Owen needs to get real

Michael Owen scored 30 goals in four years at Newcastle

Newcastle 0-0 Manchester United

After Newcastle's hard-fought 0-0 draw with Manchester United last night, Michael Owen used Twitter to tell of his disappointment at the booing he received from the Newcastle fans.

Owen seems to have a very high opinion of himself. What did he expect? The Toon Army to welcome back the man who captained the side in their relegation season? The man the club wasted £17million on and around £120,000 a week on wages? The man whose form deteriorated so rapidly he couldn't even get in the team by the end of his final season? The man whose goals cost over £500,000 a piece?

He also said "From what most of you Newcastle fans are saying you should be pleased I left the club! If I had known that I could have left sooner!"

Well Michael, the truth is most Newcastle fans are not just pleased you left the club, they are delighted and relieved.

It would have been better all round if Owen had left sooner. The club may have been able to cut their losses on him and get some money back that way.

Owen was able to walk away after relegation, straight to Manchester United, while those who were really committed to Newcastle and, above all, the fans, had to deal with the anguish of the drop and battle their way back into the Premier League.

He claims when he meets Newcastle or Liverpool fans, they all "respect" what he did for their clubs.

What on earth did he acheive at St. James' Park to earn respect?

30 goals in four years? An average of around 20 appearances a season?

Owen produced his best form for Newcastle under Kevin Keegan

The only positive thing Owen will be remembered for on Tyneside is the two goals he scored against Sunderland under Kevin Keegan.

He may not have been the only player the club spent ridiculous amounts of money on.

But he was the most high-profile, the club-record signing.

He was meant to be the player to take the club to the next level. To take over long-term from Alan Shearer.

But he was an absolute flop, possibly the worst signing in the club's history. And that's saying something from a club who have signed the likes of Albert Luque, Xisco and Marcelino in the past.

The reception he recieved on his return to St. James' Park was possibly the most angry ever given to a returning player at Newcastle, but it wasn't a surprise and it was fully justified. Owen needs to look at it from the fans' point of view before moaning about it.

He says if fans knew the facts they might have a different opinion, but unless he reveals the facts he will have no chance of ever changing their minds.

As for the game, Newcastle were fully deserving of a point for the effort and commitment they put in.

Both sides will feel they should have had a penalty but the Newcastle appeal, for a foul on Peter Lovenkrands, was the most clear-cut.

Anderson clearly caught him and referee Lee Probert was well-placed, but appeared to be distracted by Shola Ameobi, who was lying on the floor after an incident earlier in the move.

It was a case of what might have been but the Magpies should be very happy with the point.

The visitors also felt they should have had a spot-kick in stoppage time at the end of the second half, with Javier Hernandez going down under a challenge from Danny Simpson.

Simpson confronted Hernandez after he attempted to win a penalty

Simpson clearly stuck a leg out, which is an extremely dangerous thing to do in the box, but no contact appeared to be made and Hernandez went over regardless.

The Mexican may have went down because he was expecting the touch, so it may have been harsh to book him for diving. However, the referee showed great strength in turning down the appeal when it would have been an easy decision for him to give it.

Probert's decision to book Hernandez may have been as a result of Nani's dive in the first half.

Nani had been diving for much of the game, but his attempt to win a penalty in the first half was cheating in every sense of the word.

He was given a serious talking to by Probert but no booking. Players like him should be given two-game bans for incidents like this as they leave a very sour taste in the mouth. He also shows utter contempt for his fellow professionals when throwing himself to the ground.

That is why he wasn't nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award. Why should fellow players vote for someone who tries to cheat them each time they face each other?

The way Wayne Rooney reacted to many of the referee's decisions, you would think he was the captain.

Wayne Rooney was in the referee's face whenever a decision went against Manchester United

Whenever a controversial decision was made against the Red Devils, Rooney was there, in the referee's ear and gesticulating.

He will never gain any of the respect back from fans and pundits while he still reacts like a schoolboy the moment anything goes against his side. He needs to stamp this out of his game and grow up.

His side did have chances and he was guilty more than most, missing two clear chances he would normally be expected to score. Ryan Giggs also missed the best chance of the game late on when he turned a cross wide of the post on around the penalty spot, but it would be hard to say Newcastle didn't deserve a point.

They had chances too, with Joey Barton, Shola Ameobi and Stephen Ireland all having good chances, while a long-range Cheik Tiote effort was well dealt with by Edwin van der Sar.

But Peter Lovenkrands' close-range header miss summed up Newcastle's lack of cutting edge.

He was unmarked and put the ball well wide. Newcastle fans could be forgiven for thinking if that was Andy Carroll, they may have been celebrating three points rather than one.

But the fans could see how much effort was being put in and this was emphasised in the exhilarating start to the game.

Newcastle needed to stamp their authority from the start and did just that.

The best chance in the period went to Man Utd, though, with Tim Krul making a fantastic save from Javier Hernandez.

Tim Krul's early save from Javier Hernandez proved crucial

Had that gone in, it would have been an uphill battle for the hosts and the save added to the growing consensus that Krul should be Newcastle's number one goalkeeper next season.

But the start to the game, in which Newcastle forced a number of set-pieces and half-chances, was played at an unbelievably fast pace and involved the crowd immediately.

They spurred the home side on and stuck with the team throughout the game, and that was in no small part down to the start.

The return of Cheik Tiote was key in keeping the visitors relatively quiet, while Fabricio Coloccini was excellent at the back.

In truth, every Newcastle player put in a good shift and played well, and that is all that can be asked when coming up against a team like Manchester United.

Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini and Cheik Tiote were key in keeping the likes of Wayne Rooney at bay

The point pushed Newcastle onto 40 points, which should be enough to see them safe.

It would take a monumental effort from those below them in the table to all reach the 40 point mark, but even if they do Newcastle will be confident of picking up some more points between now and the end of the season.

As for Man Utd, they should be quite happy with the point.

They still have to play both Arsenal and Chelsea again this season, so the title race is not over yet, but it would be a major surprise to see them throw this one away.

This was a major test for them and while they couldn't come away with three points, they will be relieved to have this game out of the way as Newcastle is never an easy place to go to.

