West Ham Post Match Thread | Friendly in Iceland

[13/05/12]

This group of players look good. Balanced, skillful and with the right personalities to develop. Obviously it's only pre-season but our performances have been impressive and the competition for places will be healthy. It's different from previous because the players are all at a similar age bracket so have incentive to fight and earn their places whereas previous squads possibly had the wrong foundation. Having players who know they are simply back ups leads to lack of motivation sooner or later.

I'm starting to grow more and more fond of Mangala. Looks solid and calm on the ball.

I still expect him to be moved on but perhaps he'll be given a lifeline just because he's had a year away from the negativity. Clean slate etc....

 

[The perfect fumble]

 

[Deepest Blue]

They will and we will :)
The most skilled positions always leave a fair bit to work on.
I don't really care if the game was boring at times the objectives were met in that everyone who could who matters got a run out and we came away with no injuries and some nice results.
We've found out a bit about some players (good and bad ), made a few new fans and probably a fair few quid also.
Mission accomplished IMO.

 

[BuryBlue1977]

Thought Zaba was going to injure a few of our players in the first half. Think it was more clumsy than malicious

 

[mosssideblue]

I'm giddy after watching that,we don't need much more to add really with those performances

I would like to think we will face sterner opposition that what West ham offered today

 

[paulchapo]

Easy run out, I have no idea what West Ham were trying to work on except eleven men behind the ball. Their only plan seemed to be a long ball to our left side where they did seem to find large gaps. I still feel we need a different option up front when teams are hard to break down, a Dzeko or Giroud type to unsettle a defence and make space.

 

[AcceptedWalnut]

Can anyone find the full match somewhere?

These have the 1st and 2nd half.

http://sportyhl.com/video-west-ham-vs-manchester-city-highlights/

 

[Sparkys-Army]

These have the 1st and 2nd half.

http://sportyhl.com/video-west-ham-vs-manchester-city-highlights/

Thank you :)

 

[Proy]

I'm starting to grow more and more fond of Mangala. Looks solid and calm on the ball.

I couldn't disagree more.

 

[Danamy]

I know Mangala is not flavour of the month with many fans, but I don't see what he did wrong today, and he won't be first choice even if kept.

He's strong, pretty quick, and a good defender, not ideal for a Pep team, but spending another £30m on a defender when we have one that can step in, and may learn, seems silly to me, especially with Tosin also available, don't play them together, but they can both cover the others.

I think Mangala looks more comfortable in a 3 to be honest, as for Stones I think he's on another level alongside Vinny, there were times last season he looked lost without someone like that alongside him.