Daily WHUFC News - 16th January 2018

West Ham United v Shrewsbury Town: All you need to know
WHUFC.com

West Ham United welcome Shrewsbury Town to London Stadium this week in an FA Cup third round replay.

Read on for all the information you need to know about this fixture, including updates on available tickets!

Where and when?

West Ham United v Shrewsbury Town will be played on Tuesday 16 January 2018 at London Stadium.

The contest is scheduled for kick-off at 7.45pm.

Ticket information:

Tickets for this Tuesday's match are now on general sale and West Ham United's commitment to affordable family football has seen ticket prices slashed!

Kids can attend this FA Cup replay from just £5 and booking a ticket for this fixture adds a Priority Point to your ticketing account, helping to give you priority on future away fixtures.

Tickets can be purchased here, and the full pricing details are as follows:

How to follow:

Unfortunately, this match is not available for viewing in the UK. For worldwide broadcast schedules, click here.

Live match updates will be provided through the official West Ham Twitter account.

You can also follow the game live via our Matchday Blog on whufc.com.

You can also follow the match on our official Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat channels.

Team news:

David Moyes named Reece Burke, Josh Cullen and Declan Rice in his starting XI in the first tie with Shrewsbury Town, while six Academy prospects were also on the bench. Each will be hoping to be involved in the replay on Tuesday. These six youngsters were on the bench for the first tie vs Shrewsbury Town. Which would you most like to see involved on Tuesday?

Toni Martinez
Martin Samuelsen
Vashon Neufville
Sead Haksabanovic
Domingos Quina
Moses Makasi

What they say:
Shrewsbury at home, under the lights, will be fantastic on Tuesday night. Shrewsbury will be a tough opponent, but we have the players to win on Tuesday night.
Mark Noble

Match Officials:
Referee: Jeremy Simpson
Assistant Referees: Ian Hussin & Akil Howson
Fourth Official: James Linington

How to get there:

There are four Underground stations that supporters should utilise to reach London Stadium: Stratford Station, Stratford International, Hackney Wick and Pudding Mill Lane.

By Train

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Ladies executed Brislington game-plan excellently – Smith
WHUFC.com

West Ham United Ladies' adaption to and execution of a 3-5-2 formation has been hailed by assistant coach Myles Smith, after it set the side on the way to a brilliant 6-0 victory against Brislington. The Ladies played three defenders in the first half of Sunday's contest in Bristol, with Rosie and Mollie Kmita operating as wing-backs, with the former scoring twice in the opening 45 minutes for the team. Molly Peters, Amber Stobbs and Kelly Wealthall also got on the scoresheet in the second period before Kmita secured her hat-trick late on. The change in tactics came after a disappointing 0-0 draw with Gillingham last weekend – a match in which chances on goal were limited – and Smith is thrilled with how the three-woman defence allowed his side to play with more attacking intent. On the formation switch, Smith told whufc.com: "It looked like it worked extremely well. As a team, we've put a lot of work into trying new things and I think the identity we're starting to form now is a really good one. "We looked at today's opposition, identified that three at the back might give us an advantage, and executed it really well. We looked really threatening and we tried to get the ball into dangerous areas. We had a lot of opportunities in the first half and then a positive second half as well."
Smith was also delighted with the performance Kmita offered during the contest, hailing the winger's three goals and each of the players for their six finishes in the win. And the coach wants to see this positive atmosphere continue into the coming week and future fixtures. He continued: "Rosie was fantastic today, as was everybody else going forward. We've been looking at and working on that transition, and getting bodies forward. We didn't offer enough of an attacking threat in our last game, but the reaction from the girls today was fantastic. "Rosie's got the biggest reward with the hat-trick, and she's been working really hard in training, as has everyone. It's been a really positive week for us. "It's important for us now to continue that going forward. Doing that starts today with the recovery and into training this week. We want to keep this mood into our next game in a couple of weeks and we will ensure the girls are as prepared as they can be."

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Team News: Chicharito to be assessed ahead of Shrewsbury replay
WHUFC.com

West Ham United will definitely be without Andy Carroll for Tuesday's FA Cup replay with Shrewsbury Town, while Chicharito's availability will be determined prior to the match, according to coaching assistant Alan Irvine. The Hammers are preparing to take on League One Shrewsbury Town this week, having drawn with the Shrews 0-0 in the initial fixture last Sunday. A decision on who will play for the Irons in this midweek fixture is yet to be made, Irvine suggested, but the coach did confirm that West Ham will be without striker Carroll for the match. The 29-year-old was also out for the weekend's win over Huddersfield Town. Irvine also revealed that Chicharito had been sent home from training on Monday due to being ill, and a decision would be made about his potential to play in Tuesday's match in the morning. "We've got some bumps and bruises as you would expect, following the game at the weekend," Irvine said. "Andy Carroll is not fit yet. Chicharito actually came in this morning and was sent home unwell, and we don't know if he will be okay for tomorrow. It's described as flu, but I don't know if it's actually flu or not. We will find out tomorrow how he is. "The good thing is that we haven't had to pick the team yet. We will see where everybody is in the morning."

The Irons will also be playing without Diafra Sakho with Irvine indicating the forward had been injured for a couple of weeks. The Senegalese international's future with West Ham has been the subject of speculation in recent media reports but, while Irvine said the team would not have Sakho involved on Tuesday, the attacker's future was with the Premier League side. On Sakho, he continued: "Absolutely (he has a future). He's injured at the moment and he's been injured since the transfer window opened. He's not been on the training ground at all and to be honest we've seen very little of him, because the players who are injured report in to the medical room. He's not available for selection, it's as simple as that."

