Wembley Awaits Champions League Final

Messi and Rooney have been the main subject in the
build-up to this massive game.

As the most glittering prize in European club football approaches, Wembley stands in its element awaiting two of the most talented, consistent and dominant teams in domestic football to embrace its immaculate surface in the UEFA Champions League Final 2011. Spanish giants Barcelona take on Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United at the 90,000 capacity national stadium of the England football team.

Barcelona, in most recent times, have been renowned for their amazing footballing talent and described as possibly the best team in footballing history. Pep Guardiola has certainly masterminded his team’s success in the past 3 years, winning the treble in his first year as manager. A Champions League winner in his first season, notably against their opponents this evening, Manchester United. The Catalunyans have, like United, won their domestic league title after another blistering season in which they thrashed their great rivals Real Madrid 5-0 at the Nou Camp in November. The wide variety of players with extraordinary talent, skill, vision and incredible ability suggest that the manager of Barcelona would not have to say a lot to his players before a game. However, there is much more to management than talking so this point should not be taken too seriously or into deep discussion. With the likes of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Villa and Pedro, Barcelona look unstoppable, but the managing magician that is Jose Mourinho has shown that this is not the case. His Real Madrid side held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in the league and also competed with them in a very controversial semi-final fixture in the Champions League this year. Officials have been at the centre of criticism from the Mourinho but the fact remains that Barcelona are in the final.

The Wembley turf being prepared for the big event.

Manchester United have had a magnificent year, winning a record 19^th league title. The Red Devils have not played the best this season and performances haven’t always been up to the previous standards set by themselves. The success in the Premier League has been down to consistent results, no constant philosophy of how to play football and the determination of the players. They have also made some important comebacks and have scored goals late on and for these assets, they thoroughly deserve to be Premier League winners and will be extremely confident today despite taking an unfamiliar status as underdogs. The Champions League has always been a priority for United, and their performances in the competition this year have been great and have led them to this eagerly anticipated showdown at Wembley stadium tonight.  Making their way past Marseille, Chelsea and Schalke on their way to the final, United have comfortably won their right to be where they are. There should be no reason for United to be scared of Barcelona, they have a very good team throughout, Vidic is strong at the back, Valencia and Nani give United pace on the wings and Rooney has a very solid partnership with Javier Hernandez who has brought something different to the United team in his first year at the club. They’re not a team who loses confidence when they concede , they have been 2-0 down to West Ham and Blackpool this season away from home and have managed to comeback in those games and won. Barcelona may be a better side, with no disrespect to West Ham or Blackpool, but United still have a winning mentality and that will be required today when they face some of the best players in the world.

Edwin Van Der Sar will play his final football game in his career, and what a way to end it would be if they were to win the European Cup. He has been an iconic figure representing club and country at the highest of levels and is one of the best goalkeepers of his generation and has been a credit to Manchester United and Holland. He will surely be missed in the Premier League but a happy retirement is certainly deserved. Hopefully, regardless of the result, he will enjoy his final football match.

There are no injury problems for either side. United look to start with Evra, Ferdinand,  Vidic and Fabio at the back.  Valencia, Carrick, Giggs and Park-Ji Sung are xpected to start in midfield and Rooney and Hernandez are likely to start up front. Barcelona’s Eric Abidal and Carles Puyol both passed fitness tests to play and should start in the back four.

Off the field, there have been rumours that this could be Pep Guardiola’s  last game as Barcelona manager, he has been linked with the vacancy at Chelsea. It sounds unlikely but he has won the La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa Del Rey in his time at Barca, and that is everything he could possibly win at a major level. He may be looking for a fresh challenge in England, but he may also be very happy at continuing the development of Barcelona.

It is shaping up to be a great game, will Messi fall under pressure? Will United win against the odds ? The curtain will soon fall on the Champions League campaign and one team will be crowned champions of European what will be a very special night in football history. I am predicting a great game and Manchester United to win 2-1 after extra time.

