Predicting FA Cup Semi-Finalists

It’s FA Cup quarter final weekend and I think that three of the home teams and all three of the Lancashire sides will progress to the final four. Man United, Man City and Stoke to win on the day and Bolton to qualify, possibly after a replay, is a 10/1 shot with William Hill.

There’s an ominous look about the Manchester giants in this competition and the bookies have been laying short odds (9/2) on a United-City final for a little while already. I won’t predict that, given the random nature of the draw, but I think they will both be semi-finalists at the very least. Indeed, Man City are such short-priced favourites to beat Reading at Eastlands that the value only exists as part of an accumulator like this.

The big game of the round is unquestionably United v Arsenal. The Premier League’s frontrunners do battle after rocky patches for both. The Red Devils have lost two on the bounce to Chelsea and Liverpool and will be glad to come home. Arsenal saw two possible trophies slip away in the space of 10 days after crashing to Birmingham and Barcelona in contrasting circumstances. A trip to Old Trafford is the last thing they need right now and I think the experience of Ferguson’s squad will pile further misery onto the self-pitying Gunners.

Bolton get fewer headlines than their illustrious Manchester neighbours, but are going along very nicely nonetheless. Unbeaten in five and seventh in the league, Owen Coyle’s side must see this as a genuine chance to get to Wembley. I think they will have too much for a Birmingham side that have already been there, won, and may now run out of steam. It might take a replay, but there will be no stopping the Trotters in that scenario.

Going somewhat against form, Stoke are still backable to beat West Ham at the Brittania Stadium and complete the semi-final line-up. As recently as Saturday these sides met with the Hammers winning 3-0 at Upton Park, their third home win on the spin. But Stoke are every bit as capable on their own turf and haven’t lost on it in 2011. The Potters have confidence in front of their passionate fans and this is a massive game for the club. A win will put them into the last four of the FA Cup for the first time since 1972.