I've never understood why City picked up Samir Nasri. City already had David Silva and needed a good backup rather than another starter. Occasionally Nasri shined last season, but invariably at the expense of James Milner, which seems a complete waste. And then I watched the Community Shield and simply put, Roberto Mancini is a very smart manager.

Some 18 months ago I did a podcast, here at Soccernet, where I was asked about the players I would be interested in should I be given the keys to the vault. One player I identified as a major target was Everton's Jack Rodwell who I believe is one of the great upcoming talents in the English game.

Some 24 hours later and I'm still numb. This is the one that matters. I couldn't give the proverbial rodent's rump about the Champions League. Never have. But the league; this is something a little special.

The news that West Brom manager Roy Hodgson has been appointed England manager has been met by luke warm praise at best and out right derision at worst.

And frankly got exactly what he deserved, a City win and a wide open title race with two games to go. Win both and City are champions, simple as that, although with City nothing is ever as simple as it could be.

Let's get one thing straight. There's more of a chance of Rachel Weisz growing bored of Daniel Craig and giving me a call and of Lenny Henry becoming funny again than City repeating the 6-1 victory over United.

The starting 11 for tonight's game with Sporting has been released and once again James Milner is not in the staring lineup.

If the Spurs win at home back on January 22nd was the most important one of the season, the victory over Bolton on Saturday might be the second.

Mario Balotelli will get all the headlines, but James Milner played one of his best games for Manchester City to help the club to beat Spurs 3-2.

I made the point before City played United that regardless of the outcome it was only three points. That was true whether City lost or in that case won 6-1. It's still true and yet today's game against Spurs feels like more.