Manchester United he will  now have to sit out of the clubs second chance. Controversially the English international has been given permission to lift the trophy if they win tonight. Whatever happens if Chelsea tonight the players who have played on the night will be the heroes, the likes of Terry and Ramires will be remembered for their roles on the way to the final but tonight it will be down to the likes of Frank Lampard, Peter Cech, Juan Mata and Didier Drogba to put in their best performances in order for Chelsea to win. With the way this season's footballs gone anything can happen, I wouldn't put it past Fernando Torres stealing the show especially as it was his goal that sealed Chelsea's place in the final.

Chelsea have a lot to prove to Europe and everyone watching around the world but can they really do it? Well they have lots against them but they can take positives from the fact that Bayern Munich are trophyless at the moment after missing out on the Bundesliga to Borussia Dortmund following a 5-2 thrashing in the German Cup Final and that they missed out on the title by 8 points finishing second. A positive for Chelsea it might be but for Bayern it is a massive incentive, they will not want to suffer another loss or more humiliation and what could be more humiliating then losing to an English side at your own ground. They have many incentives to win as does star player Franck Ribery who missed out on Bayern's last Champions League Final through suspension when they lost 2-0 in Madrid to Inter Milan. With the likes of Ribery as well as Dutch superstar Arjen Robben Bayern could run riot tonight. The Germans have many quality players within the team and a host of German's in the side who will be eager to get the job done, the likes of Phillip Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos and Mauel Neur will all want to do their country as well as their team proud by celebrating on their own soil. All have unique qualities that could be decisive in tonight's game.

As with all finals in all sports their are many stats and statistic to support either teams case for who will win. Well let's have a look at some, one player I didn't mention on purpose so I could mention him now was Bayern Munich's star striker Mario Gomez. The German international has 12 goals in this seasons competition leaving him just two behind the great Lionel Messi and even more impressive he has a stunning total of 20 goals in his last 17 Champions League appearances. It will be down to the defensive duo of Gary Cahill and David Luiz who are expected to pass late fitness tests to stop Gomez and Bayern's other various attacking options.

If Chelsea fans were worried before then look away now, Bayern Munich have won 13 of their last 14 matches in front of their home crowd scoring 40 goals and letting in just six. Their last defeat was in November 2011 1-0 against Borussia Dortmund (they're pretty good against Munich right!). In the Champions League the stats are just as scary and identical as Bayern have won 13 of their last 14 home fixtures. Their most recent loss in the competition was in last season's campaign during the final 16 round 3-2 against Inter Milan. Overall Bayern Munich have played 30 Champions League matches at the Allianz Arena losing only... three.

To make matters worse Bayern have only lost once at home to an English side and surprisingly that was against Norwich City in the 1993 Uefa Cup. The other 15 matches have resulted in 10 wins and 5 draws for Munich meaning that in the European Cup and Champions League eras Bayern are undefeated at home against English sides. With all that being said Chelsea themselves have beaten the odds this season as they have shown on numerous occasions, they fought back to beat Napoli in extra time and as mentioned previously beat the mighty Barcelona. Against German teams they themselves don't have a bad record as they have won 7, lost 4 and drawn 2 of their last 13 games against German sides. However that glimmer of hope could be dashed when you consider that in 6 travels to Germany, Chelsea have managed just one win in 6 which was back in 2004 against Stuttgart meaning they have lost 4 and drawn 1 in the other 5 meetings.

Many can predict what will happen but in virtually hours the teams will walk out on the field and there can be only one winner as both sides look to lay recent demons to rest but only one will come out on top. Who will it be?

Personally I'd favour Bayern but in a game of this magnitude who knows and once again don't be surprised if there is extra time and/or penalties amongst various other twists and turns in tonight's final.

Is Woy weally weady for the Euwos?

Yesterday Afternoon Roy Hodgson announced his 23 man England squad for Euro 2012. England's first game against France is less then a month away, the new England manager has decided to stick with more of the experienced players and those who played during the qualifying games. Here is the squad:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Robert Green and John Ruddy.

I had all three down in my squad I tweeted yesterday, Joe Hart is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and one of the best in the world. He'll be crucial for England and will play a big role in any success they have. Green is a good back up despite his hiccup against the USA in the 2010 World Cup and although a slight surprise when you look at the season John Ruddy has had for Norwich he definitely merits a spot in the squad plus anyone is better then Scott Carson.

Defenders: Glenn Johnson, Phil Jones, Gary Cahill, John Terry, Joleon Lescott, Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines

The 7 defenders cause some head scratching moments especially at right back, Micah Richards may not have started every game for Manchester City this season but he has done great over the past 2 seasons to recapture his best form and after young player of the year Kyle Walker was ruled out for the Euros I would have definitely put Richards in especially as I don't rate Glenn Johnson highly at all, poor defensively and always looks nervy at the back. Phil Jones provides cover and centre half and right back plus he can play in midfield so is a good choice. The left backs were a given but John Terry's inclusion splits fans opinions, there is no doubt about his class but with the racism storm still clouding him and not the best season for Chelsea I would have left him out. I also would have left Rio Ferdinand out but there you go it was either one or the other or neither, the only reason this is getting so much attention is being both are quality players who most teams would love to have in their side where as in the Terry and Bridge craziness let's face it Wayne Bridge was never good enough to play for England. Jagielka misses out but is on standby and is probably equal on ability with Cahill and Lescott, the latter I have criticised before but he has improved and all 3 in my opinion would deserve a spot in the squad.

