By CandH’s Allen Cummings
So it’s Manchester City up next at the London Stadium and opposition comes no more formidable than Pep Guardiola’s high fliers right now.
But does the quality of the ‘Bluemooners’ fill me with dread and trepidation for Saturday? Not really. Yes, City are clearly capable of beating all and sundry in the Premier League right now.but in some ways it’s easier being a West Ham fan about to face a team like that.
A team that nobody outside only the most ardent Hammers supporters give us any chance at all of taking something off the reigning champions despite out best performances of the season coming against the better outfits.
For a change it’s not being billed as a ‘must win game’ for us although obviously no-one is looking forward to a defeat – even though we might be expecting one. I’m a West Ham fan first and foremost but I’m also a fan of football, and right now there are few if any teams who play the game with the kind of skill, flair and excitement provided by Manchester City.
Theirs is the way I believe football should be played. On the ground with pace, movement and precision of passing plus an overwhelming desire to entertain.
It’s certainly not a philosophy a certain lover large gentleman ever understood whilst in charge of us which is why he was never really accepted. Winning is important of course. But so too is the way you go about trying to win.
I’m looking forward to Manual Pellegrini locking horns with his old club. I’m sure he’s too much of a gentleman to harbour any grudges over his time at the Etihad and how he left there.
But I’m certain he’s been working just that little bit harder this week with Saturday in mind. Football is a funny old game. It has an amazing knack of surprising us when we least expect it. That’s why we love it – and that’s why we love West Ham – the masters of the unexpected!
Maybe, just maybe, while being entertained on Saturday we could be pleasantly surprised, too. After all, isn’t that the West Ham Way!