Alan Smith’s Expert Analysis: FA Cup 5th Round Predictions & Analysis

Wrexham Shock Result vs Arsenal in 1992

Mansfield vs Burnley and Macclesfield vs Palace just show you that these shock results can still happen, even today. That was a funny game against Wrexham, we didn’t actually play badly and then got hit wham bam right at the end. We had a goal disallowed at the end, and no one to this day can figure out why it was disallowed – Jimmy Carter scored.

At the end, the gaffer just said get in that shower quick, let’s be on the bus in 10 minutes and let’s get out of here, so it was that kind of attitude towards it. We actually broke down on the way back to London as well, so it wasn’t a great day, but yeah, cup shocks can still happen, which is a great thing.

Avoiding Complacency

Your biggest challenge in these games, or the biggest threat, is complacency if you’re one of the big teams. But, with Arsenal, I’m sure they’ll try and freshen it up so that you’ve got players in there that don’t normally play and so they’re trying to catch the manager’s eye. That’s a good way of avoiding complacency, but easy to go into these games thinking, well, we’ve just got to turn up, and we’re going to win.

Fan Anxiety Affecting Players

Well, it can. I mean, it was interesting that Timber actually mentioned it and admitted that it is affecting the players. I think that’s what he said. You need to get it out in the open, really. I think you need to talk about this kind of thing because it’s going to be vital that they hold their nerve in the running, and the fans play a part as well. But the fans want it so badly after all these years that they can’t help but feel nervous. But if you’re a player, and if you’re going to go all the way and lift the title, you’ve got to handle this situation now.

Fringe Players Getting Minutes

It’s been a really difficult season for Miles Lewis-Skelly, hasn’t it? He’s behind two players, really, for the left-back slot. If he did get a chance, I’d quite like to see him in midfield. That’s his position. Just see how he fares there. He’s not the best of defenders, so it suits him better in midfield. He’s really creative. I think it’ll probably be a shop window for him. I think there’s every chance he might leave in the summer. We’ll see on that. I think also Havertz, he’s not a fringe player, but he’s coming back from injury. He’s having bits and pieces, and he can offer something different for certain games. He’s a classy player. So I’d like to see him really get up to speed now.

Cup Run Important for Eddie Howe

It’d certainly help Howe, wouldn’t it? I mean, they had the disappointment of going out of the Carabao as holders. It’s a difficult season for Eddie Howe. There will be some doubters there. They’ve not had the best of results at home. So this is a chance to cheer up the home fans. And he needs a big performance, I think. To get beaten by Everton last time out was damaging. So, he needs a big performance.

Wrexham Statement Win

Imagine a Wrexham win, it’d be amazing. The Wrexham story is incredible, isn’t it, to come up through the divisions the way that they have. Obviously, they’ve had money to spend, but it’s not all about money. So, fair play to the management there. And doing amazingly well again in the championship. So, that’d be a great atmosphere there at the racecourse ground. Big time Chelsea in town, if you like. And certainly, the home fans and the players will be hoping that Chelsea take it lightly. But it’ll be a great occasion.

Liam Delap at Chelsea

It just doesn’t look like a good fit at Chelsea. It’s not the easiest environment, I don’t think, to go into anyway. Perhaps the style of play doesn’t really suit him. I think we were talking about Everton being interested last week or whatever, and you’d see him suiting that style a bit more. So it’d be interesting what happens in the summer.

Sometimes he’s been trying too hard to make an impression. He’s getting booked. He’s making stupid challenges, getting yellow cards. But certainly, it’s been hard. Maybe he’ll feel I’ve got this bedding in season, next year I can really go, but Chelsea being the club that they are, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they did sell him.

Alejandro Garnacho at Chelsea

Yeah, I think in a word. His career is kind of drifting. He’s had bits and pieces for Chelsea, but no real consistency. He’s not getting picked consistently. That tells you everything. So, United have let some players go who have gone on to do well, but Garnacho isn’t one of them. So, it was a good decision.

Philippe Clement’s Turnaround

Incredible, isn’t it? The turnaround, you look at the results, in that first part of the season and now he’s won nine of his last 11, which is some going. Obviously, he’s hauled them out of that relegation area. So brilliant from him. I mean, if he’d have been in there at the start, maybe they’d have been in the playoff place. But, as it is, Norwich fans can rest easy. I think they’re not going to go down.

Norwich Standout Players

I wouldn’t pretend that I watch them all the time. I always look at strikers. Top scorer, Makama, who is currently injured, is a good player. There’s also McConville, the centre-half. The fans seem to have got behind him. He’s developed well under Clement and been quite solid.

Areas Norwich Could Target

Probably the key area is complacency. I’ll go back to that word. Leeds are still not out of the relegation fight; it’s a poor loss in front of their own fans last night to Sunderland. So, are they going to be concentrating on the league, and Daniel Farke makes a lot of changes, so that would be Norwich’s hope that they can take advantage of Leeds’ focus being elsewhere.

Daniel Farke’s Job at Leeds

It’s easy to forget. We were talking about him getting sacked, weren’t we, at the start of the season, who’s going to replace him and all the rest of it. But he’s made Leeds a difficult team to play against, and they’ve still got a nice cushion between themselves and the relegation spots. So, to do that as a newly promoted side, we know from past years, that’s not easy at all. So, he’s done really well.

Leeds Taking Cup Seriously

I know it’s difficult, but it’s there for them, isn’t it? It should be a good game this and there’s a chance to move on in the cup, which can certainly help your league form. We say it so often, and so often managers make 11 changes, and the fans get disappointed. I’m sure he’ll mix it up a little bit, but at the same time, I’m sure he’ll want to give it a good go after losing to Sunderland.

Liverpool’s Last Chance at Silverware

I mean, talking about trophies, I don’t think they’re going to win the Champions League. So poor last night against Wolves. I thought they’d maybe turn the corner. But a lot to solve there. It is their best chance at silverware, so we’ll see how they get on. Can they achieve a bit of revenge after being, as I say, so poor last night?

Slot will be under pressure. There’s no question. If they don’t finish in the Champions League spot, given the money that they’ve spent, you can talk about injuries and all that all you like, he’ll be under big pressure. I mean, historically, Liverpool haven’t been a sacking club. They’ve been loyal to the manager. Has that changed now with time, given how football is? I think he’d be worried for his job if they finish out of the top five and don’t win anything.

Mateus Mane’s Future

Depends where he goes, I suppose. He’s only 18. He hasn’t had many games. He’s clearly a talented boy. Would Wolves need to sell him? That’s another point, isn’t it? To generate some funds and all the rest of it. I’m sure they wouldn’t want to lose him. What would he feel about the situation and his agent? I’m sure they’d maybe want to be trying to get away. So, in this situation, it’s always about picking the right club. If he does get a choice, he needs to do that.

Scheduling Issues

Not ideal for Sunderland supporters, is it? Not ideal. But the fact is they’re still in the cup, and they’ve got a very winnable fixture. So after last night, the Sunderland fans will be buoyant. So, a lot will be jumping in the car, I’m sure, and getting down there to Stoke. It continues to be a great season for Sunderland.

Southampton Back in Premier League

I don’t particularly want to see them get promoted. It’s not like I don’t want to see them in the Premier League. But they’ve had a good shout, haven’t they? I really want Coventry to get back up. It’s been a long time. Ipswich, I’d like as well, and maybe Wrexham. It’d be brilliant to see them. But I mean, unbeaten in nine, Southampton, under Eckert. It’s been a great turnaround there after that start from Will Still. So they should go into this with a lot of confidence.