So another season ends and football addicts have a solid two months with nothing to feed the habit.

The summer begins here for most and for the fans it’ll be a time of speculation and hope about what 2009-10 will bring.

Transfer rumours and transfer action will be the order of the day as the Premier League’s survivors, established members and new arrivals steel themselves for the campaign to come.

But before we go charging into next season, let’s take a look at the season just gone.

Manchester United got over their usual slow start to romp to another league success. Strong in every department, they are CYKI gold dust. Even if Cristiano Ronaldo departs this summer, you suspect a similarly talented replacement – Franck Ribery has been mentioned – would take his place.

Beneath them, Liverpool produced an almost great season and in Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt had two of the game’s most impressive performers. Some judicious transfers and a fully fit Fernando Torres would offer a great chance to challenge United for the league title Anfield so desperately craves.

Chelsea and Arsenal are both in a period of change. In west London, the talk is of new managers with Carlo Ancelotti the current favourite to take over. Whoever does arrive at Stamford Bridge will inherit an effective, but ageing, team. Some of the grand names – we’re looking at your Mr Cech – need to up their games for the next season.

At The Emirates, Arsene Wenger is again crafting another talented but occasionally lightweight bunch of youngsters. An intriguing summer awaits the Gunners in the transfer market.

Below the Big Four there’s reason for encouragement all the way down to at least tenth spot.

Everton, Aston Villa and Fulham all capped very good seasons by qualifying for Europe. All have been sterling performers in 08-90, but it remains to be seen what affect the Europa League will have on three teams who operated with small squads right through the year.

Tottenham fans will again spend the off season thinking about how promising the forthcoming season looks. They usually manage to stuff it up of course, but Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon have looked like top attackers, while Wilson Palacios and the return of Ledley King have added a bit of extra resistance when defending. Whatever happens, expect a better start than this year.

Lord knows what’ll happen at Manchester City, but they’ll spend many millions of pounds doing it. Of that you can be sure.

Below that, much will change. Some will surprise, some will fall, some will briefly fly, some will make late charges for safety. But that all seems far away now.

Enjoy the off season, the countdown to 2009-10 has just begun!

As the season comes to a climax many of us will know our fate for this campaign and will be mentally preparing for 2009-10.

But for some, like CYKI leader (of the entire game!) and regular blog reader, P Mowbray (boss of PDM Allstars), Gameweek 38 will be the pivotal moment of the entire season.

Depending on the type of person you are it is therefore either a great or terrible thing that GW 38 will be unlike any so far this season.

Gone are the usual certainties – or two of them anyway – as it’s debatable what sort of sides Chelsea and Manchester United will put out.

Both have cup finals to think of, as of course do Everton, meaning some of the big names are almost certain absentees. Ronaldo, Rooney, Drogba, Lampard – all these stars and more could miss out as the talent is wrapped in cotton wool before their respective big games.

For once we may look to the strugglers for our transfer selections, in particular those faced with relegation, as none of these boys should lack for motivation. The question is who will stand up and be counted in the final day relegation battle?

Of the four, Middlesbrough are the only team who must score as they are the only outfit who must win – a draw could be enough for Newcastle while Hull and Sunderland could escape even if defeated.

Gareth Southgate’s men have lacked firepower all year but given they must go for it – no-one wants to go out with a whimper after all – a gamble on a Riverside attacker could pay.

Newcastle have also had their problems finding the back of the net, while protecting their own goal has not been easy either for the St James’ Park strugglers. The trip to Aston Villa offers one last chance for Premier League survival, though doubts remain as to whether they will take it. Ultimately it all comes down to whether or not you believe they have it in them to turn around all the bad habits accumulated over the season.

Pity poor old Hull’s supporters. For half the season they were in dreamland but it’s been dark days since the turn of the year, and a campaign that promised so much joy could end in unexpected relegation. The suspicion is that even United’s second string will have too much for City, though they may still survive of course.

