Preview: West Ham v City

February 27, 2009

BACK: Nigel de Jong returns

MANCHESTER City midfielder Nigel de Jong is available again for the Barclays Premier League match against West Ham at Upton Park on Sunday.

De Jong sat out the UEFA Cup victory over FC Copenhagen as he was ineligible.

Winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is sidelined through suspension while Gelson Fernandes remains doubtful with a hamstring strain.

Boss Mark Hughes is hoping is players are beginning to come to terms with the pressures of playing for the world's richest club.

He said: "We have a group of players who understand the demands that are going to be placed on them now and in the future.

"The expectation levels have been way ahead of any Manchester City team probably in the history of the club and we're dealing with it.

"The aim is to get a consistent run of form away from home as we have found it difficult on the road. We have another opportunity to show what we can do when we face West Ham.

"We have had a lot of criticism and rightly so but the manner of the performance at Liverpool will hopefully have given us confidence. It was a good display.

"Our problem in the past is we have been unable to see out games. We have not had the right tools.

"You need a different mentality and a different approach when you are away from home. But we are learning as a group all the time and gaining experience."

West Ham will be without midfielder Mark Noble as he serves a one-match suspension.

Jack Collison looks set to come into the starting XI, but defender James Collins (hamstring) is out after missing the midweek FA Cup replay defeat at Middlesbrough.

Luis Boa Morte (groin), Kieron Dyer (calf), Danny Gabbidon (stomach/back) and striker Dean Ashton (ankle) remain sidelined.

West Ham United (from): Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker, Collison, Kovac, Cole, Di Michele, Lastuvka, Lopez, Savio, Spector, Tristan, Sears.

Manchester City (from): Given, Hart, Schmeichel, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Kompany, Bridge, Garrido, Zabaleta, Elano, Caicedo, Ireland, de Jong, Fernandes, Robinho, Bellamy, Vassell, Weiss, Logan.

West Ham league form: WWDLL

City league form: WLWLD

Key opponent: David Di Michele - tricky Italian can do damage if given space

Prediction: West Ham 2 City 2 - it should be a decent game between two ambitious sides

Agree with the prediction? Have your say.

You can get 14/1 on a 2-2 draw with Betfred. For this and more odds, click here.

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One Love, One Life, One CITYYYYY 1990 (27/02/2009 at 14:55)

need a good win here, as it will not only follow on from liverpool game and give us momentum but will also put us above west ham and nearer to the 7th place finish we desperately need. 7th should hopefully give us a uefa cup place as long as the rags win the game on sunday and a top 4 side wins the fa cup!!!

Nick,The Voice of Reason,, caterham,Surrey,(Blackley Born & Bred) (27/02/2009 at 14:59)

Where is Sturridge...??? are we being softend up for his departure?? We paid 14 million for 30 year old Bellamy on a 4 year contract yet Sturridge wants 50k a week which works out at nearly 11 million over 4 years for a 19 year old and probably the best player to come out of the acadamy ever.So no resale value on Bellamy, but potential resale up to 100 million on Sturridge if he fulfilled his potential.ie 24 yo Premership superstar.Can the club work this out!!

Stephen Irelands Bald Head, Hyde (27/02/2009 at 15:09)

Now we're in trouble - Lawrenson has put us down for a 1-0 win!!!!!

If we can keep Cole/Di Michele quiet then I think we can win this 2 or 3-1, however we need to be on it from the start. A good tempo, and have go at them - Bellamy to make it 4 against 5 previous clubs (including scoring for west ham against Newcastle)

Am I right in thinking that Bellamy has 10 in 12 in all competitions since his return from injury? 5 for West Ham in 6 and 5 in 6 for us too?

A great buy by Mr Hughes.

