The world’s favourite domestic knock-out competition arrived at the London Stadium last night, where Manchester City became the first visitors for such purposes. The TV viewing world were ready to see City’s defence torn to shreds by a rampant Andy Carroll and a resurgent Antonio the latter of which had been among the goals lately. This combined aerial threat was to be the catalyst for a home victory because as we all know City simply cannot defend this type of threat…or can they?
For once Guardiola spotted the signs and constructed a team and tactics to deal with it and in so doing may have reignited the blue touchpaper.
The first piece of the jigsaw was to implement Caballero between the posts. Many readers believe I’m over-critical of Bravo, but in sheer size alone, Caballero is a presence and there is no doubt that those in front of him, Sagna, Otamendi, Stones and Clichy were afforded a higher level of confidence.
Add to that the stirring presence of Zabaleta and Yaya in front and the defensive sector looked more compact and more able to repel whatever West Ham United could muster, which, frankly, wasn’t much. De Bruyne and Sterling playing wide with Silva in behind Aguero which saw the line-up finally take on the long awaited Barcelona feel.
In the early exchanges West Ham tried to give as good as they got, but City commanded the ball yet were not quite potent enough to enter the scoresheet with Winston Reid in excellent form at the back for the Irons. I know he was involved in the incident at the Etihad that resulted in a suspension for Aguero, but I though he was their best player in that match too. And without him tonight we might have thought we were still watching Van Gerwen at the Ally Pally.
This was a much more joined-up display from City who not only moved the ball quickly around the field but did so with purpose. This was measured by Silva’s surging run down the right which stretched the Hammers back line. Zabaleta had made one of his trade-mark runs on the diagonal, slipped it past Ogbonna whose lazy attempt at a tackle clipped Zaba’s legs, sending the ball to the twelve-yard line. Not the time for a potential Aguero banana-skin so up stepped Yaya to drill one of his unstoppable penalty kicks beyond Adrian. The critics refer to “unintentional” and “minimal contact” but the bottom line is that Ogbonna did not make contact with the ball, but did make contact with Zaba and impeded his progress. That for me is enough.
The Irons now had to get on the front foot but the with Guardiola’s midfield diamond effectively starving West Ham’s wide players of the ball, there was nothing for Carroll to go hunting for and Antonio couldn’t get a foothold. But he did find space shortly after the City opener. His right foot shot was parried away by Caballero but only as far as Feghouli, who, with the goal wide open dragged his shot wide under minimal pressure from Clichy who did just enough to put him off. But with that went the Hammers only real hope of remaining competitive in this match.
Cue the City onslaught. After 41 minutes Sagna surged down the right. Aguero had come deep and the played a simple give and go leaving Sagna wide open to select his cross. Sterling had come in from the left but it was the Hammers defender Nordtveit who just beat him to the ball and only diverted it into his own net despite Sterling trying so hard to get the final touch. It was a move using the full length of the field and returned us to the early days of the season when this kind of thing was prevalent.
With City heading for the break two goals to the good we were treated to the kind of devastating sweeping move that we have come to expect from quality quick footballers. Once again Aguero came into a deep position. This time the give-and-go was with the rampant Sterling who was by now leading the Hammers a dance. Sterling steamed into the box, drew the cover, leaving the barn door wide open. A shot looked on the cards, but he clearly remembered being told “If someone’s in a better position give it to them”. He squared it to Silva on the six-yard line and in a quicksilver movement the Spaniard had time to put the goalie on his backside before slotting home.
A three-goal half time deficit looked insurmountable for the home side who had hardly threatened City’s goal at all. And it was to get worse quite quickly thereafter as City’s possession and power forced them continually onto the back foot.
The second half was no more than five minutes old when Sterling teased and tormented the right hand side of the West Ham defence. As they closed in on him he spotted Yaya in acres of space and played him in. The gigantic Ivorian fire an Exocet into the penalty box which may have been blocked except for the deftest of quality touches by Aguero who propelled himself once more into City folklore by overtaking Colin Bell in the goalscoring stakes. With Aguero now sitting on 154 goals for City only Tommy Johnson (166) and Eric Brook (178) now sit in front of him. If he hits form he could be on the threshold of both of them before the end of the season. It is within his capability.
