Champions of England. Champions of Europe?

Hats off. A superlative title defence - if not achieved in superlative fashion.

United (with the odd exception) have done just enough throughout this season. A total of nine 1-0 wins, and a further six victories by a one goal margin. They have played far from their peak many times, but have still proved victorious at the final whistle - a feat their closest challengers (and rivals) Liverpool failed to achieve, ultimately, on too many occasions.

In the games Manchester United have played at their optimum, they have done so with great fluidity throughout the side. From the able centre-backs swapping passes with superior competency; Scholes' and Carrick's (or Fletcher, Anderson and Giggs for that matter!) interchanges - in both position and passing patterns; to a lethal frontline that have gelled utilising their individual brilliance.

It is still in the balance as to whether Carlos Tevez, part of that frontline, will remain at Old Trafford next season - although his apparent 'goodbye' waves & kisses to the crowd when substituted in today's 0-0 draw with Arsenal (crowning United champions) make his departure almost certain.

I would be overjoyed to witness Tevez playing (busting a gut!) in the red shirt of Merseyside next season. He would make an awesome addition to the squad for next season's follow up title challenge; and a cert to start on many more occasions than he has been allowed under Ferguson.

At the end of today's game against Arsenal, although gutting to see United celebrating the title win, it was also strangely satisfying witnessing the relief on the faces of their players, knowing it was my team that has pushed them all the way (all except the final fixture) this season - something I haven't seen since the inception of the Premier League.

Perhaps it could have been different. Had Gerrard & Torres started together more than twelve times it surely would have been. I do not say this with green-eyes at United's triumph - they are worthy winners - I say it because, unlike Sir Alex Ferguson, Rafa Benitez does not have another world-class player to call upon in the circumstances when one of them (if not both) are deemed unavailable - a fact that needs changing in close-season.

Despite my disappointment following Liverpool's exit from the Champions League, I am pleased that the World's elite club competition is to be fought out by two sides posing the best attacking frontlines in World football - and possibly in World football history.

Manchester United's opponents in the final, FC Barcelona, should have their domestic title sewn up this weekend, only requiring a draw as United did today, and will have managed to claim the title in a manner that Ferguson and his players will be envious of.

That said, it is very much in the balance which colour ribbons will be draped from the illustrious trophy when it is held aloft on May 27. If the colours are red, white and black, United will become the first team to successfully defend the trophy - placing the side into the history books.

I, for one, do not want to hear another season of "Champions of England...Champions of Europe" being repetitively chanted throughout almost each of the 90 minutes United are in action. It is monotonous and unimaginative.

It would, however, be one hell of an achievement.

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The Footballer of the Year is crowned

In follow-up to my views on the result of the PFA Player of the Year, I am delighted that my choice for that award, Steven Gerrard, has been awarded the prestigious accolade of FWA Footballer of the Year.

Steven Gerrard was likened to 'Roy of the Rovers' in Harry Redknapp's Sun column today http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article2427753.ece, and I believe that Stevie G is the only player in the world who could emulate the fictional exploits of the heroic Roy Race - although his "Racey's Rocket" would predominately be unleashed by his right boot!

His season's stats resonate his superiority, reading: 2,456 minutes on the pitch, 15 goals (23 in all competitions), 7 assists, 73 keypasses, and 51 tackles made; this bettering those of third-placed Wayne Rooney and (obviously) those of the second-placed Ryan Giggs. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1181396/Well-Stevie-youve-brilliant-Liverpool-wrong-man-won.html?ITO=1490

Although his Liverpool side are appearing increasingly unlikely to win a trophy this season - one point being Man Utd's only requirement to retain the league title at home to Arsenal on Saturday - he has (yet again) been inspirational and perhaps had he been available at the times he was not through injury - with Liverpool unable to call upon a player anywhere near as influential in his place - they would be in that position with Utd praying for a slip-up by a team in red.

It has been revealed that Stevie G was in shock after receiving the call informing him of his individual glory, however, the only shock should be that he hasn't won this before!

The closest competitors to the crown of FWA Footballer of the Year, in my opinion, were Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. I believe these, along with Fernando Torres, to be the only players in the Barclay's Premier League able to walk into any team in the world and feel privileged having them in our national league.

