Relive every moment of every first team game since the beginning of the 2005/06 season. Our archive of matchday threads originally posted in the General Discussion Forum.
The problem with the youngsters is that none of them have really kicked a ball since November.
And that was in the under 23 league, which looks about as competitive as a lump of jelly.
Only those on loan have played some football, and even then its not much.
New ground, FA Cup 3rd Round and our last opportunity to win a trophy this seaosn. really looking forward to this one. Like Pinky I would try and setup as strong as possible but obviously there are players that need a rest given the recent run of fixtures and some that need to prove their worth. Assuming that Arnautovic and Cresswell are fit to start:
Hate to say it folks but despite our upturn in form we're still only two points from relegation.
So I can see the kids being played and this being treated lightly, and unfortunately that will be the same every season unless we are securely top half with at least 30 points by this stage of the season. The prem has become the be all and end all.
the pink palermo wrote:
It's a cup tie, a potential banana skin and a game I do not wish to see us lose .
We need to respect our opponents and have players who can win their personal 1:1 battles before the team wins the overall battle .
Be in no doubt , this will be a game , Shrewsbury Town will want our scalp .
I agree we should not take them too lightly, but Shrewsbury are a very good footballing side. Not lower league bruisers. They will not play to shut up shop
Personally think we are better of beating them with skill, rather than brute force
with three CBs and noble and obiang in front, we should have enough solidity to fill the rest of the team with flair players
From what Moyes has been saying recently, I think he'll be resting quite a few. And given the fact that we had 10 out injured last night, who knows where he's going to scrape a starting eleven from
I imagine he's thinking something along the lines of Joe Hart and a bunch of kids. First team debuts for Martinez and Makasi, joined by the likes of Rice, Quina, Haksabonovic - maybe even Oxford, if our "fitness team" hasn't crippled him since he returned
So it could be that we may field a team containing several inexperienced youngsters with little or no recent playing time together with several senior fringe players who wouldn't get in the team if we didn't have so many injuries? Add in the fact that such a team would have had no previous experience of playing together as a complete team and therefore no continuity, that we are playing a team on their home ground, who are near the top of their league with plenty of continuity and confidence and we have a recipe for disaster. As the match is live on BBC, a defeat for West Ham would be that much more embarrasing too. Not looking forward to this one bit as in the circumstances prevailing, Shrewsbury look a good bet to win.
I think the cup is officially dead for me now. I always knew we had practically zero chance of winning it but always enjoyed the goal of getting a trip to Wembley if we progressed far enough. Now even Wembley trips have been devalued to almost nothing.
Hope we win on Sunday of course but have absolute no hope, excitement, or anticipation for this competition any more.
This is our only chance of a domestic trophy...I want Moyes to take a good cup run seriously and not sacrifice it for another year. We should be aiming for this, irrespective of the league situation...that’s a business priority, not a football one.
We should show respect to Shrewsbury..they will relish the chance to get at the PL prima donnas and I expect them to make it a tough game, especially with the weather turning much colder too. I also expect us to put them to the sword at the first attempt, but wouldn’t be surprised if this went to replay.