The international break is over, and this week sees the return of club football. However, for most Premier League fans, there’s still a bit of a wait to see their teams back in action, as we dive straight into the FA Cup quarter-finals.
I don’t know about anyone else, but for me, this season’s FA Cup has the feel of one from years past—where it’s truly up for grabs given the teams still in the competition.
It’s an intriguing final eight this year, with the only so-called ‘big six’ team remaining being Man City. Any other season, I would have said it was a foregone conclusion and that City would coast their way to another trophy. But there’s something a little different this time. With their form being what it is, I could see an away trip to Bournemouth being a tricky tie. Would I put my house on it? Certainly not. But I think that match could be one to watch this weekend.
Another one that stands out—at least for me—is Preston at home to Villa. I always enjoy seeing a team from outside the top tier at this stage, though I can’t see an upset here. Villa look strong and are a real contender for the Cup. That said, it would be great to see Preston pull it off, then the FA Cup would truly have that ‘anything can happen’ feel about it.
One thing I do know—of the teams left, and I don’t mean to upset City fans here, I don’t want them to win it. It would be good to have different winners of both English domestic cups this year. With Newcastle lifting the League Cup a few weeks ago and Liverpool set to win the league, it keeps things interesting. Let’s face it, only City fans want to see them do it again.
That’s not to say I dislike City—I just enjoy seeing different teams lift silverware, especially if one happens to be an underdog.
Let me know what you all think in the comments, or start a discussion in the community chat and we can get into it.
Cheers, until the next one