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In the clash of two quite disparate Cities, there are a certain amount of similarities. Both feature effective teams capable of grinding out needed results thanks to a sturdy defensive platform. Both crashed down into the third tier of domestic football as lately as 1998, following playing each other in the final game of the season. And both last won a trophy – any trophy – in the 1970s. It was the League Cup in both instances, but Manchester City and Stoke City now duke it out in the FA Cup final.

Of course, the gulf in finances safely excludes any illusions of equality or brotherhood. Stoke City has patched together a team which, under Tony Pulis, can scrap away from relegation, with a club transfer record of £8m. Manchester City qualified for the Champions League midweek, is owned by a billionaire Sheikh, and spent much more than that £8m on Wayne Bridge, who was shunted out on loan to West Ham United. Mario Balotelli, who price 3 times that quantity, likely won’t commence the match.

However, regardless of the nine-digit figures spent putting together a squad, Man City’s attack has relied heavily on Carlos Tevez. The stout Argentine has scored or assisted practically half (48%) of his side’s Premier League objectives, and scored a league-leading 35% of them, regardless of a recent dip in form and troubles with injury.

Stoke defenders will keep a special eye on Tevez, even if his continued recovery means he functions from the bench. Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini will have spent time trying to teach his players how to defend against Stoke’s set pieces. Rory Delap’s throws have proven particularly troublesome for the Citizens’ backline in the past, such as last year’s FA Cup fifth round encounter. Moreover, half (44% excluding penalties) of Stoke’s objectives in the league have come from set pieces. Silly fouls and casual clearances out of bounds could establish which side ends a nearly four decade drought for a trophy.

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It’s been 35 long, painful years, but Manchester City fans can finally trade in tears of anguish for tears of joy. The Citizens won the FA Cup with a 1- win over Stoke City, supplying the first bit of silverware in Roberto Mancini’s career in England as properly as the first trophy under the lavish and free of charge-spending ownership of Sheikh Mansour. Yaya Toure much more than earned his £200,000 a week salary by slamming home the lone objective in the 75th minute.

The game was about as one-sided as a 1- match can be. Man City dominated possession (60%) and chances, putting 14 shots on frame to Stoke’s 1. That shot – a glancing toepoke by Kenwyne Jones – and a penalty claim on a Vincent Kompany handball aside, Joe Hart had very little to worry him. Even Stoke’s famed set piece abilities had been neutered by flawless defending and flat deliveries.

The very first half was especially lopsided. Thomas Sorensen, his side’s finest player, necessary every shred of fingernail to tip a looping Mario Balotelli shot just the other side of the far post. And later Balotelli caused havoc once more, nearly latching onto a Carlos Tevez chip prior to Sorensen somehow blundered the ball away. On the rebound, David Silva somehow construed to scuff his half-volley into the dirt, rather than the net, and Stoke limped into the half even at goose eggs.

The halftime team talk by Tony Pulis helped, simply because Stoke lastly showed some desire in the opening minutes of the second stanza. Jermaine Pennant, shaking off a twisted ankle suffered in injury time of the first half, in specific looked lively.

But with set pieces failing them and Nigel De Jong clanging shut any moves which progressed through the middle, Man City usually looked the likelier of the sides to break by means of. And so they did, with only a quarter hour remaining in the match.

Balotelli had kept his cool, even when Robert Huth elbowed him in the face, and he showed precisely why he price so considerably funds and is so highly rated. A genius backheel at the top of the box discovered David Silva streaking in towards goal. The tiny Spaniard returned the pass, and Balotelli’s shot whilst falling was blocked. The ball spurted back out to Yaya Toure, who slammed the ball house with enough venom to take Sorensen into the objective had the keeper managed to get in the way.

From there, the game opened appropriate up. Pulis threw on all his attacking substitutes, which includes John Carew, and both sets of forwards camped out in the opposition half, with defenses booting the ball up to them. Still, Man City shaded the chances, with David Silva in specific testing Sorensen with a intelligent low shot.

