‚ö? West Ham v Man City - Official Match Thread - Preview

[charleyfarley]

". ........... V London Stadium Sat 16 Sept 15:00 GMT VAR Darren Bond Andy Madley: (3) - 20 1 Areola, Coufal, Zouma ¬©, Aguerd, Emerson, ?Ålvarez, Ward-Prowse, Souƒçek, Paquet?°, Bowen, Antonio Subs: Fabia?Ñski (GK), Cresswell, Ogbonna, Mavropanos, Kehrer, Fornals, Kudus, Benrahma, Ings Ederson, Walker ¬©, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, Rodri, Silva, Foden, Doku, ?Ålvarez, Haaland Subs: Ortega (GK), Carson (GK), Lewis, Ak?©, G??mez, Phillips, Nunes, Bobb West Ham 9/2 : Draw 7/2: Man City 19/40 ."

[Mex Martillo]

"Disappointing, at half time I thought we would get something. I thought we played well against probably the best team in the world and with a good claim to being best ever. Are people forgetting Soucek's goal line clearance? Also a bit harsh on Coufal. Anyone would struggle against Doku, playing like that. Best Man City player by a mile. Agree we were better before the subs, but to be fair Moyes was trying to up our game to a more attacking side, which many of us would have wanted, but didn't work. Liverpool will be another excellent test. Big thanks to Manuel. Despite of the result I really enjoyed my afternoon in The Tube Station, with Barry, the Austrian Irons Fan Club and a few West Ham nomads like myself. Highly recommend a visit if you're in Vienna. Great West Ham memorabilia. Any chance a mod adds this to the links? The Tube Station, West Ham pub in the centre of Vienna and home of the Austrian Irons Fan Club. https://www.thetubestation.at/public/"

[Rossal]

"Doku was impressive, he will be a menace this season. Alvarez going off was the killer, Soucek was going off till Alvarez went down. Soucek is a complete waste of space to be honest, he never looks to get on the ball. Just runs around hiding behind midfielders. That run he had down the wing, had all the time in the world to pick a pass and passes it straight to them. He shouldn't be anywhere near the side. Soucek passes in the game - 16 Areola 14 Alvarez 27 (played 20 mins less) JWP 27"

[Hammer and Pickle]

"Yes, we had no answer for Doku and neither will most other teams this season. Absolute beast of speed and technique."

[Haz]

"Alvarez coming off had a big affect on the game, but I thought Doku was the real difference. He was fucking world class."

[wils]

"""Hammer and Pickle 12:54 Sun Sep 17 Have a lot of time for the view Moyes took ?Ålvarez off to protect him; he may have indicated he needed to go and was on a yellow as well."" He was injured. Looked like cramp at first with several players attending to him. But when he got up he signaled to the bench that he had to come off and Moyes sent Soucek back on for him (Soucek was in the process of being subbed off when Kudus and benrahma came on)"

[Matthew Holmes]

Chim Not chimney Ffs

[Matthew Holmes]

"Like that chimney. Able to laugh at himself, a bit of self.serision. Maybe"

[Sir Alf]

"I did notice in Moyes post match comments that he recognised that Alvarez coming off weakened us so he’s already seen that “La Machina” is now one of the first names in the starting 11. He also recognised his changes didn’t work and without saying it explicitly he acknowledged we got worse overall because of them and the loss of Alvarez. That was my interpretation anyway :-) We definitely need to be looking at upgrading the RB slot and Aguerd needs some work on the training ground with positioning and dealing with the aerial strengths and physicality of the Premiership. If Aguerd cannot cut out the lapses in concentration, positioning errors and bring physically bullied in the air etc he will need to be benched assuming that the Greek lad can perform better? And then finally Kudus or Mubama or even Cornet need to be tried as an alternative to Antonio to lead the front line to see if they can share the burden coz Ings is unlikely to ever cut it at West Ham and looks like his best days are behind him. Not helped by not playing in a 2 but even when he does he looks off the pace, passing is poor etc"

[Hammer and Pickle]

"Brilliant assist aside, yes Coufal is a worry. Much more do than Aguerd, I’d say. And yes, I think it is a matter of pace."

[Norflundon]

"Decent performance looked to build more from the back against an exceptional team. Created decent chances the Antonio one at 1-1 and Emerson one short you after were the ones that we needed one to go in. Individually the keeper was excellent Zouma had a great game, Aguerd was his usual self playing great for most of the game but his error cost us the game. Emerson was decent, coufal got a great assist but got raped all game very surprised he didn’t come off for somebody that has a bit of pace, there’s a reason all the top teams have quick fullback it’s because usually the players they are up against are very fast he simply isn’t quick enough for this level. Paq Alvarez and JWP were decent Soucek non existent as usua. Bowen never got going. Antonio was lively but when his big chance came along he fluffed his lines. A couple of fullbacks and a centreforward are essential in January if we want to continue to push on. Promising signs that we are trying to be a bit more progress even if it’s not really worked yet"

[Mike Oxsaw]

"Hopefully Moyes takes away from that performance the fact that you don't have to respect a ""Big 6"" side simply because they're a ""Big 6"" side. All media labelling bollocks anyway we could be seeing one of those ""Big 6"" at the start of doing a Leeds/Blackburn/Huddersfield. The drop won't occur this season as the league is peppered with absolute dross, but if that particular team don't get it together, they'll have simply been bang average for the latest generation of supporters and the rate of decline will simply increase.."

