04/05/2014 MOTD2 Extra

Welcome to Match Of The Day 2 Extra, on the penultimate Sunday of

a fascinating season. I'm Guy Mowbray, sitting in for Mark

Chapman. We live on BBC One, radio 5 Live and across the BBC sport

website. As usual, plenty to talk about. We have the latest on the

title race, as Manchester City remain in poll. Liverpool player

Monday against Palace. We ask what next for Palace and Fulham, both

down despite five managers between them. Let's get stuck into all of

that and more, in the next 45 minutes. I'm joined by radio 5 Live

and Match Of The Day comment data, McNamara, Oliver Kay, chief of all

correspondent for the Times, and Kevin Kilbane, whose eight clubs in

action yesterday managed two wins between them, well done Huddersfield

and Sunderland. Of course, we want your views as well.

So, what are the papers talking about on Sunday? It is all about

Manchester City, mainly. They are rarely there. City Bankers is one

headline I particularly like. Another says Mersey Beat, a

particularly nice one. Are they nearly there? Let's hear from Manuel

Pellegrini after yesterday's win at Goodison Park. It's a good result

because I think that was a very tough game. We thought from the

beginning that Everton will play this game, thinking what they can

do, not thinking if we lift the title if they win today. I think

they played very well. They started winning the game with an

unbelievable goal in the top corner. I think that was the character of

the team, playing away against a very good team. We could turn the

match, winning 3-1. After they scored the second goal, maybe that

means we were a little bit more nervous. You were there, as I was, a

great performance from City. A decent performance from Everton as

well. He gives nothing away, he must be the most unflappable manager we

have seen in the league? Journalist is often go to the press conference

thinking they are not going to get a screaming back page headline. As you

say, he is unflappable. The same, if they win or lose. Finally, it looks

like they have turned the corner and hit top gear at the right time. It

looks like it's very much their title to lose. Not good for you

guys, he gives you nothing to go on, nothing phases him? It's sometimes

quite refreshing. You hear so much nonsense, particularly at this time

of year, from managers chasing titles. I'm not going to name names!

Some of them might not be in work any more. At least with Pellegrini,

at least he is sensible. At least it is... I mean, he's not there to give

as headlines, he doesn't give us headlines. As we say, City Bankers,

his team are giving themselves headlines and that was a good

performance. Is it their title? I thinking of the Sunderland slip-up,

recently. The QPR drama of two years ago. There is a bit more left in it?

I was at the Etihad when Sunderland took points of them, I thought,

they've let this slip. There was always the hope that Liverpool would

slip up, particularly in the game against Chelsea. That is how it

turned out. I would not remortgage the house to bet on it yet, there

could still be a twist. What is huge, and this is where you cannot

underestimate the power of the strength of a squad, Edin Dzeko

started the season as third choice striker. Well, fourth! Exactly, you

have Negredo, Aguero, looking fantastic and scoring goals. Aguero

picks up an injury, as a result there is a loss informed to Negredo.

To pick up the slack, you have Edin Dzeko coming in. That is the sort of

resources the other title challengers, including Liverpool,

brilliant to watch going forward, they haven't had that extra element

when one of their main guys get injured. A quick word on your former

club, Kevin, Everton. They played their part. Ross Barkley's goal,

what a goal. He's such a wonderfully talented, gifted footballer. It's

the right time, Roy Hodgson is watching. It sends a message at the

right time, for Ross Barkley. The way that Everton set up yesterday,

they reverted to system a bit. It's what Martin as did with Wigan in

that cup final. -- Roberto Martinez. I think the goals they conceded were

poor, they were preventable. Bringing Jagielka back in, they

wanted to maybe give him a bit of bodies around him to relieve the

pressure on him. It didn't quite work for them. Overall, I think they

put in a good show, you can't say they rolled over and allowed back

city to win the game. That defeat means they can't make the Champions

League. There will be in the Europa league. That means Arsenal are

guaranteed to be in fourth place before they play their game against

West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates this afternoon. Simon Brotherton is

