**OFFICIAL Association Football 2011/2012 Season thread**

[coatsy]

What makes Bilbao's success even more impressive are their limitations, as they will only hire Basque players.

not quite, they will now play players of basque heritage. the rule was relaxed a while ago.

[Hellsinkey]

Lucky penalty, but it didn't matter in the end. Scholes has really been the difference this spring. Arse- Citeh next, hopefully it's a better game.

[Hellsinkey]

Bwawahahahahhahahahahahaaha!

What the hell was Mancini thinking, not substituting Balotelli. He was looking for red, though spared until late.

Arse won deservedly, though they missed many chances.

[Rageman]

City's owners not looking too happy.

[MickeyG]

Lulz, missed the City match as I had to go to my in-laws for Easter. That pain was worth it though, as city lose again. 8 points clear, if Fergie fucks this up now it will be the worst meltdown in PL history.

[Hellsinkey]

Arse could have scored five more, but it was one of those days. Might have been Balotelli's last game in Britain. Let's see how dear Tevez gets now. Mancini has an eye for troublemakers.

[MickeyG]

Wouldn't surprise me if the Sheik sacked Mancini at seasons end. Poor showing from them the last couple of months. They've gone from attacking and scoring lots to being defensive and scared. Of course, the Tevez and Balotelli debacles have taken their toll on the squad.

[Hellsinkey]

Balotelli gets only a three game ban. FA's a disgrace. He could be back for United game. Only 11 points are needed for Championship, three games before that. It could all be won in the Citeh game. That would be sweet.

[MickeyG]

Yeah, I'm surprised he didn't get more because that tackle the ref missed was shocking. I guess if it looks like a tackle then there's an element of doubt that he didn't mean it, whereas with Ivanovic's punch against Wigan, it was a non football movement and so he has been charged.

[Hellsinkey]

The reason FA couldn't do anything was because one of the refs had actually seen what happened. Amazing that they didn't give him a red then. FA said they can act if none of the refs had seen it.

[Hellsinkey]

What a shite performance, Wigan deserved their win. Just goes to show that Fergie hasn't sorted out the problems in midfield. It's pathetic, but for this year's team it's no Scholes = no success.

[MickeyG]

Shocking performance. They always fuck it up and make it hard. 2 must win home games in a row now, then City at the Wastelands.

[MickeyG]

Normal service restored. Villa well beaten and it could have been more. Beat Everton next week and I think even if City beat United, United will do enough to fall over the line afterwards.

[Hellsinkey]

United can only afford to lose one game. Young should stop fishing for soft penalties, he'll get a reputation.

[pieceofme]

Liverpool vs Chelsea FA cup final. Urgh.

Go Chelsea I guess. Actually if Liverpool win it will mean more time as Dalgeish as Liverpool manager which can only be beneficial

I can't see United not winning the title now.

[MickeyG]

Great result for Wigan against Arsenal. Robbed against Chelsea, beat United and now Arsenal. 5 points above relegation. Hopefully they can stay up.

Hopefully Chelsea will beat Liverpool. King Kenny won't be getting fired if they lose, I don't think.

[Hellsinkey]

King Kenny won't be getting fired if they lose, I don't think.

They would have to find some arsehole first, like Benitez or Kenny. Everything is always a big conspiracy. Hodgson was to well behaved for them.

[pieceofme]

Fair play Chelsea for beating Barca. Still think it will be a Barca Real final, but would be great if both of them got knocked out.

[pieceofme]

Wow Tottenham really fucking things up.

[Hellsinkey]

Wow Tottenham really fucking things up.

They've been playing relegation level football lately. Newcastle passed them. If United win tomorrow, it all can be decided against Citeh.

[pieceofme]

Wow Tottenham really fucking things up.

They've been playing relegation level football lately. Newcastle passed them. If United win tomorrow, it all can be decided against Citeh.

Yep. 1 win in 9 games.

Real beat Barca. Could Barca finish without any trophies this season? I hope so!

[MickeyG]

Terrible, terrible defending. Should have been in the bag. Now they need something at City.

[Hellsinkey]

Good game, credit to Everton, but a bad result. First 3-1 up, then 4-2 up and still a draw. Four away goals at OT. Fucking fuck.

If Citeh win today and next week, they're ahead on goals.

[MickeyG]

Poor sub by Fergie bringing on Jones when a goal was needed.

Fucking Everton have been shite twice against the dippers recently then try hard against United. Cunts.

Premier league, still the most exciting league in the world.

[Hellsinkey]

So the Citeh game is the most important of the season. It's like all the cup games put together.

There's four goal advantage to Citeh before Wolves game and hard to imagine pulling that or more back in the two remaining games, if losing to Citeh. I hope Wolves will fight, otherwise they are relegated today.

[Hellsinkey]

Wow. 10 man Chelsea parks the bus at Camp Nou and it works. Cool finishing too, even from Torres. Four of them will miss the final though.

[MickeyG]

Barca owned!

Pity they couldn't have had this bad run last season, especially against United in the final. No team has retained the champions league, and so it continues. I hope either Real or Bayern win the final.

Poor season for Barca, no CL and probably no league either.

[pieceofme]

Barca owned!

Pity they couldn't have had this bad run last season, especially against United in the final. No team has retained the champions league, and so it continues. I hope either Real or Bayern win the final.

Poor season for Barca, no CL and probably no league either.

Awesome.

[Hellsinkey]

Some shocking penalties from Real. Hard to imagine Chelsea winning in Munich.

[MickeyG]

Yeah, the 2 most expensive players in the world ever, both miss pens for Real. Ramos' was worst though.

7 players will miss the final for suspensions. I think yellow cards should be wiped out after each round. It's ridiculous Ivanovic misses the final after a booking in the 1st leg against Benfica, and then for a 2nd booking in the 2nd leg against Barca. Red cards are different. John Terry.