[daveyg]

"Bowen as a striker is nonsense. To be one you need to be a good header of the ball,he is not. His goal against Luton should have been saved. His great attributes serve him well on the right. Kudus looks more like he can play anywhere across the front 3,bigger and stronger. We must start Mubama on Thursday,we need to evaluate his credentials more than seeing Ings. A front 3 of Benrhama Mubama Kudus should be interesting."

[Hammer and Pickle]

"Have a lot of time for the view Moyes took ?Ålvarez off to protect him; he may have indicated he needed to go and was on a yellow as well. Basically we had no answer for their game once they really turned it on in the second half and weren‚Äôt going find it in that game. Having said that, there were plenty signs of where that answer lies when Paqueta, Emerson, Bowen and SWP especially started to take the game to them and the ground got behind the team especially in the first half. We scored from open play and we‚Äôre close to getting two more from set pieces. Areola was immense. We had a lot more of the ball and the passing and movement off the ball were very good in spells. Once Moyes plucks up the courage to pick our strongest side and lets them get on with it, I‚Äôm sure there is a top six side there."

[easthammer]

"Some good moments but disappointed in the soft goals we conceded, particularly as we had thwarted better efforts. Not yet ready to get excited by Kudus, and putting Bowen up front didn't work. Hopeful for a decent season though."

[Willtell]

"I was bitterly disappointed that we came out for the 2nd half yet again flat footed rather than inspired by a rousing team talk. Fuck knows what they talk about at half time. You have to admire City though. Much as it pains me.to admit it, they are a machine. They know how to keep possession and keep up attacks until they go ahead. Then they sit back and pass it around their defence inviting the defending team to attack them which is how we lost the 3rd. Never mind as I'm sure Mr Moyes will have learned his lesson and will be going for it at Liverpool... No I'm not serious as we all know that we will sit deep again."

[Vexed]

"We aint competing for 6th or 7th, we're a 8th to 12th team under this fuckin dino"

[Sir Alf]

"My focus on Soucek ( obsessive at times :-) ) will hopefully lessen as it looks like Moyes knows Alvarez, JWP and Paqueta are the first choices in central midfield. Soucek will still have an important part to play in some games and cup competitions but against the better sides his limitations are evident. He ran his heart out yesterday and made one goal saving block on the line to underline the value he can bring while out of possession but that lack of pace and technical ability means he will always be a weakness when we are in possession or against sides that pass, move and press well. Just hope Kretinskys influence does not impact starting 11 selection because he was supposedly pressuring the club to give Soucek the new 4 year deal? And Benrahma is another that is short of the standards we now need to aspire to. Only thing in his defence is his position. He is not a wide man or winger but operates better in that pocket centrally behind the strikers. So for me he has to be sold or content to be a back up too. Coufal and Aguerd were the other 2 players that yesterday raised the question “do we need better ?”. Coufal again 100% committed and pretty decent overall but like his mate Soucek is left wanting for a turn of pace. The Belgian geezer City had was a tough test but largely because of his direct running at pace. And because Pep switched him to the left ( apparently he previously was deployed on the right ) it suggests he saw Coufal’s pace as a weakness? Aguerd is frustrating. Great pace and good technique but struggles positionally and aerially at times. Need to see what Stavros our Greek lad can do as Aguerds mistimed jump yesterday allowed Silva to nip in for their second. But overall we appear to look stronger in the “post Rice” era and the purchase of JWP looks inspired and Alvarez already looking like a mainstay and living up to his nickname of “El Machina” Kudus ? Some encouraging signs. Strength pace and good control. We need the ball more often to really see what he can do but lie I say early flashes of his ability looked exciting"

[nerd]

"Just watched match of the day , did not realise how many times the city defender touches Antonio's shoulder when he broke through , must've have lost a split second . Should've pulled up once in prowse range, Sarah etc would have."

[Keep dreaming]

A fairly informative site for those interested in a little bit more than the scoreline. https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1729283/MatchReport/England-Premier-League-2023-2024-West-Ham-Manchester-City

[dealcanvey]

"One positive, Moyes looked to sub Soucek off over Alvarez despite him being on a yellow card. His injury forced him to change his decision. Maybe he don’t have Soucek down as a starter going forward? Especially against the lesser sides. Having said that, I do think Soucek is having a better season so far so being a bit harsh but to improve we can’t have him starting most weeks."

[Barty]

Hammer Oz Well said

[Barty]

Hammer Oz Well said

[GBHammer63]

"As Manuel says they totally bossed it and I’m not sure even playing to our best and with a bit of luck that City wouldn’t just shift up a gear. My biggest gripe is Moyes allows or even encourages other teams to boss it, all this did yesterday was make City’s job far easier. As for our best team, I’m not confident that Moyes will find it unless injury or fate forces it on him. Also agree with Vexed about Benny, seen enough. One positive was Moyes looking to change things much earlier. Top of the league for 10 minutes, will be glad to get yesterday and Liverpool done."

[Manuel]

"Moyes said after the game that we need to give Mo and Dios more time to settle in, fucking broken record. It's a shame Pep didn't think the same with Doku."

[Hammer Oz]

"Losing doesn’t make us a bad team, City are better than us. We looked good and think that we will get stuffed at Liverpool next week too. Hopefully we will be in it more, we are fighting for top 6/7 for a reason. There are at the moment 6 better teams No disgrace, we have won trophy fuck ton more than a lot of others Expect to do well in cups this year"