Just ask Michael Owen.

The changing of the guard?

Yaya Toure showed great strength and composure to score the winner

For all of their lives, Manchester City fans have had to live in the shadows of their illustrious neighbours.

But after Saturday's FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester United, the gap between the sides appears to be closing.

City haven't won a trophy for 35 years - a fact United fans love to remind them of - and this will be their first FA Cup final for 30 years.

But the fact is the tide is changing. City's new-found wealth has catapulted them to the top of the game and it is just a matter of time before they are consistently challenging for honours.

They needed to produce the goods against United at Wembley to prove once and for all they are a force to be reckoned with, and did just that.

Yaya Toure scored the winner and he was a colossus in the middle of the park, with his lung-busting runs a feature of City's season.

Yaya Toure was immense for City at Wembley

His wages of reportedly £220,000 a week are grossly inflated but he has become more key to City as the season has progressed.

He came to England with the reputation of being a holding midfielder, but has shown a different side to his game. He has played the role of a box-to-box midfielder who is a genuine danger in the opposition penalty area, and after his fantastic display at Wembley it was fitting he scored the winner.

Michael Carrick's poor pass deep in his own half handed him the chance, though.

Carrick has been in great form in recent weeks but slipped up when it really mattered.

He just seemed to panic. There was no need to pass it where he did, he could have kicked it long or out of play, but that is what pressure can do to players.

Toure did very well from that point on though, easing past Nemanja Vidic and slotting the ball cooly past Edwin van der Sar, and from then on it was always going to be difficult for United.

Manchester United's players looked shell-shocked by Toure's goal

Joe Hart's fantastic save from Nani's free-kick, where he turned the ball onto the bar, was the last major threat that needed to be dealt with as City played the Italian way and ground out the result.

Roberto Mancini has had some real criticism for his defensive tactics this season, but a manager like him may be just what City needs to end their trophy drought.

His sides know how to grind out victories and he has installed a winning mentality at City.

It doesn't always work out, as proved in last Monday's 3-0 reverse at Liverpool, but they will stand more of a chance this way than playing a cavalier style.

Once City win their first trophy, more should follow as the burden of the trophy drought will no longer be there.

City could then go to a more attacking style and play the type of football everyone wants to see, possibly under a different manager, but must instil a winning mentality first.

Their cause in this match was helped massively by the dismissal of Paul Scholes with 20 minutes left.

Paul Scholes' challenge gave the referee little choice but to send him off

His lunge on Pablo Zabaleta was reckless and fully deserving of a red card - something Sir Alex Ferguson admitted after the match - and this kind of incident has blighted his career.

Scholes is undoubtedly one of the best English players of his generation, but he has never been able to tackle and when the 'red mist' comes down he is a danger to his fellow professionals.

It would be a real pity if this is what Scholes is remembered for, rather than his goalscoring exploits from midfield and magnificent control over games, and hopefully this is not the last we see of him on the big stage.

Dimitar Berbatov also fluffed his lines.

He had two fantastic chances in the first-half, with one drawing a great save from Joe Hart, but failed to stake a claim for a regular starting spot.

Many have said Wayne Rooney or Javier Hernandez would have put the chances away had they been playing, and comparisons like this will be very damaging for Berbatov.

He has had his best season in a United shirt - he is the Premier League's top scorer - but he really should have put at least one of those chances away. Had he done that, it would have given them something to hold onto and City a mountain to climb.

Much of the build-up to the game was dominated by the absences of Carlos Tevez for City and Wayne Rooney for United.

Most had concluded United would cope without Rooney more than City would cope without Tevez, but these predictions proved to be well wide of the mark.

It had been presumed Rooney's suspension would see a front pairing of Berbatov and Hernandez, but in truth Sir Alex Ferguson had to sacrifice Hernandez to make space for Berbatov.

The partnership of Rooney and Hernandez works because Rooney drops deep consistently and allows Hernandez to make his off-the-ball runs and get into key goalscoring positions.

But it is not in Berbatov's nature to drop deep and work hard for the team, therefore meaning it would have been a major gamble for Ferguson to start with both of them.

City did miss Tevez's cutting edge, but not as much as many expected.

Mario Balotelli filled the berth well and worked hard for the team, with the only sour note for him coming after the final whistle.

Roberto Mancini had to step in after Manchester United's players became angered at Mario Balotelli's antics

His needless goading of Man Utd fans after the game showed his immaturity, but he could be a top player if he can control his inner demons.

Vincent Kompany was again outstanding at the back and his performance further showed why he should have been in the running for the PFA Player of the Year award.

He has had an excellent season and many City fans would regard him as their player of the season. He is something of an unsung hero due to City not spending big (by their standards) to capture him, but his importance is clear for all to see.

The return of David Silva to the starting line-up was also key.

His talent and subtlety are crucial for City going forward and his non-selection was a major reason for last weeks' loss at Liverpool.

City's semi-final win has led many to suggest the cup is all but won, but they shouldn't fall into that trap.

Stoke's 5-0 mauling of Bolton showed they are not over-awed by the big occasion and they can cope with the Wembley atmosphere.

Bolton's players appeared to freeze on the big occasion at Wembley

They were simply excellent as Bolton's dream of winning the FA Cup for the late Nat Lofthouse was torn apart.

Owen Coyle will have been deeply hurt by the defeat as his side are a lot better than they showed, but credit must be given to Tony Pulis and Stoke.

They draw much criticism for their direct style but a lot of this is undeserved and they should be praised for what they have achieved in a relatively short space of time.

Jonathan Walters (2), Matthew Etherington, Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones were all on the scoresheet as pre-match predictions of Bolton easing to the final proved laughable.

Stoke knocked City out of the FA Cup last season and so cannot be taken lightly.

They will cause problems for any side and will not care about going into the final as underdogs.

But City have to win.

They have gone so long without a trophy that falling flat on their faces when many have already almost handed the cup over to them would set them back a long way.

The '35 years' banner at Old Trafford is something City need to consign to the history books. Its removal from the Stretford End would signify something of a changing of the guard, a realisation that City are no longer merely the 'noisy neighbours' and are a genuine threat to United's dominance.

