Manchester City, 2010-2011 Season Review.

Manchester City, 2010-2011 Season Review.

After losing out on a Champions League place and a League Cup Final last year, Manchester City were eager to silence the critics this season, in what would arguably be the most important in the club’s history.

City began their season away at

White Hart Lane

against Tottenham. It was the very first Premier League fixture of the 2010-2011 season, because play started two  hours earlier than the other fixtures. Joe Hart produced one of the performances of the season to deny Tottenham an opening day goal – his impressive reflex save from Jermaine Defoe being the best.

And the opening day defence stood tall once again, as Mario Balotelli converted his first Manchester City goal to give the Blues a 1-0 win away in Timisoara in the Europa League, meaning that City would take a lead back to the City of Manchester Stadium for the second leg.

A week later, City returned to their home ground, the City of Manchester Stadium, to face Liverpool. An impressive flowing display brushed Liverpool aside. A double from Carlos Tevez and a solitary goal from Gareth Barry helped City to a 3-0 victory.

But the celebrations couldn’t last for too long as attention turned back to the Europa League. FC Timisoara visited the City of Manchester Stadium in the Europa League. Goals from Shaun Wright-Phillips and Dedryck Boyata ensured that Manchester City would be playing in the group stages of the competition.

City form in the league then took a turn for the worst when an away loss to Sunderland and a home draw against Blackburn – caused by a dreadful defensive mistake from Kolo Toure and Joe Hart – meant that City sat in 8^th position in the Premier League. However, wins over Red Bull Salzburg and Wigan Athletic put City in good positions in domestic and European competitions. David Silva and Yaya Toure scored their first goals for Manchester in each game.  But City crashed out of the League Cup at the first hurdle, losing 2-1 to West Brom.

The unbeaten Chelsea came to the City of Manchester Stadium, but the City defence lasted the battering for 90 minutes again. Carlos Tevez scored the only goal of the game to give City the three points. This game sent out a real message and made the rest of world football look up and take notice.


The end of September was signalled by a home draw to European giants Juventus. Adam Johnson’s goal secured a point for the Blues as they headed to the top of their Europa League group.

In October, wins over Newcastle and Blackpool saw City sit 2^nd in the Premier League. But once again the attention turned to the Europa League, and the visit of Lech Poznan. City won the game 3-1, thanks to an Emmanuel Adebayor hat-trick, but it was a certain dance performed by the Lech Poznan that stole the headlines in the end. And the rest, they say, is history.

Three losses on the bounce to Arsenal, Wolves and Lech Poznan saw the Blues hit their worst form of the season. City had slipped to 4^th in the Premier League, but two Mario Balotelli goals saw Manchester City overcome West Brom.

The first Manchester Derby of the season was a forgettable one. A disappointing, cautious 0-0 draw had the City fans unable to raise a smile. And the same thing happened again when Birmingham visited the City of Manchester Stadium. Another 0-0 draw, and City’s November wasn’t looking good.

Away to Fulham, City pulled off what was arguably their best performance of the season. A 4-1 win shocked pundits, due to City’s overwhelming and impressive nature. Carlos Tevez scored two, Pablo Zabaleta rifled one in, and Yaya Toure finished off a 24-pass move to give City the points. A solitary goal from Zoltan Gera proved worthless in the end, but it did slightly spoil what could have been an absolutely perfect day. A visit to the Britannia Stadium and Stoke City saw City lose a lead in the last minute, and draw 1-1.

But it was time for another City legend in City folklore to appear. In the 3-0 home win over Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League, Mario Balotelli scored two and Adam Johnson found a mazy run through the defence to score an impressive goal. But once again, the travelling club City faced brought their own little bit of City history. Red Bull’s Brazilian striker Alan was the butt of the jokes, with his rather English-sounding name sparking immediate popularity. In fact, I’ll bet more than half of his friends on Facebook are City fans!
Wins over Bolton, West Ham, Newcastle and Aston Villa saw City rise to 2^nd again in the Premier League, and a draw away to Juventus saw City sit comfortably in 1^st place in their Europa League group. City progressed to the next round of the competition, and things were looking up heading into 2011, and another win over Blackpool and an impressive point away at Arsenal kept City in 2^nd place in the beginning of the new year.

A draw away to Leicester in the 3^rd round of the FA Cup saw Manchester City pay tribute to Neil Young – the former City legend recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. The game finished 2-2, with James Milner scoring his first goal for City, before a Carlos Tevez goal and a Joe Hart forced a replay. Before the game, Manchester City had signed Edin Dzeko in the January transfer window for a huge £27m, and he impressed on his debut in the 4-3 win over Wolves, but it was a Carlos Tevez double, and goals from brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure that won the game in the end.

Another tribute to Neil Young was paid ahead of the Leicester replay, with the City players parading the famous red and black strip before kick-off. The shirts were to be auctioned to raise money for the Neil Young Fund. City won the game 4-2, thanks to Carlos Tevez, Patrick Vieira, Adam Johnson and a first City goal for Aleksander Kolarov.

