West Ham face Macclesfield in the third round of the FA Cup - the first time the two teams have ever played each other. The trip to Moss Rose will not be an easy one for the Hammers, especially with West Ham's record against lower league sides in cup competitions.
Kevin Keen of Macclesfield will face his old club (where he was for nine years) for the first time, but Carrick and di Canio won't feature in the match, due to an injury and an 'injury' respectively.
I would love to think that the reason Paolo isn't playing is down to injury as opposed to Manchester United's approach, but I doubt it to be the case. Michael Carrick though is out injured.
West Ham reached the quarter final last year, where they had their first home tie of the competition, and were beaten by Tottenham Hotspur. With the Worthington Cup out of reach this season thanks to Reading, and with us remaining in the middle of the table Premiership wise, our only hope of any true gvlory is through the oldest and best competition in the world.
If Joe, Freddie, Jermain et al play anywhere near there potential, the game should be all but a foregone conclusion.
The match should go ahead, with Macclesfield taken many precautions as far as the pitch is concerned, but keep the radio on if you're travelling to the ground.