I hope you don't mind a cockney bastard coming on your forum but I have been reading this thread and have been quite intrigued by some of the comments and have to say the feeling is mutual.
Despite managing to get arrested on the Kippax in the 69-70 season I have always felt an affiliation with Man. City. In fact many Hammers of my generation did (and still do) and I really can't remember how this came about. Probably partly because we always detested your across city rivals. They ranked alongside Millwall and Chelsea in the vermin stakes . However, I think it was more a feeling of shared social backgound and of being perpetual underdogs. You didn't support Man City or West Ham for the glory; you needed to be a bloody masochist. At least things appear to be changing for you now and I am pleased, you deserve it. Unfortunately we seem to be heading south and I am not optimistic that we can avoid the drop. It has been coming for a couple of seasons now.
I have not been to Eastlands but I would be interested to hear how you lot like it compared to Maine Road. As you know our lords and masters have got this crack pot scheme to move us to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. Nobody I know wants to go over there and watch football in a soulless generic bowl with a running track surrounded by a load of corporates and prawn sandwich munching tourists (there is enough of them at the Emirates and the Bridge). Too much family history and emotion attached to Upton Park for me to contemplate moving. I can't bear to think about it.
Please go easy on us this weekend. All the best for the rest of the season.