Andy Gray - Sky Sports Expert

The best for last

Andy Gray looks ahead to an exciting final day of the season

Posted: 09th May 2008 13:15

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Fergie Grant

Ferguson & Grant: big day for both

You can't ask for a more exciting finish at both ends of the Premier League and it just doesn't get any better than that. There isn't another league in Europe like it.

Andy Gray
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The destiny of the Premier League title is in Manchester United's hands, we all know that.

Having tipped them from the start of the season I still believe they will retain the title, but it will be far from plain sailing.

I don't think Wigan away will be a game that United will win three or four-nil and I just think there will be a few factors that will make it tough for them.

They are playing away from home for a start, and against a team whose form against the Big Four has been good this season. Wigan have drawn at Anfield, drawn with Arsenal at the JJB and of course they drew at Stamford Bridge.

Those are good results and results that demand respect from Sir Alex Ferguson, which I'm sure he will give them.

I still believe Manchester United will win the game, and I think they'll need to do that because I can't see Chelsea failing to beat Bolton at Stamford Bridge.

There might well be some mishaps and a few dramas along the way, but at the end of 90 minutes I would be very surprised if we're not crowning Manchester United as champions.

Whoever comes out on top will be worthy winners, I don't go along with people who say that sometimes the best team aren't always the champions. For me, the champions are always the best team.

Over 38 games you can only win it if you are the best team. Either Manchester United or Chelsea would be worthy champions for different reasons.

United have played attacking, bright football and they know how to defend as well. They made some good signings and have entertained throughout the season and if they win the title then a lot of people would think that's fitting for what they've contributed this year.

Strengths

I don't know what Sir Alex Ferguson' secret is, maybe when he retires he'll write about it. One of his strengths is buying good players. He hasn't always got it right in the transfer market, like every manager he's made mistakes.

He has some of the most fantastic young talent at his disposal in Rooney, Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson. And he has been able to keep quality players at the club for a long time, the likes of Neville, Keane, Beckham, Scholes, Giggs.

They've been (or were) at the club for a huge amount of time and when you have that basis and you can rely on that year after year it doesn't half help you.

Some have suggested that this is Sir Alex Ferguson's greatest team, but this team haven't won the treble! The team of '99 of course did, and that takes some doing.

The players that achieved that feat would be entitled to stand up and say 'hold on a minute, we won the treble and if this team do well, they're going to win the double, does that make them better than us?'

What will determine the difference will be if this team can go on and contest another Champions League if they win this one. The thing about the '99 side is that they only got to one final.

So if the class of 2008 can go on in the next three or four years and get to another couple of finals then they might be entitled to be labelled as Fergie's greatest team.

Of course, these two sides meet in the Champions League final but whoever wins the Premier League title I don't think that will give the newly crowned champions any psychological advantage, purely because Chelsea have been playing catch-up for such a long time and probably had given up hope of winning the Premier League, until recent weeks.

Certainly after the Wigan game when Emile Heskey's late goal denied Chelsea two points, they would have thought that their title hopes were over.

I also think Chelsea's players are fresher and a lot of their key players haven't played as much football as Manchester United and that may be a factor going into Moscow.

Battle at the bottom

At the other end of the table, I fear for Birmingham, I really do. They might struggle and I have a funny feeling that Reading will go to Derby and win also, despite their recent lack of goals.

It will just depend then if Fulham can go to Portsmouth and do the same. I'm not sure what the outcome will be, it's just too close to call it - this is tougher than anything. You just don't know how they're going to play, how they're going to cope with the pressure on the day, which players are going to turn up.

Of the three teams, Fulham have momentum going into the final day and they play against a Pompey team who everybody tells me won't be at it and will be looking forward to the Cup Final, but I'm not so sure.

Harry Redknapp probably won't pick his strongest team, but he won't be wanting to go into a cup final having lost their last four games in a row, which is what they face if they lose to Fulham on Sunday.

