West Ham United welcome reigning champions Manchester City to the Boleyn ground on Saturday, in a game that sees the homecoming of Carlos Tevez.
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Carlos Tevez who had just one season at the Boleyn in 2006 where he gained hero status after his 7 goals helped keep the Hammers up. The Argentinean who scored last weekend against Swansea City to help City to another scrappy win will look to break the hearts of the fans who once adored him.
Tevez told MCFC.com ahead of the trip to the East end that “The truth is that I’m very happy to be returning to the club that you could say was my ‘birthplace.’
Although to the neutral it looks as if City have been struggling this season the truth is they are doing what all good sides do winning ugly. It took until the October 6th to keep their first clean sheet, and there are rumbling that the players are starting to doubt Roberto Mancini’s tactics. Despite that they still lie in 3rd place in the Premier League just a point of 1st place Chelsea.
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The Hammers have enjoyed a relatively good start on their return to the top flight, and their home form has been particularly impressive. The Hammers have lost just once at home this season and that was the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal. So the Irons have no reason to fear City and should be confident that with the West Ham faithful behind them they could surprise a few people.
For me, we have only put in two bad displays this season both away, last week’s woeful display away at Wigan, and our first away day at Swansea where the Irons were given a footballing lesson. But the Hammers got the start they needed ahead of the trickiest set of fixtures yet, beginning with this weekend’s visit of Manchester City. West Ham currently lie in 9th place.
One positive for the Hammers this weekend ahead of the trip of the champions is Andy Carroll’s record against the blue half of Manchester. Carroll, who is still looking for his first goal in Claret and Blue, has scored more goals against Manchester City than any other team with 4 goals in 6 games. He got off the mark for Liverpool with a brace against City in 2011. Here’s hoping he can get off the mark for the Hammers in similar style this weekend as once again he will be the key player for the home side.
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Ahead of the trip of the Champions Sam Allardyce backed the big number 8; he said “‘it would be nice for him to get off the mark. I think he’s a little frustrated by it.” Before adding ‘It’s not all about Andy and his heading ability, he’s very, very good at scoring goals on the floor as well, so we have to got to keep providing the service and eventually, he’ll start putting it in the net, we hope.’
When you look at City’s squad as a Hammer you just take a big gulp the likes of Sergio Aguero, Tevez, Vincent Kompany, Samir Nasri, David Silva is enough to give you nightmares. But they are beatable, with rumours of a rift this could be one of the best times to play them. The quality of their squad is undoubtedly one of the best in the world, but with great squads comes great egos and for me they are starting to come to the forefront something is up at City and we must take advantage of it.
Team News:
West Ham
Jack Collison will be missing for the Hammers for the trip of the champions as he continues to suffer will his knee injury.
Guy Demel (thigh), Matt Taylor (calf), Alou Diarra (thigh) and Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder) will all not feature for the Irons on Saturday.
Manchester City:
Spanish star David Silva could be set for a return to the City line up after recovering from his hamstring injury whilst Pablo Zabaleta is also hoping to be fit for the game following his hamstring problem.
But Micah Richards (knee), Aleksandar Kolarov (foot), Jack Rodwell (hamstring), Javi Garcia (thigh) and Maicon (ankle) are all unavailable.
Stat attack:
Last six meetings:
- 1 May 2011 – Manchester City 2-1 West Ham United
- 11 December 2010 – West Ham United 1-3 Manchester City
- 9 May 2010 – West Ham United 1-1 Manchester City
- 29 Sept 2009 – Manchester City 3-1 West Ham United
- 1 March 2009 – West Ham United 1-0 Manchester City
- 24 August 2008 – Manchester City 3-0 West Ham United
Overall record v Manchester City (all competitions) W 35 D 15 L 42
Top Goal scorers:
West Ham:
- Kevin Nolan – 4
- Modibo Maiga – 3
- Mark Noble -2
Manchester City:
- Edin Dzeko- 6
- Carlos Tevez-5
- Alexander Kolarov- 3
Saturdays referee- Howard Webb
Next five Fixtures-
West Ham – Newcastle (A), Stoke (H), Tottenham (A), Man U (A), Chelsea (H). Gulp.
Manchester City – Ajax (H), Tottenham (H), Aston Villa (H), Real Madrid (H), Chelsea (A)
General Travel Information – The London Underground Central line will be closed between Leytonstone and Woodford via Hainault, with replacement bus services in operation. For more info see: www.tfl.gov.uk
Bowden Predicts- This one is a real heart/ head prediction- Heart 2-1 West Ham. Head West Ham 1 Manchester City 3
Come on You Irons!
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