West Ham named just six players on the bench on Saturday in the victory against Huddersfield and Irvine admitted he had been left bemused by the Club's ongoing injury situation, with the coach saying that there's not been a situation yet where a senior player has been left out. "It's been a strange situation. We haven't left a senior player in the stand yet," Irvine added. "That's astonishing. Usually the manager has to go to a few senior players and say 'sorry, you're not in the squad today'. We haven't had that once in the time we've been here. And that's counting Declan Rice as a senior player. "It's been easier in some ways, because that's not a conversation the manager enjoys, to have to tell a senior player that. So it's been easy for David, he's not had to do that!"

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Irvine: A cup run, contract extensions and instructions on the pitch
WHUFC.com

The Scot – a member of David Moyes' management team – spoke about the Club's desire for a Cup run, contract extensions for various people as well as getting instructions across onto the pitch…

'We'd love to progress'

The goalless draw with League One outfit Shrewsbury Town was a tough affair, with the hosts coming out on top in terms of performance and almost pinching a spot in the fourth round. It was West Ham's younger players – Declan Rice, Reece Burke and Josh Cullen – who stood out on the day in Claret and Blue and Irvine was keen to highlight how important a good cup run could be for the side going forward. He said: "We were certainly pleased to get out of the game with a draw, because we didn't play well enough in the game. It's good for us to have the replay. Clearly we want to win the game and we want to progress in the FA Cup.
"It would be fantastic if we could get a good run in the Cup. Having said that, the priority is clear, we have to stay in this division. "We're not going into the game on Tuesday thinking we wish we were out. It would be fantastic if we could get a cup run to go along with a run in the league and challenge on both fronts."

Contract situations

After another impressive appearance from James Collins at Huddersfield at the weekend, Irvine was quizzed about the situation regarding the centre-back's contract. That brought the media onto the subject of the contracts of all of the management staff – including boss David Moyes – but Irvine explained little has yet been discussed in the way of extensions. "[With Collins], I don't know. We're contracted ourselves until the end of the season. So the job at this stage is to make sure we get enough points to be safe. The hope is that we get enough points to get further somewhere else. "Right now, the focus is on staying in this division. I don't think David has been in any discussion at all about extension of players' contracts. "It's a difficult thing to do at this stage anyway, because where are we going to be? We know where we want to be, and we'll deal with that situation a couple of months down the line I would think. "There's been no talk of going somewhere else, that's for sure. But there's been no talk about what's going on with our contracts. We're contracted for the period that everyone knows about, and we were happy to come in on that basis. "And we're not anxious or desperate to push anything right now. That might be something to be discussed when we are safe, but it's certainly not at this moment."

Are the coaching instructions showing on the pitch?

Saturday's mighty win at the John Smith's Stadium proved the importance of getting instructions across to the players on the pitch and the devastating effect it can have when done well. And Irvine is convinced that is starting to happen for the Hammers. "I wouldn't want to say that on the basis of one good performance, and it was one very good performance," he said. "But we're feeling more encouraged with every game but we still dissect every game and think there's an awful lot that we've got to improve on. "We've been happy with the way results have gone of late, with the exception of the Newcastle game, and we could have actually had some more points if not for late goals by some opponents. "But we want to play better and at the same time we want to make sure we get the points we need to stay in this division. We're creeping towards that at the moment."

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Cresswell: We need to keep this run going
WHUFC.com

West Ham United extended their unbeaten run to five games with Saturday's 4-1 victory at Huddersfield Town and moved up to eleventh in the Premier League table, much to the delight of returning defender Aaron Cresswell. The 28-year-old was back in the starting XI at John Smith's Stadium, after missing the previous two games with injury, and immediately slotted in alongside James Collins and Angelo Ogbonna as they restricted the Terriers to two shots on target. At the other end Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini were in inspired form, combining in devastating fashion as David Moyes' took the game away from Huddersfield with three goals in 16 second half minutes. Cresswell was thrilled to be back and is keen to keep the fine run going as the Hammers prepare for Tuesday's Emirates FA Cup third round against Shrewsbury Town. "It was a good game to come back in for," he said. "It was an important one, so to get a 4-1 win away from home is massive. Some of the goals we scored were fantastic. "It was just eleven seconds after half-time that we got the second goal and it was a great finish from Marko. He was on fire, scoring one goal and setting the other three up. You can't ask for any more. "The link-up play between him and Manu, especially in the second half, was great to look at. Watching them from behind, passing and moving, running in behind and Manu taking the space up, was fantastic. "We can't focus on teams below us, we need to focus on ourselves going into games like Saturday's and collecting the three points. "We've got some good games coming up that are winnable and we need to keep on getting those points. "It's a cup game next, another good game for us, and the FA Cup is important for us. You want to progress as far as you can, but you also want to survive in the Premier League. We're on a good track at the minute and we need to keep it going."

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Martinez eyeing another first-team chance on Tuesday
WHUFC.com

Toni Martinez is eyeing another first-team appearance when West Ham United host Shrewsbury Town in an Emirates FA Cup third-round replay at London Stadium on Tuesday. The prolific Spaniard made his senior debut as a substitute in the original tie at Montgomery Waters Meadow and will hope to be part of David Moyes' squad for the second meeting in east London. "To play with the first team in an official game was a great joy for both me and my family," said the 20-year-old, speaking in a feature interview to be published in the Official Programme. "It's what I have fought for all my life. I made my dream come true and now I hope it's the first of many. I will work for it."

Martinez scored for the U23s in a 3-0 Premier League 2 win over Manchester United just 24 hours after making his first-team bow in Shropshire to take his tally to eleven goals in 16 appearances at that level. Having also netted against German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in pre-season, the young forward is hoping his knack for finding the back of the net earns him further opportunities to shine at first-team level. Ultimately, his aim is to feature in the Premier League. "In the pre-season I played against Werder Bremen, which is a very good European team, and Fulham, a historic team in England. "I scored two goals and I think I showed enough quality but, in the end, playing or not, doesn't depend on me, I can only work every day and in the end the reward will arrive. "I can't imagine how it will be! I think it will be an incredible moment, for me and my family, as we know the work that we have put in to get here. "That day won't be only mine but of all the people close to me, who have supported me from the beginning."

