Exclusive: McAvennie wants Moyes to emulate Mourinho approach in West Ham FA Cup campaign
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie has urged David Moyes to copy Jose Mourinho’s approach at Tottenham by taking cup competitions seriously at West Ham.
After leading Spurs to the Carabao Cup final, Mourinho claimed that the secret to doing so was taking the competition seriously – despite the North London club getting a bye against Leyton Orient and playing Championship teams in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
While it was a good slice of luck that led to Spurs getting to the final, the sentiment of Mourinho’s words is something that McAvennie would like to see reciprocated at West Ham, who face non-league side Stockport at Edgeley Park on Monday night.
“I think he will [make changes] but I keep going on every year about it. Mourinho came out this morning and I heard him say ‘we’re in the cup final because we took it seriously’. I’d like West Ham to take the cup seriously,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone.
“They’re not going to win the league so give the boys a cup run. Give the supporters something to shout about in front of the tele. Give them something to do – you want something to look forward to.
“I don’t think West Ham fans ask for too much but they want to go on a cup run.
“It’s been 40 years since they won something. It’s been too long.”
West Ham haven’t won the FA Cup since 1980 when Sir Trevor Brooking scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win against Arsenal at the old Wembley.
The Irons have struggled in cup competitions since, especially in recent years with West Brom, AFC Wimbledon and Wigan knocking them out in the fourth round in two of the last three seasons.
In five of their last nine seasons, the Hammers have been beaten in the FA Cup by lower league opposition, which doesn’t bode well going into a potential banana skin against National League high-flyers Stockport.
Jim Gannon’s team have been in good form overall this season but their results have started to suffer in recent weeks with just one win in their last five league matches.
West Ham should win this no matter which team Moyes plays but he might as well go strong and hand his players the chance to build up some momentum ahead of a good run of Premier League fixtures which sees them play Burnley, West Brom and Crystal Palace.
In other West Ham news, the Irons are lining up a swoop to sign Ismaila Sarr.