As this seasons Premiership comes to a dramatic climax next Sunday alot of questions are to be asked of nearly every club in the top flight of English football.
With the title destination decided as well as the bubble of West Ham being burst, again, there is still plenty to decide and decipher next weekend. None more so than to do with, as Jeff Stelling put it earlier today, the £40m drop.
Now firstly West Ham, the fact that Grant has gone suprised no-one. The style and timing of his dismissal shouldnt of suprised anyone either. Grant's bosses were caught in the act as it were a few months ago trying to the lure ex-Villa boss Martin O'Neill down to the soon-to-be Olympic Park. Since O'Neill backed away from a rumoured deal, Grant has been the definition of a dead man walking and has looked it.
Also clambering for life on the edge of the trap door are Birmingham. A month ago, they looked certain to be playing another season in the top flight which, for Alex McLeish's side was seen as a accomplishment when put along side their remarkable Carling Cup win at the back end of February. But it seems that the Cup Final was seen by their players as the final game of their season and their form since that day at Wembley has been nothing short of embarassing, culminating in a shambolic defeat today at home to Fulham, who themselves were coming off the back of a humbling thrashing in their previous game.
Like West Ham, the thought of relegation to the second-tier of English football is financially suicidal for the team from the second city.
Blackpool's fairytale may just get the ending it seems destined to have as they head to the newly crowned Champions, Manchester United. The relegation bankers in August possibly need snookers to avoid the drop, but given the form, or lack thereof from Birmingham as well as the almost certain resting of United's big hitters ahead of the Champions League Final a week later, all is not lost for the season's big story.
Whatever happens next week, like I said previously, alot of teams face questions ahead of the start of the 2011/12 season.
Whoever escapes the drop next week, will be the favourites for the drop in 12 months time, that is almost certain.
Then theres Manchester City, with their plush new addition to the trophy cabinet. Now matched with premier European club competition and unrivalled wealth. The 'noisy neighbours' may come into focus more so come next season's title run-in.
Even mid-table incumbents like Stoke and Sunderland may face questions, for different reasons.
A need to match this years success for Stoke may put added pressure on boss Tony Pulis, who for me should win Manager of the Year for leading the Potters to the FA Cup Final. Incredibly though, Pulis seems to be working on a short leash from his supporters.
As for Sunderland, still reeling from the departure of Darren Bent and with a mountain of money not coming to fruition in January, their fans must surely want a push on as they watched Stoke, Bolton and Birmingham reach Wembley this season through gritted teeth. One key to that and any success they may have next season could come down to the Stadium of Light faithful deciding whether Steve Bruce is the messiah or a naughty boy as their end of season form seems to be throwing his future and ability into question and counter question in the North-East.
The Premiership, lest we forget, will welcome a new set of money-men this summer as QPR return to the top flight with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone at the fore of the financials of the London side.
Whatever happens to them and fellow promoted side Norwich will come into public focus following next week's climax of yet another season and notch on the proverbial bedpost of messers Ferguson and Giggs.
Read, Comment, give feedback in anyway, negative or positive. Wanted to get my thoughts out here and hope you enjoy the read.
Cheers.
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