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Episode 97: FA Cup Preview - Fulham vs Crystal Palace
18 Plays2 days ago
Gavin Ruffell from Daily Fulham and Daniel Tanner from Daily Crystal Palace join Louie Easton to discuss the first competitive match back after the International Break.
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Transcript
Introduction to the EPL Podcast
00:00:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, you are listening to the Daily English Premier League podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Louis Easton. And finally finally finally, finally, finally, football is back after the international break.
00:00:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Obviously, those riveting matches between England and Albania and England and Latvia could suffice momentarily. But the FA Cup is here. the world's oldest football competition.
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I am joined by two guests who are not going to make fun of Liverpool, my team, for not being in it anymore.
Crystal Palace's FA Cup Journey
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Dan Tanner from the Crystal Palace podcast and Gavin Ruffell from the Fulham podcast. Boys, thank you very much for joining me.
00:01:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Dan, I'll come to you first. Crystal Palace in an FA Cup quarterfinal, maybe looking to go to Wembley again. How are the nerves at this stage?
00:01:32
Dan Tanner
oh the nerves are fine we're we're buzzing for this this is the uh first time we've gotten this far since uh 2016 and last time we did that we got to the final so but you it's good omens so we're we're all ready to go for it and especially after the better part of three weeks without a game to talk about or do anything so it's like we just want football back now and uh we were on really good fall beforehand so let's keep this going and yeah
00:01:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:01:59
Dan Tanner
We want to get this over and done with now. See you where if we can get any further.
Fulham's Strong Position and Finals History
00:02:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And great form going into this one as well. it's the 12-15 kickoff at Craven Cottage. Gavin, same question for you. How are the nerves at this stage as a Fulham fan?
00:02:16
Gavin
I think it's all right at the minute. I'm guessing closer to kick-off, it's going to be more nerve-wracking for all of the fans. um But it's something to look forward to. Fulham are in a great position at the moment, where they're fighting on two fronts with a month and a half left of the season to go. So a lot of teams at this stage are on the beach thinking next season. So it's just exciting that they're potentially one game away from Wembley.
00:02:35
Gavin
And even if they do get knocked out, there's something to look forward to in the league as well.
00:02:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we're into the final phase of ah the calendar as well ah for the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, all of that. um And this has to feel now like the biggest match of your club's season so far. I understand that there's the whole argument.
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
The next match is always the biggest match. um Gavin... Obviously, it's been a long time since Fulham have reached a final. I think the last time, well, I could be wrong because I can't remember League Cup and FA Cup every year. But the last time I remember Fulham being in a major final was that Europa League ah final against the, this is actually, a i this is a complete coincidence. I didn't think about it before throwing this on.
00:03:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm actually wearing an Atletico shirt at the moment.
00:03:22
Dan Tanner
Yeah, all right.
00:03:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hopefully that doesn't bring back too many bad memories for you.
00:03:26
Gavin
not got that Diego Forlan's name on a back, have you?
00:03:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it hasn't got any name on the back. Don't worry. ah Is that the last ah final film we're in? is that Am I right in saying
Crystal Palace vs Fulham: A 50-50 Game
00:03:36
Gavin
Well, I mean, if you want to call the playoff final a final, they've been successful in their two outings at Wembley and then.
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
that?
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
or
00:03:41
Gavin
But yeah, in terms of a major final, that will be the last final back in, I think it was 2009-10 season might have been the season four. And then the only time they've been in an FA Cup final is in 1975 when they lost to West Ham.
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So hoping to make some history this year.
00:03:56
Gavin
That 50-year anniversary, what better way to mark that anniversary than getting back to an FA Cup final?
00:03:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
How...
00:04:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you have every right ah to believe that you can go and win this because Fulham are a team that have really strengthened themselves this year. Obviously coming up at home against a very informed Crystal Palace side in their own right.
00:04:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Still got a couple of ah injuries. Both teams, of course, do have injuries. um Fulham, it will be interesting see if Anthony Robinson does start. He's coming back from a bit of a knock.
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Still missing Nelson, Tete and Wilson. ah But, you know, Jose Maria Jimenez has had a terrific sort of um comeback this season because loads of people were writing him off, but we're starting to see his quality again um involved in that massive, massive win in ah America for Mexico in the, can't remember it's called, CONCACAF final, whatever it is.
00:04:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So he'll be feeling high as a kite from that. Coming back to London, How positive are you um thinking about this match? Are you thinking this is where Fulham really have a right to go through into the semifinals, into another match at Wembley, ah just up the road in West London?
