THINGS WERE A lot different when Manchester United and West Ham last faced each other in a FA Cup replay.
It was January 2013 and the sides had drawn 2-2 in their Third Round tie at Upton Park 11 days previously – Robin van Persie conjured an injury-time equaliser to snatch a 2-2 result.
Back at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson had rung the changes and Wayne Rooney was back in the side after being out since Christmas with injury.
His ninth-minute goal proved the difference though he later missed a penalty.
United would make it all the way through to the quarter-finals where they were knocked out by Chelsea.
Bolstered by Robin van Persie’s goals, United would go on to comfortably win the league before Ferguson announced his retirement.
But, looking back at the United squad from that West Ham game just shows how much things have changed at the club in such a short space of time.
From the 18 players included in the group, only five are still at Old Trafford – Rooney, Michael Carrick, Antonio Valencia, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones. A sixth – Ryan Giggs – is now Louis van Gaal’s assistant.
What’s also worth pointing out is the strength of the squad – just look at that bench!
Manchester United XI (v West Ham, 16th January 2013): Anders Lindegaard, Rafael da Silva, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Alex Buttner, Anderson, Ryan Giggs, Nani, Antonio Valencia, Javier Hernandez, Wayne Rooney.
Subs: Ben Amos, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Shinji Kagawa, Paul Scholes, Robin van Persie, Danny Welbeck.
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