The big discussion points ahead of Friday’s Emirates FA Cup third-round tie visit of Manchester City...
One last chance...
The Emirates FA Cup represents West Ham’s one remaining chance of winning some silverware this season.
The Hammers’ UEFA Europa League dreams were shattered almost before they had started by Romanian champions Astra Giurgiu, while a devilishly difficult EFL Cup run ended at the fifth-round stage at Manchester United.
Another tough draw has paired West Ham with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the third round of the world’s most-famous knockout competition, with Slaven Bilic and his players knowing it is their one last chance to get their hands on some silverware this season.
UEFA Intertoto Cup aside, it has been 37 years since the Hammers lifted a major trophy and a defeat on Friday night will extend that to at least 38.
Friday football
Football is seemingly played on every day of the year these days, but the English game has generally avoided scheduling fixtures on Fridays.
Aside from Boxing Days and Good Fridays, West Ham United have seldom played on a ‘normal’ Friday in recent decades.
Indeed, the last time the Hammers hosted a match on a Friday evening was in April 2005, when Sunderland scored a 2-1 Championship victory at the Boleyn Ground.
Due to live television scheduling, Alan Pardew’s side also hosted Leeds United and Leicester City on Friday nights that season, drawing both matches.
West Ham’s last ‘normal’ Friday victory came way back in May 1985, when bad winter weather meant a late finish to the season. John Lyall’s side travelled to Ipswich Town and won 1-0 through Tony Cottee’s goal.
Tonight’s tie will be the first time the Hammers have contested an FA Cup tie on a Friday.
Squad rotation
With Andre Ayew and Cheikhou Kouyate away on Africa Cup of Nations finals duty, and Simone Zaza having played his last game for the Club, Slaven Bilic will juggle his pack for Friday’s Emirates FA Cup tie with Manchester City.
Mark Noble should be fit to return to the side, while Edimilson Fernandes could be handed another chance to impress in a knockout competition.
Up front, Andy Carroll could be restored to the starting XI, with Michail Antonio returning to his more regular position on the right wing, while youngster Ashley Fletcher is pushing for another chance to impress.
It will be interesting to see if Slaven Bilic hands an opportunity to Domingos Quina, the Portuguese teenager who has been an unused substitute for the Club’s last five Premier League matches.
Slav v Pep
Slaven Bilic and Pep Guardiola will manage against one another for the second time this week.
While the Manchester City boss took the bragging rights in the Premier League back in August, Bilic’s Croatia scored a 2-0 international friendly victory over a Spain side featuring Guardiola in Valencia back in March 1994.
Since then, both have gone on to enjoy illustrious playing and managerial careers – Bilic with Croatia and Besiktas, Guardiola with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
While the Spaniard would win any ‘Show us your medals!’ competition, Bilic has experience and has achieved big things at the highest level, and has the chance to score a second victory over Guardiola on Friday.
Defoe or not Defoe?
While Slaven Bilic refused to be drawn on speculation linking the Club with a bid for Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe during his pre-match press conference.
Until the January transfer window closes, the media will continue to publish stories on a daily basis regarding the Hammers’ supposed interest in the former England international, who has scored eleven goals this season.
Whatever the truth of the matter, it is clear the Club are in the market for a centre forward who can put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis, particularly in the light of the manager’s confirmation that Simone Zaza’s loan spell will soon come to an end.