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

[s1ty m]

I think the opposite. We did play well but couldn't put it in the net. We've not played too well all season yet today you believe we should go out and beat West Ham away from home.

Not great, just a decent showing.

PS. Anybody watch this game on ESPN? They really don't like us, do they?

No, they hate us. Beating west ham, on the evidence we've all seen, is what the shite will do. We should be beating them, plain and simple. It's not a good point, they were crap .

[Buffalo Soldier]

Dzeko had a game that ranks amongst the worst I can recall from a City striker. He was beyond pathetic. The lad may be great in the box, but he can't play fucking football.

Well you can't have been watching us long. There are some spoilt moaning drama queens in this thread.

The build up play and energy was 10 x better than against Swansea and bar a few efforts in the first 20 mins it was one of the most solid defensive displays of the season. The only thing letting us down was the final pass/shot which happens some days, the important thing was we didn't concede.

4 of our last five performances (Fulham, west brom, Sunderland and this) have been very good displays.

3 clean sheets in four, four wins from the last five, unbeaten in the league after 10 and 2 off the top all without hitting top form and people are still talking like we're struggling. Baffles me.

There's no doubt we're missing silva as well. Even though his form hasn't been great the last few months (bar the 2 games before his injury when he looked back to his best) there's no doubting that the opposition concentrate on nullifying him with 2 or 3 players so even if he isn't at it he creates space which our attackers would have exploited today.

We'll hit our straps soon, we just need a big performance to get us going which will hopefully come midweek and against spurs.

[Dunnylad]

We might actually need to face a few teams who fancy a game against us, rather than frustrating us with the bus - possibly some decent results against Spuds et al and our mojo might return and we start turning over teams again - Collymore suggested Chumps League has hit us in terms of confidence as we still aren't ready for the challenge

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

We need Silva back and Aguero in the starting line-up.

[Grandad Rosler]

Well you can't have been watching us long. There are some spoilt moaning drama queens in this thread.

The build up play and energy was 10 x better than against Swansea and bar a few efforts in the first 20 mins it was one of the most solid defensive displays of the season. The only thing letting us down was the final pass/shot which happens some days, the important thing was we didn't concede.

4 of our last five performances (Fulham, west brom, Sunderland and this) have been very good displays.

3 clean sheets in four, four wins from the last five, unbeaten in the league after 10 and 2 off the top all without hitting top form and people are still talking like we're struggling. Baffles me.

There's no doubt we're missing silva as well. Even though his form hasn't been great the last few months (bar the 2 games before his injury when he looked back to his best) there's no doubting that the opposition concentrate on nullifying him with 2 or 3 players so even if he isn't at it he creates space which our attackers would have exploited today.

We'll hit our straps soon, we just need a big performance to get us going which will hopefully come midweek and against spurs.

This

[City64]

We need Silva back and Aguero in the starting line-up.

Agreed !

Two world class players who,s season so far has been hit by injury which has disrupted our style of play . Still 22 pts from 10 games is an excellent return from a miss firing unit ..... 2 clean sheets on the bounce aswell . Cant see us exploding into top form until Silva and Aguero are in full flight though ? Milner not playing was a blow tonight aswell .

[zuricity]

We might actually need to face a few teams who fancy a game against us, rather than frustrating us with the bus - possibly some decent results against Spuds et al and our mojo might return and we start turning over teams again - Collymore suggested Chumps League has hit us in terms of confidence as we still aren't ready for the challenge

wtf does Collymore know . He is a Cwot.

[Swales4ever]

Some dickheads on this thread , really , get a grip! It's always going to be this way . Teams are going to pack their box.Cor Blimey ! ( did you like the cockney ?) .West Ham were at home ! stop moaning this team are the best in the league and it will show come March

Lots of fantastic positions today, barely a decent chance created. That's not title form, it's a top 3 performance by a class side, but not a title winning one. Need to improve quickly.

While I fully understand, respect and almost share Your emotional flow on wasting chances and witnessing the rags making the rags (i.e. capitalizing 100 pct on lesser opponents, clinically, ruthlessly), something that, sadly and yet again, is still the main unfulfilled bit of our leaning curve, I'd refer You to remarks by Zurich.
As You can and had taught me several times, the Dzeko/Mario and Barry's glorious chances would have despatched home by the Traffordians Freaks. While we keep needing to create 10+ glorious chances to get away with full marks. Sometimes it's just not possible, moreso in CL and it's someting that our front line, made of absolute top players and a couple of world beaters, needs to learn.

