“It's important to win away but it's not easy. I'd like to involve the fans and make them believe we are good. We are the good guys - we run a lot and fight”, Pep Guardiola – 07/01/2017.
Goals: Toure (33' pen), Nordtveit (41' og), Silva (43'), Aguero (50'), Stones (84');
Line Up (4-1-2-1-2) (match ratings in brackets);
Caballero (6.5)
Sagna (6.5)
Stones (6.5)
Otamendi (6)
Clichy (6)
Toure (8), (Delph 78' (5.5))
Sterling (7)
Zabaletta (7.5)
Silva (9)
Aguero (7), (Nolito 58' (6))
De Bruyne (7.5), (Garcia 68' (7))
Caballero (6.5)
Sagna (6.5)
Stones (6.5)
Otamendi (6)
Clichy (6)
Toure (8), (Delph 78' (5.5))
Sterling (7)
Zabaletta (7.5)
Silva (9)
Aguero (7), (Nolito 58' (6))
De Bruyne (7.5), (Garcia 68' (7))
Referee; Michael Oliver (7.5)
Stats;Possession, 33%/67%; Shots, 7(2)/18(11); Corners, 3/7; Fouls, 5/9
The travelling faithful (possibly up to 8000), braving a Friday night kick off, train woes, and sweeping rain, were fully rewarded for their efforts with a polished performance from a strong line-up. The team calling bull*&%! on the media's appraisal of Pep's City side being in crisis .
This was easily the best performance since the defeat of Barcelona back in October. So what were the possible game changers which helped lead to this devastating dismissal of the Hammers?
1. Four at the back. This was a big attacking performance, but for the first thirty minutes at least, West Ham were still very much in the game. The defensive line-up could, on paper, be seen as the strongest at City's disposal, and they were helped by a reversal to a four, and easily dealt with West Ham's more direct approach using Andy Carroll as the focus. The line up also allowed the full backs to stretch the width when on the attack.
2. Silva still the City Wizard. This was a masterclass by City's favourite Spaniard. He was at the heart of every wonderful flowing attack, whilst creating and drifting into spaces between a ten man defence, a joy to watch.
3. New roles for Zaba and DeBruyne. The game saw Zabaletta re-run his midfield performance from European Cup game against Celtic pre-Christmas, fitting right into the gap left by Fernandhinho's ban and the injured Fernando. He also did not restrict himself to a covering role, getting forward at every opportunity and winning the initial penalty on 33' with a run into the box latching onto Silva's reverse ball. De Bruyne also played deeper helping construct the play from the left but also covering far more than normal for the attacking midfielder.
4. Yaya's renaissance continues. Football seems so effortless for the big Ivorian, and with his new found positive relationship with Guardiola both on and off the pitch, Yaya's footballing nous could prove vital in the coming months. As well as another well taken penalty (100% record maintained, although Joe Hart is adamant that he is awful in training), he also provided the assist for the much needed goal for Aguero on 50'.
5. The press. No not the media, but the return, from minute one to the final whistle, to closing down every West Ham player when possession was lost. Last seen to this intensity and effect in the Barca game this has to be the way City approach every game to make the difference needed to build on this result.#CTID.
@l0ngwayfr0mh0me
