The end is in sight

This could be the defining weekend of the season

The end of the season is within touching distance now and and most teams will now be thinking of the beach.

However, there are many others who are desperate for points, looking for either the title, European qualification or survival, and this makes for an exciting end to the season.

As far as the relegation battle is concerned, will it be a benefit for those teams facing outfits with nothing to play for or a hindrance?

We are about to find out as teams reach the last chance saloon.

Here are my previews and predictions for this weekend's Premier League action.

Blackburn v Bolton (1500 Saturday)

Stuart Holden's last-gasp winner saw Bolton beat Blackburn 2-1 in December

Blackburn are in desperate need for points now as recent form has left them hurtling towards the relegation zone.

They are just one point above the drop zone now after a run of no wins in 10, and could really do with a win here as their remaining games are a home fixture against Manchester United and tricky away games at relegation rivals Wolves and West Brom.

They did perform well on Monday and deserved something out of their game with Manchester City, but the fact is they lost it and nothing but wins will do for them at this stage.

Rovers have been on the slide since sacking Sam Allardyce in December and Steve Kean needs survival to stand any chance of keeping his job for next season.

Bolton have had a terrific first full season under Owen Coyle and recovered from their FA Cup semi-final thrashing by beating Arsenal last week.

However, their 3-0 loss at Fulham in midweek was another disappointment so Coyle will have his team up for this local derby.

They are sitting in eighth, with no danger of going down and little chance of European qualification, but a top-seven finish, or even a top-half finish, would be a fantastic achievement and should be enough motivation to see them have a strong finish to the season.

This should be a tight affair with not many goals, but Blackburn are a team playing with no confidence and that could see them lose a game they need so desperately to win.

Prediction: 0-1

Blackpool v Stoke (1500 Saturday)

DJ Campbell's goal saw Blackpool win 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium in the reverse fixture

Blackpool have won just one out of their last 14 in the league but need a win here to calm relegation fears.

They still have to go to Manchester United and Tottenham so it is beginning to look like this game is a must-win.

Only goal difference separates them from the bottom three and they need to recapture some of their early-season form to stand any chance of staying up.

They were much-improved in last Saturday's draw with Newcastle and perhaps deserved to win, but they need to grind out at least one win or they will be going back to the Championship.

Stoke were magnificent in their 3-0 midweek win over Wolves and are in great league form, but the loss of Matthew Etherington to injury will be a major blow to them.

That win more or less made them safe, although Tony Pulis will be trying to make sure they do not think of the FA Cup final yet.

If they do take their eye off the ball there will be no better opportunity for Blackpool to pick up three points.

This is a game the Seasiders will have been earmarking as winnable for quite some time now and their desire may well be enough to see them to a crucial victory.

Prediction: 2-1

Sunderland v Fulham (1500 Saturday)

The sides drew 0-0 at Craven Cottage in December

Sunderland's win over Wigan last Saturday has all but secured their Premier League status and that will be a huge relief to Steve Bruce and his side.

They were on a horrible run of form prior to that and were being sucked into the relegation battle, so that win was absolutely crucial.

They will go into this game with no recognised strikers though, after a number of injuries, and will struggle to score goals between now and the end of the season.

Bruce will desperately want a top-half finish as reward for their excellent early-season form and they must win this game to stand any real chance of doing that.

Fulham have hit some good form recently, with their midweek win over Bolton putting them into ninth, but their away form is still terrible and they will need to improve this going forward.

They have won just once away from home in 35 attempts and so it is something of a miracle they are not right in the relegation mire.

Mark Hughes' side have done well at home and that is the sole reason they are not in trouble.

An away victory is never likely for Fulham but Sunderland's striker shortage should see them pick up something at the Stadium of Light.

Prediction: 0-0

West Brom v Aston Villa (1500 Saturday)

Emile Heskey was among the goalscorers in Villa's 2-1 win in the reverse fixture

Roy Hodgson has had a great start to life as West Brom manager and deserves enormous credit for turning their fortunes around.

They are now all but safe and that is a terrific achievement for a club which normally goes down straight after winning promotion.

They are one of a clutch of clubs who will be eyeing a top-half finish and a win here would give them a great chance of doing just that.

Villa are also one of those clubs looking for a top-half finish but although they are no longer involved in a relegation battle, they are still not convincing.

With the players they have at their disposal, they should be challenging for European qualification so this season will go down as one of failure.

Gerard Houiller is now out of hospital but it is unclear whether he will be well enough to continue as manager, so the players should be motivated to win games in honour of him.

The pressure is off both of these sides so that should make for an entertaining game with a good derby-day atmosphere.

But West Brom's home advantage should be enough to see them prevail over the Villans.

Prediction: 2-1

Wigan v Everton (1500 Saturday)

The sides drew 0-0 at Goodison Park earlier this season

Wigan's capitulation at Sunderland last weekend dropped them back into the relegation zone and they don't look good enough to get out of it again.

They need to start winning games now because all of a sudden there are only four games left and time is running out for them to launch a bid for survival.

Only Blackpool have a poorer home record than the Latics but this should be a real opportunity for them to put that right.

Everton are in great form and the pressure is off them now, as it always seems to be at this stage of the season.

It will be difficult for Wigan to win here but they could have had worse fixtures as Everton realistically have very little to play for.

David Moyes always seems to get the best out of his players towards the end of the season though so Wigan will need to be right up for this one.

The Latics are the most inconsistent side in the division and you never know which side is going to turn up, but they desperately need a performance here.

They just don't seem good enough though and they could be set for another crushing defeat.

Prediction: 0-2

Chelsea v Tottenham (1730 Saturday)

Didier Drogba's penalty miss handed Tottenham a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture

Chelsea are the only team who can catch Manchester United now but they need to win all their remaining fixtures to stand any chance.

They are in the best form of anybody in the Premier League but one slip up and the title will be United's.

It is still very unlikely they will win the league but with the likes of Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba in form, they have to be given some consideration.