It's Portsmouth's last home game also and every team likes to finish their season at home with a win for the fans and I don't think Pompey will be any different.

They will be a tough nut for Fulham to crack and they will give them a game, there's no doubt about that, so Fulham will have to play very well, as well as they have played in the last game-and-a-half to get the win they need to stay up.

I would like to see them do it for Roy Hodgson who is a mate of mine, but it will be very difficult.

Exciting finish

Whatever happens, it's such an exciting finish to the season and I think it's the first time we've had so many teams at the bottom who are unsure of their fate going into the final day in a season where the title is still up for grabs.

You can't ask for a more exciting finish at both ends of the league and it just doesn't get any better than that.

There have been many memorable final days for me in the Sky Sports commentary box. A particularly memorable one was when Manchester United and Blackburn went head-to-head during our first ever dual coverage of games at the end of the season as United travelled to West Ham and Blackburn went to Anfield. There was an upset that day!

It's all about being at the right place, as a commentator you want to be where the title is won. Martin Tyler and I are at Wigan on Sunday but whatever happens there - especially if United lose - it will be a massive story!

Whatever happens, it's great to be up there in the commentary box, and it will be a great day for us, and an even better one for the supporters of whoever will be crowned champions. Yet again, at the end of it all there will be some great joy but also some tears elsewhere.

Do you agree with Andy Gray? Is this the most exciting season ever? Who do you believe will be crowned champions? Who will beat the drop? Let us know YOUR thoughts by filling in the feedback form below

Comments

Kamil Farook (Manchester United fan) says...

I think Andy Gray has got it spot on-as usual! This has been the most exciting season ever and has really been entertaining from start to finish. Definately brings back memories of the Blackburn-Man Utd rivalry all those years ago. We coudnt score against West Ham that day but there is no doubt in my mind and heart that Man Utd will score more than just the one goal-like Chelsea always do! We will be crowned Champions because we definately deserve it. Man Utd have scored more goals, conceded less goals and have the leagues top scorer-Christiano Ronaldo! Who has been spectacular this season and deserves everything he gets because he is awesome!!! Champions League final will be great to watch and will no doubt be tough against Chelsea but I am sure the double is destined for Man Utd-WHAT A SEASON!!!

Posted 12:02 11th May 2008

Tony Manning (Aston Villa fan) says...

totally agree with andy, but you did fail to mention the fight for the european spot in 5th space, as much as everton have done well, in football terms i think villa have played the more exciting and creative football, having scored the second most amount of goals this season, i think they would be the better team in europe!

Posted 09:43 11th May 2008

Sydney Mundawa (Manchester United fan) says...

I think it has been a fantastic season for man united and for them not to win the league will be a disaster. Football lovers worldwide would agree with me that man u plays fantastic football unlike chelsea. It won't be easy for united but will win!

Posted 09:36 11th May 2008

Stuart Liston (Manchester United fan) says...

Mr Scahill, I'm sorry but thats the biggest pile of rubbish I've ever read. Are you suggesting that clubs outside of the top 4 CHOOSE to float around in mid-table? Or are you saying that players from these teams try harder when they are playing against Man u? Of course these teams raise their game when they play against better opposition, thats quite natural. If you watched the 2-2 draw you are referring to, may I remind you that Man U's defensive play was far worse than normal and 'Broro's Alfonso Alves was having one of those days when he looked like he would score every chance he was gifted. Do you not think that he would like to have one of those days every saturday? Your rant about 'sinking ever further into the tar pit of mediocrity' is the kind of snobbish, disrespectful and downright ignorant view that makes me ashamed to support the same team as you.

Posted 09:33 11th May 2008

Joshua Lee (Manchester United fan) says...

Andy Gray summed up the last big push in the Premier League like a true Titan. This game will be deservedly won like most of the others with blood, guts, heroism and self belief. Looking forward to the game and listening to Mr Andy's comments throughout the game - may the best team win, with the best manager and best player in the world!

Posted 04:24 11th May 2008

Ahmad Khan (Chelsea fan) says...

