Welcome to the Basement...

[walmai]

...and collect three points.

That's certainly the expectation, I'd have thought, if we conducted a straw poll tonight about my team's chances.

Time was, when I started my posting odyssey on this site, that WHUFC and MCFC were broadly matched. This was the season pre-Hughes, by recollection, when we finished one place above SGE's team (that saucy Riverside capitulation might have had something to do with that).

Since then, the two teams have very much gone off in a different direction.

Watch out for:

Piquionne, if Avram actually selects him to start in front of Carlton Stroll - his height and skill can cause most defences a few problems

Hines - aka Billy Whizz, as much as he has only just come back to the bench from a long haul on the treatment table

Obinna - who may be a bit haphazard, but he's got the running and occasional trickery to conjure an opening

Parker - if you're dawdling with the ball in the middle or not following the runners into your box, and

Tomkins - who has a bit of composure at the back and is getting better all the time.

The rest of our squad is like a speck on the radar of football as an international concept, in comparison with the galacticos who now play in your colours.

As much as I am obviously concentrating on the wrong end at the moment, it is fair to say that the Premiership this season is shaping up to go right to the wire. All of the other teams alongside whom you occupy the top 4 are capable of being beaten, or at least held. Mancini's efforts to ensure that you lose as little as possible may not be the most thrilling way of winning the title, but I reckon that it allows you to keep the pace with something left in the tank.

So, from 1700 next Saturday onwards, god speed City. Just try to afford us a degree of respect beforehand eh? A leaf from returning hero Carlito's book, perhaps?



If you're coming down, safe journey too.

[the_georgian_genius]

Two things mate.

1. I've said it before to you, you should never of got rid of Zola, huge mistake that.
2. You say "Just try to afford us a degree of respect beforehand eh" before posting a pic of our king in their shirt you cheeky git!!

Hope you stay up for you and your fans, hope you go down because of Gold and Sullivan and their treatment of Zola.

[DoomMerchant]

I <3 Walmai...you've only managed to soften an already soft spot i have for the Hammers by your intelligent posts on this site.

Really really hope you guys don't go down...and i hope you don't nick anything off us next week either.

cheers

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Should suit us, West Ham will come out to attack us, leaving space for our better players to exploit.

[Dubciteh]

with no tevez or kolarov i feel upset on the cards, when was last time we won there?svens 1st match?

[ryanmjo]

I see Spector started again for you today. Maybe Grant's stumbled upon something there with him in midfield?

Anyways, I'm quite worried about taking three points. Especially without Tevez. I think our last headed goal was against you though, so maybe that streak will get broken?

[the_georgian_genius]

---------------------Hart-------------------------
Richards----Boateng-----Kompany----Zabaleta
--------------De Jong-----Barry------------------
----------------------Yaya--------------------------
Silva--------------------------------------Johnson
-------------------Balotelli-------------------------

?

or would Milner come in?

[Martinez]

I see Spector started again for you today. Maybe Grant's stumbled upon something there with him in midfield?

Anyways, I'm quite worried about taking three points. Especially without Tevez. I think our last headed goal was against you though, so maybe that streak will get broken?

I've always thought Spector was awful at full back and could not believe the decision to play him as a central midfielder. I have to say he looked less lost than I expected, but in all it was a very negative lineup. Four CB:s in the back four, a full back at central midfield and with BoaMorte/ Dyer as wingers it looked really static. Where are Behrami and Ilunga, are they injured?

[zuricity]

Well Walmai,

This is one game I really am uncomfortable with !

I watched the game today and West Ham had a go.

I was disappointed that your wing backs couldn't make up for all the hard work of the other midfield players and most certainly
Parker had a great game. He must find it frustrating that all his hard work is finally undone by some poor crossing and deliveries by others.

I'm uncomforatble because we really need to press on and go for the top spot.

As you know a lot City fans like WHU, always played good football and very rarely a dirty or nasty team. In fact I can't remember one game against WHU where anything but flowing footy has been played.