Lastly we have Sunderland. Soundly beaten by Portsmouth it now boils down to a home fixture against Chelsea. In truth, it’s hard to put your faith in Ricky Sbragia’s boys whichever Chelsea team shows up.

Much of the Premier League’s mid- to lower-table sides have very little to get motivated for, with only final league placings to fight over, and that’s the sort of thing that only enthuses club chairmen and financiers who bank the extra cash for a higher finish.

So, good luck this week, it’s going to be a tricky one. The majority of Premier League players will have their minds on summer holidays, enjoy yours and come back in August!

So the champions-elect are now champions proper and it’s a hearty well done to Manchester United – they’ve been CYKI heroes this year – but steer clear of the stars in the final gameweek, Old Trafford’s finest will have their feet up.

The action and the teams to follow could well be at the bottom of the table, where any of the relegation-threatened quartet will believe a win can bring salvation.

Despite the urgent need for points, none of the bottom dwellers could pick up what would have been a vital victory on the penultimate gameweek of action.

Boro took a lead against Aston Villa but failed to hold it and, as has been the theme of their season, couldn’t find a second when it was needed. Newcastle were again unable to score – though referee Howard Webb didn’t help their cause by disallowing a legitimate Mark Viduka equaliser – to drop themselves deeply into the mire with a home defeat to Fulham. Hull at least picked up a point at Bolton, but it’s hard to believe it’ll be enough with the league winners in town, second string or not. Sunderland flopped at Portsmouth and now entertain Chelsea knowing a Newcastle win on the final day could spell doom.

So what’s to believe we should select from the relegation dodgers ahead of Gameweek 38? Well, it can only come down to the simple need for points. Not one of the teams facing the drop will think avoiding defeat is enough and decisive action should be the order of the day come 4pm on Sunday.

There may be CYKI gold in one of those haunted four. Good luck finding it.

And once it’s all over and the cameras have brought us the inevitable pictures of tears and elation that will be it for another season with a football-less summer to ponder.

The majority of debate will surely focus on Cristiano Ronaldo and his on-off move to Real Madrid.

Even a little part of every CYKI manager must want the silken-hoofed wonder man to depart these shores, despite what he may have done for us in the past. Though not so dominant this season, and with a chance of being eclipsed by Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, the Portuguese’s presence can skew the game. One good week and all with him in the side are looking at huge totals, though the same could be said of those with either of his two big rivals at Liverpool and Chelsea of course.

When he’s gone however, the feeling will be that we are playing a different kind of game. Bring it on.

What an incredibly long Gameweek. Number 36 finished last night with United playing Wigan, that's their game in hand and meant that both of these clubs played twice during this Gameweek. Many of us would have made Ronaldo captain for exactly this reason and although he did score and gain an assist in the first game against Manchester City he was subbed before reaching the 60 minute mark, obviously Fergie isn't a fantasy manager!

So Ronaldo weighed in with an unimpressive 8pts in two games, where as Diomansy Kamara notched up an impressive 13pts in his one game, its time to come clean, who had him in their team and who made him captain? No I didn't think so. But what of Amir Zaki who started the season with a run of goals and saw him as the fantasy manager's striker of choice? Out of a possible 180 minutes this Gameweek he played a massive 11.

With the season now reaching its climax and the top four clubs having almost secured their final standings it remains for only Chelsea and Liverpool to fight for the second spot. Well mathematically Liverpool could still win the title but we are backing a West Brom win this weekend against the reds along with a win at home to Arsenal for United. What we can't be sure of is that Chelsea will capitalise on that slip up, as often this season they have failed to take their chances.

So in order for the top four to remain the top four and for three of them to change the order in which they stand what will they need to do? What is definite is that money will be spent!

Manchester United

Manchester United left it late against Wigan on Wednesday night, but that leaves them needing just 1 point to complete a record equaling 18 league titles.

Michael Carrick came off the bench to score a long range effort late in the game after Tevez had equalised, oh and surprise surprise it now looks as though Tevez may be staying at Old Trafford in a £22m deal.

