The battle is on. No, not for the Premiership title, stupid, that’s history. Fourth place. That’s what this season is all about now. The battle of the little big clubs, neatly lined up behind the real big boys, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. Under-achieving Liverpool, over-achieving Aston Villa and my favourites, Newcastle, are the serious contenders.
Liverpool go to Birmingham having won only one of their past six away games. Failure to reach fourth spot and that final Champions League qualifying spot will put Gérard Houllier in a seriously sizzling hot seat while superstars Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard, if reports are to be believed, may both move on if they can’t play at the higher level at Anfield.
Steve Bruce’s Birmingham have had a great time this season, achieving mid-table security while we all expected the midland Blues to be battling relegation. I reckon they’ll restrict Liverpool to a point on Saturday.
That would let in David O’Leary’s Aston Villa, emerging as the season’s surprise package. Much has been said this week about the demise of O’Leary’s former club Leeds and his part in their downfall.
O’Leary, a regular caller to my offices at The People high in the London sky, will tell you: ‘I didn’t bankrupt Leeds United. I was responsible for the playing side, others [Peter Ridsdale, the former chairperson, springs to mind] were in charge of transfers. I would never have paid out £18-million to get Rio Ferdinand from West Ham.†He’s got a point.
Villa, gormless mid-table types under Brian Little, John Gregory and Graham Taylor, with the figure of chairperson Deadly Doug Ellis lurking in the background, haven’t had it so good since the heady days of European domination in the 1970s and 1980s.
Villa go to Southampton on Satuday knowing victory over Paul Sturrock’s safe Saints will give them every chance of Champions League football next season. I reckon they’ll get at least a point over couldn’t-be-bothered Southampton.
Which leaves us with Newcastle, two points adrift of Villa and three behind Liverpool — but with a game in hand. Sir Bobby Robson’s Toon Army have doomed Wolves visiting St James’s Park on Sunday. No trouble there. Newcastle will pulverise David Jones and his help-the-aged pack and take pole position in the battle for fourth.
Their final game? A humdinger against Liverpool next week. Now that will be interesting.
Bolton have an outside chance of gatecrashing the Premier B party if all their rivals stumble. Everton, now safe from relegation, stand in their way at Goodison, but that shouldn’t be a problem for the Wanderers. It’s been a disappointing campaign for Everton’s highly rated boss David Moyes, while Bolton’s Sam Allardyce is now being talked about as a future England manager. Incredible.
Leeds, after their shocking 4-1 surrender against Allardyce’s men, which sent them down last week, host Charlton at Elland Road. It promises to be a strange game. Most of the Leeds players will be making their final bow in white, so what will the fans make of it all? Did anyone notice, amid the tears of the fans’ favourite, Alan Smith, a slight sense of relief? The lad must be glad it’s all over.
Leicester are home to Harry Redknapp’s in-form Portsmouth. They were magic against champions Arsenal at Fratton Park on Tuesday and are the best team in the Premiership on recent form as they surged away from relegation to the comfort zone.
They picked up 24 points in their first 28 games, 21 in their next eight.
Unbelievable. Redknapp’s blend of British journeymen and international wanderers will destroy Leicester and condemn them to the wooden spoon.
Of course, the game of the day should have been Saturday’s early kick-off between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford.
But with the Premiership trophy safely on the mantelpiece in Highbury’s art deco Marble Halls, this becomes a game for also-rans.
United, following dismal defeats against Liverpool and Blackburn in recent weeks, are four points behind Chelski, who hold second place. Don’t expect that gap to narrow.
Tottenham, so nearly dragged into the relegation battle and still managerless, host Blackburn, another woeful bunch of overpaid no-hopers.
White Hart Lane will see little in the way of top-class football on Saturday. It deserves a goalless draw.
And finally, the champions, Arsenal. They travel west to Fulham at Loftus Road with their season-long unbeaten streak now standing at 36.
I suspect dodgy German keeper Jens Lehmann will have to be in form to deny Fulham. Two games to play, two draws, I reckon.