“We played a front three with an average age of 20. I like the fans to be excited.”, Pep Guardiola – 01/02/2017.
Goals: ;DeBruyne (17'), Silva (21'), de Jesus (39'), Toure (67')
Line Up (4-1-4-1) (match ratings intentionally blank);
Caballero (6.5)
Sagna (6)
Kolorov (6)
Stones (6.5)
Otamendi (6)
Toure (7)
de Jesus (8.5)
DeBruyne (7), (Fernandhino 67'(5.5))
Silva (8.5), (Delph 80' (5.5))
Sane (8)
Sterling (8), (Aguero 73' (5.5))
Caballero (6.5)
Sagna (6)
Kolorov (6)
Stones (6.5)
Otamendi (6)
Toure (7)
de Jesus (8.5)
DeBruyne (7), (Fernandhino 67'(5.5))
Silva (8.5), (Delph 80' (5.5))
Sane (8)
Sterling (8), (Aguero 73' (5.5))
Referee; Kevin Friend (6)
Stats;Possession, 30%/70%; Shots, 6(1)/11(4); Corners, 2/4; Fouls, 11/14
Two big changes were the talking point before the game. Willy Caballero, after his solid performance in the cup at the weekend, was preferred to No.1 Claudio Bravo. Up front, perhaps a bigger surprise was that de Jesus was preferred up front to Aguero to maintain the youthful attacking three. Both changes paid dividends as City tore West Ham apart in the opening half.
This was Jesus' full Premier League debut, but you wouldn't have known it so assured was his passing and movement, and so purposeful his closing and work off the ball as well. He had already been involved in two or three moves by the time he played the delightful one two with DeBruyne on 17' to bring City's opener, and from that point City never looked like surrendering the momentum.
Less than four minutes later, Sane, who again had a great game, showed awareness and agility, to first nutmeg Byram and then breezing past Fonte, before his cross was deflected across the goal to Silva to pass home. 0-2.
Then came the goal that every City fan was waiting for, as Sane again seized on the ball to start another counter, this time providing a slide rule pass to the right for Sterling who then squared to Jesus to caress the ball home, 0-3.
The second half was less eventful in front of goal, but the possession, quick passing, and above all pressing was great to watch as City choked the life out of the game. Toure finally putting a lackluster Hammers out of their misery on 67', with City finally! being awarded a penalty for a foul on Sterling by Fonte after another searing counter down the right.
With none of the rest of the top six winning over the mid-week games, this was a deserved boost to City's ascent to get back among the Champions League places, and City are now only a point off second place with Chelsea still sitting pretty ten points clear. What is more satisfying is again the manner of the victory, with attack minded football from beginning to end, and a clean sheet to boot. I'm sure the competition for places will do both Bravo and Aguero no harm at all. #CTID.
@l0ngwayfr0mh0me