Fernando Torres finally broke his duck last weekend but he has still got a long way to go to reclaim his form and this game could be the perfect chance for him to do that.

Tottenham are losing ground in the race for fourth place and a defeat here could all but hand that position to Manchester City.

They have a very bad record at Stamford Bridge and will struggle to get anything from this game, as their recent form has been well below standard.

Harry Redknapp has done a fantastic job at White Hart Lane but missing out on the Champions League this season would be a massive blow to their future.

They look incapable of beating the top sides away from home at the moment and it is hard to see them picking up anything here.

Prediction: 2-0

Birmingham v Wolves (1200 Sunday)

Stephen Hunt's goal gave Wolves a 1-0 victory over Birmingham at Molineux

This is a massive game as these two rivals desperately need the points in their quest for survival.

Birmingham are probably one win away from survival but their 5-0 loss at Liverpool last weekend will take some recovering from.

They are four points clear of the bottom three, which gives them some breathing space, but a defeat here would put them right in the relegation battle.

It would be terrible for them to go down this season after the joy of their Carling Cup triumph but they should have too much to go down.

Wolves are in terrible form at the moment, a run coinciding with Kevin Doyle's injury, and are even more desperate for the points.

Their 3-0 loss at Stoke in midweek was a body-blow as Mick McCarthy had earmarked that game as winnable.

This is the worst they have played all season and they must halt this run now before their task becomes too big.

Although Wolves have the worst away record in the Premier League, I can see them picking up three vital points here.

Prediction: 0-1

Liverpool v Newcastle (1200 Sunday)

Andy Carroll scored against current club Liverpool in Newcastle's 3-1 win in December

Liverpool still have aspirations of overhauling Tottenham for fifth place and that would be a fantastic achievement for Kenny Dalglish's side.

Dalglish has worked wonders since taking over from Roy Hodgson in January and it is a no-brainer for the owners to give him the job on a full-time basis.

Should he be fit for this game, it will all be about Andy Carroll.

He left his beloved Newcastle for Anfield in January and could be in for a hostile reception from the travelling Toon Army.

If he plays, he will cause the Newcastle defence no end of problems so Alan Pardew will be praying he doesn't make it.

Pardew has done a good job to guide Newcastle to safety and will now be looking for a strong end to the season to secure a top-half finish.

They need new signings in the summer if they are to push on though, with the striking department extremely light.

They will have their work cut out at Anfield and, with this being my latest attempt to see Newcastle win away from home, a Newcastle victory is extremely unlikely.

Prediction: 2-0

Arsenal v Manchester United (1405 Sunday)

Park Ji-Sung's goal gave Man Utd a 1-0 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford

This title was there for the taking for Arsenal and they have blown it big time.

Their last three games, where they somehow threw away wins against Liverpool and Tottenham and conceded a last-minute losing goal at Bolton, have been disastrous.

They are now in third place and under pressure from Manchester City in fourth place, which is a real sign of how bad their form has been recently.

They have won just one of their last seven league games and that is relegation form, never mind title-winning.

Man Utd will be buzzing after their demolition of Schalke in midweek and their experience will be crucial for the remainder of this season.

This should have been a potentially title-deciding game but Sir Alex Ferguson knows just one win against Arsenal or Chelsea should be enough to see them win the title.

They have only won five times away from home in the league this season though and with the pressure being off Arsenal it should make for an entertaining game.

Arsenal may well pull off a victory here, but sadly it will be all too late.

Prediction: 2-1

Manchester City v West Ham (1610 Sunday)

Adam Johnson was among the scorers as Man City won 3-1 at Upton Park in December

Manchester City's 1-0 win at Blackburn on Monday will have encouraged Roberto Mancini as it showed they can win when they are not at their best.

Champions League qualification is within touching distance for them now and it is hard to see them missing out now.

Mancini should give his side attacking freedom in this game as West Ham are poor at the back, but it seems unlikely he will change his principles at this stage of the season.

Edin Dzeko's first Premier League goal last weekend could spell trouble for the Hammers' defence as he will now have confidence and, as he proved in the Bundesliga, he is very dangerous when on-form.

West Ham's survival chances will be determined by their home games so anything they get here will be a bonus.

They have lost their last four league games though and so will be desperate to pick something up.

They are rock-bottom of the table and a defeat here could see them start to be cast adrift at the bottom, so the writing could be on the wall for them now.

This is unlikely to be a free-flowing game but it seems extremely unlikely City will slip up here.

Prediction: 2-0

The Premier League picture will become a whole lot clearer once this weekend is over.

A Manchester United win at Arsenal would all but seal the title as this game is one of only two major hurdles they need to overcome.

And any side near the bottom of the table who picks up a win will be very confident of staying up as for most of them, one win may well be enough.

There are some high-pressure games going on this weekend and it makes for another exciting few days.

For many teams, the message is simple: it's now or never.

Barca's play-acting ruins Messi's magic

Players like Pedro feigned injury throughout the game

Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona

'El Clasico' is meant to be the greatest football game in the world. But this was far from the beautiful, free-flowing game the world longed to see.

This was a very poor, ugly match, illuminated by two moments of brilliance.

Both sides should take the blame.

Jose Mourinho's Real set out to frustrate Barca and their main objective was not to concede, but that is no excuse for the Catalans' whinging and cheating.

Pepe's sending off is just one example of that.

Pepe's red card came after the referee was put under extreme pressure from Barcelona players

He was late and may have caught Daniel Alves, but for the Brazilian to then go rolling around on the ground in apparent agony was a crime against football.

Alves is just one of a number of Barcelona players who will do seemingly anything to see an opponent sent off, and it was his play-acting which secured the red card which ruined the game.

Mourinho had just changed his tactics by bringing Emmanuel Adebayor on but referee Wolfgang Stark's decision to send Pepe off ended any chance Madrid had going forward.

Stark's job was hardly made easier by the wave of Barcelona players who surrounded him whenever a foul was given, demanding action be taken against Real players, and the frustrating thing is these players are so good they don't need to resort to such measures.