City lost away to Aston Villa in the league, and drew away to Notts. County in the FA Cup to slip to 3^rd from 1^st in the league, and have to play another replay respectively. Kolarov scored again as City drew 2-2 away to Birmingham, beat West Brom 3-0 and lost the second Manchester Derby of the season, thanks to a spectacular over-head kick by Wayne Rooney. City then went away to Greece to face Aris Thessaloniki, but the game finished 0-0. City then beat Notts. Count 5-0 in the replay, and Edin Dzeko scored 4 goals in the space of a week to see City progress in both the FA Cup and the Europa League.

City drew with Fulham at home, with Mario Balotelli scoring City’s goal. And a 3-0 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup saw City progress to the Quarter-Finals of the competition. And a home in at home to Wigan Athletic put City 3^rd in the league. But a 2-0 loss away in Kiev saw Manchester City staring at elimination from the Europa League. But a 1-0 home win against Reading in the FA Cup set up a mouth-watering  FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley between City and United – the third and last meeting of the season between these two sides.

City won the second leg of the Europa League 1-0, but it wasn’t enough to stay in the competition. City were out of the Europa League, and things only got worse when Chelsea strolled away with a 2-0 win over the Blues. City target David Luiz rubbed salt in the wounds with a flick on, and Ramires danced delicately through the City defence to secure the points for Chelsea. But a 5-0 win over Sunderland kept City in the top 4, and even a 3-0 loss to Liverpool wasn’t enough to knock City down in to fifth.

Just a few days later, the most important day in City’s recent history had arrived: Manchester City vs. Manchester United at Wembley Stadium for the first time ever. And it was City who came away victorious; a goal from Yaya Toure saw City progress to the FA Cup Final – their first in exactly 30 years.

Edin Dzeko scored his first ever Premier League goal in the away win over Blackburn Rovers, and gave Manchester City a 1-0 win. And goals from Nigel de Jong and Pablo Zabaleta secured a 2-1 win over West Ham. If City took two points from the remaining four Premier League games, then Champions League football would be secured for the 2011-2012. An away loss at Everton halted the celebrations, but a win over Tottenham – City’s closest rivals for fourth place – saw City’s top 4 status guaranteed. Champions League football at City – hold that thought.

And then, the FA Cup Final; Stoke City were the opponents, and Stoke City turned out to be the losers. A thumping strike from City’s Semi-Final hero Yaya Toure earned Manchester City a 1-0 win and their first major trophy win in 35 years: FA Cup glory. Carlos Tevez held the trophy aloft, the City fans cheered, and City were winners again.

City and Stoke met again in the league, and a fantastic double from Carlos Tevez and a solitary goal from Joleon Lescott gave City 3 goals and three points in their final home league fixture of the season. The City players and staff took the field to thank City’s fans for attending games in City’s most successful season since 1969.

And a 2-0 win on the last day at Bolton ensured that City would finish third in the Premier League and qualify for the Champions League group stages for the first time ever.

That blue moon is definitely rising over Manchester.

Bolton vs. Manchester City - preview.



Carlos Tevez scores the goal that won the game for City
at Eastlands back in December. At that point, it was his 10th
goal of the season. He'll be hoping to secure the Golden
Boot on Sunday afternoon. (Picture, Yahoo! Sport)



And so, we're at the final game of what has been a great season for Manchester City. With Champions League qualification, and a first major trophy in 35 years in the shape of the FA Cup, you'd think that things couldn't get much better for City. But if they beat Bolton on Sunday, or at least match Arsenal's result against Fulham, they will head straight into the Champions League group stages without needing to go through a qualifying round - where they could meet Bayern Munich or Villareal.

In the reverse fxture of this game earlier on in the season, Carlos Tevez scored the winner for Manchester City after 4 minutes. City hit the woodwork twice through Balotelli and Silva, and Carlos Tevez handed in a transfer request after being substituted.

-
Bolton are on an awful run of form. Their last four games have seen them pick up no points at all, and despite a trip to the Reebok being a tricky fixture, you sense that Manchester City's recent form would be enough to carry them through this fixture without that many glitches. City have won 6 out of their last 7 in all competitions, losing only to Everton in their last away fixture.  City's away form however, to teams in and around the Lancashire area, has seen them pick up maximum points - wins at Blackburn, Blackpool and Wigan ensured that.

--

Despite being totally irrelevant to the game's events, I think Manchester City will win 3-1. Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez (2) to score for City, and Kevin Davies to knock one in for Bolton.

My Manchester City starting line up: Hart; Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov; de Jong, Barry, Yaya Toure; Silva, Tevez, Balotelli.

Manchester City vs. Stoke: review.



Tevez runs away in triumph after his first
goal of the evening.

Manchester City 3-0 Stoke.

After the triumphs at Wembley in the FA Cup Final, it was back home and back down to Earth for Manchester City. Aston Villa's suprising victory over Arsenal on Sunday afternoon meant that a win for Manchester City against Stoke would see them rise above Arsenal into third place - meaning that a win on the final day against Bolton will take City straight into the group stages of the Champions League, without the hurdle of a qualifier.

City went into the game stressing over the fitness of David Silva and Mario Balotelli, and over the future of Carlos Tevez. But two of the three - David Silva and Carlos Tevez - started the game. The City of Manchester Stadium was full to the rafters, bar the Stoke fans, who only had 800 fans cheering them on. Understandably, due to Saturday's events.

A contender for Goal of the month.

