By David Lee Wheatley
Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo banged a memorable hat-trick past the hapless Hammers on Wednesday night giving further evidence of his emergence as one of the world's most complete strikers.
The 'Beast', as he is known, truly arrived on the scene at Almeria before moving to Sevilla and becoming a regular squad member for his national team. Linked with a move to England while featuring for Almeria, nobody took a punt at that time and Negredo went on to seal his reputation with 85 goals in 180 games for the side from Andalusia.
Manchester City, under new boss Manuel Pellegrini, felt compelled to make an offer of £20.4m to take the powerful forward to the Etihad during the summer gone by and Negredo has repaid the Chilean's faith with 18 strikes in all competitions so far this campaign.
Despite West Ham United's shortcomings, the three goals scored by Negredo in City's 6-0 Capital One Cup semi-final, 1st leg routing of Sam Alladyce's men showcased a talent that has the 28-year-old being touted as one of the Premier League's greatest centre-forwards.
Madrid-native Negredo has matured into a fine striker, while nurturing a great understanding with both Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero when paired with either of his fellow forwards. Defenders seem unable to handle the sheer determination displayed by the Spaniard when going for goal and it was a hopeless task for Roger Johnson and George McCartney on Wednesday in attempting to keep him quiet.
Negredo has everything: skill on the ball; fluid movement; supreme finishing; upper body strength; hold-up ability. 29 games into his Manchester City career and Negredo has already hit 18 goals - how many more will he plunder before the season is out?
Pellegrini has come to rely on the former Rayo Vallecano trainee and some observers would suggest Aguero and Dzeko are now vying for a place alongside 'The Beast', as opposed to the other way around.
City have gone unbeaten for 9 league matches - 8 of which were wins - while rapidly approaching leaders Arsenal like a juggernaut and now sit just a point behind the Gunners. Negredo could well be the ace in the pack in Pellegrini's quest to win the title at the first time of asking.
An away trip to 8th-placed Newcastle beckons tomorrow, as City look to make it ten league games without loss and who'd bet against them in current form? Expect man-of-the-moment Negredo to be at the very heart of the action, as the Spaniard bids to cement his own position as top dog at the club during their irresistible charge towards the Premier League summit.
Twitter: @davewh1980
No comments:
Post a Comment