FA CUP
Manchester City v Burnley
When you look at it on paper, top of the Championship, obviously Kompany has done a fantastic job in guiding Burnley to basically promotion, I think it’s all over now, bar a miracle. Despite the great work that he has done, was it a big ask to get them back up? He inherited a very good Burnley side and he has spent good money as well. I mean, I am not knocking his credentials or what he has done there, just saying that sometimes the judgement could be a little bit clouded on actually how good he is as a manager.
He is already being linked with other jobs as well, we spoke about him being linked with the Tottenham job, which would be a different way for Spurs but whether he is ready for that challenge at the start of his career remains to be seen, but goodluck to him.
Big challenge ahead, Manchester City, the FA Cup is worth winning certainly at this stage of the competition for Manchester City; Pep does like the domestic cups and he doesn’t shy away from them either. They have an unbelievable squad so they can compete on all levels, if its in Europe he can change it about, he changes it for the Premier League and I think he would field a strong side, he won’t be underestimating what Burnley has done this season.
It’s a nice story going against his old team where he had so much glory, with this I am gonna go with Manchester City not to slip up, I know the pressure is on with Europe and the Premier League tucked in behind Arsenal but I think he will want to give something the fans can enjoy and a day out.
So I am going for a Manchester City win and I am gonna go 2-0 valued at 5/2 (3.50), I don’t think Burnley would score.
Manchester United v Fulham
This is a difficult one, I think, looking at where Manchester United is and where they were before Liverpool, they were flying weren’t they, I think they were beaten once since they returned from the World Cup, Rashford in fine form, they bagged some silverware on the way and everything was really really on the up and not much injuries – the big one was Eriksen but they were coping without him, but now there is a different complexion of the team. The signs were there I think, against Newcaslte in the EFL Final, Newcastle troubled United for most of the game and deserved to get something out of the game. United were superior in the boxes, both in terms of defending and scoring and that is what matters at the end of the day. The signs were there, that they werent playing as good as before, in saying that, the game against Betis was a really positive one.
Fulham have lost their last two games, they kind of stalled a little bit their progress in the league but Cup football is completely different. I am gonna go for a Manchester United victory, I think the appetite will be there and I think he will go strong again as the league is technically over with the draw against Southampton.
I am gonna go for a United win of 3-1 at 10/1 (11.00) and for goalscorer I am gonna say Varane priced at 35/4 (9.75), from a set piece, he threatened the goal against Saints last time out as well.
Premier League relegation scrap
I think looking at all the fixtures, there is about eight teams in the relegation fight I mean it’s very interesting to see how that pans out. Some teams like Leicester who cannot put a string of results together that will see them improve their position. Crystal Palace haven’t had a shot on target in their last three games, so that is obviously worrying for Patrick Viera. You look at Everton a great draw at the weekend and Bournemouth fantastic win in the weekend against Liverpool which lifted the whole place.
There are obviously easier games to pick for an upset, would have to say but I would say Southampton against Tottenham. There has been a little change around and a little bounce from the Saints, inconsistency is still there but that is a game that you look up and say “yeah, they could nick it against a Tottenham team which you don’t know is gonna turn up”. The way that Antonio Conte is going about his business suggest that his time in London is up so that is never a good sign.
So I would pick Southampton to win against Spurs coming in at 31/9 (4.45), for all the rest I think it would be difficult, Palace against Arsenal, I don’t see the Gunners slipping up against Palace. Everton against Chelsea, I mean you could get a draw out of that game, which is priced at 7/2 (4.50). Leeds against Wolves I mean at this stage of the season a six-pointer is always difficult to call, there are so many nerves and the teams don’t want to give up to much. We are pricing a draw between Leeds and Wolves at 23/10 (3.30).
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*Odds subject to change. Odds correct at time of publishing