Man City vs West Ham | PL | 20.12.25 | Predictions & Match Thread

[stubbo-admin]

I'll stick up all the usual match content a bit later, but thought I'd get the thread up:

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This weekend brings what has been in recent times arguably the most daunting match of the season 

Away at the ever fluent, ball-dominating Manchester City...a club that in previous times we had much in common with and a certain kindred spirit, but that in more modern times merely emphasise the difference that getting owners of means with a true desire for sporting success versus barrow merchants with no interest in the Club beyond buying it cheap, taking advantage of circumstance, and like house prices....doing just enough to keep it viable while watching the market trend see it's value appreciate.

We go into this game notably affected by the departure of two largely ever presents to AFCON.

AWB and Diouf are off in search of glory at the International stage. Füllkrug is unlikely to be risked with a move to AC Milan (!) seemingly on the agenda, and with January feeling as far away as ever our lightweight squad and it's meagre offerings take in one of the juggernauts of the North.

Predicted Line-up:

All eyes will be on the full-back slots, as well as if Nuno reverts to a 3 at the back.  Scarles is fit again.

Areola

Mavropanos   Kilman.  Todibo

KWP.     Magassa.  Fernandes.     Scarles

Paqueta

Bowen (c).    Summerville

Subs: Hermansen, Igor, Myers, Rodriguez, Soucek, Potts, Wilson, Earthy, Irving

Predicted Result:

Man City: 4 - 0 :West Ham

Can't see anything but a heavy defeat in this one after too much PTSD with the Sky Blues. Expect Haaland to run amok as usual.

Hope for the best. Expect the worst. But a 1-0 defeat would feel like a win.

COYI.

 

[Fauxstralian]

Of course!
Still think it’s all about us
Reckon 38 pts is needed so that’s 25 in 21 games
If you can’t achieve that you can have no complaints 
Without turning it around in the 3 home games & Wolves away that looks beyond us right now with our complete inability to keep a clean sheet

[Massive Attack]

10 minutes to go and he then decides to make FOUR changes all at once and we end up with 4 Defensive changes in total as well as a token disrespectful jog out for Wilson who has little time to really make a difference up top. Respect the 3-0 defeat. Pathetic. 

Sack the useless twat.  

It's the right thing to do at 3 down.. Not much that has led up to it was right though 

 

 

The issue I have with his approach to subs in the 2nd half is being so late and reactive today. It was clear at half time that at 2-0 we needed to take an element of risk and maybe freshen it up early in the 2nd half which could have given us some impetus for the rest of the half. Maybe I'm wrong for thinking it but I would have been proactive and sent Wilson on around the hour mark to cause them issues in their final third and then Soucek to help out in both boxes. Instead what we did was wait until Scarles was injured, then wait till the last 10 minutes after we conceded another to send a Striker on along with 3 others. It's not for me.

[nychammer]

Top marks to those who travelled to Manchester to endure what is shooting fish in a barrel
Safe journey home

Wolves are gone already but need Bournemouth to hold the 1-0 v Burnley & Palace to do us a favour later at Leeds
It’s all about our next 4 games & US doing something.
Need 3 wins or we are close to cooked

 

Right on cue Burnley equalize 

[Fauxstralian]

Top marks to those who travelled to Manchester to endure what is shooting fish in a barrel
Safe journey home

Wolves are gone already but need Bournemouth to hold the 1-0 v Burnley & Palace to do us a favour later at Leeds
It’s all about our next 4 games & US doing something.
Need 3 wins or we are close to cooked
 

[Sir Alf]

Has Soucek touched it yet?  

[fraser]

10 minutes to go and he then decides to make FOUR changes all at once and we end up with 4 Defensive changes in total as well as a token disrespectful jog out for Wilson who has little time to really make a difference up top. Respect the 3-0 defeat. Pathetic. 

Sack the useless twat.  

It's the right thing to do at 3 down.. Not much that has led up to it was right though 

[Massive Attack]

10 minutes to go and he then decides to make FOUR changes all at once and we end up with 4 Defensive changes in total as well as a token disrespectful jog out for Wilson who has little time to really make a difference up top. Respect the 3-0 defeat. Pathetic. 

Sack the useless twat.  

[Keep dreaming]

Soucek is very good at waving his arms and point where others should be...

[Percy Dalton]

All them subs and that cսnt Kilman stays on

[Nutsin]

Still pathetic I see. Another game and another poor showing. Why do we even bother showing up ffs!

[Sir Alf]

Agree that tge subs coming on will weaken us but guess he’s saving them?  One positive so far is Mayers

[Far Cough UKunt]

Nuno you cսnt, takes off three of our best players. 

[Sir Alf]

Summerville got one on target.  Progress.  Oh nooooo Dads Army 

[Keep dreaming]

Only positive today is the inclusion of several youngsters 

[Sir Alf]

Its typical we had to take one if our chances but Bowen didnt. Then we push foraard and get done on the counter.

Give Earthy a run? Is he even on the bench

[Jasnik]

Keystone cops defending

[Far Cough UKunt]

Kilman makes Gary Breen look like Paolo Maldini.

 

[nychammer]

Wasn’t  expecting to win this. Surrender against Fulham however and we’re good as down I reckon 

[Electric Retro-pants]

If we put Kilman in pkace of Scarles at least he won't be in front of goal...ffs

[Massive Attack]

Absolutely calamitous Defending from all of them there. And this is supposed to be Nuno's speciality.

 

[fraser]

Todibo and KWP both got back there and got in each others way.. Kilman is just a cսnt 

[Electric Retro-pants]

Crap control, terrible defending, and then the Christmas gift to the Kurgan!
Why do we do this?

[Mex Martillo]

Our CBs are clowns

[claret on my shirt]

Killman LMFAO, how the fuck did we pay £40m odd for this useless cսnt!

[Sir Alf]

Combo of Kilman thru his legs then KWP and Todibo fbcking up.