therefore Match Of The Day. The shackles are off for Arsenal? They

can play us they want, just how they like it? Yes, absolutely. They have

scored three goals in each of the last three games, so they are

playing with creativity and confidence once again. Going back to

the point from a couple of minutes ago, about Edin Dzeko on the

strength in depth up front for Manchester City, I think that is

something that Arsenal have and confidence once again. Going back to

the point from a couple of minutes ago, about Edin Dzeko on the

strength in depth up front for Manchester City, I think that is

something that Arsenal haven't and have this season. They relied very

heavily on Olivier Giroud, and that a key point in the season, when

injuries started to pile up, they wanted more. For a while it looked

like they have a chance of the title. They have spent more time at

the top of the pen elite than anybody else, with 17 weeks. But

those injuries and that lack of strength in depth when the likes of

Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, when they went out, perhaps

that came into play. The other thing I thought I should say about

Arsenal, when we look back on their season and if top four is good

enough or not, in terms of improvement, Arsene Wenger will say

they have improved. If they win today, they will have more points

than they have had for the past six years. Within the three egg games,

against the top three now, they struggled. -- three big games. They

conceded 17 goals against the top three. They've got to start better

in those games, that's a key area where they have to improve. But

Arsenal will feel they are three or four games away from really

challenging at the top. Absolutely right about the games

challenging at the top. Absolutely teams. West Bromwich homers sort of

game that traditionally they have won quite comfortable. What about

West Brom? Suggestions Pepe Mel might already be on his way at the

end of the season? He might be. It is yet to be decided. There is a get

out clause in his contract for him and the club. I think that was about

whether they stayed in the Premier League. Although they are not

mathematically secure, I think they are safe. I don't think they will be

going down. That job is basically done. I think he settled reasonably

well in England. He wants to done. I think he settled reasonably

continue in the job. Understandably, he would be looking for some

assurances from Westbridge Albion. They have 12 players on loan, of

contract or who the club have options on over the summer. That

means there will be a lot of change. This is a club with a sporting

director. I think Pepe Mel wants to make sure he could be in charge of

those decisions and also that he will get a reasonable and fair

transfer budget. He wants assurances he will be to carry out his vision

for West Bromwich Albion. There is no suggestion he will be leaving the

club. I think you would like to carry on next season.

Pepe Mel, carrying on next season. It looks as though Arsene Wenger

will be as well. He's yet to sign a new contract, but the noises are

that it just a formality? He suggested all along that he will see

how things are after the cup final. From one point of view, if Arsenal

were to win the FA Cup, would that be a nice way to go? Probably. But I

think he will always feel that he has unfinished business. I don't

think is the kind of guy to walk away from a team that he believes is

on the up. I think it probably is. They have improved this season, it

just hasn't been the big improvement that they needed to maintain the

strong start to the season. There could be a trophy, which I think is

the be all and end could be a trophy, which I think is

fans. But let's not take Hull City for granted. He said two or three

signings, that is all. Then they are close to the title. Is he talking in

points? There is only seven points between them and Liverpool and

Manchester City. I think it might be enough, if they are good players.

Mesut Ozil is the only time recently when he has splashed the

Mesut Ozil is the only time recently recognised superstar. He likes to

get them before they are famous. Would you say it has half worked? He

had one or two Margot James where he looked off the pace, but I also saw

some magical moments. -- one two games. I think he will be a top

performer in the league next season. Where he has struggled is that they

haven't have the strikers on the end of his creativity. This season, they

have not really had an attacking option apart from Olivier Giroud. If

he goes out, splashes the cash and brings in two or three players that

we look at in a World Cup and say, that is a world superstar, is he

going to buy that kind of player? Traditionally, he hasn't stopped

some Ed ultimately, I think Mesut Ozil has been a success. He did look

tired towards the end of the season. Two or three signings, I think they

need perhaps one or two centre halves. There is talk of Lars

Bender, as well. He's a top player. It interesting that you say

defenders. We have a message on Facebook, should they splash the

cash on three goal-scorers? They definitely need a striker. If Giroud

stays or goes, they will need support for him. You get a lot of

stick, saying that defensively, they have been strong, Mertesacker has

looked good, but I think in the big games he has struggled. Alongside

him, Koscielny, he has trouble. The top centre half they need, perhaps

two. One or two them could leave the club. Arteta or Flamini might leave,

and they need a striker on the back of that as well. I think this has

been progression. Does it come down to beating Hull at Wembley? I think

that is what the supporters will feel. If they beat route it will be

a successful season. Overall, I think it has been progression. Is

going to become a joke with them that finishing in the top four is a

trophy. 17 years in a row in the Champions League is not to be

sniffed at. I do think it is important, securing that staters. If

there was a question as to whether he would carry on, I think his own

pride would take a battering. In the Champions League, I think he will

feel there is progress. Get Aaron Ramsey fit for a season and let's

see how they do. Let's not forget how important he was early in the

campaign. Take that threat out of the team, and this is what we get.

