Alan Smith’s Expert Analysis: FA Cup 4th Round Predictions & Analysis

Newcastle’s Form

I did the game up at Newcastle when they lost to Brentford at home, you’re thinking at that stage, wow, but they’ve bounced back at Spurs last night. So Eddie Howe will be hoping they can achieve a bit more consistency now and get back to winning ways because they needed a result badly, and that’ll do them a lot of good that win last night. But it’s been a difficult season for him.

Villa Bottling Champions League

If they didn’t make the top five, given where they’ve been up until this point, at some stages, we’re thinking, can they actually challenge for the title? Unai Emery has always pooh-poohed that, as it were, saying we might not even get in the top five. And I know he doesn’t believe that, but he’s just trying to lower expectations.

It would be disastrous, I think, for Villa, having put in so much hard work and kept themselves up there, if they fell away now. So, we’ll see. They’ve been a bit nervy, haven’t they? Some poor results lately, so a bit like Newcastle, they’ve got to get some consistency again.

Importance of the Game

Newcastle, we’re talking about Champions League football, they’re eight points adrift. It’s going to be a heck of an effort for them. It looks like they’re not going to make it, eight points adrift of fifth place is huge. But, it is all about, for Villa, particularly, it’s all about the league. For Newcastle, now that they’re out of the Carabao, the holders, they would love a good run in the cup. Who knows, maybe they’ll get one.

Liam Rosenior Back at Chelsea

Going back to your old club, you always want to do well. And, I don’t know too much about the circumstances, but it sounded like he was a little bit unlucky to lose his job there. He showed that he was a very promising coach. So, going back there, I think he’ll enjoy it.

So we’ll see how that pans out. Hull, I don’t know, they’ve got Derby and QPR home next, and you’d think that those are probably going to be more important to them, aren’t they, those league games. So, we’ll see on that.

What Could Give Hull Hope

Well, if Chelsea takes it easy, which so often can happen in the cup, they might rest quite a few players, play that kind of second string that doesn’t always do very well. Hull in front of their own fans, good atmosphere. So, you never know. Chelsea let a two-goal lead slip against Leeds last night. So, that gives Hull a bit of encouragement that maybe they could get at them.

Cup a Welcome Break for Hull?

No, I mean it’s a welcome break because they’ve got high hopes in the Championship, but the cup is a nice break to have, so if they can get a good performance alongside a good result, that’s going to do them some good in the league.

Will Arsenal Fade?

They’ve definitely got the squad to win the title, there’s no question about that. It’s just where the nerves play a part, and they get a little bit twitchy. They’ve had some moments like that already this season, but they’re getting the results so far. They don’t want to get too preoccupied with Manchester City. Obviously, that late win at Liverpool buoyed everybody at City, but it’s in Arsenal’s hands, and they should have enough to see it through.

Current Arsenal vs The Invincibles

I do think quite a few would get in the Invincibles team, to be honest. If you’re starting from the back, David Raya, I think he’s a bit more consistent than Jens Lehmann, who used to get involved in one or two things. The centre-halves, Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure, did a brilliant job, but Saliba and Gabriel, I think, are just more sophisticated defenders, better on the ball. So, Timber, Lauren at right back, a bit of a toss-up. Midfield, Declan Rice, probably, I think you would have ahead of Gilberto Silva, as good as he was.

Forget about Henry and Bergkamp; nobody’s going to replace them. But those I’ve mentioned, I think, have got a good chance.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin World Cup Chances

It’s an interesting one. I think we’re all expecting him, maybe, to get an injury or something as he did at Everton so often. Listen, let’s hope he doesn’t. But he’s probably playing as well as he ever has.

So that gives Thomas Tuchel food for thought. Ollie Watkins is ahead of him in that queue to back up Harry Kane. But you just never know, do you, with injuries and that and form. So if he keeps going, he’s giving himself half a chance there.

Leeds Rotation for Cup?

I think Leeds probably will rotate. Obviously, there are a lot of games coming up. They’ve got Villa away next in the league. They’re six points clear of the drop zone, but they’re not going to be relaxing by any stretch. So certainly the league is more important than the cup, and it might not be an easy one at Blues. They’ve been eight unbeaten.

Can City Chase Down Arsenal?

Certainly, the defence is nowhere near what it was, but Khusanov, alongside Guehi, who is finding his feet and the two full-backs, give encouragement. They need Ruben Dias back in there. But it’s a tricky one with City. They’ve got players that have obviously done it many times before, and they’ve got new lads that you don’t know how they’re going to fare going forward. But that’s certainly a threat, because of that experience and because of Pep as well.

Is Arne Slot’s Job Safe?

I don’t know. Results dictate, don’t they, usually? It just depends on how they go from here on in. He said himself, if they don’t reach the Champions League, it’s unacceptable. So, if they didn’t, I think big questions would be asked. And if they continue to be up and down and conceding goals, then he might be in trouble.

Harry Howell and Kostoulas

I didn’t see much of the last game, but Harry Howell is only 17, and Kostoulas is young, two teenagers. Brighton are having a strange old season, really, for them. They haven’t really been able to build any momentum.

But, I would imagine Hurzeler would fall back on his more experienced players rather than putting youngsters in. Kostoulas has got a lot more experience than Howell, who’s just made his Premier League debut. So, we’ll see on that. But I think they might get a little bit of action as we go forward this season.

Cup a Distraction for Burnley?

11 points adrift at the bottom. They’re going to go down. Everybody at Burnley knows that. Scott Parker knows that. So, try to bring a bit of goodwill and a bit of excitement, maybe, a rare win because they haven’t seen too many of those Burnley fans. So I wouldn’t say it’s a distraction because it’s not like they’re still scrapping to avoid relegation. Like Wolves, they’re pretty much gone. So a chance to experiment, maybe for Scott Parker as well.

Scott Parker Getting Booed

That happens when you look at the run that they’re on; no wonder the fans are getting frustrated and unhappy. And what makes it worse is the fact that Sunderland are doing so well, and Leeds are having a go. Burnley are nowhere near that. So that makes it a really bitter pill to swallow for Burnley fans, and their patience isn’t going to last forever. So every team seems to get booed now if things are going badly, but they’re going particularly badly for Burnley. That’s why Scott is getting that abuse, really.

Harry Wilson to Sunderland?

No, I don’t think it’d be a step up. Who’s to say? Fulham, you can never say they’re an established Premier League team because they’re one of those that might have a bad year and drop down. You don’t know. But Sunderland are having this great season, but who’s to say how things are going to fare going forward? So, I don’t imagine that he’d be attracted to that. Who knows? But I wouldn’t certainly regard it as a step up, no.

Wrexham Promotion and Following Sunderland’s Model

To come so far so quickly has been impressive, to say the least. You just think, can they keep on going? They could, possibly. They’re in a decent position. As for doing what Sunderland have done, you’d imagine they’ve got the cash to do it if PSR allows them and all the rest of it, if they recruit wisely and cleverly, as Sunderland obviously have. It’d be a great story, wouldn’t it, to see them come through the leagues like that. They’ve got a squeak of a chance to do that.