So, the PFA Player of the Year will be one of Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba, Cesc Fabregas or Carlos Tevez. Probably the only way the nominations could have been more predictable would have been if they'd added, 'And Rooney will win'.
Both Rooney and Fabregas being nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award slightly takes the gloss off that as well, especially since Rooney's 24 (as is fellow nominee James Milner).
It would be nice for the award to go to Joe Hart or, begrudgingly, Fabregas just because they're younger than your correspondent.
Rooney and Tevez go head-to-head, on Saturday and for the PFA Award
And yes, as ever, it's biased towards the big clubs. Each of the Player of the Year nominees plays for a team currently in the top four. But on the plus side, at least itâÂÂs more interesting than ScotlandâÂÂs Player of the Year, which is between David Weir (Rangers), Kris Boyd (Rangers), Steven Davis (Rangers) and Andy Webster (Rangers, on loan to Dundee United). ThereâÂÂs only one place that trophyâÂÂs going: Ibrox, possibly via Celtic Park for a bit of a gloat.
Maybe their managers should have to justify why their players have been nominated, a la the pre-election leaders' debates. Ferguson, Wenger, Ancelotti and Mancini together in a room...actually, no, bad idea.
Saturday
Manchester City vs Manchester United
The early kick-off sees a titanic tussle with both teams an iceberg away from failure.
CityâÂÂs hold on fourth looks tenuous, while United have yet to recover from their âÂÂFor you, Tommy, ze var is overâ moment against Bayern. This game will test their mental toughness more than any other.
Some would like to see Manchester City take the lead just to hear their fans reprise ChelseaâÂÂs chant towards the United gold-and-greens: âÂÂNo noise from the Norwich fans.âÂÂ
A friend has placed what he is calling a âÂÂcheekyâ bet on City to finish third. He says cheeky; everyone else says stupid. Even if the Arabian Knights (is that catching on yet?) win their game in hand, theyâÂÂll be six points behind the Gunners with just a handful of matches left. Idiot.
Still, the odds on Spursâ goalscorers against Arsenal being Danny Rose and Gareth Bale were probably pretty long too.
What wonâÂÂt happen: Surely, a repeat of the incredible match at Old Trafford. A goalfest isn't out of the question though. Remember a couple of weeks ago when this blog said City needed to improve their goal difference, at that point nine worse than Tottenham's? A 6-1 and a 5-1 did that soon enough â they're now ahead of Spurs in the GD stakes
What will happen: A fiery game from City catches United off-guard and a home win puts Spurs right back where they started
Birmingham vs Hull
Rumours abound that the Blues are up for sale after club owner Carson Yeung failed to pay investment bank and parent company Seymour Pierce ã2.2m on Monday. ã2.2m? That's chicken feed! Seymour Pierce have warned they could sell the club to get the money â bloody hell, Carson, get your hands in your pockets!
What wonâÂÂt happen: It's come out of nowhere, this, but it should disappear just as quickly â Yeung will pay up and the club won't be sold. Still, not a great way for the new(ish) owner to butter up the investors.
What will happen: The inevitable home win buries both Hull and the prospect of a close relegation battle. You have only this blog to blame for that â the prediction was that it would go right to the wire
Blackburn vs Everton
Blackburn, in 11th, play Everton, in 8th. Blackburn can climb to 10th or sink to 12th; Everton won't move whatever happens.
Move along, nothing to see here.
What wonâÂÂt happen: This blog is aware it rarely acknowledges Blackburn beyond criticising Big Sam for killing football, and promises substantial focus on them next week
What will happen: Blackburn grind down Everton and it's a draw
Fulham vs Wolves
One of three 0-0 draws last Sunday â the first time goallessness has ever reached such drab heights in the Premier League â saw Wolves climb further up that cliff face of survival and they are now just a couple of results from safety.
They've done well, the Midlanders, after a poor start to the season. Mick McCarthy deserves credit for keeping them up, even if is annoying as hell in the commentary box and starting to look a bit like Christopher Lee.
As for Fulham, a win here could catapult them into the top half ahead of their Europa League semi-final. Blimey, next season's just going to be a massive disappointment, isn't it?
What wonâÂÂt happen: Tragically, this blog can't see Fulham winning the Europa League for the simple reason that life isn't fair. Liverpool will do it, like the big shot bastards they are
What will happen: Tepid draw
Stoke vs Bolton
Stoke are another team who can look back on their season with fondness, even though Tony Pulis's rigid target-setting â it was 40 points, now it's 46 â is grating more than Alan Green's voice. And personality. And face.
Bolton...well, they're still here, aren't they? For the moment, anyway â that could change. Should probably save this valediction until the end of the season, really.
What wonâÂÂt happen: Bolton won't go down: currently five points clear, they have a should-win home game against Portsmouth next week that will probably do the maths for them
What will happen: A home win keeps the Trotters' budget champagne on ice
Sunderland vs Burnley
Sit down. Are you sitting down? Burnley won away from home. Ouch, did that hurt? Well, I did tell you to sit down.
