Even in a world where more and more club competitions compete for attention and relative prize money and fixture schedules are lowered down managers’ priority lists, there is something special about the FA Cup. No rivalry in British sport, or even football in general, has the concept of giant-slaying built into it more than the Grand Duke of Football.
Everyone will tell you that things were better back then. But no matter what year it is, the competition continues to surprise. So you can safely assume that none of the five games we’ve selected are likely to take place where the drama does, but you’ve already clicked. Please read the following:
1. Everton vs. peterborough
This list will feature a few teams near the Ligue 1 relegation zone. I hope this is the kind of team that can do without a deep run in the Cup. thank you Unfortunately for Darren Ferguson, the same goes for his opposite numbers. The only compelling case for Everton’s big performance in the FA Cup is that it might keep him in his place for a bit longer. He may be the sort of specialist who has prevented the Toffees from declining over the past few months before they get the keys to their new stadium, but Sean Dyche is feeling the frustration of the Friedkin Group and supporters.
The real worry is that the patience of the latter group will wear thin when they see Posh dancing on the grass in celebration of a famous victory under the lights in the FA Cup final game at Goodison Park. If Ashley Young got beaten up by his son, it would be an indictment, at least in the eyes of his critics, on the old men Dyche claims to be building around (this column is by far not one of them). The stakes will be incredibly high, the weather will be hellish, and the atmosphere will be tense. This competition is the third round of the FA Cup.
2. Leeds United vs. Harrogate Town
In 144 years of competition, the FA Cup has rarely been tied enough to warrant a “woooo” sound around the studios and a draw for the television establishment in the third round. Harrogate Town, who had only played five seasons in the Football League in one of the biggest competitions of all time, drove 20 miles south to the sprawling metropolis of mighty Leeds for the first time to play a competitive game against three teams. British champion and winner of this trophy 53 years ago.
It will be an almighty task for Harrogate under any circumstances. Not to mention they are staring at the Football League drop zone and Leeds have escaped in the other direction and are top of the Championship table with 20 games remaining. Then again, the stars have an interesting way to prepare for the FA Cup third round. “A big, strong, physical young man” Can’t Harrogate see 18-year-old defender Eko Solomon, on loan from Huddersfield, holding firm as the Sulpherites hold on to their lead? Is Illan Meslier always in a bad mood? The team is owned and coached by a father and son duo, and it all feels like an FA Cup game. Isn’t that right? Something is happening here.
3. Hull City vs. Doncaster Rovers
Yes, Yorkshire are in good hands when it comes to potential upsets this weekend. The story may not be as rich as the battle between the regional capital and its spa town neighbours, but the prospect of a shock result will be even greater when Doncaster appear at the MKM Stadium the following day. Grant McCann’s side have been somewhat shaky of late but still sit seventh in a crowded League Two and have the second best expected goal difference in the division behind runaway leaders Walsall.
Hull, meanwhile, were beginning to experience a free fall under Tim Walter, and his successor Ruben Selles has taken points in three of their last five Championship games, including a thrilling comeback to draw 3-3 with leaders Leeds. And the recent good results only serve to highlight what the priorities are for a team in the Tigers’ position. Goals are the only thing separating Portsmouth from a spot above the relegation zone. Expect to see a much weakened XI from the hosts. This could give Doncaster all the opportunity they need.
4. Arsenal vs Manchester United
Has this been dug up? Yes, that’s right. But the problem is that Arsenal are sufficiently superior to Manchester United that a defeat at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday would be considered quite an embarrassment. Not Wrexham in 1992 or Shrewsbury Town in 2003. Nothing out of the ordinary, all the same.
How close will Arsenal get to full tilt? Even if the opportunity is still approaching, Just like the Newcastle game They certainly look like they’ve missed out on a world-class forward. If Bukayo Saka had been on the pitch on Tuesday night he probably would have created more chances, especially in last-minute desperate situations. Maybe they would have scored more runs.
Tuesday’s defeat will leave Arsenal depleted. Meanwhile, United enjoyed their best performance of the week under Ruben Amorim’s reign as they drew 2-2 with Liverpool. That means a week to hone the back three, a valuable resource at this stage of any season, time to regain fitness and time for some of the players around him to win back their boss’s affection. Going further than that, it’s time to look back at the tape from the 2-0 loss to the Emirates a month ago and sort out the set-piece defense.
Rasmus Hojlund told club media: “It can be done if we do it right (it’s a good thing we played there not long ago).” “I think we need to be sharp from set pieces. They have done very well and scored two goals compared to last time. Yes, we have been very focused on that. We are trying to keep improving and do what the manager says. “I think we’ll be fine.”
5. Tamworth v Tottenham
See, these are embarrassing things that rarely happen. The world’s media has retreated en masse to the backwaters of football in the hope that this time an actually really good Premier League team will fail. You’ll have to go back 10 years, when Bradford beat Chelsea in the fourth round at Stamford Bridge for the final slaying of the Titans.
Even in a year when draws offer plenty of promise, few look attractive. Chelsea’s B team will find Morecambe just as challenging as their Conference League counterparts. The results are expected to be the same. Liverpool have the depth to comfortably beat Accrington Stanley and will feel they have a point to prove after losing to Tottenham on Wednesday. Pep Guardiola tends to take the FA Cup more seriously than one might think.
If there’s one game you invest in with a belief in magic, make it Tamworth v Tottenham. It would be a glorious Spursy to follow up one of the best performances of Ange Postecoglou’s tenure with one of the worst. It would also be a remarkable victory for a football team that was in the top seven of the English pyramid two years ago, and for the kind of British city that gets little attention. A team made up of bricklayers and schoolteachers against seasoned international players and even considering the possibility of a replacement for the Tottenham manager. These stories tend not to end the way most want, but you never know.
FA Cup Schedule
ET and all games available on ESPN+
Thursday, January 9
Sheffield United v Cardiff City, 2pm
Fulham v Watford, 2.45pm
Everton v Peterborough, 2.45pm
Friday, January 10th
Wickham v Portsmouth, 2.45pm
Aston Villa v West Ham United, 3pm
Saturday, January 11th
Bristol City v Wolverhampton Wanderers, 7am
Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers, 7am
Birmingham City v Lincoln City, 7am
Liverpool v Accrington Stanley, 7.15am
Leicester City v QPR, 9am
Nottingham Forest vs. Luton Town, 10am
Brentford v Plymouth Argyle, 10am
Chelsea v Morecambe, 10am
Bournemouth v West Brom, 10am
Norwich City vs. Brighton, 10am
Preston North End v Charlton, 10am
Reading v Burnley, 10am
Exeter City vs. Oxford United, 10am
Sunderland v Stoke City, 10am
Leeds United vs. Harrogate Town, 12:45pm
Manchester City v Salford City, 12.45pm
Leyton Orient v Derby County, 1pm
Coventry City v Sheffield Wednesday, 1pm
Mansfield Town v Wigan Athletic, 1pm
Sunday, January 12th
Hull City vs. Doncaster Rovers, 7am
Tamworth v Tottenham, 7.30am
Newcastle United v Bromley, 10am
Ipswich Town v Bristol Rovers, 10am
Arsenal v Manchester United, 10am
Crystal Palace vs. Stockport draw, 10am
Southampton v Swansea, 11.30am
Monday, January 13th
Millwall v Dagenham & Redbridge, 2.30pm
