MANCHESTER City picked up their first win of the new season with a comprehensive victory over 10-man West Ham.
Daniel Sturridge and Elano (two) scored for City who were on top for most of the game, but the the Blues lost Micah Richards to a nasty looking injury in the second half.
Mark Noble was red carded for two bookable offences in the first half, and the pressure finally told on West Ham after the break. Vincent Kompany made an assured debut and slotted in at centre back after Richards went off.
The Blues were everything that they were not in their previous home game against FC Midtjylland.
West Ham’s bubbles were well and truly burst by a City side that could easily have won by a panful.
In addition to a trio of sweet strikes by teenager Sturridge and Elano the Blues hit the bar and the post and were denied a penalty so obvious that referee Howard Webb might have a red face for the rest of the season.
Victory though didn’t come without cost for the home side who lost Richards with concussion and a neck injury and Kelvin Etuhu with a pulled hamstring.
Not that ushering players into the busy treatment room is anything new for these two sides.
Holby City and Harley Street have nothing on City and the Hammers whose joint injury lists could supply several episodes of a medical soap drama with material.
Crocked
Home boss Mark Hughes was without such crocked luminaries as Darius Vassell, Valeri Bojinov, Nedum Onuoha and Benjani whilst the Hammers equally overworked physio’s own waiting list included the likes of Craig Bellamy, Kieron Dyer, George McCartney, and James Collins.
While the owner Thaksin Shinawatra and executive chairman Garry Cook cheerily sat together in the directors’ box perhaps mulling over some ‘aggressive long-term marketing strategy goals’ it was the variety that hit the back of the net that most pleased others in attendance at Eastlands.
And it was done with a formation not dissimilar to the 4-4-1-1 that Sven-Groan Eriksson operated last season.
Belgian international Kompany – what a pity he wasn’t given the number two shirt so every ground announcer in the Premier League could become a temporary comedian (two's Kompany etc.!) – was introduced at the heart of the Blues midfield in place of Gelson Fernandes as Hughes stuck with the system employed in the opening day defeat at Villa.
The other tweaks were swapping Michael Ball for Javier Garrido, Stevie Ireland for Kelvin Etuhu and Danny Sturridge in place of Ched Evans as the spearhead. All of them proved inspired choices.
Nevertheless it is a formation that splits City fans into distinct camps with former boss Eriksson both praised a criticised for playing a lone striker all last season especially at home where goals were in short supply, particularly after Christmas.
Operating with the majority of Eriksson’s squad, Hughes has quickly discovered that the players at his disposal are most suited to that slightly defensive set up.
Elano for instance has been tried in central midfield, on the right wing and even as a full back when the evidence irrefutably and over-whelmingly points to the fact that he is only ever seen to best effect in the free space behind a single striker.
If the billiant Brazilian, who has performed well so far this season, is to play then the manager has little choice but to name four other midfielders especially as the problem right wing slot had not - until Stevie Ireland’s superb performance - been properly filled.
The downside is that the system makes the Blues slightly one-dimensional and imbalanced with Martin Petrov asked to shoulder a whacking burden of creativity.
At least Kompany’s assured, elegant presence as a holding player gives Michael Johnson the license to roam forward with more confidence and their partnership – should Johnson’s contract demands ever be met to his satisfaction – could be one that significantly improves the Blues.
Prominent
Kompany was certainly prominent on his debut showing a likable tendency to be in the right place at exactly the right time and then being able to distribute the ball in a manner that spelled danger to the opposition.
His prompting put the Blues in the ascendancy and they were unlucky not to be in front in the 12th minute when first Ireland saw his delicate chip cleared off the line by Calum Davenport and then Tal Ben Haim’s follow up was deflected against the bar.
The home side came even closer in the 21st minute when Petrov curled a wickedly bending free kick against the post and though they struggled to make the breakthrough they were helped in the 37th minute when Mark Noble was sent off for his second bad foul in four minutes first on Kompany and then Johnson.
Both were deemed yellow card offences by ref Webb who blotted his copybook in City’s next attack when he and his assistant failed to spot the most blatant of handballs by Lucas Neill.
The home side’s irresistible rhythm was disrupted in the opening moments of the second half when Ben Haim and Richards converged on the same ball and Richards went down in a heap his injured neck needing a brace.
It was fitting then that his fretting best mate in the side Daniel Sturridge should fire in the opening goal with a sweet left foot drive after Matthew Upson failed to deal with Petrov’s 64th minute cross.
Five minutes later Elano sealed the deal with a neat turn and conversion from Ireland’s cross and Hughes wiped an imaginary bead of sweat from his brow.
The manager was smiling even more broadly in the 76th minute when Elano swept in his second and the side’s third courtesy of another Ireland pass after a one-two with Vedran Corluka.
What is your verdict on the performance? Have your say.
Comments
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Kompany looked the business, he stood firm, incorporated himself into play and the team very nicely, and created what could be a very good partnership with Johnson.
Two assists and a solid untiring performance through 90 minutes for Ireland. Kompany is going to be one of the best buys
Well done lads!! You made my day!. Dr spock.
What can you say? A comprehensive and completely deserved victory, on top from the start and never in trouble. Kompany looked the real deal. Just watch him go once he's actually put in a few training sessions.
And might I ask where all the gloom merchants have gone? You must be feeling very sorry for yourselves tonight lads.
