***Official City v West Ham Match Thread***

[Beefymcfc]

Fill your boots

Come On City!!!

PS. Found this excellent write-up on the net. Well worth the 'Copy & Paste' function.

City vs West Ham – Match Preview

A big thanks to ANT LONDON for this preview…

Premier League
Sunday 1st April 2011

Squeaky Bum Time

I’ve heard about this point in the season from over in Salford where a famous whisky lover once described the tight run in of the last month or so of the season.

However, as a Manchester City fan of 1974 vintage, I was a mere 2 years old last time City claimed a trophy and, whilst I have seen us play a final at Wembley, I have never, ever been “in the mix” like this at the business end of the season.

Clearly excitement should be tempered with the realism that the thrill/fear/adrenalin rush relates to our chase for a Top Four spot rather than (as yet) genuinely competing for the title but for City fans these are heady, heady times.

So far this campaign has been a surreal experience as a Blue. We have barely been out of the Premier League’s top four teams in the standings all season long yet, amongst fans, it has been a typically tortured affair.

Mancini’s style of football, Tevez’s transfer request, Toure’s slimming pills, lamenting the lack of a Bellamy or an Adebayor as we laboured to register goals, the semi final against that lot, the latest utterly farcical “Munich” witchhunt and, how can we forget, …….Mario Balotelli. In reality it’s been an exceptional season even thus far in so many ways but it has felt like a very frustrating place being a City fan most of this year

But here we stand, on the precipice, at a weekend which could (if results, untypically, go in our favour) see us go seven points clear of fifth placed Spurs and within snatching distance of the Gunners and the no-play off prize of third spot in the Premier League.

Any Old Iron

Many Blues (myself included) sit with the bittersweet prospect of being so close yet having to do so at the expense of a club with whom Manchester City fans share a not inconsiderable amount of kinship and a club with a longstanding empathy with our own club.

For those of a slightly younger vintage than I, City were actually themselves relegated by West Ham at a visit to the Boleyn Ground in the mid 1980’s where the West Ham faithful serenaded City’s enormous travelling support (who had travelled down knowing full well that relegation was almost certain) to a rendition of the WWII lament of “We’ll Meet Again….(Don’t Know Where, Don’t Know When)” after the final whistle.

Whilst this lives on in the memories of many City fans present and who have heard this legend from those who travelled on the tube to Plaistow that day the clubs do share a certain longsuffering strain of frustration which adds to the sense of kinship between the boys from Green Street and City of Maine Road.

Putting aside the friendship and emotion for a moment, it is amusing to note that this wasn’t the first time that West Ham United had sent City tumbling down through the top division’s trap door.

In 1962, City’s season had an uncertain start and in September 1962 they lost to West Ham United 1-6 with the legendary Bert Trautmann being sent off for kicking the ball at referee Stokes and subsequent World Cup winners Martin Peters and Jeff Hurst among the scorers that day.

This shellacking was followed up by an identical scoreline in London at the end of that where City were finally relegated after another 6-1 walloping by West Ham.

So, the cynic in me says that maybe we owe those cheeky ‘Ammers one….but jokes aside I honestly wish that we had another team, struggling for form, in front of us this Sunday.

Upton Park, We’re The Hammers, We’re From Upton Park

Last time West Ham faced the drop they were widely regarded as being a side that was far too good to go down, with a side positively dripping in individual talent. Jermaine Defoe, Joe Cole, Glen Johnson, David James, Les Ferdinand, Freddie Kanoute, Paolo Di Canio and an ex-blue…Steve Lomas. Too good to go down that time but go down they did.

Their next flirtation with relegation was during the now infamous 2006-2007 season when goals from the now (currently) sky blue Carlos Tevez helped West Ham nip Sheffield United in a dash for safety and led to the close season litigation from the Blades.

Happily for the Hammers our own Apache is currently nursing his hamstring so won’t have to take to the field and possibly strike a fatal blow to one of his favourite ex-team’s survival chances.

Not so happily for West Ham is the fact that this season’s crop of talent is a far, far cry from the above squad. There are some bright spots, the brightest of which has been the exceptional form of Scott Parker who has played a massive part in keeping the boys from Upton Park in with a shout of cheating the Grim Reaper.

West Ham’s situation, however is, beginning to look critical, and this week their co-owner David Sullivan admitted that they have only a “25 to 30%” chance of retaining their top flight status.

Their chances look even more bleak in the context of the fact that they are also facing a side they managed to defeat only once in their last 11 attempts.

West Ham United (Possible)(4-3-3): Green; Jacobsen, Da Costa, Upson, Bridge; Spector, Boa Morte, Hitzlsperger; Piquionne, Cole, Ba.

Match Curiosities

Manchester City have taken 19 points from their past seven home league games

West Ham have conceded the joint-highest number of headed goals this season (14), while City have scored the fewest by the same method (two)

West Ham are on their second run of four defeats in a row in 2010-11

City have kept five clean sheets in their last seven home league matches

West Ham have been caught offside the most times (110) in the division during the current campaign

AND

West Ham vs Manchester City was once the occasion of two very rare sightings: Valeri Bojinov…and a Rolando Bianchi goal!

City Are (maybe) Back….woooaahhh

Last week’s (reasonably last gasp) win at Blackburn has strengthened City’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League and a win by Chelsea over Spurs combined with a sky blue victory will put City firmly in the driving seat.

It is a massive, massive test of character for players, manager….and fans.

Long serving Blues are having to fight off fears of a typical City moment/performance on Sunday but the bare facts are that Manchester City have the quality and are certainly in the form to meet the challenge head on.