Manchester United fans have taunted City supporters with the ticking banner to signify their time without a trophy

But for it to tick over onto '36' would be another dagger through City fans' hearts. They need a trophy and they need it now. They may have ended any chance of United winning another treble this season but they have achieved nothing yet.

On paper, City should have too much for Stoke.

Their victory over United shows they have belief and confidence they can achieve great things, and they must now finish the job off when they return to Wembley next month.

Only then will this result mean anything.

Time for teams to stand up and be counted

This weekend's round of fixtures in the Premier League and the FA Cup will go a long way towards deciding who will pick up silverware this season.

Several teams are facing must-win fixtures in the league while any cup semi-final must be regarded in the same way.

Here I will analyse the key games and make my predictions.

Manchester City v Manchester United: FA Cup semi-final (1715 Saturday)

Manchester City and United fans will travel to Wembley for the semi-final

The FA Cup may have lost some of its edge in recent years but that will all be forgotten about once this game gets underway.

This is a match which would have made a fitting final, with serial winners Man Utd up against their noisy (and big-spending) neighbours Man City.

It is a shame for the spectacle that two of the key players - Carlos Tevez of City and Wayne Rooney of United - will be missing but there is sure to be a wealth of talent still on show.

Tevez will likely be replaced by Edin Dzeko or Mario Balotelli, who both cost City in excess of £24million.

Balotelli has shown both sides to his game since arriving but is certainly a talent and if on his game will cause United problems.

Dzeko has struggled to adapt to English football but this game gives him the perfect chance to prove the doubters wrong. He scored home and away for Wolfsburg against United in the Champions League last season and so the Red Devils will know all about the quality he possesses, but he should be confident as he has had success against this opposition before.

Roberto Mancini admitted he got his tactics wrong against Liverpool on Monday but I can see him going for a similar gameplan here.

Their first target will be not to concede and anything more than that will be seen as a bonus.

One player they will have to watch very closely is Javier Hernandez.

Hernandez, or Chicharito as he likes to be called, has been in scintillating form since moving to England from Mexico and is the perfect example of a natural goalscorer.

He has struck up a great partnership with Wayne Rooney, but with Rooney suspended he is likely to be partnered by Dimitar Berbatov in this game.

That should be no problem though as Berbatov is the Premier League's top scorer and Hernandez seems to be able to produce whatever the circumstances.

Sir Alex Ferguson will be desperate to get one over on City and ensure their trophy drought goes on, but knows United are in for a tough game and City are no longer the pushovers they once were.

It is sure to be a tight game and may well go to extra-time, but United's experience should pull them through.

Prediction: 1-2 (AET)

Bolton v Stoke: FA Cup semi-final (1600 Sunday)

The battle between Gary Cahill and Kenwyne Jones could be key

It will be a great achievement for whoever reaches the final from this match as both are traditional clubs who have gone a long time without major silverware.

The winner will secure a place in Europe for next season and that would have been almost unthinkable at the start of the season.

Stuart Holden will be a big miss for Bolton as he has been excellent this season, but Owen Coyle is a terrific manager who is sure to get the best out of whoever is at his disposal.

Daniel Sturridge will also miss the game for the Trotters as he is cup-tied, so they will go into the game without two of their key players.

The loss of Sturridge may well be the biggest blow, but this does give an opportunity for Johan Elmander to partner Kevin Davies up front, something which worked well earlier in the season.

Stoke get a lot of criticism for their direct style but they are only playing to their strengths.

Yes, long-throws, set-pieces and long punts up the field are crucial for them, but there is a lot more to them as proved by their majestic wingers Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant.

They are solid at the back, with the partnership between Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth one of the best in the country. This will be vital as they will need to be solid against Kevin Davies.

Tony Pulis has worked wonders for them as manager and deserves this recognition.

He gets a lot of bad press but in my opinion this is undeserved as he has done an unbelievable job and taken Stoke from obscurity to the top end of the game.

A lot of people have said the winner of this match will just be there to make up the numbers in the final, but that is not true at all.

Both will fully believe they have a chance of going all the way and lifting the cup in May, as both Man Utd and Man City have shown certain culpabilities this season.

This will be a close game and the nervousness created by being so close to silverware will force mistakes.

Bolton will not lose without a fight but Stoke may well just edge this one.

Prediction: 1-2

Birmingham v Sunderland (1500 Saturday)

Birmingham came from two down to draw at the Stadium of Light on the opening day

What on earth has happened to Sunderland's season?

A couple of months ago, they would have been shoe-ins to beat West Brom last week.

But, despite leading twice, they threw it away to lose 3-2 and are now embroiled in a relegation battle.

This game will be crucial for both sides, with a win for Birmingham possibly moving them ahead of the Black Cats in the table.

Sunderland's problems have all stemmed from the January departure of Darren Bent, and they now lack a cutting edge. Their defence is also struggling and Steve Bruce knows his side can't afford many more slip-ups.

In reality, one more win should be enough to see them safe but getting that win is going to get harder and harder as each of their remaining games is against a relegation rival.

If Sunderland don't start picking up points in these games the sides around them will inevitably leapfrog them and leave them staring at relegation.

Birmingham's draw at Blackburn last weekend will have been greeted with some disappointment as it offered a real chance for them to pull away from danger.

However, they will see this game as a similar opportunity and Alex McLeish will have his side well up for what could be a six-pointer.

Sunderland are really struggling but should stay up, though Birmingham are the more likely winners in this game.

Prediction: 2-0

Blackpool v Wigan (1500 Saturday)

Blackpool hammered Wigan 4-0 at the DW Stadium on the opening day

If ever a game could be described as a six-pointer, this is it.

Both sides are in horrible form and so a win here could be the difference between staying up and going down.

Blackpool thrashed Wigan on the opening day and in the Carling Cup last season, and that will give Ian Holloway's side a lot of confidence.

But they look a tired side and it will take a monumental effort for them to halt their slide and stay up.

They returned to something like the side they were earlier in the season against Arsenal last weekend, but must make sure they can get up for the games against the sides around them as well as the sides at the top.

