With a place in the play-offs already guaranteed, Southend went into this fixture against Oxford with an outside chance of making an automatic promotion place and were hoping to follow up on their impressive 3-0 victory over Barnet last time out.

With the Shrimpers unbeaten since Good Friday’s defeat to Bradford City, they took on a resilient Oxford team whose form had slipped of late with only one win in their last six outings.

The game started brightly for the U’s and the first chance of the game fell to former Shrimper Dean Morgan. The move came from Jon-Paul Pitman who made an attacking run down the right flank before knocking the ball into the path of the unmarked Morgan who saw his low effort saved by the feet of on-loan keeper Cameron Belford.

This chance seemed to spark Southend into life as they began to play the attacking football that showed Oxford why they had been in the top seven for the vast majority of the season.

The Oxford defence stood firm until the 19th minute with a strike that the defence could do nothing about. With Michael Duberry committing a foul 25 yards out from goal, up stepped Ryan Hall who was going to try his luck. His free kick flew past the wall and then straight past Ripley in the Oxford goal before hitting the back of the net sending the near-sell out travelling supporters into raptures.

With Southend shaking the Oxford defence they went on the search for more goals and doubled their advantage through the controversial but Blues fans favourite Bilel Mohsni. After scoring a hat-trick against Barnet, Mohsni secured his 4th goal in half as games with a glancing header evading the diving efforts of Connor Ripley. Gilbert and Ferdinand exchanged clever play from the throw-in before the eventual cross from Gilbert found the head of Bilel Mohsni and the Southend faithful went into party mode with Southend seeming to but all secure the three points at the Kassam Stadium.

The Shrimpers could have had three before the half was over with Neil Harris’ delightful chip over the on-rushing Ripley cleared away inches before going over the line by U’s defender Duberry.

Oxford nearly pulled a goal back just before the arrival of half-time when Whing fired another low effort towards Cameron Belford who got down and met it to palm it away with the referee to moments later blow his whistle for the interval.

With half time team talks over, Chris Wilder’s certainly worked as Oxford came straight out of the blocks to give Southend an early scare. Morgan this time expertly working his way past several defenders before his tame shot fell graciously into the arms of Cameron Belford.

On the hour mark the travelling Southend fans had heard the news of Hereford’s goal at Crawley which most certainly brought the Shrimpers back into contention of an automatic place on the final day in a week’s time. However news soon travelled that Torquay had taken the lead over play-off hopefuls Crewe Alexandra which would make things a lot harder on the final day for Southend.

Back to the action on the pitch and it was Oxford who had the slight momentum but lacked the attacking ability to find their way into the back of the net. A free kick which went inches over the bar and also a strike from Morgan tested the Southend defence but never worked Belford.

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With results elsewhere improving at the Broadfield stadium for Southend, chants for Crewe to score soon followed as they desperately hoped for the news to filter through. Action in the second half for Southend was very minimal in front of the Oxford goal but nearly put Oxford beyond sight with 10 minutes to go with Bilel Mohsni missing the target by a matter of inches with a downwards header.

With the referee blowing his whistle for the final time the game finished 2-0 to the Shrimpers who completed their treble over Oxford this season. The travelling faithful remained behind to applaud their team when the news they had so desperately waited for finally arrived. Crewe Alexandra had stolen a point in the dying minutes at Plainmoor which sent the colourful Southend fans ecstatic after celebrating what could be their last away game of the season with a comfortable 2-0 victory. Now all we have to do is win on Saturday and hope both Crawley and Torquay slip up to be promoted.

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Kenny Dalglish’s Anfield homecoming was heralded as the ‘Return of the King’.

18 months later and Liverpool’s diminished ambitions have led to the demise their former hero.

The Scot may have won a trophy this year but after a serious dip in league form and a string of questionable transfers it was inevitable the Anfield hierarchy would eventually lose patience with his ever darkening fairytale return.

Given their current decline, should Liverpool prepare for an era playing second fiddle to the Premier League’s powerhouses?

For a club with so many past glories it seems unthinkable that Liverpool wouldn’t be able to compete with the best teams in the league.

