It is Just a Gut Feeling!

Whether its right or whether its wrong, JM does make valid points. Why can' t the authorities do more to protect our bigger and successful clubs? Why can't some official from the FA/Premier League ring up JM/SAF/AW and anybody else, and say do you want to switch your match to a Friday or a Monday so as to give the players that extra days rest before an important game? They don't because money speaks. TV money. Sky's money. Sky dictates now as and when matches are played because of the power of the 'green.'

Here's a prime example. Before the Champions League final last season, the French FA granted Monaco a full week to prepare for the final, it didn;t do Monaco a lot of good as we know, but it showed that the French FA wanted one of their own to win the biggest prize in European Football.

Sorry JM. Comment, moan, criticise all you want. As far as the authorities are concerned, they are TOO far down the very deep pockets of BSKYB to worry about small incidentals of helping our successful clubs achieve more.

Twice Chelsea have played Newcastle this season and won both. 4-0 in the League at Stamford Bridge and 2-0 in the Carling Cup at St James' Park. Somehow today I think things will be so so different.

Chelsea and Newcastle haven't played each other too much in the history of the FA Cup - a total of nine times including replays - the most recent was in 2000 when Chelsea won the semi-final 2-1, which was played at Wembley. Chelsea's goals were scored by Gus Poyet and Rob Lee scored for Newcastle. Incidentally Chelsea went on to lift the cup that year, beating Villa 1-0 in the final.

I just have a gut feeling that today is going to be Newcastle's day. That is not because the team that JM may put out isn't capable of winning any game, I just think that JM feels he has bigger fish to fry.

Probable Team:

Cudicini, Johnson, Carvalho, Gallas, Bridge, Jarosik, Smertin, Tiago, Cole, Kezman, Gudjohnsen

For those that didn't know. JTs booking at Everton last week, brought him to a total of five and therefore is suspended today. Had he not been JM would have rested him anyway.

Straight after the game, the squad fly to Barcelona for Wednesday nights Champions League encounter.