Next: West Brom (Away)

[AG7]

West Bromwich Albion v Manchester City
The Hawthorns, West Bromwich

Wednesday 4 December 2013
Kickoff: 8:00 PM

Referee: Chris Foy
Assistants: P Kirkup and M Wilkes
Fourth Official: Mike Dean

----

Business as usual last night at home, another three goals take the tally to 29 at home now with just 2 against ... but here comes the make or break time ...

Next three games will either make our season or break us (as far as the league is concerned) ... Two away games with only two days in between each (West Brom and Southampton) and then the league leaders come to the Etihad (who in all likelihood by that time will still be league leaders). While we play two away games, Arsenal are at home for their next two, which includes (at least on paper) a straight forward Hull City and Everton (who may get something at Emirates, but even with them taking three points off them), don't see how Arsenal would lose their top spot by the time they come to us. Notwithstanding Chelsea, as they have three easy games next (Sunderland away, Stoke away and Crystal Palace at home) we however should be in a position to either get within three points of Arsenal or get ahead from at least them on goal difference, should we beat them at the Etihad ...

But for that, first there is a small matter of two away games in four days against not too shabby sides. Saints although lost their last two but they were against Arsenal and Chelsea and both away. I'm sure they'll put things right against Villa at home this mid-week before they face us and at home they have been pretty strong. And who'll forget what happened to us when we last went there ... but let's leave them for now, there is another test before that ...

West Brom is up next ... two days (gap) after the last game, and two days (gap) before we are out on the road again ... had this come in at another time, we all would have predicted the strongest XI (as the one that started last night, or against Spurs) but given the proximity of these games, the count may shuffle one or two positions, and we all know how different we look when that happens ... so I am slightly concerned about team selection for this one and frankly have no idea what Pellegrini will do.

However there were clues in his subs last night and post-match presser ... Komps should be back, so that would be a great boost. Taking Negredo off early meant, he thinks he'll stick with him alongside Aguero up front and won't be tempted to give Dzeko a game just for the sake of rotation. Full backs will be a toss up, not sure if he brings in Kola (he did give him a little game time after his illness from last week, so maybe he is thinking of starting him) and same on the other side Richards might come in instead of Zaba (although if he selects on form, Zaba should get in ahead of Richards, but he might consider another away fixture and possibly tougher than this one in another two days so might hold Zaba back for that) ... whoever he plays, as long as Komps sits in that back four, all the rest should take confidence and will/should do better than they have been without him. In the absence of Silva, Nasri will remain the creative spark in the middle and if the count wants to shore up the mid-field a bit, he'll play Milner instead of Navas, but that particular selection would show us his intent. He might just want to have a go at them from the word go, and tidy things up later, in which case I expect Navas to start and Milner to replace him later (although I'd like it the other way around). Last but not least, Panti will and should stay in the goal.

Line-Up Prediction:

Well, this is the one I want:

Panti
Zaba - Komps - Lescott - Kola
Milner - Yaya - Ferna
Aguero - Beast - Nasri

But I think this is what we'll see:

Panti
Richards - Komps - Demi - Kola
Navas - Yaya - Ferna - Nasri
Aguero - Beast

Score Prediction:

Forget prediction ... all I want is three points, hell they come 0-1 or 2-3 or 0-4, I'll take em in any shape or form.

Oh, and before I close ... something that's been bugging me since West Brom's last few games ... they have had an up and down season so far and agreed, in their last game they played a game of two halves and gave away a two goal lead against Villa ... but just go a few weeks before that and ref decisions have cost them points. They almost had Chelsea away and Steve Clarke has complained openly about ref decisions (especially against big clubs) ... and then the ref's boss even called him to apologize ... I only hope Foy has not been told to 'even things out' for them against a 'big club' whose away form aint' that great in the first place ...

[phips]

i feel like Garcia and Dzeko will start this one

[AG7]

i feel like Garcia and Dzeko will start this one

Just *puked* at the thought alone ... but you are right, as I said I am concerned about the team selection in this one ... will tell us a bit more about how Pellegrini thinks ...