I rather wish that once again, this was a last game of the season match up, when it didn't really matter for either side.

In a kind of perverse way I think Teves wanted that yellow card yesterday so he could avoid having to try to score against one of his teams, especially knowing your plight at the moment.

However, I don't think you will go down.



I

[walmai]

Ilunga has lost what footballing brain he ever had and become a lazy liability. He had to be dropped by Avram, or someone from the stands might have done the job a bit more brutally. He's been known to jog in response to a fast oppo counter-attack and that's just not on, even in the top 4, let alone the bottom 3.

Behrami's one of several missing midfielders (but may be back next week) alongside Noble, Hitzlsperger (who is yet to play a proper game) and Collison (also long-term injured).

Didn't realise Tevez was out (the picture's his first return to us, in mitigation, the crossed arms is a hammers tribute), but, if you've got a hoodoo, scoring desert or other impediment, an eternally-springing well of fortune is piped into the away dressing room, just to help you along.

Should be interesting to see if some of your players justify the hype. I reckon - from afar - that Silva looks the most dangerous, but that Balotelli - crazy man antics aside - will score for fun. Just depends if he wants some at our place.

[13021J]

---------------------Hart-------------------------
Richards----Boateng-----Kompany----Zabaleta
--------------De Jong-----Barry------------------
----------------------Yaya--------------------------
Silva--------------------------------------Johnson
-------------------Balotelli-------------------------

?

or would Milner come in?

That is the side I would expect, would be angry to see Milner instead of AJ but Mancini has form for that so brace yourselves...

[lets all have a disco]

Yer a good lad Walmai and i also hope you dont go down, the Premier League is a better place with your lot around.
But i hope you get jack shit next weekend in fact i hope Balo bags a hat trick.


Side note,Gold and Sullivan are a set of wankers and they deserve naff all.

[walmai]

Side note,Gold and Sullivan are a set of wankers and they deserve naff all.

Tru nuff, they deserve nothing, but...

[Nick]

EDIT: I LOVE* how hammers fans seem to have the same sense of irony / take the piss out of themselves humour that most blues have.

The majority of blues have not changed, and I dont like this perception that teams think we 'expect' anything. We could be 2-0 up against blackpool with 10 minutes to go and 80% of our crowd will still probably be shitting it.

I thought the hammers were on a good vein of form, minus todays result, so im not expecting anything, but I am hoping!

Not liking the photo of tevez though! He's banned anyway, as is kolorov. And toure will probably be out. So there the reasons for my nerves ;-)

[Nick]

Although we have a good defensive record, im backing west ham to score!


It could be nearly a whole new back four!

[gillie]

Side note,Gold and Sullivan are a set of wankers and they deserve naff all.

Tru nuff, they deserve nothing, but...

Walmai mate i hope Boss Nass keeps Cole in the team next week rather than picking Piquionne as Cole seems to have his legs on back to front.What i mean is the guy's close control is non-existant but i rate Piquionne as a quality player so hope your gaffer keeps him on the bench.

[Chinners]

We always have a good match against West Ham, I think it will be a close entertaining match with hopefully us sneeking it. I don't really have a 2nd team but if City ceased to exist tomorrow I'd probably become a hammer fan.

[colonel_muck]

i'll be well annoyed if we don't win this. it would be typical city. the last few games i've seen of west ham they have been absolutely woeful, and i don't care what anyone says noble and parker are way over-rated. we're somehow still in the title race and we have to win this game. come on city.

[john@staustell]

We always have a good match against West Ham, I think it will be a close entertaining match with hopefully us sneeking it. I don't really have a 2nd team but if City ceased to exist tomorrow I'd probably become a hammer fan.

When talking about death mate I was always told, when working in the life assurance industry, to use the past perfect tense, so as not to tempt fate:

If City had ceased to exist yesterday............

[Chinners]

Ha ha ... it's a point well made.