Forum | Non-Football Related

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

David Moyes knows only too well that a gigantic banana skin awaits his West Ham team as they take on 'non league' heroes Kidderminster Harriers, in this lunchtime's televised FA Cup 4th round fixture that is being shown by the BBC in the hope of another cup upset, Kiddy having seen off Championship side Reading in order to earn their place in the tie.

With the exception of Hammers fans, the World and it's Aunt will be routing for the underdogs at their Aggborough Stadium, which will be packed to the rafters with additional seating and fans who will be only too willing to 'give it' to their 'Elite Team' visitors.

This game is the Harriers cup final of all cup finals and their players will be 'cranked up with adrenalin' for at least the first 20 minutes, so Hammers will have to have their wits about them to withstand the initial onslaught. Which Hammers will be facing the home side is a matter of debate, bearing in mind David Moyes has to have his players raring to go for Tuesday evening's Premier League game against Watford who will be experiencing their 'new manager bump' as Roy Hodgson takes command for the first time of the Hornets.

It will be interesting to see who is selected to play up front, does Moyes play Bowen? He can't play Antonio so he has to utilise other players, maybe now is the time to use a couple of the aspiring youth set up players. KIddy will be up for it, so there will be a need for a physical presence as well as some 'old head nous', in other words the game is tailor made for Mark Noble!

Hopefully Moyes will name a very strong bench, but use fringe players where ever possible. Alex Kral AND Nikola Vlasic are crying out for game time and the Kidderminster game is a perfect opportunity for them to show what they can bring to the table. By playing Noble and Kral in midfield Moyes will be able to keep Tomas Soucek and Decaln Rice fresh for the Watford game, he will probably use Ben Johnson on the left, if he doesn't start Aaron Cresswell, with Harrison Ashby starting on the right.

In a way Moyes IS spoiled for choice with his selection, but who ever takes to the field would be best served by recognising the massive importance of this fixture and the effect it will have on the home team's players, anything less than 100% and Hammers will be joining Arsenal and Manchester United in the 'shock losers' column! -LN

Without knowing all the details it would be unfair to 'jump on' Andriy Yarmolenko's case until all the facts are known, but what is clear is that the FA rarely bring charges unless they have substantiated evidence. Yarmolenko has been charged with alleged misconduct in relation to a betting commercial. The charge concerns a 'potential' breach of FA Rule E8.5, which says that players are 'not permitted to advertise or promote any betting activity that they are prohibited from engaging in'.

It is alleged Yarmolenko's appearance in an advert for a Ukrainian betting company constitutes the misconduct charge, he as until Friday the 18th of February to respond. Now this is a curious 'case', unless you have been living on a different planet you will have seen a constant stream of players and fans involved in Betting sponsored activities, the media exposure through advertising in the UK is even more invasive than the 'cleaning product' monopoly in the Spanish media. (you have to have lived there!)
We understand that in Yarmo's case the 'devil is in the detail', we even ran it past a media lawyer friend of the site who has a decent knowledge of advertising laws and protocols, the issue is did the player's actions constitute a 'direct advertising endorsement' as opposed to a 'direct advertisement'. The former is above sanction, the latter is and it seems as if the Hammers player falls into that category, IF proven.

The minutiae of the details are irrespective, because basically, why on earth would an incredibly wealthy 32 year old professional footballer, be doing ANY form of betting advertising, isn't £5.98 MILLION a year enough? JESUS, words are almost impossible to find to describe such greed, IF proven.

Was he deliberately ill advised by someone, JUST so the club can tear up his ridiculous contract? Stranger things have happened? - Ed

Even Doris the Tea Lady has come in for a battering because of West Ham's dreadful January transfer window, and she retired FIVE years ago! The club's lack of any successful transfer activity has made it a laughing stock as it approaches the 2nd part of the season, the "we tried but ultimately failed" message received is being treated with the absolute contempt it deserves.

Two elements DID actually hinder the club's transfer window, firstly other club's 'fear of trading with West Ham who they now see as serious rivals, not only Manchester United but also LIVERPOOL, who we have learned REFUSED outright to sanction ANY deals with the Irons for Nat Phillips OR Divock Origi.

The 2nd element is paradoxical in that Kurt Zouma's recovery from injury WAY ahead of schedule, negated the urgent need for a replacement, hence the cooling of interest in bringing Caleta-Car from Marseille during the January window. Then there is Mikey Antonio's new fitness and diet regime that has seen him somehow manage to avoid his perennial hamstring issues, so far. Three ultimately pointless games, played across the other side of the World for Jamaica in only SEVEN DAYS, will see just how well his new regime has helped on his eventual return!

However it is an absolutely outrageous risk going into the remainder of the season without sufficient backup for either player, Hammers seriously run the risk of becoming a busted flush if EITHER player picks up a long term injury. Hopefully David Moyes has been able to tear himself away from the Agent e-mails and video clips that blight the transfer window, in order to work with the payers he DOES have at his disposal, including as we have been banging on about, the Youth players who are itching to replace the likes of Yarmolenko, they are the future whereas he is the past and a very expensive one at that! - LN