Ah yes, the transfer season European Championship is upon us! Yes! So, we’ll see you for that, and in the meantime, thanks all for your comments and company. Bye!
Updated
So, that’s that for another season, and, despite a squid of a final day, what a season it’s been. Leicester champions, Sunderland relegating Newcastle, Chelsea imploding, Arsenal and Spurs collapsing, West Ham progressing, two promoted teams staying up - and all the rest. However will we fill our days until August?
FULL-TIME: Swansea City 1-1 Manchester City
And that’s that for Manuel Pellegrini. City take the fourth Champions League spot - unless United beat Bournemouth by 19 clear goals. Swansea finish a deeply creditable eleventh.
We all wonder quite what the Old Trafford abandonment will mean.
Updated
90+3 min “I’m no great lover of Navas, he’s consistently been an odd weak point in this team,” emails Matt Dony. “But I’d kind of like to see what Klopp could do with him. I’d be quite happy to see a sly Liverpool bid for him.”
I don’t know - maybe he’d coach him better, but it seems too late to have him play with his head up.
Updated
90+2 min Aguero won’t win the golden boot this season - he departs to be replaced by Toure, making perhaps his last appearance for City. And what a player he has been for them, if not the best in their history certainly the best in big games.
90 min There will be three added minutes.
90 min Swansea look to go forward at the same as they look to knock the ball along the back-four. They’ve barely threatened this half.
88 min Crivens, Spurs are 5-1 down at Relegatednewcastle; it was 2-1 when Mitrovic was sent-off. This is an absolutely world-class paddy from them.
86 min This game is phutting and sputtering to a finish.
85 min Sky News are reporting that a controlled explosion has taken place at Old Trafford. And dearie me, what a state of affairs: people can’t just go to a football match for fear other people might blow them up. I fear this isn’t the end of that story.
Updated
84 min Around the grounds: Leicester and Chelsea are drawing 1-1-, Olivier Giroud has scored a hat-trick for Arsenal against Villa, and Newcastle, down to ten men, lead champions-elect, best team, best football in the league players Spurs, 3-1.
82 min Sagna goes down with no one near him, rarely a good sign. While he receives treatment, Gomis replaces Montero.
81 min While Jesus Navas gives City balance of a sort - pace on the wing, a natural right-side who looks to go on the outside - you’d think not playing well much might restrict his appearances.
80 min Leroy Fer tries a stepover, and is robbed by Clichy. It’s bit like this.
78 min Brilliant from City. De Bruyne breaks through the centre with the ball and finds Aguero, who moves across the face of the box from right-to-left before swivelling into a reverse-pass for Nasri. His low cross is a dangerous one, but eludes all those in the middle and Kingsley wallops clear.
75 min He may be a kind of Silva-lite, but I’m surprised Nasri hasn’t played more recently; he’s composed on the ball, a goal threat, and a bit nasty, none of them qualities with which City are replete.
Updated
74 min Ayew finds Barrow on the right, but he can’t find a way past Clichy, and City break; Britton slides in and lifts a leg to halt De Bruyne, for which he is booked.
73 min Nasri has taken up a position on the left, with De Bruyne moving in behind Aguero.
73 min Nasri replaces Iheanacho.
71 min Bony warms up and is cheered by the home crowd. It was put to me recently that he’s bulked up and lost whatever pace he had and that looks a fair explanation; he used to be quite good.
Updated
70 min Hart, Silva, Aguero, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Iheanacho: the only City players safe when Guardiola arrives, I’d say.
68 min Montero runs at Sagna, played into trouble by Navas, and forces the foul. It earns him a yellow card, and Swansea a free-kick, close the by-line and box, but the cross is too high and ill directed.
67 min This Navas-Fernando situation highlights the dangers of scouting according to job description, rather than quality. City needed players in their positions, but neither is good enough to be a first-teamer.
66 min Lovely play down the left between Navas and Fernando, a one-two allowing the former to cross, low. Naturally, he hits the first man.
64 min Back to United, you wonder if they’ll be watching this game wondering if they might, somehow, have avoided conceding two goals in eight minutes after taking the lead at West Ham.
62 min Aguero lifts a lovely scooped ball into the box and follows it like a ferret, unwinding for a shot - but Amat does just enough, sliding in and forcing him to slice wide.
Updated
60 min Lovely ball from Clichy, slotted behind Rangel for Iheanacho, taking up another dangerous position. Without looking, he squares gently for Aguero, but Rangel recovers well to concede a corner - it comes to nothing.
Updated
60 min Stoke have equalised against West Ham, Imbula with the goal.
58 min Change for Swansea: Barrow replaces Routledge.
