Exclusive: McAvennie wants strong West Ham XI v Man Utd, urges Irons to ‘Go for it’
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 hopes David Moyes names a strong West Ham side to take on Manchester United in the FA Cup at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
West Ham travel to the North-West this week knowing that a victory against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will see them reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since the 2015/16 season.
So far in the competition, the Hammers have beaten Stockport and Doncaster and have done so with Moyes naming relatively strong sides.
Now, McAvennie wants to see the Irons go for it at Old Trafford in their fifth-round tie on Tuesday, claiming that Michail Antonio should be able to impress against Man United’s defence if he plays.
“Man United are playing very well at the moment but I still think you can get at them,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone.
“I don’t think the defence will bother Antonio if he’s fit so as long as West Ham don’t sit back like they did against Liverpool, they’ve got a good chance. Just go for it and make a game of it.
“We went there a couple of times when I played and beat them at Old Trafford in the cup so I don’t know why we can’t now.
“As long as Moyes doesn’t do that saving players for the league – we’re not going to win the league. They want to get as high as they can but with the cup, hopefully, they can get to the final and give the supporters something to watch and feel good about.
“Put a good team out against Manchester United and go for it. If you get beat, you’re beaten and can concentrate on the league but go for it. That’s what I hope for and I hope they win 1-0.”
Man United are definitely beatable, as seen last month when rock-bottom Sheffield United won at Old Trafford.
However, it seems likely that the Hammers will be without Antonio, 30, in their starting line-up on Tuesday night.
Antonio has suffered with a couple of niggling injury issues this season and as he’s the club’s only out-and-out striker, it might be wise to avoid starting him twice in a week.
Andriy Yarmolenko could start up front at Old Trafford while we could also see Jarrod Bowen or Said Benrahma in a central role, which is where they featured at times in the Championship with Hull and Brentford respectively.
In other West Ham news, Garth Crooks has named Jesse Lingard in his team of the week.