Buzz Lightyear
Alert Team
The Hammers of east London were glad to see the back of their new-found home at Olympic Park and return to play in a "normal" football stadium yesterday. How it must grieve them and their fans that the last "athletics" stadium to be converted to host Premier League football was an outstanding success while they are faced with the shackles of their City Council maybe wanting to reinstate theirs to a track and field arena, more or less at will once we reach the end of May.
Last season, the Etihad, for once, was a happy hunting ground for the Irons. They were responsible, maybe, for the start of the Pellegrini collapse, being the first team to beat City after a blistering start and on the back of that would have liked to produce likewise for Sr Guardiola.
One thing you will need this season, should you wish to visit Chez City is a complement of forwards and not an injury list as long as Andy Carroll`s. Bilic was shorn of pretty much every forward on the West Ham books.
Guardiola had no such worries. Iheanacho arose from his midweek stretcher to claim a berth on the bench and despite Pep still being unable to parade Sane and Gundogan it hardly affected the team he was able to put out even though Kompany still adorns the treatment table. Indeed it looks as though the Catalan has more or less laid the ghost of the Club captain.
Once again it was a quick-fire start by the Blues. There were threats all over the field, where Caballero was fronted by Zabaleta, Otamendi, Stones and Clichy, behind Fernandinho. Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva and Nolito provided an attacking midfield, with Aguero as the sole striker.
And everyone was a threat to the hapless Hammers as City opened, attacking at will from wide, deep and everywhere else. Moves were starting from as far back as the net minder and finishing at the feet of Sterling, Aguero, Silva, De Bruyne and Nolito.
It was unsurprising that it didn`t take City long to hit the front against a pedestrian looking West Ham side having none of the guile it enjoyed here last season and still smarting from a poor midweek performance which saw them eliminated from the Europa League in uninspiring fashion.
The game was barely 7 minutes old when Silva played a one-two with the impressive Stones near the half way line. While those in front started to shape up, el Magico shrugged off the attention of three West Ham midfielders, including Noble. He spotted Nolito`s run and played the ball inside the full back, Antonio and as Aguero dragged the defenders back towards their line, he cut the ball back to the penalty spot where the unattended Sterling drilled home a goal he has deserved since the season began.
Twelve minutes later, City doubled their lead following a free kick 35 yards out. It was in a perfect location for Silva or De Bruyne who kept the defenders guessing - inswinger or outswinger. Silva stepped over and De Bruyne sent in a trade-mark pinpoint cross onto the head of the arriving Fernandinho who neatly planted the ball past Adrian. It was interesting to note in the build up to this that Aguero was impeded by Reid who was using his arm to prevent Sergio`s progress.
The game was in danger of running away from the Hammers much as they used to under Sam Allardyce. Their defence looked shaky, the midfield uncombative and forwards non-existent as City poured men forward in search of more goals. That West Ham survived until half time without further concessions was probably a footballing miracle. They were forced to change their formation and stiffen things in the middle of the field, but still got the runaround from the buoyant Blues.
You will recall from many earlier Ped Reports that I used to call the first ten minutes of the second half "City time" as in the seasons when they became Champions, they scored many goals between minutes 45 and 55. This season though I am concerned that they are starting to concede goals in this crucial period and seem to then be forced to regroup or introduce another of "Pep`s Plans".
Just ahead of the hour the ball found its way past Zabaleta and into the feet of Masuaku, who had issued I don`t know how many invitations to Andre Marriner to flirt him off to the showers. Somehow he was still there and somehow he found space to dig out a deep cross to the far post. Otamendi found himself underneath the ball and Caballero flapped around like a disjointed Mignolet as Antonio pounced and headed the ball into the City net.
Last Season this would have been game on and I suspect it would have ended in at least a draw. West Ham had decided to squeeze the play, shortening the pitch by holding a higher line than in the first half. The problem for them was that City were doing likewise, tucking in the full backs and offering them the wider areas in which to run offside. The Irons didn`t really produce a threat capable of securing any point from this match at a time when you would have expected City to be vulnerable.
