City at Hammers Thread

[reddishblue]

Yaya's brain is now slower than his legs. Hart's distribution has always been shit, he should have gone to Specsavers instead of the hairdressers.

[Ludo]

We certainly are our own worst enemy.

Technically both the players and manager lack the fundamental sense to realise that the formation we play (especially away from home) doesn't allow enough cover in defence. Once Yaya goes forward it's a struggle to get back, for the most part he's blowing out of his arse after 20 mins, and when the full backs are charging forward it leaves the two centre halves and any defensive midfield we have exposed. Couple that with the fact we play like total strangers at times it's not a good mix.

A little more pragmatism and a little less buckling our swash.

[bluebrendan]

Valencia was being marked by Delph, Delph chose to leave his man to cover the near post, deflects of his bum an into the unmarked Valencia.
If Delph had stayed with his man, then no deflection and Ota clears.
If Toure hadn't been so weak and let his man get by easy, different passage of play entirely.

Yes, Ota too slow on the first goal.

Silva hasn't played well since coming back from Injury

Sterling looked ring rusty

No one played particularly well (Kun aside).

We should of stuck with Delph and Fernando in the centre.

Have another look, Otamendi couldn't have cleared it because he's still getting back from wandering 10 yards up the park, he's between Yaya and Delph and a yard or two behind when the cross comes in. I can't blame Delph for going to cover the near post where Otamendi should have been.

[jingoe]

Why did Kun look so pissed off after he'd scored the second?

I assumed it must have been disallowed for a few seconds

[KunDB]

Why did Kun look so pissed off after he'd scored the second?

I assumed it must have been disallowed for a few seconds

He was pushed into the back of the net when he went to get the ball to restart quickly.

[nimrod]

Its all too obvious , we are let down time & time again by the same players

Otamendi demechelis mangala and yaya ...........you cant win a title with these players..........or a manager who plays two offensive mids (one of them who couldnt give a fuck) away from home against a strong West Ham midfield, offering no protection to a shite defence.

whoever thought it was a good idea to pay all that dosh for ota & mango wants shooting with a ball of their own shit

Hopefully next season it will all be sorted out, Pep will get rid of the dross that is losing us the title, this title that should be a stroll in the park

[Swiss]

Have another look, Otamendi couldn't have cleared it because he's still getting back from wandering 10 yards up the park, he's between Yaya and Delph and a yard or two behind when the cross comes in. I can't blame Delph for going to cover the near post where Otamendi should have been.

Sorry, yep, Demi would have been free to clear it.
It looks as though Ota has tried to anticipate the pass to Valencia , then gets out of position.
3 key errors by Yaya, Delph and Ota for their first.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Otamendi had a stinker.

But few came out of this with much credit, and there's little to say here that hasn't been said before. One look at Pellegrini's team selection clearly heralded that someone (most likely Delph - as Ludo suggested pre-kick-off) was going to be in for a tough day at the office, covering the ground Yaya won't (or can't). Surely every man and his dog can now see that including Yaya in the same side as Silva - plus TWO wide players - is a luxury we can seldom afford, especially away from home against the better sides like West Ham. One of Navas or De Bruyne should have been assigned to the bench to make way for the extra midfielder (one of the two F's) in beside Yaya and Delph.

[Neil Mcnab]

To me Yaya is a luxury we can no longer afford at all. He has never been keen on the defensive part of a midfielders role, now he also has a very apparent physical decline. This is a poor combination.  If he continues to be a starter, it will be a minus where we cant afford one. Yesterday, he was among many not putting in a good performance. It seems nailed on Pelle is gone at the end of the season, a dead man walking manager is a drag on performance as well.