Beating Hull at the KC was an absolutely massive result for the Lancashire club â if they'd lost they'd be six points behind Hull and seven from safety. As it is, they're ahead of Hull on goal difference, and have basically succeeded in taking the Tigers down with them.
Good news about the parachute payments then.
What wonâÂÂt happen: A second away win for Burnley in as many games
What will happen: A spirited draw nonetheless
Spurs vs Chelsea
That frankly unbelievable win in the North London derby has put Spurs fans on Cloud Ten (Cloud Nine was achieved against Wigan).
Either unbelievably or all too believably, it was Tottenham's first league win over Arsenal this millennium; the last was in November 1999, when New Labour was still cool and Danny Rose was looking forward to his ninth Christmas.
Rose's wonder strike â let's forget he was completely out of his depth after that and was rightly taken off at half-time â certainly distracted worried Spurs fans from the news that Aaron Lennon broke down in training AGAIN on Monday, with his return looking increasingly unlikely to be this season. This is what happens when you try to rush a player back â you rush him back into hospital.
Chelsea ignored FergieâÂÂs mindgames to beat Bolton on Tuesday, but they needed some handiwork from Drogba and Terry to do it. Although Bolton wouldnâÂÂt have scored anyway, rendering their protests overblown, DrogbaâÂÂs slap was particularly impressive â definitely the most blatant handball sinceâ¦well, ever. It made HenryâÂÂs effort look positively accidental.
What wonâÂÂt happen: Sorry, Thierry, we're not going to forget that
What will happen: This is a huge game, requiring Spurs to rise to the occasion. They do, and Chelsea look nervy, but it ends a draw
Sunday
Wigan vs Arsenal
After Benitez and Ferguson a few days ago, it's now Wenger's turn to give up.
In his words, Arsenal "must forget the title race". WhereâÂÂs the famous never-say-die attitude of the French?
ItâÂÂs not over until that tit from the Go Compare adverts sings, and even if a goal is unlikely, itâÂÂs something to aim for. Saying itâÂÂs over is psychologically akin to shooting your players in the kneecaps before a game.
That all said, it probably is all over for Arsenal this season â and the final nail in the coffin came at the hands of their rivals too. Oh well.
Speaking of blowing chances, Wigan donâÂÂt make it easy for themselves: they had a great opportunity to pull clear of the relegation zone and swan into 14th but somehow contrived to draw 0-0 with Portsmouth. And not just any Portsmouth team â a Portsmouth team featuring two debutants and only four subs, two of whom were teenagers and none of whom were goalkeepers.
Just reading the team sheet provides a pretty convincing argument for the gulf between the Premier LeagueâÂÂs flyers and sinkers. How many of this team should really be able to lay claim to playing in the self-confessed best league in the world?
That is the team Wigan failed to beat. They donâÂÂt deserve to be in the Premier League any more than Portsmouth do.
What wonâÂÂt happen: Arsenal surge to the title
What will happen: Defeat leaves Wigan in purgatory
Portsmouth vs Aston Villa
Villa's surge for a Europa League spot, as detailed by this blog midweek, immediately hit a stumbling block as they drew with Everton. In fact, it was only an injury-time own goal that saved them from defeat. Still, there's time: a win here and they've overtaken Liverpool.
Not that that should detract from Martin O'Neill's disappointment with the draw and the brilliance of the BBC's headline: 'O'Neill: draw no use'. Yeah, knob off with your point! That's no use to us! Actually, no, give it back, ta.
What wonâÂÂt happen: Pompey field a full sub bench
What will happen: Away win
Monday
Liverpool vs West Ham
According to his agent, Rafael Benitez will definitely see out of the rest of his contract at Liverpool, keeping him at the club until 2014. Some Scousers may be hoping any new owners arriving before then offer the Spaniard a larger sum of money simply to go away.
Rumours surrounding a summer departure for Benitez are flying around thicker than Icelandic ash, with Juventus and Real Madrid being cited as potential destinations. Glory-hunting Real would be brave to approach a man who failed to win the Premier League and Benitez would be a nutter to accept. ThereâÂÂs no patience of the Mersey in Madrid, Rafa. Lose one game and youâÂÂre out.
Is that job at Celtic still going? How about Apprentice Shelf Stacker in MorrisonâÂÂs?
What wonâÂÂt happen: The best part about the Benitez exit rumours is the tie-in that Martin OâÂÂNeill vs The Aston Villa Board will end with the Irishman going to Anfield. That would be a brilliant acquisition for the Reds. It wonâÂÂt happen though
What will happen: Home win, and for now at least, Rafa turns a blind eye to the graffiti that reads, âÂÂWeâÂÂll get you and your little Ngog too.âÂÂ
