It would be incomplete to congratulate
the fresh blue sight of Manchester without acknowledging the
challenge of the red side,despite how they got to be 44 seconds away
from stealing it.
Given everything thrown into the works,
Manchester United easily run away with the title of 'The Luckiest
Team of the Season' award. The accumulated points take cognisance of
the referees and diving players. The score-sheet has been doctored
not to reveal the 'Fair Play' index so as not to damage the
reputation of the game. Knowing Sir Alex Ferguson, he will be the
first to accept the fair share of their 86 points were courtesy of
the generous officiating.
Talking of fortunes, without taking a
very serious look at the figures, Liverpool were very prominent on
the other side of the scale. They struck the posts record times. If
Fifa took my suggestions of extending the goals, the title would have
been at The Kop. For the balls that went in, few were such a beauty,
especially from Luis Suarez. The Reds were therefore duly awarded
'The Unlucky Team of the Season for their troubles, or lack of.
'The Best Scorers of the Season' were
surely Newcastle United. This was courtesy of Pappis Cisse and Demba
Ba. The pair came with a 'Made in China' tag and whipped the ball in
with exquisite excellence and extravagance. Cisse's goals could
easily make the 2011/12 Top goals list for England, Europe and the
world. They became prominent for sheer quality and significance as
the Magpies ended the season on position 5. They could have easily
been third if their peaking was not off by just two matches.
Swansea Football Club's footballing was
the closest to what the game should look like. Way ahead of the
sentimental passers, they exhibited some moves that Barcelona envied.
Passing the ball around decisively mate with reception as well as
movement. The dribbling and confidence of Dyer and Sinclair was a
revelation. Swansea easily overcame Arsenal as 'The Technical team of
the Season.'
Given the injury list and squad of
average players, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club enjoyed a fruitful
season owing to the veteran squad. Many were fooled to think they
were a talented lot, but then, if one looked closer as to how many
players City, United, Chelsea, Barcelona or Real Madrid would get,
the list started with Luka Modric and ended with Gareth Bale, who had
a quiet season by his standard. That made them 'The Tactical Team of
the Season'.
Harry Redknapp did so much with that
team. They were unlucky to lose focus in the end of the title race,
mainly due to the officiating. The potential loss of the manager
catalysed the downward spiral as many players began to look for
possible destinations if Redknapp left.
I must say that a win is a win,
especially the championship, but Roberto Mancini made it hard for
both City's and United fans and bosses. He held neutrals at ransom
with the difficult route he took to the throne. His paymasters were
in a dilemma at one point trying to justify firing or keeping him.
Winning it should have been a guarantee that he keeps his job with a
huge bonus, but doing it that way was questionable as the Shaiks may
have accumulated huge cardiovascular medical bills. It is likely that
his contract stipulated the safety of his job after that glory
without detailing how. Many believe in the four-year extension with a
tax-free GBP5 million package. It was nice to see a very tight hug o
Samir Nasri by Cisse of Queens Park Rangers after the final whistle
as he congratulated his fellow countryman.
QPR did not realise they did not have
to make things hard for City as their life was safe, but that went on
to bring quality in the champions.
That match summed the season in a great
way, and proved beyond reasonable doubt what this blog has been
saying about football. The champions rise above technique and tactic
when they have to. Physical condition is of no consequence as the
difference the real deal and hopefuls. When all else, technique,
tactics and fitness hit the ceiling, only the tough get going. It is
this mental strength that landed the title at the Etihad Stadium.
Psychological strength remained the only weapon when the grit of
matters comes to a grind.
These facts reflected how Arsenal rose
from 17th position to third. It was the leadership of
Arsene Wenger and not their football that made the difference.
Newcastle showed weaker mental strength as they wilted just when they
needed to pick two easy wins. The relegated teams, Wolves, Blackburn
and Bolton showed less will-power though they had great matches and
excellent players.
It must not be over emphasised that the
Gunners' rise meant as much to them as did the championship to City,
maybe much more. That team has no championship bone in it. It is easy
to think of Robin van Persie as world-class, but that is it. RVP
declared his undying love for his club and claimed to want winning
things at Arsenal. It looked a bad idea when Nasri and Gael Clichy
left for City. They must be telling him 'So long buddy'.
If the fat cheque story is true, he may
play there after all. Treble his take-home pay is surely
resistant-proof and Wenger will be rebuilding again next season. I
mean, who can refuse 250 000 British pounds for a week's job? This
guy will actually not be paid to work, but play. Wow!
As for the title, never has the
championship depended on an individual as this particular one. It all
hinged on the unwanted rebel and outcast – one Carlos Tevez. Not
that it was a one man band as seen on the championship winning match.
It needed spicing up by the errant self-made 'bad-boy', the
controversial Mario Balottelli.
City lost their bearings when the
Argentine played golf during his absence without official leave and
all cursed him and his manager claimed he would never play for City
again. Tevez joined the sunk ship, buoyed it afloat and steered it to
the promised land.
Trouble-courting Balottelli became the
difference between a 1-2 defeat and a 3-2 victory in the last 15
minutes of the season. He did not need to score to convince the club
not to push him offshore.
It was such a marvelous season that saw
Paul Scholes come back from retirement and for the first time in his
23 year-long career, Ryan Giggs did not get on the score-sheet. There
may be a few miles left in those legs and United fans may celebrate
that for now.
For the record, the world,
particularly Africa needs more people. TV beams the game to so many
homes around the world. The big companies pay billions annually to
reach the masses in their lounges.
The promise to deliver messages to the
global citizens is the reason why this money will increase
perennially. As efficient as the process is, TV broadcasting quality
improved over the years and revenue from sponsors to teams soared.
The cutting edge of the spot has
sharply hit rock-bottom as match attendance figures are nose diving,
especially in developing countries. Teams need the spur of the 12th
man at the stadia. As we leave the potato-coaches at home to watch on
the fancy screens, we need to make more babies to take to the actual
theatres to witness the action first-hands and give the games true
value.
Let's make up for the dwindling numbers
and quickly.
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