You also want to see Jack Wiltshire having a full season, Chamberlain,

Walcott. Let's go from the top four towards the bottom. Relegation is

confirmed for Cardiff and Fulham sublets hear from their respective

managers. Your mission, your desire,

personally, is that to stay on and get Cardiff back into the Premier

League? Definitely. We have had four seasons prior to this one where we

have been top of the Championship. Now we have gone down, taken a step

back, it is about showing character and bouncing straight back. You

always performed as a player at the top end of things, do you think you

will have the knowledge and experience will Championship

football? Why shouldn't I? There is no reason for that performance. I

want to know why we have the worst game where I have been here, and...

I don't expect it. I thought we are fighting against relegation, and I

have told the team we have a great chance today. But they never took

the chance, we never searched for the chance. It was a terrible day

for me. He is a fascinating character, Felix Magath. Do you see

him staying at Craven Cottage? I heard a full refund saying he was --

a Fulham fun, saying he was all for Felix Magath staging the recovery,

but after seeing the team yesterday, he doesn't want him there any more?

I can understand a fan looking at that and thinking there was nothing

to it, no spine, no bone. There have been a view like that, under all

three managers. The records have been very similar under the three.

They have been consistently poor all season. They've conceded goals, 83

over the course of the season. They have conceded threes, fours, sixs.

Despite the managerial changes, possibly because of them, I think

Rene Meulensteen was sacked at a time when he was finally settling on

some kind of formula. I'm normally somebody that stands up for managers

and says they should be given time, but I think Martin Jol should not

have been given the job at the start of the season. I don't think they

should have retained him. Things had already gone stale. Do you think it

started a couple of years ago when it was obvious that they were

looking to sell the club? I really do feel that. Mark Hughes was

criticised for walking out in pursuit of a bigger club and ending

up at QPR who got relegated. But I think Fulham 's ambition did peak

around the Europa League final four years ago. They have been trying to

cap costs. They have had a good academy. We often hear that. At the

players have not really been brought through. It seems there has been a

loss of vision and real direction over the past two years. On Cardiff,

it has been a sorry tale. It should have been a season to savour,

it has been a sorry tale. It should season to remember for the fans. It

has been awful. I'd member going there early in the season and the

beta Manchester City at home. And you think, all the criticism, this

is where the romance is still in the competition. This is wonderful. It

cannot be all Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's fault. He has come into a club

that has issues in the background. I have no problem with people being

superstitious. If you want to play the banjo while hopping on one leg,

go for it. But if you force your superstitions on others, is Vincent

Tan has, that is where things happen. To play devil 's advocate,

he has been very reasonable while. He has had some money as well. Yes,

I think the same for Fulham. I interviewed Felix Magath in the

tunnel yesterday and he said the biggest mistake this season was

signing those eight players in January. I interviewed him in the

tunnel. I asked him, will you be in charge next season? You said yes. --

he said yes. I think you have to give a manager a trans window. He

came in after the transfer window in January. It was a ship on its way

down. Felix Magath in charge of fallen, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in

