Astonishing facts of this EPL Season

The curtains were finally drawn on the pulsating season of EPL 2011-2012 with Manchester City winning the title late in injury time and literally snatching the trophy from their mighty neighbors grasp. It is fair to say that in the end, football had won. Living up to the fans expectations, this was the most enthralling and the most open season over a long time.

The fact that only the goal difference could separate the top teams and a solitary point meant survival or relegation, made this the most competitive season of all. As the old saying goes, any team can defeat any other team, was taken to a different level this season. The season was defined by upsets aplenty, late surges, lengthy winning and losing streaks and miraculous comebacks.

From an analyst point of view, there were various novelties characteristic of this season:

• This year saw a first time Champion, an ex-champion getting relegated, first winner of the Premier League Italian in Balotelli (though I am not sure if Cudicini won with Chelsea. However, he was not capped), Bosnian in Eden Dzeko , Belgian in Kompany , Montenegran in Steven Savic, Romanian in Pantimollon
• This year’s FA Cup saw the hatrick of Italian Managers lifting it namely Ancellotti, Mancini and now Roberto Di Mattio.
• Let’s start off with the battle at the top of the table. It is highly ironical that the title contenders from Manchester started off the season with a 3-2 win against Man City, in the official curtain raiser the FA Community Shield after a 94th minute goal from Nani. City finally turned the tables yesterday on United to win with the same score line and a similar stoppage time goal to clinch the Championship.
• The humdinger at Wembley started off what was to be the most keenly contested Manchester Derbies of all time with Manchester City winning both the home and away league fixtures with margins of 6-1 and 1-0 which more or less sealed the title for City (goal difference of 12 goals the eventual difference in the title). However, United exacted some revenge by ousting City out of the FA Cup with a 3-2 margin. These results more or less meant that each of them stopped the other from defending their previously earned title.
• Another interesting thing was the performance of the promoted teams viz Norwich City, Swansea City and Queen’s Park Rangers. Swansea City became the first team from Wales to grace the Premier League and won quite a few hearts teaching a lesson or two on possession based football to the more fancied English sides. This could also be the first time when all the three promoted teams escaped the dreaded drop. Each of these teams brought in their distinct styles of play to the premier league which are a welcome addition to the traditional style of play.
• As far as the relegated teams go, the striking similarity is the geographical closeness that these three teams share, as they all hail from Lancashire and Midlands. The clubs that almost pulled themselves out namely Aston Villa and Wigan also belong to this area or close by.
• This was also the first time in which 6 English teams were involved in the Europa League at some stage or the other viz Fulham, Stoke City, Tottenham, Birmingham City, Manchester City and Manchester United.
• Last but not the least, there was plenty of, off the field drama like the Luiz Suarez-Patrice Evra handshake snub, Terry-Anton Ferdinand got more media coverage which in turn led to the then England Boss Mr.Capello being sacked and Roy Hodgson eventually replacing him. Finally, Joey Barton who started this season getting Gervinho sent off, finished the season getting himself sent off against City, thus completing a full circle.