Midfielders: Scott Parker, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry, James Milner, Stewart Downing, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young.

England don't have too many young up and coming midfielders well they do but the likes of Jack Wilshere and Tom Cleverley have had injury ridden seasons. Jack Rodwell is a great talent but with only 14 appearances and so much experience in the middle of the park he was doubtful to go although personally I'd have given him a look as he is a star of the future where as someone like Gareth Barry isn't even a star of now, how he is in the team again I'll never know. All I have in my head is images of Mesut Ozil destroying him in South Africa, in the middle of the park you need someone with a great passing ability and how Michael Carrick has been overlooked again I'll never know especially as the Manchester United midfielder is coming off his second best season for the club in my opinion. Apparently Carrick has now retired from international football as he doesn't want to be a bit part player and wants to focus on club football which is fair enough. The rumours of Paul Scholes returning to the international fold never happened which is a shame but Gerrard and Lampard have enough experience to do something special and with time running out for the two on the international scene both will have a point to prove and hopefully will put in the class performances that we have seen so often from both at Liverpool and Chelsea respectivelyy. It is the Liverpool man who will skipper the side in Ukraine/Poland and that is a fair choice, the only other standout candidates for me would have been Joe Hart, Scott Parker or Wayne Rooney but Gerrard is a suitable choice. The likes of Parker and Young have had good seasons and are both great players who deserve to be in the England side, Oxlade-Chamberlain is a fantastic young player and the 18 year old will be a good asset for England. Hopefully he doesn't go off the boil like Theo Walcott did after he was exposed to a big international tournament back in 2006, Theo has performed well over the past 2 seasons though and with his pace is a danger to any opposition. Apart from Gareth Barry the biggest shock is the inclusion of Stewart Downing, he has 0 assists and 0 goals this season for Liverpool in 36 league games this season. His form at Anfield has been poor, okay we need a left-footed winger in the team and thankfully Adam Johnson is on standby but I don't see how he has got in to the team especially as that means someone like Aaron Lennon is sitting at home this summer who is better then him and Walcott. The midfield overall is good so Roy hasn't done too bad then apart from the two stinkers but hopefully they won't get near the pitch.

Forwards: Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe, Danny Welbeck

Hodgson has opted for just 4 strikers although Theo Walcott or even Oxlade-Chamberlain could play up top. As everyone knows Wayne Rooney is the star man for England but without him for the first two games  whoever was given the nod upfront was going to be under scrutiny. Rooney scored 34 goals for Manchester United last season, Defoe and Welbeck both have 17 and Andy Carroll has 9. The stats are pretty good for all 4 even Andy Carroll as he has started to find his stride at the back end of the campaign with big goals against the likes of Blackburn, Everton and in the FA Cup Final against Chelsea. Defoe hasn't got the starting time he would of liked for Spurs but 17 goals is a great return, Welbeck has flourished at Manchester United playing with Wayne Rooney and the two struck up a deadly partnership which if called upon for England the two will surely hope to recapture for their country. There wasn't many other options up front although I would have personally taken young forward Daniel Sturridge as I feel he has a lot to offer, come the next World Cup it will probably be Sturridge, Welbeck, Rooney and Carroll up front if we were picking right now as they are the best young strikers in the country. Sturridge is on Hodgson's standby list so could still make the squad if any injuries hit the team, he has suffered a bit since Di Matteo took over at Chelsea as he has played less but he himself has still got 13 goals this season. Unfortunately not everyone can make the squad, the other two names who didn't make the squad upfront were Darren Bent and Peter Crouch. Bent has been injured lately and although he has a prolific record in the Premier League he hasn't really shown it on the international stage, 4 in 13, where as Peter Crouch has, 22 in 42, but he doesn't make the plane. The only other striking option could have been young Englishman Gary Hooper who plays his trade at Celtic, he has had a stunning season in the SPL scoring 29 goals in 50 games helping fire the Scottish club to the title. At only 23 though he could still break in to the side in his career and good luck to him.


So overall the squad is a pretty good one I'd say apart from some of the shockers I've picked out. My main one is David Beckham, he should be in the side but that's me living in a fantasy land. Roy Hodgson may want to focus on his own shocker's though as I would like to nearly end on a quote he said when explaining why he chose Alex Oxlade-Chamberain for the England squad:


“He is a very exciting player who has made an impression on me, not least in his performance against AC Milan at the Emirates,” Hodgson said.

“I was there live and saw how well he dealt with Pirlo and Ambrosini. He can play wide or central and for future and can continue as he started.”

Well first of all Pirlo play for Juventus and Ambrosini didn't even play in that match, for someone who is so "experienced" that is shocking, sort it out Roy. I can't even put in to words how hilariously bad that is. Whatever happens and whoever is in the squad good luck  to England and let's hope something magically happens this summer.