charge of Cardiff, will that be the case in August? It is a difficult

one. With Colligan Solskjaer and Cardiff in general, I think he

touched on it himself, they have been challenging at the top of the

Championship for some time. They have experience of the league. They

know how it will go next season. There is a less experience that in

Fulham 's ranks. Going back to the managers, I think Solskjaer will

stay. He will have a good go at it next season to try and get them back

up. There will be a question or Felix Magath. They have the youth

structure in place and they have not really brought these talented

players we keep hearing about through. It might be next season

they can establish them. It will be on Justin to see how that goes. An

interesting summer awaits, as usual. St James's Park. The Newcastle fans

walking out. A lot was made of this protest. It was not en masse but

there was a steady stream and they made their feelings known. It was

ironic. It was the Cardiff the cup changed Newcastle 's fortunes. The

Newcastle fans wanted a good cup run. It did not really work out for

them on that day and since then they have gone on a horrendous run since

the turn of the year. It is just not worked. Stoke city, they are set for

their first top ten finish. Nobody thought it could get better than it

was under Tony Pulis but it has. I would disagree psyche. There was a

feeling last season that Tony Pulis had taken them as far as they could

go. He kept empty as relegation but there were not

go. He kept empty as relegation but interviewing Stoke

go. He kept empty as relegation but muggle fans at the start

go. He kept empty as relegation but season. Loads of respect for Tony

Pulis. It is a difficult task. Mark Hughes is coming into a club that

has had one man in charge for a long Hughes is coming into a club that

time. I think he has done very well. If they win next weekend they will

be guaranteed top ten finish. I think there are signs they are going

in the right way. Moving to Sunderland. They will be in the top

17. And that is all that matters. Gus Poyet said they needed a miracle

and he got it. Yes, special, the right time. A moment that we were

desperate for points. I think the way we came here and not

desperate for points. I think the game very well but we score and to

play the game we know is better for us. We keep believing. The boys have

been outstanding. It has us. We keep believing. The boys have

hard. People do not realise from the outside how hard it was for us every

day. We need one more win and we will be secure. Miracles happen. It

has been an incredible few weeks. Ever since he used that word

miracle, they got Ever since he used that word

Manchester city. They have a victory at Manchester 's were not reunited.

-- Manchester United. He has at Manchester 's were not reunited.

fantastic job. It was apparent from an early stage that he was improving

and an improvement on Paolo Di Canio. He had them playing in a

better way. He brought players in from the cold and had them looking

like a team again. Then it all seemed to unravel around the time of

the league cup final. It looked like they were drifting towards

relegation. I was there that night that they scored two in ten minutes

against Manchester City. That seemed to be the start of it. Even then, at

that point, it seemed like they had a huge amount to do to turn it

around. And yet they have gone to Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford. It

really is amazing. There is this slight cloud possibly with the story

about... Norwich, Fulham, Cardiff possibly mounting a legal challenge

over the fielding of an illegible player earlier this season. Can you

see that going anywhere? I would be surprised if it succeeded. Generally

the Premier League are very guarded and they do not like to even

consider docking points. I think they would do that is an absolute

last resort. They did not wait with West Ham and Carlos tethers a few

years ago. I would be surprised if a legal challenge was successful. I

think those three clubs are entitled to ask the question. We shall see.

Manchester United, guess what, they are going through another period of

transition. It turns out that David Moyes was not doing such a bad job

or after all. It was not just him that was the problem. The players

have gone off the boil. It is not just the David Moyes factor. It

looks like Louis van Gaal is a certainty now and they need that

type of strong character. I know there was a strong sentiment from

fans to give Ryan Giggs a go. But last year was the sentimental

appointment. They now need an authoritarian toucan in. I think

there was that point last week when rain Rooney was calling him dig CND

in the interview. They need a schoolmaster approach now. Where

does that live Ryan Giggs and the Class of '92? Different roles for

them? Is there a role at all for Ryan Giggs and will he want it? Alan

Shearer touched on that last night. What is his position going to be. It

will be difficult for Ryan Giggs to suddenly say, I will do a coaching

job, or even continue playing. It will be interesting to see how Louis

van Gaal has that British ship a band running or if Ryan Giggs will

leave the club -- that relationship up and running. This is a man, a

disciplinarian. There is already talk of Arjen Robben coming in. I am

sure that Robin van Persie is delighted with the news. I think it

will be nerve wracking for United supporters. When I am hearing these

names mentioned of players, why would these players leave Bayern

Munich for Manchester United when they cannot offer Champions League

football? Obviously, they are a huge club and we all know that, but they

are the least attractive that they have been to players in years.

Unless they are going to show Manchester City type wages... I get

the feeling that they are desperate to go out and make a statement and

sign one of these huge world-class players, but it has to be the right

one. It has to be one that fixes many would grow one of the many

deficiencies. I do not know. It seems like Louis van Gaal would be

the guy to drag them forward and make sure they finish in the top for

next season. But I do not see what the long-term strategy is. One issue

I can see is he will be the manager of the Dutch in the World Cup. At

best, he will be starting a job in July but it could even be the first

week in July. Is that not the mistake that was made last summer in

leaving things to late? He has to be appointed now with the proviso he is

working in the background but can he do that when he is in charge of

Holland at the World Cup? Going back to what Oliver was saying, players

go and play for managers. Manchester United not being in the Champions

League, but they play for managers. If Louis van Gaal comes calling,

they want to go and play for him. That is the thing. It is that stage

of the season when we talk about who will, to the Premier League. Those

in the play-offs are out by a month. Plans are already afoot at Burnley.

