Thoughts from the end of a season.

So the BPL season has finally drawn to a close. And what a dramatic way to end the season.

Last day drama included not just the title decider, but also the relegation battles that have been raging on for the entire season. A few highlights from a breath-taking finale:

1.) Manchester City have proven to be worthy rivals, but cannot claim to be a dynasty just yet.

Like it or not, the billions of Sheik Mansour and Qatari royalty has propelled Man City to be English champions. The squad is quality and you cannot deny that Roberto Mancini has done his job well. While this season will most definitely be etched into the history of Manchester City's books, let us not get too carried away and predict the shift in footballing powers with a season's success. A single championship won on goal difference means little in the books of English football. (Let us not forget a cash-rich Blackburn took the title in 1994 too, they are relegated to the Championship this season. Reality can change drastically in football.)

Manchester United is still the most successful club in the history of English football with 19 titles. Man City has a lot to catch up on to be considered a great footballing club.

2.) Everton finishes higher than Liverpool.

Paling in comparison perhaps but it must be good news for the long-suffering Evertonians to claim bragging rights over their Merseyside rival by finishing in seventh place (one spot above Liverpool).

David Moyes is a miracle worker, his first team may never make the bench of the top football clubs, but he drew the best out of what he had, and they finished above Liverpool who in turn spent millions on poor signings like Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson. Kenny Daglish has had a season to forget despite winning the League Cup, the same for all Liverpool fans.

3.) Newcastle's renaissance might not last.

Newcastle has moved up the table significantly this year, qualifying for Europe. The question however remains, will progress last at Tyneside? The Geordies are amazing fans with a great stadium to boot, but Newcastle has got to build on what they have today. That could all change with a 'quick-to-sell-star players' owner like Mike Ashley. Will we still see Cabaye, Demba Ba or Ben Arfa in the stripes of Newcastle next season? It's really difficult to say if Newcatle will ever build a consistent team for greatness.

4.) The emergence of talented managers

Young managers are the flavour in football these days. A certain Pep Guardiola left Barcelona for a sabbatical presumably (that is if the millions of Chelsea fail to attract him), while a young and successful Portugese manager like Vilas Boas got his Chelsea rebuilding project terminated indefinitely by the fickle minded Roman Abramovich.

The young managers from the BPL that stood out this year has to be Brendan Rogers of Swansea and Roberto Martinez of Wigan. Both are advocates of how the game should be properly displayed yet have proven that survival in the BPL is possible for clubs with small budgets. Both have certainly emerged as strong contenders for bigger jobs in the Premiership. Will we see one of them taking on a bigger club next season? Liverpool or perhaps Aston Villa? Don't bet against it.


5.) Goodbye Bolton, Blackburn, Wolves. Hello Reading, Southampton, West Ham/Blackpool

Bolton, Blackburn and Wolves are deservedly the relegated clubs. Wolves have been poor for most of the season while Blackburn has just got too much off-field problems which affected their on-field performances badly. Bolton might have had a fair argument of not being deserving of finishing in the bottom three, but neither do Wigan, Aston Villa or QPR... so tough luck I guess.

I haven't study in detail the promoted teams for next season but the rookie managers at Reading and Southampton could take a leaf from the pages of Norwich and Swansea's season to know that survival at the world's toughest league is possible, even with lesser quality. Southampton is certainly one to look forward to, they have a proud tradition in the Premier League and fantastic supporters, while Nigel Adkins does look like he is building an exciting team of young talent.


So its a season end, with a new one to come. The teams will reinforce their ranks. Managers will certainly be re-evaluating their seasons; owners will hire and fire too. The new season brings much promise with the likelihood of a highly competitive field of clubs with more resources than before.

May the passion and excitement of the BPL live long !