Previewing the West Ham Game with Green Street Hammers Part 2

Concluding our preview of Manchester City’s next match against West Ham United with fans from Green Street Hammers

ManCitySquare – Pablo Zabaleta is still a huge terrace hero for us. We are all glad he is at West Ham but hope he will come back to Manchester City as part of our coaching set up one day. How has he faired under Pellers this season for you? Is this his final swan song?

Green Street Hammers – All signs point to Zabaleta retiring after this season, and West Ham fans reactions to that should tell you all you need to know. No one takes losses to heart harder than him and no on celebrates successes more emotionally than him. He was massive last season for us and was thought to be a bench player with the signing of Ryan Fredericks this summer. Instead Zaba has surpassed the young speedster and looked half of his age running up and down the pitch. He is an every week starter and has been a rock for Pellegrini and West Ham this season.

ManCitySquare – We moved into a converted athletics stadium but before we moved in, we excavated 30 metres and built stands deeper to being the pitch closer to the seats. Even now 15 years on many of our fans still hamper for Maine Road. How are you guys coping with your move from the beautiful Boleyn to the modern and slightly soulless Olympic Stadium?

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Green Street Hammers – If you want to hear a stadium with soul check the tapes of West Ham slapping Utd. 3-1 in September. No one was complaining about distance to the pitch, no one was complaining about their old location, and no one was focused on anything but the awesome performance on the pitch. Bubbles will always ring out loud and proud and with strong performances and exciting players the London Stadium will transform into West Ham’s new fortress. It has been a sore spot for a lot of supporters but as sad as it is, Upton Park is long gone now and there is nothing left to do but embrace our new home.

ManCitySquare – Last couple of games your first XI has settled. Are you expecting a similar approach against Manchester City? Or do you think you will play a way and set up to try and stifle our game?

Green Street Hammers – The only change I can foresee is Noble coming back from a suspension in place of now suspended Robert Snodgrass (yes, West Ham players still bring the physicality). Outside of that it should be the same cast and crew but I assume the wingers, Felipe Anderson and Grady Diangana, will drop back into wide midfield positions to alleviate the pressure of City’s attack and midfield. West Ham will certainly be counterattacking and look no further than Declan Rice as a star player for the Irons to disrupt the midfield possession and force turnovers.

ManCitySquare – Last time we played you away Manchester City ran out 4:1 winners in what was an easy victory. Zaba even scored for us. We are not expecting a similar game this time, it will be much tighter. What’s your score prediction?

Green Street Hammers – When we visited you guys in December of 2017 West Ham has just hired David Moyes and no one really knew if West Ham could climb out of the basement to save their season from relegation. It was a hard-nosed 2-1 loss that ended up being the turning point in the season for West Ham who would do just enough to stick around the Premier League. I envy City fans for their score predictions; it’s really just a matter of how much you’ll beat other teams by! For West Ham it’s a guessing game. It could be a 5-0 loss again, it could go goalless, for me, I’ll give it a nasty 2-2 draw. West Ham to score early, City to answer back twice and a classic Andy Carroll header in the 90th minute to secure a late point for the Hammers.

After the match, ManCitySquare will catch up with Green Street Hammers again to review the performances. Until then you may want to take the opportunity to read Part 1 of this discusssion by following the link.