And what of Ronaldo, if the rumour mill is to be believed he will be swapping Manchester for Milan and taking his place at Old Trafford will be Frank Ribery. Can United still perform as they do without Ronaldo, will Nani finally step up?

Liverpool

It has been said in these pages before but if Liverpool can keep their duo of Gerrard and Torres fit for a season they really could be contenders for the title.

Here at CYKI that's exciting times, Liverpool really won't want United to take their crown and United obviously will relish in that chance (Well Ferguson will). The big rumour for Liverpool is the possible signing of David Silva from Valencia.

As for Benitez, it will be interesting to see who he will create unrest for this summer whilst dangling Xabi Alonso as bait only to keep hold of him due to the fact that he is actually rather good.

Chelsea

Chelsea's aging squad will need some rejuvenation over the summer months. Abramovich has confirmed that the money is there to be spent, but who do they buy? who do they get rid of?

Drogba is an obvious choice to leave as at 31 he is no spring Chicken and his outburst in the Champions League has won him no friends. Ballack for us at least has been in poor form this season with passes going astray all over the park. Joe Cole will return from injury next season and only time will tell if he can return to the form we know he is capable of.

So where will Chelsea be adding and where will they be trimming? The one rumor we know of is David Villa and although that thought is an exciting one, we can't help think that he may just end up at Liverpool.

Arsenal

Arsenal are now confined to fourth spot after a humbling by Chelsea at the Emirates. It seems that Arsene Wenger has to rethink his transfer policy and bring in some seasoned talent for the midfield and back four.

For us the loss of Alexander Hleb has been the big difference for Arsenal this season and to think Hleb has only played a bit part for Barcelona.

Adebayor and Van Persie have struggled with injury all season and although Arshavin has looked to be a good signing Bendtner has seemed quite the opposite at times.

Arsenal definitely miss Gallas and the defense has looked shaky to say the least, some more muscle here will be an added bonus and bring some confidence back to the midfield.

The big question facing CYKI managers this week can only be this: which Manchester United players are you selecting for Gameweek 36?

The champions-elect play two games over the next five days and that will definitely result in some Old Trafford players playing four halves of football.

And that could mean big points.

These are two games – versus Manchester City and Wigan – that United will be odds-on to win. In 34 games this season, Fergie’s men have scored 64 goals, conceded 23 and kept 21 clean sheets. They lead the league and are unbeaten since playing Fulham on March 21.

In short, there can be no finer team from which to pick a player. I’ve looked for reasons to oppose the Red Devils and there are few.

Everyone rooting for Liverpool in the title challenge will be pinning their hopes on Mark Hughes’s City pulling off an unexpected – but not unheard of – stop to United’s progress.

Past results show it’s no forlorn hope – City did the double over their great rivals as recently as last season for instance. Those two wins could not exactly be described as isolated either. There have been two more victories for the sky blue half of Manchester since 2003/04.

Statistics aside, it will plainly be United players going into squads before GW 36 kicks off. It’s up to you to decide who, but it’s hard to foresee the regulars missing two games that could basically seal the title. And those regulars are Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

Wigan, United’s Wednesday night opponents, are the other team playing a double gameweek. And while their task in the second game is huge, it could still pay to get one of Steve Bruce’s men on board, their first opponent’s are West Brom.

Elsewhere, the focus falls on two Premier League representatives who are coming off dispiriting defeats.

Arsenal v Chelsea pits the two most disappointed teams in Europe, if not the world, against each other in a match than means virtually nothing but somehow has huge symbolic importance. The two suffered very different defeats in midweek, and will be feeling pain in very different ways. But the desire to win will be so strong in both. The heart wants to see a 2-2 shootout , perhaps it will happen.

The real humdinger happens in the North East, however.

Few of us have any players from either Newcastle or Middlesbrough but our attention will be inexorably drawn to St James’ Park on Monday night as the two fight out a genuine six-pointer.

The temptation as a manager is to plump for a player from whichever side you think can win – a potential match turner. The problem is, who?

The last four seasons’ results point to a draw with no one player shining. It will take a leap of faith to purchase a player from one of these two proud North East clubs. Sadly, it’s not a leap I can make.

