Report by Richard Hull
It was quite a period, 2008/09, with quite possibly the tightest challenge for the title in a lot of a 12 months. Even the battle for relegation was restricted for up to ten clubs until eventually the previous number of weeks of the season, and number of would have predicted that final result at the beginning of August 2008.
The earlier time, Manchester Utd had won the premiership title and scraped the European Champions League ultimate. They have been simply awesome, 1 of the greatest sides ever before, and in their flying winger, Ronaldo, had a true match winner who smashed in about forty ambitions in all competitions. To emulate that yet again, would get some undertaking.
However, it wasn’t a period where any one team seemed the strongest. Manchester Utd began little by little, Liverpool were the early tempo setters whilst Arsenal and Chelsea both looked shadows of their earlier selves. The biggest shock was seeing newly promoted Hull City in the top 4!
Reduced in the table, a mass of clubs were taking points off every single other and barely 10 points separated bottom from sixth! It was going to be an exciting relegation battle for sure.
By the mid stage of the season, the table was finally sorting itself out. The best two of Liverpool and Manchester Utd swapped positions, although Chelsea held on their tails in 3rd. Aston Villa had been threatening to break the top 4 monopoly and even received as large as 3rd at a single position, which stored Arsenal down to fifth. Everton had made a tiny break of their own and appeared pretty strong in sixth.
Reduce down, shock strugglers Newcastle and Spurs ended up seeking to break out of the relegation zone, and the mid table clubs have been still hunting over their shoulders.
Manchester Utd managed to win the Globe Club Championship, and a little later on additional the League Cup to their trophy collection. Though they hadn’t been setting the premiership alight as they had the prior period, they have been nevertheless picking up difficult fought factors. Discuss on them profitable an unprecedented 5 trophies in 1 period was beginning to heat up.
In the last part of the season, Spurs had damaged away from the bottom of the table, but the horrendous Newcastle had been in massive hassle. This was amazing contemplating the volume of income they had invested on players – but getting mercenaries does not assure you accomplishment. Nor does emplying 4 managers in 1 time!
Back again at the leading and Liverpool had smashed Guy Utd 4-1 at Previous Trafford. The race was on for the title. Utd had been by means of to the FA Cup semi ultimate, but fielded a weakened facet and they misplaced on penalties to Everton. The dream of 5 trophies in one period dashed.
Aston Villa embarked on a nightmare run that noticed them slide down the table. As soon as extremely nicely put to complete at least fourth, they have been struggling to hang on to fifth, with cup finalists Everton challenging on their shoulders.
As the month of May approached, the best four commenced taking their familiar placings, and it was to no true surprise to see Utd just pip Liverpool to the post. Champions for a 3rd successive time. Chelsea finished a strong 3rd, and who is aware of, had they had Guus Hiddink as manager all season (he replaced Brazilian Phillip Scolari mid season), it may well nicely have been their year. Arsenal took fourth area after a largely disappointing time hampered by injuries to important players.
Yet another staff hampered by an even even worse injury list was Everton. Despite this, they managed to overhaul Aston Villa to finish fifth. Villa must be extremely disappointed with sixth in spite of their exceptional run previously. Fulham capped a excellent season for them, by finishing seventh, their highest actually inserting.
For the bottom three clubs spelt relegation. West Brom, Middlesborough and Newcastle all ended up shedding on the closing day of the period, and their premiership status lost for at minimum a yr.
Manchester Utd nevertheless had a fourth trophy to go for as they achieved the Champions League last for the 2nd year in succession. Even so, their hopes of becoming the 1st club to retain the trophy had been ended as a excellent Barcelona facet produced Manchester Utd appear really ordinary. Utd would have to be content material with just three trophies this time then.
The closing match of the period was played out amongst Chelsea and Everton in the FA Cup ultimate. Despite Everton scoring the fastest FA Cup closing goal in over one hundred a long time of the competitors right after just 25 seconds, they ran out two-one losers. Chelsea’s £150 million staff was just too sturdy.
In all, it was a much more intriguing season in contrast to previous seasons due to a tighter battle for the best, and a unique relegation tussle in between ten clubs. Ideally subsequent period will be even far better! And ideally one particular or a lot more of the leading 4, will not be part of the best four!
About the Writer
Richard Hull is the owner of Blargins’ Harm Time, a mild hearted search at Everton FC and all issues soccer. Click to examine much more ramblings and visitor writers at Blargins’ Injury Time