A win for bottom-of-the-table Wigan would take them above Blackpool and plunge the Seasiders into the bottom three, and they would struggle to recover from that.

But a home win would see Wigan become cast adrift at the bottom and they look like a side running out of ideas and belief.

Roberto Martinez has not done a bad job with them but every season is a struggle for Wigan as they simply don't have the backing of their fans as other clubs do.

Playing in front of a half-empty stadium each week must be disheartening for the players and is a major factor behind their struggles.

Charlie Adam will be the key to this game as he has been excellent this season and one of the sole reasons Blackpool have not yet been in the bottom three.

If he is as influential as he has been so far this campaign, Wigan will be in for a tough afternoon.

This should be an open game with plenty of goals as both teams like to get the ball down and play but are sloppy at the back.

But Blackpool are due a win and their fans will make a terrific atmosphere, and should just edge this one.

Prediction: 3-2

Everton v Blackburn (1500 Saturday)

Tim Howard's error handed Blackburn a 1-0 win at Ewood Park in August

Blackburn have really struggled in recent months and are prime relegation candidates.

Their decision to sack Sam Allardyce with the side comfortable in mid-table has looked more ludicrous as the weeks have gone on, with Steve Kean failing to prove himself as a top-flight manager.

They are a team totally lacking in confidence at the moment and need some points soon to avoid slipping into the bottom three.

They just don't have enough firepower and, despite being experienced, a drop to the Championship is looking very possible.

Everton, meanwhile, have turned the corner. This was proved by last week's excellent 3-0 win at Wolves.

David Moyes' side always come good around this time of year and are now comfortably in the top half, so this game will be an extremely difficult one for Blackburn to pick up maximum points.

Only Stoke and Wolves have lost more away games than Blackburn this season and, with Everton losing just three times at home, it's unlikely they will come away with a win at Goodison Park.

Everton have a threadbare squad and have been hampered even more by recent injury troubles, but should still have too much for Blackburn.

Prediction: 2-0

West Brom v Chelsea (1500 Saturday)

Didier Drogba's hat-trick helped Chelsea to a 6-0 opening day victory over West Brom

Chelsea's Champions League defeat in midweek was a crushing blow and they must ensure this doesn't affect their league form as a Champions League spot for next season is not yet assured.

Fernando Torres should not start this game as he is clearly in no sort of form and showing no signs of getting into form.

He may well come good next season but for now he should be put on the back burner.

Chelsea will be in for a tricky game here as Roy Hodgson has got West Brom playing well.

He has still not lost a game in charge of the Baggies and they will have gained a lot of confidence from last weekend's 3-2 victory at Sunderland, which took them into the top half of the table.

Peter Odemwingie has had a promising first season in English football and is sure to cause problems for Carlo Ancelotti's beleaguered side.

The Baggies were thumped 6-0 at Stamford Bridge on the opening day but are a much improved side since then and will prove it in this match.

Their Premier League status is all but assured and they are able to play without too much pressure, which will stand them in good stead against the champions.

Ancelotti looks set to leave in the summer and the constant rumours may well have affected the players, and this game may show whether the Chelsea players are behind their manager.

West Brom come into this game in great form and Chelsea are really struggling, which could contribute to something of a shock result.

Prediction: 2-1

West Ham v Aston Villa (1500 Saturday)

Both teams are enduring disappointing seasons

Like a number of fixtures this weekend, this game will go a long way towards deciding who goes down.

West Ham looked on the up a couple of weeks ago but successive defeats have flattened them and they are in dire need of a win here.

Villa fought hard to beat Newcastle last weekend but must not fall into the trap of thinking they are safe as there is still a lot of work to do yet.

The likes of Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and Darren Bent need to step up their form to eradicate any relegation fears, as this side should not be battling near the bottom of the division.

This game will be difficult for them though. West Ham were destroyed 3-0 at Bolton last weekend and Avram Grant will be looking for a response.

They have showed some good form in patches this season and when they are on their game, they look a very good side.

But when they are off-form there aren't many worse sides in the Premier League and it is a matter of ensuring the good side of West Ham comes out more often.

Gerard Houllier would be happy with a point here but the players don't seem to want to play for him.

He is out of touch with the modern game and is the main reason Villa are battling near the bottom, and defeat in this game could put another nail in his managerial coffin.

West Ham will be motivated for this one and with the full backing of their fans at Upton Park, should pull through.

Prediction: 2-1

Arsenal v Liverpool (1600 Sunday)

A stoppage-time own goal from Pepe Reina gave Arsenal a 1-1 draw at Anfield in August

Arsenal pulled out a crucial win at Blackpool last weekend but the Seasiders were unlucky and could have got something from the game.

The Gunners are slowly slipping out of the title race and each game is a must-win for them now.

Liverpool will make life extremely difficult for Arsene Wenger's side, with their 3-0 win over Manchester City on Monday very impressive.

Andy Carroll has caused Arsenal problems in the past and was pivotal in that victory over City with two goals, and will be the key if Liverpool are to have a chance in this game.

Kenny Dalglish is doing a terrific job for the Merseysiders and must be given the job permanently in the summer, as no one else could appease the fans now.

With Manchester United not playing a league game this weekend, that presents a real opportunity for Arsenal to close the gap and turn up the pressure.

But every time they have had a chance like this so far this season, they have blown it.

A defeat in this game could all but end their title hopes, so they should be well up for it.

Liverpool, despite still having frailties, seem to be playing with confidence now and this could be crucial as Arsenal will feel like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders.

It should be a tight game but with Andy Carroll on form, he could terrorise this Arsenal defence.

He scored the only goal as Newcastle won at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season and Arsenal seem to fear him, so this could hold the key.

Arsenal will not give up on the title until it is mathematically impossible but the result of this game could make their task an improbable one.

Prediction: 0-1

It should be another exciting weekend, with FA Cup semi-final weekend always one of the highlights of the football calendar.

With the added drama of the relegation battle and title race, there will be crucial action wherever you look as the season draws to a close.

Nails around the country are about to be bitten to the core.

