Forum | General Discussion

There was a 'touch of the Di Canio' when Hammer's manager Manuel Pellegrini decided to 'hook' Marko Arnoutovic just a few minutes in to the cup tie against Birmingham City at the London Stadium. 'Arnie' had scored within two minutes but then fell quite heavily, when he got back to his feet he did the usual Arnoutovic grimace, he always looks as if he is carrying a knock! In this instance, whether he was crying wolf or not, Arnie found himself being 'hauled off' by his manager, who obviously had the slight matter of a crucial home game against Arsenal in a week's time on his mind.

Despite looking as if he was up for a strop, the Hammers hit man was given short shrift by the vastly experienced Pellegrini and soon settled down, although he did cast a few menacing glances in the direction of the medical team for a while. Interestingly Andy Carroll was chosen as Arnoutovic's replacement ahead of Lucas Pere,z which has led many to conclude that the Spaniard is being lined up for an exit, even though he has only recently signed a three year contract at the London Stadium.

Perez joined Arsenal for £17m from Deportivo La Coruna in 2016, but was shipped back to his former club on loan for the 2017/18 season before signing for the Irons this summer, Real Betis are one of a number of Spanish clubs keen on taking Perez back to Europe in January but because of FFP would only be able to offer a loan move. Perez's move was supposed to be a fresh start for a player woefully mistreated under the 'Wenger' regime he has scored four goals in 13 appearances with two of them coming in the Premier League in the one game against Cardiff City in November. Hammers are highly unlikely to sanction a loan deal unless they can bring in 'another body', that option might not be as hard as it first seems due to the emergence and availability of Xande Silva, who made his first senior start for the club in the FA Cup win over Birmingham.

Javier Hernandez is also expected to return to training soon after injury, and with Andy Carroll finally fit again, although God knows for how long, Perez could be surplus to requirements if the right offer comes in. Given the way these things tend to go, it would be no surprise if a cash laden Chinese side became part of the bidding process. - Ed

Adrian San Miguel and Andrew Thomas Carroll share today as their birthday, both made a rare starting appearance in the 2-0 FA Cup victory over a very strong and well drilled Birmingham City side who, under the guidance of Gary Monk, were definitely not at the London Stadium just to make up the numbers.

Adrian was his usual bullish self, managing to combine a 'safe pair of hands' with just a little bit of his trademark flouting with danger that is part of his footballing DNA, Carroll was obviously very ring rusty as was shown by the multitude of chances he failed to convert. However Big Andy kept on going, even managing a superb goal line clearance that could have changed the outcome of the game entirely if the ball had gone in, what was really encouraging was that Carroll didn't give up, he also didn't become reckless which showed a new maturity, a maturity that was finally rewarded at the very end of the match with a neatly taken header courtesy of a Michail Antonio cross.

Antonio himself looks a totally different player from the 'excuse' that he was earlier in the season, he is now back to his swashbuckling best even if that does include some woeful finishing, but the point is that he is trying. Sooner or later he will find his shooting boots and begin to contribute a few more goals. Perhaps 'Pelle' might wish to arrange a little shooting practice for the Wandworth born winger who now looks as exciting as he was when he oginally joined Hammers from Nottingham Forest for a bargain £7 Million on the last day of the transfer window in 2015. It is easy to forget that after starting out as an amateur with Tooting & Mitcham Antonio had spells with Reading, Cheltenham Town, Southampton, Colchester United, Sheffield Wednesday as well as Nottingham Forest before joining West Ham.

The tie against Birmingham was a cup upset in the waiting, Hammers have done well to steer clear of 'lower league' inflicted damage and will hope that ball number 22 is drawn at home, hopefully against league strugglers if not a high profile team, essentially any club except for Tottenham who Hammers have been drawn against on too many occasions of late.

Happy birthday Adrian and Andy, don't go out and celebrate too much will you? - Ed

No one exactly knows, has known or seems they will know what has occured between young Hammers star Reece Oxford and his manager Manuel Pellegrini, once tipped to be the brightest star to emerge from the 'famous' West Ham Academy, Reece has seen his career go backwards. The 6'3" just turned 20 year old can play as a centre half or in midfield, but his debut as a sixteen year old which saw him dominate the Arsenal players during a 2-0 away victory for the club seems an awful long time ago now.

Slaven Billic, recognising Oxford's massive potential mapped out a 'route to the top' for the talented youngster, part of which was to 'shield' him from the pitfalls that players like Ravel Morrison had experienced, part of the plan was to loan Oxford out to gain playing time and then ease him into the first team eventually. Oxford's agent knowing what hot property his client had become pushed for and succeeded in landing a lucrative four year deal for the then seventeen year old. The initial loan deal to Reading didn't go too well with Reece only playing five games before returning to his parent club, two further loan periods in Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach saw an equally disappointing few appearances, only seven starts in all competitions.

Reece Oxford was then recalled from Mönchengladbach by David Moyes but didn't do enough to impress the Scot, it seemed that his destiny was to return to the German team who were willing to pay up to £12 Million for his services. When Manuel Pellegrini arrived at the London Stadium the first thing he did was to 'wipe the slate clean' for players, everyone had a fresh opportunity to start again under the watchful eyes of the vastly experienced Chilean. Robert Snodgrass was the player who benefited most from the 'fresh start'option, Pelle saw enough in him to give him a second chance, something he grabbed with both hands and feet, he is now one of the first players in the starting line up.

Manuel Pellegrini has had ample time and opportunity to run the rule over Oxford, and for whatever reason obviously doesn't 'fancy' him, we think it relates to an issue not only with the player's attitude but more so the power Oxford's agent has over him and the poor advice he gives his client.

This is however FA Cup weekend, Pellegrini HAS to give some of his players a break, so surely now would be the time to give Oxford a run out, in a way it is a win win situation, Reece could go out and play a blinder which would either make El Pel take stock of his player or put the youngster in the shop window, after all it must be strange for the lad to have seen other Academy players leap frog past him, Rice, Diangana and Coventry have all leaped ahead of him in the pecking order. So all we are saying is "Give Reece A Chance'. - Ed