Pedro and Sergio Busquets are two other players who hit the deck at any opportunity, and players like this need to be dealt with to save the beautiful game. This cannot go on any longer as it is making a mockery of the sport.

The problem is not merely Barcelona's though. Marcelo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria of Real Madrid have all feigned injury and demanded cards during the season, and a real effort needs to be made to stamp this out.

Of course, UEFA will take no action.

If this was an all-English semi-final with such cheating, you'd never hear the end of it. Michel Platini would deliver a damning statement on the state of English football and probably call those concerned 'anti-football' or something along those lines.

But because this is Real Madrid and Barcelona, the mighty Real Madrid and Barcelona, it will probably all be brushed under the carpet.

At least a tinge of sympathy must be felt for Mourinho, who always seems to have a player harshly sent off against Barcelona.

Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands after sarcatically applauding the decision to send off Pepe

Of course, his statements about conspiracy theories relating to Barcelona's relationship with Unicef are utter nonsense (for football's sake you would like to think so), but it is hard to believe that there isn't some sort of conspiracy against him in the corridors of power.

Some may say he has had it coming, that his negative tactics deserve bad luck, but every team should be given a fair chance and referees just seem to want to handicap his sides against Barcelona whenever possible.

Barca are a fantastic footballing side. However, they spoil it for themselves with their constant antics.

Adebayor summed it up when he said: "Whenever you play against Barca, whenever you touch them they are on the floor crying like a baby.

"Everyone talks about Barcelona and their fair play but I think they are very far away from fair play.

"Their manager, fans and the players on their bench are always crying. Barcelona is a fantastic club, has fantastic players, but they have to stop that."

Barca are portrayed as the beautiful face of football. They are such a good team others have to play incredibly defensively to stand any chance against them.

But Barcelona are no better than them when they play-act. That is anti-football, even more so than spoiling tactics.

Lionel Messi's two goals were almost overshadowed by the nasty and vindictive nature of the game.

Lionel Messi's goals were the only rays of light on a dark night for football

His second goal, where he dribbled round several players before finishing past Iker Casillas, was simply sublime.

No-one could get near him and that goal underlined his status as the best player in the world.

His finish for the first, after some brilliant work from Ibrahim Afellay, was also fantastic as he knew exactly where the ball was going and timed his run perfectly.

You just run out of superlatives for Messi.

Many have ran out of them for 'beautiful' Barcelona, the 'best side ever'.

But in truth, for all the beauty they show with a football at their feet they are also ugly when it comes to everything else.

Their substitute goalkeeper, Pinto, sums up many of his team-mates.

Pinto started a huge brawl at half-time

Whenever there is a row to be had, he will be there. He was sent-off at half-time here for starting a brawl with Madrid's players, and he is as much to blame as anyone for the ugly scenes that followed.

And his team-mates certainly know a thing or two about pressurising referees.

It is no wonder so many players get harshly sent off against them, as every foul is met with imaginary card-waving, several rolls on the floor and the surrounding of the referee.

They are a joy to watch at times, but infuriating at others as they are so good they don't need to do it.

This tie is now dead as Madrid will simply not have enough of the ball to get anywhere near Barcelona.

Had it been 0-0, or if Madrid had held the advantage, they would have stood a great chance as there is nobody better than Mourinho at grinding out an unlikely result.

But a turnaround here would not just be unlikely, it would be a miracle.

They will march on to Wembley to play Manchester United, bringing with them their wonderful talent and disgusting cheating.

Taking away the latter, there is nothing not to be enjoyed.

But the way they act sometimes is a disgrace to football and a disgrace to Lionel Messi, who deserves only to be associated with the beautiful side of the game. Other than his performance, this was a dark night for football and a dark night for sportsmanship.

'El Clasico' is anything but beautiful at the moment; the only person who can bring it to life is Messi.

The fixture can only be described as Messi at the moment, in more ways than one.

Most one-sided semi-final ever?

Manchester United were far too good for their German opponents

Schalke 0-2 Manchester United

Manchester United tore Schalke apart to take a giant step towards the Champions League final.

The German side were tipped to cause United some problems, with the predatory Raul a looming figure.

But in reality, the job couldn't have been any simpler.

In perhaps their best performance of the season, the Red Devils looked threatening every time they went forward and could have won by a cricket score if it wasn't for the heroics of home goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

The fact it took United until 25 minutes before the end to break the deadlock is testament to Neuer's performance.

It was just wave after wave of attack, with the away side passing the ball as well as they have done all season.

It was like a training match for much of the game, although that would be a very light training session as defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, as well as holding midfielder Michael Carrick, had one of the easiest games of their careers.

Neuer was finally beaten on 68 minutes when Wayne Rooney's through ball was slotted home by Ryan Giggs, who became the oldest Champions League goalscorer in the process.

Before Ryan Giggs' goal, Manuel Neuer seemed unbeatable

It seemed so simple for United to get in behind Schalke and Giggs finished with typical composure.

It took just two more minutes for the lead to be extended, with Wayne Rooney finding himself in similar space in the box after Javier Hernandez played him in.

Rooney finished in similar fashion to Giggs, coolly and with minimal fuss, and the two-goal margain flattered Schalke more than United.

Just before the opening goal, Javier Hernandez had seen an effort ruled out for offside and Sir Alex Ferguson said later that gave his side belief Neuer could be beaten.

Before that, he just seemed unbeatable.

Peter Schmeichel says Neuer is currently the world's best goalkeeper

He made some improbable saves from Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Park Ji-Sung and Javier Hernandez to strengthen his burgeoning reputation and make a summer move inevitable.

Without him, the scoreline would have been simply embarrassing.

It is no wonder he wants to leave Schalke as, although they have done magnificently to reach the last four of the Champions League, they look to have little potential to consistently challenge for honours as they rely too heavily on him and Raul.

