Show Some Heart and Desire
A few great seasons does not a team make. Back-to-back European qualifying seasons have brought West Ham another step higher in the eyes of the footballing world. And, while the recent success is great, this season’s poor form threatens to tear down the goodwill and progressive steps forward this team has made.
Relegation would be a disaster and while an FA Cup match against League One Derby County has no effect on league standing, it could be a chance to build momentum and propel this team forward through a stressful run of fixtures and the rest of the season.
What else Derby County in the FA Cup allows is exactly what this article has discussed: opportunity. The youth need to be given the opportunity to show that they are options for Moyes to use in the Premier League.
Moyes needs to show his players and the fanbase that he can take this opportunity to continue to be creative and not a tactical dinosaur in the way he sets up and deploys his team.
And, the first-team players who might get a chance to shine in this match due to injury or rotation need to take the opportunity provided to them to push for a first-team spot. Every manager has players they prefer but every team needs competition behind the scenes to make team selection a tough decision for the boss.
Every person involved with this club from coaches to players needs to take this match seriously and seize the opportunity to sharpen their metaphorical claws to prepare for things to come. Derby County shouldn’t win this match and West Ham cannot allow them to for the teams’ own mental health.
You play to win the game. All West Ham supporters want to see on the pitch is effort and desire to give them a good show and a performance worthy of their support. This FA Cup match is one big opportunity and no one within this club can afford not to take it.