It would be churlish to dispute Richard Scudamore's claim that this has been the greatest Premier League season. The evidence overwhelmingly supports the chief executive's view that this campaign has produced consistent quality, unrivalled drama, technical competence and a truly compelling climax above and beyond anything we've seen in the past.

Kevin Keegan may have a point when he says a contest dominated by the top four is 'boring'. For now, though, our Premier League is the real deal, a huge success story that needs none of the tinkering envisaged by Scudamore with his revolutionary plan to play an extra round of matches at foreign venues from 2011 . . . and here's why.

Avram Grant's Chelsea deserve huge credit for taking the title race to the last day but, in the final analysis, Manchester United were worthy winners.

Of course, no one knows better than Sir Alex Ferguson how to successfully negotiate a Premier League season and, as Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea fell by the wayside, the United manager ensured that nothing blurred the focus at Old Trafford.

Arsenal, the most attractive team to watch, led by five points in mid-February but then lost Eduardo with a broken leg in that 2-2 draw at Birmingham. It was a difficult day that had serious repercussions - just one win from the next seven League games. Their 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford ended any realistic hopes Arsene Wenger had of regaining the title.

Chelsea now carried London's hopes and a 2-1 win over United at Stamford Bridge gave them a real chance of snatching the title from the defending champions in the final two matches - but Ferguson ensured there were no slip-ups. For Chelsea - who now face United in the Champions League Final - and Arsenal the consolation prize is a place at Europe's top table next season.

Elsewhere in the capital, West Ham finished a creditable tenth while Tottenham, three points lower in 11th place, go into the UEFA Cup as Carling Cup winners.

Perhaps London's happiest story, though, unfolded at Fulham where Roy Hodgson masterminded a survival strategy that produced four wins from their final five games - enough to keep them up. Well done, Roy.

Player of the season? No contest! Emmanuel Adebayor and Fernando Torres have had great campaigns, but Cristiano Ronaldo has been the outstanding star and is deservedly the winner of the PFA and football writers' Footballer of the Year awards for the second year running.

Blessed with outrageous ball skills, the Portuguese winger also has the physical presence to back up his swaggering, provocative style and is not above a little petulance from time to time.

He does things defences can't legislate-for and his 31 League goals from wide positions this season attracted the ultimate Old Trafford compliment - genuine comparison with George Best.

Another winger also caught my eye this season and must rank among the brightest young prospects. Aston Villa's Ashley Young, who emerged through the youth ranks at Watford, is just 22 and could become a regular member of Fabio Capello's England squad. Unfortunately, Gael Clichy is French otherwise we would claim him, too, because the 22 year old Arsenal left-back has been the best young defender this season.

At the other end of the scale, much was expected of Darren Bent, who cost Tottenham £18million, and Owen Hargreaves, who cost Manchester United £17m, but neither was able to live up to their big money reputations this season - partly due to limited first-team opportunities.

There were some classic encounters, and Ferguson acclaimed United's 2-1 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford: " Outstanding - there won't be a better match this season," he said. He was almost right.

The game that had everything except a winner was Chelsea's thrilling 4-4 draw with Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge in December - late goals, red cards for Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole, thrills and spills and even two goals from Andriy Shevchenko.

Player behaviour was under the spotlight once again this season. Brian Barwick's respect campaign, aimed initially at grass-roots football, was given added urgency by childish fits of pique by players such as Ashley Cole, Javier Mascherano and Rio Ferdinand and could lead to a new code of conduct for the Premier League.

Barwick, the FA's chief executive, has the full support in this of his new chairman at the FA Lord Triesman and Fabio Capello. This clampdown is long overdue and there are a number of other measures that could help strenghthen our national game:

• Enlist David Beckham as an ambassador and role model for English football

• Sign up to Sepp Blatter's proposal that would restrict teams to five foreign players from 2011

• Only captains communicate with referees next season.

• Accelerate Sir Trevor Brooking's plans for the develeopment of more young English players and coaches.

• Greater control of overseas owners and better monitoring of club debt.

• End Super Sundays that can involve a dozen England players in live TV matches just before a mid-week international.