West Ham away F.A Cup (Preview)

Tomorrow we take on West Ham in a Quarter final replay, after be demolished 3-0 at the hands of Spurs on Sunday. Something has to change, it seems like the story of this season is that we win a couple of games then always go back of the boil, 2 steps forward and then 3 steps back. But in the F.A cup we have strung together some consistency, but there are not many harder places to win this season than at the Boleyn Ground. West ham are in decent form, and that form had led them to 6th in the league and knocking on our door. They are hard to beat, and especially at home, as Arsenal found out on Saturday, by scraping a draw. 

I have got to be honest, normally I have confident in the team, and always believe, even when we don't perform and look terrible. But this time I really cannot see us getting through, I think as a team, West Ham are one of the best in the league, and at the Boleyn they have always been hard to beat. Last time we played at Old Trafford it was a 1-1 draw, and Dimitri Payet scored that excellent free kick, maybe we were a bit unlucky with that on the day.  But if we want to win we need a truly stellar performance, and from the whole team. However reports have come out that after the Spurs game the dressing room is in meltdown, and players have lost it with LVG, they don't share his philosophy and think his substitutions are ridiculous. I think he has well and truly lost the dressing room. 

The only way we can win this game is if we perform excellently in a defensive manner, and our striker, Martial is up for the game and takes his chances. I think his critics were a bit unfair concerning his miss on Sunday. By the way who made the chance? Martial. He did all the work and his team are not really helping him get more chances, the creativity in the centre of the park is lacking big time, and I struggle to see where the balance between defence and attack is. 

Here is the line up I would like to see: (4-2-3-1)

GK- De Gea: Doesn't need justifying! 

RB- Fosu-Mensah: If he is fit, he 100% deserves the chance, was our best player Sunday. if not fit I would go with Valencia, his pace and aggression will be key vs West Ham. 

CB- Smalling: Doesn't need justifying again, our leader and best player this season. 

CB- Blind: Key player for us, need his football brain, moulding into a great CB.

LB- Borthwick-Jackson: Played Monday, but I love his attacking intent and he can cross a ball, Rojo was pathetic against Spurs. 

CM- Schneiderlin: Great in the box to box role, can break up the midfield's domination. This game will be won in the midfield, and energy is needed.

CM- Herrera: Deserves a game and I think he can provide energy and that killer pass that we have been lacking. 

CAM- Periera: Needs a chance. He probably wont play, but I think he deserves an opportunity, creative, clinical and passionate. 

LW- Lingard: Been one of our bright sparks and provides pace, and creativity again. Mata has been off the boil recently and should be benched. 

RW- Memphis: Give him a chance!!! He needs a start and a chance to impress. Obviously has the talent and quality and no better chance than vs west ham. 

ST- Martial: Prefer him up top. Can create a chance for himself, bring others into the game. Need to give Rashford a rest. 

Subs: Romero, Mcnair, Valencia, Carrick, Mata, Weir, Rashford. 

The danger man for me is obviously Payet. He is deadly from set pieces, and we need to watch the fouls that we concede, otherwise he will punish us again. Also Carroll, I actually think Smalling will keep him quiet but he needs to be limited and needs to be controlled. Again, another reason to be careful at conceding set pieces. 

Prediction: 2-1 (Carroll, Payet: Lingard).

I don't like to be negative but I want to be realistic too. I think we will go out and the pressure will crank up on LVG. We will go ahead and then sit back, LVG will probably make some dodgy substitutions and we will lose it. Confidence is low. But lets hope I am wrong and we get to Wembley and to the Semi-Finals.