The Season Finale 2011/12

After nearly a year of ups & downs, we still aren't 100% sure who'll win the league, who's getting relegated, and who'll be in which European cup next season. In fact the EPL is the only top 4 league yet to find it's champion. Congrats to Real Madrid (La Liga), Dortmund (Bundesliga) & Juventus (Serie A).

This season has been so crazy that it's been voted the Best Season of the past 20 years!
The Premier League has never been decided by goal difference before! 
We need 30 goals to break the record number of goals in 1 EPL season & there are 10 games on Sunday to score them in!
To make even less sense of what's about to unfold, I've written out a fantasy (although it is possible) description of  the following:
Newcastle can get 3rd, Villa can get relegated, City can lose the league even after beating QPR and all to show that simple goal difference is vitally important this tight season.
A couple of points highlighted in red & free beer at the end, so let's get started:

The European Spots (3rd - 5th) featuring Arsenal, Tottenham & Newcastle:
West Brom vs Arsenal: Robin Van Persie is 1 goal away from the EPL record of 31 goals in a season held by Shearer & Ronaldo (the girly one not the fat one). Who wants to see him get this goal? Not me! I like Shearer & girly pants. Odemwinge with a hattrick of hattricks seems more likely.
Prediction:  WBA 9-0 Arsenal
Everton vs Newcastle: With Arsenal dropping so many goals, Newcastle proceed to score 9 themselves with Ba & Cisse scoring 4.5 goals each.
Prediction: Everton 0-9 Newcastle
Lastly, forget about Spurs, they'll draw since Gareth "WORLDS GREATEST" Bale was feeling poorly & stayed at home.
And that my friends, is the simple formula to Newcastle attaining 3rd spot. Fantastic & improbable yes, but an astounding achievement by Newcastle to come this far.
In all seriousness, the European spots are so complicated that it requires another blog (out later today) just to explain. If you support Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham or Newcastle, I suggest you read it later.

The Relegation Battle featuring Bolton, QPR & Aston Villa:
Here's where things get serious...Muamba will return on Sunday to single-handedly score the 10 goals which will coincide with Villa losing 12-0 and.....you get the point,Villa go down. Improbable, but possible.
The real battle is Stoke vs Bolton & obviously Man City vs QPR. Both are in real danger of relegation & both face tough opposition. Stoke away is famed for their tough atmosphere, but after all that Bolton have gone through this season, would you really want to see them relegated also?
Man City vs QPR....under Hughes, QPR have surprised a few big teams, although they have spent the most of all promoted teams & are the only promoted team to be facing relegation currently. Do they deserve to still be there next season?
The latter match is not only a relegation battle, but a title decider, which leads us to one of the toughest questions I've been sitting with this season....so give me a hand answering it.....

Who deserves the title more?
Since the Shiekh arrived in 2008, City have spent a massive £930m and to be only 8 goals ahead of United  after £930m spent seems a bit harsh. Surely if anyone is going to spend that amount of money, they deserve at least something at the end of it. Bearing in mind UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations (you spend what you earn - City earned £365m, nowhere near the £930m spent) which could affect City heavily next season, surely this has to be their season? Without much argument, they have the best squad in the league which justifies being champions. 3 of their players could have walked away with Player of the Season & the majority of their team deserve to make Team of the Season. Along with the fact they've been top for most of the season, this is what champions are made of.
On the other hand, Manchester United deserve it too in their own rights. With much less spent, they've managed to keep up with the billion dollar investment. They've also managed to do it without their captain Vidic & at one point they had 14 injuries in 1 gameweek. They could still win the league & all off the back of some promoted youngsters & a pensioner coming out of retirement.
So who does deserve it more?

On Sunday the FA will have the real EPL trophy in 1 stadium & a fake at the other. Unless QPR do them a favour, for Man United to remain champions they will require 8 goals + however many Man City score against Rangers to win the league. City simply need to win.

This season has been amazing and an epic Sunday awaits us all. Thanks for those who have been following our thoughts throughout the season & look out for our season reviews next week. As for Sunday, we're still not sure what's going to happen. It's the best league in the world, so tight that it's turned into a cup final for 8 teams. All I know is that I can't wait & that I drink beer.....which reminds me, we're giving away some Heineken to the person who can simply predict the top 4, who'll get relegated & the (not so epic) battle for 7th. Easy questions, easy beer, in time for the Champions League final.

1. Who'll win the EPL?
2. Who'll get 3rd?
3. Who'll get 4th?
4. Who'll get 7th?
5. Who'll get relegated?

Fill out your predictions in the comments box below.

FA Cup semi-final preview

Without hyping it up too much, it’s the oldest & possibly the most amazing and terrific domestic trophy in the world. The FA Cup!!