This was simply the signal for the Blues to dig in and for Fernadinho to make life more difficult and at times for Silva and De Bruyne to lie a little deeper to extinguish any danger. They did this effectively, re-shaped and relaunched their attacking style.
But they became profligate for a while. Aguero shaping up to shoot from improbable locations, Sterling failing to add to his newly-opened tally and Kolarov, introduced for a slight injury to Stones hitting one from miles outside, miles over.
Nasri, too, got a short outing, when it looked like Nolito was running out of steam as did Fernando when it looked like time to shut the door, Aguero making way. Indeed the former Arsenal man got his chance with only a couple of minutes to go but his left foot was ring rusty as he fired over when it looked easier to score.
Zabaleta hared down the right and played the ball infield to Silva who quickly slipped it into the path of Sterling who shot into the side netting. Another chance gone.
Into stoppage time and with the nails bitten to the quicks Zabaleta opened up a similar move, this time into Nasri who squared it to Silva. His shot rattled the woodwork and rebounded to safety. Or did it? Fernandinho recycled the rebound back out to Silva who had pulled Antonio wide. El Canario slipped the ball inside him and into the path of Sterling who drew Adrian off his line, skipped to one side and slid it through the eye of the proverbial needle to round of the scoring.
In amongst all of this City could have scored double figures such was their dominance, especially in the first. And that was without anything falling Aguero`s way. Sterling could have had four, De Bruyne and Nasri scorned what looked like sure-fire opportunities and they were the ones I can remember.
There was one awkward incident for City, just after West Ham got on the scoresheet. It was no secret that Reid was having a nightmare for the Hammers and that his detail was to silence Aguero at all costs. There was enough footage of him seeking to precisely this. On this occasion, Sergio was clearly fed up with the close attention of Reid and swung his arm in the defender`s general direction, allegedly making contact with his throat and enforcing his exit from the field.
How the broadcaster`s eyes lit up, none more so that ex-City player now City-hater, Niall Quinn. They replayed this at least 20 times after the match and almost every five minutes on their sports news bulletins practically begging the FA to impose a retrospective ban on a player who for four season has been kicked all over just about every ground in the country, in Europe and in Argentina, a player who just usually gets on with it, but on this occasion a player who taken one push, pull and tug too many. Of course, if he does get suspended, he misses the Manchester - Streford Derby and won`t the pundits and Stretford droolers on TV and radio just love that?
I love the way Guardiola took the Arsene Wenger route and "deedn`t see eet" then dismissed it as an issue saying that if he doesn`t have Aguero at his disposal he will simply sort out something else. I think he will.
Apart from 10-15 minutes in the second half this was as good a performance as we have seen from City for a long time and it`s only the beginning. The defence has more order about it and it looks as though Bravo will take his stance between the uprights at Sold Trafford. Provided they all return from their international calls fit, I doubt the line-up will change unless it is forced by the Aguero situation.
Both the Stretfords and Chelsea are also unbeaten in the Premier League and City will be the Stretfords sternest test yet. They have been playing cannon fodder so far this season and have plundered their way to results. City have had a couple of sterner tests, away to Stoke, two matches in European competition and at home to West Ham. The world no doubt awaits the outcome of the season`s first confrontation between the charges of Master Guardiola and Moaning Maureen.
Elsewhere, dear Susan was bemoaning inconsistent referees. Last week we saw two penalties given by Mike Dean in the Stoke- City match for incorrect procedures at corners. At White Hart Lane on Saturday we saw a similar situation featuring Vertongen who quite clearly wrestled Matip to the floor in much more convincing fashion than did Shawcross last week.
The corner kick had been taken and the ball in flight when referee Bobby Madley blew his whistle and elected to have a word with both players. Dear Mr Madley, if the ball is in flight it is in play and therefore your decision simply cannot be an advisory one, it has to be a "capital" one and the correct course of action was to point to the spot and yellow card Vertongen. You chickened out and will hopefully spend the next couple of weeks re-inventing yourself in the lower leagues. This ridiculous decision deprived Liverpool of a certain victory and left Sue shrieking at the set. Never mind, she`ll get over it.
