West Ham 1 – 3 MAN CITY – MY THOUGHTS
20 Oct
The away day monkey is off our back and our travel troubles have momentarily dissipated after an impressive, quality-laden performance to sweep aside West Ham. Our opponents were plucky, yet limited, but the victory was merited on account of the sizzling nature of what City produced. With our attackers irrepressible, creativity flowing in abundance behind them and the midfield awash with movement and purpose, this was a hugely uplifting display that was full of control, authority and periods of scintillating football.
Encounters against CSKA Moscow and Chelsea, both on the road, lie in wait this week and are sure to be more problematic than yesterday but there were promising signs aplenty against the Hammers that should provide confidence for the tougher tasks ahead. A brace from Sergio Aguero and a delightfully composed David Silva strike secured the three points to arrest what had become a worrying start away from home this season, but more than just the goals themselves, the overall showing – efficiently routine and interspersed with spells of genuine brilliance – was what pleased the most.
Much of the post-match praise has been directed to our superstars going forward and rightly so, but it was the performance of Fernandinho, a forceful, intrepid and dynamic presence in midfield, which caught my eye. The Brazilian has had a slow start to his City career, operating in a slightly more withdrawn role than to one he is accustomed, and has struggled to cope with the physicality of the league and failed to influence proceedings from the centre. He has appeared lightweight, committing himself too early to challenges and seeing play pass him by, but Sunday saw him near his best, a dominant figure who oozed intent and composure.
He patrolled in an unfussy manner in front of our defence, mopped up loose balls that were in his vicinity and anticipated danger quickly, making a number of tidy and necessary interceptions to reclaim the ball. We were even treated to his surges forward, a darting presence weaving his way past the opposition at pace and with exquisite balance. He doesn’t have an intimidating physical presence but he was an impenetrable obstacle in the middle and his liveliness and tireless running could be the perfect companion to Yaya Touré’s more static dominance.
Ahead of him was the majestic figure of David Silva, orchestrating all our endeavours with his shimmering brilliance. Where others were crowded out, he found space and where his teammates were denied time on the ball, his touch and awareness afforded him plenty. We may be treated to his understated control of a match frequently, but that shouldn’t diminish his class. We are watching a master at work, gliding around, probing and prodding to great effect as he feeds others. He is a level or two above.
Further forward was Sergio Aguero, a non-stop blur of intelligent movement, and his ideal foil, Alvaro Negredo, aggressive and bruising yet so much more than just a battering ram. It’s still early days for their partnership but it is clear already that they relish playing alongside each other, combining effortlessly with touch, vision and bustle and they’ll only improve. With those two clicking so naturally, and with the guile and ingenuity of Silva, Samir Nasri and Stevan Jovetic, to name but three, serving them, supporters could be in for a treat.
Fully agree with your assessment of every player. I have been one of Fernandinho’s biggest critics on how lightweight he is and doesn’t seem able to impose himself on a game. But on Saturday he was very good and eased my fears somewhat. However, I’d still like to see Rodwell given his chance to stake his claim. As, when/if he’s fit, I believe he will be a shining midfield star of the future.
Garcia also did well, even though I would have put Richards in the middle of defence with Nastasic and left Zaba at full back.
Merlin was truly a footballing wizard!
I knew fat Sam would lament the fact City have more money than is club; what an idiot. I hope every time his club gets beat by any team playing underneath his wage structure (about 85 % of every club on the planet) he gets in rammed down his throat. The fat disgusting mess, along with nearly player, under contract, at his club has made millions out the game, and he has the audacity to mention cash as a factor for not being successful.
We’re looking very good and I fully expect us to get better. Shame things aren’t going as well for our quiet neighbours down the road
lol mate is all I can say to the fat sam stuff
If you play someone at Monopoly and they start the game with twenty times more money than you, the chances are you will lose and they will win.
If you then get interviewed after said game and asked why you lost, the chances are you will mention the fact that your opposing player started with twenty times more money than you. This is not a dig at Man City, who most West Ham fans like, it’s simply a statement of fact. A significant and inescapable factor behind the result.