*You can order Tuesday's 100-page Official Programme online here, or alternatively download the digital issue for just £1.99 from 9am on matchday here.

Alongside Martinez's feature interview are exclusive columns penned by Joint-Chairman David Gold, manager David Moyes and captain Mark Noble, Domingos Quina's Play List, Martin Allen's West Ham Scrapbook and much, much more!

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West Ham United v Shrewsbury Town
TUE 16 JAN 2018FA CUP - THIRD ROUND - REPLAY
19:45
Venue: London Stadium
BBC.co.uk

How to follow:
Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website
TEAM NEWS
West Ham are likely to be without forwards Javier Hernandez and Andy Carroll for their FA Cup replay at home to League One side Shrewsbury Town. Mexican Hernandez was sent home from training on Monday because of illness, while Carroll is once again not fit. Joe Hart is likely to start in goal against his old club.
Shrewsbury's 10-game unbeaten run was ended at Blackburn on Saturday but Paul Hurst has no new injury problems. They will be backed by 3,000 fans. The sides drew 0-0 in the first game at the New Meadow, with the winners facing a trip to either Bournemouth or Wigan in round four.

West Ham coach Alan Irvine:

"We certainly were pleased to get out of the first game with a draw because we didn't play well enough, that's for sure. Clearly we want to win the game and progress in the FA Cup, but the priority is clear in that we have to stay in this division. "We're in a better position than we were but we are nowhere near to where we want to be."

Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst:

"I think it will certainly be more difficult than the first game. "Whatever they thought of us going into the first game they have now seen first-hand, so there will be no underestimating us and they will know that they will have to perform better than they did in the first game to progress. "I'm sure they will have more of the ball than they did in the first game and create more chances, so we need to try and limit it as much as possible, whether it's last-ditch defending, a good goalkeeping performance or a bit of luck along the way. "But, going the other way, we need to try and create a couple of chances ourselves and make it as difficult as we can."

Match stats
West Ham will be hosting Shrewsbury for the first time since September 1980, when the Hammers ran out 3-0 winners in a second-tier clash.
West Ham have won each of their past seven FA Cup home matches against lower-league opponents, scoring 20 goals (avg 2.9 goals per game).
However, the Hammers have lost each of their past four FA Cup replays against sides from the Championship or lower, failing to score in the past three.
The Shrews have never won an FA Cup encounter away to a top-flight side, losing nine and drawing one - with their last such match coming in February 1984, a 3-0 loss to Everton.

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WELCOME OUR NEW STRIKER?
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 15 JANUARY 2018 AT 6:13PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @freelancerBen

Yes that's right welcome our new striker…. Marko Arnautović. He may not have been signed back in the summer to be a striker but since David Moyes has made his tactical changes to the team that's where he has found himself and in my opinion he has been doing a sterling job.

So why has been doing so well in his new position?

Two words. Work rate. Marko's work rate and effort has always been questioned throughout his career at various clubs but no more so than when he was playing under Bilic. Since Moyes was appointed in November his attitude, application and work rate have improved amazingly. He's now getting goals and assists on a regular basis and his link up and understanding with Lanzini has been brilliant to watch, it seems from watching them play that they love playing together and bounce off each other excellently creating many chances in games for one another.

What's next for him?

Sky really is the limit, if he can keep up this good form there is no way he can't get better and better. So far this year he's my Hammer Of The Year I'm sure many of you would agree. Let's home to see some more maverick performances from Arnie this season COYI!!

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Carroll loan deal unlikely
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 15th January 2018
By: Staff Writer

Chelsea are seeking to land Andy Carroll from West Ham ON LOAN for the remainder of the current campaign, according to the latest tabloid speculation. However the Hammers are believed to have told the Blues that they will only sanction a permanent deal for the 29-year-old forward. Antonio Conte is thought to have turned to Carroll having failed to secure an agreement regarding Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez, who has been linked with both Chlesea and Manchester City in recent days. West Ham's number nine - who was missing once again from the squad that won 4-1 at Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon - has featured on 14 occasions for United so far this season, scoring twice (with both goals coming against West Bromwich Albion).

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The Band-Aid effect
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 15th January 2018
By: Tim Alexander

West Ham has long been in the business of what my best friend refers to as the 'Band-Aid Effect'. Every January, our club goes into the window with one goal - to stop the bleeding. To avoid relegation, our club does just enough to keep us up. Buying players to fill the gaps but nothing over the top while too often disregarding the talent that we have in our youth system.
We as fans go into every transfer window with high hopes only to have them slowly fade away. But as we Hammers Fans always say, "Fortune is always hiding." Though, it has stayed hidden from us for far too long. Last January the window saw us linked with the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Michy Batshuayi, and Daniel Sturridge, amongst others. In the end we 'settled' for Robert Snodgrass and Jose Fonte.
Here I have to mention how much I think of the two (as footballers) and respect both of the players we signed, but it is a far shout from what the board stated with their 'Champions League expectations' after the move from Upton Park. Neither are currently playing for us with Fonte injured and Snodgrass tearing the Championship apart on loan.
This summer we started to slowly move in the right direction bringing in Marko Arnautovic, Chicharito, Pablo Zabaleta, and Joe Hart (on loan). While this might have left us hopeful at the beginning of the year, we started slow and here we are again in the same position as last year.
One more relegation fight to stay up and another January window to stop the bleeding. We all knew Bilic's time was running out, and when it did, I think we were all surprised that David Moyes replaced him. I have to admit I wasn't too happy when Moyes came in to take the reins. But, I stuck by the team and let things come together and have been surprised with the results.
One of the most encouraging moves with Moyes is that we are slowly seeing youngsters on the pitch. The recall of Reece Oxford has me more than excited with what could be, given he is put on the pitch where many fellow Hammers fans believe he belongs. I still cannot find one good reason why they would even consider selling the kid.
Josh Cullen clearly put himself out there in the FA Cup game and played with pride for the badge along with fellow loan returnee Reece Burke. Declan Rice has been a stalwart for us throughout the season when he is on the pitch and absolutely a delight to watch. Toni Martinez and Domingos Quina are on the edge of getting consistent looks in the team. There have been calls for Martin Samuelson to get a first-team look.
While I believe our youngsters are better than any 'Band-Aid' solution that could come to us in January, I cannot help myself to fall back to the broken promises that were made to us. The hopes of a William Carvahlo or a world-class star coming in and turning our hopes around seems to get smaller by the day. This window has linked us with over 20 players, with Harry Arter, Jonjo Shelvey, and Joe Allen seeming the players that fit into the typical West Ham grade signings in January.
Not too much, not too little, but just enough. If it is support, even in the smallest amount, it is enough. While I like all three of these players, they are not in the same league as William Carvalho or Leander Dendocker, who we've also been linked with. I think the time has come to play our youth and trust the talent we have, if real talent is not an option in January. I believe we will indeed stop the bleeding enough to stay alive another day (or year in this case) in the Premier League.
I even see luck swinging our way and us making a top 10 push, potentially competing for a European spot. This of course provided that we have some luck here and there (insert Bournemouth draw). Regardless, it will be up to the squad that we have assembled until now along with those that will or have joined us in January.
Let us hope that this window isn't just another Band-Aid slapped on our wounds and that the club decides to close the wounds for good by either bringing in real talent that can move us up the table and to where we were promised we would be, or by keeping our talented youth players and putting them on the field.