Sir Alex Ferguson congratulated Neuer after the game for his performance

Ferguson knows Neuer would be the perfect replacement for Edwin van der Sar and described Neuer's performance as one of the best he has ever seen against his side, and will most likely do everything he can to try and sign him in the summer.

It looks like Neuer may be set for Bayern Munich but if that move somehow falls through, you can be sure that Ferguson and United will be there to snap him up.

Neuer did everything in his power to thwart United, but the fact he had so much to do was testament to how well the Red Devils played.

Michael Carrick acted as a deep-lying playmaker in front of the back four and snuffed out any problems before the defence had to be troubled, and his passing accuracy was the best it has been for a long time.

Yes, he wasn't put under much pressure from the German side but this display will help Carrick's reputation on the continent no end and help put to bed any lingering doubts fans have about him after his mistake against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final.

Rio Ferdinand was similarly comfortable on the ball, although largely untroubled defensively, and it was the role of he and Carrick which relieved any pressure on their side as they were so composed and helped start attacks.

Wayne Rooney's deep-lying role behind Javier Hernandez brought out the best in him.

Rooney was at the heart of most Manchester United moves

He is one of the best passers in the world, never mind his finishing ability, and this role brings that talent to the fore.

Some of his cross-field balls are just sublime and help bring United's wingers into the game.

He is helped enormously by Hernandez's excellent off-the-ball running, with 'Chicharito' another key member of this improving United side.

But so much of this performance was about Rooney.

Some of his ghosts seem to have been laid to rest and that has resulted in some phenomenal displays, with Rooney playing a key role in both the build-up play and the end product.

It seemed to be something of a walk in the park for United but a lot of this was down to the hard work of Antonio Valencia and Park.

It was surprising to see Nani left on the bench but he was left out to make way for the industrious Valencia and Park, and this decision proved to be an inspired one.

Nani has had a great season and can feel unlucky to have missed out on a place in the side, but he was sacrificed for the good of the team and it was the right decision.

Schalke appeared to be well out of their depth at this level. They lacked any sort of ideas going forward and it seems they had no real belief they could reach the final.

Raul was left isolated up front for Schalke

Raul could have made a difference but he was starved of service, with the likes of Jefferson Farfan anonymous in the game, which made much of this game merely Neuer against Manchester United.

It says a lot for how poor Inter Milan must have been that Schalke beat them, as the Germans never looked likely to make United toil.

Their defence was simply shocking as the likes of Giggs and Hernandez had numerous one-on-one chances against Neuer, and it is something of a miracle Neuer kept the score down to two.

United look all set for their third Champions League final in four years and that is a tremendous record they can be rightly proud of.

They musn't count their chickens yet, as Schalke beat Inter by a three-goal margain at the San Siro, but they are so close to Wembley they can almost smell it.

Ferguson will ensure his side do not become complacent as it would be a major shock if the German side launched a comeback, and he will not want his side to be left with egg on their faces.

The great thing about this United side is their work-rate.

What they may lack in natural talent they more than make up for in endeavour and will-to-win, and this will stand them in good stead against either Barcelona or Real Madrid should they reach the final.

The Spanish sides would go into the final as favourites but neither would take United lightly.

The win over Schalke also all but ended United's German hoodoo.

They have never beaten a German side over two legs before but that run will be ended after this second leg barring miracles.

The first-leg couldn't have been more one-sided, with United having double the shots, double the shots on target, double the corners and double the possession of their opponents.

Wembley is surely just 90 minutes away.

PFA Awards: The right outcomes?

Gareth Bale succeeds Wayne Rooney as PFA Player of the Year

It has been a week now since the PFA Awards dinner was held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London and many people have complained at the outcomes.

This happens every year. Unfortunately, not every player who has had a good season can be recognised as there simply isn't enough time to do it and there are obviously only 11 players who can be named in a team of the year.

The awards are voted for by the players and therefore it is very difficult to argue with the results.

The players play against each other week in, week out and so there is no-one better qualified than them to judge on this.

However, the fact that votes are cast in March makes a bit of a mockery of the whole process.

The defining moments in every season come in April and May, and these awards do not recognise that.

Votes should go in at the end of the season with an awards dinner held as soon as they are counted, and then the awards will carry true meaning.

Gareth Bale scooped the PFA Player of the Year award yet has hardly played since January.

Yes, he had a superb half-season up to Christmas, but that is not truly reflective of the season as a whole.

If votes had been cast at the end of the season, it is unlikely he would have won the award as his performances, particularly against Inter Milan, would not have been as fresh in players' memories.

He definitely deserved recognition for his play in 2010, but he missed between two and three months of the season and it is therefore hard to say he warranted the ultimate prize.

Another issue that has cropped up is that if Bale won the Player of the Year, he should have won the Young Player award as well as he was nominated for that category too.

However, the fact is these awards are voted for by the players and it is just the way things worked out that he didn't win both awards.

Players may not have voted for him in the young category because he is recognised as a senior player, whereas Jack Wilshere has only just broken through and wasn't up for the main award.

Jack Wilshere has won the PFA Young Player of the Year in his breakthrough season at Arsenal

Wilshere deserved the Young Player of the Year award because he has shown tremendous maturity since breaking into the Arsenal side and has proven himself to be a key member of that team.

The pint-sized midfielder has got so much talent and everyone recognises that, and it was therefore something of a no-brainer for him to scoop the Young Player award.

The Team of the Year was: Edwin van der Sar, Ashley Cole, Bacary Sagna, Nemanja Vidic, Vincent Kompany, Gareth Bale, Nani, Jack Wilshere, Samir Nasri, Dimitar Berbatov, Carlos Tevez.

A number of unsung players were mentioned in the awards, with Scott Parker and Charlie Adam two of the main examples.

Without Scott Parker, West Ham may have already been relegated this season

West Ham's lion-hearted midfielder Parker was nominated for the main award yet didn't make it into the team of the year.

That seems strange as Jack Wilshere did make it into that team, despite not being nominated for Player of the Year.

Parker deserves a lot more recognition than he has got because West Ham are almost a one-man team when he plays.

