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Hammers v Man City Fantasy Island Or Slaughter Of The Lambs?

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Wed, 21/11/2018 - 11:13

The maginifcent 'fairly financed' Manchester City showboat rolls up at The London Stadium this weekend where 'Pelle's men will take on 'Pep's, the gulf in class will be obvious and many people will have written the home team's chances off without a thought. Manuel Pellegrini was replaced by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City despite winning the Premier League, the way he took the decision further ingratiated him with the City supporters who named him 'this gentle man' after the Smiths song of the same title.

Sentiment aside Pellegrini would love nothing more than to pull an upset against his former employers, however the pragmatic Chilean will have no illusions as to the Herculian task ahead of his 'expensively assembled' team facing a 'stratospherically' expensively assembled City team. Pundits and both home and away fans have virtually written off Hammers chances of getting anything out of the game, despite a recent upturn in form West Ham are still a bottom half side, but surely they should still have a chance against high flying City shouldn't they? We actually went through most of the sportsbooks found here to remove all uncertainty and the consensus is clear: no, they truly don't. That said Hammers were perennial thorns in the side of the other half of Manchester when they were in their pomp, before United's fall from grace and their being usurped by City West Ham team's regularly turned up to the spoil the party for the Red Devils.

Marko Arnoutovic will once again lead the line, the talismanic forward will have made many fans happy with his recent Instagram comments relating to his commitment to the club, contrary to press reports initiated by his agent who is of course his brother. Reading between the lines it appears that Arnie's brother overstepped the line and has been 'sanctioned' by his sibling, either way in the short term at least the Austrian can be relied upon to keep coming up with the goods, unlike a certain Frenchman who had his head turned when speculation about a transfer to Marseille became rife.

The legendary striker known as Andy Carroll, who's appearances are rarer than a Unicorn's, is available for inclusion in the squad having come through a behind closed doors friendly earlier this week following his recovery from yet another long term injury, Carroll's compadre in the Kieron Dyer memorial wing Jack Wilshere is also nearing return from injury however he is being pencilled in for possible selection against Newcastle the weekend after next. after all the management don't want both players colliding during their warm ups do they?

Elsewhere Mark Noble will be available for selection following the three match ban he served for his senseless sending off against Leicester City, hopefully his legs will have returned as a result of his 'rest period' because they had definitely 'left the building' before his enforced break. Unfortunatley Robert Snodgrass is suspended having picked up five yellow cards, the very fact that his unavailability is a loss is testament to the effort and application he has shown since 'Pello' took him under his wing, 'Snoddy' has won many fans over with his blood and guts displays of late, what he lacks in finnesse he makes up for with passion and commitment, he looks an entirely different player than the one who arrived from Hull City who was unfit and overweight.

Pellegrini will be hoping that stalwart defender Pablo Zabaleta will be able to put a shift in against his old City colleagues, the management team will have their fingers crossed as both of the club's other senior right backs, Sam Byram and Ryan Fredericks have sustained season ending injuries leaving the veteran Zaba as the only recognised right back. His performances this season have defied belief but he cannot sustain the amount of effort he has been putting in, it is just not possible and he himself has already hinted that this will be his last 'competitive' season.

Hammers back line will experience a new form of the 'Press' system that is so popular among elite teams, but in Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena they have acquired the best centre back pairing they have had since 'Ginge' and 'Winny' in their prime. With the excellent Lukas Fabianski between the sticks there is at least a chance of the score remaining respectable, and West Ham do have a reputation for pulling results out of nowhere against all the odds, so long as the team put in a shift defeat or a draw would not be unacceptable.

It is all about playing the West Ham way, that mythical state of flux that is invisible to luddite managers and people of scorn, if a team and it's supporters cannot dream then what is the point? It should be remembered that not that long ago Manchester City were languishing in what was the old third division, but they still had crowds of over 19,000 turning up! They believed, so why shouldn't Hammers supporters believe in the Dream? It might be closer than you think. -Ed

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Dartford Bhoy's picture

My head says Lambs to the Slaughter. This is an exceptional City side, theres no disgrace in losing to this outfit but, keep it tight, restrict them to long shots and Arnie is up for it... lets see!

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92 users have voted.

It's a right bloody dilemma,defend to far up and Silva ,Sane and espessially Sterling will put you to the sword ,sit back and invite them on and Augero will certainly punish you , pack the mid field and they will simple overwhelm you ,bit of a conundrum

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85 users have voted.

Burkie 1

That could work but only with Arnie ,it would have to be one of those hoof clearances that finds him just over the half way line he has tremendous pace and accuracy in a one on one situation with opo goalkeeper's ,we would have to play much further up for Carroll to be effective and then with the hope of someone getting up in support,call me a fool but I just had a score on them at 13/1

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82 users have voted.

Burkie 1

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