Joel: 13

Stuart: 13

Joe: 7

Mike: 13

So it's a tie! Who deserves to win? Joel, for his outstanding vision in tipping Burnley and Bordeaux to triumph, getting the FA Cup winners right and being one Wolfsburg away from a clean sweep in Europe? Or Mike, who sort of knows his SPL and spotted Barca's potential, but also tipped West Ham for the drop and Villa for 4th? Think it'll have to go to a public vote.

by Joel Abraham

What the hell happened to Manchester United?

Some of us expected a thrilling final, and were left disappointed. It was, in truth, a trifle dull. The general consensus seemed to be that if Barca scored first, it would force United to attack and lead to a great game. Instead, the game looked over as soon as Eto'o scored. The Catalans defended through the art of possession, which does not make for exciting football. After all, if the opposition don't have the ball, they can't score. Xavi and Iniesta were at their majestic best, passing around the United midfield as if they weren't there, but the Barca performance wasn't so much spectacular as efficient. Two defensive errors, two goals. Guardiola's side are not dissimilar to Mourinho's Chelsea of 2005.

United seemed to crumble defensively under the pressure of the occasion. Ferdinand and Vidic were both at fault for the goals. The second was utterly horrifying. To allow Xavi of all players that amount of time and space to cross, and to leave Messi completely unmarked in the area was utter suicide.

Fergie blew it. They fell into the Madrid trap rather than following the Chelsea blueprint. Ferguson saw Barca's depleted defence, and subsequently tried to outgun them rather than stifle them. Chelsea showed us how to play against Barca, to hassle Xaviesta, to defend in numbers, to sit deep and crowd out the final third.

Last night, we got Michael Carrick v Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. Carrick is good, but not that good. Anderson lacks the positional discipline to be an effective defensive midfielder, and who knows where Giggs was supposed to be playing? That midfield trio might've worked had they been sitting in front of the defence and closed down the Barca midfield, with Anderson to chase, Carrick to cover and Giggs to intercept. Perhaps with Park in the deeper role instead of Giggs, United may have had more luck.

The front three of Rooney, Ronaldo and Park left United with no real striker, with Ronaldo demanding the ball at every opportunity, shooting on sight, and fading into obscurity as the match progressed. It could be argued that this trio were effective against Arsenal, but it was only effective because Kieran Gibbs fell over and Ronaldo scored a free kick. Perhaps Berbatov should've started centrally, flanked by Rooney and Ronaldo.

At half time, with the problem clear, Ferguson swapped Anderson for Tevez, which proved to be a poor decision. Tevez's first touch has been appalling lately, which one might attribute to lack of playing time, but his introduction certainly didn't help United. The man is clearly unhappy at the club. Rooney on the left wing is something of a mystery, it seems almost designed to limit his involvement in the game, and Rooney does not perform well in big games.

The system was set up to counterattack. The major problem with this being that if you don't score first, you're stuck. They let Barca play their football, which was sheer madness. United were unbeaten in Europe for two years because Ferguson stuck to a cautious 4-5-1. The man is not a tactician, but he is lucky enough to have such a good squad that he can pick the wrong team and still win. Barca, by all accounts, should not have been in the final, having rode their luck against Chelsea and profited from some truly appalling refereeing decisions. Yet United failed to genuinely test a side who had been for the most part outplayed by Chelsea.

Ferguson clearly thought his team was stronger and would win in a pure football face-off. Had Ronaldo scored any of his early chances and United won 1-0, then we'd be hailing Fergie as a genius. Unfortunately, there was such a gulf in class in the midfield battle that Barca were in control for most of the game. Against Xaviesta, the two best midfielders in the world, who've been playing together since they were 11 years old, United were powerless to resist.

Chelsea afforded Barca plenty of possession, but didn't allow them any penetration. This is how you beat teams who like to keep the ball. If you defend in numbers, the opposition will pass the ball from side to side for long enough that they run out of ideas and give the ball away. I said yesterday that if Ferguson set out his team to stifle Barca, United would win. Unfortunately for him, he did the exact opposite.

By Michael Sinnerton

As the season draw to an end Students of the Game takes a look at which players have had a good enough season at the bottom of the league to guarantee themselves a move onwards and upwards.

