Sir Alex Ferguson
Two of the Barclays Premier League's traditional heavyweights meet this
weekend in a fixture that has provided countless iconic moments over
the years. Manchester United have the chance to leapfrog Arsenal into
third place, while their visitors will hope to overturn a poor recent
record at Old Trafford
With Chelsea having sealed the English Premier League and the four UEFA
Champions League spots safely booked, attention is now shifted to the
bottom teams as the battle against relegation. Sunderland escaped the
drop on Wednesday night after drawing with Arsenal and the attention is
now focused on Newcastle and Hull as they both battle with the skin of
their teeth to avoid the drop or join QPR and Burnley which have since
known their fate
Newcastle United’s season, and their future in the Premier League, now
rests on results on survival Sunday following yet another defeat for
Newcastle. The Magpies surrendered a lead against QPR to lose 2-1 in the
Capital, leaving themselves just two points above Hull City who sit
18th.
And while Newcastle’s fate still rests in their own hands, recent form
suggests that, despite opponents West Ham not being in great form
themselves, they may need Hull’s opponents Manchester United to do them a
favour on the final day at the KC Stadium.
Louis van Gaal’s side will likely have little to play for at Hull after
their draw with Arsenal left them almost guaranteed to finish fourth
thus securing their target of Champions league qualification.
Hull City defender James Chester has set his heart on creating another
"special story" in his Hull City career by clinching Premier League
survival with a win against his boyhood club Manchester United.
In the four and a half years since leaving Old Trafford for just
£300,000 to join City, Chester has celebrated promotion out of the
Championship, reached an FA Cup final and been capped by Wales.
Those achievements have justified the 25-year-old's decision to leave United in 2011, but he knows only a winning reunion on Sunday will keep the journey going.
Those achievements have justified the 25-year-old's decision to leave United in 2011, but he knows only a winning reunion on Sunday will keep the journey going.
"We would love it to end like a couple of years ago and everyone
celebrating on the final day," said Chester, who was part of the City
side which won promotion in a dramatic finale to the 2012-13 season.
In 2009 United went to Hull City on the final day of the season as the
newly crowned Premier League champions four days before they were due to
play Barcelona in the Rome Champions League final.
The Tigers were in a nail-biting last day relegation dogfight and Sir
Alex Ferguson rested his entire Euro starting XI. United won 1-0.Hull
survived because of results elsewhere but nobody could complain about a
weakened United side because they’d played their part and got the three
points.
But United are a slightly different animal these days and, having said
goodbye to Old Trafford for the season the week previous and with their
top four berth assured, I have a distinct feeling that this time that
even if a full strength side is fielded then this Reds side won’t have
quite the same appetite as those stand-ins had in ‘09.
United have had a see-saw season and I reckon they are all ready for their break.
United have got form for resting key players in the last weeks of the season when there’s nothing to play for. But they’re not preparing for a Champions League or FA Cup final this time.
United have got form for resting key players in the last weeks of the season when there’s nothing to play for. But they’re not preparing for a Champions League or FA Cup final this time.
Louis van Gaal is expected to pick as strong a team as he can. But
that’s not to say the players haven’t already switched off with a place
in the top four secure.
United’s inconsistent season, especially against teams they should
beat, means Hull have a chance on Sunday. But United have more than
enough to win at the KC Stadium and do Newcastle a favour. It just
depends on whether the players have the desire to do it.
Dressing-room unrest, a change of manager and supporter
dissatisfaction, Newcastle United's disastrous season will come to a
close on Sunday with the north-east club needing a victory against West
Ham United to guarantee Premier League survival.
With Burnley and Queens Park Rangers already down, the final piece of the Premier League's relegation puzzle will fall into place on Sunday -- and it will be either Newcastle or Hull City who go down.
With Burnley and Queens Park Rangers already down, the final piece of the Premier League's relegation puzzle will fall into place on Sunday -- and it will be either Newcastle or Hull City who go down.
Hull remain favourites for the drop as they currently occupy 18th place
with 34 points and not only have to beat fourth-placed Manchester
United but must also hope Newcastle, two points above them, fall to the
Hammers.
Newcastle's sorry season is epitomised by a run of nine defeats in
their last 10 league matches and supporter protests are planned against
owner Mike Ashley's running of the club at St James' Park on Sunday.
"It's come to this and we have to deal with it. Newcastle's interim
manager John Carver told reporters.We need the supporters this weekend.
Put all your differences to one side and get behind the team. We will
have an inquest after."
The club's plight is a far cry from Kevin Keegan's reign as manager when he established Newcastle as a Premier League force.
These days, however, Newcastle supporters are more used to relegation battles rather than title challenges, with the club last dropping to the Championship in 2009.
The club's plight is a far cry from Kevin Keegan's reign as manager when he established Newcastle as a Premier League force.
These days, however, Newcastle supporters are more used to relegation battles rather than title challenges, with the club last dropping to the Championship in 2009.
Hull boss Steve Bruce still bears the scars from his nine-year stint as
a rugged central defender for United but the 54-year-old is hoping his
former club does not supply the knockout blow to his side's survival
chances.
"We just have to beat Man United and I haven't done that in 17 years
(as a manager)," Bruce told reporters. Manchester United probably owe me
something after wrecking my knee, my hip, and my ankle playing for
them."
Sunderland, who drew 0-0 at Arsenal on Wednesday and are now safe,
travel to Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea will lift the Premier League
title for the first time since 2010.
Apart from the final relegation spot, the only other outstanding issue
to be decided is which teams will finish fifth and sixth to definitely
claim two of the three Europa League places.
Liverpool, who are fifth on 62 points, travel to Stoke City while
Spurs, in sixth on 61, travel to Everton. Southampton, who are seventh
on 60, travel to Manchester City, who will finish second, but the team
who finishes seventh will only take a Europa League spot if Arsenal beat
Aston Villa in the FA Cup final on May 30. If Villa win that, they will
take the third Europa League spot instead of the seventh placed team.
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