West Ham Preview: A view from City fan and fansite expert

West Ham have a tough City game for midweek. In order to prepare for the match we talk to Man City Square writer and site expert @crookdpc

After 120 minutes at the weekend, what kind of rotation can we expect from this City side?

The Carabao Cup will have drained our players but it also comes on the back of a gruelling run of fixtures. Just trying to get to the international break seems hard. The injuries to both Laporte and Fernandinho are crucial for us. Two of our best players. Already without a left back and Stones. Struggling with De Bruyne. No Jesus. It’s a good time to play us!

Can City really compete for all 3 remaining trophies over the rest of the season?

The Quadruple is not a thing. Never been done in 150 years. Not even sure the domestic treble has been done. So it’s an unfair media target, just another impossible stick to beat us with. What will do though is compete. For every game and every minute cos that’s what Guardiola drives us to do. We will not win every game, indeed have another couple of defeats in us this season but as a fan it’s all about the ride!

Is there anything in particular that worries you about West Ham?

West Ham are looking the best they have for years and getting better. With our expected makeshift back 4 I fear some of your physical strength in attack.

There has been a lot of talk linking Declan Rice to Manchester City, do you think he’d fit in?

Declan looks the real deal to me. He is what we need. The question is whether we would pay what you demand for a player that is not the finished article. I don’t know the answer to this. But a new defensive midfielder will be our primary transfer target this summer. I prefer Rice but the club are scouting Ndombele. We have Douglas Luiz on loan at Girona after he failed to get a work permit last year. He is doing well so may be an option for us. Maybe Brexit will mean we go for Rice!

Next. Could Balbuena and Reid be back soon?. dark

And finally a score prediction for the night:

In my head this is a worrying game and I think we may draw 1:1 as we will be struggling with tiredness and injury. I hope to see a blistering 3:1 win!