He has driven them to many victories this season, for example the home win against Liverpool, and without him the Hammers would have been dead and buried by now.

He should be a Premier League player next season whether West Ham are relegated or not and he is possibly the most under-rated player in the Premier League.

It would have been strange to see him win Player of the Year, though, as his side look like they may be relegated this season, so the fact he was nominated for the award shows how well he has done despite West Ham's plight.

If West Ham are a one-man team with Scott Parker, exactly the same sentiment is true of Blackpool with Charlie Adam.

Charlie Adam almost left Blackpool in January

He has been at the heart of everything they have done this season - penalties, passing, corners, free-kicks - and without him the Seasiders look lost in the Premier League.

Ian Holloway wanted in excess of £10million for Adam in January and that was fair enough because he is that important to them.

He will be in the Premier League next season, possibly with Liverpool, although it will be harder for him to make a mark in a 'bigger' team as he will no longer be a big fish in a small pond.

He has been one of the revelations of the season and deserves enormous credit for what he has done for Blackpool, although to win Player of the Year may have been too much as his side may also go down this season.

Nemanja Vidic, Samir Nasri, Rafael van der Vaart and Carlos Tevez were the other players nominated for the main award and they have all been key to their sides' campaigns.

However, all have had dips in form during the season and it would therefore have been difficult to see them winning the award.

Nani has also had a good season but some of his antics cost him a place on the shortlist.

He hardly endears himself to his fellow professionals with some of his diving and theatrics, and didn't deserve to be considered because of this.

There are a number of unsung heroes in the Premier League and it would have been nice for them to be recognised.

Ask most Manchester City fans who their player of the season is and they will say Vincent Kompany.

City signed Vincent Kompany from Hamburg for around £6million in 2008

He has been solid at the back for City and key to their great defensive record.

Kompany does not get as much credit as some of his team-mates largely due to the fact he was not bought for a huge amount of money, but City would be hard-pressed to find a better defender however much money they spent.

On a similar note, many Tottenham fans do not see Gareth Bale as even their Player of the Year.

Luka Modric has had a typically excellent season. He is the jewel in Tottenham's crown and his passing ability has been as important to Spurs as Bale's lung-busting runs.

Luka Modric has been linked with a move to Manchester United

Croatian playmaker Modric just never seems to give the ball away and if Tottenham are to maintain their challenge for honours over the next few years they will need to keep both Modric and Bale as there are not many more talented players in the country.

It is a shame Modric wasn't recognised in the awards by being on either the shortlist or Team of the Year, as his form has barely dipped all season and it is clear to see how important he is to his team-mates.

While Modric is one of the key players for Tottenham going forward, similar praise should be given to Michael Dawson for his magnificent efforts at the back.

He has been a vital member of the team all season and was key in their Champions League win over AC Milan.

Spurs do concede a lot of goals but without Dawson it is a fair bet they would concede a lot more.

He has come a long way from his days at Nottingham Forest and his form has led many to suggest he should be in England's first-choice 11, and he certainly deserved some sort of mention in the awards.

He missed out on a place in the Team of the Year due to the excellent campaigns of Nemanja Vidic and Vincent Kompany but he can't have been far away from a place on the team.

Bolton have had a superb season and a lot of that has been down to captain Kevin Davies.

Davies has been fantastic for the Trotters for a number of years now and is only just starting to get the praise he deserves, with his style of play often looked down on during his career.

It is a shame he is 34 now as if he was younger he would be assured a place in England squads, but it is a credit to him he is turning out these sort of performances at this stage of his career.

Bolton team-mate Gary Cahill can't have been far away from Team of the Year, either, as his form has seen him catapulted into the England squad and linked with big-money moves.

With defenders like Cahill and Dawson relatively young, England look well-served in the centre-back department for years to come. Bolton will do well to keep hold of Cahill in the summer.

He was never likely to make it into the league's best 11 due to the excellent form of some of his fellow defenders but he certainly deserves a lot of praise for his brilliant campaign.

Ashley Cole took the left-back slot in the Team of the Year but Everton's Leighton Baines may have been a better choice.

Leighton Baines missed out on a place in England's World Cup squad last year

Baines has had a fantastic season and has been a major reason for Everton's turnaround.

Cole has had a good season but has not hit the heights of last season, where he was excellent, but Baines has pretty much been Everton's best player this season.

He is a good defender but it is going forward where he stands out, with his crossing ability arguably even better than that of Cole's.

It was something of a surprise he didn't fill the left-back position in the team as he certainly deserved that sort of recognition.

One of the key members of most modern-day teams is the defensive midfielder.

The Team of the Year does not have an orthodox defensive midfielder, although Jack Wilshere has played there in the past, and it would be hard to argue against Newcastle's Cheik Tiote filling that position.

Cheik Tiote, who recently signed a new long-term deal at Newcastle, joined the Magpies last summer from FC Twente

Tiote has been one of the bargains of the season at an estimated £3.5million, quickly becoming a key member of a decent Newcastle side.

The Ivorian has been linked with a summer move to the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal and his value is sure to have rocketed in the year since he joined Newcastle, with his all-action displays helping to break up opposition attacks.

Players with 'smaller' clubs have been largely overlooked in the Team of the Year but Tiote's inclusion would have been a fair reward for an excellent season.

Newcastle need to keep hold of him in the summer as they will never be able to find someone to do his job more effectively.

Javier Hernandez was nominated for the Young Player of the Year award but the timing of the voting scuppered his chances for the main award.

Votes are likely to have been cast before his displays against Chelsea in the Champions League and prior to his excellent current run of form, but he has shown enough this season to suggest he will be a major contender for the Player of the Year award next season.

He has also proved to be a real bargain at around £7million and he will probably battle it out with Tiote for bargain signing of the season, as his value will also have gone up dramatically since joining Manchester United.

In contrast, Manchester City's £24million capture of Yaya Toure accompanied with around £220,000 a week in wages was condemned last summer.

