This weekend West Ham welcome the champions Man City to the London stadium for a Sunday afternoon game. They are playing the kind of football we can only dream to play, and we know what happens to our dreams! Ahead of the game I caught up with RIc Turner from bluemoon-mcfc to discuss the season, and the coming match.
Hi Ric, first off: congratulations on winning the League! It’s been coming a long time, but you must be delighted to have finally sealed it.
Yeah, it’s great to have another title in the bag, our third in seven years. As you say, we’ve known for some time that we were going to win it, but it’s nice to do it with a few weeks to spare this time rather than it going to the final day, as in 2012 and 2014! It’s been a bit more of a procession this time, unlike the rollercoaster of previous years, which is probably a good thing. Not sure I could handle another QPR/Aguero moment!
I expect you will put Guardiola up there with the likes of Big Mal, and Joe Mercer, and Mancini?
Mercer was obviously well before my time, but is still spoken about in reverential terms at the club. There will always be a close bond between the fans and Mancini, because he assured us that he would rip down “that” banner at Old Trafford, and delivered on his promise. He changed the whole mentality at the club, from losers to winners. However, there’s every chance that Guardiola will end up having an even bigger impact on the club than either Mercer or Mancini. He is a managerial genius.
It must be exciting having a manager who is so committed to playing great football, we all would like to win, but winning with style is even better.
Some of the football we have played this season has been absolutely breathtaking. We’re a joy to watch, even for neutrals I imagine, and it feels like a real privilege to be able to watch this standard of football week in, week out. Pundits wrongly believed that Guardiola would have to adapt to English football, but the reality is that English football will have to adapt to Guardiola. He’s stuck to his guns, when people were questioning his methods, and has been completely vindicated.
How is your success viewed in the red half of Manchester?
With the usual bitterness and resentment! It’s great to see them shrieking about oil money, financial doping etc. They’ve had two decades of endless success, and seem to be struggling to adapt to the new footballing landscape.
What have been the standout moments for you of the season?
The victory at Stamford Bridge early on in the season felt like a defining moment. We went to the home of the then champions and played them off the park. The 1-0 scoreline flattered them. At that point you knew we were on course to win the league, even though it was only the end of September.
Incredibly Pep seems to be making noises about clearing out some players, and boosting the squad further, who will you be sad to see depart, or even glad to see the back of? And where the hell can he strengthen your team?
Last year required an overhaul of the squad, as we had a number of players in their thirties who were ill-suited to Guardiola’s system. This summer will just see some tweaking of the squad. Yaya Toure will leave, and most likely be replaced by Jorginho from Napoli. The only other arrival is likely to be a forward, as we currently only have two strikers in the squad, both of whom have had lengthy injury absences this season.
We on the other hand are firmly ensconced at the other end of the table. Do you think West Ham can stay up, and who are your picks for the drop?
I’m certain West Ham will stay up, barring a catastrophe. I can’t see Stoke or Southampton making up six points on you over the last four games.
Hopefully all the Man City players will have been on the lash all week and we can sneak a point – how should David Moyes set us up against you?
West Ham gave us one of our tougher games at The Etihad this season, and it look a late David Silva goal to win it. It’s difficult to say what the best approach against us is. Going toe-to-toe is probably unwise, as we have greater attacking options. However, sitting back and inviting us onto you is asking for trouble too. I think you’ll need us to have an off day to get a result, I’m afraid.
You intimated last time we spoke that you’re not a big David Moyes fan, how do you rate his performance for us so far?
I actually thought he might take you down, as I think he’s a really poor manager, so assuming you stay up he has probably exceeded expectations. He surely must go in the summer though. It was such an uninspired appointment.
How do you expect Pep to set his team up against West Ham on Sunday: Team/formation?
We’ll stick to our usual 4-3-3. Probably: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Delph, Fernandinho, David Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Sane, Jesus
Prediction for score?
3-1 to us.
Well let’s hope that we can drag out a performance that will get us a point closer to safety. I’m not very confidently predicting a 1 – 1 draw. COYI