I am still holding out hope that this will not be the only trophy Gerrard receives the season...albeit a slender hope.

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Ryan Giggs - PFA Player of the Year?

Over 18 years at the highest level. Over 758 games for Manchester United (beating Bobby Charlton's record). Over 100 career goals. 10 Premier League winner's medals. 4 FA Cup winner's medals. 3 League Cup winner's medals. And last but not least, 2 Champions League winner's medals. Ryan Giggs is one of the English game's best-ever players.

But why has a player having only started 12 games this season been awarded the PFA Player of the Year Award?

Yes, he has performed well (in those 12 games) in a role not normally associated with Ryan Giggs, deeper in central midfield, and done so at the age of 36. But how influential have his performances been?

I can only remember one, to note, being at Old Trafford against Chelsea back in January. He was immense. All attacking moves went through him at one stage or another. But this was against a Chelsea side in disarray, under the (soon to be sacked) tactically-inept Luiz Felipe Scolari; and included a disillusioned Didier Drogba, who's performance was the worst I have ever seen from a professional footballer; let alone a player as deadly as Drogba.

The PFA, each Spring, have every member of the association vote for two players to receive the award. A shortlist is then published in April and the winner of the award is announced a few days later.

Why does the PFA insist on receiving the votes so early? It doesn't allow a fair reflection on a full season, the month following the award being the most important of a season. A month in which the best, most influential players come to fruition and shape their teams' season.

I was astonished not to see Frank Lampard's name on the shortlist. I (like many) have taken a disliking to Lampard, but no-one can deny his influence in this season's Champions League and also his influence during the Premier League season - that being much greater than the influence of Giggs' for Manchester United!

Brede Hangeland, Fulham's Norwegian centre-half, has been a rock at the back all season and it would be a nice change for a player outside of the top-four to be picked on merit.

Steven Gerrard, for me, should have walked away with the award. Although he has been in great form throughout the season and led by example, it was the days just prior to the nominations deadline and weeks after that he really exploded into life. He destroyed teams like Real Madrid and Manchester United almost single-handedly, and has scored 21 goals in 40 appearances; including 13 in the league. Unfortunately, his presence has been missed in the past three matches but he could still prove the catalyst for an extremely exciting Premier League finale.

Perhaps the Football Writers' Award, due after the final Premier League fixtures, will truly reflect the player that has epitomized his team and their successes?

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Brand & Gallagher Talk Sport

Well, Football anyway. Having downloaded and listened to the show last night, I felt it worth more than a mention.

Being a huge Brand fan, in a comedy sense and in appreciation of his football columns published in The Guardian, I was eager to hear his return to 'the wireless' in a one-off show special for TalkSPORT since "Sachsgate" (the real crime of which being the end of his ridiculously funny weekly Radio 2 show).

Those who tuned in on sunday night, and there was a 250% boost in web traffic due to its online popularity, were treated to not only hilarious banter between Russell and co-host Noel Gallagher, but also an insight into their footballing beliefs; Noel championing Sven-Goran Eriksson's philosophy on football after Sven phised, post 6-0 defeat at Chelsea, "It is better to lose one game 6-0, than to lose six games 1-0."

Also broadcast were anecdotes involving figures in the game. One of which I particularly enjoyed, as a Liverpool fan, being Noel's history of guitar signing for Manchester United players; consisting of Mrs. Rooney sending Noel a £2,000 Les Paul guitar for him to enscribe with a message for Wayne's forthcoming 21st birthday, to which Noel responded returning the gift re-sprayed blue with "Dear Spongebob" and the lyrics to Blue Moon scrawled over it. Wayne returned this favour by sending Noel a press shot of him scoring in the latest Manchester derby, only for Noel to send it back with a Spongebob sticker over his face.
Gary Neville also sent Noel a guitar for which he was to sign. Noel simply reposted, along with the guitar, proclaiming "How you ever got 50 caps for England is beyond me!".