Yaya Toure scored the winner for City in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United

While Toure will always struggle to live up to those figures, he has been fantastic for City this season with his box-to-box displays and influence at both ends of the park.

He will be a key player for City for years to come but will get little credit due to his obscene wages, but his performances this season have been top-drawer and he deserves a little more recognition because of this.

There are many other unsung players fans would have liked to have been recognised in the awards, for instance Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Matt Jarvis, but in truth no-one is going to agree completely with the results as football is a game of opinions and it would be very boring if everyone carried the same opinions all the time.

Jack Wilshere deserved to win the young category but several others should be mentioned.

If Gareth Bale can win the Player of the Year award despite being injured for much of 2011, then Andy Carroll should have been considered too.

Carroll was not among the nominations for either the Player or Young Player award

Carroll is a striker feared by any defender he faces, was one of the Premier League's top scorers until his injury at the end of December, earned a £35million move to Liverpool in January and has become recognised as a key member of the England set-up.

He deserved at the very least to be nominated for the young award as he is truly one of the top talents in the country. It is a major surprise he wasn't even considered.

At Sunderland, Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck have had good seasons yet neither of those were up for the young award.

Both seem to have 'hit the wall' recently with their form but were key members of a Sunderland side who were competing for a top-six place earlier in the season and both earned their first England cap as a result of their form.

They deserved some sort of mention as, on the whole, they have had very good seasons when most other players their age are nowhere near Premier League starting 11s.

Seamus Coleman has developed into a right-winger this season and has been instrumental in Everton's turnaround in fortunes.

Coleman helped Blackpool win promotion to the Premier League in a loan spell last season

He was nominated for the Young Player of the Year award and that was a good reward for his excellent breakthrough season.

He has shown an ability to both score and make goals and is only going to get better. He has boundless energy levels and it was nice to see him recognised with his nomination.

Joe Hart was also nominated for the young award, despite making a number of errors this season.

However, he deserved his recognition as most goalkeepers his age are not regular first-team players for their clubs, never mind their country.

He has made the England number one jersey his own after a number of assured displays, and it would not be a surprise to see him win a place in the Team of the Year next season once Edwin van der Sar has retired.

A final player who may have deserved a bit more credit and recognition is Manchester United's Chris Smalling.

He is not a regular starter but has been solid when called upon in both the league and the Champions League.

He has come a long way from his days with non-league Maidstone United and his story offers hope to any young player hoping to reach the top level.

His role will become more and more key for United with Rio Ferdinand's fitness an increasing worry, so expect to see him in a Team of the Year in the not too distant future.

I agree mostly with the nominations and winners of the awards, although this is how I would have ranked the players:

Player of the Year: 1. Luka Modric. 2. Scott Parker. 3. Gareth Bale.

Young Player of the Year: 1. Jack Wilshere. 2. Andy Carroll. 3. Javier Hernandez.

Team of the Year: Edwin van der Sar, Leighton Baines, Vincent Kompany, Nemanja Vidic, Bacary Sagna, Gareth Bale, Nani, Scott Parker, Luka Modric, Carlos Tevez, Andy Carroll. Bench: Joe Hart, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rafael van der Vaart, Samir Nasri, Charlie Adam, Jack Wilshere, Dimitar Berbatov, Javier Hernandez. (9 subs)

The beauty of these awards are that they provoke debate.

They may be voted for too soon but it must be a tremendous thrill for a player to be recognised by his fellow professionals.

There can be no better personal accolade.

Up for grabs

Sides are desperate for wins with the Premier League campaign drawing to a close

This weekend's Premier League action gives sides a chance to put final touches to excellent campaigns and pull away from danger.

With each passing week the number of sides involved in the relegation battle will lower, with a number of sides realistically just one win from safety.

The title race should also become a lot clearer after this weekend and here I will briefly preview each match and give predictions.

Manchester United v Everton (1245 Saturday)

Everton launched a stunning comeback to draw 3-3 with Man Utd at Goodison Park in September

Man Utd are not in the best of form domestically but this is the time of the season they usually knuckle down and get the job done.

Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez have struck up a great partnership and Rooney will be raring to go here against his former club.

Everton are in good form, as they always seem to be at this time of the season, but will have their work cut out at Old Trafford.

United have won 12 successive home league games and that run is likely to continue here, with Everton missing key players like Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta.

Prediction: 2-1

Aston Villa v Stoke (1500 Saturday)

The absence of Gerard Houllier through health troubles may have affected the Aston Villa players but they are professionals and Gary McAllister will have them up for this game.

They have won two successive games to all but seal safety but may still need one more win to make absolutely sure.

Stoke will be bouncing after their tremendous 5-0 FA Cup semi-final win last Sunday and need the points themselves, and that desire may be enough to help them pick up something at Villa Park.

Both these teams should stay up and this will be a tight affair, with a draw seeming the likely result.

Prediction: 1-1

Blackpool v Newcastle (1500 Saturday)

Charlie Adam and DJ Campbell's goals helped Blackpool to a 2-0 win at St James' Park earlier this season

Both these teams have been tremendous additions to the Premier League this term but it looks like the Seasiders are on a slippery slope back to the Championship.

Their performance against Wigan last weekend was so disappointing and they deserved their 3-1 defeat, so Ian Holloway will need to change their fortunes dramatically to halt their poor run.

Newcastle picked up a good point against Manchester United on Tuesday and are now looking all but safe on 40 points, but will still be desperate for points to ensure a strong end to the season.

It should be an exciting game as both sides have scored plenty of goals this season, but Blackpool need a win and they may struggle to find it here.

Prediction: 2-2

Liverpool v Birmingham (1500 Saturday)

Liverpool showed great mental strength to recover from Arsenal's late, late goal to score themselves and secure a draw at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The side have really pulled together under Kenny Dalglish and look formidable at home, so Birmingham may be in for a long afternoon.

The Blues are in good form though, with last week's win over Sunderland crucial, and have a decent record at Anfield.