IMHO Man City are both blessed and cursed by their huge recent investment. Blessed because they of course now have far superior players. But also cursed because most, not all, but most games they will expect to win. And winning games you expected to win isn’t as much fun or joyful as winning games you merely hoped to win.
last paragraph is spot on
Spot on? We’re cursed and blessed? Why because we now watch the best players in Europe and United are now totally shit. I feel so cursed
I appreciate your theory but I never expect City to win any away games. Take yesterday – I thought it was 50/50 before the game; I then thought after West Ham pulled one back that we’d concede another. Maybe it’s the previous 25 years of watching “typical” City that means I can’t shake off the dread that we’ll eff it up; however a win is always joyful.
Incidentally, I expected City to bet West Ham (at home) before the money came in!!
Sorry, couldn’t resist last dig, but I was there at Upton Park in the early 90s when Redmond scored a penalty on his backside and Hendry a last minute winner – oh the joy of being cooped up behind the goal with West Ham kids spitting at us! Then the police patrol away from the ground. Lavverly jabberley!!
I went to Upton Park last season and I didn’t feel the love from the West Ham fans
Mate, your board game analogy is really pathetic
Fat Sam always throws his guts up regarding money when he doesn’t get his own way; except when he was playing United and he didn’t want to upset his boy friend.
His players are well paid and so is he. i bet if the managers were swapped round MP would have still beaten his Neanderthal, long ball mid-nineties football tactics
So just to recap …you didn’t expect to win yesterday with Aguero, Toure and David Silva…
But you did expect to win at Upton Park in the days you had Dickov, Horlock and Shaun Goater.
Just want to get this straight.
Mate, you need to get your arse on the Bluemoan website with the rest of the clueless blues
Can you read? I just want to get this straight. Can you read?
As I posted above (can you read?), I expected to win (get ready) AT HOME against West Ham even before the money came in. You’ve been a soft touch away from home for many a year with the very odd exception.
Just to recap (can you read?) we’ve lost to Cardiff and Villa away already this season so no, I didn’t expect to win at the bear pit, sorry morgue, that is Upton Park. Of course, if our stars were on their game then yes, I’d expect to win. However, alas I cannot predict such things, hence why I’m commenting on a blog rather than sunning myself in some far flung land.
Can you read?
And here’s why Jack Collins. Before the money came in you were still shit at our place:-
18 Apr 1992 Manchester City v West Ham United W 2-0 League Division One
12 Feb 1994 Manchester City v West Ham United D 0-0 Premier League
24 Aug 1994 Manchester City v West Ham United W 3-0 Premier League
01 Jan 1996 Manchester City v West Ham United W 2-1 Premier league
28 Apr 2001 Manchester City v West Ham United W 1-0 Premier League
27 Apr 2003 Manchester City v West Ham United L 0-1 Premier League
16 Oct 2005 Manchester City v West Ham United W 2-1 Premier league
23 Sep 2006 Manchester City v West Ham United W 2-0 Premier League
20 Jan 2008 Manchester City v West Ham United D 1-1 Premier League
24 Aug 2008 Manchester City v West Ham United W 3-0 Premier League
28 Sep 2009 Manchester City v West Ham United W 3-1 Premier League
01 May 2011 Manchester City v West Ham United W 2-1 Premier League
27 Apr 2013 Manchester City v West Ham United W 2-1 Premier League
Sorry, I missed the (at home ) bit in brackets in your initial post.
My mistake.
Apart from Crispy some people don’t seem to be aware of how adept City were for 25 yrs of throwing away games! 5 minutes to go leading 1-0 still likely to lose! 10 minutes up leading 2-0 could end up a draw! 3-0 up with 15 minutes left and the opposition score- oh dear same old City likely to draw! Now lets look at the current defence – GC doesn’t seem to know which planet he is on this year! what has happened to him? Kolorov only made one tackle in the last two years and that was when he ran into his own player! Nasri doesn’t have ‘le tackle’ in his vocab (it doesn’t translate so he doesn’t do it).
Garcia – oh yes Garcia! Actually he played ok but had no one to mark! Thank goodness for Micah! Does anyone know how we can clone Micah and have 4 of him at the back?? To be serious MP should play Micah on the right and Zaba on the left as they are the best two defenders. I think they used to play like that once? Anyone remember? So this year is definitely a throwback to the past!! I fully expect more defensive errors! I predicted that with Barry gone the left side would be a disaster and it appears I am correct. Andros Townsend and Walcott are going to have a fieldday against us! Let’s hope we just score more goals than Chelsea are going to get!!