Manchester City, brimming with confidence, opened the scoring. Silva's ball to James Milner was miscontrolled, but it bounced to Tevez, who managed to work a tight one-two with Milner, dance inside one defender, drop the shoulder away from the other and fire up and across Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen. A contender for Goal of the Month, you say? I can't disgaree.

City laid off the pressure a tad, but created chances through Yaya Toure's long drive, and Carlos Tevez's curling effort from the outside of his foot. Stoke had barely had a look in, despite managing to temporarily slow the City tide.

Carlos Tevez stepped up to take it...

The second half began, and a burst from Micah Richards drew Danny Collins over to make the sliding tackle. Richards tried to jump over the defender's leg, but was unsuccessful. A free-kick was given. Johnson's long ball seemed to have evaded everyone until Joleon Lescott arrived in front of Sorensen to make it 2-0. A brave header that rustled the back of the net sent the City fans wild, and put City's third place dreams in to the reality box.

Edin Dzeko arrived at the scene, replacing the creative Silva - a change that more or less confirms Silva's starting place on Sunday on the final day against Bolton - who didn't look the best pleased to be taken off after another good performance, despite not being at his best. Dzeko's biggest chance came when he managed to wrestle through a Stoke defender and fire his shot straight at the on-rushing Sorensen.

Nigel de Jong took a tumble around 35 yards out, and a free-kick was given. Carlos Tevez stepped up to take it. He fired the shot wide of the wall, and some how managed to bend it back in and reach the top corner. 3-0. Imagine a shooting star, and you'll be somewhere close to the path that Tevez's shot took on its way to the goal. Sorensen was beaten and City were heading towards three points.

Dzeko's shot hit the side-netting, Pablo Zabaleta left the field in a pool of blood after another clash left him needing 11 stitches, but he should be fit for the all important clash in just a few days time.

Hart 6; Richards 8, Kompany 7, Lescott 8, Zabaleta 7; Milner 7, de Jong 7; Toure 8; Silva 7, Tevez 9; Johnson 6.                         - Dzeko 7, Wright-Phillips 7; Boyata 6.

No City vs. Stoke preview.

Too busy at the moment to do a full preview, but for what it's worth, I reckon City will win 2-0.

Manchester City have won the FA Cup.

Say it to yourself: 'Manchester City have won the FA Cup'. How good does that sound?

City dominated long periods of their biggest game in over 30 years, and finally United's long-running, always haunting banner can be taken down, as City step up to the plate. Yaya Toure found the decisive blast from 10 yards to end all of the doubts over whether City can become a force in football, and finally silence the '35 years chants'.

After the final, the City players and staff paraded their own banner, stating that Manchester United's "35 YEARS" banner had to be reset or frozen. The banner read "00 YEARS" in white lettering on a black background. City vice-captain Vincent Kompany posed in front of the banner with the famous trophy clasped tightly in his hands.

Now onto the match: City began brightly, with Carlos Tevez's shot stinging the impressive gloves of Thomas Sorensen in the Stoke goal. Yaya Toure and Nigel de Jong also fired efforts just wide of the target, and a superb curling effort from Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli was saved equally as well as it was struck. Manchester City were in on goal again, as Carlos Tevez's excellently flighted ball found Mario Baloltelli in the six yard box. The Italian knocked it down for David Silva, who could only volley into the floor and see his shot bounce over the bar from five or six yards.

Stoke had offered nothing up front, and Manchester City should have been ahead.

In the second half: Manchester City started brightly again. Kolarov was played in down the left hand side, and instead of cutting back for Silva or Balotelli, decided to go for goal himself from a tight angle. The ball skewed horribly off his left foot and hit the side netting. Meanwhile, Stoke had managed to get themselves back into the game. Huth saw his header go wide, and Pennant had seen his shot blocked by Yaya Toure.

Carlos Tevez chased down a hopeful clearance and managed to play in Silva in front of goal. Silva's first touch let him down and allowed the Stoke defenders to get back and close the chance down. Manchester City managed to work another chance from the opportunity, but Tevez saw his shot deflected wide. Was it really going to be City's day?

A long ball from Etherington found Jones in the clear, but England #1 Joe Hart made sure the game stayed at 0-0, with a fine stop from point-blanc range. Stoke were really managing to find themselves a foothold in the game, and Manchester City were no longer completely on top. Were their missed chances about to come and bite them? Adam Johnson for Gareth Barry was the Manchester City change on 71 minutes.

On 73 minutes, Manchester City started a move down the right and managed to work the ball into Silva's feet, who had his back to goal on the edge of the area. His ball to Balotelli was returned with a back-hell flick to the edge of the six yard box. Balotelli stretched to get a shot away, and the ball ricocheted around the Stoke penalty area. Yaya Toure streamrollered his way through a crowd and thumped the ball hard, past the impressive Sorensen and the flailing arms and legs of every player in the box. Manchester City were one up in the FA Cup Final with 15 minutes to go.

The Sky Blues rode the Stoke storm by introducing Zabaleta and Vieira into the play. The City fans shot up in cheer at the final whistle, knowing that their 35 year wait was well and truly over. Only a club like Manchester City can produce an occasion like this, and they are occasions worth noting. Was this a watershed victory? Only time and trophies will tell. David Cameron was watching the FA Cup Final yesterday; will he be voting Toure instead of Tory at the next election?

