1. This has been a season to remember.
It’s hard to know at this stage how much of a seismic moment City’s beyond dramatic title win was yesterday. Putting aside that first City, then Utd should have put this title to bed long ago, the cold hard facts state that as the clock ticked past 91 minutes Manchester City needed an absurd two goals in three minutes to win the title. That they did it, in a style every bit as theatrically heart breaking as Utd had once won the Champions League, was the final twist in a season more dramatic than any the Premier League era has yet thrown up. The title changed hands four times on Sunday, as did the relegation battle and the fight for 3rd. Spurs, who saw off a disappointing Newcastle for 4th, now have the un-envious honour of being the first club having to wait to see if they have qualified for the Champions League. It would not be against type in this season of drama if Chelsea denied them that right. This is the first time since the Premier League started that the title has been decided by goal difference and both sides deserve credit for creating such a genuine race to the finish line. City, all attacking thrusts, defensive solidity and bizarre self-destructs have been the better team. A team, it has to be cynically said, that was very expensively assembled. Utd by contrast, smack of a team if not in decline than in need of some serious repairs. That they got to 89 points this season is little short of a miracle. Both a reflection on the poorness of the other challengers, and of the continued brilliance of Ferguson. For all those who sneered at the return of Paul Scholes, his comeback has to be considered an unequivocal success given his record states he lost but one game (against City). As for those who predict City will go on to “dominate” for years to come, that still seems like a long way off. Utd will come back again, as they will do every year until Ferguson steps down and you have to think that certainly Chelsea will offer more of a threat next time around. Arsenal remain dependent upon RVP staying and the nightmare scenario is that City snap him up this summer. That would probably mean curtains for Wenger and his merry band of entertaining balsa, but for now they can at least take solace they will play Champions League football yet again at the Emirates. In all, whilst there is clear evidence that the Premier League has come down a level or two in class, it shows no signs of relinquishing its title as the most entertaining major league in football. Yesterday was the fitting end to a season that sometimes lacked in skill and quality, but made up for it tenfold in fun.
It’s hard to know at this stage how much of a seismic moment City’s beyond dramatic title win was yesterday. Putting aside that first City, then Utd should have put this title to bed long ago, the cold hard facts state that as the clock ticked past 91 minutes Manchester City needed an absurd two goals in three minutes to win the title. That they did it, in a style every bit as theatrically heart breaking as Utd had once won the Champions League, was the final twist in a season more dramatic than any the Premier League era has yet thrown up. The title changed hands four times on Sunday, as did the relegation battle and the fight for 3rd. Spurs, who saw off a disappointing Newcastle for 4th, now have the un-envious honour of being the first club having to wait to see if they have qualified for the Champions League. It would not be against type in this season of drama if Chelsea denied them that right. This is the first time since the Premier League started that the title has been decided by goal difference and both sides deserve credit for creating such a genuine race to the finish line. City, all attacking thrusts, defensive solidity and bizarre self-destructs have been the better team. A team, it has to be cynically said, that was very expensively assembled. Utd by contrast, smack of a team if not in decline than in need of some serious repairs. That they got to 89 points this season is little short of a miracle. Both a reflection on the poorness of the other challengers, and of the continued brilliance of Ferguson. For all those who sneered at the return of Paul Scholes, his comeback has to be considered an unequivocal success given his record states he lost but one game (against City). As for those who predict City will go on to “dominate” for years to come, that still seems like a long way off. Utd will come back again, as they will do every year until Ferguson steps down and you have to think that certainly Chelsea will offer more of a threat next time around. Arsenal remain dependent upon RVP staying and the nightmare scenario is that City snap him up this summer. That would probably mean curtains for Wenger and his merry band of entertaining balsa, but for now they can at least take solace they will play Champions League football yet again at the Emirates. In all, whilst there is clear evidence that the Premier League has come down a level or two in class, it shows no signs of relinquishing its title as the most entertaining major league in football. Yesterday was the fitting end to a season that sometimes lacked in skill and quality, but made up for it tenfold in fun.
2. Except of course… if you support Aston Villa.
Aston Villa deserved to go down, let me get that right out there from the start. QPR’s heroic effort before losing in injury time deserved to see them stay up on its own; and Bolton have been brilliant since Muamba collapsed. They have delivered against the odds performances full of heart and flair and were cruelly relegated owing to this season’s 342nd wrong call that television replay's could easily have cleared up. Villa, under the alleged “management” of Alex Mcleish, limped above the drop zone for virtually the entire season by attempting to draw all 38 games 0-0. Only Wolves won fewer games than Villa, a paltry seven all season including just four at home. They scored 37 goals in total, less than all the relegated clubs and have won just once in the last 17 games. They are negative, feeble, boring beyond all reason and shorn of creativity and guile. In terms of entertainment, they are the worst team I’ve ever witnessed in my life. I’ve had the misfortune of watching them for 90 minutes four times this season. Twice I feel asleep and the other two times part of me died inside. If one thing happens this summer… one thing… please, please, for the good of all humanity can it be that Alex Mcleish is forbidden to ever work as a football manager again. Please. I’ll even take John Terry walking free and punching the air in a Judd Nelson homage as he leaves the court house. Nobody deserves another season watching that. Not Villa fans, not football fans, not anybody.