As I mentioned earlier with Moyes playing our youngsters, the solution may be right in front of us without the need to sign anyone in January. I know I am tired of putting the 'Band-Aid' on our beloved club every January window and I hope you are too.

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, KUMB.com.

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Mark Noble: the renaissance man
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 15th January 2018
By: Trevor Twohig

After a terrific victory such as the weekend's visit to Huddersfield, West Ham fans should rightly feel pleased as punch this morning.

However one man who has come under intense scrutiny and criticism is the club captain, Mark Noble. On Saturday, his man of the match performance earned him some well-deserved plaudits. Could 2018 be Mark Noble's year?

It is fair to say that under Slaven Bilic this season, West Ham were rudderless. No direction or leadership were one thing, but what was unforgivable was the Hammers' lack of fitness which cost them dear towards the end of Bilic's tenure. Bilic may have been a nice guy, but whether he is a leader and more importantly a good manager, remains to be seen.

Still dining out on the Croatia semi-final visit is sadly short-sighted. Let's face it, when Bilic joined us he had failed to qualify for the Champions League with Besiktas and they wanted rid. A marvellous season followed with Upton Park as a fortress and mostly Sam Allardyce's squad.

Despite my criticism of Slaven Bilic, no-one can take away that final season at the Boleyn, a season that will live on in the memory for all West Ham fans. How much motivation was required for such a season, who knows? What we do know, is a manager's success is short-lived. Just ask Claudio Ranieri or Roberto Di Matteo. What followed that glorious season, was poor signings and a deepening mediocrity.

Standards slipped and Mark Noble. in his post-match press stint, was quick to say that David Moyes is not afraid to tell the players what's what. His half time comments to Lanzini and Arnautovic was the catalyst for three unanswered West Ham goals and three vital points. However, it is not just his words that are making a difference. West Ham are far more robust in defence, potent in attack and primarily as fit as we have seen them in recent years.

It is clear to see how players such as Arnautovic and Carroll are benefiting from Moyes' management. Adrian seems revitalised and James Collins is playing how we know he can. No introduction is required for Arthur Masuaku's new lease of life and Angelo Ogbonna is beginning to look like the international player West Ham fans were hoping for.

It is Noble though who stands out for me at the new and improved West Ham United under Moyes. A player who appears to know that any chance of an England call-up is all but gone and fears his days starting at his beloved club may be coming to an end. West Ham's talisman has been like a renaissance man under Moyes. Against West Brom, he and Carroll helped turn the game; Noble's yardage incidentally was the highest of anyone on the pitch.

Traditionally a defensive midfielder, who would have thought Noble would have had the guile to sneak in and steal the ball for West Ham's first yesterday? He did and was instrumental in keeping the Terriers at bay in the second half. In a team that lacks natural leaders, Noble proves his importance in these vital six pointers, marshalling the side and leading by example.

His penalty record remains one of the best in the league and when he does not play, we fall down terribly in this area as witnessed when Ayew's feeble attempt failed to find the net in the recent Newcastle loss.

Mark Noble will never be the greatest player in England's history. He has, with the greatest respect, some limitations. However when it comes to pride in the shirt and intelligent game management, there are few better. The amount of times I have watched Noble draw a foul when the team are under the cosh or pick up a yellow for the team to stop a potential goal threat are too many to mention.

It is difficult being a West Ham fan at times. The criticism Noble has faced from fans on social media and on the terraces is shocking to say the least. Even on Saturday, there was criticism from one fan aimed at Noble, who largely had a flawless game. Also, we are 4-1 up and the player has scored, what more does he need to do?

Mark Noble has remained loyal to our beloved club through thick and thin too. Relegations, takeovers, sackings, droppings, he has seen the lot. So why not more loyalty for a man who has given so much?

On Saturday, Noble did not pick up a card. His work rate and team management were outstanding and his finish in a nervy six-pointer for the first goal was assured. If it wasn't a World Cup year, I would say on current form, Noble deserves his long awaited England call up. He won't get it of course, but that is good news for West Ham fans because it appears Nobes is in the form of his life for club, if not for country.

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, KUMB.com.

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Rejoice in winning ugly
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 15th January 2018
By: Staff Writer

Former Irons favourite George Parris says it is time for West Ham fans to stop being sniffy - and to be happy with winning ugly, if that is what it takes.