Manchester City starting 11 ratings: Hart 7; Kompany 7; Lescott 7; Richards 8; Kolarov 6; de Jong 7; Yaya Toure 7; Barry 7; Silva 7; Balotelli 8; Tevez 7.

Manchester City vs. Stoke City - FA Cup Final: Preview.

Manchester City and Stoke City will descend from the north-west of England onto Wembley Stadium in London for the 130th FA Cup Final - the first in Stoke City's history, and Manchester City's first FA Cup Final in exactly 30 years. Both teams' routes to the FA Cup Final have seen them travel across the country, playing teams of all abilities, and win games nobody thought they would.

Stoke have beaten Cardiff, Wolves, Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham United and Bolton on the way to their first ever FA Cup Final, while Manchester City have knocked out Leicester, Notts County, Aston Villa, Reading, and their biggest rivals Manchester United to reach the biggest game in their history for many years.


But there is one Wembley Final that Stoke City manager Tony Pulis will want to avenge on Saturday...

Back in 1999, Manchester City and a Tony Pulis lead Gillingham came to the old Wembley Stadium for the Division 2 Play-off Final. Gillingham lead 2-0 through late goals from Robert Taylor (who would go on to play for Manchester City) and Carl Asaba. Manchester City looked destined for doom, until Kevin Horlock's shot into an empty net gave them some hope. And when a long ball forward from Gerard Wiekens was flicked on to Paul Dickov, City dared to dream the impossible. Dickov fired a shot above Gillingham 'keeper Vince Bartram, and made it 2-2. City went on to win on penalties, and Gillingham hearts were broken.

City fans will like to hear this stat: Tony Pulis took Gillingham to Wembley for the first time that season, they lost. This FA Cup Final is Stoke City's first, and Tony Pulis has taken them there... could history repeat itself, or will Pulis finally take a team to glory?


--


I'm going to predict a Stoke win in extra-time. City have failed to beat Stoke since a 2-0 win in 2009 - a 2-0 win that was Mancini's first ever game incharge of Manchester City. Since then, Stoke have won one game, and there have been three draws. Stoke actually knocked Manchester City out of the FA Cup last season by beating them 3-1 in a replay at the Britannia Stadium. But the man that denied City all three points at the Britannia earlier this season may miss the final due to injury - Matthew Etherington.


Line-ups.

.......................................Hart.......................................
Richards........Kompany............Lescott.............Zabaleta
....................................de Jong......................................
..................Milner........................Yaya Touré................
.....Johnson....................................................Silva.........
....................................Tevez........................................


Subs: Given, Boyata, Kolarov, Vieira, Wright-Phillips, Balotelli, Dzeko.


.......................................Begovic.......................................
Wilkinson...........Pugh.....................Shawcross.........Wilson
..............................Whelan....Whitehead.............................
....Pennant...................................................Delap...............
.............................Walters.........Jones.................................


Subs: Sorensen, Collins, Huth, Diao, Carew, Faye, Shonton.

Manchester City vs. Tottenham: Report.

A party that finally wasn't spoilt by something small.

So there we have it. The teams that will finish in the top four places in the Premier League this season have been confirmed; Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City will all represent England in the Champions League next season at some point or other in the competition. However, the teams in the top 4 places haven't got their league positions completely sorted out. Chelsea, currently in second, could finish as low as fourth, and Manchester City, in fourth, could finish as high as second.

Manchester City went into the game against Spurs on Tuesday wanting to avenge the painful defeat from last season - when Peter Crouch secured Champions League qualification for Tottenham in front of City's fans. The Blues knew that a win in their last three games would take them to Europe's greatest heights for the first time in over forty years, but with an FA Cup Final coming soon, the City players - and Roberto Mancini - wanted to get this over and done with.


The match.


City and Spurs both started comfortably, but it was Manchester City who made the first clear cut opening. Dzeko won the ball in the air to flick it on for the overlapping David Silva. Silva, instead of opting to shoot, pulled it back to the Bosnian striker who stood 10 yards out. Dzeko fired his shot low and hard, but straight and Spurs' stand-in 'keeper Carlo Cudicini.

Spurs then had their first big opportunity of the game, when Joe Hart's long ball forward from the goal-kick came all the way back to him after Tottenham had regained possession. Lennon danced forward and cut it back for Luka Modric who was in acres of space 18 yards out. The Croatian went for the bottom corner, but could only find the advertising board behind the goal. His shot had Joe Hart scrambling hopelessly, and Modric appealed to a higher authority as the City goal-kick was readied.

However, seconds later, Micah Richards saw he was short of options, but managed to make a bursting run down the right-hand-side. He played a slow ball to City winger Adam Johnson, whose run was blocked off by Spurs' left-back Danny Rose. The ball deflected wide for a City corner, and Milner went over to take...

... Milner's alert vision found Adam Johnson in space, and he cut a reverse ball to Milner who managed to break into the area and fire a low ball across the goalmouth. And rather ironically, Peter Crouch stuck out a long leg to try and block the ball; but in his desperate attempts to stop a goal, the deflection off his foot eluded his goalkeeper and hit the back of the net.

City went wild; as a club, as a family. Was the dream finally going to come true? It very nearly became more and more real as David Silva fired a wicked shot inches over the crossbar!