58 min And Fernandez’s corner is a good one, picking out Fernandez 10 yards out at the back post. He heads it back from whence it came, but the ball loops wide.
57 min And there he goes, roadrunning at his man and winning a corner...
55 min Swansea have barely been able to get Montero on the ball so far - they might look to address that in the next bit.
54 min This game is getting stretched - 1-1 will not be the final score.
52 min Huge let-off for Swansea and Nordfeldt! Iheanacho, more or less dead centre, slipped right to Aguero, who advanced and rolled in Navas. His low cross was straight at the keeper, but he somehow directed it into Iheanacho’s path - the goal was gaping, only for him to trip over the ball readjusting his feet.
51 min Swansea make space down the left and Kingsley nashes into it, absolutely slamming his cross aeons and hectares past the backpost.
48 min I wonder how many of this back four Guardiola will keep when he arrives at Eastlands. I suppose Kompany is safe as captain and totem - though I’m not sure he’ll be a regular, given his injury record. But Otamendi and Mangala are not exactly what Guardiola’s type.
46 min City immediately win a corner down the left, De Bruyne’s kick headed clear by Fernandez. But the loose ball finds its way back to him, now at the corner of the box, and he whips a brilliant cross towards the far post, where Mangala heads over the top. Great chance.
46 min And off we go again...
Sky reckon that at some point, there’ll be a controlled explosion at Old Trafford.
“What’s the protocol for an abandoned game? Do you bother replaying it if it doesn’t change anything?” asks St Fual on Twitter.
I’m pretty sure they’d replay it whatever, but with money on offer for where teams finish, plus potential Europa League issues, this one doesn’t fall into that category.
Half-time: Swansea City 1-1 Manchester City
Well, that was a rather unexpected ending to the half. Swansea have actually played some okay stuff in safe spaces, unable to muster any kind of threat save the disallowed goal. City, on the other hand, looked dangerous throughout thanks to De Bruyne’s invention, Aguero’s hold-up play and Iheanacho’s movement. I’ve no idea what’ll happen in the second half, but both managers have work to do.
Updated
GOAL! Swansea City 1-1 Manchester City (Ayew 45+1)
Fer runs over the ball in peculiar style, fooling everyone, and Ayew then steps up looking to bend over the wall and into the top right corner. But Fernandinho waves a head in its road, sending it careering into the top left and leaving Hart flummoxed. Game on, cat pigeoned, and all that.
Updated
45 min And there’s Otamendi’s yellow card - Mangala sent a tricky ball into Iheanacho, he bumped it back, and Britton seized upon it, weaving some space and coaxing the foul. Free-kick, 25 yards out, just right of centre...
44 min After landing awkwardly challenging for a header, Iheanacho is limping - looks like one he can run off, but.
43 min Mike Dean allows Swansea an advantage and Montero cuts in, losing Sagna, but then scuffs a low swipe past the near post.
41 min More aesthetic interplay from Swansea and as Otamendi hurtles into a two-footed challenge on Rangel, Iheanacho trips him from behind - probably accidentally. He’s booked, and here comes the free-kick, 25 yards out, right of centre; Cork drifts it gently over the wall and into Hart’s hands, one bounce.
40 min Thanks to Tim O’Brien for pointing out that, thanks to Jordon Ibe’s equaliser, Liverpool are no longer losing. However, Newcastle now lead Spurs 2-0.
37 min Fantastic play from De Bruyne, finding himself on the right touchline and unfurling a majestic crossfield pass for Navas as City break. He then absolutely bousts towards the box and is there waiting for a return just as Navas wallops a useless shot over the top.
36 min Ayew pulls wide to the left by-line and digs out a cross that’s deflected behind by Mangala - the corner is a funny, midriffy height, and headed back towards the taker by Fernandez, who was held by Mangala. How Mike Dean would’ve loved gesticulating a penalty, but he either denies himself or failed to spot the offence.
36 min I should also mention that Liverpool are losing at West Brom and West Ham are winning at Stoke.
34 min Little flurry of Swansea, Ayew weaving into space 25 yards out, right of centre, and absolutely pounding a shot into Otamendi’s excellent block. And they then won the ball back, Angel floating a cross towards the back post that Montero won but could only squirt square.
33 min More on that Urawa abandonment from Patrick O’Brien, who reminds me that lightening hit the ground, and also mentions that the previous time it had happened at Old Trafford was at home to Villa in 1991.
31 min “Okay I know the situations are different but look at Liverpool’s starting 11,” emails Mike McKenzie.
“Bogdan, Flanagan, Skrtel, Lucas, Smith, Stewart, Allen, Brannagan, Ibe, Ojo, Benteke. So 5 junior players start with 3 (Randall, Canos, Chirivella) on bench.