Aston Villa deserved to go down, let me get that right out there from the start. QPR’s heroic effort before losing in injury time deserved to see them stay up on its own; and Bolton have been brilliant since Muamba collapsed. They have delivered against the odds performances full of heart and flair and were cruelly relegated owing to this season’s 342nd wrong call that television replay's could easily have cleared up. Villa, under the alleged “management” of Alex Mcleish, limped above the drop zone for virtually the entire season by attempting to draw all 38 games 0-0. Only Wolves won fewer games than Villa, a paltry seven all season including just four at home. They scored 37 goals in total, less than all the relegated clubs and have won just once in the last 17 games. They are negative, feeble, boring beyond all reason and shorn of creativity and guile. In terms of entertainment, they are the worst team I’ve ever witnessed in my life. I’ve had the misfortune of watching them for 90 minutes four times this season. Twice I feel asleep and the other two times part of me died inside. If one thing happens this summer… one thing… please, please, for the good of all humanity can it be that Alex Mcleish is forbidden to ever work as a football manager again. Please. I’ll even take John Terry walking free and punching the air in a Judd Nelson homage as he leaves the court house. Nobody deserves another season watching that. Not Villa fans, not football fans, not anybody.
3. Joey Barton should have the book thrown at him.
Despite City’s improbable comeback, Joey Barton’s two minutes of madness went unpunished as QPR somehow avoided relegation. His team deserved that, but he did not. Whilst the initial red card seemed if not harsh, a bit baffling (surely Tevez deserved the same punishment?) what happened afterwards was simply unforgivable. Told to leave the pitch, Barton effectively assaulted Sergio Aguero before trying to head-butt Vincent Kompany. If he hadn’t been held back, mostly by Micah Richards of all people, you got the impression he would have weighed into at least three other players. In many ways that was a shame, because as Balotelli got involved for absolutely no reason whatsoever, we were denied what would have surely been one of the great Premiership moments – Mario vs Joey, the punch up. The potential comedy of two entertaining knobheads slugging it out at Eastlands aside, Barton’s actions are simply unforgivable. He has had too many chances for too many teams and should be banned for as long as possible. The FA should grow some balls and really throw the book at him. Ideally one of those philosophical hardbacks he loves so fucking much.
Despite City’s improbable comeback, Joey Barton’s two minutes of madness went unpunished as QPR somehow avoided relegation. His team deserved that, but he did not. Whilst the initial red card seemed if not harsh, a bit baffling (surely Tevez deserved the same punishment?) what happened afterwards was simply unforgivable. Told to leave the pitch, Barton effectively assaulted Sergio Aguero before trying to head-butt Vincent Kompany. If he hadn’t been held back, mostly by Micah Richards of all people, you got the impression he would have weighed into at least three other players. In many ways that was a shame, because as Balotelli got involved for absolutely no reason whatsoever, we were denied what would have surely been one of the great Premiership moments – Mario vs Joey, the punch up. The potential comedy of two entertaining knobheads slugging it out at Eastlands aside, Barton’s actions are simply unforgivable. He has had too many chances for too many teams and should be banned for as long as possible. The FA should grow some balls and really throw the book at him. Ideally one of those philosophical hardbacks he loves so fucking much.
4. Anyone who doesn’t think Vincent Kompany is the player of the
year is a complete tool.
Ok so Van Persie gives him some competition, virtually carrying Arsenal to 3rd on his own through a series of sublime goals, but beyond that nobody comes even close to the performances of City’s captain this year. Kompany is the complete defender; he is a younger, more powerful version of Vidic and has been City’s leader both on and off the pitch this year. When he’s been suspended or injured, City have stumbled. When he’s played, he’s not only kept all the major teams at bay but scored crucial goals as well (not least in the Manchester derby). Put simply, he is world class and, along with Ya Ya Toure and Joe Hart, didn’t deserve in any way to finish the season empty handed. How he didn’t even make the top six in the official player of the year awards is baffling. Well, far more important and prestigious, is my player of the season award and he captains my team of the year below. As the dust settled on this remarkable season, nobody deserved to lift that trophy more than him.