Where is your money in the play-offs? I would have to say

Wigan, considering the run that they have been on. I am problem recycling

bias. -- probably slightly biased. There is huge pressure on Harry

Redknapp at QPR. Ryton have got themselves in with that great

performers yesterday. -- Brighton. It is so open. I would not want to

predict anything. I think maybe slightly Wigan, considering the form

they have been in. What a day in the Championship yesterday, at the top

and the bottom. So much drama. This is why I think four foot pole fans

-- football fans, there is always an -- football fans, there is always an

escape route. For burning, you would just have thought going into that

game, the way the game progressed, during the match, it was all going

against them, the scenes on the screens at the fantastic -- for

Birmingham. And next season, someone else will be in that addition. --

position. For Lee Clark, I knew Lee Clark as a player is a lively and

bubbly character. In management, I have seen him becoming dour, not a

lot of humour about him. To see him like a little kid again at the end

yesterday was good to see. Yes, an angry little kid! Nine or ten months

of pent-up anger and fury and tension being let out at the final

whistle and sprinting towards the fans to celebrate. It is the

emotions of that final day. It must have been an absolute roller-coaster

for him and the players and the fans who have been through a terrible

time the last couple of years. Great for them that they have stayed up

and hopefully they can finally start rebuilding. A big club avoiding the

drop. What about Bristol Rovers? Right at the bottom. It is almost

unthinkable, they are effectively a non-league club. Yes, such a big

club getting relegated, the way in which they did as well. You look

through the whole season and they have not been good enough. I have

seen them play a couple of times this season and think they have good

layers in the side and should not be down where they are but if you are

not getting the results, confidence goes against you and the turnaround

at Northampton are produced, that is unbelievable. Everyone questioned

his sanity joining them. Full credit to him. He has turned the club

around. They were dead and buried. To turn them around anyway he has

done, he deserves so much respect and some accolade for what he has

done. Wycombe Wanderers are safe as well. I love the drama that we get

at the end, in the Football League. We could have a double, with Brendan

Rodgers and Nigel Worthington being cousins. That is one of the

remarkable thing is one of the remarkable things that has been

overlooked. Leak two from international management. -- League

Two. It has pushed domestic names down the leagues, with international

names coming in. Not necessarily a bad thing, if you can have a manager

that has experience in the Premier League managing at a lower level,

it's good for the clubs. They are getting people that are used to

proper structures, professional ways of doing things. I still don't know

how they managed to get him, somehow. Let's go from Brendan

Rodgers's cousin to somebody that was once his boss, Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea are in action against Norwich City, with their title hopes

still, at the moment, very much alive. Their two commentators is

Steve Wilson. -- to commentate is Steve Wilson. They could go top, but

most people are ruling them out? It's a strange one. They could go

top with one game to play, and yet nobody is getting entirely excited

about that for obvious reasons. For Chelsea to win the title they need

Manchester City and Liverpool to lose a game. It's very hard to see

Manchester City dropping any points at home to Aston Villa or West Ham,

let alone actually losing. So, it's very early here, we don't kick off

until four o'clock, so there are not many fans around at the moment.

