FA Cup fourth-round betting tips: Manchester United to flounder, Newcastle to deliver, and a kick of nostalgia
Sports News Blitz’ Bookie Basher is back with football betting tips - and a touch of poetry - for this weekend’s highly anticipated fourth-round FA Cup fixtures.
I'll level with you. I’m feeling a bit emotional about my own mortality this week.
Is it really now more than 30 years since Eric Cantona's kung-fu kick - which remains one of the most astounding incidents ever seen in English football?
It is of course, which means it is also more than 30 years since Jonathan Pearce - commentating for Capital Gold Sport that night - completely lost his shit on air.
After Cantona was sent off, Pearce said: “The mad side of genius. Cantona is dismissed.
“Can there be a place in the game for a man with such extravagant talent and such wicked temperament? A man who has quite rightly been dismissed. A man who has now…”
Pearce then trails off after watching Cantona fly-kick Crystal Palace supporter Matthew Simmons before exploding with:
“OH MY GOODNESS ME, He just kicked… He’s punched a fan! Eric Cantona has jumped in and scissor-kung-fu-kicked a fan!”
Salad days indeed, and Cantona’s old club kick off a busy weekend of FA Cup fourth-round action.
Manchester United v Leicester City
The FA Cup always gets the cockles tingling and the TV action starts on Friday night with the Red Devils against the Foxes.
Manchester United’s reward for knocking Arsenal out in round three is an Old Trafford encounter with Ruud van Nistelrooy's side, who have lost three of their last four in the Premier League.
Tell you what, Ruben Amorim wasn’t wrong about this Man United team was he?
Manuel Ugarte makes Mike Duxbury look like Andrés Iniesta.
Amorim's decision to play teenage midfielder Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine in that honking 2-0 home defeat by Crystal Palace - ahead of expensive recognised strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee - shows just how much faith he has in his forward line at the minute.
Get it together, you jabronis.
The Red Devils have looked better away from home in recent months, where the pressure is off, and they can defend and break on the counter.
Anyone backing them here at 2/7 needs to have a serious word with themselves.
Instead, I reckon Under 3.5 goals looks rock solid under the circumstances.
Suggested Bet: Under 3.5 goals at 11/10 (General)
READ MORE: Manchester United vs Leicester: Five key battles that could decide the FA Cup clash
Leyton Orient v Manchester City
Manchester City were woeful against Arsenal, but they’ve really been at it in this transfer window.
Nico Gonzalez's arrival takes City's spending this window up to circa £180m, compared to £177m for the other 19 teams in the Premier League combined. Just let that sink in.
Next stop for them is the Gaughan Group Stadium in a meeting with Leyton Orient.
In 1978, Orient were defeated in the semi-final of the FA Cup, the furthest they have progressed in the competition.
This is a huge tie for them, and they are 28/1 rags to win this, despite the fact that City have been unable to plug the gap created by Rodri's major knee injury.
Jack Grealish - with his bulging calves and Moroccan oil hair products - is certain to get minutes this weekend and 12/5 about him scoring for the second consecutive FA Cup round looks more than fair.
Arsenal humiliated Pep’s mob on Sunday, but the Catalan super boss can start the healing by gubbing poor Orient here.
“Go and get the guitar…”
Suggested Bet: Grealish to score anytime at 12/5 (bet365)
Birmingham City v Newcastle United
Newcastle’s painful wait for a domestic trophy is well documented and it's now 70 years since the six-time FA Cup winners last lifted this famous trophy.
The Blues entered this season’s competition in the first round for the first time in 30 years and have beaten Sutton United, Blackpool and Lincoln City to reach this stage.
The ride should end here for Brum unless Eddie Howe tries to take the piss with his squad rotation.
I was actually in a barbershop in Newcastle last week.
A lad walked in and asked for a perm. The Geordie barber replied, “I wandered lernley as a cloud….”
Suggested Bet: Newcastle United to win & both teams to score at 15/8 (bet365)
MORE ON THE GAME: FA Cup news: Birmingham City vs Newcastle United – Five key battles and score prediction
Plymouth Argyle v Liverpool
Plymouth Argyle have been drawn at home to eight-time winners Liverpool in the fourth round and basically have a free hit here, having dumped Brentford out in round three.
Diogo Jota is almost certain to start up top, and so I am having a large slice of 9/2 that he bags first.
Suggested Bet: Jota to score first at 9/2 (Betfair Sportsbook/Paddy Power)
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur
Having sat through it, I have zero idea how Spurs beat Brentford 2-0 last Sunday.
It is probably going to go down with 'Where is Alexander the Great buried' and 'What happened to the Mary Celeste' among life’s mysteries.
Villa feel absolutely nailed on here, with Spurs still in the midst of a major injury crisis and having fewer rest days due to their Carabao Cup semi-exertions on Thursday, February 6.
Suggested Bet: Aston Villa to win & over 1.5 goals at evens (Betfair Sportsbook/Paddy Power)
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