The Premier League season is over and what a final day it was for football fans around the country, never has there been quite an ending to a campaign like the one that unfolded on Sunday.
With minutes to go at the Etihad I sat there biting my nails in front of the TV hoping United would clinch another league title but I just had a feeling City would get something and then in the 94th minute Sergio Aguero grabbed the winner just moments after the full-time whistle had gone at the Stadium of Light.
Credit has to go to Manchester City for overturning an 8 point deficit over the space of 5 weeks but United can hold their heads high despite being able to look back and pinpoint various moments in the season where just one result would have clinched the title. The media and many others are all enjoying this moment as City's title win is defined as a "power shift" but let's be honest that is hardly true, losing a title by 8 goals is just unlucky but to win a title you need luck and although City have spent millions without being bitter I can say they deserve their moment in the spotlight.
Next season though Fergie will rally the troops together and look for his Manchester United side to take the title back off the even noisier neighbours especially after the signs of 'RIP Fergie' that Tevez held up high on a banner during City's open top bus trophy parade. Players like him and Joey Barton are a disgrace to the game, their actions are inexcusable and when you are getting paid wages in a week that some people don't earn in a lifetime you should feel honoured for being able to play a game so many people love and get paid ridiculous amounts of money.
Back to footballing matters, Ferguson will need to dip in to the transfer market and strengthen this United side but not heavily, people are claiming this is one of Fergie's worst sides but 89 points is a points total that would have won the league many times over the years and is in fact United's 3rd highest total ever. Captain Nemanja Vidic will be back next season after virtually being out for the whole of this campaign, Paul Scholes is staying on for another year which is a huge boost and the young lads in the side have gained some valuable experience that will hold them in good stead for next season and the rest of their careers. The likes of Anderson, Berbatov, Owen may be on there way out but I think the main target for United is to sign a big name player like Edin Hazard. The Belgium international is set to leave Lille this summer and has said he will be playing in Manchester next season, for United or City it remains to be seen. The likes of Kagawa from German champions Dortmund have been linked and he would provide a fresh buzz of excitement in midfield plus be a great move merchandise wise as the whole of Japan will go crazy providing plenty of money for Manchester United. The likes of Modric and Sneijder are mouthwatering prospects for fans like myself but we will have to wait and see, whatever happens Sir Alex knows what he is doing and is building a team that will compete for years to come even once the great man has left.
City will continue to spend now that they are Champions and are only going to attract better players, for the rest of the league Sunday was also a very big day. Arsenal managed to confirm 3rd place over their North London Rivals Spurs and will now be in the Champions League automatically next season but their main aim is keeping prized asset Robin Van Persie at the club.
Tottenham and Chelsea's futures come down to this Saturday's Champions League final, while Tottenham may not be in it they know the importance of securing Champions League football and after finishing 4th they need their fellow Londerners to lose in order to keep their place in Europe's biggest competition. Chelsea came 6th, it was the first time they've finished outside the top 4 since the 2001-2002 season, interim manager Roberto Di Matteo has clearly not been focused on the league games as he has been trying his best to keep his key players fresh ahead of Saturday's Final in Munich against Bayern Munich. If Chelsea win they'll be the best team in Europe, club owner Roman Abramovich will have finally achieved what he wanted and the team will be able to attract new talent and rebuild under whoever the clubs next manager is as with the Russian at the helm you never know. But lose and it's back to the drawing board for them and they will have to spend at least one season out of the Champions League, they have a pretty old team and if they lose on Saturday it could have a bad knock on effect..
A win for Chelsea would be great for them but for Tottenham it would leave them wondering what if, Spurs managed to hold on to their stars such as Luka Modric and Gareth Bale but another season of out the Champions League and a host of big names could be out of White Hart Lane with aspirations high amongst a squad full of talent. Tottenham will be hoping Bayern get the job done in front of their own fans and they will look to buy players to strengthen their squad, something they didn't really do last time they were in the competition although they did great to reach the last 8 in their first season in it.
Down the other end of the table and it was relegation for Wolves, Blackburn and on the final day Bolton suffered the cruellest fate in football too. It is one of the first times in recent memory where three sides have gone down and I have doubted if any of them will actually bounce back, Blackburn with a change of manager could where as Wolves won't and Bolton might depending on who stays and go's and if manager Owen Coyle is committed for the long term.
Southampton and Reading will strut their stuff in the big time come the 2012/2013 season and will be joined by either West Ham or Blackpool in what promises to be an exciting game at Wembley this Saturday. West Ham narrowly missed out on promotion automatically and have a squad that would compete in the Premier League, they are favourites especially as they have beat the seasiders twice this season but at Wembley in a one of game anything can happen. For my dad's sake I hope West Ham get promoted.
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed me blabbering on and hopefully I'll force myself to ramble on some more on my blog especially now that I've got a 4 month summer off of uni. Next stop on the footballing calender after this weekend is the Euro's, let's see how England do and what kind of squad Woy picks later on today.
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