Today's F.A Cup Final is a David v Goliath and ROBERTO V ROBERTO affair. Manchester City and Wigan lurk horns at the biggest Stadium in Britain this afternoon to determine who takes the F.A Cup home. Roberto Martinez, an early favourite to take over when David Moyes moves to Manchester, has done well as helmsman of the Latics since his arrival from Swansea four years ago. Relegation battles have been won, although this season's might be a different matter entirely. Today's match represents a rare opportunity to win their first top flight title in 81 years of existence.
Dave Whelan is expected to lead out his charges in what will be an emotional occasion for him. The team is however bereft of some of its most important players. The likes of Ivan Ramis and Maynor Figueroa are out of the season with leg and groin injuries. Antolin Alcaraz faces a race to be fit for this crunch encounter and Jean Beausejour is a major doubt too.
Manchester City have a full strength squad to pick from and they were further boosted by the news that Influential midfielder, Yaya Toure is ready for this afternoon's battle after the Ivorian declared himself fit. Apart from Scott Sinclair who was operated upon following a blood clot in his shoulder, Roberto Mancini has a complete set of players to choose from. The Italian has confirmed that want-away goaltender, Costel Pantilimon will be in goal instead of Joe Hart. Whether there will be other surprises, we are yet to find out.
MANCHESTER CITY PROBABLE LINEUP-
Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy, Yaya Toure, Barry, Milner, Silva, Tevez, Dzeko
Gareth Barry and James Milner are having the season of their careers. On a personal level, they are firing on all cylinders and putting in spectacular showings. This has made them automatic picks in the last 3-4 months. Barry is keeping out Javi Garcia from the team and has done extremely well in his position. Edin Dzeko is MCFC's highest goal scorer this season and is ready to fire them to their 6th F.A Cup triumph which will be one behind Liverpool, Chelsea and Villa's haul of 7. Someway behind Arsenal's 10 and MUFC's 11. The Serbia-Belgium defensive partnership will continue at the Wembley Stadium. They have been classy this season.
WIGAN ATHLETIC PROBABLE LINEUP-
Joel, Boyce, Caldwell, Scharner, Espinoza, McCarthy, Watson, McArthur, McManaman, Kone, Maloney
The three pronged frontline who I coined the 'MACKONEY' have shone brightly in the last couple of months. Take away McManaman's horror tackle on Newcastle's Haidara two months ago, the dude has exploded on the scene and it was his goal that sealed Wigan's passage to today's final. Shaun Maloney and Arouna Kone have led from the front this season, scoring vital goals and creating many others to ensure the team avoid relegation and win their 1st piece of top flight silverware.Ben Watson is back and probably better. Joel keeps his place in goal and Paul Scharner and Gary Caldwell will hope to stop the likes of Tevez, Aguero, Dzeko, et al. Some task that. Wigan can become the lowest ranked side to lift the F.A Cup in 33 years (since West Ham who were in Tier 2, defeated Arsenal in 1980).
THE STAGE IS SET...LET THE PERFORMERS EMERGE..............
Ohireime P Eboreime
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