Wednesday, 20 May 2009

Football round-up




The Premier League's 17th season could end in elation for Manchester United, who earned top spot in competition's top spot for the 11th time, and for a record 3rd term in a row.
The 2008/2009 competition could be their most successful ever as they chase a mindblowing 5 peices of silverware.
Sir Alex Feguson's side are still chasing trophies this term; they've secured their place in the FA Cup final to play Everton, and they will also have the chance to defend their Champions league trophy against Spanish champions Barcelona at the end of the season.

It has been an unbelievable season for the 67-year-old Scot's team, who also won the Carling Cup this season after a nail-biting 4-1 penalty shoot-out win over Harry Redknapp's Tottenham Hotspur.

This followed their International Club Championship success, where they were crowned champions of club football's 'world cup,' beating opposition representing each of the world's major leagues.
Earlier on in the season, however, the mighty Red Devils lost out in the European Super Cup to last season's UEFA Cup winners, Andrei Arshavin's Zenit. st Petersberg team thanks to goals from Brazilian Danny and Russian forward Pavel Pogrebnyak.

Arshavin's new team, Arsenal, have enjoyed a mixed season, with their fortunes looking brighter since he joined. Most notably this included the 4-4 draw with Liverpool at Anfield when the 27-year old forward scored all 4 of Arsenal's goals in a thrilling game. Arsenal played in this season's Champions League semi-finals, FA Cup quarter-finals, and League Cup semi-finals but finished fourth in the league - leaving them without silverware for the 6th year running.

League runners-up Liverpool look in good stead for next season's championship with club captain Steven Gerrard claiming a coveted Player of the Year award. Alex Ferguson further fuelled his fued with Reds boss Rafael Benitez by claiming that Gerrard did not deserve the award.

Third position saw Chelsea finish without a trophy this season after they were beaten 1-0 on aggregate by Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals. Interim manager and Russia boss Guus Hiddink says he has no intention of staying past the end of the season, and speculation is rife that Carlo Ancelotti will quit AC Milan to replace him. It is reported that the Blues board are demanding a major clear-out of players.

At the bottom of the table, West Brom's relegation was confirmed following a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool. They will be joined in next season's Coca-Cola Championship by Middlesbrough and Newcastle-United unless results go their way in the form of Hull and Sunderland losing on their final matchdays.
The league table can be viewed on the BBC sport website here.

Championship Summary

Champions Wolves and runners-up Birmingham will look forward to returning to England's premier competition next season. Birmingham City return to the Premiership at the first time of asking, while Wolves boast the season's top scorer in former Manchester United and Plymouth front-man Sylvain Ebanks-Blake with 25 goals.

In the promotion play-offs, Sheffield United will play Burnley for the right to join th two midlands clubs at the highest level next term. Burnley knocked out favourites Reading 3-0 on aggreagate, whilst Sheffield United defeated Preston North End with an aggregate win of 2-1.

At the other end of the table, there was good news for Plymouth Argyle who secured safety by 5 points. Below them, however, there was heartbreak for three clubs who were well-established Premier league clubs only a few short years ago. Norwich, Southampton, and Charlton will all play in League One next year following miserable seasons for all 3 clubs.

Other suprises in the league standings include Bristol City's impressive 10th-place finish, and Welsh clubs Swansea and Cardiff finished just outside the play-off places in 7th and 8th respectively.

Monday, 18 May 2009

Local team: Gillingham

Local side Gillingham concluded their successful season by finishing 5th in the Coca-Cola League Two table, and will now compete in the play-offs to be promoted to the League One next season. This would see them play against the likes of Charlton, Norwich, Southampton, who have already been relegated from the Championship.

The big game is against Shrewsbury Town at Wembley on Saturday 23rd of May.

Elsewhere in the league, Brentford, Exeter, and Wycombe will all move up to League One. Champions Brentford finished with 85 points and Exeter and Wycombe with 78 and 79 respectively.

The league table can be found on the BBC website here.