But not many will be betting on them getting anything from this game as Kenny's Reds look the real deal.

Prediction: 3-0

Sunderland v Wigan (1500 Saturday)

Sunderland's loss at Birmingham last weekend dragged them right into the relegation battle and they need a win soon to relieve the pressure.

They have many first-team players missing but this is no excuse for the run they have been on - they have just been awful.

Wigan did very well to win at Blackpool last time out and will be confident of staying up as they are now out of the relegation zone.

But the Latics don't win very often and so it would be a major surprise to see them win twice in a row away from home.

Prediction: 1-0

Tottenham v West Brom (1500 Saturday)

Chris Brunt scored in the reverse fixture to earn West Brom a 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns

Tottenham did very well to recover to draw with Arsenal on Wednesday but showed some defensive problems which will need to be rectified if they are to overhaul Manchester City in fourth place.

They are a very exciting side to watch but have dropped some crucial points at home this season and need to make sure this game doesn't fall into that category.

West Brom lost for the first time under Roy Hodgson against Chelsea last weekend but look a decent side and will give it a good go at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham will be determined to put the pressure on City in fourth though and that should be enough to win them this game.

Prediction: 3-1

Wolves v Fulham (1500 Saturday)

Wolves have had two weeks to recover from the 3-0 home loss to Everton and should return to action reinvigorated and ready for a survival battle.

They are in poor form but have played some good football this season and the crowd will be right up for this one at Molineux.

Fulham are looking pretty safe in mid-table but, like so many sides in the Premier League, will still be eyeing one more win to all but secure survival.

There are sure to be plenty of nerves around as Wolves know they need a win here, but that desire should be enough to see them pick up three vital points.

Prediction: 2-0

Chelsea v West Ham (1730 Saturday)

Michael Essien scored twice in Chelsea's 3-1 win at Upton Park in September

Chelsea are still in with a shout of winning the title after some great league form and cannot afford to slip up in any more games this season.

They are still not firing on all cylinders yet but it is very hard to see anything but a Chelsea victory here.

West Ham's survival chances will boil down to their three very winnable home games, with anything they get from Stamford Bridge or Manchester City a bonus.

Those three home games will be nerve-wracking affairs but I fancy them to stay up, although they should come away from Stamford Bridge with nothing.

Prediction: 3-0

Bolton v Arsenal (1600 Sunday)

Bolton will be absolutely desperate to get back on the pitch and try to put last week's 5-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Stoke to bed, as they gave an awful showing of themselves at Wembley.

They must make sure any disappointment at that loss doesn't spill over into their league form as they have had a very good season and at the very least deserve a top-half finish.

Arsenal's title hopes have been hit by draws with Liverpool and Tottenham over the last week and they need to win every game to stand any real chance of overhauling Manchester United.

They should be well up for this game but Bolton will put them under pressure and when Arsenal are put under pressure, they usually crumble.

Prediction: 2-2

Blackburn v Manchester City (2000 Monday)

Joe Hart's error handed Blackburn a 1-1 draw at Eastlands earlier this season

Steve Kean insists he is not worried Blackburn might get relegated but he should be as they are in a horrible run of form.

The fact they are playing on Monday could work out badly for them as they could well be in the bottom three by the time they kick off against City.

City are now under severe pressure from Tottenham for fourth place and have not won away from home in 2011, but will be up for this game after their superb FA Cup semi-final win over fierce rivals Manchester United last Saturday.

Blackburn need points and they need them fast but City should have too much quality for them at Ewood Park.

Prediction: 0-2

With time ticking down on this campaign, nerves will be jangling up and down the country.

Certain battles, like for fourth place and survival, look set to go down to the final day but the title picture should become a lot clearer by the time this weekend is over.

Arsenal and Chelsea simply have to win all their games and hope Man Utd drop points and then lose to each of them, but this could be the weekend Arsenal in particular are finally ruled out of the title race.

United should win the title but the relegation battle is anything but clear-cut and sides must win games now to avoid last-day drama.

No team wants to be involved in 'Survival Sunday'.

Arsenal blow golden chance

Rafael van der Vaart tormented Arsenal by scoring a brace

Tottenham 3-3 Arsenal

The post-mortem into Arsenal's latest collapse is only just beginning after they threw away a 3-1 lead to draw at White Hart Lane.

There is so much to admire about this Arsenal team and most of it was evident here, but so too was the mental fragility which has not just marred this season but has punctuated the last several.

Comparisons with the 'Invincibles' team of 2003-04 are not helpful to the current team, but need to be made to show how far the club's standards have slipped.

A team with the likes of Sol Campbell, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry would have squandered a two-goal lead once in a blue moon, but no lead seems to be safe with the current bunch.

That was highlighted in this season's 3-2 home loss to Spurs, the incredible four-goal lead they lost at Newcastle and in this latest example at White Hart Lane.

What will hurt Arsenal fans most will be that the title has been there for the taking this term, with Manchester United rarely winning away from home and Chelsea suffering a catalogue of problems.

They have thrown away so many points, with home losses to newly-promoted West Brom and Newcastle, the multiple-goal leads they have squandered and home draws with the likes of Blackburn, Sunderland and Liverpool.

Two of their most high-profile surrenders have came to their bitter rivals Spurs, another fact Arsenal fans will find it hard to ignore.

The average age of this Arsenal team is 24, but Arsene Wenger cannot use this as an excuse any longer.

Arsene Wenger's frustration grew as Tottenham got back into the game

They play some stunning football but that will not console Gunners fans when they see the likes of Man Utd, Chelsea, Tottenham and even Birmingham lifting silverware.

Trophies are needed now before Wenger becomes even more scrutinised by his own fans because as much as they love the football Arsenal play, nothing can beat the joy of winning things and toasting success.

From the outside, many would say Arsenal fans have nothing to complain about, that the football they see should be more than enough and finishing in the top four consistently is the envy of most other clubs.

But when a club becomes accustomed to success they want more and more.