End of season recap.

The Premier League season is over and what a final day it was for football fans around the country, never has there been quite an ending to a campaign like the one that unfolded on Sunday.

With minutes to go at the Etihad I sat there biting my nails in front of the TV hoping United would clinch another league title but I just had a feeling City would get something and then in the 94th minute Sergio Aguero grabbed the winner just moments after the full-time whistle had gone at the Stadium of Light.

Credit has to go to Manchester City for overturning an 8 point deficit over the space of 5 weeks but United can hold their heads high despite being able to look back and pinpoint various moments in the season where just one result would have clinched the title. The media and many others are all enjoying this moment as City's title win is defined as a "power shift" but let's be honest that is hardly true, losing a title by 8 goals is just unlucky but to win a title you need luck and although City have spent millions without being bitter I can say they deserve their moment in the spotlight.

Next season though Fergie will rally the troops together and look for his Manchester United side to take the title back off the even noisier neighbours especially after the signs of 'RIP Fergie' that Tevez held up high on a banner during City's open top bus trophy parade. Players like him and Joey Barton are a disgrace to the game, their actions are inexcusable and when you are getting paid wages in a week that some people don't earn in a lifetime you should feel honoured for being able to play a game so many people love and get paid ridiculous amounts of money.

Back to footballing matters, Ferguson will need to dip in to the transfer market and strengthen this United side but not heavily, people are claiming this is one of Fergie's worst sides but 89 points is a points total that would have won the league many times over the years and is in fact United's 3rd highest total ever. Captain Nemanja Vidic will be back next season after virtually being out for the whole of this campaign, Paul Scholes is staying on for another year which is a huge boost and the young lads in the side have gained some valuable experience that will hold them in good stead for next season and the rest of their careers. The likes of Anderson, Berbatov, Owen may be on there way out but I think the main target for United is to sign a big name player like Edin Hazard. The Belgium international  is set to leave Lille this summer and has said he will be playing in Manchester next season, for United or City it remains to be seen. The likes of Kagawa from German champions Dortmund have been linked and he would provide a fresh buzz of excitement in midfield plus be a great move merchandise wise as the whole of Japan will go crazy providing plenty of money for Manchester United. The likes of Modric and Sneijder are mouthwatering prospects for fans like myself but we will have to wait and see, whatever happens Sir Alex knows what he is doing and is building a team that will compete for years to come even once the great man has left.

City will continue to spend now that they are Champions and are only going to attract better players, for the rest of the league Sunday was also a very big day. Arsenal managed to confirm 3rd place over their North London Rivals Spurs and will now be in the Champions League automatically next season but their main aim is keeping prized asset Robin Van Persie at the club.

Tottenham and Chelsea's futures come down to this Saturday's Champions League final, while Tottenham may not be in it they know the importance of securing Champions League football and after finishing 4th they need their fellow Londerners to lose in order to keep their place in Europe's biggest competition. Chelsea came 6th, it was the first time they've finished outside the top 4 since the 2001-2002 season, interim manager Roberto Di Matteo has clearly not been focused on the league games as he has been trying his best to keep his key players fresh ahead of Saturday's Final in Munich against Bayern Munich. If Chelsea win they'll be the best team in Europe, club owner Roman Abramovich will have finally achieved what he wanted and the team will be able to attract new talent and rebuild under whoever the clubs next manager is as with the Russian at the helm you never know. But lose and it's back to the drawing board for them and they will have to spend at least one season out of the Champions League, they have a pretty old team and if they lose on Saturday it could have a bad knock on effect..

A win for Chelsea would be great for them but for Tottenham it would leave them wondering what if, Spurs managed to hold on to their stars such as Luka Modric and Gareth Bale but another season of out the Champions League and a host of big names could be out of White Hart Lane with aspirations high amongst a squad full of talent. Tottenham will be hoping Bayern get the job done in front of their own fans and they will look to buy players to strengthen their squad, something they didn't really do last time they were in the competition although they did great to reach the last 8 in their first season in it.

Down the other end of the table and it was relegation for Wolves, Blackburn and on the final day Bolton suffered the cruellest fate in football too. It is one of the first times in recent memory where three sides have gone down and I have doubted if any of them will actually bounce back, Blackburn with a change of manager could where as Wolves won't and Bolton might depending on who stays and go's and if manager Owen Coyle is committed for the long term.

Southampton and Reading will strut their stuff in the big time come the 2012/2013 season and will be joined by either West Ham or Blackpool in what promises to be an exciting game at Wembley this Saturday. West Ham narrowly missed out on promotion automatically and have a squad that would compete in the Premier League, they are favourites especially as they have beat the seasiders twice this season but at Wembley in a one of game anything can happen. For my dad's sake I hope West Ham get promoted.

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed me blabbering on and hopefully I'll force myself to ramble on some more on my blog especially now that I've got a 4 month summer off of uni. Next stop on the footballing calender after this weekend is the Euro's, let's see how England do and what kind of squad Woy picks later on today.