There's only one Wilson! Craven cottage Team sheets throw up some surprises

Nuno has gone for pace and offensive power tonight as he has brought in Callum Wilson up front and Todibo at CB as the Hammers try to shoot their way out of the relagation zone. Forest take on Man City, so a win against Fulham could fire the Hammers out of the bottom three. 

Kostas Mavropanus and Magassa drop to the bench. 

Harry Wilson is missing for Fulham which will be seen as a boost for the Hammers but Fulham are no mugs as they sit in 9th and are hoping to push for Europe.

With just ten games left, it's time to start making our move for freedom. After an annoying loss at Anfield, Nuno will be looking to bouncd back and his selection roars positivity.

Kick off is 7.30.

COYI!!!

WEST HAM: Hermansen, Wan-Bissaka, Disasi, Todibo, Diouf, Soucek, Fernandes, Summerville, Bowen, Castellanos, Wilson

Substitutes: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Mavropanos, Traore, Lamadrid, Magassa, Scarles, Kante

Nuno is gonna shoot the Hammers out of Dodge!

Just when it looked like the Hammers were heading for Chumpionship footy, suddenly Nuno’s embattled troops have clicked into gear!

After a disastrous Christmas campaign, in which they only picked up one point in four winnable games, the message seems to have finally reached the players - if we can't defend, then we've gotta score, score, score!

Instead of bringing in defenders to shore up our leaky defence, Nuno has elected to bring in Pedro and Taty - both energetic attackers who are bringing vital life to a side that looked dead in the water!

And of course an away trip to Spudsville was the perfect place to start the Great Escape Part Two! With both Bowen and Summerville revitalised, the Hammers look like they are full of goals, goals, goals. 

And even though spoiled brat Paqueta has gone off for a little sulk, his absence has created space for Matty Fernandes to show us what he is capable of! 

Yesterday, having banged in a 30 yard screamer (which will almost certainly be the hammer's goal of the season), he then followed up with a similar thumper that almost broke the bar.

The Hammers may have only managed one clean sheet all season, but the message in recent games has been clear - However many you score, we will score more!

There can be no doubt that Nuno will have a simple three word message for Matty Fernandes - Shoot. Shoot, Shoot!

Next up it's away to a stuttering Chelski, then a crucial clash with Burnley followed by a Tuesday night romp at the London Stadium as Man Utd come visiting. 

Strap yourself in, this is gonna get crazy!

COYI!!!

We're gonna win the cup, we're gonna....

It may be all Premiership doom and gloom at West ham right now, but today is a chance to take a break for all the negativity as Chumpionship starlets QPR come visiting the London stadium.

The Hammers may have royally messed up over recent games but always retain the capacity to shine when you least expect it. It would be typical Bubbleology if West ham had a decent cup run this year. 

Today's clash is a great opportunity to blood the incoming strikers and try to get some much-needed rhythm ahead of the Spurs clash next week. Presumably Nuno will see it that way?

At the very least, we can remind ourselves how enjoyable Championship footy is - something we may need to get used to if our league form doesn't change dramatically!

Either way, let's enjoy the romance of the cup and remember that we were in the second tier when Uncle Trev downed the Gooners in 1980!

COYI!!!

Nuno opts for Moyesball in tough trip to Brighton

West ham's record against Brighton is simply abysmal with only one win in the last 16 encounters! The Seagulls have got our number and generally bask in their tippy-tappyness as we crumble. 

Nuno needs to stop that rot and has opted for five at the back, allowing our wing backs to push up and support Bowen and the (thankfully) returning Summerville. It's a plan but one that failed repeatedly during the Moyesball era.

No doubt the formation in part has been encouraged by the intense efforts of Thursday night where the Hammers energetically grabbed a valuable point. However, the recent heroics of Leeds and Burnley have further emphasized that it'll probably require 40 points to stay up this season and the Hammers need to chisel out some much needed points until January reinforcements arrive.

That said, the relegation of Potts and Magassa to the bench seems odd as they are both young and should have adequate engines for two games in four days. It's hard to see what the incoming Rodriguez will offer against a pacey Brighton midfield.

Wilson will likely benefit from a rest and can add spice if needed.

Paqueta returns and has some making up to do after one of the silliest red cards in our history.

COYI!!!

Starting XI: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Todibo, Mavropanos, Diouf, Rodriguez, Fernandes, Paqueta, Summerville, Bowen

Subs: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Wilson, Fullkrug, Magassa, Soucek, Potts, Irving, Mayers

 

Its Bazza time for the Hammers!

Yes folks, it's the "Barry McGuigan" as West ham face the Red Devils tonight at Ye Olde Trafford. Just when it looked like Nuno had turned things around, the Hammers had a nivhtmare against stuttering Liverpool on Sunday. Pool were there for the takibg but Nuno's troops failed to maintain their recent momentum and were easily beaten 2-0.

To add salt to the wounds, Lucas Paqueta decided to get himself needlessly sent off in a bizarre display of childish petulance that forced the ref to deliver a yellow and then a red card for persistent arguing. 

Without Somerville to add width, Jarrod Bowen has been double marked and up front the Hamners look frail. 

The odds are that Soucek will return, which will add some mscle and aerial impact but just now its hard to see how Nuno's boys can pull off a much needed victory tonight.

With Brighton, Villa and Man City in the pipeline its gonna take some big performanxes to avoid being in the drop zone at Christmas. 

COYI!!!

When words cannot capture the moment

 

Rip big man, Dignified Lionheart. 

True Legend.

Joyous scenes from the Bobby Moore stand

 

When all is said and done, its hard to match live footy. Since the Europa Conference win, the Hammers have had seasons to forget - so mediocre that you would almost wish for a relegation battle to bring meaning to the final quarter of the season.

Thanks to J-Lo and Potter, Nuno's Hammers find themselves in a proper relegation battle. Suddenly we are seeing the calibre of players like Soucek and Paqueta - while we know our Czech mate is made of titanium, the grit of our Brazilian maestro has been impressive. 

Backed by the tireless energy of Fernandes and Potts, suddenly we have a competitive midfield again. Our defence is still leaky but up front the Bowen-Wilson-Summervile triad is always a threat and gaining in cohesion. 

Yesterday the Hammers once again came from behind to win and we are now back in the thick of it all. Hilariously, after a terrible start, we are still only 8 points off a Champion's League place. 

We have a run of tricky fixtures up to Christmas and in reality need to look to grab 6-7 points over that period. With a consistent CB and another striker arriving in January, we should pull ourselves out of trouble. 

Either way, the gloom has lifted as the scenes from the BM stand after Soucek's crucial goal demonstrate.

COYI!!!