The one-off show featured ex-Man City and West Ham player Steve Lomas, who, via a string of offbeat questions such as "Who had the best bus driver?", announced City to be a better club than 'The Hammers'. It was also revealed how Lomas was involved in a no holds barred brawl backstage at an Oasis gig, battling the likes of Neil Lennon and Keith Curle, the night before City lost to Aston Villa and were relegated from the Premier League.

All in all, it was a fantastic show, combining insightful football chat and Russell's unique humour between the hours of 9 and 11 pm. I am definitely hoping it returns with a regular slot on TalkSPORT, and am sure it will.

For those yet to listen to the Brand & Gallagher show on TalkSPORT, just follow the download link: http://new.talksport.net/blogs/view.asp?id=110588

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Why the Wembley fiasco has reached fever pitch

What a mess. The Wembley pitch has been branded as "an embarrassment", "laughable" and "a disaster". At a time when our country is playing host to undoubtedly the greatest footballing league in the world, and our national side are finally returning some sporting pride...Why has the FA allowed this pride to, once again, turn to shame?

The biggest issue, as touted in the press, is the number of non-footballing events taking place in the stadium. They (whoever they may be?) have opted to use a fibre turf pitch- rather than the seeded DESSO pitch used at the likes of Anfield, Villa Park, the Emirates and the Bernabeu in Madrid. Their choice of pitch is able to be pulled up and laid down again, at a cost of £100,000 a time, before and after concerts, etc; this causes it to be untrue. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1172193/Wembley-turf-war-hots-No-wants-play-worst-pitch-country-says-Wenger.html
I do not have a degree or PhD in...er, laying pitches (excuse my ignorance) but even I am aware that if a turf is laid, pulled up, relaid, pulled up and relaid; it will not be true. However, this all too easy to blame. The old Wembley held regular concerts and events outside of football and the pitch was regarded as the best in the world. The pinnacle of playing surfaces.

The new Wembley stadium cost hundreds of millions of pounds. £757 million to be exact. And believe it or not, its unique features (the arch and retractable roof) were designed with superior pitch quality in mind. Sir Norman Foster, the multi-award winning architect recently selected to remodel the Camp Nou, designed the famous arch and roof structure in order to achieve UEFA Elite Stadium Status, in which it has succeeded, regardless of the blatant pitch deficiencies. The roof was to be manoeuvred to allow direct sunlight to reach all parts of the pitch and to be left fully open between matches (pop concerts, NFL, tarmacked motor races!) again for maximum sunlight and ventilation. This must surely be regarded as a failure. The FA recently released a statement, to which it refers to the stadium's "unique environment" and how it continues to "prove challenging" in regards to surface quality. And this is not good enough.
http://www.eveningecho.ie/news/index.aspx?c=sport&jp=eyauqleyidql

The Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, by comparison, cost just £121 million to build. It, like the new Wembley, has achieved UEFA Elite Stadium Status and accommodates a healthy 74,500 capacity. Not only this but the stadium offers so-called 'Joy Machines' that are able to pull 12 pints in less than 20 seconds! It has facilitated concerts, speedway, boxing and even the Monster Jam Trucks european tour http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Stadium, yet still it proved a very worthy temporary home for our competition finals during the Wembley build. Whilst the new Wembley has reigned as host to two extremely poor FA Cup semi-finals over the last weekend, the Millenium Stadium hosted enthralling, flowing FA Cup Finals. Those that spring to mind, not solely down to my bias of being a Liverpool fan (as I'm sure others will agree) are the very first to be held there in 2001; Liverpool overturning a 1-0 deficit thanks to a virtuoso late show from Michael Owen scoring twice in the last 8 minutes, and the last FA Cup Final to be held in Cardiff, won again by Liverpool after defeating West Ham on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw dubbed "the best Cup Final of the modern era", or as I refer to it "the Steven Gerrard Final".

The pitch at Wembley is now to be ripped up after the FA admitted that it was being forced to start again. This time abandoning the fibre based turf in favour of conventional soil and turf build up. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article6136469.ece

It remains to be seen if the FA get it right this time, but considering the mixed-messages broadcast between them and the designer of the stadium regarding its "unique environment", it's unlikely. I just hope I am proved wrong.


Mark Carter

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