The English Premier League 2011- 12

I looked at my blog posts during the last twelve months and it was surprising that I did not cover the football in any of them . However , the last round of matches that went through last Sunday was so absorbing, that it forcing me to write on this topic. The fact, that the winner of the title was not decided until the last round of matches ( 20 teams , each play against one other once at home and away and so 38 matches are played over the August – May time frame ) and until the last minutes of the injury extra time of the last round match , added intensity to followers of two Football Clubs – Manchester City ( ManC ) and Manchester United ( ManU).
Both teams were on equal points before the start of their 38th match and final match of the season. Both needed to win their last matches. ManC was playing at home , playing Queen Park Rangers who were fighting to avoid relegation threat and incidentally , the man at the helm of affairs of this team was the ex Manager of ManC and a former ManU player !! ManU was playing away against Sunderland whose Manager had turned the fortunes of the team in the second half of the season and known for his style and he has deservedly earned a reputation of utilising his resources to maximum effect at every club he has visited on. So the battle lines were drawn up for an interesting climax.

The results could have been the following options :
         ManC wins , ManU looses --- ManC gets the title
         ManC draws , ManU draw – ManC win title on better goal difference.
         ManC looses , ManU win—ManU gets title
         ManC wins , ManU win – ManC gets title on better goal difference
Depending on which club you followed , you could conjure up your dream result.

These matches and host of other last round matches started at the same time. Fans at each of the stadium for once did not follow their team’s. They were more interested in what was happening at the “other” stadium. You realise how important technology is . Most of the fans were on their phone or looking at screens of their phones to follow the match in the other stadium. Halftime score was in favor of ManC. They were leading and ManC fans started celebrating . ManU was also leading but it did not matter if ManC was leading and going to win. But the second half produced many twists and turns. First . QPR scored not just the equalizer against ManC but scored one more to lead. That status meant the title was ManU’s. Hang on , the match is not over yet.

ManC mounted a tremendous assault  but QPR defended by various means …. Robert Mancini the ManC Manager was frustrated , agitated , animated and with him was all the ManC fans in the stadium with some fans already in tears looking at the title slipping away . ManU won their match with three extra added minutes in the second half going uneventful and ManU had just started to believe that the title was theirs. But the match was not over at the ManC – QPR.There was five added extra minutes and  ManC equalised in the 2nd minute of the extra time … and found a another goal in the next minute to win the match and title after 44 years. Two goal in injury time was just splendid and showed ManC had the character to win and take the Championship .

ManU finished second in the league and they deserve to be there for the way they played their last five matches. Till that point they were leading by eight points and from then on , they came to the last match on level terms in points and worse on Goal Difference with ManC. They lost to Wigan ( 3 points gone ) , Drew with Everton after leading 4-2 till the 83rd minute ( 2 points gone ) and lost to ManC ( 3 points gone ) – This meant being on equal with ManC and with disadvantage on Goals. They beat Swansea and Sunderland but ManC beat their rivals as well and so at the end , both teams were on same points but ManC won on better Goal Difference.ManU ended the year with no Silverware. They lost the FA cup , Carling Cup, the Championship league and the Europa league . Points to Ponder for Sir Alex , their Manager for the 2013 season . Through the year , ManU was not the ManU ,the ManU fans knows the team as .

Anyway Sunday evening was nail-biting and thrilling and I was switching channels to watch both the matches and was disappointed with the results. But it was a good evening to spend watching the last day of the league. Great matches to finish the year off and a deserving title winner