ClaretandHugh Facebook member Graham Moncar is looking ahead to the Etihad and the huge Manchester City clash on February 27.
After the 6-0 drubbing of Chelsea Pep Guardiola’s men have returned to their most frightening form but with the return of various Hammers from injury it could become – as Graham points out – a very interesting game of football indeed.
There’s no question we have yet to see the best of Manuel Pellegrini’s squad but the City match may just give us that opportunity particularly, hopefully, with two inspirational midfielders available to him.
We shouldn’t really be getting too far ahead of ourselves but the team that Graham named as he mentioned the City clash really is pretty eye catching and looks capable of perhaps even testing the best.
So here’s the X1 he and no doubt all of us hope will take the field: Fabianski, Zaba, Balbuena, Diop, Cresswell, Rice, Snodgrass, Nasri, Lanzini, Anderson, Arnautovic.
Snoddy is the weak link there. He would need to sit back and support Rice.
Snodgrass is not good enough to even be on the subs bench. Where is our Noble Captain .!
Noble on for Snodgrass for me. I love Snod but we don’t look organised in midfield without or captain
Based on current performance Hernandez starts instead of Arnie.
Antonio has been more effective than Snoddie of late, in my opinion
Would definitely play Antonio ahead of Snoddy. Much stronger and quicker, better header of the ball and In better form. I would like to see him at rmf. Could be worth a try.
Nasri, and Lanzini in the same team? you having a bubble?
I know Pelle says that we are a “big team” but seeing what Man City did to big team Chelski yesterday I think that line-up would be suicidal. With Lanzini coming back from injury I think that he and Nasri should share a position (i.e. one subs the other) put in Noble to sit back with Rice and as others have said Antonio instead of Snoddy
Noble to start. Snodgrass out and lanzini in.