But no a lot more objectives arrived, and the trophy went to Manchester, rather than Stoke, City. Stoke, who have in no way played in the FA Cup final prior to, can be proud of a strong season which will likely incorporate a top half finish in the EPL. But it’s Man City, on the day Manchester United won a record 19 very first division titles, which will celebrate.

The win will likely make certain the continued employment of Roborto Mancini. The Italian has won an impressive 11 trophies with four clubs, which includes domestic knock-out competitions at each and every team he’s managed (Sampdoria, Lazio, Inter, and now Manchester City). Nevertheless, the future of Tevez is still in doubt. The captain angled rather publicly for a move away last summer, and could do so again this time around, right after taking off the scarf given him prior to lifting the trophy. Instead, he tied an Argentina flag around his neck.

Those concerns are for yet another day, however. Nowadays is all about celebrating. Man City fans will forever treasure the lasting images from this Wembley match: Balotelli’s infectious grin and childish shenanigans with Toure, Liam Gallagher raising a champagne glass as his own song blared through the speakers, and Tevez trotting up to the stage wearing the lid of the FA Cup as a hat.

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Liverpool had been not so considerably knocked as bundled off their perch as a generally below-par away performance from Manchester United sealed a scrappy 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers to gift Sir Alex Ferguson’s side a 19th League title, overtaking Liverpool’s 18. United were rocked by a sweet finish from Blackburn’s Brett Emerton in the very first half just before a rush of blood from Paul Robinson in the home side’s objective saw him catch Javi Hernandez, who had practically raced the ball out of play. Wayne Rooney created no mistake from the resultant penalty.

That the remaining twenty minutes were played at such a lacklustre pace does credit to United’s performance on the day but is also a testament to the team’s extraordinary capacity to mask abject displays by snaching victory from the jaws of defeat over and over again this season. For Blackburn manager Steve Kean, who saw defensive rock Chris Samba walk off with a hamstring injury shortly right after United’s equaliser, a draw was still a lot more than welcome given that his side’s primary goal threat had come virtually exclusively from a rare uncertainty in United’s back four.

History is rarely produced by spectacular individual moments, however. This bland display was not what won United the title. Whilst on this evidence, the banner flown by members of United’s passionate away support which proclaimed that Barcelona were next on the Manchester club’s list appears a small optimistic, noone can deny that this is a United team which cannot be written off.

Without the consistent goal threat of Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney have all been on hand for lengthy enough to carry the team by way of its lowest periods Javi “Chicharito” Hernandez has proven to be one of the very best signings of the season, producing enough goals and understanding with Wayne Rooney to carve himself a location in the beginning eleven the evergreen Ryan Giggs’ encounter has created him an asset correct across the midfield and, maybe most importantly, the infamously stubborn defence has coped with major injury setbacks throughout the season.

In truth, in spite of the opinion of a lot of critics, this Manchester United can in fact play attractive football too and it undoubtedly showed for the opening quarter of an hour as a no-nonsense defensive approach from Blackburn invited the visitors onto them. Wayne Rooney dropped quite deep to pick the ball up in the absence of Paul Scholes and was able to form little triangles with Nani and Jonny Evans on the left, and Antonio Valencia and Fabion the proper. Nani hit the bar with a header early on and United appeared to have full control over proceedings.

That control was illusory, nonetheless Blackburn’s pluckiness, combined with the vast spaces in front of United’s back four which one might expect a manager who has won twelve league titles to address at some stage over the years, allowed the home side to break at speed and hunt down the lengthy balls becoming pumped out of their resolute defence. In the end, stand-in goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszcak flapped at a cross from the right and the ball was kept in play by Olsson on Blackburn’s left, who combined with Hoilett just before sending in a delightful cross for Emerton to slot house.

The objective seemed to spark Blackburn into life, and their endeavour was almost rewarded on two separate occasions when Kuszcak dallied on the ball and nearly gave away an embarassing second: initial, Nemanja Vidic bailed him out as he couldn’t decide regardless of whether to gather a slice from Rio Ferdinand in his arms or kick just before an onrushing Hoilett second, when the Polish goalkeeper took so lengthy to clear his lines that the ball came back off Hoilett and mercifully flew out for a goalk kick.