The second half.


Spurs made an incredibly bright start to the second period, with Stephen Pienaar's header forcing City 'keeper Joe Hart into a magnificent save to keep the game at 1-0. Hart changed his direction mid-save and dived low to his left to tip the ball away.

City then had two huge chances to secure the points in the last 15 minutes. Patrick Vieira was released - by City sub Carlos Tevez - into the area. His chip over Cudicini looked destined to sink his old rivals to defeat, but his former Arsenal team-mate William Gallas came from nowhere to block it on the line.

And in the dying seconds Carlos Tevez was released by a Lescott clearance. Tevez controlled the ball and danced around the two defenders that had come back to stop him. He fired his shot above the desperate Carlo Cudicini, but the former Chelsea goalkeeper defied City's returning talisman a heroes' return with a stunning left-handed block that he managed to keep in play after the ball had bounced away from danger.

But at that moment the final whistle rung around Eastlands, and it was followed by a cheer. Manchester City had done it! They'd really, really, really done it!

City will be playing Champions League football next season. Whether it is for two games in the qualifiers or more, Europe's biggest teams will be playing on the City of Manchester Stadium's pitch. And is it a good time to mention that City have a 100% record against Barcelona in the last 8 years?



Player ratings

Hart 8 - an excellent save that eventually gave Manchester City the win.

Richards 9 - one of his best games in a Manchester City shirt.

Kompany 8 - back to his commanding self.

Lescott 8 - back to his recent best.

Zabaleta 7 - good performance against one of England's best wingers. Until his nose was split by the long arm of the Crouch.

de Jong 7 - good in midfield, kept Sandro quiet for most of the game.

Yaya Touré 6 - incredibly quiet and tired after 70 minutes.

Milner 8 - another impressive performance. His cross lead to the goal.

Silva 8 - impish, quick and decisive. Managed to get into good positions. Wasn't happy at being substituted.

Dzeko 6 - should have done better with his big chance to score. Looked better when Tevez was introduced.

Johnson 6 - started well but faded quickly.


Kolarov 6 - nothing to do, did enough.

Vieira 7 - steadied the ship and almost scored at the end.

Tevez 7 - his return was well worth the wait. Another player that steadied the ship.

Champions League, you're having a laugh.

I want to go on the Tottenham forum and bask in its gloom.

All players deserve a 10/10. City were excellent, sod it. We really weren't, but we still were, you know? OMG.

Manchester City vs. Tottenham: Preview.

As I look ahead to this game, I feel 1% confident and 99% worried. A win here and Champions League football is coming to City next season; a loss, and the nails are bitten ahead of the final league fixtures. City stand six 6 points clear of Tottenham at the moment, so a point may do it due to City's superior goal-difference, but Tottenham know what they can do, and they know how good their recent record against Manchester City is. So to get it out of the way - I'm going to pass comment on Tottenham first!

Tottenham, as much as I hate them, are undoubtedly a fantastic team. They boast attacking talents such as Luka Modric, Rafael van der Vaart, Gareth Bale, Steven Pienaar and Aaron Lennon; if that fails they have Tom Huddlestone to spray 60 yard passes to Peter Crouch, and they have one of Brazil's finest young pospects in Sandro. But at the back is a different story...

... Gomes, the Spurs goalkeeper, stands top of the Mistakes that Have Cost Your Team a Goal table, with a total of 6 mistakes, only beating West Ham's Robert Green by 1 mistake. Most recently, Gomes turned from hero to zero twice. He pulled off a string of fine saves to deny Didier Drogba a goal for Chelsea, and his saves contributed to what could have been an excellent first half that had seen Sandro fire Tottenham infront with an excellent shot past Petr Cech. But a long shot from Frank Lampard squirmed underneath Gomes and rolled towards the goal. Gomes managed to stop the ball from rolling completely over the line, but the linesman and referee didn't see it that way. The goal was given, Chelsea had equalised, and Chelsea went on to win the game 2-1.

Then on Saturday, Gomes was in action again. A penalty was given to Tottenham's opponents Blackpool, and Charlie Adam stepped up to take it. He fired a rasping shot low to Gomes' left, but the big man struck out a hand and tipped it around the post for a corner! What a save! Gomes the hero again? The corner is whipped in, and Gomes paces out of his goal to claim it. But he fumbles it! The ball breaks to Gary Taylor-Fletcher inside the Tottenham penalty area, with the defence in complete dissaray. The worried Gomes can't stand to see another one of his mistakes cost Tottenham another goal. The huge goalkeeper thrusts all of his weight, height and hand into the back and side of Taylor-Fletcher, who does go down easily... PENALTY! Oh no! Oh, Gomes, you big baffoon! Charlie Adam steps up and makes no mistake this time, sending Gomes the wrong way and slotting home. Tottenham did pull a goal back through Jermaine Defoe, and claimed a point, but Gomes stood in his goal knowing that his mistakes may have cost his team a Champions League place.

Now on to the rest of Tottenham...

Tottenham's form has been patchy of late to say the least. 1 win in 9 has seen them slip 6 points behind their opponents on Tuesday, Manchester City, and it has given Liverpool the opportunity to catch up and make their claim for European football next season. Draws against Wigan, Wolves, Blackpool and West Brom - all teams in the bottom half - and losses to Blackpool and Chelsea have all come in a very disappointing 8 weeks for Tottenham.

