By Hugh Southon
Irons 0 West Ham 5
So where do you start!
The Hammers were ripped to pieces again by Manchester City via top second half performance from the champions which included a Raheem Sterling hat-trick.
Three VAR decisions – one which saw City goal ruled out, one allowed and a Fabianski penalty save ruled out after Declan Rice encroached in the area, saw all the high hopes came crashing down around us.
This was never in the script. It was a disaster.
Things hadn’t looked so bad at half time when we trailed just 1-0 to a Gabriel Jesus goal but as has been the case so often before, we were crushed by Guardiola’s mob in the second via Sterling’s treble and that twice take Aguero pen.
City’s goals apart, what made this so bitterly disappointing for me was the inability of our much vaunted creative midfield to create any chances of real consequence.
We were basically outclassed apart from the first 20 minutes when we dominated although it would probably be wrong to judge what the season holds as a result of this 90 minutes.
A five goal defeat however is so hard to swallow after what was universally accepted as a superb window with optimism all over the east end.
The upsides? Seb Haller looks an outstanding acquisition. He showed great first touch at times, rarely wasted a ball, battled for possession and links play brilliantly at times.
Ryan Fredericks was very good at both end of the pitch and despite the goals, Fabianski was on the case with two or three good saves.
Issa Diop had good and bad moments and Wilshere certainly didn’t show his impressive pre-season form and Pablo Fornals made a low key second half appearance off the bench.
Lanzini and Anderson – who came off with what looked a mild injury in the second half – were busy but could never truly open up that well drilled City defence.
The remainder? Pretty ordinary sadly.
We move on!
I have left this post on another articl, but strongly feel this major point is being missed.
One major point I think the Fans and pundits alike are missing.
A big part of Man City’s game, is when the opposition break or look threatening they immediately bring the player down and commit a foul.
Dont get me wrong Man City are one of the best if not the best club team in the world.
But what does surprise me is how the so called knowledgeable pundits don’t pick up on it or even question it. And even the referee;s don’t punish them with any yellow cards.
This tactic consistently brakes up flowing play from the opposition. It prevents them from building momentum and creating chances.
I lost count of the Fouls Rodrigo made. One on Lanzini when Lanzini turned him and was getting away. Rodrigo instantly brought Lanzini down by pulling his shirt. This is a blatant yellow card. But he consistently got away with it.
Just amaxed how know one notices, or questions it.
Dirty Dirty Citeh!!
I couldn’t agree more. A feature of all Peps teams has been the ‘professional’ way in which they stop other teams from playing. take out the threat before it starts. Mike Dean had no clue how to handle this game, Rodri had 4 card-worthy fouls in the first half. Not to mention the foul which led to Citehs 4th today…. How do they get away with it?
West Ham were good for 20 minutes today and unlike many posters, overall I’m encouraged for the season…
Well everybody & his dog have been telling Pelle that we need a left back & CD but pelle buys a centre half ( when we have 5 ) & a so called attacking midfielder well the chickens have come home to roost unless he sorts out the defence we will be in the relegation zone yet again, because the so called mediocre teams in the prem actually fight for the ball so we will be in trouble
A whole transfer window, preseason for this lethargic, inept display, unbelievable.
In Pellegrini we trust… LOL… Our defending is so shambolic it’s unbelievable. No box to box midfielder, no left back,no pace.
Diop worth 60 m. You got to be joking, Bulbuena overrated, Anderson imo a phoney. Rice still has lot’s to learn if “reading the game s one of his main attributes” …He lacks pace as most of our players do unfortunately.
Have been a Hammers supporter for 48 years… Same old, same old. We do not know how to lose “ugly”….still conceding late goals…We roll over to easily….
Antonio can only play as a right wing for pity sake,
What does Pellegrini see in training, we continue to leak goals at a phenomenal rate yet no system change to combat this!!!
Far to many Hammers supporters are delusional… Will be very fortunate to improve on our 10th place finish of last year. Everton, Wolves and Leicester in my humble opinion are streets ahead of us… Yes it was Citeh ( in third gear at times) but where is the “roll up our sleeve sand get stuck in attitude” Only Lanzini and Haller were good enough for the Hammers shirt today!!!!
Very early days but we will get the typical post match comments from individuals about how much we need to improve etc, etc, etc Oh boy welcome to the new season!!!!
PS Mike Dean pathetic as usual even with VAR.!!!!
Hugh, it was a disgraceful performance. It started by the team selection. Pelle picked two full backs who simply cannot defend and selected a midfielder who simply can’t defend as he just has not the legs or desire to do so, so basically we were set up defensively to stop City with Fab, Balbuena, Diop and Rice. Have you ever seen the like of it in your life. It is time to move on from the likes of Fredericks (technically no where good enough) and Cresswell. It will also probably take 3 more defeats like last season to realise Wilshere is no where good enough to play a defensive midfield role. Thirdly when Anderson went off we had no one similar with pace off the bench to replace him. I hope the people on this website who continually say I was negative wake up and realise we have had a poor summer and the decision not to buy a LB, CM and a winger (or replacement for Arnie) is still incredibly hard to believe. We are in big trouble and I completely blame Pelle and his right hand man Husillos. I will tell you why we are in big trouble in addition to the lack of the above signings and this is even more worrying. We have bought players who simply do not suit the system that Pelle wants to play. It is so unbelievable naive people will come on here and say again I am pessimistic, I am being honest. The system that suits the players we have is a 3-5-2 and we should have played that system today against City. If Pelle continues to play this system with this set of players we will end up in the bottom 5. A terrible start to the season, as for competing for the top 6 that should end that discussion for this season thankfully, delusional.
You’re honestly stating your opinion as fact while calling others naive for not thinking the same or rather not being as forceful with their reservations. If you want to believe you were the only person calling out for a left back and a defensive midfielder, that’s fine but you must have a selective memory because probably 75% of comments on C&H were saying the same thing.
I agree with most of what you’ve written. Cresswell has been dreadful for 3 years. Apart from replacing Arnie, priority was LB and that was my only complaint as far as I comings. Lanzini should have been sold while he has some value because he’s too small in a physically demanding league. As for Wilshere, I’ve never rated him even when fit. That said, I’m sure the team will get over today.
Just glad it’s over and done with Hugh.Its the one I dread every season now.We give them a much better game at the Etihad these days.But this seems to be a nailed on 4 or 5 nil for them always.We can beat anyone on our day but not this lot.Cresswell was totally skinned on the left and Diop had a nightmare.Brighton next week will show where we are at but it’s City for the title already again.
So VAR comes into play.. .so what are you going to argue with the F.A and FIFA… we all knew that man city were gonna kick us all over the place, thats why they were crowned champions as ive been a massive fan of the hammers for 38 years you have to give haller time to settle in and ajeti… we will come good in time
How can you not comment on Snodgrass? After the sub we was so much better in midfield even though the game was already lost. Looks like some of you were right: We lack of running (legs) in the middle. And as always: We always loose whenever Noble doesnt play. Why is that? … And by the way, today Declan Rice was playing junior fotball once again. The so-called best player in our team and the goals just keeps on ….
Commented in the ratings – very impressive
Midfield played far too slow. Rice given a lesson in the second half…everything came through the middle, and he couldn’t get any control at all. Agreed on Fredricks and Haller.