This was without doubt of high-class quality but it didn’t end the scoring on a night that could have seen City eclipse their 6-0 extermination of the Irons three years ago in the League Cup. But for the one-man heroics of Reid I’m certain that would have happened.
Can anyone remember the last time City scored from a corner? Well they have now!
As the game filtered towards the end and with the home fans already having filtered to the exits, John Stones stepped up to score his opening goal for City. The Blues won a corner on the left. Nolito, who had replaced Silva on the hour swung it into the goal area and Stones held off the weak attentions of the hapless Nordtveit to head it goalwards and even with Noble rooted to the line and the back stick the ref’s red watch screamed “goal” and that was that.
With an away victory of 5-0 even I can agree that there were many positives for City today. Some readers have been unhappy with some of my reporting as much of it has bordered on the negative in recent weeks, despite the Blues, Liverpool apart, managing to dig out results in adversity, but today we saw a return to what Guardiola’s teams are about, especially when slotted in around the type of tactics you need to deploy against Premier League opposition.
As I mentioned earlier, I think the size and command alone of Caballero gives the City defence added presence and, today at least, added confidence. The midfield diamond with Yaya at the base, De Bruyne, still searching for his best form by the way, and Sterling outside and Silva in behind Aguero, closed off the spaces in typical Barcelona fashion. There was no room wide out for the Hammers to feed Carroll or Antonio and they were effectively forced inside where Zaba or Yaya took the ball off them setting off rapid counter attacks using the pace of Sterling and the nous of De Bruyne. Shades of Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. Silva drifted along the lines and very much in between them creating havoc and Sergio played in a more withdrawn, Sanchez-esque role so that when he did receive the ball he would be facing the opposition goal and not with his back to three giants.
This system in effect leaves the defending centre backs redundant and in belief that they have space. However when the rapier-like raids of the impressive Sterling slice into you and you become overloaded with Aguero, Silva, De Bruyne, Yaya and at times Zaba, it is a difficult proposition to keep the ball away from your goal. This is what West Ham found last night. Gone was that stern competitive resistance of last season in favour of a realisation that whatever they did last night, it just wasn’t going to be enough. Silva, although replaced on the hour was correctly given Man of the Match as he turned back the clock to provide a majestic performance which included a dream goal. Yaya was once again supreme.
Today’s papers are full of white flags and half-heartedness but no one mentions that the Irons were denied a way to play because City at last were excellent all over the field, at last playing a system that looks to suit the personnel that they have. We eagerly await the draw on Monday which will no doubt pair us with Chelsea away!
With Everton and Spuds on the immediate horizon, both containing some kind of aerial threat, City should ideally work on the tactics used in this match. Everton will no doubt play Lukaku in the advanced role. Not only does he have presence, but he has quicker feet than Carroll and scored at the Etihad this season. His supply may come from Valencia or Bolasie both of whom have to find the treacle set for West Ham’s wide players last night.
Spuds are a different proposition. Holding the indian sign on City at present, they have pace and power everywhere, especially with Alli getting among the goals perhaps a bit too frequently of late. His headed pair against the almighty Chelsea defence demonstrates the danger of the next Tottenham player seemingly destined to join Gareth Bale at the Bernabeu. Kane doesn’t much concern me as City can keep him quiet, although he has scored against the Blues in recent matches.
It’s never a dull moment in English football. As Pep is finding out there are no “gimmies” and every week you have to set your team out to beat the opposition. I know that sounds obvious but in La Liga you can field six reserves against the likes of Granada and Osasuna and still pack the three points. You can’t risk that against Hull or Swansea.
Finally just a quick remark about Aleix Garcia who replaced De Bruyne for the last twenty minutes last night. I though his movement of the ball was excellent. He comes short in search of it and his neat tidy passing in my book makes him a classic Guardiola player. Yes, by then the game was done and dusted but at a time when City are constantly linked with big money signings, it is refreshing to see that the CFA is yielding quality assets.
Meanwhile dear Sue’s boys take on Plymouth this weekend in the same competition. No doubt Klopp will put out “a team to do a job” but will his starting line up leave Sue shuffling in and out of her match day hiding places?
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