David Moyes is bound to understand that to do anything other than attack teams – or look to mount incisive counter attacks is absolute no no for this squad right now.
Our confidence is such that we surely can’t be looking to play defensive games anywhere at this point in time.
And that applies to Manchester City this weekend – a bonus game if ever there was one.
Whoever would have believed that these two teams would met on the back of 13 straight wins from City and eight of 11 from the Irons.
We of course earned a hugely respectable point at the London Stadium with Lukasz Fabianski taking the honours with two great late saves in the 1-1 draw at the London Stadium. Time to go one better?
With an even better defensive set-up than back then and the ability to counter attack with decisive effect on many occasions there’s no huge reason to worry about a trip to the Etihad.
Clearly we can obviously expect the League leaders to boss possession but with the Hammers effective on the break and of course at set pieces I reckon we have an even money chance of bringing something from this game.
Oue team: Fabianski, Couval, Diop, Dawson, Cresswell, Bowen Rice, Soucek, Benrahma, Lingard, Antonio
Wow Hugh very exciting team would definitely love to see us have the confidence to do that !!! Mine would be much the opposite (not saying that’s right or wrong) against City Fabianski, Johnson, Cresswell, Diop, Dawson, Coufal, Fredericks, Soucek, Rice, Lingard and Antonio at times playing 6 2 1 1 formation and others 4 4 1 1. City are absolutely on fire and would go all out for the draw hoping for a lucky counter attack or set play goal. Fredericks and Johnson both give us pace on the flanks and additional defensive strength.
I’d like to see Johnson in as well as back 3. Hard to think around 2 years ago made is debut against Man City & played LB did very well. I have said many times I like inverted FB & think he has looked better on left, he is solid Defender has pace to keep up & pushes us forward well. I think Frederick’s has looked much better too & think Moyes playing him & Coufal to nullify Grealish was clever bit of tactics. BJ made us look much better against Man U too & we will most likely soak up a lot but Johnson’s will help counter with his runs & passing & Fred as winger or wing back his crossing has been very good & has a lot of pace to burn. They are doing much better then when we played then earlier, defensively they are better then ever but I think we have a chance. Antonio scored that great goals holding off Defender sisscor style kick takes power & skill. We have some height on them & Cresswell could come up with a free kick goal. Go for that early goal then counter & hopefully we get something!
I like your optimism but two big differences in this game compared to the one all draw earlier in the season. For one we’re not at London stadium for this one but have to travel to citehs Mancunian lair and secondly, this time citeh will have the return of Kevin De Brugne and Sergio Aguero who I think might have been missing for the first game.
My difference is their defence is much better then it was when we played then last though Antonio scored a very hard goal that game. Go for goal earlier then soak up & counter. We can get something from this game, defensively they have been so good & on record runt but they have to be broken sometime. So hoping we break it🤞
And on the contrary I think it’s a solid defensive work rate and compact shape that has got us where we are right now. To abandon that against the best attacking team in the country would be suicide. For this one we will need all the high work rate players, and players who can keep hold of the ball. Eg fornals not benrahma. If you lose the ball to city you don’t get it back for ten minutes so it’s important to make the most of our opportunities for counter attack when we have the ball and be solid in defence when we haven’t.
100% agree.
are u disilutioned?the only way to get a result at City is to play 5-6 at the back with counter attacks only.Heers my team:Fab,Fredericks, Coufal, Dawson, Balbuena, Diop, Cresswell, Johnson, Rice, Soucek Lingard
Yes of course I am. I’m sure you are right 🙂 delusional!
Yes, I’m siding with the comments that we need to shore-up our defence hilst still going for goals – I’d like to see Fredericks in there but also Bowen.
For all our glee at the Spurs result and the last ditch saves, it was worrying to see Kane so easily get past Cress (who then jogged back behind him). Son got to his corner as well and I feel Foden, Jesus and De Bruyne’s shooting boots would have cost us. Neverthess, in Moyes I trust and we can do it.
ok for a more realistic 11 : Fab,Coufal, Fredericks, Diop, Dawson ,Balbuena, Rice,Soucek,Lingard,Cresswell, Bowen
I would not play Soucek (needs a rest and on 4 yellow cards) and I would not play Antonio (make sure he is right for the next game). My team would be Fab, a back 3 of Dawson, Balbuena and Diop, Coufal and Cresswell as wing backs with Rice and Fornals in midfield with Lanzini in behind Benrahma and Lindgard.