…I am bizarrely delighted that they lost to Barnsley (and Tottenham come to that). I wouldn’t feel this way if ManU were still involved, but the FA Cup has now re-established its credentials as an excellent cup competition, and all these results are very healthy for football as a sport. I don’t really mind who wins it now (probably Portsmouth) but it won’t be one of the big four. Wonderful.

I also hope/expect:
Arsenal to win the title
Everton to claim fourth
Chelsea to win the Champions League!!!!

Well that has put a smile on my face. I hope he appoints Shearer as his assistant, although he’s one of the few people in the world who might be able to cope with a ‘king over the water’. Have to say, with respect to Shearer, that the whole saga is a bit like one of those soap operas where you can see that two people fancy each other rotten but just never get it together. You want to shout ‘just shag each other and get it over with!’ Sorry if that’s a bit coarse…

I am getting irrationally excited about this.

GK Robinson (back ups in James and Foster)

CB Terry (c)
CB Carragher (back ups in Ferdinand, Ledley King, or as RCB Gary Neville)
LCB Bridge or A.Cole if fit

Deep midfield
DM Hargreaves or P Neville or Reo-Coker
DM Beckham or Carrick

Wide midfield
Left Joe Cole (back up Gareth Barry rather than Downing)
Right Aaron Lennon (back up SWP)

Attacking midfield
Gerrard (back up Lampard – tho’ I have to say that although Gerrard has sometimes been in inspirational form for Liverpool, I haven’t really seen him do it for England, where he gives away possession much too readily (Lampard much less so) and I think Lampard is better as a ‘straight’ midfielder. This formation, though, requires almost a front three to link together, and I’d like to see Gerrard and Rooney given a run at it. There’s also no point in having all three of Beckham, Gerrard and Lampard.)

Split striker
Rooney (Crouch vs Estonia)

Striker
Owen (back ups in Defoe and Johnson)

This is a formation that accommodates Beckham. I think Carrick could do much of his job in terms of distribution during a match, but it might not be worth structuring the team around him in the same way, as he hasn’t got the deadball gifts. In which case switch to standard 442 and put Gary Neville or AN Other into the right back slot.

I’m fed up with Chelsea, but I still hope they do the double.
I’m looking forward to an Arse-Barse CL final, and I’d be delighted if the home side won 😉
I’d be gutted if Portsmouth stay up.

I’m brooding on some very heavy things to say – my mind is full of I think it quite possible that ManU might drop out of the top four if they have a season like last one. I also think Liverpool might come second (and be the main challengers to Chelsea in the coming seasons).

Dark Horse (ie might get into the top 4): Tottenham.

Europe: Tottenham, ‘Boro.

Good seasons for Man City, Birmingham, Blackburn and Pompey.
Bad seasons for Newcastle (unless they get Owen), Charlton and Fulham.
Nothing happening at Aston Villa. Disappointment at Everton (reflecting the rise in expectations.)

Relegation: Wigan, WHM (shame) and WBA. Which means I pick Sunderland to survive out of those four. Those having bad seasons might have terrible seasons allowing one of those to escape.