Cup Draw!

      

I thought it might happen. Two Premiership teams getting put together was highly probable and is great news to lower level teams in their hopes to progress to the quarter-finals. But, Manchester United vs. Arsenal…this one’s going to be good. Yet another opportunity for the top two teams of this season to get another shot at each other. And neither of these teams is going to play their B squad for this match! Old Trafford should be raucous with the recent history between these two. There is a lot of respect for each other, but the competitiveness between them is razor sharp.

Middlesbrough will go to Bramall Lane to take on Sheffield United. I don’t think the Boro supporters will be bringing balloons to the match, do you? If the Blades come out as fired up as they did against Manchester City they’ll take another Premiership scalp.

Liverpool host Barnsley which should be easy for the Reds, but the Tykes could catch them just right and add to the Anfield woes this season.

Huddersfield will make the pilgrimage to Stamford Bridge to take their shot at Chelsea. Good luck! Drogba will be back and Anelka will be even more comfortable. I’d like to see the Terriers knock off the Blues, I just think they’ll need a miracle to do it.

Deepdale will be host to Portsmouth when they head to Lancashire to face Preston North End. The Lilywhites are struggling to stay in the Championship next season. So they have something to prove to themselves and their supporters. Milan Baros will be available for Portsmouth, their African contingent will be back and Pompey are still in the running for a UEFA Cup slot. So PNE will face a monumental task to move on.

The Saints should have a new manager when they head to Bristol so there’s no telling how they might play. I would love to see Southampton in the finals. They haven’t been the same since Matt Le Tissier graced the Dell. Sorry Rovers, but the Saints will go marching through.

Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion may be at opposite ends of the Championship, the Cup is a different game though.

Finally, Cardiff City will play host to Wolverhampton. The Bluebirds and Wolves are as evenly matched as the Red Devils and Gunners so this match should be quite good.

Minnows hope to make FA Cup history

                                       

They work full time jobs, practice a couple of times a week and dream as big as anyone. Chasetown FC is the lowest rated team to reach the 3rd round of the competition and this Saturday they will host League Championship side Cardiff City at The Scholars Ground. I love underdog stories like this. On Monday the Chasetown players will go back to their day jobs and how great would it be to have a tale of victory for them to enthrall their co-workers? These guys don’t play for big money contracts or television endorsements. They play because they love the game.

Manager Charlie Blakemore took the lads to the Wolverhampton Wanderers training facilities to ready them for the game. His enthusiasm for his players and how far they’ve come was great to see. If they lose to City there won’t be any whinging from Blakemore, he’s excited to have his team here. “I have been watching the FA Cup since I was a little kid,” he told PA Sport. “There’s a magic about it. I remember watching Hereford beating Newcastle when Ronnie Radford scored that goal. I think ‘crikey, I wonder in years to come whether people will remember Chasetown doing the same thing’.” Good luck Scholars!

                                                    

It’s not as big of a mismatch, but The Potters will host Newcastle United at Britannia Stadium on Sunday. Even with the backing of the big boss a loss to the League Championship side would probably be the end of Sam Allardyce’s reign Tyneside. This isn’t just another game in the greatest tournament in football, it could be the keystone match of the season for the Geordies.

                                              

The Hatters will host Liverpool Sunday and it could be their last at Kenilworth Road. If they don’t find a buyer by Monday they will go into receivership. Their players have not been paid and many could be gone before the end of the month. This game is an opportunity for Town to keep things together for a little longer. Sadly I don’t think it is going to happen. Rafa Benitez can’t afford to get bounced by Luton. The ice is getting a bit thin for the Spaniard so charity is not in the cards.

There are a few chances for upsets this weekend, there always are. But, that’s what makes this the best cup tournament in the world.