Tonight at COMs (The City of Manchester Stadium for those wondering) the Manchester City juggernaut, which was so cruelly diverted from its all-conquering path at Old Trafford last Sunday, will have its engine restarted with renewed vigour. A win will keep the critics and gloaters at bay, a defeat and the bandwagon will well and truly be off and running.
Its been almost 7 days since last weeks Derby defeat and the media vultures that sit bloated having only just got their fill from last weeks corpse are circling at another potential feeding frenzy. Such a frenzy would of course be sparked by a second consecutive City defeat by an ever game Hammers side who are searching for a morale boosting win to spark off their Europa League place challenge.
One would think that it would be the mercurial and lovable Gianfranco Zola that would be under the Media spotlight and feeling the pressure, and perhaps he is judging by his recent comments. After all, it is his Hammers side that sit at the bottom of the Premiership with no win since the opening day against Wolves and are already out of the Carling Cup. This is no attack on the London Club but a reflection on how cruel and biased the Media, pundits and fans alike can be.
Yet its Mark Hughes and his team that are the constant butt of Red Top jokes and subject for broadsheet analysis. After all, Mark Hughes' Citizens side have only won 6 of there 7 league and cup games so far! And of course they did lose to the 3 times consecutive Premier League champions Trafford United to a controversially late injury time goal at the 'Theatre of we're going to play till we win' Stadium, without Robinho, Adebayor or Santa Cruz. Surely all just causes for the present criticism.
A win tonight for Manchester's club puts them firmly in the top 4 with another game in hand. Not bad for a side on the verge of cracking up and losing its manager.
With several key players out and the likes of Santa Cruz and Michael Johnson only just coming back its a testament to Hugnes transfer dealings that the Citizens can field as strong a side as they will do tonight.
The Teams
The Citizens:
The Blues boss will give the Paraguayan Santa Cruz his City debut albeit from the bench and fans will be looking to see if their manager replaces Micah Richards with Argentinian Pablo Zabaleta to sure up a defence that has looked vulnerable down the flanks against Arsenal and Stretford United.
City look set to be without Stephen Ireland after the midfielder went down with a sickness bug.
Superman is expected to miss out after being taken to hospital following City's Carling Cup success over Fulham in midweek after complaining of dizziness.
City's Mr Consistent midfielder Gareth Barry is thought to have suffered from the same illness but the former Aston Villa man has recovered in time to line up next to Dutch 'Pitbull' Nigel De Jong.
So for Hughes the strategical key must be deciding whether to move Pablo Zabeleta into midfield to plug the gap left by Ireland(or a jaded Wright-Phillips) and hope that Micah Ricards has recovered sufficiently from a shoulder problem that forced him out of the Fulham clash to return at full-back. Or to play a more attacking formation by playing Barry in a more advanced role leaving Zabaleta to form the defensive midfield unit with De Jong.
Long Term Injuries
Robinho (fracture), Nedum Onuoha (thigh), Vincent Kompany (ankle), Michael Johnson (abdominal) and Benjani Mwaruwari (thigh).
Suspension
Emmanuel Adebayor (1 match left from 3 match ban)
The Hammers:
Zola could also hand a debut to striker Guillermo Franco after he completed his free transfer move last week while Valon Behrami, who also limped off against Liverpool, could play if he can prove his fitness to the lovable Italian hobbit.
The Hammers should also have Matthew Upson back after the England defender limped off against the Reds with a calf injury. On loan striker Luis Jimenez looks to have recovered from a groin injury, but last year's goal scorer between the two sides midfielder Jack Collison(pictured above) is a slight doubt with a calf problem.
Zola could also hand a debut to striker Guillermo Franco after his free transfer last week while combative midfielder Valon Behrami, who also limped off against Liverpool, could play if he can prove his fitness to the lovable Italian hobbit.
Long Term Injuries
Dean Ashton (ankle) and Luis Boa Morte (cruciate ligaments).
Player Links:
Both Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy have sported the colours of both clubs. Tevez became a cult hero by keeping the Hammers in the Premier League with his lung busting performances and classy goals, none more so than the one on the final day of the campaign to keep them up at Prawn Sandwichville.
Bellamy, another who was idolised by West ham fans for his 200 % style of play and passion for the shirt. Whether they'll both receive the same level of adornment tonight is another matter however after the nature in which Bellamy left the club this January.
Possible Starting XI's
Man City: Given, Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, De Jong, Zabaleta, Barry, Wright-Phillips, Bellamy, Tevez.
West Ham: Green, Faubert, Upson, Tomkins, Ilunga, Parker, Noble, Hines, Diamanti, Franco, Cole.
Prediction
3-0 Bellamy, Tevez, Barry
result
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