The excitement and optimism in the run up to the opening game of the season was well and truly diminished by 2:30pm on Saturday afternoon.
West Ham welcomed Man City to the London Stadium for their annual embarrassment. It’s now an aggregate score of 1-22 in their last 5 visits! And the blue side of Manchester didn’t disappoint.
PRE-GAME
I woke at 6:30am like a big kid on Christmas morning, only I had to wait until 12:30pm for my present. For once BT Sport providing an early kick off was a good thing (I didn’t have to wait until 3pm).
6hrs were killed by showering, getting dressed (including donning the 85/86 season retro shirt), walking to the shops for the papers, breakfast and strategically picking horses and football teams to win me vast sums of money.
As 12:30pm kick off was looming I called on the teenage son and we placed ourselves in front of the TV, turning up to volume in the hope of regenerating some of the atmosphere in the living room.
THE GAME
The game started brightly enough, West Ham were causing City a few problems and it wasn’t long before VAR made an appearance when Lanzini appeared to have been brought down in the box. Unfortunately, VAR ruled no penalty.
Haller was looking very promising, some great touches, link up play & throwing in the odd tackle or two.
City started to up the ante and in the 25th minute Walker left Cresswell for dead, got to the byline to cross, the ball deflected off Diop, onto the onrushing Jesus and into the net.
City 1-0 up at Half Time.
Pellegrini made a change bringing on Fornals for Antonio. Strange one in my opinion as I thought Anderson would have made way if there was to be a change.
Not long into the second half and City have the ball in Fabianski’s net again. De Bruyne runs through the middle, waits until Fredericks has to commit himself, then lays the ball off to Sterling who slots it between the keeper’s legs. 2-0.
Two minutes were to pass before Man City had the ball in the net for the third time. Silva played through to Sterling who cuts it back for Jesus. There goes my good mood and out comes a few expletives! ‘Excuse my language son’
But wait, VAR is looking at an offside for Sterling…….No goal! Cue tongue in cheek celebratory dancing in the living room, West Ham are back in the game! I always liked VAR!
Soon after Wilshere is replaced by Snodgrass. I did think earlier in the game he had taken a knock and did look to be running with a bit of a twinge. Hopefully, I’m wrong and it’s was a tactical change.
The VAR decision seemed to have lifted the West Ham faithful, I had to turn down the TV a notch due to complaints from the missus. It also seemed to have lifted the players as a Snodgrass free kick is only marginally over from a header from Diop.
West Ham we’re forced to make their third and final substitution when Anderson was forced off with what looked to be a thigh strain. Fingers crossed it’s nothing too serious, he’s in my fantasy football team!
Finally, West Ham properly threaten Ederson in the Man City goal. Chicharito, on for Anderson, has a shot well saved by the keeper, Lanzini gets his head onto the rebound only for the big Brazilian bar steward (the toned-down version of what I did actually call him) to get down to save what looked like the comeback goal.
The chances of a comeback took a massive blow when Sterling put the ball in the net for his second and City’s third. Hold on though, our old mate VAR is being called upon again but this time our now ex mate gives the goal!
With the depression setting in that Man City have come to the London Stadium again and had yet another field day, a penalty is given. Fabianski’s poor clearance allows Mahrez to get into the box where he is brought down by Diop.
Aguero steps up and hits it but Fabianski redeems himself and saves before Rice clears it to safety. Yes!!!
But no, VAR raises its ugly head again…..Penalty to be retaken! This time Aguero puts it away! 0-4
I had actually thought the VAR decision was for Fabianski being off his line but now believe it was due to Rice encroaching the area before the penalty was taken.
Just to round up the day Sterling gets his hat trick and Man City’s fifth! I still believe Haller was fouled in the build-up, but Mike Dean was never going to give that, he’s probably struggling with VAR because it means he can no longer blatantly screw West Ham over. Although he did seem to let Rodri away with quite a lot! Really no yellow card offences in some of his ‘tackles’?
OVERVIEW
It’s very hard to take anything from the game. Haller looked promising, Fredericks done well, it was only 5-0, I’m struggling here for any others.
I suppose it is only the first game of the season and it’s against the reigning champions, who to be fair are a formidable force but for Christ’s sake West Ham stop buckling against them, especially when we are at home! 22 goals conceded against them at home in 5 games is piss poor! Scoring 1 goal in 5 games against them at home is piss poor!
We are bottom of the league so I suppose in the words of D:Ream (google them kids) ‘things can only get better!’
COYI!
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