Europe, Europe - it's never dull being a City fan.
Bring on the Midgets!
Stephen Ireland is man of the match
Looks like we have picked a gud one in Kompany!! 2 great goals from Elano. great perfomance all round
well done lads keep going now!
CTID
i liked what i saw...we finally have some steel in midfield...Kompany is class fellow blues...CLASS!
A right sided midfielder should be a priority. Yes, Ireland looked good, but we need pace - Joaquin has been my choice for a long time...as for the strikers, i think Studge deserves a crack at the first team, but Milito will do just fine.
Back to the game, it was a joy to watch. Looking forward to the season.CTID, c'mon City!
Great Performance - Get well soon Micah.
brilliant performance... kompany had an outstanding debut, his presence in midfield really added a lot to the team. Thought every player in the team pulled their weight and boy oh boy does sturridge look exciting. Ability, strength and confidence.. who's says there's a striker crisis?
what a signing kompany looks 100% consistent didn't do one thing wrong and adds depth as he showed when moved back to defence and did well there. Elano and ireland also had great games.
YES! great debut from company. If we play like that against the danes, we will be in the hat no danger.
Hope micha recovers quickly.
ctid.
Glad to hear Micah is OK. Relieved to be leaving Eastlands after a win but a well deserved one: should have been out of sight by HT. There's still plenty of work required and WHU were poor but there were plenty of encouraging signs. Kompany had a fine debut and Studg showed again that he has the talent and with the right attitude and application can be a top player. Nice to see Elano topping the scoring charts.
Traffic's still rotten even with a poor crowd; where were you?
I could not get to the game today and had to settle for sky coverage -
I dont know if anybody notice David Platts biast comments on city -
Fair play to Ray Wilkins - full of praise and admiration for us fellow blues - but that no-hoper has been platt said we were not a very good team today and that West Ham were really bad hence the result, - Platty me ol son - in the last Eight meetings against W/ham if memory serves me,I count 6 wins 1draw 1 loss - joker!
On a blue note -
Get well soon Micah - well done to Kompany - great debut and man of match! Ireland played well and corluka, petrov, Glad to see Sturridge on goal -
Bluesey was asked about funds, He said more signings on the way -
Well done city!
CTWD
****** OB1 ******
You sound just like David Pratt after the game!
Where did Bluesy pull that 'team' from ? !
Seriously, great team work, performances from SI ! & EB !
Defenders getting up to support wing men (And yes, that wing man on the right was SI)
Kompany ..... VERY VERY POLISHED and whilst I don't think GF is bad, this guy makes him look like less than average.
We chased, we pushed, we defended from the front, I could go on and on and on, but most of us recognize what we saw ..... avery, very good blues team !
West Ham were poor but I think we were well worthy of that win. Elano played much better but Kompany and Ireland were just outstanding. Much better from Corluka too.
Petrov did well first half but again his tackling and defensive work was shocking.
Good words from Hughes though and if we can get 2 more in before next week we should be able to compete well this season!!
Sturridge was brilliant. He 'overdoes' it occasionally but that shows he has talent and confidence. He must stay and keep playing. Evans gives us good cover, he looks fit and strong. Elano was excellent in his right slot, and Stevie was great to watch. There is more bottle in the midfield now - with Hamann, Johnson, Kompany - incidentally Hamann was good as ever when he came on.
Great result today and I think that everyone played well.
If we can win the tie on Thursday, buy one,or eben three players in the remainder of the transfer window and (DO NOT SELL CORLUKA) then I think we are in for a very good season
Wow -- what a difference from last Sunday with players giving their all throughout with that added bit of class from Kompany.
They played like a Mark Hughes team with far more grit and determination.
If he can pull in a couple more surprises like Kompany then we will have a squad capable of producing more results more often like today.
C'mon Blues and Hughes.
Thats cheered us all up hasnt it?Very poor crowd though,but there seemed to be some lower than average gates right through the leagues,Newcastle dropped 5,000,must be the credit crunch.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!What a player Vincent is, class If ever I saw it.
Great to see lots of positives after the last week or so. Very good debut for Kompany and thought Ireland and Elano, who have both come in for a lot of criticism, played excellently. Petrov seems at the moment to be able to be consistently good. The boys up front did well but we do need to see some more experience in that department. Pleased for MH and good to see Dr. T showing his face-keep the money coming.
KOMPANY POLICY DONT LET THE NEW KING GO
This is a a very timely result and a great boost to team confidence levels. Even without a "proven" striker it was wonderful to put three past Green (and should have been a few more - Jo will put those chances away). Admittedly, it did seem like West Ham were MIA at times but it's these games that need to be won.
I can't think of anyone who had a bad game; Elano was superb, Kompany showed much maturity, Ireland was outstanding, Sturridge was a constant threat, even Johnson stepped up his game.
Well done, Mark Hughes and everyone at Manchester City.Hopefully this will shut the moaners up for a week at least.
Just got back from a "Top Drawer" performance and Kompany really looks the business not so happy about the crowd where were you guys ?is it enough to call yourselves City fans ??
CTID and then some !!
Edski Vega, Bluefield Chesterfield, Financial expert Peter Jones, Joe Lovejoy, Mike Parry, Fred Eyre...your Bull**** took one hell of a beating today!!