“5 European Cups and 18 Leagues, that’s what we call history” they sing with pride. Truth is that’s all it is now, history.

Belief from the fans is still there but how far can the next manager take them considering the ever increasing gap between the Reds and top sides?

Liverpool ended the season in 8th place with their worst points tally for over 50 years. To their dismay they even finished behind their old enemy Everton and lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup final. In the end their League Cup triumph was the only highpoint of a season that raised serious question marks over their ability to compete at the highest level.

Strangely had they won the FA Cup it may have been regarded as a decent season, Dalglish may even still be in charge but it would’ve only papered over the cracks.

There were a number of factors that plagued them during the season. Their big name signings didn’t work out, the manager seemed out of his depth tactically and the fans expected more than the team could deliver.

With that in mind it’s easy to see why Liverpool underachieved so badly but of course hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Some of their transfers seemed astute at the time. Effectively swapping an out of form Fernando Torres for Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez appeared to be an excellent deal.

In contrast they also spent roughly £70 million on a home grown combination of Carroll, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson. No one can ever predict how successful a transfer will be but are the North East’s finest really worth that kind of money?

Unsuccessful deals like these coupled with so many disappointing results have ultimately led to Dalglish being sacked.

Still there is some hope. Should Liverpool’s new manager blend their talent into a more cohesive unit then their results may well improve, especially if he is given the same financial backing that Dalglish received. With the players at his disposal there would be no reason why they couldn’t challenge the top 4 teams.

Newcastle proved this season what can be achieved with a small budget and a few choice signings. They may have overachieved but if they can gain success when they’re not considered as one of the league’s elite clubs then why can’t Liverpool?

Consistency is key because the Premier League is so competitive that anyone can win on their day. Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham suffered major blips during an unpredictable season while Newcastle simply beat the teams that were put in front of them. They weren’t as strong as the rest but they pushed them all the way deserved their 5th place finish.

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There’s definitely potential for Liverpool even if their misfiring home form has seen them become more comfortable playing away from Anfield. Their struggling players may have found it easier because the home crowd expectation became too much for them but confidence can quickly change. A new manager with fresh ideas could reinvigorate the whole club.

Ultimately this summer could have a major say in Liverpool‘s future.

If it’s time for a change then the new manager should be backed heavily. Dalglish may not have used his money wisely but another failure to qualify for the Champions League would be so detrimental to the club’s finances that they may never recover.

Liverpool are on the cusp of ‘football limbo’. Not as quite good the top teams but clearly bigger than the mid table group.

Miss out on Europe’s top prize again and they could be walking alone for very long time.

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Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is set to be left out of England’s Euro 2012 squad and Kyle Walker is struggling with injury, according to Sky Sports.

The veteran centre back’s inclusion may well depend on whether John Terry is selected, as the Chelsea man is due to stand trial in July for racially abusing Ferdinand’s brother Anton.

Hodgson has a decision to make, and it is believed that the Red Devils man will be left out in favour of the former captain.

Meanwhile, Tottenham full-back Kyle Walker is set to miss out through injury, as he will not recover from a broken toe in time to be included in the Three Lions’ contingent.

The PFA Young Player of the Year looked like a shoe-in for inclusion, but Hodgson is not willing to wait for the youngster to return to fitness.

England’s official Euro 2012 squad will be released on Wednesday at a press conference at 1pm.

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By Gareth McKnight

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When someone begins describing their mate to you and they utter the immortal line, ‘they’re a bit of a character,’ one usually expects the aforementioned friend to be something of a lemon, to put it kindly. And when it comes to describing Benoit Assou-Ekotto, it’s difficult not to reference his outspoken persona. But far from being an obnoxious, ill-informed footballing millionaire, the man affectionately known as ‘Disco Benny’ at White Hart Lane, is an absolute breath of fresh air.

But for all his improvement on the pitch, the Cameroon international still makes up one quarter of a Spurs back four, which consistently seems to be leaking cheap goals. Harry Redknapp always maintained a level of patience and tolerance towards Assou-Ekotto’s often erratic style of play.

