West Ham United (A) | Sun 7th Aug | Post Match Thread

[Didsbury Dave]

One thing I also thought was notable yesterday, whilst we settle in with Erling, was the few times that players took the wrong option because they are always now looking to give it to him in promising positions - Gundo when he should have taken a shot, and also Phil had a great opportunity to get a shot away when cutting in.

It‘s a fine balance but going to be great when they are all on the same wavelength.

It was also noticeable that we are crossing earlier.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

One thing I also thought was notable yesterday, whilst we settle in with Erling, was the few times that players took the wrong option because they are always now looking to give it to him in promising positions - Gundo when he should have taken a shot, and also Phil had a great opportunity to get a shot away when cutting in.

It‘s a fine balance but going to be great when they are all on the same wavelength.

Yes, last week we didn't do it, this week we did it a bit too much. Think we'll get the balance right eventually. Even as a fan I'd forgotten what it was like to watch a 9 whose only interest is getting in positions to score goals.

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

The usual controlled destruction of teams we witnessed last season we witnessed yesterday. West Ham looked up for it in the opening stages of the game then City strangled the momentum away from them. We would have behind West Ham on match sharpness, however managed to get a result whilst putting some more minutes into the team’s legs.

We have a beast in Haaland, he will cause some problems for defenders with how he can leave them for dead over 10 yards.

 

[trevorriley]

how wrong i was, i thought it would be tough. Love watching us control games this way, to me it beats a 4-1 thrashing. To do this away from home against a team that would be looking at a top 6 place.

for me it was a 10 out of ten show.

and well done Alverez for smashing the ball in the face of the hammers player that abused his cat. Excellent to hear city fans mock him.

 

[bluemc1]

That through ball from KDB to Haaland had me thinking in real time “ gonna need a good first touch to take him on his good foot and not as far out wide “
Then the ball was just in the net
He just sprinted to where he needed to be to take it first time on his good foot with a great angle
Frightening finish for the rest of the league

 

[TonyM]

Obviously Haaland needs to work on his heading, but if that cross from Grealish had been low he would have toe-poked in for his hat trick. Once we make those small adjustments the sky is the limit. What a time to be a blue!

... which would be great for Grealish too. He does so much good work but with no direct end product.

 

[Len Rum]

MUEN saying Erling's pen went in off the post.
Don't think it did, did it?

 

[colin's bell helmet]

I will watch it because I have been watching city since I was 4 years of age, season ticket holder in North stand, season ticket holder at coms/ etihad, yes heat first game etc, but we have played like this for a long time now, yes we have won trophies I get it, but sometimes it Is like watching paint dry, under mancini we were good and a joy to watch, these days it seems more about retention of the ball, can't argue with what we have won, but some days it seems tedious to watch

An absolute footballing masterclass and you found it tedious?.... Wow!... maybe football isn't for you mate.

 

[ercbkippax]

I’ve never been so confident of us scoring a pen when Haaland stepped up yesterday. Long may it continue

 

[yeah whatever !!]

20 assists this season for Kevin?
I wouldn't beat against it...

20+ fella :)

 

[kippaxwarrior]

I’ve never been so confident of us scoring a pen when Haaland stepped up yesterday. Long may it continue

As soon as KDB split the defence with that pass to Haaland I shouted goal.

He is absolutely lethal in front of goal

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

how wrong i was, i thought it would be tough. Love watching us control games this way, to me it beats a 4-1 thrashing. To do this away from home against a team that would be looking at a top 6 place.

for me it was a 10 out of ten show.

and well done Alverez for smashing the ball in the face of the hammers player that abused his cat. Excellent to hear city fans mock him.

Me too! I thought we'd have a much tougher game but WHU didn't really make anything difficult for us. When the pen turned up the first glance at the notification on the phone (on away games) came up "West . . . . . . . . .!" I thought Oh Fuckiity Fuck, and then saw Erland mentioned! I don't know whether my mindset is more not taking anything for granted or if summat can go wrong it will! If I hear "There's a goal at . . . . . . . . ." I always think we've conceded.

 

[blue cigar]

Eddie's save from their sub was probably the best stop I've seen from him in a while, I also feared a tough grind but we controlled it and made them chase it all day, beautiful.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

! As soon as KDB split the defence with that pass to Haaland I shouted goal.

He is absolutely lethal in front of goal

I would like to see a hat trick of headers from difficult angles - the one Rodri got last season at the near post, the Laporte one v Spurs Carabao, and a Demichelis glancing header into the far corner! The he's lethal!

 

[Ballymagash Blue]

MUEN saying Erling's pen went in off the post.
Don't think it did, did it?

Think it did.

 

[Pingu the Penguin]

I will watch it because I have been watching city since I was 4 years of age, season ticket holder in North stand, season ticket holder at coms/ etihad, yes heat first game etc, but we have played like this for a long time now, yes we have won trophies I get it, but sometimes it Is like watching paint dry, under mancini we were good and a joy to watch, these days it seems more about retention of the ball, can't argue with what we have won, but some days it seems tedious to watch

Some people are never satisfied!

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Eddie's save from their sub was probably the best stop I've seen from him in a while, I also feared a tough grind but we controlled it and made them chase it all day, beautiful.

Yeah, I've been a little miffed with Eddie over a good chunk of last season. I normally give him MotM but I lost a little faith in a couple of games. Mind, growing up with Trautmann . . . . . . . . . . . .!

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

MUEN saying Erling's pen went in off the post.
Don't think it did, did it?

Did the MUEN mention that getting a pen in off the post takes years of practice?

 

[Bluearmy]

That 2nd goal and the pass from KDB was what we were all talking about when we first signed Haaland
it was the picture I built up in my head in KDB feeding Haaland, it must be a nightmare for defenders seeing that yesterday,

but one thing I may add is I hope we don't become a one-man team and players just looking for Haaland
yes it's great and wonderful seeing it in full flow, But Haaland is not superman, we have plenty of goals in the squad before Haaland, so maybe keep them specials passes and goals in reserve for much bigger games

To be fair the first was kind of similar, with the ball from gundogan albeit over a shorter distance.

Its going to totally disrupt how teams set up against us and give them something else to think about (can teams play a high line with that coming at you), with those runs of his from slightly deeper at such pace. Almost unplayable

 

[Bluearmy]

That through ball from KDB to Haaland had me thinking in real time “ gonna need a good first touch to take him on his good foot and not as far out wide “
Then the ball was just in the net
He just sprinted to where he needed to be to take it first time on his good foot with a great angle
Frightening finish for the rest of the league

I think thats a great example of his pace. He’s that quick he had time to run round the ball and the defenders still got nowhere near him. As you say the rest of the league must be $hitting bricks