Is It Time for Manchester to Celebrate?

Before I continue, I must remind you that Manchester supports only one club: the one dressed in blue, the one that was playing in the second tier of English football as recently as 10 years ago to this day.

And after a seminal victory at Newcastle at lunchtime on Sunday, it looks like Manchester will be celebrating a title win for the one, true club they follow.

Despite being held at half-time to a goalless score by a resolute and highly competent Newcastle side who had everything to play for too, i.e. a place in the lucrative Champions League next season, Manchester City never gave up and just kept coming and it was Yaya Toure who could have easily been PFA player of the season who scored the goals that sealed a win that probably seals City's first title since 1968.

It has been quite a remarkable transformation for Manchester City Football Club. Yes it was done with money greater than the GDP of several African nations, and yes it was done with a squad of players plucked from some of the biggest clubs in the world, but that really shouldn't detract from the fact that it has been one heck of a turnaround for the blue side of Manchester since the current owners took over the club in August 2008.

Paul Dickov: Joe average

You have to remember before the takeover, Manchester City was certainly a mid table team, capable of a bright start and good results against the top teams. The takeover of the club by Thaksin Sinawaarta promised plenty but delivered little and the club's future was placed in doubt when the former Thai PM was investigated for fraud and corruption.

Look at City before the takeover by Thaksin and compare that side which had the likes of Darius Vassell, Antoine Sibierski, Stephen Ireland and Richard Dunne, all competent players but unlikely to set the world alight, with this season's side with Nasri, Toure, Aguero, Tevez, de Jong and Hart.

Manchester City have gone a long way and it has been a highly romantic turnaround for one of the most popular clubs in English football that should be capped off with a superb win at home against relegation-threatened QPR - expect a party of parties as I think QPR should stave off relegation even if they lose given that Bolton must travel to Stoke and win to stay up, tough ask that.

So well done City fans, who have suffered so much in their history up till the last 3 years.