Moyes Bang On Strong Selection

David Moyes surprised many onlookers with his team selection for yesterday's FA Cup tie against Leeds United, many expected Moyes to select a team comprising of youth players aided and abetted by a few senior players, but Moyes went 'full on' by selecting an almost a full strength team!

Moyes's decision proved to be correct as Hammers only just managed to overcome the visitors, despite them being without NINE first team players, HAD Moyes elected to play an under strength team the result would almost definitely gone the other way.

Hearts were in mouths when Mikey Antonio went down heavily towards the end of the first half, but fortunately he was able to carry on and was given the all clear by the medical staff during the half time break. The only real changes to the team were Alphonse Areola in goal and Ryan Fredericks at right back, the former putting in a performance that will put pressure on David Moyes to select the Keeper for ALL games sooner or later, the latter proving once again that he is a "what might have been" player.

Frederick's possesses pace to burn, he is possibly the fastest player in the Premier League, he was after all a gifted athlete as a youngster who could easily have become a sprint racer, such was his natural speed. Unfortunately Fredericks suffers from 'rabbit in the headlights syndrome', he will 'burn' down the flank with the ball beating all and sundry, then follow it up with a pass that nine times out of ten is totally useless.

Had Fredericks NOT had such a bad injury record he might have got a run of games that would have seen him 'iron' out some of his deficiencies, he always looks like a player who has absolutely NO IDEA what he is going to do with the ball at the end of his blistering runs. Perhaps some extensive sessions with a 'sports psychologist' might benefit the right back?

At the same time as booking in Fredericks, the club might wish to see if their are some slots available for Issa Diop. Never has there been more of a case of a player who needs to regrow his confidence than that of Diop, unfortunately when Kurt Zouma comes back from his injury, it will be Diop who Moyes drops as opposed to 'Les' Dawson. This is a shame, because with Zouma there to guide him, in his OWN language, the truly great player that lurks within Diop can be released again, he could go on to forge a superb partnership with Zouma for the next few years!

Moyes has trod an incredibly tight rope with regards to bringing in players and juggling those that he has, so far he has got away with it, but it seems unwise to keep relying on the footballing gods to keep smiling. Selecting such a strong team for the FA Cup tie was a signal of intent from David Moyes, it is to be hoped the next couple of weeks can be successfully navigated, as Hammers embark on the business end of the season while fighting on three fronts. -LN