EPL 2015/16 - Game Week 38

The Leicester story is so compelling, just like a fairy tale. It is at the same time an irony and a conundrum. Now every team are inspired to go do a 'Leicester' or this achievement can never be repeated? Leicester's style if you do not already know is anti tiki-taka. Barcelona will foam in their mouth to adopt it. They did not copy Bayern Munich. They were not star studded like Real or Barca. Not even like Manchester City nor have the history of Manchester United but yet against all odds, they wrote their own story. When you write your own story, you make your own history.

Leicester's possession play yielded an average of forty plus per cent, played some of the most long ball but in the final third they were exceptional and took some of the most shots at goal. They confounded critics and those who believe that possession is all things. Next season, they may not win the title again but will be taking on Europe. There was once a manager who won it all. In 1977, at the peak of my soccer era what with the World Cup, Cruyff, the Malaysia Cup and our Singapore soccer legends, a man called Brian Clough led Nottingham Forest to the top division from the lower tier. Immediately, he won the league title in 1978 and then in 1979 won the European Cup and won it again in 1980. That was truly legendary. I hope Claudio Ranieri and Leicester City could do it! All weaker and smaller soccer teams could learn including Singapore. Not just soccer, even in the business world or in life. Never give up and make your own story!!!

Arsenal v Aston Villa - The Gunners secured Champions League football next season yet again when the Hammers hammered Manchester United. It is a season that Arsenal could have won the title as they have the most stable team and the others faltered. Their season could be seen in their last five matches' sequence of DWDWD but not enough as they are twelve points behind champions Leicester. Arsene Wenger is into his last season. He should really buy the best players in a few key position - a really solid defender who is also a leader, a fabulous ball winner in the mould of Leicester's N'golo Kante and a striker who could put 20 or more goals into the net every season like Harry Kane. With that and a settled squad, they could perhaps finally clinched the crown. Wenger's aim must be to win the title and to declare it and not say let us be fourth.

Villa was losing non-stop and yet halted Newcastle who have been winning before this. Oliver Giroud is back with a goal and he likes to score against Villa every time and the Villans have won none of their away games losing fourteen of them and of course lost their last five head-to-head meetings. The home team should sign off with an easy win. Villa was once mighty, how have they come to this? There are lessons to be learned. Villa must do something right and get back quick to the Premier League.  3-0.

Manchester United v Bournemouth - If anything, LVG succeeded in making United the meanest defence at home. The Cherries are not in season as they won only once in their last seven matches. Though Bournemouth scored a gal in every match they played in the last five, they may not be able to this time. Besides, David de Gea must have saved them quite some points this season. The Red Devils scored only 46 goals till now, better than some ten bottom teams, similar to their goal difference of plus 12. It will be hard for them if they do not improve on this. After all soccer is about goals. They should sign off with a win but will be too late to qualify for Champions League soccer unless City loose to Swansea away. Even a draw is enough for City who has a superior goal difference. Surely they must win the last match. 

Manchester United to me has been lucky where they are as their performance did not commensurate. There will be chop and changes and as a result do not expect them to be back to challenging honours any time soon. LVG may not even be around. United relied on two teenagers Martial and Rashford and occasionally Mata to rescue them. This is also a lesson in succession where Sir Alex was part of the problem. Bournemouth will face challenges but next season, the TV money is huge so they could afford more. Much depends on what kind of quality they bring in. 2-0.

Southampton v Crystal Palace - The Saints are on a great run. That 2-1 win over Tottenham at White Hart Lane said a lot. Before this, they destroyed Manchester City 4-2.  Though Palace came back with a win here and there, they will not get the momentum at the St. Mary's. Palace is safe from relegation so the players will be fighting for their future contracts. Southampton are too good. They are now almost like West Ham where they churned out new English players many of which have migrated and Ronald Koeman is good. He brings in quality players without paying a king's ransom. An excellent example is Sadio Mane who scored the quickest hattrick in the EPL within 176 seconds. The squad has stabilised despite having sold all the best players the previous season. They could be stronger next season. Palace were looking good early season thanks to Alan Pardew but their late collapse was too surprising. 3-1.

Chelsea v Leicester City - The Blues have not kept a clean sheet at Stamford Bridge for eleven games. This tie consist of the former champions as host and the new champions as visitors. It is taking on a totally new dimension for both sides. It will be so much fun for the Foxes to play without the slightest pressure just like how there so effortlessly blew Everton apart last week. Incoming new manager Conte will be watching with hawk eyes his future charges and how they could fit into his team. Chelsea could not only not beat Sunderland last week, they got beaten. The Foxes should sign off with a win as only Liverpool do not know how to beat Chelsea or Chelsea simply raised their game. Chelsea are in for quite big changes I suppose for next season. It may not be so easy to immediately get back to where they once were even with Conte.

