Manchester City made the short trip up the M61 to the Reebok stadium but came back with a huge leap forward in their status. The 2-0 win obviously was another three points in the bag and three more points for our Premier League tally but, more than that, it meant that our final position in the league moved from fourth to third.
The difference means no qualification trips to eastern Siberia in July before entry into the Champions League and instead we can enjoy the sunshine of LA and Dublin instead. It certainly has been a stellar season for City who, only a few days ago, lifted the FA Cup. This is their first major trophy since lifting the League Cup in 1976 and the first time our name has been on it since 1969.
This added to our joint second place finish in the EPL (yes we have the same points as Chelski), Carlos Tevez sharing the Golden Boot award and Joe Hart getting the Golden Gloves and you may start believing that all Mancini touches does turn to gold.
Going into the final game of the season City were in a foot race with Wengers Arsenal for third place and it would be fair to say that City fans were still nervous. All those years of being ’Typical City’ are hard to dismiss and would have been well in character to win the FA Cup only then to swith off for the remaining games. To be fair it was Bolton who had the better chances early doors after Knight had blocked a lone Tevez chance. It was our own ‘Deeee-ceeent’ keeper that kept us in it before Lescott headed City into a half time lead. Silva, Barry, Yaya and Tevez all spurned chances in the second half but just minutes after coming on, Bosnian super sub Dzeko sealed the points, and Champions League for the ONLY team IN Manchester.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
CITY 3, Stoke 0
So it was same again lads with us playing Stoke for the second time in four days. This time though, there was no silverware up for grabs but three valuable points that would launch City into the much coveted third position in the Premier League and with it the last automatic qualification position for next seasons Champions League.
Such was the importance of the game for Mancinis men that even the FA Cup was not on show and City started with a strong side. It was the same dominating City that we saw on Saturday only this time without the ‘35 year without a trophy’ tag hanging around their neck and in front of their home fans. A slick one two with James Milner on the edge of the box allowed Captain Tevez to finally unleash a shot that Sorensen didn’t get anywhere near. City went in at the half with the lead and third place looking more likely by the minute. Seven minutes into the second half prolific super striker Joleon Lescott pounced! His Klingon technique got him in front of Sorensen to guide a Johnson freekick into the net for his first goal this year.
Carlos Tevez didn’t like that and soon put City 3-0 up with a superb freekick that had Joe Hart join in with the Poznan!
City were playing with smiles on their faces and were extremely comfortable, so much so that even Roberto Mancini got up from his seat to acknowledge the fans as they started to chant his name. There was certainly a party atmosphere during the game, from the crowd as well as the players and that would continue after the whistle with spectators being asked to keep seated for the players to return and allow them to thank them for their continued support.
Next up is the Sunday season finale away to Bolton. A win there (or a match with Arsenals points tally away to Fulham) and Manchester City will automatically qualify for the Champions League, rather than having to qualify with matches starting in July. A side note that with this win Mancinis men have secured the most points total and wins total for Manchester City in the Premier League ever.
Such was the importance of the game for Mancinis men that even the FA Cup was not on show and City started with a strong side. It was the same dominating City that we saw on Saturday only this time without the ‘35 year without a trophy’ tag hanging around their neck and in front of their home fans. A slick one two with James Milner on the edge of the box allowed Captain Tevez to finally unleash a shot that Sorensen didn’t get anywhere near. City went in at the half with the lead and third place looking more likely by the minute. Seven minutes into the second half prolific super striker Joleon Lescott pounced! His Klingon technique got him in front of Sorensen to guide a Johnson freekick into the net for his first goal this year.
Carlos Tevez didn’t like that and soon put City 3-0 up with a superb freekick that had Joe Hart join in with the Poznan!
City were playing with smiles on their faces and were extremely comfortable, so much so that even Roberto Mancini got up from his seat to acknowledge the fans as they started to chant his name. There was certainly a party atmosphere during the game, from the crowd as well as the players and that would continue after the whistle with spectators being asked to keep seated for the players to return and allow them to thank them for their continued support.
