West Ham United: Hart (c), Byram, Burke, Ogbonna, Oxford, Masuaku, Cullen, Obiang, Lanzini, Ayew, Martinez. Subs: Adrian, Zabaleta, Arnoutovic, Noble, Hakserbanovic, Samuelsen, Makasi
Shrewsbury Town: Henderson, Payne, Sadler, Nsiala, Beckles, Ogogo, Whalley, Nolan, C. Morris, Godfrey, Rodman. Subs: MacGillivray, Lowe, Dodds, Gnahoua, John-Lewis, B. Morris, Bolton
It is generally considered that there are few if any good deals available in the January transfer window, especially if you are the club looking to buy! West Ham United's activities during last January's window are a prime example, Robert Snodgrass and Jose Fonte arrived costing £20 Million and on combined wages of £165,000 per week, their signings were disastrous and a complete waste of valuable funds.
Andy Carroll To Chelsea?
Manuel Lanzini scored a brace of goals as he and 'Elbows' Arnoutovic, ably assisted by Hammers' captain Mark Noble, ran riot during the 4 - 1 victory away to fellow relegation strugglers Huddersfield Town. During the BBC's football focus broadcast from the John Smith's Stadium earlier in the day the Huddersfield players said that the defeat they suffered at the London Stadium earlier in the season was one of their worst performances and that West Ham would be shocked at how different Huddersfield would play when at their own ground, well they certainly were different!
Huddersfield Town: Lossl, Smith, Malone, Schindler, Zanka, Hogg, Mooy, Van La Parra, Ince, Lolley, Depoitre. Subs: Coleman, Kongolo, Sabiri, Williams, Pritchard, Mounie, Hefele.
West Ham United: Adrian, Cresswell, Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Collins, Masuaku, Obiang, Noble, Kouyate, Lanzini, Arnautovic. Subs: Hart, Chicharito, Ayew, Burke, Cullen, Rice.
Russian International forward Fyodor Smolov has indicated that he wants to sign for West Ham United later this month, 27-year old Smolov currently plays for FC Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League having joined them from Dynamo Moscow in 2015.
West Ham’s current upturn in form has been remarkable to witness with the Hammers riding out an intense Christmas fixture list to pull themselves out of the relegation zone. A managerial change always seems to spike immediate results but the early signs are that the appointment of David Moyes will continue to inspire the Hammers improved trajectory.
West Ham United have been drawn away against the winners of the Bournemouth versus Wigan replay for the fourth round of the FA Cup. Of course there is the less than small matter of having to overcome Shrewsbury Town in next Tuesday's replay at the London Stadium!
Shrewsbury Town: Henderson, Bolton, Sadler, Nsiala, Beckles, Ogogo, Whalley, Nolan, C. Morris, Godfrey, Rodman. Subs: MacGillivray, Lowe, Dodds, Gnahoua, John-Lewis, B. Morris, Payne.
West Ham United: Hart, Burke, Rice, Reid, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Kouyate, Obiang, Cullen, Chicharito, Ayew. Subs: Adrian, Neufville, Quina, Makasi, Samuelsen, Haksabanovic, Martinez.
Joe Hart returns to the club from where he started all those years ago and expects plenty of pelters from the home supporters of Shrewsbury, the BBC are going be there for what should be a good old fashioned FA Cup tie, unfortunately West Ham United are 'serial offenders' when it comes to losing against lower league opposition in cup competitions! Having already had his fingers burnt by Shrewsbury while he was manager at Everton, David Moyes will be on his guard in order to avoid a similar cup exit with the Hammers.
Like it or not Under siege Joe Hart will start for West Ham against the team he began his career with, Shrewsbury Town, in this Sunday's FA Cup 3rd round televised on the Beeb, who are with no doubt hoping for a cup upset. Newly appointed Hammers manager David Moyes has declared his interest in 'winning' the FA Cup but has also honestly added the caveat that"staying in the Premier League" is the above all when it comes to football's configuration as it is perceived by long suffering supporters of the club.