The FA Cup Third Round weekend may be a favourite of mine when it comes to viewing, but regularly my picks stink as I can never seem to second guess managers as much as I wish. That was the case for the Liverpool game when I was sure Brendan Rodgers would play his strongest team, but he made plenty of changes and Liverpool struggled to a 2-0 win over Oldham Athletic.
Manchester City failed to win, Chelsea coasted at what looked a tricky away tie at Derby County and Manchester United lost in a tough weekend to predict.
Manchester United- where can we start about what has been happening at Old Trafford? I know there are some 'fans' out there who are quick to blame David Moyes for everything these days, but I feel sorry for the manager. He has made some bad decisions, that is to be expected from someone learning the pressure and demands of being at a club the size of Manchester United, but I am blaming the players as much as him, if not more.
Fabio let everyone down with an ill-timed and reckless challenge that effectively cost United their place in the FA Cup for this season, but what is Moyes supposed to do about that? Much like the Kevin Nolan sending off for West Ham United in a recent loss to Fulham, Fabio let his team mates and his manager down when he didn't need to.
Some of the final balls have been downright disgusting and while Moyes can work on those in training, I think the players who are very well paid should be looking at themselves and questioning whether they are really doing enough.
Moyes needs at least another two windows to start putting his stamp on the team, but whether he gets the money necessary is another concern for the fans, one that has been brewing ever since the Glazers took over.
Truth be told, we don't know if there is the money that has been suggested in the papers- there may well be one chance for Moyes, like Kenny Dalglish was given by the Liverpool board, to really make a splash in the market albeit without selling a £50 million pound striker (unlikely to even get half of that for an almost out of contract Wayne Rooney in the summer if United do decide to cash in). However, the supply is not going to be inexhaustible and I don't think there will be room for Moyes to make mistakes that could set United back a few years.
I truly believe that he has to get those decisions right if United are to remain successful in the coming years, and that includes not panic buying in this January window if the players he wants are not available. In hindsight, that should have been the plan last summer when bringing in Maruoane Fellaini at the last minute when other more attractive signings either slipped through our fingers or outright did not want to sign for the club.
Winning the League Cup will at least give Moyes some clout against his naysayers, but it still looks like being a difficult few months ahead unless the players also buck up their ideas and take responsibility for some of the performances we have seen for a few years now.
Sunderland v Manchester United Pick: There is a new build up of pressure on David Moyes as some of the more spoilt aspects of the Manchester United support cannot wait to get on his back, but for some of the mistakes the manager has made, I think the players need to have a hard look at themselves in the mirror and remind themselves why they play for the biggest club in England and one of the biggest in world football.
The terrible tackle from Fabio that effectively cost Manchester United their place in the FA Cup and some of the poor final balls we saw in that loss to Swansea can't solely be pinned on the manager in my opinion. Some of the tactical decisions have been baffling at times, but Moyes is learning and needs to be given time to get things sorted.
Being away from Old Trafford may actually benefit this Manchester United team at the moment as the away support is the best in the country and there will be a loud response for the team. At home, that atmosphere can be a little subdued and nervy and it won't help the players as that feeds down from the stands so I do think United can come here and earn a vital lead in the first leg of this Semi Final.
It might not be a big lead to take back to Old Trafford in two weeks time as Sunderland have definitely become a little tougher to see off since Gus Poyet took over. A lack of goals has to be a concern for the manager, while they may not have the same rotation possibility as Manchester United with just 48 hours gone since both teams played.
Sunderland have failed to score in their last 2 home games in the Premier League and needed a late, late goal to force extra time against Chelsea in the Quarter Final before seeing them off. Add to that the fact that Manchester United's last 3 wins here have come by the minimum margin and the tough losses United have taken in their last couple of games and I like United to sneak a lead back to Old Trafford.
Manchester City v West Ham United Pick: The 5-0 loss at Nottingham Forest on Sunday was a real kick in the teeth for the travelling West Ham United fans and has amped the pressure up on Sam Allardyce. There have been some suggestions that he will be removed as manager of the club if West Ham are beaten at Cardiff City on Saturday and that may take away some of the focus that is required when visiting Manchester City.
Manchester City have a strong squad which they used fully on Saturday afternoon and I am expecting them to restore the majority of their better players in a bid to win this tie before they have to visit Upton Park. With the additional FA Cup Third Round added to a busy January schedule, Manuel Pellegrini will want to build a big lead in this one so he can rest players in two weeks time for the second leg and I think City are certainly capable of that.
I don't think West Ham will want to roll over the way they did at the City Ground, but this is a hard ground to visit if you are a team in form and West Ham are certainly not that. I think they will be under pressure for the majority of the game and will be looking to contain Manchester City as much as possible so I do believe the majority of the action will be coming in the West Ham United half of the pitch.
The layers tend to agree with that, but I think the chance of Edin Dzeko scoring has been under-estimated. I expect the Bosnian will get the start in this game and he has scored in all 3 Capital One Cup ties that Manchester City have played this season with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo rested at times.
Dzeko also scored in his last home game against Crystal Palace and I think the evens shot he scores again is too hard to ignore.
MY PICKS: Manchester United to Win by One Goal @ 3.80 Stan James (1 Unit)
Edin Dzeko Score Anytime @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
January Update: 6-8, - 1.65 Units (23 Units Staked, - 7.17% Yield)
December Final: 19-16-2, + 13.34 Units (66 Units Staked, + 20.21% Yield)
November Final: 17-19-1, + 0.50 Units (56 Units Staked, + 0.09% Yield)
October Final: 20-16-1, + 12.94 Units (51 Units Staked, + 25.37% Yield)
September Final: 13-12, + 1.24 Units (39 Units Staked, + 3.18% Yield)
August Final: 13-26, - 12.13 Units (54 Units Staked, - 22.46% Yield)
Season 2013/14: 82-79-3, + 15.89 Units (266 Units Staked, + 5.97% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)
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