Writer: Pedmachine
Last season, the Etihad, for once, was a happy hunting ground for the Irons. They were responsible, maybe, for the start of the Pellegrini collapse, being the first team to beat City after a blistering start and on the back of that would have liked to produce likewise for Sr Guardiola.
One thing you will need this season, should you wish to visit Chez City is a complement of forwards and not an injury list as long as Andy Carroll`s. Bilic was shorn of pretty much every forward on the West Ham books.
Guardiola had no such worries. Iheanacho arose from his midweek stretcher to claim a berth on the bench and despite Pep still being unable to parade Sane and Gundogan it hardly affected the team he was able to put out even though Kompany still adorns the treatment table. Indeed it looks as though the Catalan has more or less laid the ghost of the Club captain.
Once again it was a quick-fire start by the Blues. There were threats all over the field, where Caballero was fronted by Zabaleta, Otamendi, Stones and Clichy, behind Fernandinho. Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva and Nolito provided an attacking midfield, with Aguero as the sole striker.
And everyone was a threat to the hapless Hammers as City opened, attacking at will from wide, deep and everywhere else. Moves were starting from as far back as the net minder and finishing at the feet of Sterling, Aguero, Silva, De Bruyne and Nolito.
It was unsurprising that it didn`t take City long to hit the front against a pedestrian looking West Ham side having none of the guile it enjoyed here last season and still smarting from a poor midweek performance which saw them eliminated from the Europa League in uninspiring fashion.
The game was barely 7 minutes old when Silva played a one-two with the impressive Stones near the half way line. While those in front started to shape up, el Magico shrugged off the attention of three West Ham midfielders, including Noble. He spotted Nolito`s run and played the ball inside the full back, Antonio and as Aguero dragged the defenders back towards their line, he cut the ball back to the penalty spot where the unattended Sterling drilled home a goal he has deserved since the season began.
Twelve minutes later, City doubled their lead following a free kick 35 yards out. It was in a perfect location for Silva or De Bruyne who kept the defenders guessing - inswinger or outswinger. Silva stepped over and De Bruyne sent in a trade-mark pinpoint cross onto the head of the arriving Fernandinho who neatly planted the ball past Adrian. It was interesting to note in the build up to this that Aguero was impeded by Reid who was using his arm to prevent Sergio`s progress.
The game was in danger of running away from the Hammers much as they used to under Sam Allardyce. Their defence looked shaky, the midfield uncombative and forwards non-existent as City poured men forward in search of more goals. That West Ham survived until half time without further concessions was probably a footballing miracle. They were forced to change their formation and stiffen things in the middle of the field, but still got the runaround from the buoyant Blues.
You will recall from many earlier Ped Reports that I used to call the first ten minutes of the second half "City time" as in the seasons when they became Champions, they scored many goals between minutes 45 and 55. This season though I am concerned that they are starting to concede goals in this crucial period and seem to then be forced to regroup or introduce another of "Pep`s Plans".
Just ahead of the hour the ball found its way past Zabaleta and into the feet of Masuaku, who had issued I don`t know how many invitations to Andre Marriner to flirt him off to the showers. Somehow he was still there and somehow he found space to dig out a deep cross to the far post. Otamendi found himself underneath the ball and Caballero flapped around like a disjointed Mignolet as Antonio pounced and headed the ball into the City net.
Last Season this would have been game on and I suspect it would have ended in at least a draw. West Ham had decided to squeeze the play, shortening the pitch by holding a higher line than in the first half. The problem for them was that City were doing likewise, tucking in the full backs and offering them the wider areas in which to run offside. The Irons didn`t really produce a threat capable of securing any point from this match at a time when you would have expected City to be vulnerable.
This was simply the signal for the Blues to dig in and for Fernadinho to make life more difficult and at times for Silva and De Bruyne to lie a little deeper to extinguish any danger. They did this effectively, re-shaped and relaunched their attacking style.
