Things could have been so different…

 This season has been poor. Supporters everywhere look forward to seasons that are full of “oooh” and “ahhh” moments. It’s fair to say that everybody loves a good shock now and then from a team that inexplicably punches above their weight, and survives the resulting blows.

The fight for relegation is always exciting to see, as teams will wear their heart on their sleeves to save their fate, whereas some are just laughable.

The title race is always something of a hot topic. The season starts with everyone as equals. Arsenal and their youthful squad claiming this will be the year they mature as a team and stamp their authority on the league.

Manchester United and Chelsea look to lock horns and pinch the title from under the others noses.

And don’t forget Manchester City and all their millions, supposedly the moment for this cash injection to pay dividends is now.

This season looked to be full of just that. Blackpool, a team with literally nothing in the bank, surviving mainly on the faith and passion of their supporters looked almost certain to repeat the dismal heights of Derby a few years back. Everyone was looking at Blackpool as the easiest six points their team would pick up all year.

Up until Christmas, they were wrong. Blackpool came out fighting, robbing points off everyone that stepped foot on bloomfield road.

Relegation?  Blackpool were laughing in the face of any doubters.

And what of the title race? Arsenal looked really promising. They put in a good run of games to really cement the idea of being victorious come may. Chelsea and Manchester United looked vulnerable. Chelsea not at their blistering best and United dropping points for fun, leaving City with a real shout at the title race at the expense of Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool demise.

Yes. Come Christmas, this season was shaping up to be rather interesting. No longer was this a simple two horse race for the title, and the impressive Blackpool leaving much to think about as the New Year approached.

Fast forward to today, and the season seems to have fallen into a sense of normality.

Arsenal’s impressive form has faded dramatically; dropping invaluable points in games where they have dominated has left them with slim hopes of their first trophy in years.

Liverpool’s resurgence under the second coming of King Kenny has seem them slot right back in within breathing space of the top four.

Manchester City have a firm grip on the fourth spot, and look certain to venture into the Champions League next year.

Manchester United, who at one stage held an impressive fifteen point lead at the top of the table over Cheslea, now look a team clinging onto hope,. They looked like sure fire winners in the race for the title, yet they face a Chelsea team who have begun to pick up points when it matters the most.

And of course Blackpool. The team that looked to shock everyone, now hang dangerously close to the drop zone.

Yes. This season has been poor. Now drawing to close, fans and managers alike will look over their shoulders at what could have been, a fascinating end to it all, instead they see a familiar picture.

 

Dale Benton