Oh well, you can’t get them all right?

The Big Four all negotiated a potentially tricky set of fixtures with ease – something this column completely failed to foresee in the weekend preview.

But while it was four wins from four fixtures with 11 goals scored and just two conceded, the team selections were a little leftfield.

Cesc Fabregas, Ronaldo, Fernando Torres – to name but three from the big boys – all missed the action in Gameweek 35.

Federico Macheda and Ji Sung-Park are rarely the first players on Sir Alex Ferguson’s teamsheet but their involvement did not stop the red machine from notching a 25th win of the season. Ryan Giggs is no longer a first team regular either, but the PFA Player of the Year winner may have silenced his critics a little with an 11 point performance.

Torres was ruled out of Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Newcastle with a hamstring injury and his absence will have hurt plenty of CYKI managers – one third of you have him in your side, after all.

Arsenal are slightly underrated by CYKI managers compared to the rest of the Big Four and part of that may be down to Arsene Wenger’s occasionally flippant team selections. With a Champions League semi-final coming up, the lack of stars in the Arsenal XI on Saturday was understandable, but some of the players – Alexandre Song Billong, Carlos Vela and Jack Ramsey to name another three – are selections for less than 1% of teams in CYKI.

As we head to the end of the season these sort of gameweeks are bound to happen but of course there were still some big names from the Big Four who scored big points in GW 35.

Dirk Kuyt has hardly missed a beat all season and shows no signs of slowing up. An 11-point haul took the Dutchman to more than 30 in three weeks. Where Steven Gerrard and Torres have been outstanding performers, they’ve struggled with injuries but not Kuyt. The 28-year-old has offered unbelievable strength and consistency. If the three stay fit for an entire season, Liverpool could land that long awaited league title.

Didier Drogba has had a strange season but it looks to be ending on a high note. His 12-point weekend was the second in double figures in the last four gameweeks.

And who else is eyeing up Andrei Arshavin for an end of season purchase? Nine games have yielded 67 points. Already in 9.9 per cent of teams, that boy will be in many more by the time we kick off again in 2009-10.

Once again the focus is on the Big Four going into a CYKI gameweek – but this time the mind wanders to whether they’ll lose rather than win.

It’s almost impossible that you’ve not heard, seen or read about the Champions League semi-finals, but in case the impossible has happened here’s a very brief recap…

All three English teams stand on the cusp of another European cup final. Chelsea held Barcelona to a scoreless draw in the Camp Nou and fancy their chances of a home win to progress on to Rome. Manchester United meanwhile, put one past Arsenal, didn’t concede, perhaps should have scored more and go to London with a slender lead. Both teams think they hold the advantage.

The important thing for CYKI managers is that the return fixtures are on Tuesday and Wednesday and, with a shot at the biggest prize in club football on the line, who thinks that trio will give their all for a largely unimportant league match in GW 35?

The title may not be United’s but, three points ahead of Liverpool and with a game in hand, they are the hottest of hot favourites for the title.

Ordinarily a trip to Middlesbrough would have us loading up on Fergie’s finest but, this week? I’m not even sure who he’ll risk for this one. It’s likely the legendary manager will do an ‘FA Cup semi’ and pack some kids and squad members into the XI. Boro are in ‘must win’ territory and have some notable victories over United in their Premier League past. Who could rule out an upset at the Riverside this weekend?

Chelsea’s home game with Fulham doesn’t look simple either. The West London derby has thrown up some unexpected results in the last six fixtures – one Fulham victory, two Chelsea wins and three draws – and the chances of anything other than a Blue victory must be heightened on Saturday.

Most will be expecting an Arsenal win from their visit to Portsmouth and, while they go to Fratton Park as favourites, Arsene Wenger won’t risk his stars. Sitting on 65 points – six off Chelsea and 10 from Aston Villa – fourth place is Arsenal’s, while finishing either higher or lower would be an enormous long shot.