Chris Brunt - A strange season for West Brom, one in which at no point did they look like they would grace the Premier League next year but one in which they were never disgraced. One shining light was the performances of the Northern Ireland international.  Brunt has made 37 appearances and scored 8 goals and is particularly dangerous from set-pieces. With a wand of a left foot, Brunt has begun to take on more responsibility later in the season and has been linked with a move to Rangers, the team he supported as a boy. At 24 he is still young enough to progress and could also be a decent signing for Wigan, Bolton or Portsmouth.

Stewart Downing - Ok, so it was hard to pick a Middlesbrough player who has excelled this year but Downing is their best player and despite an average season is almost certain to stay in the Premiership without his home town club. Tottenham, annually, have been linked with the left-winger who would finally add some much needed balance to their midfield.

Sebastian Bassong - A centre back who managed to emerge with credit after a whole season with Newcastle...sign him up.

Bernard Mendy - I want to suggest George Boateng to any promoted team needing a midfield general, Boateng's absence corresponded with Hull's collapse this season, but the Dutchman really is getting on a bit. So three cap wonder Mendy gets the nod, if Hull go down. His relatively utility on the right hand side is basically down to the fact that he is ridiculously fast; this also makes him a decent offensive weapon.

Glen Johnson - Whether or not you're totally convinced about his as an England player, Johnson is one of the best right backs in the Premier League and with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all having has problems with his position over the last year Johnson could be set for a Champions League team. Alternatively the form of Arbeloa and Bosingwa could lead to a bid from Aston Villa or Everton, whose current right backs are Luke Young and Tony Hibbert.

With players like Peter Crouch and Paul Robinson also enjoying good seasons but unlikely to move, who do you think has excelled this season whilst their club has faltered?

By Michael Sinnerton

This week has seen some of the craziest stories of the season. Here are my favourites.

• 1) BBC Sport: Ex-England footballer Paul Gascoigne has said that football clubs should not stop players from drinking.

This titbit, which is more ridiculous than Joseph Fritzl offering parenting advice, came following Harry Redknapp's vow to ban alcohol following Ledley King's arrest on Sunday morning.

"It's a little lesson for Ledley King. That's OK. He'll learn from that, there's not a problem, leave the kid alone. What can you do?" said the self-confessed wife-beater about the man arrested on suspicion of GBH.

• 2) Simple but brilliant. The French club Le Mans have just appointed Arnaud Cormier as their manager, with Yves Bertucci serving as his assistant. At the beginning of the season, Bertucci himself was the manager - and his assistant was...wait for it ... Arnaud Cormier.

• 3) (Taken from FourFourTwo.com.) Boca Juniors' hooligan group has begun unofficially offering services to tourists by taking them into the stadium and keeping an eye on them. For a total charge of just £50, apparently less than tourists are usually fleeced, the visitors also get a courtesy call the next day to make sure they had a good time. I wonder if the Glazers might try it.

By Michael Sinnerton

Just a few thoughts that I’m not sure have been properly voiced by the media this week. Whilst it’s not a major story given the goings on at the bridge I would like to have seen more commentators pick up on the swings and roundabouts of Chelsea v Barcelona. Given that it’s generally accepted that a farcical refereeing performance cost Chelsea the tie, I can’t understand why John’s Terry’s late winner in 2005 (4-2) that put Chelsea through hasn’t been brought up. A clear foul on the goalkeeper by Ricardo Carvalho was completely missed by the referee and Chelsea went through as a result. To me that means both teams have perhaps wrongly gone through to poor decisions. Two wrongs don’t make a right but they sure do even things up.

Another thing that has probably been brought up more in Spain, and even Italy is Guus Hiddink’s record. During the 2002 World Cup his South Korea side were the beneficiaries of a similar number of ludicrous decisions against both Italy and Spain. Perhaps this added to the Dutchman’s calm persona having on the other side of the fence on more than one occasion. Hiddink, who I thought tactically got things pretty much spot on (at least until Barca went down to 10), is undoubtedly a great manager but a lucky one. It was his PSV side remember who won the European Cup without winning a game in the latter stages.

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By Michael Sinnerton

After eleven minutes this second leg had less life in it than Heather Mills'. As good as Manchester United were, it's very difficult to get excited about watching an 80 minute procession, luckily the third goal was pure class and Robin Van Persie may have even given Dimitar Berbatov and co. a few tips on penalties should United face that eventuality in Rome.