And it isn’t the first time Klopp has given young guys a match. It can only be beneficial both for the players and for Klopp to evaluate them. Didn’t Fergie always say that you have to see what the kids can do?”
As you say, it’s different - Klopp is resting players for the Uefa Cup Final, United were chasing 4th place. And, though there are infinite reasons to criticise Van Gaal, giving kids a chance isn’t one of them; that’s the reason United have a small squad.
29 min Montero passes back from halfway, stuck out on the touchline, and it’s nowhere near hard enough - Iheanacho is right onto it. But after transferring it into his stride, he can’t quite zone in towards goal as intended, losing his direct run at it. Even then, though, he might slip a reverse-ball into Aguero but instead lamps one over the bar.
27 min Excellent save from Nordfeldt, making his first Premier League start. Iheanacho, at inside-left, flicks outside him for Fernandinho, who crosses low to the near post. Aguero darts towards the goal then towards the ball, losing Amat and turning a low shot that’s well saved via leg extension.
24 min Ayew, Britton and Routledge do very well moving the ball from centre to right, but again, they can’t get it into a dangerous area - they’ve yet to register a shot on target. City then break and Iheanacho again takes up a dangerous position, but the ball to him is overhit and he can’t quite regain control.
22 min Iheanacho slams one over the bar from 20 yards as we learn that Spurs are losing at Newcastle. With Arsenal winning at home to Villa, of the scores stay the same, they’d finish above their rivals, having their greatest season in a generation, yet again.
20 min Swansea look sharp, as you’d expect from a team in such smart form, but hard to see them restricting De Bruyne, Aguero and Iheanacho to no more goals.
19 min More news on that United-Bournemouth abandonment, here.
17 min The last time a game as Old Trafford was abandoned - I think - was the pre-season friendly against Urawa Red Diamonds in 2004. That time, the cause a storm; it must’ve been bad to be worse than this one against Boro in 1997.
15 min Routledge causes mither down the left, moving inside to slot a ball through for Montero - but he’s wandered offside. On which point, Routledge has come on a lot the last couple of seasons. Players sometimes need patience.
13 min Surely this is it now - surely City, despite it all, can’t make a mess from here?
10 min Swansea have the ball in the net - Rangel’s swinging cross bounces in front of Sagna and Montero and the former can’t decide whether to head or kick so falls over instead, leaving the latter to bundle home. But Mike Dean mikedeans a signal that there was a push, and Niall Quinn agrees; they’re both probably right, but it’s not entirely easy to be certain.
Manchester United v Bournemouth is abandoned.
Gosh.
Updated
GOAL! Swansea City 0-1 Manchester City (Iheanacho, 6)
A long, searching ball into the left corner is well held up by Aguero and then laid back for De Bruyne. His low shot was shoved away by Nordfeldt and tapped in by Iheanacho - what a knack he has. The confusion was whether or not he was offside. It looked to me as though he was, Niall Quinn was certain to the contrary, we are, of course, both neutral, so we’ll have to wait for another replay.
Updated
DISALLOWED GOAL FOR IHEANACHO!
...
5 min On which point, my guess would be that this delay does not suit United - they need to up the pressure on City, which means scoring goals and such.
4 min
BREAKING. Suspect package found in North West corner of Old Trafford. Police dealing with it.@talkSPORT LIVE
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) May 15, 2016
3 min City ease forward with Iheanacho, Aguero and De Bruyne, the latter arcing a venomous low cross that narrowl eludes the former, Nordfeldt snatching on the dive. Good start to the game.
2 min Lovely from Swansea, playing like a side in form and moving the ball rapidly from centre to right. Rangel, marauding down the flank, then chipped a cross that went behind off Fernandinho’s arm; no penalty, and the corner is wasted.
1 min Apparently the “Premier League works hard to synchronize everything” - by telling teams to all kick-off at the same time on the same day.
Today’s game will be United’s third late kick-off in recent weeks after they got stuck in traffic en route to Spurs and were waylaid at West Ham - you may have heard.
Updated
Out come the players at the Liberty.
Apparently, supporters outside the Stretford End have been asked to move away from the ground. 45 minutes sounds unlikely to me, on which point Swansea-City will kick-off at 3pm.
Swear down Manuel Pellegrini just said City have had a good season. Nice guy and all, but, well, y’know. Meanwhile …
No announcement from MUFC apart from 'Operation Code Red' and two stands at Old Trafford now fully evacuated. #codered
— Daniel Taylor (@DTguardian) May 15, 2016
Lots of activity in police control room at back of our stand (we're still here) - directors in there and senior club officials
— Daniel Taylor (@DTguardian) May 15, 2016
Updated
Turns out that, amazingly, Rojo wasn’t dropped for consistent abjectivity but, amazingly, is injured again; Schneiderlin is ill.
