Frank Mcavennie believes: Man U can be ebaten at the weekend - if
the tactics are right.
Frank scored against Manchester United in the FA cup in the 85/86 season at Upton Park, a game which saw the visitors equalize through Frank Stapleton.
Although he didn't score in the replay, he played in the subsequent win which saw goals from Geoff Pike and a Ray Stewart penalty.
But he was even harder at work a few months later in the league when the Hammers recorded their last victory up there, a 3-2 win in which he grabbed a brace.
Under Alex Ferguson, however, who has led his side to victory every time at Old Trafford since against West Ham when he took over that year, things just haven't gone for the Hammers.
A 14-3 against goal ratio in the last 3 games alone is not an uplifting statistic, but Frank thinks the 9,000 plus fans making the journey may just have got it right.
"In '86 we were the best team in the league and everyone knew it," he insists.
"We didn't think we'd get bearten by anyone with the standards we were setting, and we knew we would win that replay.
"People were more afraid of playing us them than we were of playing them - and that gives you great confidence."
And that, says Frank, is the key.
"There's no point being afraid because if they go there waiting for things to happen they will get hammered," he insists.
"If you're frightened there's no point going there.
"You have got to attack because I don't think the boys at the back are too clever.
"They are vulnerable in defence and I don't mind saying that, so West Ham will never have a better chance.
"But they have got a fantastic strike force and midfield so they don't get put under the sort of pressure they should do.
"I think Harry will tell the boys to go and play, it's a one off, and you have to create more chances against them than they do against you.
"Look at Fulham in the last round - they attacked and were unlucky.
"The game is there for the taking - definitely."
* Barking and Dagenham council have decided to open, free of charge, their London Road car park on sunday morning.
There are 650 spaces and CCTV monitoring.
Frank scored against Manchester United in the FA cup in the 85/86 season at Upton Park, a game which saw the visitors equalize through Frank Stapleton.
Although he didn't score in the replay, he played in the subsequent win which saw goals from Geoff Pike and a Ray Stewart penalty.
But he was even harder at work a few months later in the league when the Hammers recorded their last victory up there, a 3-2 win in which he grabbed a brace.
Under Alex Ferguson, however, who has led his side to victory every time at Old Trafford since against West Ham when he took over that year, things just haven't gone for the Hammers.
A 14-3 against goal ratio in the last 3 games alone is not an uplifting statistic, but Frank thinks the 9,000 plus fans making the journey may just have got it right.
"In '86 we were the best team in the league and everyone knew it," he insists.
"We didn't think we'd get bearten by anyone with the standards we were setting, and we knew we would win that replay.
"People were more afraid of playing us them than we were of playing them - and that gives you great confidence."
And that, says Frank, is the key.
"There's no point being afraid because if they go there waiting for things to happen they will get hammered," he insists.
"If you're frightened there's no point going there.
"You have got to attack because I don't think the boys at the back are too clever.
"They are vulnerable in defence and I don't mind saying that, so West Ham will never have a better chance.
"But they have got a fantastic strike force and midfield so they don't get put under the sort of pressure they should do.
"I think Harry will tell the boys to go and play, it's a one off, and you have to create more chances against them than they do against you.
"Look at Fulham in the last round - they attacked and were unlucky.
"The game is there for the taking - definitely."
* Barking and Dagenham council have decided to open, free of charge, their London Road car park on sunday morning.
There are 650 spaces and CCTV monitoring.