www.barnsleyfc.co.uk editor and Barnsley FC Head of Media Rob Knowles casts his eye over the beautiful game in our new weekly column.

WELL - it's been quite a week in planet football. With the Premier League title race over the focus has now switched to the bottom end of the table and we just do not know which clubs will be fighting it out in the Championship next season.

It's between Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Sunderland and Hull City for the final two relegation places. It all depends on what Hull City do at the KC Stadium against what will be an under-strength Manchester United side. Mind you, that under strength side should include the likes of Irish international Darron Gibson; Portuguese star Nani; England youth international Danny Welbeck and Italian starlet Federico Macheda. These are players that could get into a lot of other Premier League sides. Of course the North East clubs are up in arms about it but doesn't every Premier League side swap and change things. The problem with Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Sunderland - like Sheffield United the other year - is not what happens on the final day of the season or indeed the last month. It's the fact that they haven't picked up enough points through the eight months prior. And that is not the fault of Manchester United. Will it still be an under strength Manchester United side should they beat Hull City and Newcastle and Sunderland stay up?

You can't let last weekend pass without mentioning Rangers' Kyle Lafferty's tremendous, Oscar worthy display against Aberdeen. If you haven't seen it then just click HERE and have a look. I remember Brazilian Rivaldo doing something similar in the World Cup a few years back but this is just one step too far. Lafferty's play acting to get Charlie Mulgrew sent off was nothing short of disgraceful and Rangers rightly threw the book at him. He should be banned for the final game of the Scottish Premier League season but Lafferty looks set to play in Rangers' title decider against Dundee United at Tannadice this weekend.

It's the silly season now although there has not been much rumour, speculation and gossip doing the rounds at Oakwell. It's a strange time though and there are not a lot of deals being done anywhere at the moment. This is mainly because out of contract players tend to want to wait to secure the best financial package and teams who are looking to sell will also hold tight in a bid to drive up the price of their more saleable assets. Although it may appear to be quiet, there are a lot of people working very hard behind the scenes at Oakwell to bring in the right players to strengthen the squad ahead of the new season. I am sure it will be an interesting and exciting summer

SEASON TICKETS 2009 2010

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