It’s an exciting day for West Ham United. Following Leeds United’s visit to Salford City in the Carabao Cup this evening, the Hammers will find out their second-round opponents.
West Ham are represented by ball no. 9 in the South half of the draw and are very likely to be pitted against lower league opposition, with just six other Premier League sides in that half.
Twitter: Here are the confirmed draw ball numbers for tonight’s #CarabaoCup Round Two draw.
https://t.co/AR3az8YXt3
#EFL https://t.co/lsAfCwFFOA (@Carabao_Cup)
Last season, the Hammers dispatched AFC Wimbledon and Macclesfield Town, thumping the latter 8-0, before exiting in the fourth round against Tottenham Hotspur.
West Ham surpassed that round in both of the two seasons prior too, but can never seem to get past the bigger sides in the later stages of the competition.
In my opinion, the Carabao Cup should be taken very seriously and I’d even go as far as saying the matches should be prioritised – until the FA Cup gets underway anyway.
The last major trophy the club won was the FA Cup back in 1980, and it’s about time that changed, even if it’s an incredibly tough task nowadays with the strength in depth of the country’s bigger teams.
Manuel Pellegrini will want to challenge for silverware as well as securing a top-half finish, so you’d expect him to take the cup competitions seriously.
If you asked 100 West Ham fans whether they’d see their team finish in the lower places in the Premier League if it meant enjoying a quality cup run, I’m positive at least 80% would take it.
The squad is as strong as it’s been for a long time now, so let’s hope the players are as hungry for silverware as the supporters are!