With a new manager, comes new ideas and not every player in the current Spurs starting XI may feature in their plans. Could Assou-Ekotto’s unique style render him most likely to fall victim to change at White Hart Lane?

It’s quite amazing to think that the French-born full-back has now been in N17 for six years now. A Damien Comolli signing, it’s fair to say that Assou-Ekotto’s arrival from Lens in a £3.5million deal was hardly greeted with excessive amount of fanfare. The signings of Dimitar Berbatov and, as absurd as it now sounds, Didier Zokora, occupied the majority of supporters pre season talk as the Cameroonian slipped into Spurs quietly under the radar.

And as misfortune had it, he nearly fell off the radar completely during his first season. After a relatively tepid start to his White Hart Lane career, Assou-Ekotto managed to oust Lee Young-Pyo over to right-back, before a poor run of form saw him loose his left sided role to the Korean. Then in the February of 2007, a serious knee injury nearly sent not just his Spurs career, but also his entire footballing future, into oblivion. The rest of his debut season was written off, and the 07-08 campaign amounted to just one league appearance. If you told anyone at that point that he’d go on to make 163 outings in a Spurs shirt, you would have got laughed back down the High Road.

Very rarely though, has the cliché of coming back stronger than ever, been put into practice quite so emphatically as Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s return to the Tottenham first team. After weathering the chaos of Juande Ramos’ final moments in his comeback season, the ex-Lens man solidified himself under Harry Redknapp. Since his memorable strike against Liverpool on the opening day of the 09-10 season, there has been no looking back and Assou-Ekotto has made the left-back position his own, featuring prominently in the team that attained Champions League football, then playing in the tournament himself.

His frank yet truthful demeanor has really won over the Spurs faithful, too. In a footballing landscape domineered by sleazy agents and grotesque amounts of money, Assou-Ekotto has been honest and forthcoming about his perception of football as a career. But his penchant for using the Underground, driving a Smart Car and his column in the Evening Standard has ensured he retains a special place in supporters hearts. He has made a genuine effort to immerse himself in the community and his presence in North London after the devastation of the riots, was an outstanding touch. In the nicest possible way, Assou-Ekotto is the antithesis of the modern day footballer.

But his unique style is as clear to see on the football pitch as off it. To say he is calm in possession is an understatement; where as most full-backs choose to shunt the ball out of play under pressure, Spurs’ left-back prefers to feint his way out of trouble or perform a drag back on the byline. He has publically stated his belief in keeping possession and he has combined his silky play on the ball with a maturing sense of positional awareness off of it.

Assou-Ekotto’s style is something of a double-edged sword, however. Over the course of last season, he was generally one of Tottenham’s most consistent performers, but he always felt likely to make a real clanger from time to time. His performance in the 5-2 defeat at the Emirates in February, was one of several nightmare showings from Spurs players, but it was more what was going on inside the Cameroonian’s head, than what was going on with his feet. A lack of awareness and a tendency to switch off were one thing, but it was just his general level of concentration that seemed to be his biggest issue. It isn’t just one game that we’re picking on here; it was a motif of an issue that has plagued him throughout his Spurs career.

Defensively, he is nowhere near as bad as what some of the more ill informed in the media like to make out. Those that watch him week in, week out are well aware of how much he brings to the team, and Alan Hansen’s continuous panning of Assou-Ekotto on an eight minute highlights package, is grossly unfair. But those that watch him each week aren’t blind to his faults. And as much as he has improved, it feels hard to envisage that the concentration issues are any more likely to dissipate next season.

As a new manager looks set to enter the helm at White Hart Lane, the footballing philosophies that he values the highest could determine Assou-Ekotto’s future. This isn’t a piece looking to slam a real fan favourite in North London- in fact, the author would sorely miss the je ne sais quois that Benoit Assou-Ekotto brings to this Spurs team. But it is more an acknowledgement of the patience that Harry Redknapp bestowed upon the left back. More than anything else, who was likely to displace him?

Yet if the new man is looking to shore up the Tottenham defence, than pragmatism could well eradicate flamboyance at White Hart Lane. If such an approach prevails, than Assou-Ekotto could be spending his summer looking over his shoulder at an inferior footballer, but a superior defender.

