West Ham - Post match thread

[aguero93:20]

Still waiting for the media backlash and retrospective action...

To be fair i don't think this is some kind of conspiracy thing, it's just because it wasn't an elbow or a punch or something it doesn't register for most people, but it's clear violent conduct which is a red card.

He deliberately backed into Sagna (who had leaped for the ball) and could have caused a neck, back or head injury - should have been booked, was given a free kick.
Smashed into Dinho's back off the ball out of petulance - see above re injuries, should have gotten a yellow/red - ref was gracious enough to give us the free kick this time, probably because Caballero already safely had the ball in his hands and it stopped us countering.
Booted Jesus (?) into the air with no attempt to win the ball about 15 seconds after the incident with Dinho - finally got a yellow for his second deliberate act of lashing out in a short space of time - definitely should have been off at this stage.

To be fair to the referee though, looking at the progression of the events and decisions above, if Bilic hadn't taken him off to be safe, Friend may well have considered pulling a second yellow in the next few minutes when Carroll got sick of being subtle and took a baseball bat to one of our players. I didn't say he'd do it, but I reckon he'd give the matter some thought.

 

[Peggy's a blue]

There was a foul on Sterling that made me wince, again unpunished thought the lad could have been really hurt, Cresswell I think did it, it's a wonder no serious injuries occurred.

 

[Bewar3them00n]

this 'we're so hrad done by' attitude some fans have is pathetic. We were awesome last night, try actually reading the papers this morning - they are full of praise for City and whole articles dedicated to Jesus alone saying how awesome he looks and yet people still moaning about poor old city, the press hate us etc....its boring and a small club mentality frankly. Maybe we should just enjoy the win and get excited about the potential it looks like we have in this team.

Obviously, everyone is ecstatic st the performance, I think the point is the double standards applied.
Stones gets gashed in the head, Sterling taken out with a dangerous tackle, Andy Carroll was like a deranged bull, could easily have damaged Fernandinho's neck/back, yet not even a card for 3 dangerous and reckless tackles,
Reverse the roles, and see our players sent off

 

[cyberblue]

I say this trev Robbie savage john Harrison Kevin kilbane or how ever his surname is pronounced etc etc they couldn't lace the boots of the players they slag off I don't listen to the ****s once the match is finished I turn off not interested in the slightest what they have to say they talk utter bollocks at the best of times our football will do the talking in years to come Mcfc forever

I remember the pundits slagging Messi of one game as he was fairley quiet 20 min later he scored a hatrick

 

[Blueband Brother]

The first topic or person to mention in this game is obviously the manager. I gained more respect for him after I saw that starting line up against Totenham, which showed that he obviously had great insight and a brilliant football man. I gained even more respect for him yesterday as well because it takes a lot of character at this stage with the whole world watching to accept reality, admit errors, reward performance and start Caballero. I am sure very few including myself expect it, so credit to Guardiola for making that decision and essentially getting every decision and substitutions spot on in this game.

The goal keeper is an important part of the team regardless of whether he makes saves or not. He has the unspoken role of leadership, organizing and encouraging players in front of him and so must exude some sort of confidence in himself and in turn the defenders, especially, and other players will have confidence in him. This is what we have been lacking since the new keeper has been between the sticks. He is good and experienced but his confidence was shot from day 1: He knew that he did not fit in and grasped that people around really did not want him there and that had a damaging effect mentally and it reflected in his performances. Cabarello on the other hand has been around the City block for a few years now and is full of confidence and playing him yesterday allowed that assurance and confidence to spread around the defense, even Otamendi played well (and I have questions about him). So the decision was crucial to start Cabarello. It was the right call and much respect for the manager for making that decision.

We got there in the end and will only continue to improve and as things reveal themselves, it is very clear to us and the rest of the world that Guardiola has finally found the identity and picture for this team. A team that works hard and works together with trust and confidence in each other. A team that is full of pace, elegance, intelligence, creativity and natural talent. Led by that front three.

