This year has been one of the most exciting that the Premiership has ever seen, but obviously that is not the only trophy up for grabs (same as every other year). The FA cup has seen big clubs fall at early hurdles, with then title favourites Man City being knocked out in controversial circumstances in the 3rd round to Man United, even with 10 men they narrowly lost 3 - 2 and showed a great spirit in the second half to rouse some sort of a comeback. Man United then fell to a late Dirk Kuyt goal at Anfield in the 4th round in a game they lost 2 - 1. Arsenal were the next big team to fall as they were outplayed in the peak of their season's crisis by a newly revived Sunderland team under Martin O' Neill. Chelsea and Tottenham are the only teams left from the top six still in the F.A cup and the winner of their tie must be seen as favourites, but we all know the magic of the F.A cup and anything can happen. The Merseyside derby is the other semi-final and it is probably the closest game between the two clubs and with the most pride at stake, knowing that the winning team could go on to lift the famous old trophy at Wembley. The Chelsea - Tottenham fixture will surely produce the favourite to win the trophy, with Chelsea fighting on two other fronts in the Champions League and in the league in their own personal fight for Champions League football and Tottenham in dire form which has starkly contrasted to their form over the rest of the season it seems as though Chelsea are slight favourites on form, but as we all know the magic of the F.A cup can produce amazing games of football. Liverpool and Everton will be looking forward to their biggest derby in recent years knowing that either club will be one step closer to lifting the trophy, but with Liverpool having won only 2 games of their last 9 in the league and with their consistent stopper Jose Reina suspended after his madness at St James' Park the tie is a very close one to call with Everton being in high spirits after their 4 - 0 thumping of Sunderland giving them motivation that they can usurp their Merseyside counterparts, also being a point ahead of Liverpool in the league will give them confidence that they can beat their closest and fiercest rivals. Overall I think that Tottenham will lift the F.A cup but in knock-out competitions one game and a dodgy performance can spell disaster and anything can happen but I think Tottenham are slight favourites.
For me the Champions League is a no-brainer. I think the final will be between Barcelona and Real Madrid because they have both been the dominant forces in Europe and Spain this season, I can't see Chelsea getting past Barcelona with Lionel Messi in unbelievable form having scored 61 goals this season already, I'll wait for your jaws to be lifted... Lifted? Good. An outside shout for winners would be Bayern Munich who have Mario Gomez in amazing form himself with 39 goals in 43 games and with the threats of Thomas Muller, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery just behind him, you would be a fool to write off them as having no chance because they are simply unstoppable going forward and if those four are on form and in tandem then Real Madrid will have a tougher route to the final than they bargained for and it will be the tie of the round.
The Premiership is a trophy which is all but over for me, Man United will wrap up their 20th league title in the next few weeks, maybe even at the Etihad Stadium which will be a delicious twist of fortunes. Man City's form has dropped considerably over the last couple of months and Man United, in typical Man United fashion have taken them by the scruff of the neck and booted them out of poll position and now hold a surely insurmountable 8 point lead over their rivals. A few weeks back I wrote a post on the title race and who I thought held the cards, at the time Man City held the cards and I believed them to be favourites due to their position and form at the time, but with players now under-performing and Mario Balotelli being more trouble than he's worth and seemingly disrupting his team-mates, Man United's dressing room stability and team spirit has pulled through yet again and Mancini has learnt the lesson which every manager in the English league now knows, you do not mess with Fergie and do not, I repeat, DO NOT, try mind-games with the wily old Scot.
Who do you think will win the trophies that are still mathematically (in the Premiership's case at least) up for grabs?
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