But their record at the City of Manchester Stadium is exceptional. In 9 games there, Tottenham have only lost once to Manchester City - and that was a 2-1 defeat, when Nedum Onuoha popped up in the area to head home and get the three points for the Blues. But last season, Tottenham defeated Manchester City to secure Champions League football ahead of them. But City will want to avenge the loss for sure.

Manchester City...

Manchester City's recent form has been better than Tottenham's, but it has been worryingly inconsistent. 4 wins from their last 9 games has seen them creep away from 5th place and towards 4th. But they've lost 4 games too. Admittedly, those losses have all come away from home at Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Everton, but it doesn't make good reading for City fans.

City's home record this season has been brilliant. 11 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses in the Premier League has been a huge contributor to their league position, and despite Tottenham's good record at Eastlands, they will be wary of the fortress inn the making.

To the prediction... 

Since I've started this blog, I have been spot on with where the points have gone, BUT with my prediction here, I hope I'm totally wrong.

Mancester City 1-2 Tottenham.

Tottenham are due a win, and after failing to pick up maximum points against 6 bottom half teams, you'd feel that, rather typically, their next win will come in one of their trickiest fixtures. Spurs will know what they can do to Manchester City, and with the possibilty of a relaxed attitude from Manchester City due to them being so far ahead, they could take advantage. And Lennon against Kolarov? Oh dear.

Lineups...

..............................Hart..............................
Zabaleta.....Kompany...Lescott......Kolarov
..................De Jong......Barry....................
.....Silva..............Yaya Touré..............Johnson.
.........................Balotelli.............................

--

..............................Gomes..............................
Kaboul.........Gallas..........Dawson...........Rose
.............................Sandro...............................
.....Lennon.......van der Vaart.......Modric.........
..................Crouch........Defoe........................
.

Player ratings vs. Everton.

Hart 6 - should have done better with the first goal, wasn't able to stop the second.

Zabaleta 6 - a quiet performance, never really made his mark.

Kompany 6 - great ball to Silva for an early City chance, Everton got under his skin and he was beaten by a much smaller man in Osman for Everton's second.

Lescott 6 - the jeers affected him. Look too casual on the ball at times.

Kolarov 5 - quiet, never made his mark.

de Jong 6 - faded out of the game quickly, and was substitued late on.

Vieira 5 - slow, liability half of the time.

Milner 7 - another player that ran the show in the first half and faded in the second.

Yaya Touré 7 - took his goal well and had an excellent first half. Should have scored in the second to put the game beyond Everton.

Silva 7 - ran the show in the first half, was closed out in the second half.

Dzeko 7 - should have scored one or two of his chances, but had a good first half.

Balotelli - N/A

Johnson - N/A

Jo - N/A

Everton.

We've been making the same mistakes in similar types of games all season.

We can't defend from set-pieces.
We rarely come back from being behind.
We always, always lose to Everton.
Our away record is awful.
Quite recently we seem to have developed this knack of running the show in the first 15 minutes, allowing the other team to get on top and end up regretting it.
We can't put our chances away.

As much as it pains me to say it, because he is leaving: we need Tevez.

Oh, and I hate Everton.

Let's go and do this.

We head into the last 19 days of our season with two major goals still to be achieved: Champions League qualification and the FA Cup trophy.

We can't mess this up now. Words cannot express how upset I will be if we finish 5th with no trophies again. Another season and no progress will have been made. Champions League qualification and the FA Cup trophy will keep Mancini here, and keeping Mancini here allows him to build up his squad properly and sign the talent and experience we need to push on for more.

But we are not just doing this for the future. We are doing this for the players, supporters and staff that have saved us down the years.

We need to do this so that Fowler's penalty miss can be forgotten,
we need to do this so that we can finally get to where we've always dreamed of being,
we need to do this so that all those Derby losses seem worthwhile,
we need to do this to show the world what we can do,
we need to do this so that Paul Dickov can know that he didn't equalise in the dying seconds against Gillingham for nothing,
we need to do this so that players like Richard Dunne, Joey Barton and Nicky Weaver can look back and know they played a part in putting us where we are today,
we need to do this so that one day, when we're eventually successful, we can look back and see that this was when things started to look up,
we need to do this so that Blue Moon can be sung high from every part of the ground,
we need to do this so that Harry Redknapp has to admit we're better than Tottenham,
we need to do this so that Sven, Pearce and Keegan know they kept us in a position where we could be taken over.

But we mainly need to do this so that every United fan that has ever told you that City were 'shitty' is silenced. Silenced by a huge cheer that will be heard from the highest point of every mountain, to the lowest cave in the oceans that surround our lands. In the playground, United fans judged you and teased you about the club you supported, and they denied you any word in a football debate. They wore those red shirts to tease you, and they mocked you for those years when City didn't win a Derby, and they mocked you when we were in what is now League 1.

But we need to do this to show that every City player, and City every fan and every City staff member that never gave up on us through all of those 35 years can raise a smile and feel as if they contributed to what is now "the coming force in English football"1. We need to show them, and the rest of football, that we are not going to come and fall away. No - we need to show them that we are here to stay, and here to fight, and win. We have financial backer that needs a return on its investments and its improvements.

