Previewing the West Ham Game with Green Street Hammers Part 1

Manchester City fan @crookdpc previews the upcoming game against West Ham United with @AdamSmiiith from Green Street Hammers.

ManCitySquare – West Ham are either the 2nd team for a lot of Manchester City fans or a team we have a soft spot for. We see something of a shared heritage in our working class, local roots. Its not about Zaba and Pellers. Does that feeling seem the same from a West Ham perspective or is it just dewy eyed City fans.

Green Street Hammers – There is a lot of twitter camaraderie between Manchester City fans and West Ham fans and it appears to be mutual. Both clubs have checkered pasts, both play in cities where they’re not the top billing team (although City has surpassed Utd. now), and both have that blue collar, working man’s vibe to their history. The current connection of Zabaleta and Pellegrini is a very visible connection but it’s more of the chip on the shoulder that both teams have that seems to be the linking factor.

ManCitySquare – Pellegrini played some of my fave attacking football. That first season where he tore up the title for us was outstanding. How do you think he is doing? Is he going to be given enough of a chance to get things right?

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Green Street Hammers – Pellegrini has been a godsend for West Ham, and that’s not overstating it. West Ham for years have been a team that doesn’t have structure, wasn’t exciting, and was super inconsistent. We now know that the formation will be, who the players will be, and how the offence will attack. West Ham are still playing countering attacking football now but tend to hold onto possession a lot more frequently, especially against mid and lower table teams. As far as his chance to right the ship at West Ham, Pellegrini was brought in to implement a three-year plan. He’s about a third of the way through year one and despite the loud minority shouting for him to be sacked in August, he has the backing of the fans and will very soon be looked at as West Ham’s charming man.

ManCitySquare – Arnautovic is a proper player when his head is right and seems to be attracting interest from Utd. Will he stay the season with you?

Green Street Hammers – Arnautovic’s biggest problem is that his brother likes to spout off to media outlets trying to get his more talented brother/client either a big move or big new contract at the club. Arnautovic isn’t going anywhere, he wasn’t going anywhere last summer, and Utd. are not going to spend 50mil on a 30-year-old striker. Does he play over Lukaku? What happens to Rashford? Are Sanchez and Martial going to be benched so that Arnie can play LW/LM? It just doesn’t make sense. With the proposed clean out coming in January to West Ham’s wage book look for a long-term contact extension in the new year making Arnautovic the clubs highest wage earner (or tied with Anderson)

ManCitySquare – Are you worried about any particular player we may put on the pitch on Saturday?

Green Street Hammers – Manchester City have about 20 players that could cause problems for West Ham, but specifically I’m looking at the triumvirate of Riyad Mahrez, David Silva, and Sergio Aguero who scare me the most. Mahrez seems to always have a solid match against West Ham and will likely start with Bernardo out. David Silva is as smooth as it gets in the midfield and can be extremely deceptive when slipping into the box behind coverage and cleaning up a goal or two. Aguero is the living enigma – too small to be a solo striker but too strong and talented not to be effective. He makes up for that short stature with immense talent. Love watching him play but hope he has an off match after the break.

Coming up is Part 2 of this discussion where Green Street Hammers make a match prediction which may surprise some Manchester City fans.