FA Cup quarter-final draw: Port Vale and Southampton alongside top-flight teams – live
Key events
Manchester City were very impressive at the weekend, dismissing Newcastle from a goal down. If they maintain that level, they’ll take some stopping in what’s left of the season – in all competitions. But they’ve struggled for consistency for some time now, so though it may be that Pep Guardiola’s next team are settling, its defensive aspect still looks vulnerable.
In such situation I didn’t expect even Marco Silva to blame someone other than him, and yet:
A very bad day for us,” Silva said. “It is probably not the moment to be emotional. It is a moment for us to look deeper.
It is not just another defeat. We lost a big chance. If you want to be in a club that wants to get better your ambition has to always be there. If you are pushing to win a game there are certain standards you cannot drop. Some things are about mentality.”
What if your manager tacitly advises the players he’s not that bothered by leaving out his best players?
I’m still annoyed with Marco Silva. What on earth was he thinking, making nine changes to a side comfortable in mid-table?
How did they all get here?
Preamble
Evening all; it’s getting to that point, isn’t it?
Of the 747 clubs to enter this season’s FA Cup, just nine remain. Among them are the usual suspects – of the last 20 editions, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have between them won 14 – along with the dreamers – Brentford, Port Vale, Leeds, Southampton and West Ham, who between them have won five, ever. For all, glory and memories to last a lifetime are within reach.
So it’s over to Joe Hart, who’ll conduct the draw and determine whether the rich boys and underdogs are kept apart or set at each other. These are the numbers out for which to look:
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Southampton
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Port Vale
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Manchester City
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Leeds United
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Arsenal
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Liverpool
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Chelsea
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West Ham United or Brentford
Mixing and mirth begin: 7.05pm GMT