It's not time to fall away and remain small-time. No. It is time to be better. Let's knock United off their perch - once and for all. Let's have their local Derby become Bury or FC United, and not us - Manchester City. The most patient of fans are about to be rewarded, you'd hope. But hope is nothing without a bit of gutsy desire to help it along.

Let's start against Everton, shall we? Come on, City. Let's see what you've got.





1 - Clive Tyldesley.

Preview: Everton vs. Manchester City.

It's 7th versus 4th as Everton and Manchester City lock horns at Goodison Park this weekend, both looking for the three points for entirely different reasons. Three points here, and Manchester City can begin to wave goodbye to the Europa League and shout a big hello to the Champions' League; three points for Everton, and they could provide the perfect distraction to hinder their rivals' (Liverpool) push for European football next season.

Everton.

Despite their disappointing results of late away to Wigan and Manchester United, Everton are on a decent run of form, having picked up 11 points from their last 6 games. That sees them sit 6th in the Premier League Form Table, two places behind their opponents on Saturday. But not only has their Form Table position shot up, oh no... Everton sit in a comfortable 7th in the Premier League. Impressive wins away at Wolves and Newcastle have really boosted the Goodison faithful, and they will be hoping to continue their excellent recent home form against Manchester City. Everton are unbeaten at home in 2011, despite losing 3 games at home in the first half of the season, and they will be hoping to continue that form on Saturday.

Fellaini, Heitinga and Louis Saha will all miss this clash due to injuries, and with no suspensions, I expect Everton to start with the same team that they fielded against Wigan. And for those of you that missed it, here it is:

..........................Howard..........................
Hibbert...Jagielka............Distin........Baines
.....Osman...Rodwell......Neville.....Arteta...
..............................Cahill..........................
..........Anichebe........................................

Now onto Manchester City.

The men from Manchester will also be hoping that their recent form continues, having picked up 4 wins from 6 in all competitions. But their away form tells a completely different story. City have just 1 win in 6 away from home, and their recent record against Everton would scare even the optimistic City fan. Everton were the last team to beat Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium, and City haven't beaten Everton in the league since 2009 (when Robinho and Ireland made sure of a 2-1 victory on that day). But despite all this, at the moment, City are on a good run of form, having won all three of their last three games in all competitions (1-0, 1-0 and 2-1)

With Tevez, Richards, Boateng and Given being unable to play, and de Jong and Zabaleta being doubts due to injures they picked up in the win over West Ham, I think Manchester City will be forced to changed the lineup they've played in their last three games.

..........................Hart.........................
Boyata....Kompany..Lescott...Kolarov
..........................Barry........................
.................Milner......Y.Touré.............
...Johnson........Balotelli......Silva..........

Lescott will face his old team and be sure to hear jeers from the Everton fans still hurt by his departure.

My prediction:

Due to my natural pessimism, being a Manchester City fan, I expect Everton to win 2-0. City haven't been performing incredibly well in the league recently, and I fear that Mancini may make the fatal decision of allowing City to run riot in the first 15 minutes, and then invite Everton to come and have a go.

It also feels like City just can't put chances away sometimes, and this may come back to haunt the Sky Blues as the game progresses, so I'm going for a Merseyside celebration this time.

My final Premier League predictor - I'm sticking to this one, I promise!

My end of season predictions for the league.
As we head in to the last 22 days of the English league and cup season - and as I write this - things are getting tighter all over the Premier League. Manchester United and Chelsea are battling it out for the Premier League title once again; Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool are all desperately challenging for the two remaining Champions League positions, and any team below 10th in the table can't relax for fear of the drop to the Championship - even at this late stage!

And here is the table that I've come up with.

So this has Chelsea taking the title by one goal, Manchester United losing out on their 19th title, and Arsenal taking the last Champions League spot by 3 points....

... from Manchester City, who take that all important fourth spot from late challengers Liverpool, who under Kenny Dalglish have overtaken Tottenham, who would lose out on European football altogether should these results take place.

Everton, West Brom, Stoke, Fulham, Bolton, Sunderland, Newcastle, Blackburn, Aston Villa, Birmingham and Wolves all stay up and live to fight another season.

But West Ham, Wigan and Blackpool all suffer the fate that everyone dreads. Blackpool's last three games, in my prediction, sees them pick up just 3 point from their last 3 games. West Ham, despite me predicting that they will 3-0 on the last day, go down along with Wigan, who have looked doomed from the beginnng.

So there you have it. Manchester City get that all important fouth spot according to my predictions, and Manchester United lose out on the title. Could a City fan look at anything better?

City always know how to slightly spoil a party!

Should I be elated, or should I be annoyed?


Manchester City - a team that I have followed since I was 4 years old - are on the verge of making their own little bit of footballing history. After a season that has seen them go to the farthest parts of Europe, had English-named Brazilians walk on the field at the City of Manchester Stadium, and an FA Cup Final to look forward to, City now lie 7 points clear of 5th placed Liverpool in that all important 4th spot - meaning that they could be up against the 'Big Boys' of football next season in Europe's elite competition: the UEFA Champions League.

