The ups and downs

It’s the last league games of the season. It’s almost time to forget about football except for a few things. We’ve still got the FA Cup Final between two teams that take a second or two to recall (is it Wrexham and Southampton?) and the small matter of the Champions League Final in Moscow between the only two teams that matter. Of course, Euro 2008 is not of the slightest importance. Other than that, it’s the rumours about big money transfers and salaries paid by the top four to individuals earning more in a week than the entire MK Dons team does in a season.

However, before that it’s the end of season crunch games. Starting in Division 2 (or Division 4 as we, at footballcynic.com prefer to call it), there are no interesting games. The top three – MK Dons, Peterborough and Hereford United are safely promoted and we know that Mansfield and Wrexham are heading down to the tougher world of Conference football. The play off participants are already settled, although we will have to wait to see which teams play each other. Key match for FootballCynic is Lincoln City v Wrexham. Lincoln could leap four places to tenth if they put about 15 goals past doomed Wrexham.

In Division 1, things are much more exciting. At the bottom, Gillingham will need a win at Leeds United to have a chance of escaping the drop with Port Vale and Luton Town. But then, if Cheltenham beat Doncaster Rovers or Bournemouth win at Carlisle, their efforts will be wasted. So, that’s Gillingham down and Bournemouth will find it tough as Carlisle United could still gain automatic promotion if Doncaster slip up. That’s Bournemouth down too, FootballCynic says. Notts Forest will beat Yeovil which will mean that they will sneak past Doncaster Rovers when their day turns sour. Leeds United are safely in the play offs, but cannot be promoted automatically unless the League have second thoughts and give them some deduted points back.

In the Championship, West Brom, barring silly scores, are up and Stoke City ought to get the point they need at home to Leicester to secure automatic promotion. The play places looked exciting a few weeks ago, but several fell away. If Wolves beat Plymouth Argyle, it will mean that Crystal Palace and Watford will need to win to ensure a place in the play offs. FootballCynic can see Watford slipping up here and being the surprise failure of the year after such a good start to the season. Whoever wins the play offs will be a hot tip for relegation next season. At the bottom - well, it's just far too complicated. However, let's just wish Southampton well now in Division 1.

As for the Premiership, we’re not sure that anyone cares much. Not until Leeds United get promoted again next season anyway.

 

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