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Premiership

The Premier League In Review: Paul Moon has the last word on the top flight in 2007-08

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Ronaldo confirmed his greatness this year while Derby, well, didn't. Meanwhile, Liverpool are the letdowns and don't get Mr Moon started on referees

Looking back at the 2007/2008 Premiership season I was given confirmation that Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro from Funchal, Madeira is currently the best footballer on the planet earth! And yes of course, he is a better player than George Best was.

In top-flight English football history there has never been a wide player or winger who has scored 40 goals and yet created so many chances for others. An astonishing fact that cannot be truly valued or measured!

Ronaldo's game goes from strength to strength with every season as he gains more experience on the domestic and international stages. His repertoire of tricks and array of skills continue to leave opposition defenders and fans all over the world mesmerised. This two-footed player has taken his game to a different level with his surging runs and spectacular dribbling performed at blistering pace. Oh, and he will run his socks off for the sake of the team!

If Manchester United achieve the Champions League and the Premier League double Cristiano Ronaldo and his team mates will each get a bonus of £250,000. That was agreed by the club's owners last summer. I think they will collect this bonus. Current Betfair odds for the Champions League Final on 21 May 2008 show: Manchester United [2.66] Chelsea [3.15] Draw [3.15].

A word of disappointment for Manchester United fans is that Ronaldo will move to Real Madrid within the next two to three years. A bandwagon will appear on the skyline and it will gather momentum until Sir Alex will not be able to cope with the disruption, irritated he will concede the move! Ronaldo has always believed it is his destiny to play in the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

At the other end of the scale I witnessed the worst team that have ever graced the Premiership - Derby County. How did they get there in the first place? Rumours of playing ringers during their promotion from the Championship are surely codswallop but the mind does boggle!

For the record, they have won once in 38 Premiership matches scoring 20 goals in total. They set a new record for the lowest points total in the Premier League era.

The danger for Derby County Football Club is freefall and Paul Jewell (now 25 games without a win) will have to work hard next season to arrest it. Despite finishing bottom they will bank £60m so beware a massive clear out of players starting this Monday morning. I advise them to forget about winning the Championship next year and consolidate with a sensible three-year plan.

Talking about relegation, Birmingham fans were furious with the board as they dropped out of the top flight after one season. McLeish struggled and failed to prove himself and now knows the difference between English and Scottish football. Congratulations had to go to Fulham and Roy Hodgson, what a Houdini act to escape the drop that was. I cannot remember anyone getting out of a concrete overcoat before! My sympathy goes to Steve Coppell and Reading, not sure they deserved to go down but then the League does not lie...

The under achievers for me were Liverpool. Although much loved on Merseyside, Rafael Benítez's team selections were bizarre. Along with his obsession of zonal marking he cost his club points if not a final in the Champions League. His neighbour David Moyes had proof that despite his best efforts it will be impossible for his team to break into the top four! There is a foray into the UEFA Cup to look forward to, but I am not sure where he goes from here.

Portsmouth did as well as could be expected, but expect them to struggle next season exchanging positions with Tottenham. Iffy Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra humiliated Eriksson telling him 'he was not the right man for the job'. Fickle fans will wait for a new appointment before deciding on a backlash or not.

Once again the referees have taken centre stage this season for all the wrong reasons. It is a perennial thing but one that infuriates all spectators alike who crave consistency. Bad refereeing decisions can cost clubs championships, points, tens of millions of pounds and sometimes the manager's job. It is an area where we cannot seem to make progress.

Overall I believe the standard of officiating is no better today than ten years ago and it needs a root and branch overhaul. It has not kept pace with the game it is supposed to serve! We have 19 professional referees in the FA's select group earning £60,000 per year and I would suggest we need 30. Because the fans own football, performances with debriefing should be monitored and reported with transparency by the FA. The game deserves better!