Leicester City will find things may be harder next season even if they retain all their players. They have already done great things and now can call on their own experience. They will still be match for anyone. 1-2.

WBA v Liverpool - Tony Pulis hard to beat team have uncharacteristically lost their last three home matches at the Hawthorns. When they have previously met five times, Liverpool won twice and lost none. Liverpool were held 1-1 by Chelsea so remain in 8th even if they win this as the Saints look good to take full points against Palace. WBA have been about the same each season - a difficult team to beat and hovering in the middle lower half. With more TV money Tony Pulis will add more steel to make them even more difficult to beat. Liverpool have been no better in the league but two cup finals were really something. The Klopp effect has worked. There are opportunities for him to change personnel, to add and subtract. By next season, they have a more settled squad than several others. That could be an advantage. 1-2.

Swansea v Manchester City - The Swans were amazing in their last two outings after the 4-0 spanking by Leicester. They crushed a makeshift Liverpool 3-1 and then nonchalantly brushed aside in-form West Ham 4-1 in an away game. Wow! Now Swansea stand in the way of Manchester City making it to Champions League. City just need a draw so it depends on whether the players want to give Pelligrini a fond farewell. To me, Pelligrini with a shock of hair that resembles 80s porn star hairstyle, is a good manager and gentleman. City hurt him and their own chances when they announced Pep Guardiola's appointment so early in the season. It would be close, possibly a draw but I give the win to this gentleman. 1-2.

Everton v Norwich - Everton's season took a bad turn in the second half of the season. That it coincided with the fact that Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku have stopped to sparkle was no coincidence. Only the Canaries are in a worse shape having not scored for four matches now. Due to this Norwich may snatch a draw here but it looks like Goodison Park may be a bit too daunting for the visitors even after Roberto Martinez has been sacked. This is the same guy who took Everton to fifth and they seemed to be going great guns. Soccer like life is fickle and can be tough. 1-0.

Watford v Sunderland - Watford have been in bad shape. They even crashed to Norwich. Sunderland did the great escape yet again! They are the most in form team and deserved to stay - Nor 0 Sun 3, Sun 0 Ars 0, Sto 1 Sun 1, Sun 3 Che 2, Sun 3 Eve 0. Now that they are safe do they need to go all out? I think they are going to have fun. Jermaine Defoe has been quite incredible. The thing is the Black Cats must not come to this stage again. 1-2.

Newcastle v Tottenham - Sadly, the Magpies deserved to go down for the way it has been managed by its owner but not their fans, the Toon Army. Newcastle have many great players in the past - Malcom McDonald, Kevin Keegan, Peter Beardsley, Alan Shearer, David Ginola and Les Ferdinand just to name a few. How did they come to this? It was a few seasons ago and Mike Ashley did nothing to improve the situation right up to this season and they begin to play only with Benitez in charge and a few games left. This is a life lesson to never leave things till too late. They must find their way back to the top tier otherwise may languish in the lower tier for a long time.

Meanwhile, Tottenham fans must have felt relieved that Pochettino has signed a new deal with the club. He is a really excellent manager. While being enamoured with the Leicester story, I feel that Tottenham could have be deserving winners as well. They have a young and settled squad and can only get better and stronger. Spurs should win this one. 0-2.

Stoke v West Ham - Stoke became shockingly poor in recent times. Their only salvation is their good record against West Ham. Stoke have not won at the Britannia for the last four times as host where it used to be a fortress and the Hammers are unbeaten in five away games. Only Mark Hughes knows what is wrong. Meanwhile, Slaven Bilic is already a hero at West Ham. What a team this has turned out to be. I have enjoyed watching them. They will grow bigger and stronger just like their new stadium going to be as big as Arsenal. What a team! Even Andy Carroll has been inspiring. Dimitri Payet could have been footballer of the year too! And there were others! 0-2.

Why did these TV people scheduled the last matches on Sunday? Don' they know I have a wedding dinner to attend too? This season the top two goal scorers and strikers who are English in Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy. England should have a little hope this European Championship. I have thoroughly enjoyed this special season and hope that I could find time to continue talking soccer. See ya around! Adios Amigo!