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Does Assou-Ekotto light up a match-day for you at White Hart Lane? Can he kick out his bad habits? Or will his defensive inadequacies potentially cost him under a new regime? Tell me how you feel and get involved in the Spurs talk on Twitter, follow @samuel_antrobus

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To say that money doesn’t buy success is naïve, yet to believe that money is the sole ingredient in a recipe for success is equally so. Modern football is clearly in the grip of a financial revolution and, like it or not, it is becoming increasingly evident that club finances play a role in the success or failure of English clubs. To what extent, though, is this the case? Below is the Premier League net-spending chart for the last five years. The figure represents the total amount of money spent after player sales have been subtracted from the total.

1. Man City £382,150,000

2. Chelsea £190,700,000

3. Stoke City £60,075,000

4. Aston Villa £53,550,000

5. QPR £35,650,000

6. Man Utd £34,150,000

7. Liverpool £26,800,000

8. Fulham £23,600,000

9. West Brom £15,915,000

10. Sunderland £11,850,000

11. West Ham £8,100,000

12. Norwich £6,950,000

13. Swansea £6,570,000

14. Tottenham £5,590,000

15. Wigan -£2,750,000

16. Southampton -£3,150,000

17. Everton -£10,815,000

18. Reading -£21,250,000

19. Arsenal -£21,280,000

20. Newcastle -£43,400,000

So, what conclusions can we draw from these figures? The first point that should be highlighted is that transfers such as that of Andy Carroll or Fernando Torres, to an extent, distort the figures on show.

As impressive as Newcastle’s position on this table is, without the sale of Andy Carroll they would have been 17th – still an impressive display of astute dealings in the transfer market yet perhaps not quite as impressive as might be expected from looking at the stats alone.

The other issue, which these stats don’t explain, is how much the clubs have actually spent. For example, upon seeing that Tottenham have a net spend of £5.59m over the last five years you might presume that they had been relatively inactive during the transfer windows. In actual fact they have spent over £153m, the fifth highest amount in the league behind Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool.

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That doesn’t make there net spend any less impressive, but it should be remembered that other clubs, no matter how many players they sold or how careful they were in the transfer window, would never be able to spend that amount of money.

The final financial aspect that isn’t detailed within these figures is the wage bill, which, it has been argued, has more of an impact on a team’s league standing than the amount of money they spend on transfers. Indeed, were there to be table displaying wage bills it would more closely resemble that of Premier League teams’ actual league positions.

To deny that the spending of Manchester City and Chelsea over this period has brought them success would be foolish. A net spend of £382m has evidently contributed to their rise from mid table side to league Champions. Likewise Abramovich’s huge investments have undeniably helped Chelsea rise to the level they now enjoy.

Nevertheless, the spending demonstrated by teams like Stoke, Aston Villa and Liverpool clearly show that money is not the only cause for success. If you compare the fortunes of Liverpool and Newcastle then it becomes clear just how important a quality scouting network can be.

Looking at these figures reveals just how much credit particular managers deserve for the relative success that their teams have enjoyed. For Alex Ferguson to have won three out of the last five Premier league titles whilst having a net spend of less than £35m over the same period is truly remarkable.

The same can be said for David Moyes, Roberto Martinez and Arsene Wenger for the accomplishments of their respective teams whilst simultaneously making a transfer profit every single season. These teams have consistently outperformed their rivals despite having had to regularly sell their best players and replace them with lesser footballers.

Lastly, the profits made by Premier League new boys Southampton and Reading, as well as the relatively modest outlays by both Swansea and Norwich, send a clear message to those teams Championship teams looking to establish themselves in England’s top flight. In a time where sustainability is a key issue in football, these teams are testament to the fact that, with careful management, certain objectives can be achieved on a small budget.

Follow Hamish on Twitter @H_Mackay

For a man who once said he’d be good enough to manage Real Madrid, he didn’t half make hard work out of getting West Ham back into the Premier League. The Championship is of course, a formidable beast and all that matters now is that Sam Allardyce has got the Hammers back into the promised land of English football.

