It’s Sherwood then Forest as Hammers seek cup glory!

 

It’s been a tough season so far for the Offensively challenged Hammers but there can be no doubting that for some unfathomable reason, any season that is cursed with relegation worries will inevitably bring the (somewhat unwanted!) distraction of a decent cup run.

And so it is that in a season where a hopelessly toothless West Ham side have struggled in the Premiership – and currently rest just a hair’s breadth above the relegation cut off – also find the ‘romance’ of the cup a welcome opportunity to put all our worries behind us and dream of Wembley glory!

So Wednesday will see the Bubbles boyz face a Spurs side who are reeling from the sudden departure of AVB (or Mourinho-lite as he was once known). Rumour has it that backroom staffie Tim Sherwood will take the helm for the League Cup quarter final tie that has suddenly assumed so much greater importance on the season’s landscape for both sides as they try to salvage some hope from all the gloom of their recurring underperformance.

The Hammers will hope that the New Year return of Andy Carroll will catapult them up the league and far from any relegation worries. For Sherwood, success in the League cup would be a chance to build upon his runner’s up medal in 2002 whilst playing for Tottenham.

For the Hammers, the match provides a wonderful opportunity to heap more torment upon their London neighbours who have been pinching players from the Hammers for years. The recent 3-0 thrashing dished out by the Bubbles Boyz will loom large for both sides as will the humiliating 5-0 defeat suffered by Spurs at the weekend against a visiting Liverpool side. 

The Hammers will need to beware of wounded animal syndrome but such is the chaos of recent Spurs performances that injuries and suspensions will deny then of a host of first teamers whilst the canny Allardyce has indicated that he plans to field an experienced side. The Hammers will hopefully overcome Sherwood and his men as they then head to Forest for their next scheduled cup tie where they face the Championship high flyers in a third round cup tie on Sunday January the 5^th.  

Although many folk have relegated the cup competitions to the status of mere sideshow, there can be no doubting that for most sides (all except the privileged four) they represent the best opportunity of a truly decent party.  Wembley beckons!!!