In KAM, GC&MH We TRUST. CTID

jackblue, Prescot (27/02/2009 at 15:31)

Pity Noble can't play. He is such a liability for Wham.

drew-peacock, romiley (27/02/2009 at 15:32)

3-1 to City, Bellamy with 2 and one from Dunne, which end though!?...
Need a win here before the really difficult games come all together in the next few weeks and months.
Let's break this away form hoodoo!!!!

woolleyback blue, Heart of the City (27/02/2009 at 15:36)

West Ham are a footballing side and will let the opposition play. I think we are a better footballing side so I can see our long awaited next away win coming here.

CTID

PJS, Oz (27/02/2009 at 15:38)

I assume Hughes will stick with the same XI vs Liverpool which means SWP out and De Jong in and back to the 4-3-1-2 with Kompany, De Jong and Zabaleta in midfield.

Only thing that concerns me is that this will be our 5th game in 16 days and there really has not been much turnover. And we are usually notoriously lethargic on early kick-off games.

Bellamy will be up to score again vs a former club (tally at 5 this season already) but maybe utilizing Caicedo and Elano from the start may just give us some added fresh legs. We have Villa 3 days after this also so Sparky needs to ensure we have the freshest legs.

I am worried about getting something from this game, ironically moreso than the game at Anfield, but back-to-back wins vs the Hammers and then Villa would be massive in the context of the season. We'd be 7th and breathing down the necks of Everton.

Sam Haggar MCFC TO WIN THE UEFA CUP (27/02/2009 at 16:07)

GK Given

RB Richards CB Dunne CB Onouha LB Bridge

RM Zabeleta CM De Jong CM Kompany LM Ireland

CF Robinho CF Bellemy

Subs Hart Garrdo Logan Weiss Elano Caicedo Evens

2-0 city Bellmy against former club again and Robinho

Sam Haggar MCFC TO WIN THE UEFA CUP (27/02/2009 at 16:09)

Has anyone heard any lastest injures on Sturridge and Johnson i have Not heard anything about johnson for ages is he back in training or what

Giles, The Voice of City Fans (27/02/2009 at 16:10)

Where is Sturridge...??? are we being softend up for his departure?? Nick,The Voice of Reason,, caterham,Surrey,(Blackley Born & Bred)

No, Mr Unreason, he's injured. Has been for some weeks.

Now, onto business. I see the imposter has been on here rattling on about rugger. That should be proof enough that he's NOT the real deal.

Been away in Uzbekistan sealing a couple of deals but made back to the old prawn sandwich box with Marlena (silvery blonde hair, matching collar and cuffs, father a toad wrangler in Hollywood) to watch the game last night and was impressed with the second half performance.

And, for all you Hughes-haters out there, the word is that Khaldoon is very impressed with the hard-working culture the grey fox has introduced to the club. He isn't going anywhere.

BELIEVE!

woolleyback blue, Heart of the City (27/02/2009 at 16:14)

I'm confused over how you qulaify for the Uefa cup. I know if you finish 5th then your definitely in. If manure beat spuds on sunday does that mean spuds dont qualify for Uefa?, I thought that because manure would be in the CL thats spuds would get their place. How far down the PL would you be able to finish and still qualify?

CTID

M9Lad., ny. (27/02/2009 at 16:17)

Think our boys will still be a bit tired so the 2-2 draw prediction would do nicely. Nick voice of reason, I'll bet you went to Plant Hill didnt you?

Drew Peacock (27/02/2009 at 16:27)

woolleyback blue, Heart of the City 27/02/2009 at 16:14

If the winner of the League cup is already in the CL then the Uefa place goes to the next highest in the league. If the winner of the FA cup is in the CL then the runner goes into the UEFA, But, if the runner up is also in the CL then the place once again goes the the next highest place in the league.... So, if the Rags beat spurs and the CL qualifier and in the FA cup final then 7th place in the league will qualify for the UEFA cup... Doe that make sense?