Next up is the Sunday season finale away to Bolton. A win there (or a match with Arsenals points tally away to Fulham) and Manchester City will automatically qualify for the Champions League, rather than having to qualify with matches starting in July. A side note that with this win Mancinis men have secured the most points total and wins total for Manchester City in the Premier League ever.
Monday, May 16, 2011
City, FA Cup Winners 2011
So pop quiz hot shot. What do these four dates have in common? April 23rd 1904, April 28th 1934, May 5th 1956 and April 26th 1969? Answer? They were all dates in history when the ONLY team to come from Manchester won the most prestigious club cup competition in history, the FA Cup. Now City fans can add May 14th 2011 to that list as on this day Manchester City ended their 35 year wait for silverware with one power strike from Yaya Toure.
City arrived at Wembley in good spirits, having already secured at least fourth spot in the English Premier league and with that the chance of Champions League football next season. This being the highest finish ever in the Premiership and the highest in the top flight since the 1976-77 season. This still with two games to go and third spot still within reach.
City welcomed back Captain fantastic Carlos Tevez from injury and from the first whistle it was all Blue going forward. City had a number of good chances with Toure shooting just wide from long range, Balotelli forcing a great save from Sorensen and Tevez shooting straight at the Stoke keeper, who spilt then collected the ball. However the best chance fell to Spanish sensation David Silva who only yards from goal uncharacteristically drilled the ball into the ground and watched it go harmlessly over the bar. It was at this point, I must confess, that I started to worry for our beloved Blues. As you all know, City haven’t the best history against Stoke. Also add the fact that with the FA Cup sometimes it is the lucky team that wins it and you could argue a case for Stoke to snatch it and Manchester City to yet again be held up and made fun of. (Just think of the headlines as United lifted the Premier title!)
Second half seemed more of the same with Tevez on a break laying a ball into the path of an unmarked Silva in acres of space, only for the ball to get caught up in his feet. Stoke had been left to try long throws into the box until Jones was put through one on one with Joe Hart. However Hart made himself big in front of goal and Jones could only see his shot rebound off the City keeper. That would be their best chance and it was City who then took the lead. Persistence in the box saw the ball fall at the feet of Yaya Toure who rifled the shot into the back of the Stoke net. It was his goal that got us to the final and defeated United, it was his goal that saw blue ribbons placed on the cup that was placed in Carlos Tevez’s hands. City were lifting their first major silverware since 1976 and I was over the Blue Moon!!
City arrived at Wembley in good spirits, having already secured at least fourth spot in the English Premier league and with that the chance of Champions League football next season. This being the highest finish ever in the Premiership and the highest in the top flight since the 1976-77 season. This still with two games to go and third spot still within reach.
City welcomed back Captain fantastic Carlos Tevez from injury and from the first whistle it was all Blue going forward. City had a number of good chances with Toure shooting just wide from long range, Balotelli forcing a great save from Sorensen and Tevez shooting straight at the Stoke keeper, who spilt then collected the ball. However the best chance fell to Spanish sensation David Silva who only yards from goal uncharacteristically drilled the ball into the ground and watched it go harmlessly over the bar. It was at this point, I must confess, that I started to worry for our beloved Blues. As you all know, City haven’t the best history against Stoke. Also add the fact that with the FA Cup sometimes it is the lucky team that wins it and you could argue a case for Stoke to snatch it and Manchester City to yet again be held up and made fun of. (Just think of the headlines as United lifted the Premier title!)
Second half seemed more of the same with Tevez on a break laying a ball into the path of an unmarked Silva in acres of space, only for the ball to get caught up in his feet. Stoke had been left to try long throws into the box until Jones was put through one on one with Joe Hart. However Hart made himself big in front of goal and Jones could only see his shot rebound off the City keeper. That would be their best chance and it was City who then took the lead. Persistence in the box saw the ball fall at the feet of Yaya Toure who rifled the shot into the back of the Stoke net. It was his goal that got us to the final and defeated United, it was his goal that saw blue ribbons placed on the cup that was placed in Carlos Tevez’s hands. City were lifting their first major silverware since 1976 and I was over the Blue Moon!!
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