The recent 2-1 win over West Brom was hardly one for the purists but after disappointing results against Newcastle and Bournemouth, a win, however it came about, was just what the doctor ordered.

In his exclusive column for Blowing Bubbles magazine, Parris says that win – and the 1-1 draw with Spurs - were the ideal start to the new year. "It was key that we got the result against West Brom, and followed that with a valuable point against Spurs," he wrote.

"Now we're in the midst of a run of games against teams around us. It's really important we pick up as many points as we can. If it's a choice between getting beat or playing scrappy and getting the points, I know what I'd take!"

For more from George Parris, the thoughts of goalkeeping legend and an exclusive interview with two-time West Ham player Don Hutchison – as well as every manager in the club's history, rated and ranked – pick up a copy of the new Blowing Bubbles, out now.

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West Ham United v Shrewsbury Town preview: Hammers desperate to progress to FA Cup fourth round
Last Updated: 15/01/18 5:58pm
SSN

West Ham United host Shrewsbury Town in an FA Cup third-round replay on Tuesday night intent on progressing in the competition. The Hammers were held to a goalless draw in the first meeting at New Meadow, but assistant manager Alan Irvine says the Premier League team will do everything they can to make it into the next round. "We were certainly pleased to get out of the game with a draw, because we didn't play well enough in the game," said Irvine. "It's good for us to have the replay. Clearly we want to win the game and we want to progress in the FA Cup. "It would be fantastic if we could get a good run in the Cup. Having said that, the priority is clear, we have to stay in this division. "We're not going into the game on Tuesday thinking we wish we were out. It would be fantastic if we could get a cup run to go along with a run in the league and challenge on both fronts."
However, David Moyes' team are set to be without strikers Javier Hernandez and Andy Carroll for the clash, with the former having missed training on Monday with illness, while the latter is injured again. The Scot will likely hand Joe Hart a start in goal against their opponents, who saw their 10-match unbeaten run in League One come to an end at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst, meanwhile, expects a much-improved West Ham showing at the London Stadium. The Sky Bet League One high-flyers enjoyed the better chances in the first game and Hurst believes that performance from his promotion-chasers will ensure the Hammers will "perform better" in Tuesday night's clash. "I think it will certainly be more difficult," Hurst told Shrewsbury's official website. "Whatever they thought of us going into the first game they have now seen first-hand, so there will be no underestimating us and they will know that they will have to perform better than they did in the first game to progress. "I'm sure they will have more of the ball than they did in the first game and create more chances, so we need to try and limit it as much as possible, whether it's last-ditch defending, a good goalkeeping performance or a bit of luck along the way. "But, going the other way we need to try and create a couple of chances ourselves and make it as difficult as we can."

The winners will travel to either Bournemouth or Wigan Athletic in the fourth round.

Opta stats

West Ham will be hosting Shrewsbury for the first time since September 1980, when the Hammers ran out 3-0 winners in a second-tier clash.

West Ham have won each of their last seven FA Cup home matches against lower league opponents, scoring 20 goals (avg 2.9 goals per game).However, the Hammers have lost each of their last four FA Cup replays against sides from the Championship or lower, failing to score in each of the last three.

The Shrews have never won an FA Cup encounter away to a top-flight side, losing nine and drawing one - with their last such match coming in February 1984, a 3-0 loss to Everton.

Charlie's prediction
Well it is fabulous stuff going on for West Ham under David Moyes so far, but he'll just want the job done here. And I think he'll rest Noble and maybe even Marko Arnautovic for this tie. Charlie predicts: 2-0 and Hernandez to score first (13/1 with Sky Bet)

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Diafra Sakho pushing for West Ham exit
By Sky Sports News
Last Updated: 15/01/18 4:11pm
SSN

Diafra Sakho is wants to leave West Ham because he feels undervalued compared to the club's other attacking players, according to Sky sources. ky Sports News understands Sakho, 28, is currently earning £30,000 a week at the London Stadium, while other forwards in David Moyes' squad are on between £80,000 and £110,000. The Senegal striker believes he was promised a new, improved contract which is yet to materialise. Sky Sports News reported last week that Crystal Palace's proposed move for Sakho was in doubt, despite the Eagles having agreed a fee of between £10m and £12m. Swansea, West Brom, Brighton, Bordeaux, Rennes, Nice and Marseille are among the sides interested in a deal for the striker, according to Sky sources. West Ham's assistant manager Alan Irvine said Sakho missed a training session on Monday because he was injured.

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Javier Hernandez could miss West Ham vs Shrewsbury FA Cup replay
By Danny Gallagher
Last Updated: 15/01/18 6:12pm
SSN

Javier Hernandez could be sidelined for West Ham's Emirates FA Cup third-round replay against Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward was sent home from West Ham's training ground on Monday with the flu. Hernandez's form for the Hammers has come under question in recent weeks, with the £17m forward failing to find the back of the net. Mexican star Hernandez was bought as part of a summer revamp of the forward line, arriving at the London Stadium along with Marko Arnautovic from Stoke City. As reported by Sky Sports last week, Hernandez could well be set for an early departure from the club, with the West Ham hierarchy open to hearing offers for the player.

Meanwhile, Andy Carroll (ankle), Michail Antonio (groin), Jose Fonte (calf), Edimilson Fernandes (ankle) and Winston Reid (groin) are all out for the Hammers.

Provisional squad: Adrian, Hart, Masuaku, Cresswell, Collins, Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Kouyate, Rice, Noble, Obiang, Cullen, Burke, Quina, Lanzini, Arnautovic, Ayew, Hernandez.

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THE MAGIC OF ARNAUTINI - OR SHOULD THAT BE LANZINOVIC ?
By HamburgHammer 15 Jan 2018 at 08:00
WTID

After last week's column my loyalty towards the claret and blue cause has been put into question by some on here, as I chose to attend a Concordia indoor football tournament, a glorified friendly at that, prior to watching a recording of our cup game against Shrewsbury (instead of watching it live). So this time I made amends and gave Concordia a wide berth the last couple of days (it was only another two indoor tournaments anyway and as I mentioned before, indoor football for me is a lousy surrogate, like nonfat plain yogurt. Or tofu replacing meat).