I am a chelsea supporter but i must say Man Utd have been the team to watch this season. Ronaldo has played exceptionally well. But I won't take anything from Chelsea by saying that. Chelsea has been world class, even after loosing the 'special one' in the start of the season. To be fair, Man Utd shud win the premier league from here.. and Chelsea should bring European Glory Home..

Posted 01:09 11th May 2008

Jim Regan (Newcastle United fan) says...

Right David Scahill, I have to disagree entirely. Surely the fact that a team like Middlesbrough are abe to take points off the big boys(or come terribly close against Chelsea) is exactly what makes the league up there with the best in the world. So players are incredibly able to raise their game? Shock. What else are you going to say? The league's a farce because teams relax slightly when staying up?? You won't be complaining when Wigan dont throw on four strikers against you if one down in the final minutes

Posted 16:55 10th May 2008

Lee Durham (Arsenal fan) says...

I feel the race between Blackburn and Man Utd will turn out to still be the greatest last day in Premiership History! This season would have been the best if it was 3 teams going into the final day but can't see anything other than an anti-climax this weekend with Man U 2 or 3 up by Half-Time.

Posted 16:56 9th May 2008

Des Harvey (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

I think it has been a fantastic season top and bottom of the premier good for all the fans and certainly good for the clubs.

Posted 16:43 9th May 2008

Kevin Ike (Manchester United fan) says...

I think that the league is a should be Man united. If they do loose i believe that it would be a shame they have been the far better team in all departments best player(ronaldo) best manager(fergie). It isnt however as exciting as the season where of Michael thomas scored the winning goal in the last minutes of that season. That was amazing the two fought it out in the last game of the season. I hope for the sake of football Man U do the double. They are a good example of how modern British footbal has developed. Thank - you Man u

Posted 16:30 9th May 2008

David Scahill (Manchester United fan) says...

It is quite an exciting season undoubtedly. With only a handful of games to go I certainly was beginning to believe that United would retain their crown with 2 or 3 games to spare. Turning 0-0 games to 1-0 victories have been Chelsea's key to keeping their title hopes alive this year, particularly in he last two months where they have managed to eek out quite a number of them. However I do not for a minute believe that the Premier League is the greatest in the world far from it. I don' t like to point fingers; but it is teams like Middlesborough who are partly responsible for its failure to claim this accolade, When a team of such a limited budget can undeservedly lose at Chelsea, beat Arsenal 2-0, and hold Manchester United to a 2-2 draw you wonder why are they year in year out meandering between 13th and 16th position. Why on earth can the club not hold such a mentality in the other 30 games (excluding the top 4, home and away)? Their sole purpose in the league is to snatch points from bigger clubs whose season's actually have a goal while sinking ever further into the tar pit of mediocrity; an all too familiar sight for teams languishing in the middle of he table. Until such teams (and to be fair 'boro aren't the only club in this situation) can compete to the best of their abiility consitently, and do so with honesty of effort, the Premier League with all of its virtues will remain undeserving of the mantle 'Greatest league in the World.'

Posted 16:04 9th May 2008

Hamza Ansar (Manchester United fan) says...

Brilliantly summed up Mr.Gray

Posted 15:38 9th May 2008

Constantine Onoh (Chelsea fan) says...

I think it's quite an eventful season from the most exicting league on the planet. What with the twist s and turns and all? no one would have predicted this ending a few weeks ago. i agree, who ever wins will be worthy champions. I hope the league remains this way, unhampered by bodies like FIFA and their proposed restrictions on foreign nationals. Why don't FIFA let the local FA 's worry about it? It's like crying louder than the bereaved, other countries have had their times of dominance, why wasn't it an issue then?? The English thought of exporting their league by playing at least a match abroad. FIFA blew several gaskets and literally told England to forget the proposed world cup bid. It's ridiculous in this era of globalisation and democracy that tyrannies still exist.

Posted 15:29 9th May 2008

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