We frequently alert you to the excellence of the Guardian Football Podcast, and the Times Ahead of the Game email – now get the best of both with the Guardian football Fiver, delivered to your inbox at 4pm every day.
Click here to subscribe.
Where next for United? After their defeat to Barcelona, there is a definite feeling that they have been revealed as flat track bullies who fell short against the very best. What does Alex Ferguson need to do to elevate them above Barcelona’s ethereal level?
Newcastle’s defeat to Aston Villa on the final day of the season ended a sixteen-year stay in the Premier League and condemned them to Championship football next season. It is fair to say that there is no way the club should have gone down, every week 50,000 fans turn up at St James’ Park and they have the status to attract decent players.
The rumour mill is beginning to get into the swing now we’re nearing the summer transfer window and yet again Gareth Barry is being linked with a move to Liverpool, with Xabi Alonso emerging as a target for probable Real Madrid president Florentino Perez. It would seem as if Benitez will have to let Alonso go to fund a move for Barry… but is it a worthwhile swap?
Another season of Fantasy Football under the bridge… how did you do? Our side finished with 1901 points, in 31,019 position; a huge jump from last season’s 33,211th. In a thousand years time we might win it. Read on the see the season’s dream team…
So, aside from the small matters of the FA Cup Final and the Champions League final, all is done and decided. Newcastle and Boro will join WBA in the Championship next season, Burnley will accompany Wolves and Birmingham into the Premier League, Rangers’ SPL triumph caused Gordon Strachan to resign… read on for a full summary of all the ups and downs in all the divisions.
Reviewing the season the geeky way – here is 2008/9 in numbers. Interested in who was caught offside the most (Djibril Cisse) or which team conceded the highest proportion of goals from outside the box (Arsenal)? Then read on…
The French artisan today committed his future to Arsenal, at least for the two years until his contract expires. His unrest is due to the lack of support from Gunners fans – so will this announcement be met with glee?
Arsene Wenger has refused to rule out a move to Real Madrid, and has called the possible presidency of Florentine Perez ‘Interesting’. After the severe grilling he apparently received last Thursday from the Arsenal shareholders, who could blame him? Yes, they have gone four seasons without a trophy, but he has transformed the club, made [...]
And little is left to be decided. Manchester United have clinched the title, West Brom are down, Boro are almost down… a slightly anticlimactic final weekend will see Hull, Newcastle and depending on tonight’s result Sunderland fighting it out to stay in the Premier League, Everton and Villa competing for fifth, and Spurs and Fulham battling to see who won’t put out a full side in the Europa League next season…