United, meanwhile, pressed to small effect for the remainder of the initial-half and for the very first fifteen minutes of the second. Nani was wrongly given offside right after a lovely mixture by Rooney and Hernandez (reminiscent of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke in their pomp) but, a few hazardous corners and crosses aside, Blackburn looked comfy until the sort of lucky break which appears to make the distinction between perpetual champions and doomed almost-men befell Manchester United.

Javier Hernandez chased onto a through-ball inside the Blackburn penalty region, but appeared to be heading out of play as he rounded the onrushing Paul Robinson. Inexcusably, the former England international left a trailing arm. Hernandez felt the slightest of contacts and flung himself to the ground (had Ronaldo performed it, wry smiles will doubtless have been creeping across the face of the whole country). Referee Phil Dowd appeared unmoved, but the much better-placed linesman said ‘yes’ and Wayne Rooney sent Robinson the wrong way with the coolest of finishes.

That truly was that. Blackburn couldn’t truly hope to attack United with out exposing themselves at the back – especially with the valiant Samba having gone off with a hamstring difficulty – and United, whose introduction of Paul Scholes and Dimitat Berbatov had carried out small to alter the pattern of play, were a lot more than happy to pass their way to glory for the remainder of the game.

As a footnote to United’s great achievement, the other beneficiary of this result is Blackpool manager Ian Holloway, whose side have a realistic hope of keeping themselves in the Premier League with a result at Old Trafford now that Sir Alex Ferguson has a Champions’ League Final to prepare for with no domestic concerns. And what a story it would be if the Scot had been to pull that 1 off too.

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That’s it…the lads have completed it, we’ve lastly knocked Liverpool off their perch. It may possibly haven’t been a vintage season, but it was damn certain it was a exciting one. Individuals out of jealously and bitterness will proclaim United have won it by default, properly don’t listen to them lads you’ve completed us bloody proud and in the history books the 2010/2011 season will be observed as a title winning 1.

Like I said this side hasn’t had the very same ‘fantasy’ as previous sides that had the likes of Ronaldo and Cantona, but this team has been powerful rather than electric and when they required to step up they did it so emphatically. The team ethic and work rate of this side is unbelievable if you want to see the accurate definition of a team then look no further then this side. Theres no prima donnas in this squad, and Wayne Rooney has learned that you need to never ever doubt our capacity. When Chelsea had been running away at the top and United were on their knees Wayne spoke out and questioned the ability and drive of this team only for Sir Alex to put him straight. Luckily for us he listened and signed a new contract and scored the goal that has won us the title.

Nonetheless it would be wrong to say that this side can’t churn out some sensational performance. Keep in mind the opening day vs Newcastle? That 7-1 against Blackburn? The five- against Birmingham and that unbelievable performance against Chelsea last week? When we turned it on we genuinely turned it on. On our day our football couldn’t be matched for its beauty and excitement by the likes of Arsenal or Barcelona. The class of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, the skill and capacity of Berbatov and Nani and the all around genius of Wayne Rooney – make no mistake this side is no mugs and we are a force to be reckoned with.

Although Chelsea signed the likes of David Luiz, Ramirez and Torres for around 90 million pounds, City signed the likes of Balotelli, Dzeko, Silva and Yaya Toure for over 100 million pounds and even Liverpool signing Andy Caroll for 35 million pounds it was the two signings of Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling for around 16 million that have proved the most profitable. It’s wonderful to believe how properly our ‘little pea’ has carried out in his debut campaign. A amazing return of 20 goals is even created more remarkable by the quantity of starts he has made: just the 26! He is with out doubt the signing of the season if not the decade and he among the likes of Smalling, Da Silva twins, Evans, Welbeck and Cleverley are the future of our club.

When all is said and carried out what I will keep in mind about this team will be their never say die attitude. Each United side down the years have often gone to the wire, but the sheer quantity of last gasps objective this term is unbelievable. Bear in mind Hernandez goal at Stoke, Berbatov’s objectives against Blackpool and Bolton, Park’s goals against Wolves and for me the turning point of the season Macheda and Vidic’s objectives against Villa. I know numerous individuals will consider Rooney’s overhead kick as the turning point of the season, but to think at 2- we were four points behind the leaders Chelsea and would have played a game much more, but managed to salvage a point and of course the next day Chelsea were thumped three- by Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.

