So you say football (soccer) is boring, eh?

Well, it's been the better part of twelve hours and I still can't quite believe what I saw earlier today.  The Premiership seemed a title no one wanted to win this year, every time Manchesters City or United slipped up, neither could capitalize.  Even when City closed down the eight point deficit, they were doing no less than what was expected of them.  The one thing missing this entire season was a performance showing that one team had the chutzpah and go out and win the title.  For 91 minutes, no one showed it.

As far as United were concerned, the final whistle went at the Stadium of Light and they had won the title.  City needed two goals to win, with 90 minutes gone and only stoppage time to play.  In a season where City's strikers have been mostly noted for their negative actions (Messers Tevez and Balotelli) it was fitting that City were put onto cloud nine by two players who simply went out and did the job.  First, Edin Dzeko, who's scored only 16 goals in 45 appearances for City (which really isn't his fault considering he's a target man playing on a team where the only true winger - Adam Johnson - can barely get a look in) powered his header past Paddy Kenny who, despite making one horrible mistake in the first half - leading to Zabaleta's opener - made heroic save after heroic save in the second half.  Then Sergio Aguero added a touch of class - who probably could've gone down and won a penalty for City - when he slotted past a helpless Kenny.  There will always be a question of whether or not QPR took their foot of the gas - having been shown on the bench celebrating the fact that they were safe - but that shouldn't take away from the fact that City were dead and buried, and that, even when cross after cross was sent away by the packed QPR defense, they projected an air of belief that they were never out of it - even if the supporters had lost it.

Football had already given us the full range of emotions this season.  It broke our hearts - when Fabrice Muamba collapsed and was dead for 78 minutes - and inspired us - when he walked back onto the pitch.  It amazed us - Papiss Cisse's wondergoal against Chelsea and the heroic Chelsea defending at the Camp Nou to name only a couple instances - and infuriated us - Mario Balotelli's stomp on Tottenham's Scott Parker.  By all accounts, City could've gone out and taken care of business, producing a drama free day and it could've been fairly said that the season owed us nothing more.  Instead, it took us for a roller coaster ride that people will be talking about for years.

Lost in all of the excitement at the Etihad Stadium was the recognition of what truly was a great season for Manchester United.  United's total of 89 points not only would've won them the title in four of the last five seasons, it would've won the title in 13 of all 20 Premier League seasons.  United were without Captain Nemanja Vidic and influential midfielder Darren Fletcher for almost all of the season.  As functional (as opposed to flamboyant) as they were at times, once Fletcher and Vidic return it's not unreasonable to say that United are two pieces away from being able to match City blow for blow next season.  First, they need an out and out goal scorer.  While Wayne Rooney has bagged thirty goals for United this season, the fact remains that he is even more influential when playing provider to another forward, sitting in the hole just in front of midfield.  Alexandre Pato has fallen out of favor at AC Milan but his price tag may be too high for United.  A more reasonable target could be former United youngster Giuseppe Rossi, who will likely be available with Villarreal's relegation from La Liga earlier today.  The second area United need to improve are in the midfield.  United have two great wingers in Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young.  The pairing of Giggs or Scholes with Michael Carrick in midfield has been far from ideal.  United needs a player with the vision to create chances from the midfield.  The rumors of Luca Modric and Wesley Sneijder to United will no doubt continue to persist.  Sneijder looks the more likely option because he's stated he wants to leave Inter, if, United can meet his wage demands.

While United deserve recognition, the day rightly belongs to Manchester City.  It's interesting to consider that had it not been for the heroics of Dzeko and Aguero, $1,000,000,000 in investment by Sheikh Mansour would've been cancelled out by goals from two players who cost QPR $4.3 million.  Despite their hiccups, City played the best football in the Premier League this season.  They raised their first league title in 44 years as deserved champions.

Now everyone has one week to catch their breaths before the Champions League Final.