Sheffield clubs lose their steel

Both Sheffield clubs look set to play in League One next season

Sheffield is a city revered around England for its football teams as much as its steel-making industry.

Yet its two famous clubs, United and Wednesday, look set to battle it out in the third tier next season.

Ask most football fans which clubs 'deserve' to be or 'belong' in the top flight and the names Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday are likely to crop up.

And so it is a footballing tragedy they have fallen so far that clubs like, no disrespect, Rochdale, Hartlepool and Leyton Orient have brighter futures than them.

They have shared a season together in the third tier before - in the 1979/80 season - but the sheer passion and loyalty of each set of supporters deserves so much more.

United have the eighth-highest average attendance in the Championship, just over 20,000, despite propping up the division. Wednesday meanwhile have attracted an average of more than 17,500, the second-highest in League One, yet languish in 16th place.

Both have terrific, old-fashioned stadiums in Bramall Lane and Hillsborough, which would not be out of place in the Premier League.

The Sheffield derby was missing from the calendar this season due to Wednesday's last-day relegation last term, but looks certain to be a League One fixture next season with United eight points from safety in the second tier. They face fellow relegation near-certainties Preston this weekend and must win to keep alive any faint hopes of survival.

Wednesday's season also failed to ignite, with recent wins only serving to calm relegation fears. They are just seven points clear of League One's relegation zone, with no prospects of promotion as they sit 14 points away from the play-offs.

Both clubs' plights show the precarious nature of English football.

Neil Warnock's Sheffield United played in the Premier League in 2006/07

United were in the Premier League as recently as 2007 under Neil Warnock, and lost the play-off final to go back to the top flight in 2009, yet financial difficulties and bad luck with managers has derailed the whole club.

Wednesday have not been in the Premier League since 2000, with no top-flight derbies between the sides since 1994, and have had even worse financial difficulties.

This is a familiar pattern.

In recent years, famous names like Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Charlton Athletic and Leicester City have plummeted to League One. Some have bounced back, some are still trying, but finances have been at the centre of each clubs' problems.

Clubs need to learn how to spend within their means and build strong foundations before thinking big and spending what they don't have.

For big clubs, relegation to the third tier usually acts as a wake-up call and the club acts sensibly in an attempt to return to their former glories.

But the signs for Wednesday have so far not been good.

Alan Irvine was a decent manager for them and initially acclimatised the team well to League One. They looked well set for a promotion challenge but faded away and Irvine paid for it with his job.

Milan Mandaric had taken ownership of the club by this time and it is this which may offer a ray of light for the future.

Mandaric did a magnificent job at Portsmouth and helped guide Leicester to promotion from League One, and next season will offer a true reflection of his ambitions for Wednesday.

Gary Megson is a manager with Premier League experience

Gary Megson, as manager, understands the Owls fans as he grew up supporting the club, and his top-flight experience should stand Wednesday in good stead for next season.

But promotion will not be easy.

League One will be packed with ambitious teams next season, with whoever comes down, including Sheffield United, all having realistic promotion chances.

Those teams who miss out on promotion this season will all have the chance to re-evaluate themseleves and push again.

And even those who come up from League Two will have a chance, as proved by Bournemouth and Rochdale this season.

However, both Sheffield clubs, for their size alone, would have to be ranked among the favourites.

If and when United's relegation is confirmed, they should stick by manager Micky Adams.

Micky Adams supported Sheffield United as a child

Just like his Wednesday counterpart Megson, Adams supports the club he manages and this will be crucial when the club is at its lowest ebb.

He may have won just two matches out of 19 since taking over from Gary Speed in December but has a decent managerial record and presents a good chance of bouncing back at the first attempt.

Chairman Kevin McCabe is deeply unpopular among Blades fans and looking for new owners, but it will be extremely difficult to attract investors to a League One club.

Nevertheless, the size of Sheffield United should be enough to attract genuine football-lovers.

Sheffield United fans have stuck with their side this season despite likely relegation

They have fantastic fans and a good history, wth four FA Cup wins and one league triumph to their name.

Similarly, Wednesday have a proud history, with four league titles, three FA Cups and one League Cup.

But it seems like it will be a long time before either of these clubs will be competing at the business end of English football again.

For all the strength of their fanbases, both clubs are in a real mess and those whose financial mismanagements have destablised the clubs should hang their heads in shame.

Both have been and will remain shining lights of English football, but must now begin a road to redemption to gain some of their reputations back.

The examples of both Sheffield clubs should be looked at by all Championship and most Premier League clubs, as no-one is exempt from suffering a similar fate.

They are not the first and they certainly won't be the last to fall from grace so spectacularly, but lessons need to be learned to ensure more of the famous names of English football don't implode.

Sheffield Wednesday fans have continued to attend games despite not being in the Premier League since 2000

The way the clubs have been run, it could be said they deserve to play League One football next season.

But the fans certainly don't.

They will stick by their teams through thick and thin, and boy will their clubs need them next season.

Let's hope both the clubs are run properly in future because they have the potential to be top Premier League clubs and certainly don't belong in the third tier.

Two of the most famous names in English football should not be left to rot.

Chelsea pensioners reach end of the road

This defeat may be the final nail in the coffin for this Chelsea side

Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea (3-1 agg)

As Chelsea crashed out of the Champions League at Old Trafford last night, there was a growing realisation that the best team in their history had missed the chance to win the greatest prize for the last time.

Ever since Roman Abramovich bought the club and splashed the cash on players galore, the dream has been to win Europe's premier competition.

That dream has developed into an obsession, borne out of frustration at refereeing decisions, near misses and the Moscow penalty shoot-out agony.

As they have collected domestic medals galore, with three Premier League titles, some members of the side have become genuine club legends but are unlikely to ever get their hands on the big-eared trophy now.

John Terry and Chelsea are set to go trophyless this season

The likes of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard are now approaching their mid-thirties, while John Terry, Nicolas Anelka, Paulo Ferreira and Florent Malouda are not getting any younger.

It is getting harder for them year on year to win the prestigious prize, and Abramovich is now likely to ditch some of the older stars in favour of bringing in new blood, without the scars the current squad holds.

