Manchester City's Top 20 Moments of 2011

2011 has been a monumental year for the Blues.  Under the management of Roberto Mancini, the club has become the force originally envisaged by ADUG.  The good times are back, with a new era only just beginning.  Here are 20 of the year's many highlights for every City fan to enjoy.

Enjoy the slideshow and have a happy new year!

FA Cup Final

Everything about this day was always going to be special, win or lose.  Two sets of fans gathered for an occasion foreign to the younger generation, which generated a jovial, but tense, atmosphere. 

The victory was deserved, but hard-fought, as the Blues took home their first major trophy since 1976.

Demolition Derby

The FA Cup victory removed the infamous banner from Old Trafford, but on 23 October 2011, the Blues left their quiet neighbour's backyard with something far greater: six goals, three points and enough bragging rights to last a lifetime.

Top at Christmas

For the first time since 1929, Manchester City topped the table at Christmas.  It may seem an insignificant fact with half of the season remaining, but it is hard for any Mancunian not to have a gigantic smile upon their face this season. 

Merry Christmas!

FA Cup Semifinal

The FA Cup semifinal represented the first visit to new Wembley for Manchester City. Victory over their crosstown rivals to be one step closer to silverware was imperative.  Yaya Toure fiercely broke free of his "defensive midfielder" tag and fired City into the final.

Champions League Qualification

Peter Crouch broke City hearts with the winning goal for Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, 5 May 2010. Spurs sealed Champions League qualification and ensured City would be playing Europa League football with a fifth-place finish.

A year later, on Tuesday, 10 May 2011, the two teams met in similar circumstances. The match finished 1-0 thanks again to Peter Crouch, in the same net, in almost exactly the same position. This time, however, it was an own goal in what became a karmic moment for the Blues.

Champions League and a third-place finish awaited City.

2011 Undefeated

City's 3-0 victory versus Stoke on 21 December ensured the Blues went the entirety of 2011 undefeated at home.  The Etihad Stadium has become a fortress under Mancini's leadership. 

Neil Young at Leicester

Neil Young's winning goal for City in the 1969 FA Cup final versus Leicester sealed a special place in the hearts of City fans.  When the Blues met Leicester in the same competition this year, a special tribute was arranged for the late, great Young, who was at the time suffering from cancer.

Academy Announced

An exciting future for the club was revealed when plans for a youth development program were announced. 

A 7,000-capacity stadium, gym, injury and and rehab centre, on-site accommodation and classrooms, 11 full-size youth development pitches, four full-size first team pitches.  The academy will house up to 400 young players.

Allianz Arena

The inaugural Champions League game at the Etihad Stadium versus Napoli was a historic occasion, but it was not until the second game when the true enormity of City's new status was truly cemented—playing at the home of a true European giant with the iconic Champions League theme echoing through the stands as the mascots.

The Blues are playing in the big leagues now.

Dzeko Hits Four at the Lane

Football fans are often quick to write off new signings, despite the inevitable settling-in period required for adjustment from foreign styles of play. 

Edin Dzeko fell victim to this, but at White Hart Lane he stamped his authority onto the Premier League in style, blitzing Tottenham Hotspur with a superb four goals—including a perfect hat trick.

Signing Nasri

Nasri is not the first player to cross the London-Manchester divide and will not be the last, but the implications of this move were enormous.  While Adebayor was unpopular and Kolo Toure and Gael Clichy needed new challenges, Samir Nasri was one of the jewels in Arsene Wenger's crown.  For City to pluck one of Arsenal's star performers demonstrated just how much the footballing landscape had changed.

City 1-0 Arsenal

The recent 2-1 away loss to Chelsea, coupled with the failure to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League drew all eyes to City's mentality.  Were the Blues in a rut (a rut which happened to include a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich), or would they pull through? 

Demonstrating the winning mentality which Roberto Mancini has instilled upon the club, the Blues vanquished their rivals from North London with an impressive display.

Enter Aguero

Kept in reserve for the charity shield, Sergio Aguero would have to wait until an hour into the opening match of the Premier League campaign to make his Manchester City debut.  Two goals and one assist in his first half-hour ensured Aguero hit the ground running.

"Let's All Do the Throw In"

A late contender for the list.  City and Stoke fans gathered much mutual respect for one another after the impressive final at Wembley. 

However, City fans did not let this sentimentality get in the way of humorous chanting in the recent Premier League game.!

“Let's all do the throw in” was followed by thousands of Blues mimicking the set piece which has come with Stoke's Premier League success, with even Joe Hart joining in!

Aguero Keeps Champions League Dream Alive

Although eventually rendered redundant, Sergio Aguero's last-gasp winner versus Villarreal was a goal of special celebration at the Etihad.  Granting the Blues a lifeline in the Champions League group stage caused scenes of jubilation throughout Manchester.

Arsenal 0-0 City

After a hectic period of fixture congestion, Roberto Mancini went to the Emirates Stadium and set out his stall to defend, with the possibility of stealing a goal on the counter.  City took their 0-0 under a hail of criticism, but the ends justified the means; City eventually finished above Arsenal in the table, forcing the Gunners into the Champions League qualifiers.

Balotelli Goal Versus Aston Villa in FA Cup

Super Mario has always shown glimpses of his talent, but it was not until the latter stages of 2011 that he began to fulfill his potential on a regular basis. One moment of undeniable quality came—as many of his goals have—against Aston Villa. 

Life Without Tevez

At numerous points last season, critics proclaimed that without Carlos Tevez, City simply couldn't score.  Step up Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero.  Spreading goals throughout the team has ensured greater variety in threat and proved there is indeed life without Tevez.

Aguero Signs

David Silva arguably became the catalyst for world-class players wishing to join Manchester City.  Sergio Aguero was the confirmation.  One of the greatest talents in world football joined the Blue Revolution.

Etihad Announce Sponsorship

The City of Manchester Stadium became the Etihad on a historic day for the club.  Due to a deal worth £400 million over 10 years, Etihad now holds the naming rights to the stadium and the upcoming site of the academy, known as the Etihad Campus.