Business as usual for the groundsman and everybody else. I don't think

there is any great expectation that Chelsea are going to end up with the

Premier League title this year. Next year is a different matter. They

will invest. We are respecting Diego Costa to come here, there is talk

about Paulinho from Tottenham. A big season for Chelsea. Jose Mourinho

has not said it will be necessarily a headline grabbing summer, but I

think they will do a lot business. Next season is a big one for him and

them, you would expect them to win something next year. Didn't win

anything last year, may not win anything this year. What are the

odds of him going three seasons without a trophy? What about

Norwich? They have to win today, don't they? Can you make a case for

them at all? I mean, Sunderland did it. I'm struggling. I've seen quite

a lot of Norwich in recent weeks. I thought they played really well for

about 70 minutes at Carrow Road against Liverpool. They gave

Liverpool a real scare in that game and ended up losing 3-2. But it was

an unrecognisable performance a week later at Old Trafford. They looked

like a beaten team. The unfortunate thing for Norwich is that they have

to win. We are not saying there is any wriggle room for them, because

there isn't. They've got to win this game. With the best of intentions, I

can't see it. Nobody is there to be penning any blame at Neal Adams's

door, he came in with five games to go and I think there were looking

for some kind of balance in that big game against Fulham and they did not

get it. It was mission impossible from then. I would be very

surprised, and I apologise to Canaries fans travelling today, but

I would be surprised if relegation isn't done and dusted by tonight.

Sitting on the friends the microphones, beautifully! Simon is

at Arsenal, we can get the Arsenal match in as well. You would expect

them to go all guns blazing, but you have reservations about how they

have been playing? There was a lot of criticism, last weekend, a lot of

suggestion from Liverpool fans that they won it in the wrong way, it's

not the correct way to play football. I don't buy that, there is

no bad way to win a football match. There is a bad way to play for all,

as a Newcastle fan pointed out to me, but not a bad way to win a game.

We were in Munich and saw Real Madrid absolutely demolish them. Not

playing an altogether dissimilar side to Chelsea, they defended very

deep on the edge of their own penalty area, central midfielder sat

in front of the centre half. The difference is the quality of attack,

the pace of Gareth Bale, Ronaldo and Benzema, it made them of devastating

on the counterattack and better to watch. I think if Mourinho had

better strikers and wingers, the whole style becomes a more

attractive prospect. If you look at storage, Suarez at Liverpool, we've

mentioned Dzeko and Aguero, that is the sort of calibre of striker he

doesn't have. If he gets that ride over the summer, the whole picture

comes together. We almost need to have a hybrid of Arsene Wenger and

Jose Mourinho, to cross between Stamford Bridge and the Emirates.

Arsenal are unhappy they are not defensive enough and don't shut up.

Chelsea are unhappy that they are to dour. What is the happy medium? I

guess it is Manchester City, who are top, scored a lot of goals and not

conceded as many as Liverpool or Arsenal. If you look at Chelsea in

the second half of the season, it's very interesting what Mourinho said

on Friday, when he was talking about how, at a certain point in the

season, which I would suggest is December, he decided he needed to

forget about this evolution of the team into something younger and more

expensive and a more controlled, probably more boring, attritional

type of football. That has been quite obvious. I know we can say

with a better striker they would win more games, score more goals, I

think that is true. And I never think life looks like a picnic for a

strike at Chelsea. The quality of the service has never been good. The

fullbacks don't come forward, they get little from midfield unless

Frank Lampard is there. We have had Hazard and Oscar having their work

rate question. I think Mourinho has to have a more cavalier attitude in

that team. That is what Roman Abramovich has been looking for, he

did not buy it to be dull and attritional? He plays to the

strength of the squad. The centre halves have been protected. When

I've seen them play, the back four is quite rigid. If one full-back

goes, a central midfielder drops in. So, this is where it is difficult

for them. If you have not got a striker scoring the goals, or where

the movement is good enough for the players to play him through, the one

thing I would say is that he played to their strength. Perhaps that

Atletico game is one game too far. No matter what Brendan Rodgers says,

you set a team of one-way, to play a certain way, set up your side and be

organised, difficult to play against... You don't think it's easy

to coach? No, you are trusting your players. One player does one thing

wrong and it comes trembling chilly crumbling down. One play out of

position for the first goal against Atletico, then they conceded and

they were not chasing the game. You make a case for Norwich today? I

can't. I really can't. I've seen a lot of them, it comes down to

strikers. Van Wolfswinkel, this is a guy who scored 25 goals over the

last four seasons. Last summer he was in the Dutch squad. He looked,

on paper, a good purchase. One grass he has been atrocious and cannot

score a goal. Look at Swansea, they have stretched away from relegation

trouble because they have Wilfried Bony. 19 goals in his last 20 games,

ridiculous. That is the firepower that Norwich have not had. Connor

Wickham, finding a bit of form, getting Sunderland out of trouble.

