Claret and Hugh understand the Hammers are ready to play a weakened team if necessary rather than call for the postponement of the Carabao Cup quarter final against Spurs on Wednesday evening.
It’s a big call of course given the semi final place at stake but having made it clear the club want to keep on playing at yesterday’s Premier League meeting, they are understood to be set to back that with a positive decision for the game.
Whilst it’s realistic to believe there may be covid cases in the squad there is no certainty as to how many and obviously the manager will therefore make his team selection immediately before the game.
Assuming the players mentioned are fit, Ryan Fredericks could get his first taste of action since the Europa League defeat of Rapid Vienna in November having only appeared in one Premier League game this season and for the likes of Nikola Vlasic and maybe Aji Elise and Emmanuel Longelo on the left side.
But there can be no firm team predictions at this stage.
I see only positives in playing young players who are ready to go. Notice the top clubs have no issues in blooding young players recently and so should we. Obviously not all at once but one or two in a match perhaps.
“No firm team predictions” ? A prediction can only be that.
I hope the team is as strong as we can go with a couple of youngsters only and maybe Vlasic.Yarmo and Masuaku a no no.
So none will be given firmly
Moyes should field the strongest team possible against Spurs and if that means starting Ashby at right back, then I’m fine with that. This is a quarter-final, and having swept aside Man United and Man City already, West Ham must go for it. Here’s my XI – Areola – Ashby, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell – Soucek, Rice, Fornals – Bowen, Lanzini (or Benrahma) – Antonio