No trophies in six years for a team who has qualified for the Champions League in each of them is not good enough for the fans as they see no physical success in return for all the money they receive through this qualification.

But enough about Arsenal's failings. This was a match to be enjoyed. Over-analysis would not do the game justice.

It really was a breathless contest, the sort of game which showcases the best the Premier League has to offer.

It was as end-to-end a game as you are ever likely to see and a draw was probably a fair result although it did neither side any real favours in their ultimate goals.

In a breathtaking start played at breakneck speed, Arsenal quickly took the lead after Cesc Fabregas' magnificent though ball left Theo Walcott one-on-one with Heurelho Gomes, with the Englishman coolly slotting the ball home.

It was the kind of finish Walcott missed too often in the past and this goal may represent the new Theo Walcott, cool and composed in front of goal.

The lead didn't last long, though.

No sooner had Arsenal finished celebrating than Wojciech Szczesny was picking the ball out of his net.

van der Vaart took the shot on early to catch Szczesny unawares

Rafael van der Vaart beat the Pole at his near post after beating the offside trap but this was just a temporary reprieve for the home side.

On 12 minutes, Samir Nasri's shot from just outside the penalty area took a slight deflection to beat Gomes, although the Brazilian will be disappointed he didn't keep it out.

Nasri celebrates putting Arsenal back in front

Overall though, Gomes had a decent game and made some crucial saves, making up for his error against Real Madrid.

The way the game was going, it was something of a surprise it took until five minutes before half-time for the next goal.

Robin van Persie's goal appeared to hand Arsenal a two-goal half-time lead

Walcott did excellently on the right to conjure a chance for Robin van Persie, who smashed in the rebound after seeing his initial effort brilliantly clawed out by Gomes.

The scoring for the half wasn't over there though, with Tom Huddlestone's magnificent long-range shot leaving Szczesny with no chance.

It took until the 70th minute for Spurs to find their leveller after Szczesny showed his inexperience and fouled Aaron Lennon in the box.

van der Vaart's composed penalty left the Pole with little chance and the Dutchman's second of the game may turn out to be the goal that finally eliminates Arsenal from the title race.

Both sides had further chances in the game, with Szczesny making some crucial saves from Luka Modric and Peter Crouch, while Theo Walcott had a number of chances at the other end.

Tottenham could have had a penalty in the first half after Johan Djourou blocked the run of Modric but referee Martin Atkinson coped well with the pressure-cooker atmosphere overall.

It would have been harsh for either side to lose this game as both provided great entertainment in a true classic.

Something about this fixture just seems to bring out the best (and worst) in both sides.

Defensive responsibilities get thrown out of the window as both team go for broke, with recent classics including 2008's 4-4 draw, 2004's 5-4 Arsenal win, last year's 3-2 Tottenham comeback and this 3-3 draw.

Arsenal are now six points behind Manchester United with five games to go and have now fallen behind Chelsea, while Tottenham missed the chance to go level on points with Manchester City in fourth place, so the real winners of this breathless game were from Manchester.

Cesc Fabregas ran the show for much of the game, while Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri were also particularly impressive, but these individual displays can not mask the inefficiencies of this Arsenal side.

Cesc Fabregas does not seem to be a natural leader

Their real problem is their lack of any real leaders.

Cesc Fabregas is the captain but he is not the sort of character you would expect to inspire the team with his words.

There are no other inspirational figures in the team. Jack Wilshere could develop into a future captain but no-one else seems capable of motivating their team-mates.

Long gone are the days where the likes of Martin Keown, Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira would drive the Gunners on. They need a figure like this to help guide the inexperienced members of the side through difficult periods in games, otherwise the surrendering of leads under pressure will only become more common.

Gareth Bale was withdrawn at half-time after being injured in a clash with Wojciech Szczesny

PFA Player of the Year Gareth Bale was dealt with well by Arsenal in the 45 minutes he was on the pitch, but the Gunners seemed to neglect the threat of van der Vaart and he punished them with a stunning display.

He hasn't been on form for much of 2011 but showed the form he was showing in early-season to terrorise Arsenal.

He lined up in an unfamiliar wide right role but drifted inside at every opportunity to make Gael Clichy's job a torturous one. He reaffirmed his status as one of the bargains of the season with this performance and appears to be fully fit just when Tottenham need him most.

It will be an uphill task for Spurs to qualify for the Champions League again this season but if they show the kind of attacking flair and cutting edge they did here, they will have a chance.

The game really did make for gripping viewing, with two exciting sides slugging it out.

But Arsene Wenger will not have enjoyed it as the frailties of his team were again magnified as much as their strengths.

Wenger again cut an agitated figure on the touchline as the realisation kicked in that another trophy was slowly slipping from his grasp.

Yet another lead had been lost and there was little the Frenchman could do to stop it. His side lacks steel and he knows it, but he only has himself to blame because of his lack of activity in the transfer market.

Arsenal's recent mental problems can be traced back to the Carling Cup final against Birmingham, which the Gunners seemed to think was won before they had even played it.

Arsenal's Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham has acted as the catalyst for their recent struggles

Mentally, they thought the trophy drought was over but the defeat that followed was crippling and has spilled over into other competitions.

There was a sense of injustice as they went out of the Champions League to Barcelona, a case of what might have been as they lost in the FA Cup to Manchester United and now a great deal of frustration that time is running out for them to launch a comeback in the title race.

They are on a 16-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, but far too many games in this spell have been draws and they are what have really derailed the title bid.

Every time they have been given an opportunity to close the gap by Manchester United, they have blown it, and they now find themselves behind Chelsea in third place.

Tottenham and Arsenal both deserve tremendous credit for providing such a breathtaking spectacle but both Harry Redknapp and Arsene Wenger will be pondering what might have been had they won the game.

It was another North London derby to go into the archive marked 'classics', but will be particularly concerning for Wenger as it seemed inevitable his side would not hold onto a two-goal lead.

It is a game that will live long in the memory, but yet another one Arsene Wenger will quickly want to forget.