No striker has found a run of form for Norwich. Sorry, I can't make the

case. From Norwich apparently getting stuff that Stamford Bridge

to the action at Selhurst Park tonight. Liverpool are still in the

title race, facing Crystal Palace. Let's hear from Brendan Rodgers,

full of praise for the job his opposite number has done. I think

he's done an outstanding job, really galvanised the team. I watched them

recently at Everton and they defended very, very well. Players on

the counterattack with speed that can hurt you, Puncheon, he's got a

real spirit amongst them. He's done an outstanding job. As I said,

looking to keep them in the beak, which he has done, it's been a great

effort. Great effort from Tony Pulis. He's got manage of the month,

there has been a debate about Manager of the Season. Is it down to

those two? Those two and perhaps Roberto Martinez. Steve Bruce? There

have been a lot of managers that have done a good job. Those two,

Rogers and Tony Pulis, Liverpool, it looks like they will fall slightly

short, most people will expect that now. The fact they have scored 96

goals, 80 points with two games remaining, they've had a wonderful

season. We can say there is no wrong way to play football, but Liverpool

have played the right way, I think. They have done it with a group of

players that nobody really have them down as title challengers at all.

This was the season, if it was going to happen, with Manchester United

not being involved. This is what will be killing the Liverpool fans

from the inside. It is possible Maxis and everybody is going to

rebuild, Manchester City are going to spend more money, when will they

next get this close? They beat Crystal Palace 6-0, suddenly people

will think... It's not going to happen. Well, it could happen! I

have been at Stoke, when they beat Manchester United. I have been at

Crystal Palace when they beat Chelsea. You can take nothing for

granted. That is why it has been a fantastic season. They are going to

take it to the last day, at least? I would think so. I can't see them not

winning against Crystal Palace. An interesting last weekend of the

season. This is what we wanted, we wanted it to be like this. And

Chester city don't do things the easy way, they proved that against

QPR a couple of years ago. They've had a roller-coaster ride. I am sure

they are going to have twists and turns. I liked sunnier Nasri's

reaction, last night. With a nice smile, you have a smile that lights

up football when he is in the mood. People put that lying to me,

please, no. We can't have another repeat of Queens Park Rangers. I

tell you what, you would take it. You can see it happening. Well, in a

way. One of the things about that game against QPR was that QPR were

scrapping for points until the very end. Villa and West Ham, I don't

think they are the toughest home games you could have in that

position. Having been through that, having tripped up a few times this

season and finally got things back in their own hands, I think most

people would expect City to win these games and not be swept aside.

You're not buying that old wives tale, when you play against a team

that has nothing to play for, they are relaxed and give you a harder

test? It would be a surprise. If Aston Villa West Ham pulled

something out of the bag, they are not teams that have scored a hat

full of goals this season. They are not teams that look like they are

going to go and cause a sensation. Manchester City are probably a

little Budweiser for the experienced two years ago when they came so

close to blowing it. The point was made to me yesterday about

Pellegrini, people say he is so often the bridesmaid in management.

We are so blinkered to think about European football? In South America

he has titles galore, the second most decorated club manager. I think

his idea was to get them through the Champions League. He got them out of

the group stage, not particularly great after they got through. That

was his remit. He signed quality players in the summer. They are

progressing and going forward again. Overall, probably going back to

teams like Everton, there was a lot of negativity around Everton's game

yesterday, whether or not they were going to roll over. They didn't do

that. They went up them. It was an open game. I can't see teams doing

that, but I think Manchester City will win the last two games. City

for you for the title? Connor? I think so, they had been in

high-pressure situations before. It is possible Aston Villa could turn

them over midweek, absolutely. The only time I've seen them struggle

was restored Palace around Christmas, when they needed a late

goal. If it is still 0-0 at half-time, things will get edgy. But

they score early and turn teams over. That is what I was alluding

to. I can foresee is getting to the last game of the season, 0-0 at the

Etihad and Liverpool winning? Almost hoping for it! With City, again,

they do have the individuals to dig them out. In the second half of the

season, I don't think Manchester City, as a team, have always

performed to that level. They have always had an individual to step

forward. Yaya Toure, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko. We could have gone on for

ever, but that is your lot for today. My thanks to Oliver, Connor,

and Kevin. Live text commentary is already up and running on the BBC

website. Enjoy your bank holiday.