Many of us are still pinching ourselves as we reflect on what can only be described as an unthinkable end to the opening week of the season. Everything imaginable has happened with dreams realised and extinguished in one swift week in English football. What agony. What ecstasy. What a contrast in fortunes. The drama! And who would’ve guessed it?

The season is upon us once again and boy have we missed it.

While one half of Manchester reluctantly sobered up after endless celebrations, the other was left wondering how they relinquished defeat to their inferiors and now stand 5th from bottom in the table, with jubilant renditions of ‘Blue Moon’ still fresh and echoing in their ears; on what turned out to be a painstakingly bitter Monday morning for United fans. Meanwhile down the M6 or A34 (I normally take the scenic A34 avoiding the infamous bottleneck Stoke junction on the M6) the sun shone bright in the potteries; as early on Saturday evening Stoke City, in front of the cameras, came from a goal behind to beat Championship new boys Charlton 2-1, and moved top of The Championship. This was retribution. This was euphoria.

How apt that two clubs, so often juxtaposed in each other’s indignation should share in this rare, yet justly rewarded moment of glory. The tale of two City’s went something a little like this…

It wasn’t all that long ago that both teams played each other in old Division One on the last day of the season, both being relegated, though City won 5-2. They now both stand perilously tall at the summit of their respective divisions.

These two clubs have had to shrug off incomparable humiliation over the years, with the successes of United not doing anything to ease the pain for City. At least there’s never any danger of The Vale ever winning anything, which bears some consolation for Stoke. After this weekend though, pride is momentarily restored and both sets of fans have every right to milk it for everything its worth.

The match at The Britannia began with an honoured minutes silence for Daniel Shaw (the 15 year old who was run over & killed in a car accident on the way to see Stoke play in pre-season). The tributes paid to the teenager gave a stark reminder of the compassion that still exists in modern society and restored my faith in humanity. As the cameras panned left where wreaths had been laid at the feet of Stoke legend Stanley Matthews’ statue, morality weighed heavily on our minds. This had become a matter of life and death, and humanity, now what’s more important than that?

In a sport where there seems to be more silver linings than a series of friends (or maybe we’ve become so used to having to create them ourselves to survive as a supporter of teams like the two City’s!), the day for 13,000 Stoke fans was about to get a whole load better. Charlton, a mainstay in the recent Premier League rankings, got an insight into the kind of quality that exists in the championship. Pundits claiming that the so called ‘yo yo clubs’ will dominate this division (due to their parachute money) may well have to reconsider. This dubiously remains to be seen as any one of twelve have the chance of promotion, with every team beatable. Not only is this division the most competitive in English football, the quality has improved dramatically also. A good championship team is now every just as good as a shitty Premier league team and Stoke City proved that last Saturday.

Going a goal down courtesy of a Fortunate deflection was completely against the run of play and totally undeserved. 3 minutes later and Ricardo Fuller showed what he’s about by scoring a sublime solo equaliser. Then 12 minutes from time, Jon ‘The Beast’ Parkin came off the bench to secure a famous win, enhancing his folk-hero status at the club he’s now joined on a permanent basis from Hull. The promotion merry-go-round has begun.

On a typical dismal day in Manchester, the city was buzzing with the earliest derby of the season in Premier League history, and the most anticipated for many a year. What an exhilarating and captivating day of football it turned out to be. At Eastlands many sensed an upset after Sven’s promising start in English football and Ferguson’s uncharacteristic below-par start to his title defence. Remember Sven? He’s the one who had the futile job of becoming England’s first-ever foreign manager. If he’s got nothing else he has defiantly got guts.

Now lets put the record straight, United dominated, as expected for the most part and deserved at least something from the game. But who can take anything away from City as they resiliently stuck to their task and held on for a famous but slender 1-0 victory?

A nervous City rode their luck in the early moments of this match, lacking the cohesion you expect of a team so quickly assembled, and had young Kasper Schmeichel to thank for some Dad-like goalkeeping. Wisely, Fergie nullified Sven’s playmaker Elano and City found it difficult to create any clear-cut chances. However, marshalled by seasoned professional Dietmar Hamann, City grew in dexterity, inspired by the magnificent Micah Richards; who made some breathtaking last ditch tackles. Then came an auspicious moment for Geovanni to endear himself to the City faithful. As United backed off, the match winner, they were made to pay as he bent a shot around Edwin van der Sar with the outside of his right boot. It proved decisive. What followed was the sublime bordering the ridiculous and a moment Manchester City fans wont forget in a hurry: Adding to United’s frustration, a cocky City nonchalantly played keep ball for 7-8 minutes; to the rapturous cheers of an invigorated crowd, reminiscent of that famous Leeds footage from 71/2 Vs Southampton. From here onwards City were obstinate in their refusal to coerce with United’s advances, Richards and Dunne persistently coming out on top.

For all United’s possession, but for some clever flicks from new-boy Nani, they failed to really penetrate the City defence, and at times lacked shape and fluidity. Despite what I may have said in previous articles, Giggs and Scholes are still an integral part of this team; but Ferguson has to decide between Hargreaves and Carrick who he’ll drop from midfield, as it obviously doesn’t work playing all three. The latter would be my choice as despite the defeat, Owen Hargreaves had a good shout for Man of the Match (behind Richards & Dunne naturally) and displayed the kind of appetite and big match mentality everyone has become accustomed to. The idiosyncratic Tevez, for all his inventiveness looked slightly off the pace and will certainly need time to bed in.

What was most evident from this memorable derby, was United’s need of a natural finisher; and if you scour through their sizable squad, it’s hard to find one; and no storm in a teacup will help Fergie find one. Is ‘Big Al’ going to dig even deeper into his American pockets?

Of course as the season progresses, the hopes of the two City’s will fizzle out and fade away like a wilting flower in autumn. Man City will flatter, entertain and promise much, but it’s inevitable the big four’s advances will precipitate; and they’ll no doubt end up scrapping it out for a Uefa cup spot with the likes of Spurs, Everton and possibly Newcastle. The inconstant loyalty of Stoke’s players will undoubtedly lead to more players jumping ship, as they take their place in the Championship dog fight and the ensuing race for the PL holy grail intensifies.

When witnessing such overrated gobshites as Ferdinand, Cole & Lampard, strutting their inconceivably wanky and over-hyped bullshit, it’s easy to agree with your old man when he says money has ruined the game; as in many ways it certainly has. But to marvel at such precocious talent possessed by Richards, and when I begin to understand and admire the humility of his underrated mentor and teammate (Richard Dunne), then my faith in football is fully restored, indefinitely.

Anyway there’s reason to be faithful. Because to over-use that old footballing cliche (I’ve always wanted to use this to my advantage): the table never lies. A week into their respective campaigns the two City’s are sitting pretty at the top of England’s two top divisions, basking in the glory; and deservedly so. The bubble may well burst come Saturday when both travel south to Arsenal and Southampton respectively, but for now things couldn’t possibly get any better. Oh and I’m City till I die!