The Game

It's play off finals weekend. Is it something fans love or hate? For some it is hard to enjoy the stomach churning, nerve shredding matches with so much at stack. For others it is a free hit at glory, a day out at the national stadium and the tantalising hope of what if we actually win…

In the Championship both Sunderland and Sheffield United have appalling Wembley records, one will at least be changing that.

In League One Leyton Orient are the club on a charge Charlton have the irrepressible Nathan Jones in charge, in League Two Walsall have had a season or two very district halves, while AFC Wimbledon boast the best defence in the division. So, who wins…over to Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson…

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Crystal Palace have won their first major trophy – the FA Cup! Oliver Glasner’s side beat Man City 1-0 giving Palace European football next season. How did they do it and will they be able to hold on to their best players and their manager?

For runners up Manchester city where now? A star striker who didn’t want a penalty, a manager who may or may not stay and their first trophy less season since 2016/17.

In the Premier League; qualification for the Champions League will go to the final day with Newcastle, Chelsea, Forest, City and Villa all fighting for three places.

Everything is riding on the final of the Europa League with Spurs and Man Utd looking at win or bust seasons.

Plus, fond farewells to Jamie Vardy and Goodison Park. 

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As Taiwo Awoniyi recovers from a very serious injury, is it time to review VAR protocols. If it is a clear and obvious offside, why are officials told not to flag? Are the consequences more injuries for players?

With Saudi Arabia and Spain starting to attract some of the world’s top footballing talent is the Premier League getting complacent in its ability to retain the world’s best?

He FA Cup final could be a feast of attacking football. Will Crystal Palace play with the same attacking intent they did in the semi final, or will their manager Oliver Glasner be more cautious. For Pep Guardiola he thinks a cup in won’t rescue their season, but do the fans agree?

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The race for Europe is going down to the wire. After spending all season at the top are Forest on the brink of throwing it away, does a ‘passionate’ owner help or hinder? Newcastle look strong after a pivotal win over rivals Chelsea and with City faltering Aston Villa are still in contention for top five. Villa’s last two games are against Spurs and Man Utd. Any other season that would be tough, this year it looks a guaranteed six points. Why are both teams not in a relegation fight and is it fair that teams in 16th and 17th could end up in the Champions League?

At Anfield some fans booed Trent Alexander Arnold. Is it a sign of the times or totally justified? 

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The dream is over for Arsenal. How does Mikel Arteta turn his team from nearly men to winners? Is he even the man to do it?

Arteta described Arsenal as the best team in Europe. None of the panel can understand how he justifies a statement like that. If he oversees the summer changes what is needed? Some even think that his team may have gone backwards this season.

The other semi final was an all time classic. Seesawing from Inter to Barca and back again. Thirteen goals over two legs, has there been a better two legged semi-final? 

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The final day of the regular season didn’t disappoint. Twenty four thousand turned out for Bradford v Fleetwood…in the fourth tier. Leeds and Burnley both reach one hundred points in the Championship and Leyton Orient storm into the League One playoffs on the back of five straight wins.

‘Producer Neil’ joins Gregor Robertson to review the final day and ponder who makes it to the play off finals at Wembley…? 

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Trent Alexander Arnold has finally confirmed what seemed inevitable – he is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. His destination is not yet confirmed, but it is widely thought to be Real Madrid. What will be the Liverpool fan’s reaction be to a player won everything with his childhood club? ‘How could you’ or ‘all the best’? And how will he fit in at Real?

In the league the race for Europe is very tight. Chelsea look to have strengthened their grip on a Champions League spot, while Brentford are making a late charge for the Conference league.

Bournemouth are still in the race for Europe, thanks to beating Arsenal. It was far from ideal preparation for the Gunners ahead of a monumental week. Say it quietly, but could Arsenal end the season without a trophy while Spurs lift the Europa League…?

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It was a tough night for Arsenal at the Emirates as they were largely second best to PSG. What hope do they have for a second leg in Paris? Well, PSG don’t have a set piece coach, could that be Arsenal’s best bet? What if any weaknesses do PSG have?

The other semi-final was a classic. Inter Milan showed all their guile and solidity to get a three three draw in Barcelona. But their performance was overshadowed by a seventeen year old.

Is Barca’s Lamine Yama already the best player in the world? The panel are in awe of a remarkable, unplayable talent.  

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Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson round up the penultimate round of fixtures in the EFL. Slowly but surely the key places are being decided. In the Championship Sunderland are limping into the play offs, while Blackburn and Millwall are on a charge. Game of the final weekend is a winner takes all between Coventry and Middlesborough At the bottom Preston have been pulled into a late relegation fight.

In League One Gary Bowyer and Burton look to have pulled off a remarkable survival feat, while in League Two Walsall are in danger of a remarkable failure to get an automatic promotion spot. 

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Liverpool have finally clinched their 20th league title. Arne Slot has landed the big one in his first season in charge. How did he do it, can he repeat it next year and is it unfair to look at the legacy left by Jurgen Klopp?

In the FA Cup Alyson Rudd is Crystal Palace’s lucky charm – she interviewed Oliver Glasner ahead of the final and was impressed by his bold approach. What now for Aston Villa?

Finally Gregor Robertson went to meet the owner of newly promoted Birmingham City – Tom Wagner. Ambitious doesn’t do him justice. He knows the financial figures inside out and he is preparing for the very top, a derby with rivals Villa in the Champions League. And he wants Birmingham to knock Manchester off its perch as a footballing city. Is it realistic?

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