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FA Cup 2011 - Final - Lifting the City Trophy
By Joe, BettingExpert.com | Edited
Google+: Joe Bexpert
The English FA Cup knockout competition will stage its final game in season 2010/2011 at Wembley Stadium in a game between Manchester City and Stoke City. Both teams are without a trophy since the 1970s' but one city team will be celebrating at the end and might that be the team with superstar Carlos Tevez.
Manchester City vs. Stoke City
The annual English FA Cup event will kick off on Saturday with a kickoff time at 1500BST at the iconic Wembley Stadium. Both teams are very much determined to win some silverware this season as it has been over 30 years since both teams lifted up any trophy. With just about 40 miles between the two teams, both Manchester City and Stoke City will have travel to London for the final game this season in the FA Cup.
Manchester City can fully concentrate in their first FA
Cup final appearance at Wembley since 1969 after beating Tottenham 1-0 at home
in the midweek to qualify for the champions league next season. Now that
Manchester City have confirmed that they have successfully reach their primay
goal this season to get into the champions league, the bonus for Robert Mancini
will be getting his hands on the a trophy for the first time since joining
City. The race against time to get City iconic figure, Carlos Tevez ready for
the final might just give the team the boost as his cameo role last Tuesday against
Spurs could well supplement the attack at Wembley. City fans will be happy to
see both Gareth Barry and Micah Richards returning from hamstring injuries and
getting a game on their belt before traveling to London while Boateng, Johnson,
Given and K. Toure are all unavailable. Mancini won’t be worried as his squad
is one of the elusive star stricken team with Y. Toure, Dzeko, Silva and Milner
all available but only concern will be do the back four where Zabaleta is
doubtful due to his nose injury sustain in the midweek. The Italian maestro should be able to deploy
an offensive team and tactics, one similar to the win over Manchester United in
the semifinal and the key for City would be aggressive.
Their historical first ever FA Cup final could bring
Stoke City on the brink of lifting some silverware under manager Tony Pulis.
Their no nonsense approach, direct method and physical presence could yet
compete against any team in the Premiership as for the first time since 1975,
Stoke City could finish in the top 10 in the Premier League. The FA Cup would
be an immense achievement where silverware awaits them in Wembley and maybe
even European football next season. All of this would help Stoke in getting
more exposure but most important, money to spend to strengthen their squad. The
weekend before the FA Cup final, Stoke took on Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium
and saw a grueling 3-1 home thump of the Gunners and Pulis watching a full
hearted Stoke fighting for every inch of the field, in which showed more
craving in continuing their good form into the travel to London. Under Pulis,
former Liverpool & Arsenal player, Jermaine Pennant showed maturity and a
much needed flamboyant style of play against his former club earned him the Man
of the Match award but silverware could be in his reach if he is able to show
his flair at Wembley. Stoke Greman centre-back Robert Huth will race against
time to get himself fir to face Manchester City. However, Pulis wll be without Ethertington,
Danny Higginbotham and striker Ricardo Fuller. Although key players like
Kenwyne Jones and Jon Walters will be amongst the players in the starting line
up on Saturday.
No matter what happens on Saturday, both teams will get European football next season in which will profit both clubs, City in champions league while Europa League will go to Stoke City. The Potters will go into this game as the underdog and Pulis won’t mind that along with 28,000 Stoke supporters at Wembley. Their approach will merely be a continuation of their home form, where they are undefeated since December 2010 and if they are able to get into that mentality then they surely can push Manchester City all the way. The Sky Blues are favourites and with many superstars on the team, the pressure is on them to deliver and Mancini knows how to win at Wembley. It will be tight at the start but City will be able to prevail at the end due to their squad depth and elated confidence.
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