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Weekend Soccer – By Chris.

FA Cup

Cup upsets are not as frequent as they once were. Why? Bigger squads could well be the answer. Look at a team like Everton for example. They went to Holland for a meaningless UEFA Cup game with AZ and Coach Moyes rested most of his regulars, but Everton still sent out a very strong side, winning the match 3-2.

Despite my statement that cup upsets are rare these days, you still have to look for the value prices. I cannot help it, I have problems with favourites in the FA Cup. Old habits die hard.

Aston Villa  -  Manchester Utd        4.50  -   1.85 (1.96)
J Carew was not fit to play for Villa against Tottenham and he risks missing this match as well which may not be as bad as it sounds as without Carew Villa have won their last two games vs. Wigan and Tottenham.

The United coach will rotate his squad, but rest assured that he will send a strong squad to Villa Park. Ferguson is not known to neglect the FA Cup and United have no midweek fixture next week. C Tevez will be rested but W Rooney and Van der Sar are expected back.

When these sides met at Villa Park earlier this season Villa were beaten 1-4, but I should think that Villa will more cautious this time. Whatever Ferguson is saying ahead of this cup fixture my standpoint is that Villa will be the more motivated side tomorrow. They do not mind a cup run and winning against United is always a big achievement. The 1.96 offer on the away win above is from Pinnacle and I do not know if the offer is serious. Maybe I do not care as I am leaning towards the home win (4.50).

Aston Villa  0 Man Utd 2

Watford  -  Crystal Palace        1.95  -   4.30
I have already seen a match between these two sides this season. It was the first game for new C P boss Warnock, when he welcomed Watford to the Selhurst Park. Watford were comfortable winners with Warnock fielding plenty of youngsters from the start. Since then Warnock has taken it easy with most of his youngsters, but for this match he will give 15 year old Bostock, Hills, Hall and Scannell starting roles.

Watford will come to this match with their strongest squad and my guess it that Watford will be winners again (1.95).  Palace are on a fantastic run but they need their strongest squad to be able to defeat Watford. I know, everybody knows the on going Watford problems at home but this is a cup game with that special quality. Watford to win (1.95).

Watford 2 Crystal Palace 0

Stoke  -  Newcastle        3.05   -   2.38
Excellent recent Stoke form, although they were not at their best in their last match at home to Hull (1-1). Hull were the better side and Stoke were obviously missing R Fuller who has been allowed to leave for Jamaica. S Parkin and Sidibe played up front for Stoke. It is anybody's guess if Fuller will be back for this match and at the same time Sidibe has left for Mali. Sounds like Stoke could be severely weakened offensively for this Sunday cup fixture. Latest news indicates that Fuller will be back in time.

I thought that Newcastle played quite well at home to M City in midweek. N'Zogbia was outstanding, D Duff looks better and better and sooner or later Martins will have some lucky bounces. M City quite simply outsmarted Newcastle  but on the whole Newcastle looked like an improved outfit. They have to win this match, or Sam Allardyce has to win it more to the point and I suggest that they will be successful this time. I am backing the away win (2.38).

Stoke 0 Newcastle 0

Sunderland   -   Wigan         2.25   -   3.60
Listen to the words of the Wigan boss S Bruce " This will be an ideal opportunity for me to see a few new faces playing for the first time". Obviously the FA Cup is not his top priority this season and league survival is. Heskey will definitely be rested and players like Cotterill, Pollitt and Koumas are likely starters. Whatever has happened with Koumas? What I heard he is on his way out.

Survival is of course number one on the Sunderland agenda as well. Still they are the home team and coach Keane never liked losing football matches. Keane will be without the suspended D Yorke and some players, including K Jones are considered injury doubts.  I support the home win (2.25).

Sunderland 0 Wigan 3

Charlton   -   W B A          2.52   -  2.81
I also watched a game between these two teams recently, WBA won at the Hawthorns 4-2. Both teams will make quite a few changes for this cup game. In my opinion WBA have the better "reserves" and I will back the away win. (2.81). For WBA we will probably see Texeira, C Brunt, Bednar, C Beattie and M Albrechtsen playing some part and I would not even call these players reserve players. They were rested in their last game, but they could easily have played from the start.

