The End of the Season

A week ago the Dons ended their first season back in the Football League. The bare fact is we finished 16th, and if you'd offered me that last August I'd have bitten your hand off. Survival was all I care about. However the problem with the season was the start exceeded all expectation, during September some supremely optimistic supporters were talking about our play offs chance. Of course it couldn't last and it didn't. A month away in Australia, ensured that we missed a number of truly mediocre performances, and by January we were heading down the table rapidly. A few loan signings steadied the ship, but clearly are not a long term solution. It was not until mid April that supporters could relax in the knowledge that our league place was secure.
It was no surprise to hear that managerTerry Brown had released 13 players at the end of the season. At the beginning of the season Brown had talked of developing a young squad and giving the players who had secured promotion "a chance" to play league football. Of course he was not helped by the departures of Kedwell and Gregory, however their replacements Jack Midson and the restored to fitness Sammy Moore have been the two shining lights. Brown obviously felt that most of the players released could not take the Club any further than midtable league 2, and therefore it will be a summer of seeking replacements.

Meanwhile on Sunday in brilliant sunshine the Premiership season came to a close. It will surely go down as one of the most memorable as it was finally decided in the last two minutes of "time added on" with Manchester City finally defeating 10 men QPR to secure the points necessary to secure their first championship since 1968. Of course Sky and the media in the rush to jettison any football prior to the creation of the premiership in 1992, have decided to largely ignore Arsenal last minute victory at Liverpool in 1989.

For me my main interest on Sunday was Arsenal's game at West Bromwich Albion. The situation was that Arsenal had to better the result of Spurs to nail down 3rd place and  secure a place in the Champions League for next season. Within 2 minutes a lead had been established only to then fall behind to two goals that both exposure holes in the defence. Fortunately the stand in keeper for West Brom had a 'mare and he largelt gifted Arsenal two goals to allow the Gunners to hang on for a 3-2 victory.

Significantly Arsenal have finished above Spurs  yet again, and have qualified for the Champions League for the 15th consequtive season, something only accomplished by 3 clubs in Europe. As the curtain falls all talk is whether Robin Van Persie golden boot winner and Arsenal captain will commit his long term future to the club. He has one year left on his contract, and Arsenal again find themselves in the situation of trying to keep a player much in demand, with clubs such as Manchester City hovvering overhead like vultures waiting to pounce. Talks are scheduled for later this week, so I'm sure that this is a topic that will be revisited soon.