It’s Crunch Time: Who will perform and Who will falter?

By Andy Jones

Well it’s been quite a week in football. Domestically, Tottenham look like they are finally going to get that top four finish that has eluded them for so long, even though Man City and Liverpool are hot on their tail (two and four points behind). The title race between the top three will hit its climax this weekend with United and Chelsea clashing. Rooney though is absent, and with reports that Drogba could start it makes for a mouth-watering clash. The rumour mills are starting up with Martin O’Neill possibly on the way out from Villa at the end of the season and Steve Clarke going to replace Zola as boss at West Ham.

But this week, again, all eyes have been on Europe. Arsenal vs Barcelona no doubt being the biggest match, with Arsenal somehow pulling of a brilliant comeback, but what would have happened had Barca kept up the pressure and not taken their foot of the gas or if Almunia hadn’t been on form? United went down 2-1 to Munich, but you would back them to win the return leg at Old Trafford, despite Rooney most probably being absent. However, in the league, can you really see Berbatov being United’s salvation? In a number of articles, the United strike force has been cross examined, people wondering if it will be one of the youngsters,  Macheda or Diouf who can make a difference. I think Ferguson will play Berbatov up front with the likes of Park who has found his shooting boots, Valencia and Giggs playing off the big man. This is the time for someone to make themselves the season’s unlikely hero, just like Macheda did last year, but I wouldn’t put my money on it being him again after a season disrupted by injury.

The other team that has shined in Europe is Fulham, defeating Wolfsburg, the current German champions 2-1. They take a slender lead, giving belief to their fans that this might be their year, that they can go all the way and bring home European glory. It will be a tough away leg, but I would back them as long as they keep their heads and don’t fall apart like they did in Turin. Liverpool, on the other hand, come home with a 1 goal deficit, unable to hold Benfica back. You have to wonder whether they will be able to pull it out the back and win at Anfield. The records say yes, but, I’m not so sure. They are a beaten team, the headlines can’t be helping and with Benfica riding high, both domesticly and internationally, they will see this as a chance to claim the scalp of one Europe’s biggest teams and don’t bet against them doing just so.

Anyway, this is the point where I normally state my pick of the weekend games, and you must know United vs Chelsea is the one to watch, find yourself a television, even if you have to stand outside a pub and watch through the window!