Wham Bam Backa Man-Mubama!

TSC Backa Topola arrive in London later today ahead of what their fans are calling the club's 'travel cup final'. A game in which they have nothing to lose given it is only one of their group games ahead and against the top seed in their group.

It is unusual for Hammers to be at such lofty heights as normally the club are the under dogs domestically. This'accoalde' was hard earned last season but will mean nothing if the team believe their own myth and try to rest on their Laurels.

Konstantinos Mitraponis, we'll call him Stan to save time, is scheduled to make his debut for the club in what will be a bit of a re jig of the team that suffered Saturdays to Man Citeh. Edson Alvarez is unavailable due to having to serve a one match ban that he picked up playing for Ajax, so there needs to be an 'enforcer' in his place.

This is of course an issue for Moyes because Alvarez has seamlessly slotted into the first team and his presence will be sorely missed. That said there should be more than enough players available to fill the gap, Connor Coventry could step up to the plate or even fan favourite Pablo Fornals could 'do a number' there.

Elsewhere, Divin Mubama could well lead the line to give Big Mikey Antonio a break and the hardly used Danny Ings could be back up depending how the game progresses. The club need to get SOME value out of Ings and Thursday night might just be HIS night, although in the long term his future at the club must surely be in jeopardy.

Mohamed Kudus is also in line for a start, his blistering pace will put the opposition on the back foot leaving room for others to exploit. Moyes may elect to have Lucas Paqueta on the bench with Kudus starting instead, if he does then James Ward-Prowse will probably be given free range to bomb forward and relinquish his duties to 'Stan the Man' who may be used as a CDM despite normally playing as a centre back, his presence in the opposition's goal mouth WILL strike fear into defenders, especially if he has JWP pinging balls in for him!

The reason 'successful' clubs have a strong bench is because it is an absolute necessity to be able to 'go long' in competitions, strength in depth is the order of the day and INTELLIGENT use of the substitutes. Moyes HAS the tools at his disposal, it is to be hoped that he uses them correctly! - LN