And let's not forget that in 12 days City will walk out onto the field at the new Wembley Stadium for the second time this season - and the second time within a month - for the FA Cup Final! Surely I should be over the Blue Moon looking at this... the end result is the most important thing in a game - I know that - but why did City make such hard work of it today? And why am I so annoyed?

With Chelsea beating Tottenham on Saturday, City had the chance today to open up a large 7 point wound in Tottenham's attempt to secure a second successive season in the Champions League. And, after 9 minutes of good attacking football, against bottom-of-the-table West Ham United, Manchester City were rewarded with a great goal, when Nigel de Jong popped up on the edge of the area to curl in his first goal for Manchester City. And in the bright sunshine, the sky blue shirts shot up in cheer; even de Jong's smile made the day seem brighter - "1-0 up. Relief! Elation! Happiness! Joy!" And then before anyone in the stadium could blink, City play-maker David Silva contributed his 12th assist of the season, by chipping the ball in behind the Hammers' defence for the lively Pablo Zabaleta, who pounced on the drifting ball, and struck home via a deflection to send the City faithful into orbit. "2-0! 15 minutes in! Oh, how wonderful. This is going to be a rout! Even defenders are scoring!"

But here is why my problem lies; why, at 2-0 up in a game that could not only do our league position a huge favour, but help our goal difference as well, did we take our foot of the gas after a great first 15 minutes and allow the opposition back into the game? It has happened on more than one occasion this season - Newcastle away, Blackburn away, Manchester United away - and today, we were incredibly fortunate that we were two goals up before West Ham got a foothold in the game.

I don't understand why we do this. Is it to save energy for the second half? Is it to save energy for the next game? Does Mancini enjoy waving his defensive penis around at the media to try and prove that defensive football can win games - which it can, by the way - so that he can stick his fingers up the nostrils of SkySports and tell them to 'deal with it'?

Why? Why, why, why, why, why? Even when West Ham got a goal the Blues didn't seem to be shaken. They didn't even seem to notice that something wasn't quite right. Fine, West Ham got a stroke of fortune during the move for their goal, but the valiant Hammers had done enough for a short period of the game to deserve a goal. But don't stop! Don't lose urgency! Don't put the brakes on and wait for the half time whistle! You wouldn't stop running a Marathon if you were first, would you? No, you wouldn't! Okay, maybe slow down a bit and try and nick a third goal before half time, but don't put three points in danger; especially when the three points we were going for today were as important as they were!

Even in the second half, the bite in City's midfield just evapourated into the howling winds that circulated the City of Manchester Stadium throughout the game; Barry lost a yard of pace after an exceptional first half, Silva looked petrified to shoot, despite being in the best position he had ever found himself in on a football pitch before, and Balotelli looked like he didn't want to be involved in the second half.

We cannot afford to play this type of game against teams such as Villareal or Bayern Munich, (who City will most likely face in the Champions League qualifiers in August, should we get there) as we will be beaten. Maybe Mancini knew that West Ham's threadbare midfield wouldn't be enough to carry them through the game? Maybe he thought City were doing enough to win, despite only seriously threatening the West Ham goal twice in the second half?

I'm a huge Mancini fan, and I will defend him to the ends of the Earth when it comes to it, but he and the Blues pissed me off today for around 70 minutes. We should have gone on and scored 6, done our goal difference a massive favour and pulled further away from Spurs and Liverpool in more than one respect. But, even after this rant, I have to go back to my first point: the end result is all that matters.

City did deserve the win today, and I'm so happy to look at that table and see us finally get past the 60 point mark, but Mancini has to be careful. If he approaches Everton in a similar manner next week, City would find their confident smiles being turned into worrying looks over the shoulder. Spurs have a home game against doomed Blackpool, and Liverpool - who seem impossible to beat at the moment - are away to Fulham, who seem to be on a late surge towards the top 8, after winning their last 2 games.

Could it really happen? Could it?

On the positive side of City life, it could all be over by this time next week - City could be in the Champions League. If Tottenham lose to Blackpool and the City boys beat Everton, the Blues will be 10 points clear of Tottenham, who will only be able to pick up 9 points from their remaining fixtures; and City will be 7 points clear of Liverpool, who will only be able to pick up 6 points from their remaining two games.

City player ratings for City v West Ham.
Hart 6 - good save from Keane, but was too slow when deciding where to kick and throw the ball.

Zabaleta 8 - once again, another passionate and all round good performance from Pablo.

Kompany 7 - didn't have much to deal with, but did well when called into action.

Lescott  7 - was at fault for West Ham's goal, but dealt well with everything else.

Kolarov 6 - slow to get forward and made two mistakes that could have lead to awful outcomes for City.

De Jong 7 - great finish for his goal, City missed his bite and passion when he went off.

Yaya Toure 6 - quiet, but got on with his game well.

Barry 7 - exceptional in the first half, let down by his second half performance, was subbed for Dzeko.

Adam Johnson 6 - good start, closed out of the game.

Silva 7 - good game as ever from Spanish Dave, but I just wish he would have a bit more confidence in shooting positions.

Balotelli 6 - good first half, poor second half.

Dzeko 6 - cameo wasn't effective, but stung Green's gloves once or twice.

Milner 8 - excellent, best game I've seen him play in a while, got stuck in and looked dangerous.

Vieira N/A - came on too late to be rated.