West Ham v MAN CITY – The PREVIEW: City’s Probable Team
18 Oct
Coming off the back of an international break and with the crucial midweek Champions League encounter against CSKA Moscow lurking, this fixture poses a tricky selection dilemma for Manuel Pellegrini. Does he try to arrest City’s bleak run of results away from home or will the temptation to rotate prove too strong to ignore?
Vincent Kompany has recovered quicker than expected following injury but he has been rushed back before only to break down shortly afterwards so the sensible thing would be to give him another week of training until he is fully fit. The same could apply to Martin Demichelis. The Argentine will hope to make his debut soon after he played for the EDS in the Manchester Senior Cup and was, by all accounts, very impressive but this match has probably come one too soon for him. On the right of defence, Micah Richards and Pablo Zabaleta are battling it out for one place, as are Gael Clichy and Aleks Kolarov on the left.
Jack Rodwell was another to return during the week for the youngsters against Rochdale but after playing 90 minutes there, it would be a risk to throw him in from the start at Upton Park. Further forward, there is great competition for places, so the manager will be spoilt for choice when it comes to his attacking options.
Here is the side Pellegrini could select:
Referee: Michael Oliver
Prediction: West Ham 1 - 2 MAN CITY - We haven’t quite clicked away from home, whilst West Ham come into this meeting on the back of a thumping victory over Tottenham, but our quality should prevail. Goals to be scored by Samir Nasri, Sergio Aguero and Kevin Nolan.
We need to get an away win. Very difficult place to go but if we beat West Ham I feel CIty could go on a run.
Would love it so much if we won the league again
Start Negredo tomorrow and against Moscow. Something tells me he can handle it..
Should think he’ll want to give Demichelis at least some time on the field to get up to speed for the CSKA game. I’d opt for the Boyata/Lescott combination personally – Nastasic is probably due a rest. I’d also like to see Jovetic complete his return to fitness here too. Our players have done brilliantly in the internationals, and we’re due to give someone an away thumping, just hope it’s this one.
Just keep playing Negredo. He gets goals – stopping and starting is not going to help. He can rest in the league cup if needs be.
My concern in playing Fernandinho with Toure in midfield with Silva/Nasri is our midfield will be very susceptible to the counter with only Fernandinho capable (or indeed inclined -YaYa anyone?!) to track back. I’d stick Milner in there, drop Nasri and play Negredo instead of Dzeko. 4-2-3-1 with Milner/Fernandino holding; YaYa free to push on with Silva right, Auguero left and Negredo up top.