Against that lot, surely we’ll all be piling into Liverpool for their home game against hapless Newcastle. Form suggests we will and, while both teams need a win, quality should out at Anfield. It wouldn’t surprise if the Geordies manage to get one past the Pool rearguard, however.

So, outside of the Big Four, what else do we have?

The relegation-threatened teams should be pushing hard to retain Premier League status but only West Brom seem up for the fight.

Sunderland welcome Everton, who bring with them one of the league’s best away records. Hull, who seem destined to enter the bottom three before season’s end, go to Aston Villa, who are finally shrugging off their poor form. The Baggies are in north London for a meeting with Spurs. There may be goals.

In short, who knows what will happen in Gameweek 35 – it’s CYKI people, but not as we know it.

Slowly but surely, the 2008-09 Premier League season has boiled down to a handful of teams fighting for the glory of a title win or against the unwanted prize that is relegation.

But while some are battling hard others seem unable to motivate themselves.

And few battle harder than Manchester United, who pulled off a famous comeback on Saturday evening to the delight of their fans and the disgust of that other team in red down the road.

While the result was typical of the Red Devils, it was a fairly classic display from Tottenham. Few teams would have the temerity to fashion a two-goal lead at Old Trafford before fading in such disastrous fashion as the Lilywhites.

We know United will keep going until the title is won, but what of Spurs? They’ve been one of the form sides of the last few weeks but with Harry Redknapp unclear on whether he wants European qualification or not, the wheels may start to come off the N17 juggernaut.

The champions retain their game in hand and it now seems likely they’ll seal their 11th Premier League title in Gameweek 36, when they play two fixtures. Remember that fact when making transfers over the next couple of weeks. The other team with a double gameweek then is Wigan.

Behind United, Liverpool held up their part of the deal by defeating Hull. Few would struggle with that challenge at the moment, but Pool once again showed their willingness to attack by scoring three times. As many have mentioned in this blog’s comments section, the Anfield club have nothing to play for but the league so a full strength side is guaranteed every week and that counts for much at this point of the season.

Next up for Benitez and co is Newcastle. The form of the two sides suggests a rout is in store yet the Toon go to Anfield fresh from a disappointing goalless stalemate at home to Portsmouth and need wins fast. Never underestimate just how motivational fear can be.

But before we get stuck into the next weekend of Premier League action there is Champions League football to enjoy. Arsenal, Chelsea and United are all in European action over the next two nights and by Thursday morning we’ll have an idea of what the season holds for the trio.

And in turn we’ll have an indication of which Emirates, Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford stars to invest in as this long season begins to draw to a close.

Following Liverpool and Arsenal’s astonishing 4-4 goalfest in midweek it seems likely we are done for excitement in the Premier League title race this season.

Manchester United’s routine win over Portsmouth gives the champions a three point lead at the top with a game in hand. And that result in turn appeared to crush Pool fans’ dreams of Premier League glory.

Anyone yearning for one last twist in the tale will be pinning their hopes on Tottenham, who go to Manchester United on Saturday. They take with them one of the league’s worst head-to-head records – last win at Old Trafford, 1989 – yet (almost) the finest current form – 13 points from the last six matches – for what is the headline match of the weekend.

Both defences will be shorn of some handy performers – Gary Neville, John O’Shea and Michael Dawson are all set to miss the game – though goals, certainly for the away side, are likely to be rare. United retain the services of dream defensive duo, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, who have now racked up two clean sheets in a row and look worth investing in for the title run-in.

Their presence at the back instills extra confidence in the United XI, the crowd and anyone with a red in their team. I predict a low scoring victory for the home side – and a clean sheet.

Another eye-catcher – and please don’t laugh – is Middlesbrough’s visit to Arsenal, whose collective mind must surely be on the Champions League semi-final. I am almost certainly alone in thinking that Boro may just pull off a great escape, or at least not go out with a whimper, so this could be the weekend when it is finally kickstarted.