BristolStevefromOldham, bristol (27/02/2009 at 16:31)

My worry about West Ham is that it is a small pitch. I have a bit of a theory that we do poorly on small pitches - hence very good at home which is the biggest pitch in the PL. West Ham pitch is the smallest in the PL. Pompey's pitch is 13th, Bolton 19th, Wigan 12th. But then we drew at Newcastle (17th), Hull (2nd) Fulham (14th) Blackburn (4th) Pool (16th) and won at Sunderland ( (11th).
actually... not a very good theory.

PhilB65, City Forever (27/02/2009 at 16:35)

Wooleyback Blue,

5th place gets UEFA.

If the FA Cup Winners and Runners Up are already in Europe (ie Champs Gravytrain or UEFA) then a 6th place is eligble for UEFA.

Similarly if the League Cup winners (but NOT runners up) are already in Europe (ie Champs Gravytrain or UEFA) then a 7th place is eligble for UEFA.

So, we need CITY to play more consistently, and yes, (and I hate to say it) we probably have to hope the rags to win on sunday to have a chance of UEFA. Or better still, for Everton to implode (sans Arteta) and for City to shoot up into 6th place!

One Love, One Life, One CITYYYYY 1990 (27/02/2009 at 16:37)

woolleyback blue, Heart of the City
27/02/2009 at 16:14

confusing isnt it... erm well basically its changed so that only the winners of the fa cup and carling cup get a uefa cup place ratehr than the runners up if the winners are already in as has happened in past years. So basically on sunday i am chearing on the rags.. coz getting in europe is more imporant to me than worrying about the rags bragging points... then we need a team already in europe to win the fa cup!!! cmon cityyyyyy

blueloon, Northwich (27/02/2009 at 16:45)

West Ham 1 - 2 City. Robinho, Ireland for City and Dunne for the hammers.

woolleyback blue, Heart of the City (27/02/2009 at 16:54)

Thanks for the explanations. The only problem I have now is I'm going to have to want the rags to win on sunday and then them to reach the fa cup final with chelski which gives us a chance of Uefa by finishing 7th unless as you say everton blow up due to Arteta being out for rest of season. Me 'ead 'urts.

CTID

bob forde, Coventry or Andalucia (27/02/2009 at 16:59)

Prediction: After a lifetime of supporting City I am ready for another disappointment ..... but you know what? I think we are going to win this 2-0 away. Even 3-0.

I think we are getting better and though we'll be tired, I think we have a lot in the tank. (Also, I am not going and we NEVER win away games that I go to).

bob forde, Coventry or Andalucia (27/02/2009 at 17:00)

ps. that's a phenomenal picture of de Jong. If they circulate that to the Hammers, they'll concede one early - no bother.

Stephen Irelands Bald Head, Hyde (27/02/2009 at 17:28)

PJS, Oz
27/02/2009 at 15:38

All the top players say they would rather be playing games than training - during the 5 games in 16 days period only light training will have taken place, with maybe some tactical work outs.

Don't worry about tiredness, MH says his teams usually do well in the second half of the season because of all the hard work they put in on the training ground in the first half of the season.

It's like a good car - just keep it maintained and it'll go for ages

In KAM, GC&MH We TRUST. CTID

The King - Ding Dong (27/02/2009 at 17:42)

Woollyback blue.

While everyone else is coming out of the closet regarding Carling cup final, I'm the same. Here goes - I want the scum to win on sunday too.

Oh I feel like a weight has been lifted !

Stephen Irelands Bald Head, Hyde (27/02/2009 at 17:50)

what's the chances of Bojinov being on the bench tomorrow after his run-out for the reserves yesterday?

In KAM, GC&MH We TRUST. CTID

bluepeteruk, Manchester (27/02/2009 at 17:57)

Why is Gelson Fernandez even being mentioned....he wouldnt get in our over 35's five a side team. The bloke is garbage and should never play for City again...forget about him...PLEASE !

The rags have OFFICIALY 4 out of every 5 fans attending from outside the Manchester area., In my room. (27/02/2009 at 18:38)

Nick, The Voice of reason

Get it right we got Bellamy for £10m.

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