Key Players and Strategies for Crystal Palace and Fulham
00:05:16
Gavin
Do you know what? i genuinely think it's a 50-50 game and I think that's the exciting thing about the quarter-finalists. All of the clubs in it, maybe with the exception of Preston, will genuinely feel they have an opportunity to lift silverware and there's half of the teams left in there that haven't lifted any major silverware, both of these two teams included.
00:05:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:05:32
Gavin
um The last time these two touch two sides played was just over a month ago, I think, and Crystal Palace were fully worthy of their three points. Fulham didn't even register a shot on target. So i think coming into this game, I think both sides, when they saw the draw, they would have quietly fancied it. think the team you wanted to avoid was probably Manchester City.
00:05:50
Gavin
Even then, though Manchester City, they've not been firing on all cylinders this season, and have they? But aside from that, you would have quietly fancied your chances against any other side. So I think with Crystal Palace's away form, and given the fact that they beat Fulham at Creighton Cottage recently, they'll be happy. But I also think with Fulham at home tie in a quarterfinal to get to Wembley again, they messed it up two years ago and against Manchester United where they capitulated. That was a great chance for them. So it's a chance to right the wrongs of that. And yeah, as I said, I think both sides will certainly fancy their chances of lifting. So where can we?
00:06:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if Crystal Palace were to beat Fulham, which area of the pitch would that be won in
00:06:22
Dan Tanner
which area of the table.
00:06:26
Gavin
Is this to me or to Dan?
00:06:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah to get To you, Gavin, sorry.
00:06:30
Gavin
Well, I think having Jean-Philippe Mettete back is is massive for them. Obviously, when we saw him got to get stretched off in the game against Millwall, I think Christoph Palace fans, they would have feared the worst, thinking that's a long-term injury. But I think he only missed the one game. So the fact that they have had a break in play, only playing the Ipswich game since that FA Cup game, has almost worked out perfectly for them. But it'll be interesting see if he's up to speed straight away. And I know he's going to be wearing some protective, not quite a mask, but so something over his ear. So maybe Joachim Andersson...
00:06:59
Gavin
ah just behind the referee's back and gave him a little flick on the ear. and Just as long as it goes in, though, it's just ah just to put him off, maybe. But he had a really good game in there in the outing at Craven Cottage. And Eze as well. Eze, I think, is someone who's had a bit of an up-and-down season.
00:07:12
Gavin
But we really saw the best of him in that game. So they're two to watch out for. And I also like their wing-back who got on score sheet that day as well. Munoz, I think he's been one of the best-performing right-backs slash right-wing-backs in the league this season.
00:07:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Dan, I'll come to you now. um Obviously a big international break for Eze scoring for England. Obviously Mark Gay as well with that ah defensive partnership with Dan Byrne that we saw over the break.
00:07:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Crystal Palace had a nice break in Marbella. Coming back ah to this game, feeling quite refreshed. Obviously there was that friendly match against that Norwegian side. I'm going to try and pronounce this name.
00:07:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hamar Kamaratin, I believe.
00:07:49
Dan Tanner
like
00:07:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't
00:07:50
Dan Tanner
I think it's i think he's like cam ham. I think it's like initialized to in every yeah sort of internet one I did.
00:07:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
i
00:07:57
Dan Tanner
like I couldn't even pronounce it either.
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I haven't...
00:07:59
Dan Tanner
We were trying to do it the other week.
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I have not got a clue. ah There's a bit of a change side. um think Eze might have played in that match as well.
00:08:07
Dan Tanner
and
00:08:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
i I don't know. I'm looking at FopMob and who knows what the internet says is true and isn't true and so on and so forth. um But ah I'd like to come to you about ah the aforementioned Munoz, who, in my opinion, has been one of the starring right-backs in the league all season across the entire Premier League.
00:08:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah He scored against Fulham last time out as well. How important is he to this Crystal Palace side?
Injury Concerns for Both Teams
00:08:36
Dan Tanner
Oh, I think he's definitely up there. don't know if he's like, he's definitely like top three or top five players. He just sort explosiveness down that right wing, like no other right back in the top, pretty much in the country can do what he can do.
00:08:51
Dan Tanner
So going forward, he's not the best when it comes to defending. I will admit that he's been kind of open multiple times, especially at the beginning of the season where like through balls would just go past him.
00:09:03
Dan Tanner
But when he's going forward, he is he can be so deadly, like, because a lot of these sort teams don't kind of account for the formation that Glasner plays. So that, so these sort wing backs are going up and down the wing the entire time.
