Mario Balotelli bags the VMC Forum’s Cup Final Man of The Match vote in our 57th poll of the season. The enigmatic youngster put in another assured Wembley display…
It’s clearly taken a lot of sound man management to centralise Super Mario’s focus but it is increasingly clear that the close knit support of a water tight City dressing room and especially the guidance of Roberto Mancini and Patrick Vieira is paying off.
Stoke targeted Balotelli physically and steadily throughout the encounter until they fell behind and lost what composure they had.
The epicentre was Robert Huth’s blatant first half mid pitch elbow smash off the ball which was reminiscent of Wayne Rooney’s unpunished assault on Wigan’s James McCarthy this season. To his absolute credit, though poll axed, the 20 year old Italian held it together and refused to retaliate or be goaded into adverse reaction elsewhere.
As he did against the rags in the semi final, Mario put in a strong shift and his running and willingness to make things happen helped City over the line in style.
You get the feeling that sooner rather than later the lad is going to score a thunderbolt, he is threatening it enough!
Elsewhere in an immaculate team performance, Nigel De Jong and YaYa Touré were the stand out key players. Long may they continue to be so for many years to come!
45. Mario Balotelli 23.08%
34. Nigel De Jong 17.31%
42. Gnegneri Toure Yaya 15.38%
2. Micah Richards 7.69%
21. David Silva 7.69%
4. Vincent Kompany 5.77%
25. Joe Hart 3.85%
19. Joleon Lescott 3.85%
13. Aleksandar Kolarov 3.85%
18. Gareth Barry 3.85%
32. Carlos Tevez 1.92%
5. Pablo Zabaleta 1.92%
11. Adam Johnson 1.92%
24. Patrick Vieira 1.92%
The Story So Far:
FA Premier League unless stated
Silva 12 (Salzburg A, ELGS Blackpool A, Poznan H, ELGS, Poznan A, ELGS, West Brom A, Stoke City A, Bolton H, Birmingham A, Villa H FAC5, Wigan H, Blackburn A, Everton A)
Kompany 6 (Sunderland A, Chelsea H, Newcastle H, the rags A, Sunderland H, Liverpool A)
Zabaleta 4 (Everton H, Fulham H, Dynamo Kyiv A, ELR16 1L, West Ham H)
Tévez 4 (Wigan A, Wolves H, WBA H, Dynamo Kyiv H, ELR16 2L)
Y Toure 4(Timisoara A, ELQ3 1L, Juventus H, ELGS, West Ham A, the rags FAC SF)
Richards 3(Arsenal H, Notts County A FAC4, Spurs H)
Dzeko 3 (Aris A, ELR32 1L, Notts County H, FAC4R, Aris H, ELR32 2L)
Johnson 3(Blackburn H, Juventus A ELGS, Leicester H FAC3R)
Hart 3 (Spurs A, Blackpool H, Arsenal A)
Balotelli 2 (Villa H, Stoke FAC F)
De Jong 2(Birmingham H, Reading H, FAC QF)
Milner 2 (Salzburg H,ELGS, Leicester A FAC3)
Barry 2(Liverpool H, Newcastle A)
Kolarov 2(Fulham A, Villa A)
Lescott (Chelsea A)
K Toure (the rags H)
Adebayor (Wolves A)
Boyata (Timisoara H, ELQ3 2L)
Given (West Brom A, LC3)
VMC’s Previous Man Of The Season:
Based upon MOTM polls won
2007-2008 Elano Blumer
2008-2009 Stephen Ireland
2009-2010 Carlos Tévez
MCFC FA CUP VICTORY PARADE:
Manchester, Monday 23rd May 2011.
NEXT SILVERWARE FIXTURE:
The Community Shield, Wembley, Sunday 7th August 2011 – City v the rags.
FOLLOW CITY IN THE RACE FOR THIRD WITH VMC:
Join the debate in the VMC City Chat Forum
as Eastlands prepares to party on Tuesday night with the league visit of Stoke. Can The Blues respond to Mancio’s call to finish third?
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