Pennant Fever

Manchester City closed out the English Premier League season with a 2-0 victory over West Ham United, giving City its fourth English championship, to go along with those it won in 1936-37, 1967-68, and 2011-12.  City will joined in the Champions' League next year by Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal.  Manchester United came in seventh, meaning that the Red Devils will not play in any European tournament for the first time since 1989-90.  United opened the year with David Moyes, who used to manage Everton, as their new manager.  By the time the season was over, Everton had finished two spots ahead of United in the standings.  That pretty much sums up United's year.

The events of the last year show why sports are so hesitant to give up.  Not so long ago, Manchester City wasn't in the top division of English football, and United was racking up titles every year.  If there were ever a group of fans who could feel that they had drawn the short straw, City fans fit that bill.  But look where they are now.

Cardiff City -- one of two Welsh teams in the Premier League -- is being relegated.  But congrats to Swansea City -- the other Welsh contender -- who survived for another season.

Here are the final standings.  Teams qualifying for the Champions League are in bold; teams that were relegated are in italics:

1.  Manchester City:  27-6-5 (86 points)
2.  Liverpool:  26-6-6 (84)
3.  Chelsea:  25-6-7 (82)
4.  Arsenal:  24-7-7 (79)
5.  Everton:  21-8-9 (72)
6.  Tottenham Hotspur:  21-11-6 (69)
7.  Manchester Utd:  19-12-7 (64)
8.  Southampton:  15-12-11 (56)
9.  Stoke City:  13-14-11 (50)
10.  Newcastle Utd:  15-19-4 (49)
11.  Crystal Palace:  13-19-6 (45)
12.  Swansea City:  11-18-9 (42)
13.  West Ham Utd:  11-20-7 (40)
14.  Sunderland:  10-20-8 (38) (goal differential of minus 19)
15.  Aston Villa:  10-20-8 (38) (goal differential of minus 22)
16.  Hull City:  10-21-7 (37)
17.  West Brom:  7-16-15 (36)
18.  Norwich City:  8-21-9 (33)
19.  Fulham:  9-24-5 (32)
20.  Cardiff City:  7-22-9 (30)