Chelsea should win the Champions League some day, but those who laid the foundations like Drogba and Lampard may not be there to see it.

This season presented one of their best-ever chances to win the competition.

Without any real prospect of winning the league, they were able to focus solely on the Champions League. A semi-final with Manchester United provided no real worries for them as they knew they could beat them, but like so many times this season they came up short.

This side is well past its sell-by-date and needs to be revamped in the summer.

Ironically, it was the oldest outfield player on the pitch who made the biggest influence on the game.

While some of Chelsea's older heads battled in vain, Ryan Giggs was once again the stand-out performer for United.

Ryan Giggs set up all Man Utd's goals in the tie

He set up both of their goals, after setting up the only goal in the first leg, with sublime passes only he is capable of.

He is so calm and composed on the ball and is simply getting better and better.

His experience certainly helps and he is not the same kind of player he was earlier in his career, but is still just as influential, if not more.

He has been re-invented as a central midfielder and this is testament to his desire and love of the game.

He is the prime example for any budding youngsters to follow and his influence will be felt at Old Trafford long after he retires.

At 37, he is still United's best player and who knows how long he can go on for? At this rate, he could easily play on until his forties.

He has been the catalyst for this campaign and could lead his side to the treble.

He is incomparable in the modern day game and shows not all players are motivated by sheer money.

One of the main talking points that has come out of this game is Carlo Ancelotti's selection of Fernando Torres and his subsequent dire performance.

It was no surprise to see him in the starting line-up, as Chelsea paid £50million for him to play and lead the line. He is meant to be the final jigsaw in their team and the man who makes the difference.

Torres has so far failed to live up to his price tag

But Ancelotti should have ignored the price tag and let his head make the decision. Torres has still not scored for Chelsea and has not looked remotely like doing so, while Didier Drogba has shown recent signs of returning to form. It would have been brave of Ancelotti to leave Torres out but it would have been the correct decision and would have gained him respect from pundits and supporters alike.

Torres was anonymous once again in this game, despite a few early touches, and deserved to be brought off at half-time. The problem was, the damage had been done by then.

Chelsea needed to make early in-roads and show United they were still in the tie, but had no focal point to the team and were therefore unthreatening until Torres was brought off.

Playing with Torres at the moment is like playing with ten players. He has no physical presence, no belief and seemingly no desire. The team does not suit him and he looks disinterested, just as he did in his final half-season at Liverpool. This is more than just a blip now and questions over whether he has 'lost it' need to be asked.

Next season, when the team will be more designed towards helping him and accustomed to his style of play, the real Fernando Torres will probably come to the fore.

But at the moment he is a liability and his presence reduced Chelsea's chances of reaching the semi-finals significantly.

Didier Drogba showed when he came on with his desire and strength that he should have started the game.

Drogba's goal seemed to get Chelsea back in the tie, only for United to go up the pitch and score

He has everything Torres doesn't have at the moment and it should have been something of a no-brainer for Ancelotti to pick him.

His goal summed up what he could have offered Chelsea if he had started the game, as he offered an out-ball, took the ball down well and fired past Edwin van der Sar. Torres is simply not capable of anything like that at the moment.

Drogba will probably be sacrificed in the summer in an attempt to get Torres performing, with a team designed more around him, but currently he is the best striker Chelsea has and should be treated that way.

With Chelsea's £50million striker misfiring, it was ironic to see how influential Man Utd's £6million striker was in comparison.

Javier Hernandez is a goal-poacher supreme and was once again in the right place at the right time to score the opening goal, which set United on the way to the semi-finals.

Senior stars like Ryan Giggs have helped 'Chicharito' settle in at Manchester United

He has scored 18 goals this season almost un-noticed and comes to the fore in Champions League games.

He seems to have a real goalscorer's instinct of where to run. He showed that for United's second goal, where his off-the-ball run created the space Park Ji-Sung needed to seal the game.

Hernandez is a natural goalscorer along the lines of Michael Owen and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and has developed into a key player as the season has progressed.

United fans will obviously be hoping he becomes as important as Solskjaer was to them, but Hernandez has the ability to be even more vital than that.

Solskjaer was a top-drawer player but suffered from his reputation as a super-sub, consistently starting games from the bench.

But Hernandez is more than that. His best displays invariably come when he starts games and he has developed a real understanding with Wayne Rooney. The Hernandez-Rooney partnership could be one that lasts years.

Rooney is just hitting top form and that will be a real relief to him.

He still has problems, as was shown with his on-camera swearing at West Ham, but is returning to the kind of form he showed last season.

It is more than just the goals. Some of the cross-field balls he played during this match were phenomenal. He is a key part of United's build-up play and the end product.

It says a lot for the Rooney-Hernandez partnership that Dimitar Berbatov is being left on the bench.

Berbatov has been sublime this season and scored more goals than ever before. He is the Premier League's top scorer but cannot break this partnership.

He has been much-maligned during his time at Old Trafford and so it is ironic he is not starting games when he is starting to receive praise. But that is testament to Hernandez and Rooney and it is good that Sir Alex Ferguson is sticking with the partnership for the good of the team, despite Berbatov's imperious form. It certainly gives him a genuine goalscoring option on the bench.

Park deserved his goal, too. He is one of United's true unsung heroes and should get more credit than he does.

He always seems to pop up and score important goals (usually against Arsenal), and seems to be one of the first names on Sir Alex Ferguson's team-sheet for the big games.

His industrious style sums up this Manchester United side. He works so hard for the team and is beginning to get the recognition he deserves.

Another key player in United's run-in will be Antonio Valencia.

He came on with 15 minutes to go in this game, but will start games as he is unlike anyone else United have.

It is great for the team that he has recovered from his horrific broken leg in time for the key part of the season, and his crossing ability could provide the difference between one trophy or two this season, or even between two trophies and three.

Nani has had a great season and had another good game here, yet has been overlooked in the PFA Player of the Year nominations.

Nani's petulance has drawn much criticism this season

To me, that is no surprise.

Some of his on-field antics hardly endear himself to his fellow players, and he hardly covered himself in any glory in this game.

First he made the most of a Ramires foul, rolling around on the ground in apparent agony until Ramires was sent off.

