How does Nuno Espirito Santo approach the FA Cup this season at West Ham United, starting with Sunday’s clash with capital city neighbours Queens Park Rangers at the London Stadium?
Does he go all-in, in the hope that a deep domestic cup run will prove a welcome distraction from the relentless misery of the Premier League?
Captain Jarrod Bowen is desperate to lift the FA Cup in the claret and blue of West Ham United. After Crystal Palace triumphed over Manchester City last season, winning their first ever major trophy in the process, that is surely an inspiration for all clubs outside of the usual silverware-hoarders.
On the other hand, with the Hammers’ top-flight status hanging by a thread, will Nuno Espirito Santo instead use Sunday’s derby as a chance to blood some of the kids, give rare chances to fringe players, while ensuring Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, Mateus Fernandes and co have a few days off to re-charge the batteries?
Which youngster would you most like to see START vs QPR in the FA Cup?
A chance for an up-and-coming keeper? A full debut for Kante, perhaps?
Time will tell, of course.
But as Hammers News readers vote overwhelmingly in favour of Mohamadou Kante’s involvement against QPR, Nuno’s rapidly-dwindling popularity would not be harmed by handing out the odd first senior start here and there.
West Ham United fans tell Nuno to start Mohamadou Kante vs Queens Park Rangers
We asked the West Ham fans which youngsters they wanted to see in the starting line-up when QPR make the short trip across the capital.
And Kante won with a landslide 43 per cent of the vote.
The bargain £500,000 signing from Paris FC has made a couple of cameo appearances off the bench for the senior side, but his performances at Under-21 level have created quite the buzz. According to Carlton Cole, the club’s Loans and Pathways Manager, Kante is the ‘shining beacon’ of this current generation of Hammers kids.
Rangy yet elegant and seemingly twice as wide as the skinny youngsters he tends to come up against in the reserves, Kante is a ‘modern Premier League midfielder’ in the making. At least, that is what Academy Manager Kenny Brown said when the Frenchman signed a new deal in October.
Comparisons have been drawn with Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira on more than one occasion.
Considering West Ham have often struggled to match the intensity and athleticism of their opposition in the middle of the park, Kante’s surging runs from deep would be welcomed with open arms. He’s scored five goals in 15 reserve-team games this season too, including the odd long-range thunderbolt.
George Earthy and Ezra Mayers will hope to get an FA Cup run-out
Imagine you are Nuno – How are YOU approaching the FA Cup? 🏆
Rest players for the league? Or go all-out for cup glory?
George Earthy comes in second behind Kante, with 38 per cent of your votes.
Earthy is ‘desperate’ to force his way back in to the Hammers’ first-team picture, after hamstring and ankle injuries stalled his progress on the back of an impressive loan spell at Bristol City. Another who looks a cut above the rest in the Under-21s, perhaps Earthy could earn himself a start in the place of Paqueta against QPR.
A further ten per cent of you want to see 18-year-old Preston Fearon in the team. Even Jarrod Bowen has been left embarrassed by this nutmeg specialist on the training pitch at times.
Ezra Mayers would be a popular inclusion as well, particularly on the back of some stylish substitute appearances.
And could Nuno even consider handing a debut to goalkeeping prodigy Finlay Herrick? That seems unlikely, as surely this is a weekend in which Mads Hermansen makes his return to the team following four months on the bench.
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