Ok so Van Persie gives him some competition, virtually carrying Arsenal to 3rd on his own through a series of sublime goals, but beyond that nobody comes even close to the performances of City’s captain this year. Kompany is the complete defender; he is a younger, more powerful version of Vidic and has been City’s leader both on and off the pitch this year. When he’s been suspended or injured, City have stumbled. When he’s played, he’s not only kept all the major teams at bay but scored crucial goals as well (not least in the Manchester derby). Put simply, he is world class and, along with Ya Ya Toure and Joe Hart, didn’t deserve in any way to finish the season empty handed. How he didn’t even make the top six in the official player of the year awards is baffling. Well, far more important and prestigious, is my player of the season award and he captains my team of the year below. As the dust settled on this remarkable season, nobody deserved to lift that trophy more than him.
PJ Official Team of the Year
Krul
Walker Kompany Coloccini Baines
Scholes Toure
Silva Rooney Dempsey
Van Persie
Bench: Hart, Lescott, Bale, Britton, Aguero, Ba/Cisse (pre Jan/post Jan)
5. Roy Hodgson has his work cut out.
With the media and fans already against him, deprived of his best player for two games and with a central defensive crisis, Roy Hodgson will do well to come out of Euro 2012 with any credit whatsoever. With Terry up in court and losing form, Rio unable to play two games in a row and Chris Smalling now joining Michael Dawson on the injury list, Hodgson is running out of options to shore up his defense. In central midfield he must resist the temptation to pick Gerrard, Lampard & Scholes. One of the three makes sense, two is still too reliant on the failed old guard and three would smack of genuine madness. Of the three, Gerrard you'd think should be the one in the squad, but he is half the player he once was and already looks too tired to compete in another tournament. Hodgson does at least have several flying wingers on which to call upon, even if the cries from some to include Stewart Downing make it seem like they haven't watched him play in the last 12 months. Up front Hodgson must take Rooney & Welbeck given the partnership they're formed at club level and with the latters flexibility. Beyond that is anyone's guess. Hodgson is a big admirer of Zamora but he has been awful since moving to QPR. Carroll has been superb for 120 minutes all season and Grant Holt would be a massive, if pleasingly brave, gamble. It is likely that he will turn once again to Crouch & Defoe, the perennial substitutes of the England set up. Both have had good seasons in difficult circumstances, but already the shape of the squad resembles that of the last failed championship one and that cannot be allowed to happen. Hodgson must be brave and pick players who are young, fresh and hungry. Getting out of the group would be a fine achievement under these circumstances, with anything else a massive bonus. France are playing brilliantly again, Ukraine are at home and our record against Sweden is well documented. Hodgson needs time and patience and should not be judged on this tournament, especially given it could be over before our only world class forward has kicked a ball.
PJ's 23 Man Squad for Euro 2012
Hart, Foster, Amos
Cole, Baines, Walker, Richards, Jones, Cahill, Lescott
Parker, Barry, Britton, Scholes, Cleverly, Johnson, Young, Walcott, Chamberlain
Rooney, Welbeck, Crouch, Holt
With the media and fans already against him, deprived of his best player for two games and with a central defensive crisis, Roy Hodgson will do well to come out of Euro 2012 with any credit whatsoever. With Terry up in court and losing form, Rio unable to play two games in a row and Chris Smalling now joining Michael Dawson on the injury list, Hodgson is running out of options to shore up his defense. In central midfield he must resist the temptation to pick Gerrard, Lampard & Scholes. One of the three makes sense, two is still too reliant on the failed old guard and three would smack of genuine madness. Of the three, Gerrard you'd think should be the one in the squad, but he is half the player he once was and already looks too tired to compete in another tournament. Hodgson does at least have several flying wingers on which to call upon, even if the cries from some to include Stewart Downing make it seem like they haven't watched him play in the last 12 months. Up front Hodgson must take Rooney & Welbeck given the partnership they're formed at club level and with the latters flexibility. Beyond that is anyone's guess. Hodgson is a big admirer of Zamora but he has been awful since moving to QPR. Carroll has been superb for 120 minutes all season and Grant Holt would be a massive, if pleasingly brave, gamble. It is likely that he will turn once again to Crouch & Defoe, the perennial substitutes of the England set up. Both have had good seasons in difficult circumstances, but already the shape of the squad resembles that of the last failed championship one and that cannot be allowed to happen. Hodgson must be brave and pick players who are young, fresh and hungry. Getting out of the group would be a fine achievement under these circumstances, with anything else a massive bonus. France are playing brilliantly again, Ukraine are at home and our record against Sweden is well documented. Hodgson needs time and patience and should not be judged on this tournament, especially given it could be over before our only world class forward has kicked a ball.
PJ's 23 Man Squad for Euro 2012
Hart, Foster, Amos
Cole, Baines, Walker, Richards, Jones, Cahill, Lescott
Parker, Barry, Britton, Scholes, Cleverly, Johnson, Young, Walcott, Chamberlain
Rooney, Welbeck, Crouch, Holt
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