2010/11 has been nothing short of brilliant for entertainment value across the countries football pitches. However, it is not all over yet, with the F.A cup final, football league play-off's and the small matter of Premier League survival to come, in addition to the likely outcome of the Premier League trophy parking its shiny backside in Manchester United's trophy cabinet once again.
So who have been the heroes of the season? For me, beginning at the top the signing of the season has to be young Chicharito Hernandez at United. I often watch with irony as Michael Owen warms the United substitutes bench watching this young talented Mexican working the frontline just as he did back in Owen's prime. Then theres the evergreen Ryan Gigg's still baffling the pundits as to just how good he still really is, a true example of how form is temporary and class is permenant, its hard to believe that Gigg's has been playing way before my interest in football began and 19 titles later the old boy is still scampering up and down that wing.
Another new boy who has caught the eye is West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie, signed in the summer from Lokomotiv Moscow and much like the Russian side, he started like a train, bagging the opener against Sunderland to give the baggies their first win of the season and now Albion find themselves safe and with a good future ahead if what Roy Hodgson achieved at Fulham is anything to go by.
Still in the scrap at the foot of the table are Blackpool, the seaside entertainers have given us all a good reason to stay up later for the conclusion to Match of the Day with some memorable performances. My feelings about Ian Holloway are not overly positive given his time at Leicester however if Blackpool survive after a true rollercoaster season it will be surely one of the best achievements of Holloway's career. I do hope that Blackpool do remain a Premier League side, they have been far more exciting to watch than West Ham and Blackburn and to an extent, Wigan. Given the amount of goals that the tangerines knock in you wouldn't bet against them to gain survival although there is the small matter of Manchester United away on the final day that could alter that theory.
Going down a division and its all smiles at Loftus Road, 'The R's are going up' after a tense week of FA hearings regarding the Alejandro Faurlin saga they are finally a confirmed Premier League and champions of the championship. But for me the real plaudits go to Paul Lambert at Norwich, a true magician with two successive promotions that see the Canaries become a Premier League side again and if thats not exciting enough for you all theres the prospect of a half-cut Delia bellowing a war cry to the home support when Norwich are behind at half time.
Heading into League One and Nigel Adkins promotional hot streak from this division continues at Southampton have risen from the depths to claim promotion back to the Championship along with Brighton and Hove Albion but sadly Plymouth Argyle's demise dominates my mind as we have seen with Stockport County no team is invincible or immune to losing their league status, its been a tense time for the Devonshire club with administration and not to mention having Peter Reid as manager, its enough to have the Green army choking on their Ginsters pasty's. On the plus side Plymouth, we have some lovely ale in Burton upon Trent and ample street parking.
So now the area we've all been waiting for, yes, its League two, where dreams are made and nightmares become reality, if you support Lincoln City of course. Which is where we start, after viewing The Imp's at the Pirelli against Burton they looked like a team in trouble going down 3-1 to the Brewers and with a defence shakier than Shakin' Stevens it didn't look good and in the end a combination of that and losing star striker Delroy Facey to injury has seen City lose their league status and the local derby with Grimsby will now be a Blue square bet affair.
Barnet on the other hand get a firm nod of approval in the general direction of Guiliano Grazioli who has pulled off the unthinkable and saved the Underhill side from heading to the conference. Impressive away displays at tough grounds have helped the Bee's to league safety and having seen their last few matches they more than deserve it.
Now we come to the Brewer's and its been an introductory season for myself as this is the first time that I have graced league two terraces and boy has it been exciting! I decided to turn my back on high prices at Championship level to come down to a level of football that I had never experienced before, was it going to be as good? How many people would show up? Do I really pay on the gate? In truth, its been a blast, Burton are a fantastic little club as are the supporters that have travelled to the Pirelli. Memorable moments include the F.A cup giant killing over Middlesbrough, my first away match beating Chesterfield and fun and laughs on the terraces. I believe that the current squad is not a million miles away from progression in this division, a consistant goalscorer and a rock solid centre away perhaps from the play-off's and with high optimism and some great new places to go next season we shall be back for more of the same.
All in all next season should hold new trips, a return to German Bundesliga football in the winter and all round thoughts and giggles along the way, this is the first season that I have opened a football blog to talk about the game as I view it and to hopefully bring my experiences to you all around the world. We have had visits from such countries as far as Brazil and Russia to Australia and Singapore and I thank each and every one of you for taking the time to read my thoughts. See you all next season.
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