And yesterday that front three led the line once again with great pressing , drive and intensity. As Billic said (paraphrasing)- '' City were very dangerous especially when we (West ham) had the ball'' and that was absolutely spot on. We put them under incessant pressure and broke with De Bruyne and Silva supplying the clever, decisive runs of the front three. It is almost like the prefect set up with Yaya/ Fernandino, Silva and De Bruyne behind Gabriel, Sane and Sterling and we have so much depth with the likes of Aguero on the bench and players like Delph being fit now and ready to do a job for the team.

Exciting is the most accurate word to describe what is happening at the moment and everything is possible, really, between now and the end of the season.

 

[Nelly's Left Foot]

Had to read a lot of pages before I saw this.

It totally incensed me at the time. Had that been the other way round, Dinho would have had a red card shown at him before Donkey Kong had hit the ground. As it was, he wasn't even booked for it, and the morons in the commentary team made light of it. As for Cresswell and Byrom, what a pair of cloggers. Cresswell in particular should have seen red for the challenge on Stirling alone.

A great performance all round last night - the first half performance was, imo, better than at the swamp. Just wait for us to find a team that doesn't (according to the media) play poorly against us and we may get some credit.

100% at least a yellow as it was totally deliberate. No doubt just a coming together or even Dinho's fault for the commentators even if had got a real mention.. I also thought a number of other challenges were at least yellows which didn't warrant a mention but according to the commentator the only one who could have seen red was Jesus. ycnmiu

 

[crazyg]

this 'we're so hrad done by' attitude some fans have is pathetic. We were awesome last night, try actually reading the papers this morning - they are full of praise for City and whole articles dedicated to Jesus alone saying how awesome he looks and yet people still moaning about poor old city, the press hate us etc....its boring and a small club mentality frankly. Maybe we should just enjoy the win and get excited about the potential it looks like we have in this team.

Your comment makes me ponder whether you have read the other 44 pages of this thread, or have just picked out at random one particular post. For the word "some", you you should in fact use the word "most", as this describes the views of the vast majority of the posters. Most of us have been fulsome with our praise on our performance, but also scathing on the (at best) competence of the referee, who offered no protection whatsoever to our players. If you find that attitude "pathetic", then then that's your opinion, to which you're entitled.

As for the papers, I don't read them. If a paper told me it was sunny outside, I would have to go outside to check. They may be praising us today, but I wonder how many were qualifying this by saying the opposition was terrible, as a counter to that praise? It's happened after every big win this season. Compare and contrast with the other top 5 teams and the rags. All I want is a bit of objective balance in reporting, no more.

As for "small club mentality", WWYWWWS?

 

[CityFan94]

Fantastic performance.

Our pressing from the front was amazing. Pep talked before the game that if we allowed the West Ham defenders time on the ball, they would play good quality balls up to the strikers. We didn't give them a second. No high quality balls up to their strikers.

The front three were phenomenal all game, I think Jesus adds so much to our team. His pace, the runs he makes, his pressing - just brilliant for me. Quality player. Sane was different class, this lad reminds me of Gareth Bale. The way he was skipping past players for fun last night with such pace and power - what a player.

The defence last night was doing you'd expect a Guardiola defence to do - mopping up long balls, recycling possession and looking great on the ball. When the forward players press well, its so much easier for the defenders.

It's all starting to click into place.

 

[hawkhurst]

Thought we were brilliant last night. From the stands I thought everybody played well, with Sane being the standout performer in my eyes. His pace, work rate and ability to go past players like they weren't there was truly amazing. Only disappointment was that we really didn't go for the jugular and try score 5-6 - give how close it is between 2-6, goal difference could be a factor again.

As for the Olympic Stadium, what an absolute farce that building is. I was up on row 64(!) and there must have been 1-15 rows further to go. Whilst the view wasn't bad, it didn't feel like I was really in the stadium. It's miles away from any public transport, nothing around it other than a shopping centre and an atmosphere so flat that I almost felt sorry for the West Ham players. Them ending up with that stadium to be is like buying an ill-fitting suit and justifying its purchase my saying you got a 90% discount. I hope they can sort it out, because as it is now, they've well and truly screwed themselves, regardless of what a good deal it is.

 

[moomba]

Very impressive last night. Jesus has made a difference, but Sane finding his feet has been as important. Hope the two keep it up for the rest of the season. Nice glimpse into our future.