In addition Concordia had lost another preseason (outdoor) friendly earlier in the week in shockingly lackluster fashion, so I felt that this time it was only right and proper to lend my undivided attention and support to our game at Huddersfield.

Huddersfield of course is a very German affair these days, what with the manager and several players hailing from the country of sausages and sauerkraut. Huddersfield are a club I have a lot of time for, they have a stadium that looks quite distinctive and is immediately recognisable, their fans seem genuine and down to earth and I also haven't seen their players acting out of order yet, so they are a proper football club in my book, not an easy feat altogether in a rugby first town like Huddersfield.

They are no mugs at home either and when I saw our starting lineup I thought: Well, that's a bit negative/defensive, innit ? But then again Huddersfield at home are not to be trifled with and I would have regarded a draw a credible result for us. But what do I know!

The way we attacked Huddersfield's weaknesses was clinical. Wave upon wave of quick passing counter attacking football washed upon them and they just couldn't handle our concoction of physical strength, pace and flair.

Arnautovic and Lanzini tore them to shreds almost single-handedly, but let's not forget the vital first goal where we gave Lolley (great name) a moment to forget, trying to control a pass from his goalkeeper, when Arnautovic rushed in and bullied him with not much more than his physical presence and Mr.West Ham nipping in and tucking the ball away as if he was on the Rush Green training pitch and not in the penalty box of the John Smith's Stadium.

It was like a pride of lions hunting down an impala in a coordinated attack.
Or a group of velociraptors chasing some Hollywood actors.
In any case it was bloody exciting to watch!

In my book we should do this sort of pressing a lot more often. Other teams do it to us and it's a great way to unsettle the opposition. Granted, it takes a lot of fitness and effort, but it really helps if you don't give your opponent all the time in the world to calmly control the ball and then ponder what to do with it next.

On that afternoon oop North a lot of things clicked and fell into place for us. Our defense looked mostly solid while playing refreshingly unspectacular. It was good to see Collins back again and he was his usual reliable self. In midfield Kouyate seemed to thrive on having a bit of a free role, with Noble and Obiang cleaning up behind him and Lanzini too looked happy with his role further upfield. It's vital that these guys feel comfortable in the manager's system and also develop a bit of chemistry with their teammates.

Long may it continue! That win will not only have boosted our confidence and brought us three valuable points.

It now also means that 15 points out of the remaining 15 games should be enough to cement PL status for next season. As a West Ham fan I am usually taking the pessimistic approach, expecting the worst while hoping for something slightly better, but in this instance even I can't see a scenario where we don't get another 15 points this season.

No doubt we will win a few games, we'll draw some and unfortunately there will be a few more defeats, but we now have several teams behind us that are being sucked into the relegation battle and this can only be good for us. Some of those teams will get nervy, some will crumble under the pressure, some will bounce back.

We may not be out of the woods yet, but from where we are we can already see the road and a bit of horizon beyond the last line of trees so to speak. It was only one win of course, but it got me thinking about what I would really wish to happen and what hasn't really happened at West Ham throughout our history.
Once things begin to improve for us, with better performances and results on the pitch on a consistent basis, I would really love to see us build on that.

Meaning to pick three or four players we consider to be the backbone of our squad (say Arnautovic, Lanzini, Rice and Ogbonna, to pick some names for the purpose of argument). Then put ridiculous release clauses in their contracts that ensure that only ridiculous offers can prise them away. Then, and this is the important bit, show your backbone star players it's actually worth it to stay on at project West Ham by adding quality players, gradually, one (or two) every summer (or January, if a decent opportunity should present itself). That's how you build a team, that's how you establish the club as a force to be reckoned with and that's how you climb the table and get your fanbase onside at the same time.
It costs money of course, but if you do it properly eventually those transfers will pay for themselves and then some.

William Carvalho would be such a quality addition. Or Leander Dendoncker, a young defensive midfielder from the Anderlecht production line of footballing prospects.
22 years old, 1.88m tall and strong as an ox, he covers a position that has been a weak spot for us for several seasons now. Apparently he is available for a reasonable fee of 25 million quid, reasonable in today's crazy market that is.

Scouts are fairly certain that Dendoncker will become a very strong player, a standout midfielder in fact, capable to play in any league which would result in his market value and potential transfer fee rising. So it might be a shrewd move to step in now and sign him up, if there is a chance. Scouts have been praising his strength in the tackle, his willingness to go into challenges with the right degree of aggressiveness to be a nuisance to the opposition. He reads the game well, has a good right foot and is also a fairly decent option at CB, if need be. His physical attributes make him a perfect fit for the Premier League and I would expect him to rock up on English shores sooner rather than later.

As for rumours for other incoming players in January we might be seeing Russian striker Fyodor Smolov replace Diafra Sakho. Smolov is rumoured to be available for 15 million and his agent is also on good terms with West Ham apparently, so this might be a goer. For me it's a no brainer. If Sakho wants away we need to cash in and replace him. Smolov has been Krasnodar's most important and consistent player and reading up on him a lot of scouts consider him to be the best striker in Russia.
He's tall (1.87m) and strong and at 27 years of age his best years should still be ahead of him.

He can play upfront, but is also an option on either wing. His main assets are keeping hold of the ball, dribbling, long shots and freekicks. But most importantly he is a clinical finisher. With that in mind he sounds like a more than capable replacement for Sakho.

As we can now breathe a bit more easily in the league we should give the FA Cup the proper respect it deserves. By all means, reward some youngsters with some well deserved gametime. I would expect guys like Rice, Burke, Cullen and Byram to start (with Shrewsbury boy Hart between the sticks of course), but make no mistake: We need some experienced heads out there too and we can not afford to take Shrewsbury lightly. It's another potential banana skin for us, but on paper we have more than enough to beat them of course.