This game turned out to be less of a contest and more of a chance for Cristiano Ronaldo to lay down the gauntlet to Leo Messi. The current world player of the year and the heir in waiting could be on a collision course for a Champions League final showdown. Any football fans whose loyalties don't lie with Chelsea, or perhaps Real Madrid/Espanyol, must root on Barcelona tonight, not only so that attacking football is the winner but also so that we get a chance to see Europe's top two teams go head-to-head. There is no doubt in my mind that Barcelona are the best team in Europe this season, regardless of tonight's result, but Manchester United have arguably the best squad and showdown between the two would help rejuvenate this great competition in an era when English dominance threatens to take some of the shine of club football's greatest prize.

Back to the events of last night, given that Manchester United had already sealed their path by the time Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra were removed, surely Darren Fletcher should just have given Fabregas the chance to score. Given that the tie was won, any rash challenges were ill advised and whilst Fletcher may have got a touch on the ball, the challenge was still a rash one. Despite touching the ball he did bring Fabregas down from behind, had the Spaniard been able to stay on his feet he may well still have scored since Fletcher's touch was so minimal. I think it's a penalty. Furthermore, any talk of Fletcher's will to win must be tempered by the logic that the game already won.

One man who may have had mixed feelings about the sending off is Paul Scholes, having been in a similar position he must have felt for his friend and colleague but Fletcher's red card makes Scholes' place in the starting XI in Rome almost inevitable, strange how things work out. Fletcher must hope now hope his time comes again.

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As a footnote, hopefully this game has put all talk of Manuel Almunia playing for England to bed, forget his nationality he simply doesn't have the ability. What next? Trying to get El Hadji Diouf a passport or desperately searching for possible English relatives of Mido?

By Michael Sinnerton 

Is Joey Barton the most ridiculous player in the country? A player who has more talent than half of his Premier League contemporaries but who seems to have less than half the brain of your average village idiot. Since baring his backside stupidly, although somewhat amusingly in 2006, Barton waited until May 2007 before next making the news with an attack on Ousmane Dabo, which led to the Frenchmen making a police complaint.

Six months later Barton beat up a teenager in Liverpool city centre and was sentenced to six months in prison, unfortunately serving only 74 days of his sentence. Three months after his release he was cleared after of any wrongdoing after scrapping with Gabby Agbonlahor. A subsequent injury has kept Barton out of the news for more than six months but scything down Xabi Alonso on Sunday seems to have led to a row with Alan Shearer and the subsequent suspension which looks likely to end his Newcastle career.

The confusing thing about Barton is that it takes a huge amount of effort and determination to become a professional footballer. Even the most naturally talented, Dimitar Berbatov for example, have to completely commit at an early age. Taking that as read it seems crazy that Barton is almost throwing his career away. Perhaps Sam Allardyce will take a gamble on Barton again but seeing how badly the move has backfired on Newcastle he's more likely to consider it once burnt, twice shy. With any luck the Championship will gain some exposure from Barton's antics next season.

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Of course, Barton's point about a perceived lack of tactics under Alan Shearer is not without cause. All reports have Barton starting the game brightly but Shearer's decision to replace Peter Lovenkrands with Jonas Gutierrez saw Barton shifted out to the right wing. He became peripheral and presumably pretty frustrated and so the challenge itself was stupid he may well feel that Shearer's tactical decisions played a large part.

Either way Shearer has been in charge a month at St James' and has picked up two points in five games, whilst the fixture list has been tough there has been no noticeable impact since his appointment which is unusual for any manager be it Guus Hiddink or Paul Hart. It almost goes without saying that Newcastle v Middlesbrough has almost become a relegation play-off with Championship football for both a real possibility.

One story you may have missed this week is the Serie A breakaway. In a move that has echoes of the formation of the Premier League 19 of the 20 Serie A clubs have voted to move away and form their own governing body.

The strangest thing about this breakaway to me is that Lecce, 2nd from bottom have voted against the proposal yet Reggina, Bologna and Torino (the other teams at threat from relegation) are in favour. Whether the breakaway would include these teams or promoted ones i don't know but its surprising that all the 'relegation teams' weren't in the same mind.