Folks forget that this side was as soon as on a 24 game unbeaten run this season, and 29 overall continuing on from last season. For all the talk about this becoming an average side it must speak volumes of the rest of the league and the rest of Europe if this ‘average’ side managed to win it’s domestic league and reach the final of the Champions League to be played against Barcelona on the 28th. Whilst Chelsea had a mid-season collapse, City’s negative attitude price them a chance of difficult for the title and Arsenal once again bottled it, even so, this side remained strong and fought tooth and nail to retain their crown.

Special mentions to some outstanding individuals this season, the likes of Dimitar Berbatov who is likely to finish as Premier League top scorer in spite of losing his location to Hernandez in the last couple of months of the season. Who will forget his virtuoso performance against Blackburn where he scored five, his match-turning performance against West Ham at Upton Park and ‘that’ hat-trick against the Scousers. While he might have turned out to be the forgotten man towards the end, his contribution has been important and worth the 30 million we paid for him back in 2008.

Luis Nani for 3 quarters of the season was without doubt our player of the season. With Valencia out injured for numerous months, Nani required to step up and boy did he do just that. Chipping in with 9 goals and 18 assists in the Premier League there was a time where ever objective seemed to have some involvement from our Portugese winger. That horror tackle from Carragher has derailed his season a little bit, but make no mistake – Nani has been crucial this season.

If we go on to win the Champions League then there will be no other fitting way to end Van Der Sar career with United and his playing career. Our flying Dutchman announced his retirement earlier on in the year and given that then has been in the form of his life, he single handedly kept out Arsenal frontmen in the F.A cup and produced some sublime saves in the title run-in to assist keep us top. There had been several pleads from United fans everywhere to persuade the former Holland international to remain for yet another year with a online petition circling around. The last few games of the season heard the chant “Edwin Van Der Sar, Edwin Edwin Van Der Sar” sung with a lot more enjoy and passion then ever before. Nonetheless, the large man last action at Old Trafford is likely going to be lifting the Barclays Premiership Trophy high for the fourth time in his career.

Lastly a unique mention to our captain wonderful – Nemanja Vidic. His no-nonesence approach to defending has created him a fans favorite over the years and this term was possibly his greatest yet. Typically without his partner Rio Ferdinand , but that didn’t matter to our Serbian monster who put in match-winning performance right after match-winning performance. He chipped in with some important goals as properly, the equalizer against Villa and the winner against Chelsea last week for example. He is without having doubt in my opinion the very best defender in the world and how people think Fernando Torres still gives him nightmares is ridiculous. Vidic faced up to the mercurial Chelsea man six times this season, keeping him out on each and every occasion.

Also the contribution from the likes of Park, O’Shea, Carrick and Fabio can’t be underestimated. None prior to the season began were considerably loved by the fans, but Fabio has now earned that affection and has leapfrogged his brother in the battle for proper-location and if Park hadn’t missed a couple of months accurate the Asia Cup and a hamstring injury would be 1 of our player of the seasons. John O’Shea was as steady as ever whether beginning or filling in and even though Michael Carrick was fairly average at greatest for the majority of the season he found his form towards the end and put in some magical performances against the likes of Schalke and Chelsea.

Speaking of Chelsea, isn’t it great knowing that you won’t have to see that despicable oaf John Terry lifting the title. For all his talk he side weren’t very good sufficient and deserved absolutely nothing at all this term, and in spite of his claims that his side ‘dominated’ last week at Old Trafford in the second half, we were the greater team this campaign and he won’t be lifting any ‘trophies’ this term. Meaning we won’t be seeing his infamous ‘trophies’ mouthing like he did at White Hart Lane earlier on this season..pity!

To be here writing this congratulating our lads on becoming champions for a 19th time is incredible. When we drew 2-2 to West Brom and Rooney our golden boy proclaimed he wanted out, I honestly didn’t see this season turning it out like it has. So my fellow Red fans everywhere rejoice, were champions when once more for a 19th time and we have lastly knocked Liverpool off their fucking perch!

