Clinton Morrison's Predictions, England's World Cup Squad, Guardiola's Exit & Final Day Drama
It is the end of an era and the start of another all at once. Arsenal have won the Premier League, Pep Guardiola is reportedly leaving Manchester City and England have named their World Cup squad, not without controversy.
Clinton Morrison joined us for his weekly column to give his verdicts on the biggest week in football, plus predictions for what promises to be a dramatic final day of the Premier League season, the Championship playoff final and the League One showpiece at Wembley.
Here's what Clinton had to say, and don't forget to check out the best World Cup Free Bets & Betting Offers, courtesy of Free Bets.
IN FULL: Clinton Morrison on the Week's Biggest Talking Points
ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP SQUAD, THE OMISSIONS THAT SHOCKED CLINTON
There are a few surprises in this squad. My biggest is Ivan Toney. Not to say I don't rate him, he's a top player, but he's barely been involved in any squads and now all of a sudden he's going to the World Cup. Going with three strikers, I'm not even sure you need three because Harry Kane plays every minute of every game. I understand the logic though. If England are chasing a game they need a different type of centre forward and Toney has been scoring goals. So I get it.
Maguire not going, I can't believe that. I probably would have taken him over Dan Burn. Tournament experience, had a better season, a threat from set pieces. He's not going to play but just to have that experience in the group, I definitely would have taken him.
But the biggest omission for me, the most ridiculous decision, is no Adam Wharton. Unbelievable. He's had a great season. If you're a centre forward in that England team, you want Adam Wharton finding passes into you. He always looks forward, he's a great footballer. Crazy from Thomas Tuchel. But he's the manager, you've got to respect it.
And Trent Alexander Arnold, I don't know for the life of me how he's not in the squad. When you're playing in that heat and you need someone to keep the ball and pick a pass, Trent should be there. There are other full backs in that England squad who are not as good as him.
HARRY KANE, THE KEY TO EVERYTHING
Let me tell you something. If Harry Kane is not fit or not available, England have no chance. That is my honest opinion. He's had an outstanding season for Bayern Munich. Brilliant striker, brilliant captain, leads by example. He is the key to everything England want to do. Keep him fit and England have a genuine chance of winning the World Cup. And if England do go on and win it with Kane leading from the front, you may as well write his name on the Ballon d'Or.
ARSENAL ARE CHAMPIONS
Big achievement. You've got to congratulate Arsenal on winning the Premier League. There were times where you thought they should have won it more comfortably and City kept coming back. But credit to Arsenal, they found a way. And credit to Arteta. He was scrutinised, people went at him. But he knew what he was doing. They backed him in the summer and he delivered. Huge credit.
GUARDIOLA LEAVING, THE END OF AN ERA
He's one of the best. Up there with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. What he's brought to English football and the Premier League has been outstanding. Rumors don't just come from nowhere so there's probably truth to it. If Pep Guardiola leaves in the summer he will be sorely missed. People always say he's spent a lot of money, but you can spend a fortune and still not win. You need to gel the team and get them playing your way, improve individuals. He's done all of that. Ask any footballer past or present and they would have loved to play for him.
On Maresca as his replacement:
I can see it working. He worked under Pep so the people at City already know him, know what he's like and the style of football he'll want to play will be similar. You don't really need to change much because he's learned from the best. I thought it might be him or Vincent Kompany but Kompany has done a brilliant job at Bayern. Enzo Maresca for Man City is the right appointment.
SOUTHAMPTON'S SPYGATE, THE ONLY PEOPLE I FEEL SORRY FOR ARE THE PLAYERS AND FANS
If you've been caught three times there are probably loads more instances that went unnoticed. I just don't understand why you'd go and spy on teams. You've already played these teams this season. What are you getting from it? It baffles me completely.
Heads are going to roll at Southampton and rightly so. Whoever sanctioned it is responsible. The EFL made a strong decision and you have to respect it. It sends a clear message to every other club in the country. But the people I genuinely feel sorry for are the players and the fans. Players who had their hearts set on playing at Wembley, fans who thought they had a real chance of getting back to the Premier League. All of that ripped away because someone decided to go and spy on training. Ludicrous.
Clinton Morrison's Predictions, At a Glance
| Match | Clinton's Prediction |
|---|---|
| CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF FINAL | |
| Middlesbrough vs Hull (Saturday, Wembley) | Hull win on penalties |
| LEAGUE ONE PLAYOFF FINAL | |
| Bolton vs Stockport (Sunday, Wembley) | Bolton 2-1 |
| PREMIER LEAGUE, FINAL DAY | |
| Crystal Palace vs Arsenal | 2-2 |
| Man City vs Aston Villa | Man City 3-1 |
| Tottenham vs Everton | 1-1 (Spurs stay up) |
| West Ham vs Leeds | West Ham 2-1 (but go down) |
| Liverpool vs Brentford | Liverpool 2-1 |
| Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth | Bournemouth 2-1 |
| Burnley vs Wolves | Burnley 2-1 |
| Brighton vs Man United | 2-2 |
| Chelsea vs Sunderland | 1-1 |
| Fulham vs Newcastle | Fulham 2-1 |
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