UEFA Champions League Final 2011

Barcelona v Manchester United

Wembley Stadium

7.45pm Kick Off.

Town All Out For Victory

Turner- hoping to complete
a great first year at the club.

The final hurdle approaches this weekend with the nPower League 2 season coming to an end as Shrewsbury Town embark on what could be a promotion winning day against Oxford United tomorrow afternoon at the Greenhous Meadow.

A recent run of good results have put Shrewsbury in a good position, a point behind Wycombe Wanderers who occupy the third automatic promotion place in the table. Town were hoping that second placed Bury would do them a favour against Wycombe last weekend. However, despite going down 1-0 early on, Wycombe clawed back into the game and ended up 3-1 winners at Gigg Lane. The main priority though was for Town to get three points, and Mark Wright’s goal secured that win against Cheltenham last Saturday. The defeat for Bury means Chesterfield require just a point in their final match to clinch the League 2 title which looked inevitable anyway until Bury started a chase on the leaders.  It will certainly be a massive game for Town, who will be playing in front of a sell-out crowd on Saturday as supporters anticipate an exciting day of football ahead. With Wycombe facing Southend United at home, it looks like promotion will be a tough test for Shrewsbury but the players must focus primarily on their own game before looking out for other results.  An injury-free squad will surely be a massive boost to Graham Turner, and he will have plenty of options for his team selection which will be very welcoming.   

Former Town striker Constable
looking to end Town's hopes of
promotion.

Town’s opponents Oxford United have enjoyed a satisfying season, after being promoted from the Blue Square Premier last year they have done a remarkable job.  Oxford have avoided safety by a long distance and have just missed out on the play-offs, whilst they don’t have a lot to play for, they still have a good opportunity to consolidate a top half finish. Former Town striker James Constable will be a threat and could spoil the party tomorrow against his old club. The last time the sides met was at Oxford where the home side enjoyed a 3-1 victory, a night to forget for Shrewsbury. Oxford will be tough opponents but if the Town stay disciplined and have the right mentality, then it shouldn’t be a major challenge unless they make it difficult for themselves.

Only Wycombe and Shrewsbury can claim the third automatic place so it is a two-horse race, the fact that there will be much disappointment if Salop only manage to get the play-offs shows how much the team has progressed since last year where the play-offs would have been a great achievement. It remains that way still but many fans are hoping that tomorrow will definitely be the last game of the season.  There are quite a few possible outcomes for tomorrow’s matches. If Wycombe win then it is all over regardless of Town’s result. A draw for Wycombe and a win for Shrewsbury would see Town go up, if both teams lose then Wycombe will be promoted and a loss for Wycombe followed by at least a draw for Town would see Shrewsbury playing League One football next season due to a superior goal difference. 

There will surely be a few bitter tastes if Wycombe do go up taking into consideration the goal from Wycombe’s Gareth Ainsworth that wasn’t a goal at the Meadow this year and also the late equaliser at Adam’s Park where Wycombe salvaged a point against the Town. It may be unjustified but it is all part of football and had it have happened to Town- nothing would be said about it.  No matter what, it surely will be an anxious day but with an incredible atmosphere expected to raise the decibels at the Meadow, it could just thrive the team on to that promotion we have patiently been waiting for in the last 3 or 4 years.

Tom Bradshaw has been on decent form
lately and will be looking to continue
 that on Saturday.

There are a lot of other important battles tomorrow that are happening at the bottom of the league, with Stockport already relegated after defeat last week, Barnet and Lincoln City are fighting to stay in the Football League. Barnet have to win to have any chance of staying up, as they are 2 points behind Lincoln. Barnet face Port Vale at Underhill. Since losing manager Mickey Adams, Vale have slipped down the top half of the table and realistically cannot  reach the play-offs. Due to an inferior goal difference, a draw for Lincoln and a win for Barnet would see the Imps go down.  Lincoln are also at home and they are playing Aldershot Town, a win for Lincoln would consequently relegate Barnet and City would live to fight another day.