[gmercer1]

i feel like Garcia and Dzeko will start this one

I'll be very worried if he does pick them

[zuricity]

Just *puked* at the thought alone ... but you are right, as I said I am concerned about the team selection in this one ... will tell us a bit more about how Pellegrini thinks ...

Oh stop panicking , as long as he doesn't start them both at cb they'll be ok.

[mcfc1632]

I was thinking - Oh fuck its Foy long before I clicked on the thread and saw your concern:

"I only hope Foy has not been told to 'even things out' for them against a 'big club' whose away form aint' that great in the first place ........"

I have now upgraded to a triple FFS with a double axel!!!!

[Tokyo Blue]

I was thinking - Oh fuck its Foy long before I clicked on the thread and saw your concern:

"I only hope Foy has not been told to 'even things out' for them against a 'big club' whose away form aint' that great in the first place ........"

I have now upgraded to a triple FFS with a double axel!!!!

It is something of an indictment when the first thing you look at is the ref because you can't trust them to get things right. Foy is shite and like you two I thoroughly expect him to prove it tomorrow night. Which is a shame for WBA as they are quite a good side. Clarke is an up-and-coming manager who has got them playing very well. I am sure WBA just want things right like all right-minded folk do (but not the munes).

I expect tyler to give it large if we avoid defeat about how united lost to them and we have got at least a point more than our bitter rivals. Ha ha ho ho.

[AG7]

It is something of an indictment when the first thing you look at is the ref because you can't trust them to get things right. Foy is shite and like you two I thoroughly expect him to prove it tomorrow night. Which is a shame for WBA as they are quite a good side. Clarke is an up-and-coming manager who has got them playing very well. I am sure WBA just want things right like all right-minded folk do (but not the munes). I expect tyler to give it large if we avoid defeat about how united lost to them and we have got at least a point more than our bitter rivals. Ha ha ho ho.

And I bet he won't even remember that his beloved lost to them at their own turf ...

Barring a ref debacle, we should bring home three points and while at it sort out that shabby goal scoring record that we have away as well ...

[Beefymcfc]

To be fair to Mr Foy, we haven't had the pleasure this season but last season we had him 3 times. The last was a 2-1 win for us away to Chelsea that saw us through to Wembley. The other 2 were a 3-1 win against QPR and a 0-0, again, away to Chelsea. That's 2 wins and no defeats.

Season 2011-12 will be what we most remember about Foy. He ref'd us 3 times, beating Newcastle and Norwich in 2 but having a major affect on the 3rd game. That was the time when he sent off Vinnie in the FA Cup after 12 mins which left us with the proverbial mountain to climb. We rallied bravely but ended up with a 3-2 defeat. Cunt!

To finish on Foy, he had us 5 times the season before with an outcome of 2 draws to the Rags and Notts County (cup, which we went on to win), beat Newcastle and Bolton (away from home) and only lost to Chelsea. In all those games we have only seen 1 red (1 against) and 1 penalty (none against). Not too bad a record, don't you think?

Oh, as for Brom, we've played them 7 times in the last 3 seasons and they've only beaten us once which came in the cup back in 2010-11. Since then we've won 5 and drawn 1, 2 of those wins coming at the Hawthorns, 2-1 and 2-0.

Not really a bad record for each in my eyes and although he'll probably be a homer I think we'll have too much quality for them.

[Wonderwall]

looking forward to this, I am making my first trip to the hawthorns since 1987 when I was ejected by stewards for making a wanking sign to Andy Gray after he missed a sitter. They took me to the cells are below the stadium, took my name and address and threw me out of the ground and told me not to try and get back in...however, it was the 80th minute, so I ran round the stadium and the doors were open so in I went and saw us equalise in the last minute.

[youtube]Nb5MXnvLRyY[/youtube]

[Beefymcfc]

Nice story WW. I was last there about 10 years ago. We won 2-1 but when we got back to the car it had been broken into and they nicked the stereo. Not much of a problem until we realised they'd ripped half the loom out which was wired to the ignition. That was a non-starter!