Charlton will probably rest their big man up front, Iwelumo, C Powell, M Holland and N Weaver. D Ambrose is ready for his comeback. Both sides will go for the win tomorrow. A replay would only be a big inconvenience. I will back the away win (2.81) and I expect this to be an over game.

Charlton 1 West Ham 1

Tottenham   -  Reading         1.50   -  7.75
Just recently Reading lost 4-6 against Tottenham in the league, the match also played at White Hart Lane. Reading were in the lead three times, but Spurs finished the game the stronger side but my intention is to back Reading this time (7.75).

Tottenham must make some kind of choice as they face Arsenal in the Carling Cup semi final in a few days. My guess is that they will rest several key players tomorrow. They remain in the UEFA Cup and the Carling Cup semi final is around the corner and I should think that the FA Cup will be slightly overlooked this season by Tottenham. In midweek when Tottenham lost to A Villa 1-2, they had to play a completely new defensive unit and I expect more changes for this match. Chimbonda, P Stalteri and Tainio should be back to start with.

Reading will definitely be without the suspended  duo Gunnarsson and I Sonko and traditionally Reading make plenty of changes for their cup fixtures. Leroy Lita and Shane Long will probably play up front and we will most likely see M Duberry, Fae, Bikey, De la Cruz and keeper Federici as well.  We will definitely see two very changed sides tomorrow. Personally. I very much want to see the actual Tottenham line up, before I will make my choice. Hopefully the Reading players will be 100% committed for this cup venture. Maybe, I say maybe, I will back the away win (7.75).

Tottenham 2 Reading 2

Derby   -   Sheffield Wednesday         1.83   -  4.33
Another cup upset if I could have it my way (4.33). Sheffield W have their moments, both positive and negative, and you never really know what to expect from the Wednesday side. A typical cup side I would say and I am pretty confident that they will go for the win in this match. No need to fear Derby and all league sides in England know this by now. F Jeffers and Sodje, the two S W strikers, are back in the team and it was Jeffers who scored their winning goal against Preston the other day.

Derby are weak and they are plagued by injuries. They lose players to injuries on a steady basis but they nevertheless sold striker Howard to Leicester earlier this week. Maybe his ridiculous penalty attempt in the Blackburn encounter was the final straw. The more likely explanation is that coach Jewell is already planning for the future, in the Championship. McEveley is the latest Derby casualty. A bet on the away side from this me (4.33).

Derby 2 Sheffield Wednesday 2

Walsall   -   Millwall          1.96  -   4.14
Both league one sides with Walsall some 10 points ahead of Millwall in the table. I will back the home win (1.96). Sensational run of results from Walsall, now unbeaten in fifteen matches and a place in the play offs is a distinct possibility for Money's team. They welcomed Millwall for a league game just recently with Walsall 3-0 winners on the day. They will not be able to use P Sweeney tomorrow but  P Boertien could be back. Their big striker T Mooney risks missing his third successive match. Gerrard is suspendeded.

Millwall will be without their veteran striker N Harris and D Brammer, both suspended. New signing A Forbes could be involved. Home win (1.96).

Walsall 0 Millwall 0

West Ham   -   Manchester City          2.49   -   3.10
Solano and Scott Parker could not play for the Hammers against Arsenal the other day. More injuries in other words and W Ham are setting some kind of record this season. Freddie Ljungberg had to leave the Arsenal encounter after some 30 minutes and he will also miss this match. I am more surprised when he is actually fit. Did you know that he makes more money per week than players like Berbatov and R Giggs. His agent must be the true star. W Ham hope to include L Bowyer and M Etherington for this match and A Ferdinand should also be involved.

Sven, or as we call him in Sweden, Svennis, will not use his strongest squad for this match. As a foreigner he has not the same relationship with the FA Cup as an Englishman, like the Hammers boss Curbishley. If the proper papers arrive in time the new City recruit N Castillo could get his first game for the club, in fact that has just been confirmed, Castillo is ready to play for his new club. It has been a while since he played for Shaktar and he was mostly a reserve in their last games, so his fitness level must be questioned.

W Ham will come with their best possible squad and despite their many injuries I think that they will get their revenge tomorrow. You know they lost the season opener vs M City, 0-2. I have to say that the City display at Newcastle was spot on with some clever football from Sven' s side. Backing the home win (2.49).

