No we are not talking about Declan Rice OR Jarrod Bowen, we are referencing Lukasz Fabianski and Alphonse Areola. Many assumed when Areola arrived on loan from PSG, that this season would be one of transition as Fabianski's contract ran down in its final year and that Areola would be 'drip fed' into the first team.
The BBC will show the FA Cup fourth-round tie between Kidderminster Harriers and West Ham United live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The tie is one of six fourth-round fixtures to be broadcast live between the 4th and 6th of February. Sixth-tier Kidderminster, the lowest-ranked team left, stunned Championship side Reading in the third round.
"We have to try and keep it going. I don't think being fourth this moment in time means an awful lot apart from showing we have been consistent. As long as we are around the mix and European places, that will be really good but if we can hang on the coat tails of teams above that is what we will try and do." Thus spoke the Moyesiah after Hammers dispensed with an obdurate, but ultimately unsuccessful, Norwich team that tried its hardest but was unable to bridge the gap in player quality between the teams.
Now how long is it since we ran out the Ian Dury influenced banner "reasons to be cheerful" when referencing West Ham? Well if you look through our ridiculously comprehensive archives, you will see it was way back in 2015, when Dimitri Payet grabbed hold of the club and catapulted it into the limelight for the first time since the Di Canio and Cole era.
West Ham: Fabianski; Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell, Rice ©, Lanzini, Fornals, Vlasic, Bowen, Antonio Subs: Areola (GK), Johnson, Masuaku, Alese, Ashby, Ekwah, Kral, Yarmolenko, Okoflex
Norwich: Krul, Aarons, Gibson, Hanley ©, Williams, Lees-Melous, McLean, Placheta, McLean, Idah, Pukki Subs: Gunn (GK), Byram, Dowell, Kabak, Tzolis, Sorensen, Giannoulis, Gibbs, Rowe
Darren Randolph was wanted ON LOAN by Steven Gerrard as his back up keeper at Aston Villa for the rest of the season, however David Moyes has apparently pulled the plug on any potential deal, now why is that? Randolph hasn't started a single game in any competition and on paper has very little chance of doing so in the future, Alphonse Areola is Lukasz Fabianski's heir apparent, so the best Randolph can hope for is to be the number two keeper next season, or the season after, if Fabianski has 'secretly' signed a new contract as has been rumoured.
West Ham United are usually one of the most talked about Premier League teams during the transfer window, due to the glaringly obvious need for an additional striker to replace record signing Sebastien Haller, a situation that has been in the public domain longer than a Downing Street drinks party!
When Declan Rice first burst on to the scene many saw him as a typical west ham one hit wonder, a player who would either get good and consequently get sold on, or a player who shone brightly for a while but then faded into obscurity. However Declan proved all the doubters wrong AND the club have managed to keep hold of the 22 year old England International, thus far.
News emenating via Hammers 'unofficial' portal C&H, is that Kurt Zouma has made a remarkable recovery from his injury sustained in the 3-2 victory over his former club Chelsea back in November. Zouma elected to NOT have surgery which would have involved a 'significant' amount of recovery time, consequently he has been able to return to training considerably earlier than had been anticipated.
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.