West Ham FA Cup 3rd round preview (a)

City have their first trip to the new London (Olympic) stadium on Friday night in the FA Cup. Thanks BBC. A stupid 19.55pm kick off shows again that the FA and TV companies have no consideration for fans. It angers me. 

Onto the blog. West Ham will probably make a lot of changes, as will City. You will see a mix of youth, rotation players and some players lacking fitness or game time. For West Ham, we may end up seeing Carroll, he is coming back from injury and could well cause City's make shift defence apart. I haven't heard much of Zaza or Lanzini, they could feature a long with others like Oxford and Fletcher. It will be refreshing to watch. City will make some changes too. I imagine we'll see some younger players, Garcia has featured a lot on bench in a lot of big games, he'll start and maybe in Fernandinho's place who has another suspension to his name, 4 game ban, this game being the first of 4 he will miss. Another that could feature is Adarbioyo, he may well start. Caballero will be in net, young Angus Gunn will be his backup on the bench. Wouldn't it be nice to see Gunn start? Delph will feature if he is fit enough. I hope so as it will be welcome numbers in midfield. Yaya will get a rest, Aguero, KDB, Silva and Sterling too you would think. If Sane is fit to play, he will, if not, Navas and Nolito out wide and Kelechi up front. He loves the FA Cup. I think the team will be make shift but a solid team. Maffeo and Angelino are out on loan so they won't start which means we will either see Zaba and Clichy start or some youngsters. Fernando will make up the midfield a long with Garcia and possibly Delph. If he isn't fit then we might see young Diaz. Humphreys and Ambrose could also feature, don't be surprised if they do, I don't think the FA Cup is a high priority for Pep this season. We have a lot of games left, a top 4 spot to chase and seal and the Champions League to impress in. It is risky to chuck the cup so I think Pep might set up a little cup squad of rotation players, players that need games and fitness and some youth. Like we did in the league cup. We went out to United's first team just so the team is not bad. They even beat Swansea away so West Ham will be a test. I won't lose sleep if we lose, I'll be annoyed if we draw and have another game to add to our schedule and I'll be happy to progress, with an easier home tie preferred if we get through. 

I think West Ham will win 2-1 with City's weakened side and West Ham having home advantage. I think the game will be close but I just don't see City being that interested in the cup and the team selection will probably show that. Team prediction for City - Caballero, Zabaleta, Adarbioyo, Humphreys, Clichy, Fernando, Garcia, Delph, Navas, Nolito, Iheanacho. 

There isn't much more to add. Here is hoping. I'll be starting blogging on matches I'm going to and continuing with my preview and review of the City games. I'm going to the Preston match (my brothers team) with my brother and dad against Arsenal on Saturday at Deepdale so I will preview and review that game too. I will also be doing the same in a couple of weeks as me and my brother are going away to Villa Park to see PNE play Villa.