But they became profligate for a while. Aguero shaping up to shoot from improbable locations, Sterling failing to add to his newly-opened tally and Kolarov, introduced for a slight injury to Stones hitting one from miles outside, miles over.
Nasri, too, got a short outing, when it looked like Nolito was running out of steam as did Fernando when it looked like time to shut the door, Aguero making way. Indeed the former Arsenal man got his chance with only a couple of minutes to go but his left foot was ring rusty as he fired over when it looked easier to score.
Zabaleta hared down the right and played the ball infield to Silva who quickly slipped it into the path of Sterling who shot into the side netting. Another chance gone.
Into stoppage time and with the nails bitten to the quicks Zabaleta opened up a similar move, this time into Nasri who squared it to Silva. His shot rattled the woodwork and rebounded to safety. Or did it? Fernandinho recycled the rebound back out to Silva who had pulled Antonio wide. El Canario slipped the ball inside him and into the path of Sterling who drew Adrian off his line, skipped to one side and slid it through the eye of the proverbial needle to round of the scoring.
In amongst all of this City could have scored double figures such was their dominance, especially in the first. And that was without anything falling Aguero`s way. Sterling could have had four, De Bruyne and Nasri scorned what looked like sure-fire opportunities and they were the ones I can remember.
There was one awkward incident for City, just after West Ham got on the scoresheet. It was no secret that Reid was having a nightmare for the Hammers and that his detail was to silence Aguero at all costs. There was enough footage of him seeking to precisely this. On this occasion, Sergio was clearly fed up with the close attention of Reid and swung his arm in the defender`s general direction, allegedly making contact with his throat and enforcing his exit from the field.
How the broadcaster`s eyes lit up, none more so that ex-City player now City-hater, Niall Quinn. They replayed this at least 20 times after the match and almost every five minutes on their sports news bulletins practically begging the FA to impose a retrospective ban on a player who for four season has been kicked all over just about every ground in the country, in Europe and in Argentina, a player who just usually gets on with it, but on this occasion a player who taken one push, pull and tug too many. Of course, if he does get suspended, he misses the Manchester - Streford Derby and won`t the pundits and Stretford droolers on TV and radio just love that?
I love the way Guardiola took the Arsene Wenger route and "deedn`t see eet" then dismissed it as an issue saying that if he doesn`t have Aguero at his disposal he will simply sort out something else. I think he will.
Apart from 10-15 minutes in the second half this was as good a performance as we have seen from City for a long time and it`s only the beginning. The defence has more order about it and it looks as though Bravo will take his stance between the uprights at Sold Trafford. Provided they all return from their international calls fit, I doubt the line-up will change unless it is forced by the Aguero situation.
Both the Stretfords and Chelsea are also unbeaten in the Premier League and City will be the Stretfords sternest test yet. They have been playing cannon fodder so far this season and have plundered their way to results. City have had a couple of sterner tests, away to Stoke, two matches in European competition and at home to West Ham. The world no doubt awaits the outcome of the season`s first confrontation between the charges of Master Guardiola and Moaning Maureen.
Elsewhere, dear Susan was bemoaning inconsistent referees. Last week we saw two penalties given by Mike Dean in the Stoke- City match for incorrect procedures at corners. At White Hart Lane on Saturday we saw a similar situation featuring Vertongen who quite clearly wrestled Matip to the floor in much more convincing fashion than did Shawcross last week.
The corner kick had been taken and the ball in flight when referee Bobby Madley blew his whistle and elected to have a word with both players. Dear Mr Madley, if the ball is in flight it is in play and therefore your decision simply cannot be an advisory one, it has to be a "capital" one and the correct course of action was to point to the spot and yellow card Vertongen. You chickened out and will hopefully spend the next couple of weeks re-inventing yourself in the lower leagues. This ridiculous decision deprived Liverpool of a certain victory and left Sue shrieking at the set. Never mind, she`ll get over it.
Writer: Pedmachine
