So as we bear down on the Euro 2012 championships in Poland and Ukraine (which tonight has struck fear into everyone) we have seen possibly the most exciting Premiership season ever, which we are hoping can be emulated and surpassed with next season! Here is what I believe has been the standout points of the season:
Signing of the season: Demba Ba - Newcastle (Free): Demba Ba's season fizzled out as Papiss Cisse came to the fore as Newcastle's new goalscorer (might be something to do with the number 9 shirt?) but Ba's contribution has been nothing short of phenomenal. He finished the season with 16 goals in 34 games but his overall play was also excellent as he was used as a target man and goalscorer through Newcastle's campaign and then due to the arrival of his compatriot Cisse, he was pushed out to the left wing. Ba's play on the left wing was good but it was also very professional as the light was taken off him and put on Cisse who took up the burden with aplomb but Ba's part in Newcastle's push for European football was one of the most significant. His goals during the early part of the season were key to ensuring Newcastle's 13 game unbeaten start and continuing their form which cemented them into the European football places. They so narrowly missed out on a Champions League place (not as narrowly as Tottenham) and Ba's part in this was key as they missed him quite badly over the time he was with Senegal at the African Cup of Nations.
Worst Signing of the season: Charles N'Zogbia - Aston Villa (£9.5million): N'Zogbia was signed as an attacking midfielder by Villa boss Alex McLeish but his first season at Villa was bitterly disappointing as he only scored 2 goals in 30 appearances and his form was not good enough for Alex Mcleish to give him a permanent starting role. I think Mcleish's style of play was also key in N'Zogbia's poor first campaign as his style isn't exactly that of exciting, fast football.. rather opting for the more defensive-minded approach. Hopefully a new manager and new season will breathe fresh life into N'Zogbia but for now he is seen by me as a bit of a flop.
Overachievers: Newcastle United; 5th place finish. Newcastle's season was predicted as one of mediocrity, after all, they hadn't spent much and yet more boardroom disagreements surely meant a mid-table at best finish? Apparently not. Newcastle's team put together a mix of outstanding spirit and reliability to mount a considerable push for Champions League football which they were unfortunate to just miss out on as it went down to the last day of the season. However, if you had told a Newcastle fan that they would have been pushing for Champions League and would have to settle for Europa League football they would have probably told you to see a psychiatrist. With modest signings Demba Ba, Yohan Cabaye and Davide Santon (later joined by Cisse) slotting into Newcastle's style seamlessly, St James' Park was offered an exciting brand of attacking football which was accompanied by some sturdy defending led by captain Fabricio Coloccini.
Underachievers: Liverpool; 8th place finish. Yes, Liverpool did win the Carling Cup but aside from that triumph they were a laughing stock of the big teams. King Kenny had returned and was just about to begin his first full season back with Liverpool, England's exciting young striker Andy Carroll had signed (for an astronomic fee) and Dalglish forked out £60 million on signings including Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Doni, Jose Enrique, Sebastian Coates and Craig Bellamy. However Liverpool's season soon turned to a desperate whimper as they only won half their league games and drew 9 games at Anfield, losing another 4. The Carling Cup win should have signaled an upturn in fortunes for Liverpool but they only won 4 of their remaining 13 league games. They were also beaten finalists in the F.A. cup final but for what was hopeful pre-season feeling somewhat filtered out into an undignified finish which ultimately cost 'King Kenny' his job.
The Premiership saw what was probably it's most exciting season to date as Manchester City won the league after a dramatic late 3 - 2 win over QPR on the final day of the season after a tit-for-tat battle with Manchester United which went right to the wire, Manchester United even believed they had won it at full-time of their 1 - 0 win away to Sunderland, but up popped Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero in injury time to give Man City their first league title since 1968. The race for third also went to the final day of the season with Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle all pushing for the last automatic Champions League spot with Arsenal clinching it by a point with a 3 - 2 win away to West Brom, while Tottenham had to settle for 4th (which unfortunately didn't even get them a Champions League spot due to Chelsea's Champions League win). The final relegation spot also was decided on the last day with it being between Bolton and QPR and QPR narrowly avoiding relegation despite losing at the City of Manchester so Bolton joined Wolves and Blackburn in next season's Championship.
The Champions League also came to a dramatic conclusion with Chelsea completing their heroics and the players being written into West London folklore as they put the icing on the cake with a 4 - 3 penalty shootout win in Munich. After overcoming the odds to beat Napoli and reigning champions Barcelona they came up against Bayern Munich in the final and with 4 first team players out through suspension and Bayern having a home-field advantage, Chelsea were seen as underdogs, especially after Thomas Muller nodded in the 83rd minute opener and Chelsea seemingly (for the umpteenth time in the competition) down and out, but up popped the talismanic Didier Drogba in the 88th minute to bullet in a trademark header. Drogba then slotted in the winning penalty to send the Chelsea fans into delirium. This had effects onto the Premiership as this meant that Tottenham had to settle for a Europa League spot despite finishing 4th in the league, it also has effects on football with Sepp Blatter reportedly thinking of scrapping penalty shootouts (just because an English team won, boo hoo.)
Premiership Winners: Manchester City
F.A. Cup winners: Chelsea
Champions League winners: Chelsea
Carling Cup winners: Liverpool
Premiership Top Scorer: Robin Van Persie
Here's to another quality season starting in August!
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