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic was Silvio Berlusconi’s marquee signing last summer in a bid to discontinue Milan’s seven year drought without having a Scudetto. Not only has the large Swede taken to Italian football like a duck to water as he did with rivals Internazionale prior to a brief spell in Spain, he has forged a formidable understanding with Robinho and Co that has seen them rise to the summit of Italian football as soon as again.

Last week’s – draw in Rome clinched the Rossoneri their 18th Scudetto with celebrations reaching a wonderful climax last night with a 4-1 victory over Cagliari, prior to the handing over of the trophy to captain Massimo Ambrosini.

Large Ibra was presented the question of regardless of whether or not he believed Milan would end up winning the league? To which he replied “from the initial day”. He had every single right to be confident as his newest league triumph is his eighth on the bounce.

We take a look back at the eight championships he has won, that have spanned across 3 countries with five distinct clubs. An astonishing feat by Milan’s new darling.

Ajax: 2003/2004

Ibrahimovic had won an Eredivisie two years prior when Ronald Koeman began imbedding him into the Amsterdammers setup.

In his final season at the club his 13 objectives in 22 appearances played a huge portion as they pipped PSV Eindhoven to the post.

Juventus: 2004/2005

His transfer to Serie A was rather abrupt. He had played 3 games for Ajax at the beginning of the season netting three objectives in the method, before an altercation with fellow teammate Rafael van der Vaart in the course of an international match led to his sudden move to Turin.

The Old Lady shelled out €16million on their man and got a return of 16 goals in 35 league appearances.

Juventus: 2005/2006

The following campaign would culminate into the darkest period of Juve’s history.  They clinched the Scudetto with a monumental haul of 91 points, just three ahead of closest rivals Milan. By Ibra’s standards, his goal return was poor and only netted seven objectives. In his defence his role was altered by Coach Fabio Capello who created him far more of a team player than a target man.

Even so, the Calciopoli scandal had occurred and hit Italian football like a sledgehammer. Juventus’ role resulted in them becoming relegated to Serie B and stripped of their last two Scudettos. That also meant all of the Juventus players who had participated in those championship winning campaigns, had been stripped of theirs.

Internazionale: 2006/2007

Juve’s relegation resulted in an exodus of their star players – which includes Zlatan who moved to the Nerazzurri for €24.8million. Ironically Inter were awarded the Scudetto that Juve had been stripped of the season before.

Inter coasted to their first outright title in 17 years with Ibra netting 15 objectives in the process – thus becoming the club’s top scorer.

Internazionale: 2007/2008

He outdone himself the following year with 17 goals as Inter clinched their third straight league title in a tightly contested battle with Roma.

His brace on the final day against Parma ensured yet another season of the black and blue adorning the Scudetto patch.

Internazionale: 2008/2009

Roberto Mancini departed as coach and in his location arrived Jose Mourinho who got the really finest out of his star centre-forward. Zlatan consolidated his very best league tally to date with 25 objectives in 35 appearances and securing the Capocannoniere (Serie A top objective-scorer).

In what was his greatest ever season in Italy turned out to be his last, as a big money move to La Liga loomed.

2009/2010: Barcelona

He made an eye watering transfer in a deal worth €66million to Catalan giants Barcelona in the summer of 2009. In what would be his 1 and only season in Spain, resulted in 16 La Liga goals. The Swede was harshly criticised as many felt he failed to adapt to his new surroundings, but that did not quit him obtaining the objectives and end up with an impressive return – along with a Spanish league title.

2010/2011: Milan

A return to Italy occurred the following year with Milan in a €24million deal. This season he has been in instrumental form, being a massive key in the club’s rise to the top of Italian football. In his inaugural campaign he has netted 14 Serie A goals, as well as incorporating himself into a valuable team player.

With Silvio Berlusconi flirting with the thought of yet another possible superstar arriving in the summer, the future is searching exceedingly bright for Ibra and the Milanese giants.

Follow Ross on Twitter: @RossMackiewicz

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