Forum | General Discussion

Fans won't have to wait too long to either be put out of their misery, or breathe a huge sigh of relief regarding Kurt Zouma's availability for tomorrow evening's game against Watford and Sunday's game against Leicester and possibly beyond. The Hammers defensive king pin will undergoing a 'reveal' scan today, with the results and analysis available as early as midday today (Monday 07.02.2022).

Zouma fell victim to the 'unpredictable' surface up at the Aggborough Stadium during Hammers nail biting victory over plucky Kidderminster, he could be clearly seen to have turned his ankle as his foot got caught on the surface and was in some considerable pain but hobbled on for the remaining minutes of extra time because David Moyes had used up ALL the subs in an effort to get the win.

Moyes' initial prognosis of Zouma's injury has come under scrutiny, as it has now been claimed that it is Zouma's 'suspect' knee that has been injured, whereas Moyes had initially suggested it was Zouma's ankle that had been affected. The scan results will quickly show the full extent of the injury, IF it is a turned ankle there is every likelihood 'Zou' could take his place against Watford because the healing technology sing hot and cold variables can 'recover' muscles in 24 Hrs that would normally take up to ONE month to recover from.

On the other hand, IF Zouma HAS injured his troublesome knee, then he can be expected to be out of the fray for at least SIX weeks according to out sports injury advisor. That would all but kiss goodbye to Hammers already tenuous European qualification aspirations, BOTH in the Champions League AND the Europa League.

We have always fought Issa Diop's corner on this site, but even we have reached the point where we CANNOT support his inclusion in the starting line up, he looks to have lost ALL his confidence and looked like a rabbit in the headlights against Kidderminster before being unceremoniously replaced for the 2nd half.

Therefore IF Zouma's injury IS. as bad as we fear, what does Moyes do? He can either move Declan Rice in to the back line or promote one of the youth or U-23's, with Jamal Baptiste being favourite, Baptiste has also been endorsed as a centre back by none other than the Og himself!

Fans won't have long to wait to find out Zouma's fate, all in all it has NOT been a 'good health' few days for West Ham supporters, many are still waiting for their fit-bits to return to normal after nearly being 'KIDDERMONSTERED'! -ED

Paying attention to fitness issues is a permanent part of being a West Ham fan, let's face it you have to! Hammers fans are close to being medical experts such has been their exposure to players who are in constant need of treatment! However there is fitness to play, which should not be confused with fitness to wear the shirt, after Andriy Yarmolenko's horror show yesterday the club really should be looking at cancelling his contract.

The lumbering left footer was so inept that it seemed he could do no worse in a Hammers shirt, but his ludicrous penalty dive late on encapsulated just how BAD a player he has been for the club. Bearing in mind the FA charges that he is about to face AND the fact that he doesn't seem to care about the club in any shape or form, why can't his contract be torn up? Surely it makes more sense to give one of the club's aspiring youngsters a chance ahead of the 32 year old injury prone Ukraine International?

How must the young players feel when they see this lumbering one trick cart horse selected to play ahead of them? The fact that he is on one of the most ludicrous deals of ALL time just about sums things up, the sooner the club get rid of it's £115,000 per week mill stone the better! - Ed

As Hammers players left the pitch of the incredibly compact but aptly named 'Agg'borough Stadium, they made a point of congratulating their stoic opponents Kidderminster Harriers, who had become the Nation's favourites, as the plucky underdogs. They nearly pulled off the biggest FA Cup shock in living memory, but failed at the last hurdle, well last two hurdles actually.

With seconds remaining and the home side leading 1-0, the totally 'Claretaphobic' BBC commentary team put the commentators curse on KIddy by saying "they are 90 seconds away from an Epic victory" just as Declan Rice grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and ran through the tiring defenders to crash the ball in to the top of the net, to draw Hammers level.

Skin of the teeth stuff, the fact that it took a last minute act of desperation to take the game into extra time is testament to (a) how good the home side were and (b) how woeful Hammers were for the entire first half and large amounts of the second!

It took another last minute act of brilliance, this time in extra time by Jarrod '180' Bowen, in order to ensure Hammers were in the hat for the next round's draw. It broke the opposition's hearts, but it should never had got so far in the first place, Kiddy ran Hammers ragged for much of the game, admittedly the pitch was ATROCIOUS but the players must have expected the conditions.

David Moyes had to use ALL his best players in order to get the job done, a job that may end up being at some considerable cost due to the injury Kurt Zouma sustained in the latter stages of the game, he was forced to play on because all the Subs had been used.

Andriy Yarmolenko proved that he is a total liability and we are convinced the ONLY reason Moyes plays the Ukraine International, is because he cannot stand the fact that Yarmo is stealing a living at the club! Must do better is an understatement, it was so nearly an unmitigated disaster! ED