Surprise, surprise, he was up and running as soon as Ramires had left the pitch. He has a real reputation for diving and feigning injury and something needs to be done about him now. Either Ferguson needs to sit him down and tell him these actions are not acceptable, or he needs to be reprimanded in some way by the authorities.

With the tie all but dead with around 20 minutes remaining, he was fouled deep into the Chelsea half.

He than waved an imaginary card at the referee, and this is another act of bad sportsmanship which just sums him up.

He is an odious individual and the sooner he leaves England to go to a more cynical country like Italy, the better.

He seems to have a very high opinion of himself and is undoubtedly a very good player, but that does not excuse him from such criticism.

He has learned a lot from his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, both by the way he plays and some of the more unlikeable aspects of his game, but will never be the same player.

He needs to grow up now as such antics will not be stood for any longer.

As for Ferguson, this looks set to be another vintage year.

Sir Alex Ferguson has won 35 major trophies as Manchester United manager

He already has two Champions League winners' medals in his pocket and must feel confident a third may come his way next month at Wembley.

He is surely one of, if not the, best manager of all time and United fans must pray he has no plans to retire any time in the immediate future.

This may not be the most exciting team he has assembled but it could be the most effective.

No-one will care how they have played this season if they win the treble. They show incredible desire and a will-to-win which out-dos most opponents, and it looks almost impossible to beat them at Old Trafford.

If they are looking for widespread acclaim, they will need to sign some flair players in the summer, as they have looked mechanical since Cristiano Ronaldo left.

Stars like Nani will also need to be kicked into shape but the future looks positive for them and it may just be that two or three players are needed to make the side truly scintillating.

As for Chelsea, the writing seems to be on the wall for Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti's side lost in the first knock-out round to Inter Milan last season

Roman Abramovich has one goal: to win the Champions League. Ancelotti has now come up short twice and his two wins in the competition with AC Milan are unlikely to save him against the trigger-happy Russian.

However, his tremendous success last season in winning the league and FA Cup double should be remembered - to sack him now would make little sense.

Who could replace him? There are not many managers who can match his record and it may turn out to be another costly mistake by Abramovich if he sacks him.

Roman Abramovich has spent heavily since buying Chelsea in 2003

He has made the same mistakes here as he did with Jose Mourinho, forcing a player on him he didn't want, and only has himself to blame.

Torres has all the hallmarks of Andriy Shevchenko, just even more costly.

Shevchenko knew he wasn't Mourinho's man, and Torres must surely know he is not Ancelotti's.

Ancelotti is expected to get the best out of whoever is thrust upon him, and is likely to pay for Torres' failure in the summer.

This could be a watershed moment in Chelsea's history. The team will be much-changed next year and some club legends will pay for this failure. They look a tired team who are going nowhere fast.

As for United, they now have a real chance of winning the Champions League.

A probable semi-final against mid-table German side Schalke presents a real opportunity for a place in the final, and anything can then happen.

United should beat Schalke but should take them seriously as any side who reaches the semi-finals of the Champions League must be more than capable.

Raul is still scoring consistently for Schalke

Raul will be the key man United will need to stop but they should go through to meet Barcelona or Real Madrid at Wembley in the final.

That would be a much tougher proposition and they are likely to come up short there, but anything can happen in a final.

Barcelona brushed aside Shakhtar Donetsk 6-1 on aggregate with Lionel Messi's 48th goal of the season sealing thir semi-final place.

Real Madrid should come through against Tottenham tonight and they also look formidable, so it will be extremely difficult for United to get their hands on the trophy.

But they do have a chance against anyone, as proved in their 2008 semi-final win against Barcelona, and their industrious style will stand them in good stead.

With the likes of Giggs, Park and Nani on form, anything is possible.

Magpies wilt in Birmingham sun

My view of the game at Villa Park

Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle

Alan Pardew described this game as "scruffy", and that is one of the more positive descriptions it could have been given.

Neither side can take any real credit from their displays. In truth it was two poor sides battling it out.

Newcastle can have their excuses. They were missing their top-scorer and captain, Kevin Nolan, main striker Shola Ameobi, key man Cheik Tiote, as well as the likes of Leon Best, Stephen Ireland, James Perch, Dan Gosling, Alan Smith, Kazenga Lua Lua and Hatem Ben Arfa.

They also lost star performer Andy Carroll and key squad member Wayne Routledge in the January transfer window, and all this added up to produce an inevitable display which lacked belief, bite and flair.

But Aston Villa can have no such excuses.

This is a team featuring key England players Darren Bent, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, international defenders like Richard Dunne, James Collins and Luke Young and others who have tasted international football or are tipped for bright futures like Stiliyan Petrov, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Kyle Walker, Emile Heskey, Marc Albrighton, Robert Pires, Nigel Reo-Coker, Ciaran Clark, Brad Friedel and Jean Makoun.

They should be nowhere near the bottom three and this performance summed them up.

The only reason they beat Newcastle was because they were facing a poor, under-strength team. In truth, they didn't even deserve to win and only sneaked the three points thanks to a controversial free-kick.

The weather was apparently hotter than Spain in the UK this weekend.

And referee Stuart Attwell seemed to think he was officiating in Spain as he gave fouls for almost any tackle, culminating in him falling for Ashley Young's dive and penalising Joey Barton.

James Collins celebrates his winning goal

Young's free-kick was nodded in by James Collins, who was solid at the back for Villa, and the away side struggled from then on.

Any side would when missing their twelve-goal skipper, twelve-goal departed striker, lynchpin in midfield and next two top-scoring strikers.

The second string couldn't impose themselves on Villa but found themselves up against an equally poor side who just seem to be going through the motions under manager Gerard Houllier.

He has failed to get anything out of what is a very talented squad, and must be sacked whichever division they are in this summer.

He is out of touch with the modern game, as proved in his mistreatment of talented left-back Stephen Warnock, making him possibly the most archaic manager in the Premier League.

I could see them bringing in Rafael Benitez to replace him in the summer, but that is all for the future.

Neither side deserved to win the game - in fact, it could be argued both deserved to lose - and Newcastle didn't threaten to score the goal which would have earned them a point until the last five minutes.