Still, a win's a win. And it wasn't my car ;-)

[Twobob]

We always make it hard work at the baggies, its the same old story of the season though in that we should get a win here but it feels like the grand national in that anything could bloody happen.

With luck we'll take our string of great results and crack them, be interesting to see how the team does get shifted around - the Southampton game away potentially being viewed as the more difficult.

[AG7]

To be fair to Mr Foy, we haven't had the pleasure this season but last season we had him 3 times. The last was a 2-1 win for us away to Chelsea that saw us through to Wembley. The other 2 were a 3-1 win against QPR and a 0-0, again, away to Chelsea. That's 2 wins and no defeats. Season 2011-12 will be what we most remember about Foy. He ref'd us 3 times, beating Newcastle and Norwich in 2 but having a major affect on the 3rd game. That was the time when he sent off Vinnie in the FA Cup after 12 mins which left us with the proverbial mountain to climb. We rallied bravely but ended up with a 3-2 defeat. Cunt! To finish on Foy, he had us 5 times the season before with an outcome of 2 draws to the Rags and Notts County (cup, which we went on to win), beat Newcastle and Bolton (away from home) and only lost to Chelsea. In all those games we have only seen 1 red (1 against) and 1 penalty (none against). Not too bad a record, don't you think? Oh, as for Brom, we've played them 7 times in the last 3 seasons and they've only beaten us once which came in the cup back in 2010-11. Since then we've won 5 and drawn 1, 2 of those wins coming at the Hawthorns, 2-1 and 2-0. Not really a bad record for each in my eyes and although he'll probably be a homer I think we'll have too much quality for them.

Beefy, all those stats don't factor in this ... Steve Clarke and his West Brom has been at the wrong end of refs this season that has cost them valuable points and against big teams ... he has said this openly himself and the FA/Premier League know this and have in fact felt the need to call him to apologise ... my concern is if they have behind the scenes asked Foy to simply even it out for them against a big team ... if Foy is to give a decision or two that helps them, everyone will quote these very stats you have put out to justify that he didn't have an agenda against us ... given our away form, all fingers will point to us and our away form instead of ref's decisions ... I'm not saying this is what will happen but simply that the FA/PL are feeling guilty towards WBA (the unprecedented sorry phone call) and if they were to ask the ref to nudge it here and there for them then what perfect time to do it, given its against a big team and on top that teams away performance is very poor anyway ... It's either this or we all agree now that we will never point fingers to refs and they never get told what to do (and how to help scum) etc but instead all their 'mistakes' are simply human errors ...

[Colin the King]

Last time I was at West Brom, we had Vassell up front, Caicedo scored a cracking backheel but we lost 2-1thanks to Luke Moore in the last minute. Blues knocking lumps out of each other over Hughes. Good times!

[sheblue]

i feel like Garcia and Dzeko will start this one

Fuck sake it will be hard enough getting a result there without starting the game with 9 players.
That's how shit those two are, feels like we're a man down when either of those two start.

[Breks]

Is the game on sky?

[john@staustell]

Is the game on sky?

Nope.

Cry me a river.

[Tokyo Blue]

Nice story WW. I was last there about 10 years ago. We won 2-1 but when we got back to the car it had been broken into and they nicked the stereo. Not much of a problem until we realised they'd ripped half the loom out which was wired to the ignition. That was a non-starter!

Still, a win's a win. And it wasn't my car ;-)

Good stories both.

Last time I was there, Frankie Clark was manager and Nicky Summerbee and Uwe (I think) scored early on as we strolled to a 3-1 win. Pretty much downhill from there for the next year and half.

I like the Hawthorns. Always was a nice ground to visit, even when Brian Gayle lost the ball in the floodlights.

[Breks]

Nope.

Cry me a river.

How come we are 8pm kickoff then?

[AG7]

[tweet]407859476490756097[/tweet]

BREAKING Vincent Kompany set to be in Manchester City squad for clash with West Brom, Manuel Pellegrini confirms. #MCFC