But will I back up that hunch with the bold selection of a Riverside player? Well, whilst I think swimming against the flow can be an effective way of picking up points, I just can’t this time. It doesn’t get much tougher than an Arsenal-Manchester United one-two and there must be a more obvious source of points out there than Tuncay Sanli huh?

Well, looking at this week’s fixture list, Liverpool’s trip to Hull looks the most obvious mismatch. Rafa Benitez has finally thrown the attacking shackles off his team and goals seem to come from everywhere at the moment, so a Liverpool player it is. As the only team with a realistic chance of catching United, and with nothing but the league to play for, Rafa’s Reds will be gung-ho whether they go.

The problem with Pool of course is the presence in attack of two world-class players – Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in case you’re actually wondering – and a supporting cast that, Dirk Kuyt apart, do not instantly appeal as regular point-scorers.

Yet a look at the statistics shows that Yossi Benayoun has notched a very handy tally of six goals and four assists from 1468 minutes played. Of course, the problem is he is largely Gerrard’s replacement, so game-time is always limited.

The Israeli has made the most of this brief run in the team, however, and if Stevie G misses out, Benayoun should be snapped up. Or of course you could go for Torres but then you’d be sharing the points with 30 per cent of your fellow managers.

Nevertheless, when you’re hot, you’re hot and Torres is (as a chef friend used to put it) absolutely redders (as in red hot) and that is hard to resist. Watch out Hull!

Last week’s results threw some life into the basement battle and hinted that there could be value in snaffling up some relegation fighters as we enter the last weeks of the season.

Middlesbrough won the first game of a home double header to, perhaps cruelly, offer their supporters hope of survival. A win over Fulham on Saturday is vital before Gareth Southgate’s strugglers face Arsenal and Manchester United. That pair of games doesn’t inspire a Riverside transfer raid but there are finally signs of life on Teeside –  and in particular in the play of Tuncay Sanli – that make Boro a wee bit tempting, if only for this gameweek or the final three of the season.

Newcastle were minutes away from what would have been a very harmful defeat at Stoke in Gameweek 32, but Andy Carroll’s late goal will have fired a million Geordie dreams of staying up. The fixture list staring at Alan Shearer is slightly kinder than the one in Southgate’s hands, and the former Toon hero will be surprisingly pleased to see Tottenham as the opponents this weekend. Newcastle have won six of the last seven against Spurs.

West Brom are almost certainly gone but they retain some spirit and may just knock off the odd opponent or two before the season is out. Chris Brunt still looks there most likely goalscorer, and if I were allowed an experimental second team, I’d make space for the wee troublemaker with the great left peg.

Above the basement dwellers some teams seem on the up and others going down.

Sunderland have been on a thoroughly depressing run yet, despite losing to Manchester United last week, that performance may have had enough about it to encourage the faithful. Blackburn have had a bit of everything in the last three games – a draw, win and heavy defeat. The feeling remains that they’ll escape – would Sam Allardyce settle for relegation?

Like Boro, Stoke play the second match of two at home this weekend, with Rovers the visitors. This game could not be more of a six-pointer if it had the number six painted all over it and a small 666 tattoo on its neck. Stoke have been stout-hearted at home and defensively sound, but inconsistent Blackburn will be out to test that reputation.

Pompey are in encouraging form with three draws and a win from the last four but being pegged back by West Brom will have hurt their confidence and the suspicion remains they could be brittle.

Up above that lot, the air is mercifully a little easier to breath. From Bolton upwards, safety beckons, and the run-in to season’s end should be enjoyed.

But for the league’s big boys the games are coming thick and fast. As hinted at in the last blog entry it’s tricky to be confident with your Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal players this weekend as the three, plus Everton, are at Wembley for the FA Cup semi-finals.

It’s hard to judge the top teams’ priorities sometimes but the prospect of an FA Cup win must still fire them all and you’d imagine each will be playing a full strength XI. Of course with that comes the danger of injury to our star men and as most of us will have players from those teams in our XIIs, so maybe this is the weekend to get stuck into the relegation battle. Who knows what gems we may sniff out if we dig around the unexpected corners of the Premier League?