We’ve reached the semi-final stage this weekend & it’s the most interesting semi-finals in years (with respect to Stoke City, Bolton, Pompey & some others) This year we have the pleasure of watching 2 derby matches - the Merseyside derby & the London derby!! 

Liverpool: In preparation to the game, Liverpool have fired half of their back-room staff including the tea lady Betty and the driver, so Kenny Dalglish himself will be driving the bus down to Wembley. He should know where it is since this is Liverpool's 2nd semi in 2012 already. Adding to this, their in-form striker Carroll has scored 1 goal in his past 1 games. That's a 100% return!! Kenny as a manager has won the FA Cup twice before and would you believe it, both times he played against Everton in the final. All of this bodes very well for a team in need of some good news. With Gerrard rested during the week, captain fantastic is expected to play the full 90+ on Saturday. One last point of interest: there will be a minutes silence to start the game on Saturday with respect to the Hillsborough Disaster.

Team news: Fortunately the LFC board didn't fire any keepers, but will be going in with their 3rd choice keeper, Brad Jones. Jose Enrique (conceded 0 goals as a keeper) is expected to play at left back for this game.

Dangerman: Captain fantastic. He scored a hattrick in this fixture but a few weeks back.

Everton: When David Moyes first came to Everton they were a mid-table squad with no money & no trophies....now look at them!! Fantastic!! However, for the 2nd time in a decade Everton might finish above their rivals in the league. The prospect of knocking them out of the FA Cup would be the "cherry-on-top". Everton last won the trophy in 1995, but Moyes did reach the final in 2009. In February they were very close to the Carling Cup...it was about 1/2 a mile across the city in fact. Everton are known for their late surges & once again have had an impressive post-Christmas run losing 2 in their last 15 games. Coming off the back of an impressive 4-0 victory over Sunderland, Everton will feel that they are the stronger team on form. 

Team news: With only 13 players to choose from, Everton will be missing Rodwell due to injury & Pienaar is cup tied. Jelavic, Cahill, Baines & Darron "shoot first, ask questions later" Gibson all return for the semi.

Dangerman: Jelvaic. He scores when he wants, he scores when he wants.

Tottenham: The most successful team left in the competition are having one of their best PL seasons this decade and their manager Arry has won the FA Cup as Pompey manager. Surely with Gareth "WORLDS GREATEST" Bale, he'll be able to double that tally? Their recent form says otherwise, but Arry is a great cup manager having won silverware with the prolific Pompey, West Ham & Bournemouth. Spurs & Chelsea are in a fight in the league for 4th, but the FA Cup & the pride of London is at stake on Sunday. These 2 teams drew both league games against each other this season and something will have to give on Sunday. Expect a "gung-ho" attack from Spurs with little care for their defense.

Team news: Ledley King is injured. Obviously. Kaboul & Dawson also which depletes their centre backs. Betty the Liverpool tea lady is available for free.

Dangerman: Gareth "WORLDS GREATEST" Bale. So good that commentators get excited even if it's just a throw in he takes.

Chelsea: Di Matteo has done well for himself & Chelsea since he took over from interim manager John Terry, who took over from interim manager Andre Villas-Boas. Fortunate not to be fired already for not winning the Champions League yet, Di Matteo will want to leave his mark on the club and return the FA Cup to London. Chelsea have won 3 FA Cups in the past 6 years which is an impressive return. This is a trophy they seem to know how to win. Rob himself won 2 FA Cups with Chelsea as a player in the late 90's, scoring in both Cup finals. Despite a poor season by their recent standards, Chelsea are seen as favourites for the FA Cup and for good reason. Torres has been the butt of many jokes this season, but has had a good run in the FA Cup & boasts 13 assists for the season. This ageing squad can still be one of the strongest in the league, although this may be the last time we see some of their star players together. Ironic that this team was nicknamed The Pensioners until the 50's. 

Team news: Ivanovic is suspended & A. Cole is doubtful.

Dangerman: Juan Mata. The Spanish dwarf has been the creative spark in the middle for Chelsea and as long as one of their strikers actually takes advantage of this, Chelsea will have goals served up on a platter.

FA Cup Quiz

Answer these correctly to win an amazing prize of a mention:

1. The 4 remaining teams each have won the FA Cup numerous times. Match the trophies to the team:

• 8 FA Cups -
• 7 FA Cups - 
• 6 FA Cups -
• 5 FA Cups -

2. Name the 2 managers remaining who have won the trophy as a player?

3. Only 1 manager remaining has never managed a team in the FA Cup final. Name him.

4. Who won the last FA Cup at "old Wembley"?

5. Who are the main sponsors of the FA Cup as of last season?