Football Focus

[Sandperson]

Yes, the (just) better team (just) won. ;)

It's not been a season where anyone has covered themselves in glory and I think the big three have had too many injuries to contend with. Congrats to Chelsea and PUP!

[matthew123]

Don't forget Arsenal SP they had worse injuries than anyone in big 3.. Oh I see you meant it as a dig at Liverpool... well if that floats your boat.. ;-)

As I said at start of season I thought Arsenal were too physically weak to win title and I have been proved correct on that front. I actually think PL has been going backwards the last 4 years with last season being particularly poor when title was there for the taking.

[Mick Mac]

I think Arsenal lost credibility as title contenders when they were comprehensively beaten by MU and Chelsea.

Having said that they could still have stolen it. I think Wenger prioritised the CL and lost Fabregas unnecessarily and before that dropped points at Birmingham when he rested some players ahead of the Barca game.

Once they lost Song and Fabregas to injury it was season over.

Chelseas win at Old Trafford really set them up to win it quite comfortably.

[Sandperson]

Matt, it was a friendly dig.

[woofmarkthedog]

Chelsea...

deserved to win it ( how hard is that to say as I'm a Gooner ) & the game yesterday was an exhibition of how they go about it

They also scored an amazing amount of goals & given that some player created some fairly unsavory press for themselves, they stuck together as a team throughout the season

Good luck to them

Also seeing A F on the pitch yesterday speaking to the fans was fun, he did look a little peeved though ( rightly so I suppose )

Now Arsene ( I know you are reading this ) please, take some cash & buy some more experienced players

I mean, I watch paint dry for a living BUT this is even testing my patience

W**F

[Jah Lush]

Well done Harry Redknapp - Barclays Manager Of The Season. What do you think about that then?

[Mick Mac]

Great - and deserved. I'm sure most people would agree that to break into the big 4 is a massive achievement.

[ruffers]

Should have been Hodgson.

Under Redknapp the second biggest spenders in the league have come fourth, big achievement yes but not like getting Fulham to a European final.

[????]

Mash on Chelsea

[ratty]

Def should have been Hodgson.

[Jah Lush]

No surprise you were going to say that ratty. I agree though but I'm pleased Harry got it all the same. English managers don't get enough credit these days and those two have thoroughly deserved the plaudits this season.

[red devil]

I'm sure Hodgson will win the League Managers Association (LMA)award which is voted for by other managers unlike the sponsored Premier League award...any manager in any division can win it. That's not to take anything away from 'arry especially as Spurs were serious relegation fodder when he took over 18 months ago. But what Woy has achieved this year with such a limited squad has been brilliant...

[Mick Mac]

Still think harrys achievement is the better of the two. A league achievement usually wins over a cup achievement. Celtic got to the uefa final with a good team and so did rangers so thats the standard. Its harry for me.

[ruffers]

Yeah but they're Celtic and Rangers, this is Fulham... compare the clubs.

For the LMA one yes, hope that goes to Hodgson but if it can be any division Ian Holloway must be in with a shout.

[matthew123]

What about Carlo Ancelloti on the brink of winning the Double with Chelsea in his first season? Working with all those egos and smashing in over 100 league goals. This with a team who 2 years ago was judged to be past it's sell by date by Ferguson but have risen to the top with maximum points against Liverpool, Man U and Arsenal and not forgotting what must have been the destabilising antics of Terry and Cole.

[ruffers]

Nah, he lost home and away to Man City!

[kpc]

Fine achievements by Redknapp and Ancelloti but if you compare available resources, it has to be Hodgson for me. Quiet, unassuming and dignified/

[red devil]

Woy...

[????]

Zola gone

...strong rumours for Grant ratty

[ratty]

Grant won't stay at Pompey without assurances about future and he aint gonna get them. We are preparing to say goodbye to him on Saturday - watch out for something a bit special.

As a manager and a man of integrity - he is THE best in the business.

Villa in for him also!

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

England's 30-man provisional squad for the World Cup finals:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.

Defenders: Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock.

Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Forwards: Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.

[kpc]

ratty Wrote:

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> We are preparing to say goodbye to him on Saturday -

> watch out for something a bit special.

>

Would his surprise have anything to do with massage parlours?

[Jah Lush]

Six Spurs players in the England squad. Fanbloodytastic Don Fabio.

[matthew123]

..and Gomes in the Brazil squad.. so ya might have someone returning to WHL with a WC winners medal!

[Mick Mac]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> Six Spurs players in the England squad.

> Fanbloodytastic Don Fabio.

How many in the first starting 11 do you predict Jah?