West Ham 0 Man City 0

Bolton   -   Sheffield Utd        1.61  -   6.50
Stelios scored the winning goal for Bolton in midweek when they won against bottom side Derby 1-0. Bolton offered a very poor performance and they can count themselves extremely lucky having picked up the 3 points. The way I see it Derby and Sheffield Utd are playing on the same level and if Bolton struggled against Derby they are likely to struggle against S United. It could be that Anelka has played his last match for Bolton. He is on his way out. K Davies will definitely miss this match due to suspension.

Sheffield United should enjoy this situation, being clear underdogs for once. As favourites they have constantly let their supporters down this season. They visited the Valley some time ago with Charlton rather big favourites but United outclassed their opponents to win 3-0. The big problem for S United seems to be their inadequacy in front of enemy goal. Their strikers squander all sorts of scoring chances.  If Beattie should not make it, R Hulse will be his replacement once again. M Tonge and G Naysmith will not be available tomorrow and G Speed is ineligible for this match. Something on the away win (6.50).

Bolton 0 Sheffield Utd 1

Bristol City   -   Middlesbrough         3.05   -   2.52
When I backed Leicester away to Bristol City some time ago I said something about City dropping down in the table.  Since then they have won four home fixtures on the spin and they are on a healthy third place in the Championship. For this match they will once again be without L Carey and M McIndoe but the rest of their squad is intact.

The Boro striker Mido will not return for this match but maybe next week vs. Liverpool. Quite often Boro come with the wrong attitude and this will not do against had working, honest Bristol City. Apart from Mido they are not missing any important players at the moment, but the question is of course, do they want a cup run or not? Last season B City knocked out Middlesbrough after penaltie, at the Riverside. I find it easier to back the home win (3.05).

Bristol City 1 Middlesbrough 2

Huddersfield   -   Birmingham        5.00   -   1.84
This could be a possible cup upset (5.00. Andy Richie is managing Huddersfield which sounds like a good combination, if you are looking for upsets. M Kamara and P Jevons are expected to be fit to play for the home side but J Worthington is a major injury doubt. N Clarke is out suspended and D Cadamarteri remains sidelined. Booth is still doing the offensive duties for Hudds. The club suffered a cruel last minute defeat against Nottingham on New Years Day.

We will probably see quite a few changes in the Birmingham starting line up but out for sure are D Johnson, Schmitz, O Kapo and probably Nafti as well. Huddersfield then! (5.00).

Huddersfield 2 Birmingham 1

La Liga

Racing Santander  -  Atletic Bilbao        2.10  -  4.00
What I have seen so far this season Racing are the better side, it is as simple as that. It is not perfect for the home side, as the important Garay is out suspended. On the other hand A Bilbao will be without both Exteberria and Ocio for this match. Home win (2.10).

Racing Santander 1 Atletico Bilbao 0

Deportivo La Coruna  -  Atletico Madrid       3.20   -   2.38
Both Maxi Rodriguez and Kun Aguero will be back for A , but Pernia sits out his suspension. L Franco, Seitaridis and Motta remain on the sidelines.

La Coruna have not won at their own place since 16^th September 2007, they do much better on their travels and obviously their players get petrified in front of their own crowd, Missing for this match are De Guzman and A Tomas. Away win in my opinion (2.38).

Deportivo 0 Atletico Madrid 3

Espanyol   -   Villarreal      2.30   -   3.40
I have to back the home side (2.30). How many games without a loss? Some ten or eleven matches, I have lost track. Smart manager, smart players, Espanyol certainly have their good qualities. Both Jarque and Riera are major doubts however and both players will have late fitness tests.

Villarreal also have slight problems ahead of this top fight. Leading striker Nihat (8 goals) will miss the match. Soriano, G Rodriguez and Josico remain on the sidelines. Espanyol to win (2.30).

Espanyol 3 Villarreal 0

Mallorca   -   Barcelona        5.10   -   1.80
Backing Barcelona at the moment, especially away from home, does not look like a wise move. They are 2-4-2 in their away games and for this match both Ronaldinho and Messi will be missing. They have players like Geovanni and E Gdjohnsen to replace the famous duo, but these days it seems like Barcelona is over dependent on Messi.

Mallorca scored four goals against Osasuna in a cup game in mid week with both Arango and Guiza among the goal scorers. What can I say? Difficult task for Barcelona this one.

Mallorca 0 Barcelona 2

Chris.