 Another big battle is for the final play-off places available. Wycombe and Shrewsbury are both guaranteed a place in the play-offs and Accrington Stanley also have that privilege after an incredible year in which John Coleman has turned around a side fighting against extinction  due to financial difficulties  last year into a very competitive team who held Town to a stalemate last time at the Greenhous Meadow. Torquay and Stevenage, who have also survived by a mile after promotion last year, are currently in 6^th and 7^th respectively.  Gillingham are 8^th on the same points as Torquay and Stevenage, a 4-1 defeat at home to Macclesfield for the Gills last week denied them a play-off place. With Torquay and Stevenage, not definitely in the play-offs it will be an interesting battle. Gillingham have an inferior goal difference, and they face a difficult task against Chesterfield away. Torquay are up against Rotherham away whilst Stevenage take on Bury, who are already promoted, at home.

 A lot of battles commencing in different areas of the league, and it should be a hectic day of League 2 football.  Whatever the outcome, it has been a tremendous season with mainly highs and some lows, but a promotion would be a very nice way to wrap up the season in which the club has been celebrating its 125^th anniversary-a special accolade.

Jamie Smith.

Mark gets it Wright at Cheltenham

Turner will be hoping his side do
the job against Oxford.

Shrewsbury Town did all they could beating Cheltenham Town 1-0 at Whaddon Road courtesy of a Mark Wright goal after returning to the starting line-up. It was compulsory that Town got the victory to take the promotion battle down to the final game of the season, with Bury playing Wycombe it was important that Shrewsbury got the three points hoping that Wycombe would slip up.
.
The game started well for Town and other games were going there way, Ryan Lowe had given Bury the lead with a penalty against Wycombe at Gigg Lane. Shortly after, Mark Wright made it 1-0 to Graham Turner's men. Nicky Wroe made a charging run, skipping a challenge and then playing the ball into Wright who took it into the box and put the shot across the keeper Scott Brown to get what proved to be the only goal of the game.

News filtered through to the visiting supporters at Cheltenham, certainly putting a smile on many faces. However, Wycombe were not going to let promoted Bury affect their own promotion hopes and captain Gareth Ainsworth headed home the equaliser for Wanderers before half-time. All Town could do was win, and they were on course to do that.

There wasn't a lot of action happening at Whaddon Road, all eyes were on the Bury-Wycombe scoreline. With Town still leading, Wycombe took the lead for the first time against Bury to make it 1-2. Ben Strevens giving the away fans plenty to cheer about. This was not what the very apprehensive Town supporters wanted to hear, and a Cheltenham equaliser would have been disastrous.

Thankfully an equaliser never came and Town held on for what could be a very significant victory in their promotion chase. Any hopes of a Bury equaliser were quickly dashed as Wycombe netted a third to seal the win. It was Strevens, once again, who got the third goal for Wycombe.

tion

Despite the obvious disappointment that Shrewsbury would have felt, it could have been a lot worse had they lost to Cheltenham. It will now go down to the final game to see who will join Chesterfield and Bury in League 1 next season in that third automatic spot. Shrewsbury face Oxford United at the Greenhous Meadow, and are just one point behind Wycombe with a superior goal difference. Wycombe are up against Southend United at home, it will surely be a very exciting day and the atmosphere will be incredible at the Greenhous. There will be anxiety flowing around the stadium and Town have to go out there, put a performance in and get the victory before looking at the Wycombe score. If Wycombe win, then they are up, and Town will have to settle for the play-offs. A draw for Wycombe and a victory for Salop would see Shrewsbury go up. A defeat for Wycombe and a draw for Shrewsbury would see Town promoted on goal difference.

There is a lot to play for next Saturday and it is game not to miss. It's been a roller-coaster journey this season and Town have held it together in the second half. There is a lot to look forward to next week as the season reaches its climax.

Jamie Smith.