With the FA Cup quarter finals being played this weekend, who has the potential to go on and win the competition? Are there any underdogs this season that could cause an upset? Reading have already defeated Everton and West Bromwich Albion on their route to the Quarter final and face a tough away trip to Manchester City on Sunday.
The winner of the highly anticipated Manchester United versus Arsenal quarter final contest is no doubt going to be cracking game for spectators and the team who is fortunate enough to progress will be likely favorites to go on and win the competition at Wembley in May. Can anyone dispute the fact that Manchester United and Arsenal are the two best teams in England currently? Manchester United always manage to find a way and get the results and no one can question Arsenal's mentality and approach to the game that has seen them rise to the top end of the Premiership.
Who can challenge Manchester United/Arsenal to the FA cup title? With Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea all knocked out in previous rounds, what other teams are there to cause a potential upset? Manchester City face Reading at home and Mancini will expect a straight forward win for his men to take them through to the semi-finals. A replay will definitely not be on Mancini's cards as with Manchester City just being in touching distance of the Premiership title and with it all to do in the Europa League against Dynamo Kyiv, he won't want another fixture in a congested period. Reading pulled off a great victory at Everton in the 5th round thanks to a Matt Mills goal, but an away trip to Eastlands might just be a task to hard for McDermott's side as Manchester City have match winners all over the park. Reading have to take tremendous pride in their efforts in the FA cup this season, they're the only team outside of the Premiership to remain in the last 8.
Birmingham City versus Bolton is another quarter final tie that could go either way. Birmingham's latest success in the Carling cup against Arsenal was a proud moment for the Blues and have won nine cup matches this season compared to their disappointing six Premiership wins this season. But with Europe already sealed for next season with their triumphant win against Arsenal, McGleish's men might not be too concerned about a defeat in the FA cup and rather concentrate on insuring Premiership football next season. Bolton meanwhile have had a consistent season in the Premiership and will definitely be playing Premiership football next season. Bolton will like to progress in the cup and have already proved a potent side away from home in the FA cup with consecutive 1-0 away wins at Fulham and Wigan. Bolton have yet to concede in the cup and if Bolton can repeat this trait in the quarter finals and nick a goal, it will mark their place in the semi-finals.
Stoke City against West Ham United is the other quarter final today and again features two Premiership sides. It is West Ham's first Premiership side in the FA cup, having faced Barnsley, Nottingham Forest and Burnley in the previous rounds, an away trip to the Britannia stadium will definitely be a much tougher task for the Hammers. Stoke City have never appeared in the FA cup final in their club history whereas West Ham have won the FA cup on 3 occasions. West Ham were also defeated in one of the greatest FA cup finals of all time in 2006 when Liverpool came from a 2 goal deficit to take the game into penalties against West Ham, which Liverpool won. Either team would welcome another FA cup win for morale and for the financial side of the competition.
Manchester United, Arsenal or Manchester City will inevitably be the favorites for the prestigious FA cup in May, but with the recent story of the Carling cup, you can't take anything for granted in the cups and this season is certainly no different.
The winner of the highly anticipated Manchester United versus Arsenal quarter final contest is no doubt going to be cracking game for spectators and the team who is fortunate enough to progress will be likely favorites to go on and win the competition at Wembley in May. Can anyone dispute the fact that Manchester United and Arsenal are the two best teams in England currently? Manchester United always manage to find a way and get the results and no one can question Arsenal's mentality and approach to the game that has seen them rise to the top end of the Premiership.
Who can challenge Manchester United/Arsenal to the FA cup title? With Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea all knocked out in previous rounds, what other teams are there to cause a potential upset? Manchester City face Reading at home and Mancini will expect a straight forward win for his men to take them through to the semi-finals. A replay will definitely not be on Mancini's cards as with Manchester City just being in touching distance of the Premiership title and with it all to do in the Europa League against Dynamo Kyiv, he won't want another fixture in a congested period. Reading pulled off a great victory at Everton in the 5th round thanks to a Matt Mills goal, but an away trip to Eastlands might just be a task to hard for McDermott's side as Manchester City have match winners all over the park. Reading have to take tremendous pride in their efforts in the FA cup this season, they're the only team outside of the Premiership to remain in the last 8.
Birmingham City versus Bolton is another quarter final tie that could go either way. Birmingham's latest success in the Carling cup against Arsenal was a proud moment for the Blues and have won nine cup matches this season compared to their disappointing six Premiership wins this season. But with Europe already sealed for next season with their triumphant win against Arsenal, McGleish's men might not be too concerned about a defeat in the FA cup and rather concentrate on insuring Premiership football next season. Bolton meanwhile have had a consistent season in the Premiership and will definitely be playing Premiership football next season. Bolton will like to progress in the cup and have already proved a potent side away from home in the FA cup with consecutive 1-0 away wins at Fulham and Wigan. Bolton have yet to concede in the cup and if Bolton can repeat this trait in the quarter finals and nick a goal, it will mark their place in the semi-finals.
Stoke City against West Ham United is the other quarter final today and again features two Premiership sides. It is West Ham's first Premiership side in the FA cup, having faced Barnsley, Nottingham Forest and Burnley in the previous rounds, an away trip to the Britannia stadium will definitely be a much tougher task for the Hammers. Stoke City have never appeared in the FA cup final in their club history whereas West Ham have won the FA cup on 3 occasions. West Ham were also defeated in one of the greatest FA cup finals of all time in 2006 when Liverpool came from a 2 goal deficit to take the game into penalties against West Ham, which Liverpool won. Either team would welcome another FA cup win for morale and for the financial side of the competition.
Manchester United, Arsenal or Manchester City will inevitably be the favorites for the prestigious FA cup in May, but with the recent story of the Carling cup, you can't take anything for granted in the cups and this season is certainly no different.
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