If all goes according to plan, the League Cup final on February 26 will be the last English final at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. Sir Alex Ferguson, winner of more than 25 trophies in his years at Old Trafford, will have mixed emotions about the return to Wembley — even if Manchester United overcome Wigan that day at the Welsh stadium.
Memories of last year’s FA Cup, when his side dominated the final but left Cardiff empty-handed, will still rankle. He has another chance at continuing the club’s love affair with that trophy again this weekend.
The fourth round of the older, more revered cup competition also raises questions like: Can Port Vale shock Aston Villa? Will Arsenal suffer further woe at Bolton? Can west London minnows Brentford put paid to Premiership strugglers Sunderland? Or perhaps little Leyton Orient might upset Charlton Athletic in the south London match-up.
Then you’ve got Graeme Souness barely holding on to his job at Newcastle, who have to go to Cheltenham. Runaway first division leaders Reading, under former Manchester United great Steve Coppell, entertaining Birmingham, where another United old boy Steve Bruce is also hanging on to his hot seat for dear life.
Wigan? They’ve got neighbours Manchester City to cast aside if they want to keep hopes of a cup double alive.
On Sunday, Portsmouth have to overcome Liverpool and Glenn Hoddle’s Wolves host Manchester United at Molineux.
The FA Cup magic does not always protect its wizards, however. Despite Leicester’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the last round, freefall down the first division table has earned the Foxes’ boss, Craig Levein, the boot rather than his place in the dugout against Southampton.
But the shock we’re all hoping for? David Moyes’s Everton take on Chelsea at Goodison Park on Saturday. Come on, you Toffees!