Tracking back to the last month, today I saw far more positives than not, particularly when I recall the chilled feeling I felt when I was hit by the news of Milner's injury and Kolo starting, plus Wizard out, no midfield and RB replacements, etc.
As posted along the game, little impression from Bob's completely wrong subs, by withdrawing the two players who most worked hard and almost successfully to link up midfield and attack. But once said that, for truth's sake, even with Bob's mistake if our attackers had made their hard, difficult, extremely well paid job, according to their skill, class and reputation we will be top of the table now and Your emotional flow would have lead You to different considerations.

Overall I am more glad than disappointed:
we have ground to expect that our tight defense is on way back to its best.
the attitude and work rate has been massively improved, with all the subtle meanings which this may answer.
and on the above consideration, being MCFC the best English side by country miles, quality wise, we are aware that we start the season with a six pointer advantage on the Filth, those that we are gonna cash out the derbies.

The Title ain't slipping anywhere, not by now anyway, even if You have all the reasons to be disappointed when comparing the Rags effectiveness with Ours.

[dazby]

No, they hate us. Beating west ham, on the evidence we've all seen, is what the shite will do. We should be beating them, plain and simple. It's not a good point, they were crap .

Wow. What a downer. Dzeko's worst game is better than anything Samaras could have done.

I thought we showed signs that things were beginning to come together. Nasri showed great energy and enthusiasm at the defensive and middle thirds of the pitch. I would like to see us isolate a defender and take them on more often. Just need to get on a clinical finishing run. Maybe Ajax will spark it...

[City64]

Two cracking home fixtures on the bounce to look forward to now ...... Ajax & Spurs , it doesnt get much better than this does it ?

Maybe this is where City hit the ground running.

[s1ty m]

Dzeko had a game that ranks amongst the worst I can recall from a City striker. He was beyond pathetic. The lad may be great in the box, but he can't play fucking football.

Well you can't have been watching us long. There are some spoilt moaning drama queens in this thread.

The build up play and energy was 10 x better than against Swansea and bar a few efforts in the first 20 mins it was one of the most solid defensive displays of the season. The only thing letting us down was the final pass/shot which happens some days, the important thing was we didn't concede.

4 of our last five performances (Fulham, west brom, Sunderland and this) have been very good displays.

3 clean sheets in four, four wins from the last five, unbeaten in the league after 10 and 2 off the top all without hitting top form and people are still talking like we're struggling. Baffles me.

There's no doubt we're missing silva as well. Even though his form hasn't been great the last few months (bar the 2 games before his injury when he looked back to his best) there's no doubting that the opposition concentrate on nullifying him with 2 or 3 players so even if he isn't at it he creates space which our attackers would have exploited today.

We'll hit our straps soon, we just need a big performance to get us going which will hopefully come midweek and against spurs.

Been watching for a very long time and I stand by my criticism of Dzeko in this match, he was David Cross at his absolute worst. Dzeko can whine and moan about not being selected, but when he starts games, his performances are mainly shit. This one, though, was shitter than shit.

[zuricity]

Two cracking home fixtures on the bounce to look forward to now ...... Ajax & Spurs , it doesnt get much better than this does it ?

Maybe this is where City hit the ground running.

Oh i do hope so, especially as i will be able to watch the spurs game from a comfy chair in the legends next weekend !

Edit:

Btw west hams ground is very small, compared to citys at the etihad. Packing thedefence makes defending easier when the pitch iscseven metres narrower, as is the case here. Stretching defenses is difficult on a posage stamp pitch.

[clawbaggio]

Dzeko needs to go back to the bench. He has no impact at all when he starts. And he has a touch like Jimmy Saville.
At least he will try a shot from outside the box but usually picks the wrong moment to do it(eg when Noble hurt himself blocking when Dzeko had runners either side).
I know WH had all their players in the last 3rd for the whole of the 2nd half but we try to walk the ball in the net. The keeper barely had a save to make

[dick dastardley]

According to the mail milner had a bust up with mancini because even tho picked to start. He decided that he would not start milner!!!
Milner was man of the match a couple of games ago!!

[Tokyo Blue]

According to the mail

That's as far as I got, I'm afraid, mate.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

According to the mail

That's as far as I got, I'm afraid, mate.

hahaha spot on.

[walmai]

It's not a good point, they were crap .

Just promoted, scored a perfectly good goal and took a point off the champions.

Respect the Point

[Mase]

Just promoted, scored a perfectly good goal and took a point off the champions.

Respect the Point

How do you feel as new Champions of the Prem?

[walmai]

Others conquered love, but I ran.

[Alex Sapphire]

It's not a good point, they were crap .

Just promoted, scored a perfectly good goal and took a point off the champions.

Respect the Point

his hand was definitely offside