But West Ham United aren’t like your usual promoted team. Where as for most, Premier League teams survival represents the Holy Grail, for some Hammers fans, it’s a basic expectation. Allardyce felt the heat of supporters on more than one occasion last season and he doesn’t just face the task of keeping the East Londoners up- he’ll have to do it in style.

There was a wonderful paradox of emotion at Upton Park last season. For large parts of the season, West Ham always seemed destined to be promoted, but overwhelming support was not forthcoming. The supporters’ demands for a certain brand of football, a ‘West Ham’ way, were echoed out in force; demands that for the most part, fell on deaf ears.

And it’s been difficult for Allardyce. His brand of football has always carried a certain stigma of pragmatism and some fans had already made their minds up about ‘Big Sam’ before David Gold and David Sullivan had even appointed him. The chairman appointed Allardyce for his resume, not his style of football. He had the experience, the expertise and the mindset to get West Ham promoted and the ultimate vindication came as West Ham made an instant return to the top flight.

For outsiders looking in, it seemed very much as if West Ham fans wanted to have their cake and eat it. But it’s easy for sneering Premier League supporters to make massive generalizations about a league they’ve never played in. The Championship is an incredibly competitive and ultimately very physical league. Although the notion that it can’t breed decent football, is fatally flawed.

As the Hammers went down in 2011, Brendan Rodgers commandeered Swansea City up into the Premier League on the same footballing philosophy that drew such plaudits last season. And for a more recent example, fans need to look no further than the team who achieved what Allardyce failed to do. Nigel Adkins’ Southampton won promotion on a backdrop of bright, attacking football played mostly on the deck. It’s far from impossible.

Although Allardyce stood strong to his principals and he was eventually redeemed by achieving promotion – albeit via the play offs. Ultimately, the attitudes of last season are now rendered academic but it feels as if something has to give next season. Eventually, either Allardyce is going to have to adopt an altered style of football or the Hammers’ support is going to have to heed to his pragmatism. It’s difficult to predict if either are likely to budge.

Because even when the prospects looked good for West Ham last season, it wasn’t enough. Towards the end of February, a resolute Crystal Palace frustrated Allardyce’s team, to earn a point in a 0-0 draw at Upton Park.  But even though the Hammers were still in an automatic promotion spot, it still wasn’t enough for some- sections of the crowd booed the team off at the end of each half. This by no means represented the majority of fans, but it was a sizeable enough minority to be prominently heard. However disappointing the result may have been, the reaction was surely unmerited.

The awkward feeling seemed to linger throughout the duration of the season and although West Ham eventually got promoted, it wasn’t without due concern. Results spiraled off and there was a feeling that Allardyce’s style wasn’t particularly conducive with winning football matches. But they got there in the end and a 2-1 victory in an enthralling play-off final victory against Blackpool, sealed a return to the Premier League.

Next season, you feel, could potentially be one of the most defining of Sam Allardyce’s career. The success and legacy of his time at Bolton Wanderers feels like a lifetime ago and however bitter he may feel about how things ended at both Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers, his stock has undeniably lowered since his time at the Reebok Stadium. The parallels with his time at Newcastle in particular, feel like an unnerving ghost of Christmas past for the 57-year-old. The fans never brought into his ideology at St. James’ Park and he was never given the time he needed to build his project. The situation he faces at Upton Park isn’t a new one.

In his one season at Newcastle, a good start seemed to appease the boo boys and he will have to ensure that this time round, he maintains momentum. West Ham fans aren’t naïve to the situation and however a certain minority may feel, Premier League survival has to be the most important aim. Anything else they may achieve should be held as a bonus.

But as in all relationships in life, compromise is often key. If Allardyce is to smooth his issues over with some of the Hammers’ support, then he is going to have to alter a brand of football that doesn’t particularly set the heart on fire. When fans pay money for season tickets, they’re entitled to an opinion and however Allardyce frames it, spectators at Upton Park were treated to some pretty dire exhibitions. He keeps claiming he is capable of playing entertaining football. Next season wouldn’t be a bad place to start.

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Promoted teams have done extremely well in their first season back in the Premier League in recent years and West Ham will expect to finish clear of relegation. Although how they go about could ultimately define the fate of both club and more prominently, their manager.

