Manchester City 3 - 0 West Brom - The Aftermath

Do I have such things as regular readers? Anyway, if I do, people may have noticed that I'm not an 'original' West Brom fan. I am a Chelsea fan and have been all my life, but due to geographical reasons and friends being involved with the club I have been going to WBA for 3 years now and I love it and feel some affinity with the club and the current players, but have something of an objective detachment that you cannot get with your own club.

My point is that days and games like today are all about expectation. If Chelsea went to Eastlands and came away with a result like this, I would be seriously disappointed. But West Brom, with their resources, away at the richest club in the world? There should only be one winner every time. The problem is that WBA's fantastic results at the Emirates, Old Trafford and Goodison Park have caused some West Brom fans to expect WBA to pick up points at places like Eastlands and unfortunately it's not going to happen.

Manchester City were excellent today. Their movement is phenomenal and the way they play between the lines of the oppositions defence and midfield is brilliant and ensures that opposition defenders are constantly being pulled out of position and WBA simply couldn't handle it. The constant pressure that WBA were under also no doubt contributed to the needless penalties given away by Steven Reid and Jerome Thomas. In Yaya Toure, David Silva (and particularly) Carlos Tevez, WBA came up against three of the Premier League's best players and they simply could not match them for quality.

This is not to deflect blame from WBA. They lacked any kind of physical presence or threat up front and once again too many players underperformed. But a defeat away at Man City can be written off as long as it is followed by wins at home to West Ham and Wolves.

Over to you lads..........

IPWYMTSBlog Weekend Football Preview

Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion


This is an important game for both teams but for very different reasons. City have come off the back of two disappointing results against Midlands clubs and need a win to keep pace with Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea. WBA on the other hand will feel they dropped two points against Wigan at home in midweek and will be hoping to take anything they can from Eastlands.

Man City will be expected to win the game comfortably with the players at their disposal, but West Brom have taken points away from Old Trafford and Emirates this season. WBA must sort out their terrible defensive record if they hope to take anything from the game.

I hope RDM plays Vela upfront at City. He looked slightly lost out on the right wing against Wigan, especially as he had to keep cutting in on his left foot. Its highly unlikely though that RDM will change from 4-5-1 so I half expect to see the more pragmatic James Morrison come in for Vela.

Nicky Shorey will also have to play with Marek Cech being ruled out. I think Shorey is a class act but he seems to struggle to get games at clubs where he has been recently. Does this suggest some kind of attitude problem? Who knows, but in my opinion he is twice the player Cech is.

I think Man City will be too strong for WBA tomorrow and will have too much quality going forward for WBA to deal with.

IPWYMTS Prediction - Man City 3 - 1 WBA


Chelsea v Liverpool




Sometimes football just turns up these delicious moments that you think the gods must have created for our enjoyment. This game is one such moment. Two rival teams meeting, with one team having bought the others star striker who will play his first game against his former teammates. It's an incredible coincidence or excellent foresight by the Premier League.

This game has already been hyped beyond normality but the most intriguing thing for me is how Chelsea will line up. Tuesday night at Sunderland suggests that Ancelloti will go back to the often used (but not often successful at Chelsea) diamond formation. Rather than trying to shoehorn Frank Lampard into the crucial 'head' of the diamond position, on Tuesday that tole was played with aplomb by Anelka who was magnificent in his almost free role. That would suggest that it's most likely to be Soloman Kalou who drops out for Torres, meaning a front 5 for Chelsea of Lampard, Essien, Anelka, Torres & Drogba. Frightening.

Liverpool have won 3 in a row but Chelsea will be by far the biggest test Liverpool have faed since Kenny Dalglish's return. They would love nothing more than to ruin Torres' big day and the recent form of Raul Meireles and the pace of Luis Suarez against John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic suggest they have a chance.

IPWYMTS Prediction - Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool (with Torres to score the 2nd......)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Birmingham,United Kingdom

West Bromwich Albion 3 - 2 Blackpool

The Hawthorns, just before possibly the most open game of the season!

A fantastic game at the Hawthorns, probably the best game I have seen in the Premier League this year, and it could have finished 5-5. WBA will be disappointed that they didn't kill the game off in the second half with all the chances they created but will be pleased with the resilience they showed to go on to win after being pegged back to 2-2.

I spent most of the first half commenting to my associate 'JUNIOR' that I didn't think Odemwingie looked interested or fit and yet he ended the game the hero after scoring twice. I don't think he had a particularly good game and I don't think he provides WBA with the spearhead that they sometimes need, but he took how two chances very well.

Peter Odemwingie - Too quick for the Blackpool defence and too quick for the IPWYMTS camera!!

The real hero today was Youseff Mulumbu. In the first half his drive and desire kept the team together and throughout the game he made sure Charlie Adam could not completely run the game.

WBA still look suspect at the back, something that I hope will be rectified by the return of Jonas Olsson from injury and suspension next week, but you cannot have the worst defence in the league and be successful.

But the positives;

3 points

2 goals and renewed confidence from Odemwingie

Positive performances from Dorrans and Thomas

Jump to 14th in the league!!

IPWYMTS....


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Birmingham,United Kingdom

Weekend Football Preview - 15th January 2011

West Bromwich Albion v Blackpool

If you look back at WBA's season, it could be argues that it was the return fixture at Bloomfield Road where the rot began to set in. Denied of several key players through injury, WBA were even further hampered by two quick red cards for Pablo Ibanez and Gonzalo Jara and despite a strong performance from the 9 men, WBA came up just short losing 2-1. Since then, WBA's results have taken a sharp downward turn and they have slipped from the European places to just above the relegation zone.

WBA will be without several regulars tomorrow, through a mixture of injury, suspensions and managerial selection, but the team will have a stronger look to that which started last week's cup defeat at Reading. Where WBA really need to improve however is infront of goal. Ismael Miller's performance at Reading last week once again suggestion that he does not have the quality, desire (or robust physique) to perform at the highest level and even though Roman Bednar brought a 1000% in effort and desire, he once again is not going to score the goals that WBA need to stay in the Premier League.

A lot will depend on the fitness of Peter Odemwingie. His goalscoring touch seems to have eluded him of late, but he brings something that other WBA strikers do not. WBA also desperately need Graeme Dorrans to find his scoring boots. Last years top scorer is yet to find the net this season.

Blackpool have been nothing short of brilliant in their first season in the Premier League and have performed better away from home. In Charlie Adam they have one of the most creative and consistent performers of the season. While most people would have had this as a home banker for WBA at the start of the season, Blackburn will provide a really strong test.

IPWYMTS Prediction - WBA 2 - 1 Blackpool


Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers

Was last week's 7-0 win over Ipswich in the FA Cup the return to form of the Champions or was it an easy fixture against a struggling Championship side? There surely can be no better team to play to provide the answer than Blackburn Rovers. 

Chelsea's win last week was achieved with a number of reserves in the side and it is unlikely that they will return against a physical side like Blackburn, so it would seem a return to the line up that has struggled so much for Chelsea over the last 10 games. 

Despite scoring 7 goals in their previous fixture, Chelsea's problems remain putting the ball in the net. Drogba still does not look the same player as he was before he contracted Malaria (hardly surprising) and seems to remain in the team on reputation and promise of something happening. Daniel Sturridge has done everything he can to retain his place in the side with his goals and overall performance against Ipswich, but I cannot see anyone but Drogba playing against a defensive pairing of Samba and Nelsen.

Blackburn have had a couple of good results since sacking Sam Allardyce and will come to Stamford Bridge with confidence.

IPWYMTS Prediction - Chelsea 2 - 1 Blackburn Rovers