As their confidence must be skyhigh I would even contemplate giving Arnautini a runout for 60 minutes or so. What I don't want is players on the pitch who are not up for it.

The FA Cup and the opposition deserve respect and every single player who gets the chance to play should bust a gut.
As the game will probably not be on telly anywhere I might have to rely on text updates. Still, I'm looking forward to seeing our team continue to grow together.
And then to be improved even further by adding a quality signing or two…COYI!!!

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Pablo Zabaleta reveals what David Moyes has changed to inspire West Ham's revival ahead of FA Cup replay
The Irons, who've jumped from 18th to 11th under Moyes, face Shrewsbury in an FA Cup replay on Tuesday
The Mirror
ByDavid McDonnellSports Journalist
15:03, 15 JAN 2018UPDATED15:07, 15 JAN 2018

Pablo Zabaleta has revealed how going back to basics helped David Moyes transform West Ham's season. The Hammers take on Shrewsbury in an FA Cup replay at the London Stadium on Tuesday, with Moyes having turned their crisis-hit season around. Saturday's 4-1 win at Huddersfield saw West Ham, 18th when Moyes took over in November, rise to 11th in the Premier League and continue their march to safety. Zabaleta said the key to the turnaround was Moyes tightening things up at the back, giving West Ham's flair players a solid base from which to express themselves. "We all know David Moyes," said Zabaleta. "He always tries to organise teams and makes sure they're disciplined tactically, hard to beat. "He brought that discipline needed to win games. We were conceding too many goals, even in the first two or three games, playing 4-3-3, we weren't doing great. "We changed to three at the back, five if you want, and that made us more solid. Playing on the counter gives us a chance to get points. "We can be braver on the ball and create more chances but I think defensively we must be honest: we've been really good recently and that's a key point. "We're not a team who create chances like City, Spurs or those teams who play really decent football. "He's looking to bring in players to give us more creativity and probably then we can change to a different style. "At the moment, when you look at the season, we changed the manager and needed results. We thought the best way to improve was to be solid at the back and that gives us more confidence. "Stability at the back is what is working best for us. First we need to save our season. "Then, if David Moyes stays for the next couple of years, he'll have a chance to bring in his players and maybe get the team playing a different way.

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West Ham ace Pablo Zabaleta reveals chat with Marko Arnautovic that has inspired his form
MARKO ARNAUTOVIC treasures every goal he scores these days – and he won't let anyone forget it.
Daily Star
By Mike Whalley / Published 15th January 2018

The West Ham forward has been transformed since David Moyes took over in November, hitting top form to help guide them clear of the Premier League relegation zone. He was on target again in an outstanding display at Huddersfield, prompting a reporter to congratulate him on his recent run of five goals. "It's six," Arnautovic shot back. You can call it six goals in seven league matches, or you can call it five in five, but however you look at it, the striker is a man reborn.
He had a nightmare start at the London Stadium following his club record £20m move from Stoke last July. First came a red card in an early defeat at Southampton, then illness, then accusations from fans that he was not putting in enough effort. Full-back Pablo Zabaleta said: "I remember the first time I met him at West Ham, we were talking about the many games we'd played against each other. "I said to him: 'Marko, when you are on your day, I think you are one of the best players, for sure. It's hard for defenders to play against you, because you are strong, you are good on the ball. "'But you have to be on your game. You have to keep focused. And if you do this, then you have enough quality to make the difference.'"
Arnautovic's quality shone at the John Smith's Stadium, where he chipped in with three assists to add to his goal. He robbed Joe Lolley on the edge of the Huddersfield box to send through Mark Noble for the Hammers' first-half opener, after the home side went to sleep at the back. Then, after Lolley cut in from the right to score a Terriers equaliser, the Austrian took charge. He flicked the ball over Tommy Smith and lashed the Hammers back into the lead just 11 seconds into the second half, before two expertly judged passes set up two goals for Manuel Lanzini. Arnautovic has thrived since Moyes moved him from the left into the centre, with Lanzini also shining, even though neither player is a natural centre forward. Together, they ensured that West Ham did not miss ankle injury victim Andy Carroll, or fellow strikers Andre Ayew and Javier Hernandez, left on the bench. "Everyone knows Marko looks a moody boy at times, but I have found him really, really good and also very funny," said Moyes, celebrating his 200th Premier League win on the 20th anniversary of his first game as a manager at Preston.
"We're keeping him on a short leash, though. "Everything he has been asked to do, he has come up to it. Probably even more important is where the questions were, that he wasn't running about, he wasn't putting in the effort. "Well that would be the last thing you'd say about him now. What we won't allow him to do now is drop back to where he was."

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West Ham might be onto a winner with David Moyes who has rediscovered his mojo after going back to basics
David Moyes has got his mojo back after turning around West Ham's fortunes
He inherited a team that had not been working hard enough but he's fixed that
His zero tolerance policy has got the best out of star man Marko Arnautovic
Moyes recently became the fourth manager to win 200 Premier League games
He reached the landmark courtesy of West Ham's 4-1 victory at Huddersfield
By Matt Lawton for the Daily Mail
PUBLISHED: 22:31, 14 January 2018 | UPDATED: 23:14, 14 January 2018

When David Moyes arrived at West Ham in November, he went back to the methods he employed when he started out, first at Preston and then in those early years at Everton. He inherited a team in the relegation zone with the worst physical statistics in the Premier League. They were covering less ground, playing with less intensity. So Moyes employed the zero tolerance policy that had served him so well in the past. Marko Arnautovic was told if he didn't run, he wouldn't play and he was not alone in being given a kick up the backside. Now every player at West Ham understands that they buy into the manager's methods or they are on the sidelines. Moyes knew he had a point to prove when he succeeded Slaven Bilic. He accepted what, by Premier League standards, was a low basic wage as well as a short-term contract, with the club guaranteeing him a sizeable bonus to keep them in the top flight. He enjoys great support from his assistants — a strong presence in the form of Stuart Pearce and a coach in Billy McKinlay who has a lighter touch when dealing with the players.
In Alan Irvine, Moyes also has someone with superb organisational skills. And it is working. A fine victory at Huddersfield was secured thanks to a high-energy, high-pressing approach and it leaves West Ham in the safety of mid-table. Moyes, say those closest to him, has his mojo back. On Saturday, he became the fourth manager to win 200 Premier League games. West Ham might be on to a winner.