How do you feel about Allardyce’s and West Ham’s chances next season? Is survival enough or must it be done with a bit of panache? Let me know how you see it on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and bat me your views.  

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Stoke have made an offer of £4 million for Liverpool fringe midfielder Charlie Adam, according to The Daily Mail.

The Scotland international moved to Anfield last summer from Blackpool for £9 million, and featured under countryman Kenny Dalglish last term.

However, new Reds boss Brendan Rodgers does not have a place for the playmaker in his team, with a central midfield trio of Steven Gerrard, Lucas Leiva and new signing Nuri Sahin in the Northern Irish manager’s thoughts.

Rodgers will allow Adam to leave before the end of the transfer window, with Stoke launching a bid.

It has yet to be revealed whether the Merseysiders have accepted the offer from Tony Pulis’ men, who want the Scot to replace Wilson Palacios in the Britannia Stadium side.

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Fenerbahce have also been accredited with an interest in Adam, who looks likely to leave Liverpool over the next 48 hours.

By Gareth McKnight

Wayne Rooney has poured cold water on rumours that he could leave Manchester United.

The England international has been decidedly off the boil recently, both in Euro 2012 and in the Red Devils’ opening games to the 2012-13 season.

With Sir Alex Ferguson bolstering his attacking options with the signatures of Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa this summer, the British tabloids have speculated whether the Old Trafford outfit were getting ready to cash-in on Rooney.

However, the attacker has dismissed this as nonsense and stated he wants to stay with United.

“Read the nonsense in the papers and heard what people have to say it is absolute rubbish. #heretostay,” he told his Twitter followers.

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Rooney suffered a nasty gash on his leg in the 3-2 win over Fulham at the weekend, with the extent of the injury meaning the striker could be out for as long as two months.

By Gareth McKnight

Liverpool’s owners and manager Brendan Rodgers are set to come to loggerheads again, after the club announced plans to form a “technical committee” in light of the Andy Carroll debacle. The Telegraph reports.

Supporters are still fuming at the decision to let £35million signing, Carroll leave with Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini as the only options upfront.

The Reds were interested in securing a deal for Daniel Sturridge to bolster their attacking options, but were only willing to bring him in on loan whereas Chelsea were keen on a permanent deal.

But the most high-profile failure came after the club could not meet the £6million valuation which Fulham set for Clint Dempsey, resulting in the USA international joining Tottenham instead.

This new proposed committee will be set up to avoid future situations like this, advising both Rodgers and owners John W Henry and Tom Werner about all aspects of the club, including transfer dealings.

It is likely to cause even more tension between owners and management, particularly as Rodgers made it clear he wants total control over all first-team matters, but the owners have since said this so-called British model is unsustainable and costly.

The American owners want to replicate a similar kind of model that is already in place at West Brom, where Dan Ashworth has the role of sporting and technical director and is now wanted by the Football Association.

Under this new model, Rodgers will have to discuss prospective transfer targets with members of the committee, who in turn will advise the manager on the best way forward.

Ian Ayre, the current managing director is likely to hold a key role in the new set-up, along with a chief scout and an experienced football administrator.

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Liverpool fans will hope this goes some way in improving the club’s fortunes, especially as they seem a long way off from competing at the top level in the near future.

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Arsenal have revealed that the club made a pre-tax profit of £36.6 million for the financial year.

The results, which span from June 2011 to May 2012, show that the north London club are operating without huge debts, which comes as a source of pleasure for chief executive Ivan Gazidis.

“Clubs, fans and other stakeholders in the game are demanding a more rational financial approach and this reinforces our conviction that our club is strongly placed to succeed over the long term,” a statement, published in The Guardian, reads.

“We have qualified for the Champions League for the 15th season in a row whilst off the pitch we have a business strategy and infrastructure that is helping us to grow our revenues.

“This revenue growth will provide sustainable funds for future investment in the team whilst keeping within the Uefa Financial Fair Play requirements. We can and will forge our own path to success.”

The sale of both Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas last summer did much to balance the books.

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By Gareth McKnight