West Ham v MAN CITY – The PREVIEW: City’s Probable Team
20 Jan
We’re through! Seeing as there is still one game left of a two-match tie, that could sound arrogant. In reality, it’s far from it. After a convincing victory at the Etihad Stadium, City travel to London with a six goal lead and the knowledge that, baring a disaster it’s impossible to even contemplate, we will take our place in the Capital One Cup final.
To that extent, it would be nice if Manuel Pellegrini blooded a few youngsters alongside the fringe players, but the manager is likely to show West Ham some respect and name a fairly strong cup side. That would entail Costel Pantilimon returning in goal, with Micah Richards, Matija Nastasic, Joleon Lescott and Gael Clichy forming the back four.
Matija Nastasic to score first is a hugely tempting 33/1. Bet with William Hill here!
Jack Rodwell is finally available and should take his place in midfield whilst James Milner also looks set to play. This game offers Pellegrini the perfect opportunity to give Emyr Huws and Rony Lopes chances from the start, but we may only see one of them, perhaps alongside Fernandinho who was rested for the visit of Cardiff last weekend. Stevan Jovetic is another who, after virtually the entire season on the sidelines, is back and could be named, whilst Sergio Aguero, after two goalscoring appearances from the bench in the past two games, will continue his search for match fitness.
Here is the side Pellegrini could select:
Referee: Michael Oliver.
Prediction: West Ham 2 – 2 MAN CITY – I expect a much-changed City team and that is likely to lead to a disjointed performance. With neither side having much to play for, there could be a few goals. I’m backing Sergio Aguero, James Milner, Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing to get their names on the scoresheet.
I’m more likely to score tomorrow night than Stewart Downing
I did score last night ?
My team tonight :-
Pantillimon Richards Boyata Lescott Clichy
Garcia Rodwell
Milner Jovetic Lopas
Aguero
Hart Kolarov Nastasic Dinho Huws Dzeko Negredo
2-1 slender defeat
I can’t see us losing, even with a disjointed side. I don’t think that Sam Allardyce will put his first team out either, when the tie is effectively over and they need points to stay up at the weekend