Judgement Day For Spurs and City

Well this is it. A game that has so much hype around it, it is almost like a title decider. In one corner we have Tottenham Hotspur. For Spurs, it has been years of hope and promise. We have seen years of 11th place finishes being coupled with 'we should be in the top four,' statements. We have seen Champions League football only one game away, only for West Ham and Lasagna to get in the way. For Spurs, the Champions League has been a dream, an oasis on the horizon that, as soon they get close to it, disappears before they can even dip their toe in the water.

In the other corner we have Manchester City, a sudden contender in the Premier League. Unlike Spurs, City have not trekked across the desert for years to find the oasis. They have been flown in, sat first class and simply are just waiting to clear customs. Their fans have not felt the heartache of failing to make it over the final hurdle. They are in unfamiliar territory yet due to the endless financial backing they have at their disposal, they have this air of arrogance. The believe that this is their destiny.

Only a fool would agree and that fool would most likely be clad head to toe in sky blue Man City gear. But even if you don't like it, you have to accept it, City are going to be there sooner or later. The big question is, will they do it first time?

Looking at the last five games, Tottenham are most definitely the in form side at the moment. Victories over rivals Arsenal and Chelsea have shown their ability to challenge the big sides this season. City meanwhile have shown their ability to dispose easily of the weaker sides in the league and also spring a surprise on the 'big boys,' most notably by doing the double over Chelsea.

What is guranteed is that it will be a fascinating encounter. This game means so much for each club. If Tottenham come away with anything but a defeat, they will almost be guaranteed that coveted fourth place finish. It will inject around £20 million into the club and suddenly, given that they win their qualifying game at the start of next year's campaign, they will be dining with the finest at European football's top table.

Man City need all three points. Anything less and they will have to settle with 5th place. If they acheive those three points however, the cash injection will mean nothing to them. To the owners of the richest club in the world, £20 million has only one use and that's as a wedge to balance the awkwardly unstable table in the boardroom. What the three points and Champions League football will mean most to City and it's Arabic Owners, is recognition. Suddenly they have an aura. If this is acheived, which by the way i severely hope it isnt, not least because i'm a United fan but if it is, here's the thing. It will open the cheque book to possibly the biggest summer spending spree football has seen. Suddenly the big names like Kaka, who turned down City before as they were'nt a big enough club, will sit up and take note. Not only will they consider coming to City to play on a wage that is even far fetched on Championship Manager but they will also be playing in Europe and quite possibly challenging Chelsea and United for the Premier League.

If Mancini's men beat Spurs tonight, the Manchester City Brochure, that up until now had blank pages in the European section, will have been edited, completed and already in the post, winging it's way to Europes elite. Sadly, if they lose tonight, roberto Mancini may not even feature in said Brochure.