What became of West Ham's last Carabao Cup first-round XI?

West Ham United are preparing for a League Cup first round tie for the first time in more than ten years. It is a fixture the club has not needed to worry about during a period in which they have consistently featured in the Premier League's upper half.

The last time they were involved at this stage, it ended in embarrassment. According to Mirror Football, that night serves as a reminder of how much has changed. A starting XI that was expected to ease through instead produced a display that still lingers in the memory for the wrong reasons.

So what happened to those players? The turnover at the club has been total. Some moved on to other clubs, some retired, and a few have drifted out of the game entirely. The current squad bears little resemblance to the one that was humbled, and the playing staff has been rebuilt several times over.

West Ham now return to the competition's opening round with far higher expectations. The memory of that defeat remains a useful reference point, but the team that takes the field this time will be unrecognizable. Highlights from related matches can be found on this site.