The notable absentees on Sunday will be the hamstrung Carlos Tevez and the weightwatching Kolo Toure but aside from these two big misses, the Blues are going to be at pretty much full strength for the visit of West Ham United.

The defence pretty much picks itself with Joe Hart marshalling a back four of Zabaleta, Kompany, the in-form Lescott and Kolarov.

De Jong is a shoe-in, as is Yaya Toure and it remains to be seen how much adventure Roberto Mancini feels bold enough to employ with the rest.

Will it be the often seen and, more secure….but more ponderous midfield trio made up by Gareth Barry (and a front three) or will we see De Jong and Barry employed to shield the defence and a more attacking triumvirate of Johnson/Yaya/Silva roaming and drifting in front the midfield disrupters.

It seems unlikely that Mancini would feel the need (and/or be able to come up with the right balance elsewhere) to deploy both Balotelli and Dzeko from the off so it will be interesting (after Dzeko’s debut PL goal last week) to see who gets the nod. The predictable choice would be for him to stick with Balotelli but Mancini has often caught people unawares with his selections this season so it will be interesting to see the teamsheet.

With Tevez unable to add to his tally due to injury, the most noteworthy statistic worth watching is the fact that Joe Hart needs only one more clean sheet to equal the club record of 26 in a single season, set by Nicky Weaver in 1998-99.

Manchester City (Possible) (4-2-3-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov; De Jong, Barry; A Johnson, Yaya Toure, Silva; Balotelli.

Prediction: City take an early goal and add two ,more second half to a single effort in reply from the Hammers 3-1

[Bridge'srightfoot]

..................Hart...................
zab....lescptt.......komps.....kola
..AJ......Toure.....DJ.........balo
............silva.................
..........Dzeko

[Beefymcfc]

..................Hart...................
zab....lescptt.......komps.....kola
..AJ......Toure.....DJ.........balo
............silva.................
..........Dzeko

Is that official mate, or your pick?

[Bridge'srightfoot]

..................Hart...................
zab....lescptt.......komps.....kola
..AJ......Toure.....DJ.........balo
............silva.................
..........Dzeko

Is that official mate, or your pick?

just my guess.
Nothing official.

[Slim]

8-0, Balo to score all 8, then get sent off for malicious winking.

[walmai]

West Ham line up without the following first teamers:

1. Bridge (and have no other specialist LB in their 25)
2. Parker (our PotY by 100 miles), and
3. Noble (who has an injury).

Quake then, City, as we line up something like this:

Green

Jacobsen-Tomkins-Upson-Gabbidon

Sears-Spector-Hitzlsperger-Obinna

Keane-Ba

Alternatively, it could be the disastrous 4-3-3 that Grant likes from Chelsea, despite it never seeming to work for us.

Same back 5

Spector-Kovac-Hitzlsperger

Sears-Cole (or Ba or Piquionne)-Obinna


I wince in fear even thinking about this game. Unless each of your players gets sent out with banana skins for boots, we are going to get leathered.

[ashton287]

8-0, Balo to score all 8, then get sent off for malicious wanking.

I'm a child i know.

[dazby]

8-0, Balo to score all 8, then get sent off for malicious winking.

Give me back my tablets you bastard.

[Blue Since 76]

need a wembley style performance - froms the fans. If we don't put in the same amount if effort, there's no use moaning if the players don't either

[BlueinBosnia]

3-1.

Balo x 2, Komps x 1, and a Ba or Kovac consolation for them.

[Fesan]

Hitzelsberger had been quality as of late has he not? Anyways I think we'll win it but will need to score two or get lucky with saves:-)

[dazby]

I'm about to select the appropriate pin stripes and mosey off to the pub and catch up with the ONLY OSC in Australia. Booyeah! In your face Sydney.

[Tokyo Blue]

I wince in fear even thinking about this game. Unless each of your players gets sent out with banana skins for boots, we are going to get leathered.

Whatever happens it is only one match, walmai and you'll still be in with a shout of staying up even if you lose 10-0. Parker and Noble are clearly good players and they'll be missed. Mind you Hitzlsperger has got a good brain and can pick a pass and a shot. Ba looks a good forward. Cole is a bloody handful, the sort of striker we have often struggled to contain in the past. There are dangers to City all over the pitch. Plenty of work to be done.

Anyone know who the ref is? Please not clattenburg, marriner or halsey.

*edit* The ref is Howard Webb.

[walmai]

Hitzelsberger had been quality as of late has he not? Anyways I think we'll win it but will need to score two or get lucky with saves:-)

His first two or three matches back were a revelation, but he's been a touch anonymous of late.

[walmai]

There are dangers to City all over the pitch. Plenty of work to be done.

Wish you were right there!

Still, we'll see. Off down the pub soon, so, I can come on here later and have a moan.

[Esky]

Ba's looked really good the few times I've seen him but people on KUMB don't seem over the moon about him.

Any team news yet?

[walmai]

Ba's looked really good the few times I've seen him but people on KUMB don't seem over the moon about him.

Any team news yet?

Ba had a blistering start to his WHU career. He remains popular, but that clown Grant won't play him centrally. This is the problem with someone who used to manage Chelsea; 4-3-3 is a holy grail.

[french_tony]

Unchanged. Would of preferred to bring in Dzeko for one of the midfield five.
Oh well, COME ON CITY!

[xavi6]

Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, DeJong, Barry, Yaya, Johnson, Silva, Balotelli.

[walmai]

Unchanged. Would of preferred to bring in Dzeko for one of the midfield five.
Oh well, COME ON CITY!

Contrary to earlier post, looks like we're 4-4-2

Green

Jacobsen-Tomkins-Upson-Gabbidon

Sears-Spector-Hitz-Boa Morte

Ba-Keane


Look on this teamsheet and weep.