Blind Hammer looks at Prospects after a spectacular night
What a result. I love the way the BBC described the score as 8 (eight) -0 with brackets. I hope nobody downplays this performance. Despite Macclesfield’s lowly position, similar modest opponents have provided big challenges to West Ham in the past. For most Macclesfield players this would have been the biggest stage they have ever played on. The consequent effort they expended would have reflected this. Harry Redknapp always feared the enormous effort lower league teams would exert in these kinds of ties.
Before the game I was actually worried about where the goals would come from. I certainly did not predict that Snodgrass and Diangana would provide 4 of them.
Diangana is a player about whom I knew absolutely nothing. Like most West Ham supporters we were looking more to the talents of Nathan Holland as the next cab offthe Academy rank. Injury provided the opportunity for Diangana and he has taken his opportunity brilliantly.
Of course we must keep perspective but just sometimes players flourish more with better players around them. Older supporters will remember how Alan Taylor was plucked from Rochdale to provide the goals to fire West Ham to a famous cup win in 1975.
What is clear is that the competition is opening up. There is still some big beast left in the competition. Manchester City cruised past Oxford and Arsenal eventually dealt with Brentford. However Derby accounted for Manchester United and Liverpool fell to the talents of Hazard and Chelsea. Oddly we have to wait until Saturday night for the 4th round draw.
Yet whatever our opponents the no extra time and straight to penalties format means that any PL team has a better chance of competing with any other PL team. We showed only a few days ago that even at this stage of the season we are able to compete with and hold Chelsea for 90 minutes. Further even if we are drawn against one of the bigger beasts there is a probability that they will be distracted by the demands of European football.
For the first time in a while we can look forward to the bigger challenges in the Cup in the week ahead. The team on Saturday will have only a passing resemblance to this team but Squad morale is contagious and we are definitely better for this result. Enjoy the feeling and lets be positive.
COYI
David Griffith