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Off to Spain, unfortunately not to see 'El Classico' here's to weekend wins for Reading, Liverpool and Manchester United

by Joel Abraham

Barcelona v Chelsea

----------------Valdes----------------
Alves----Marquez------Pique-----Abidal
-----Xavi----Yaya Toure----Iniesta----
------Messi------Eto'o-----Henry------

----Malouda-----Drogba-----Ballack----
-----Lampard----Essien-----Mikel------
Bosingwa---Terry------Alex----Ivanovic
-----------------Cech-----------------

When Barca's frontline are unleashed, they can rip any defence to shreds, so Chelsea will have to be at their very best. Bosingwa could be the weak link for Messi to exploit. The clash of Barca's midfield artistry against Chelsea's gladiators will be an interesting one. Iniesta is in sparkling form, so Essien will have the unenviable task of shackling the Spanish playmaker. Hiddink will have to decide between Anelka and Kalou, where the Ivorian's workrate could be favoured. Lampard and Drogba could cause Barca's defence serious problems, particularly at set pieces, where Valdes is a liability and Chelsea have supreme aerial dominance. Hiddink may be content to bag an away goal and take the tie back to the Bridge. Barca will probably outgun Chelsea, but there will be plenty to play for in the second leg.

Man United v Arsenal

--------------Van der Sar-------------
O'Shea----Ferdinand----Vidic------Evra
Ronaldo----Carrick---Anderson----Giggs
----------Berbatov----Rooney----------

---------------Adebayor---------------
Eboue--Fabregas--Song---Nasri--Walcott
Gibbs------Djourou----Toure------Sagna
----------------Almunia---------------


United's goalfest against Spurs will send out a warning to the Gunners' makeshift defence. Rooney tore Spurs apart playing on the left, bagging two goals and three assists, so Sagna will have his work cut out. Gibbs could struggle against Ronaldo, but if the latter decides to roam then Arsenal may profit. Eboue could be picked for his defensive experience. Arsenal have something of a selection dilemma, with Eboue, Denilson, Diaby and Bendtner all possibilities for the last spot in the team. The rest picks itself, with Djourou set to replace the "injured" Silvestre. Expect a mobile, tenacious central midfield trio of Fabregas, Nasri and Song to press United high up the pitch, with Fabregas pushing up to support Adebayor. Nasri is being groomed in a new holding role in the midfield, where his energy, tackling and passing will be crucial to Arsenal's ability to hit United on the counter. A potential weakness could be Evra, who was given the runaround by Aaron Lennon at the weekend, and could be exposed by the pace of Walcott. Rafael da Silva is another option at right-back, whilst Tevez could be a better choice than Berbatov up front.  Arsenal usually get the better of United when Ferguson sets him team out to attack, so Arsenal might nick this one.

By Michael Sinnerton 

Wow. Those of us who thought that Chelsea v Liverpool (Part 5) would be "two tight affairs" and "not one for the purists" may need to be a bit more imaginative with future predictions. Although at least Barca came through as predicted, with a home win being followed by an away draw.

The wonderful 4-4 at Stamford Bridge meant that the tie everyone feared may well turn out to be the tie of the round (Porto v United pending). Guus Hiddink succeeded where Luis Felipe Scolari failed in really getting the best out of Gary Megson and Rafa Benitez. Perhaps Abramovich finally has the exciting attacking football he so desires, combined with a winning team and a manager he trusts and likes.

Too bad it's only for six months. Whisper it quietly but Chelsea fans, and maybe even players, have forgotten him.  Unless Roman can somehow persuade Russia's powers that be that Hiddink can job share successfully, whoever comes in next season may have shoes even bigger than Jose's to fill.

Chelsea's current surge has surely come too late for the Premier League and Barcelona must be favourites in Europe but Arsenal fans must be slightly fearful that a more than makeshift back-line will struggle to deal with Dr. Ogba and ‘Lamps' on this form. Hiddink's impact is such that ending the season trophyless would now be considered a failure. FA Cup winners' medals may not be what the Chelsea players wanted at the start of the season but I think that's how they will end it. Whether the veteran Hiddink can get the better of the young maestro Guardiola may well be another epic contest to savour but for now bring on Wednesday's quarter finals.