It all started in August last year, and football fans all over the world have followed their favorite English teams through rose and thorns till the final day for the 2011/2012 season, which is today 13th of May 2012. To raise up the level of excitement about what to expect later this afternoon, NigerianEye is presenting a thorough analysis of the drama to expect later today, the title race, battle for the top 4 and the stuggle to avoid relegation.
Title Race
The title may be decided on the number of goals scored today between Manchester United and Manchester City.The two Manchester teams, Manchester United and Manchester City ensured the 2011/2012 league season went to the final game of the season by beating their opponents in last weekend game, Swansea City and Newcastle 2-0 respectively. The clubs are joint leaders at the top of the English Premier League log with 86 points, but City is leading the log due to a superior eight goals difference.
The superior eight goals difference means the defending champions, Manchester United will start as significant underdogs to clinch an unprecedented 20th title as rivals Manchester City close in on their first top-flight crown since 1968.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s men kept their destiny for their 20th Premier League title in doubt going into the final round of games on Sunday by surrendering a seven-point advantage they earlier had over their neighbour. To end the campaign, second place Manchester United travel to Sunderland, who they have not lost to in the league for the past15 years, spanning 19 attempts.
While leaders, City will be overwhelming favourites to beat a relegation-threatened Taye Taiwo’s Queens Park Rangers (QPR) side who have won just three times on the road this season.
There is still the small matter of swatting relegation battlers Queens Park Rangers at the Etihad on Sunday before City can start celebrating. Alex Ferguson’s team are still in with a shout provided they beat Sunderland in their final game and hope for QPR to produce the unthinkable.
Adding to the drama is the fact that Old Trafford old boy, and Mancini’s predecessor, Mark Hughes is the man in charge of struggling QPR. Besides needing a positive result to maintain his side top flight status, Hughes will also be motivated by revenge. Sparky would not get a better opportunity at sticking it to his former bosses after having been ruthlessly sacked by City’s Arab owners in 2009.
Speaking prior to his team’s 2-0 victory over Swansea, Ferguson admitted that City now have “two hands on the trophy”. But the Scot wants to believe that there could be another twist in the title chase. “We’ll go to Sunderland to win, it’s our duty and responsibility,” he said. “Stranger things have happened in football.
We just have to keep going with the right spirit. We’ve won the title on three occasions on the last day and we don’t mind doing it again. They’re red-hot favourites and will make sure they win the match, but QPR need a point and they’re fighting for survival. The whole future of the club could be resting on the game and I only wish Sparky was playing.”
The English league this season has been quite entertaining, dramatic and exciting to watch as a neutral while being thrilling though perhaps slightly vomit inducing if you’re a nervous fan struggling to cope with the twists and turns of a goal laden game.
Some of these excitements of the 2011/2012 league that would climax tomorrow includes Man City 6-1 pounding of Manchester United, Manchester United 8-2 demolition of Arsene Wenger side, 5-3 sparking of Chelsea by Arsenal and Manchester United’s 4-4 draw with Everton that ended Red Devils dream of their 20th title, superb goals and thrilling actions.
Top Four Race
Teams to battle for the top 4 are, Arsenal, Spurs and Newcastle United.
Another pleasant aspect of the 2011/ 2012 season, at least for the neutral were how smaller clubs humbled the bigger clubs. Between 2006 and 2009 the top four was filled with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool every season. This season though Manchester City, Spurs and Newcastle may infiltrate the top four and shove out more established clubs.
And while Man City’s new found wealth means they’re in the top echelons of British and European football to stay, Spurs and Newcastle with considerably smaller wage bills have beaten Liverpool, look set to beat Chelsea and are an Arsenal collapse at West Brom away from beating them as well.
Most of the fans of those clubs will be unhappy at their clubs underperforming but the generality of EPL followers would be more than happy to see minors like Tottenham and Newcastle, who though being well run and playing good football are eclipsing larger, more bloated rivals.
While Liverpool’s struggles may have devastated their fan base, analysts may have a good giggle at their plight. Chelsea’s struggles under Andre Villas-Boas had a similar effect but thanks to Roberto Di Matteo who rescued the team’s campaign with an FA Cup trophy and with eyes still on the ultimate European football trophy (Champion League), the Blues may well be celebrating come the 19 of this month.
The Chelsea Factor in the Top 4 Race
Chelsea's qualification for the UEFA Champions league final and the fact that a 6th place in the premier league is the best they can get out today makes the top 4 even more competitive. Even a win for Chelsea in the last match in premier league will not see them break into the TOP 4, which of course will not enable them qualify for a champions league spot next season unless Chelsea can beat Bayern in the UEFA Champions league final and qualify automatically into the group stage of next season's champions league as holders, which will importantly mean the 4th placed team in the premier league will lose qualification into next season's Champions league and settle for Europa league instead. This is why Arsenal, Spurs and Newcastle must battle for 3rd position to guarantee qualification for next season's champions league.
Relegation Battle
Both Wolves and Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s Blackburn Rovers have confirmed their place in the second tier of English football league next season, but it is however not clear who would follow them go down between Bolton and QPR who will go down with them.
Bolton, third from bottom is on 35 points and they travel to Stoke City while QPR, fourth from bottom and on 37 points will be the guest of the title hopeful, Manchester City. Aston Villa, 5th from bottom and 38 points is however not sure of the fate while Victor Moses’ Wigan Athletics who nailed Blackburn’s relegation curfew on Monday with a 2-1 victory is already sure of staying in the English Premier League at least for one more season. Aston Villa host Champion league hopeful, Tottenham while Wigan will welcome Wolves.
Which teams do you think will finish in the top 4 at the end of the Premier league matches today? Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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