Shefki Kuqi replaced the ineffective Nile Ranger - who made his first top-flight start - on 83 minutes and it was only then that the defensive duo of Richard Dunne and James Collins were given anything to think about.

Nile Ranger was easily dealt with by Villa's defenders

Ranger should have given Newcastle the lead, or at the very least made Brad Friedel make a challenging save, in the early exchanges but his tame shot went straight into the hands of Friedel.

The next real chance came after Kuqi's arrival, with Peter Lovenkrands heading a good chance over and then seeing a shot well saved by the feet of Brad Friedel, as the big Finnish striker's mere presence seemed to cause the home backline worries. Ryan Taylor also put a free-kick narrowly over right at the death.

Kuqi had been ready on the touchline for at least ten minutes prior to coming on, and it seems strange Pardew waited so long to introduce him.

He did more in the seven minutes plus stoppage time he had than Ranger did in 83 minutes, and ten more minutes against a tiring Villa defence could have made all the difference.

It was frustrating to see him there, ready, from 75 minutes onwards yet not brought on.

There were plenty of opportunities to do just that, with the ball going out of play numerous times, but Pardew just waited and waited and must now rue that decision.

Ranger had been unthreatening the entire game and there was nothing to suggest he was about to produce something. In truth he should have been collared on the hour mark.

Fans had been waiting to see him unleashed from the start all season after a number of impressive cameos, but now must understand why Chris Hughton and now Pardew see him as more of an impact player.

He is just too raw and doesn't have enough about him at the moment to justify a starting place. In a few years, once he has gained some strength and experience, he should be a valuable player.

This game almost mirrored the game played at Villa Park between the sides in 2009, which saw United relegated.

While it does not have the same repercussions as that fateful day, the flow of the game was remarkably similar and the roasting weather conditions, which saw the away fans shielding their eyes for much of the game, were there again.

It had the feel of an early-season game but both these sides have a lot of work still to do in the rest of this season.

Both should avoid relegation comfortably, but still need some more points on the board to make absolutely sure.

Villa and Newcastle both have some very winnable games coming up, but no games are easy at this stage of the season and neither should fall into the trap of thinking safety is already assured.

Ashley Young hardly endeared himself to the Newcastle fans with his performance.

Young went down whenever touched

He went to ground at every opportunity and referee Attwell fell for it every time. This was not a one-off and the day he gets his comeuppance can't come soon enough.

Newcastle may not have given their loyal away travelling much to cheer about during the game, but they stuck with the team in recognition of the clear effort made and in light of how under-strength they were.

Joey Barton and Peter Lovenkrands should be given credit for their actions after the game.

Both came over to the away fans, applauded them and threw their shirts into the crowd, showing players do appreciate their supporters and they are vital to the club's chances.

Most players do applaud the fans after the game, but others, notably Jose Enrique, can't get off the pitch soon enough.

Enrique has been a great player for Newcastle, both this season and last, but seemingly can't wait to leave the club.

Rumours are sweeping Tyneside today that a deal may already be done to take him to Liverpool in the summer. It is inevitable he will leave and the club should be looking for his replacement now.

Villa and Newcastle need major renovation to their squads in the summer if they survive in the Premier League, but Newcastle in particular are in dire need of investment.

This game magnified the problems they have, with four outfield youngsters taking their place on the bench. There is simply no depth to the squad and that must be rectified.

In truth, they probably need at least eight players to come in during the summer and should spend all of the £35million from the Andy Carroll sale to ensure the club can really push on.

Should Enrique leave, they will need a new left-back.

Stephen Warnock has been frozen out by Gerard Houllier since the turn of the year

Discarded Villa man Stephen Warnock may be just what they need. He has been consistently one of the best in his position in the league over the last few seasons, and the way he has been treated this season has been nothing short of a disgrace.

Shane Ferguson would be more than an able deputy for him and, long-term, he is the man who will replace Enrique.

At least one new centre-back will also be required.

Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini have done fine jobs this season, and Steven Taylor is a good third-choice, but Sol Campbell has proved himself to be over the hill this season.

He should be released and a new man should be brought in, possibly someone like Wolves' Richard Stearman, to provide competition.

Danny Simpson has been good this season but needs some cover. James Perch is not good enough for the Premier League and should be let go in the summer, so someone is needed to provide competition.

Habib Beye could return to compete with Simpson: he was a good player for Newcastle and has been sidelined by Aston Villa. He left in acrimonious circumstances after the club's relegation but someone like him is needed to ensure Simpson is kept on his toes.

A new left-winger would also be a welcome addition.

Jonas Gutierrez produced his best form this season when Hatem Ben Arfa was challenging him, and needs some competition to get the best out of him.

Similarly, Joey Barton does not have much competition on the right after Wayne Routledge's departure.

My choice would be to bring Routledge back, but if that is not possible, Kazenga Lua Lua could be promoted as he is more than good enough to step up to the Premier League.

There are a lot of central midfielders on Newcastle's books but most are unavailable at the moment.

If they can get themeslves fit and firing for next season, particularly the likes of Dan Gosling, then Newcastle are well-equipped in that area.

Finally, at least two new strikers are needed.

Andy Carroll's departure has left a gaping hole in the strikeforce, with Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands decent but not getting any younger, Shefki Kuqi too old to get a new deal and Nile Ranger simply too raw.

Carlton Cole has been repeatedly linked and could lead the line well, while Craig Bellamy is rumoured to be the pacy striker Alan Pardew wants, but I don't think either of those will come in.

Instead, youngsters are more likely.

Shane Long has been in great form for Reading this season

People like Shane Long from Reading and unearthed talents from abroad are the types of players the current regime seems to bring in, and it is unlikely this policy will change now.

It would be a major gamble to go with inexperience next season.

But Mike Ashley is a gambler, and will be more than happy to dice with the club's future by keeping his money in his pockets again.

This was my sixth away trip of the season, of which I've seen a grand total of no wins, one draw and five losses.

I've seen two away wins out of 17, and am going to Liverpool in May.

Don't expect anything out of that game, Newcastle fans.