“For Utd, I’d keep all of the first XI,” emails Laim Searle. “But the subs are the problem. Would keep Pereira, Jones and Varela, ditch the rest.”
Heh - I disagree, to the extent I even know - anyone even knows - what the first XI is. The, er, “strength” in depth isn’t too bad, there just isn’t enough quality among the better players.
The North Stand and Scoreboard End are still populated - more news regarding what’s going on as I get it, but on a footballing note, this could make things better or worse: Swansea-City will presumably start on time, so we’ll know whether the Battle for Fourth PlaceTM is either on or off.
Updated
There’s an incident somewhere in the ground that the authorities are dealing with. The ground is emptying, and it looks like a minimum delay of 45 minutes.
Crikey. Stretford End being evacuated, turnstiles shut.
Let’s hope everything and everyone is ok.
Let’s play a parlour game: of the City and United squads, who would you bin and who would you keep?
“Is anyone taking bets on United finishing 4th, winning the FA Cup and still sacking Van Gaal?” emails Thabo Mokaleng. “I’d put down a fiver.”
I’d say the first is the least likely of those...
Graeme Souness reckons if United finish top four and win the Cup, Van Gaal should keep his job. Tangentially, here is some information on his time at United:
Updated
BREAKING NEWS: Michael Carrick’s kids are United’s mascots today. Read into that whatever you please.
Anyway, what of Bournemouth and Swansea? That’s a rhetorical question. Both have been superb this season, the former all the way through, the latter when they really needed to be The question for both is how they progress from here...
Nostalgia corner: 25 years ago today, United beat Barcelona in Rotterdam to win the Cup Winners’ Cup, and English teams were back to dominate Europe. Here’s Elton Welsby and Denis Law, perhaps the only man able to wear overcoat over shoulders and still look smart as.
And here’s ITV’s post-match coverage, along with some news reports.
Updated
As for United, Marcos Rojo is left out following the longest jetlag on record - Cameron Borthwick-Jackson comes in. Also dropped are Ander Herrera and Morgan Schneiderlin, who, along with Rojo, isn’t even on the bench. All three were signed by Van Gaal and thought to be quite good at the time.
Bournemouth make five changes: out go Boruc, Stanislas, Gradel, Afobe and Grabban; in come Federici, Surman, Pugh, Wilson and King.
What does it all mean?
Well, Swansea bring in Nordfeldt, Rangel, Britton and Montero for Fabianski, Naughton, Barrow and Ki; Ki is on military duty and was outstanding in their win at West Ham.
City, on the other hand, are playing so well as to be unchanged. Which also means that Yaya Toure, who may well never play for City again, is on the bench.
Updated
And our teams:
Swansea City: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Fernandez, Amat, Kingsley, Britton, Cork, Fer, Routledge, Montero, Ayew.
Subs: Vickers, Naughton, Fulton, Gorre, Barrow, Emnes. Gomis.
Manchester City: Hart, Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Clichy, Fernando, Fernandinho, Navas, De Bruyne, Iheanacho, Aguero.
Caballero, Sterling, Kolarov, Demichelis, Nasri, Toure, Bony.
****
Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Borthwick-Jackson; Carrick, Rooney, Lingard; Mata, Rashford, Martial.
Subs: Romero, Jones, Varela, Young, Herrera, Pereira, Memphis.
Bournemouth: Federici, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Pugh, Wilson, King.
Subs: Holmes, O’Kane, Gosling, Iturbe, Gradel, Grabban, Afobe.
Updated
Preamble
It’s been a funny old season. Well, provided your team doesn’t play in Manchester, where mirth has been conspicuous by its schadenfreude.
Because, let’s be clear: City and United have both been absolutely appalling. Yes, they sit 4th and 5th in the table, but standards are relative and neither are anywhere near those demanded of them.
Naturally, they have accomplished this in different ways: where City are a debacle, United are a travesty.
The Blues started well then fell apart, generally defending badly and mainly struggling to score against the better teams, entirely devoid of purpose or plan; the Reds started tediously and continued similarly, occasionally defending badly and routinely struggling to score against everyone, entirely devoid of conviction or élan.
So, to today. If City beat or draw with Swansea, they take the final Champions League qualifying spot; if City lose at Swansea and United beat Bournemouth, United usurp them.
Which, on the face of it, it barely matters. Neither deserve to be anywhere near the competition, neither is any sort of threat to those who might win it, and neither is likely to be next season. Or, put another way, the only fitting outcome this afternoon is for City to lose and United to draw, which probably means City will score early, get the job done comfortably, and that’ll be an end to it .
But, just look at the state of them!
Kick-off - or kicks-off - 3pm BST
Updated