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Marko Arnautovic praised for heroics against Huddersfield, but David Moyes still demands more
Moyes wants more of the same from Arnautovic CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
Steven Sutcliffe
14 JANUARY 2018 • 10:30PM
Telegraph.coluk

Amid the praise for West Ham United's match-winner, Marko Arnautovic, his manager, David Moyes, stressed his delight but also demanded more of the same over the coming weeks. The Austrian's physical and technical capabilities have rarely been in doubt, but fans have questioned his attitude and application since becoming West Ham's £25 million record signing last summer. In recent weeks that sentiment has started to dissipate, with Moyes deploying the 28-year-old as a centre-forward to ensure he no longer strays onto the periphery.
Another coruscating display on Saturday inspired his side to a comfortable 4-1 win at Huddersfield Town. Pressing Joe Lolley into the mistake that gifted Mark Noble the opener, Arnautovic then took the game away from the hosts after they had equalised through Lolley.
Following a sixth goal in seven league outings, he twice punctured the home defence to lay on two goals for Manuel Lanzini. It lifted Moyes's team to 11th position, five points clear of the relegation places and a point and three positions above Town. Yet the Scot, who conceded his squad will need reinforcement this month, has warned he will not allow Arnautovic to rest on his laurels. "Where the questions were – that he wasn't running about, he wasn't putting in the effort – well that would be the last thing you'd say about him now," Moyes said. "What we won't allow him to do now is drop back to where he was. Everyone knows he looks a sort of moody, heady boy but I've found him really good and also very funny, but we're keeping him on a short leash. "He missed Tottenham with an injury and didn't play against Shrewsbury, so we were getting him back fresh, but I am still working to get him through 90 minutes at that level and that speed. "He's doing maybe 70 minutes and we're saying, 'no, we want more from you'. Maybe I can't get all that into him yet, but he has given us a great level of speed and energy in the early parts of games. "What we've given him is the chance to prove to West Ham supporters 'I can run, I will run and I'm not maybe what you think and I will prove I am a really good player and worth every penny the club have paid for me'."
Worryingly for Huddersfield it is almost a month and five fixtures since they last picked up three points. During their last top-flight season in 1971-72, the club failed to win a match after Christmas, collecting just six points from their final 15 matches to be relegated. While history repeating itself on that scale looks improbable, David Wanger, their head coach, admitted frustrations at a failure to react to dangerous situations early enough. "This is what cost them and us," Wagner said. "We've played 23 games. So usually, it should be enough time for everybody to learn their lesson. But even if we say it should be enough time, we've done it again. What counts is how we work with it and how we react."

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West Ham star Marko Arnautovic slams reporter over goal gaffe
MARKO ARNAUTOVIC sees every goal he scores as special after his nightmare start at West Ham – and is not shy about saying so.
By MIKE WHALLEY
PUBLISHED: 00:13, Mon, Jan 15, 2018 | UPDATED: 00:14, Mon, Jan 15, 2018
Express.co.uk

The Austrian never scored for Slaven Bilic, the manager who paid a club-record £20million to take him to the London Stadium from Stoke last July. But he has been transformed since David Moyes replaced the sacked Bilic in November, hitting a glut of goals to help lift the Hammers clear of the relegation zone.
Just make sure you get your numbers right if you want to talk to him about it – one reporter found that out at Huddersfield when congratulating him on a recent run of five goals. "It's six," said Arnautovic, without a flicker of a smile.
It is indeed six goals in seven league games – or five in five, if you prefer – since Moyes decided to move Arnautovic from the left into a central attacking role.
Neither he nor strike partner Manuel Lanzini are natural centre-forwards but they thrived at the John Smith's Stadium, with Andy Carroll nursing an ankle injury, Andre Ayew and Javier Hernandez demoted to the bench and Diafra Sakho left out of the squad altogether amid uncertainty about his future. Arnautovic robbed Joe Lolley to set up West Ham's opener for Mark Noble, scored the second himself by flicking the ball over home captain Tommy Smith and drilling past Jonas Lossl, then played two excellent through passes for Lanzini to wrap up the rout. Lolley made up for his part in West Ham's first goal by cutting in from the right to steer in his first Premier League goal just before half-time, but Moyes was not to be denied his 200th Premier League win on the 20th anniversary of his first game as a manager. Huddersfield have surpassed expectations in their first top-flight season since 1972 but will not survive if they keep on producing error-strewn displays like this. Head coach David Wagner said: "Listen, we have played 24 games. So usually, it should be enough time for everybody to learn their lesson. But this is not what counts for me now. What counts is how we work with it and how we react."

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Marko Arnautovic is West Ham's latest maverick and he's finally living up to comparisons with Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Marko Arnautovic is unrecognisable from the player who started the season
The Austrian has been a revelation since David Moyes replaced Slaven Bilic
West Ham have always had a maverick, like Paolo Di Canio or Dimitri Payet
Arnautovic, who has been likened to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is their new maverick
By Martin Keown for the Daily Mail
PUBLISHED: 22:52, 14 January 2018 | UPDATED: 23:15, 14 January 2018

West Ham have always had a maverick, a special player like Paolo Di Canio or Dimitri Payet who is the darling of the fans. This season, Marko Arnautovic is that man. Arnautovic is unrecognisable from the player who started the season.

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