00:09:18
Dan Tanner
And it's sort of, they're just getting outplayed and outpositioned really. And, also be able get a couple of goals from a wing back position is just a nice thing to have as well not many sort of full backs can get on the school shit one on the school sheet anyway but getting on it regularly is always a great weapon to have
00:09:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there was a little bit of criticism about Daniel Munoz. I hope you don't mind me bringing up. But some of that criticism was of his shooting. you think that's fair?
00:09:49
Dan Tanner
well not the greatest shooter in the world it's of i think these goals have been inside the box so he's not going to be of belting it from 30 yards out he's not going try and do an sa and try and do a worldie it's just sort if you can get it get it on target and get it in the goal that's happy that's good enough for me i'm not sure i don't care how they go in as long as they do i'm that kind of like i don't they don't need to be pretty just get them in the back of the net i don't care after that
00:10:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely fair enough. And Crystal Palace do have their own ah
Striker Options for the Teams
00:10:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
injury doubts. Obviously, Mateta still coming back from that horrendous head injury, which he suffered against Millwall.
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Joel Ward as well. You mentioned that he was back in training. We might see him feature. Is that someone you want to see feature?
00:10:33
Dan Tanner
Well, I don't know. He's been kind of on the periphery since the end of last season. He's essentially, he's officially our club captain. So it'd be nice to have Adam around.
00:10:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:10:44
Dan Tanner
He'll probably get sort of some game time towards the end of the season, but he's just been largely sitting on the periphery and he's kind of just like part of the furniture, really. One of those guys that's just been there forever and he's just a nice, consistent player to be so in the squad, but...
00:11:01
Dan Tanner
If he turns up, I'm not goingnna not going to say no, but we've done so so this well kind of without him on the pitch. So if it can if it changes the dynamic, it might be an issue. But if he comes back, I'm not going to say no.
00:11:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
completely understandable. I mean, it's a but it's a bit of a risky match to play someone who's come back from injury anyway, in my opinion. And also Munoz, I would just like to bring up, is your top goal scorer in the FA Cup?
00:11:26
Dan Tanner
not going to
00:11:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's got two goals in three games. And for Fulham, that would be Rodrigo Muniz, who has got three goals in this competition and one assist in three games. ah Gavin, is that someone you would like to see feature or do you just want to...
00:11:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not take any risks with this one.
00:11:48
Gavin
Muniz, who's that?
00:11:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, my needs.
00:11:51
Gavin
um Yeah, I would definitely start Rodrigo Muniz. Fulham are in an interesting position in terms of their striking dynamic because they have... Two strikers that have a similar ability. I think you look at most clubs in the Premier they have one striker that's head and shoulders above the next one. It would be the same Crystal Palace. you got Jean-Philippe Mateta and then it's a bit of a drop-off. You've got Nketi who struggled to score goals. But with Fulham, they've got two strikers there that can combine and Rodrigo Munoz has played an important role, not necessarily starting every game but coming off the bench often and scoring important goals. hes I've said this before, he doesn't come off the bench to score the third goal in a 3-0 win. He comes off the bench...
00:12:25
Gavin
to score the decisive goal. He had an impact in the last game against Spurs. And as you said, he's the top scorer in the FA Cup. He started in all three games. Raul Jimenez is coming off that success away with Mexico. He scored a brace in both games. So it's been interesting to see which way he goes.
00:12:40
Gavin
But feel like Rodrigo Munez will probably get the
FA Cup Quarterfinals Overview
00:12:43
Gavin
nod for this one. Obviously, it's a busy week. Fulham have Arsenal in midweek, but there's no doubt this is the priority. So I would like to see him stick with Rodrigo Munez as his go-to striker for the Cup games.
00:12:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And ah Dan, same question to you about Jean-Philippe Mateta.
00:12:56
Dan Tanner
You see, you see, you see, you see, you see, you see,
00:12:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
If he is available, obviously ah Gavin himself has highlighted the importance of him to Crystal Palace's success recently. um And Eddie Nketiah struggling to score goals. at Also, as he mentioned, if Mateta doesn't play, um is Eddie Nketiah someone that you feel like you can rely on?
00:13:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or is it just paramount to have him back in that squad for this one?
00:13:21
Dan Tanner
I wouldn't have think wouldn't think sort of have in Ketia as somebody I'd rely on. He's definitely one you bring on top of the halfway point, 60 minutes in or something like that. But to keep the team the way it normally plays, I think the closest person would be Sarr to put him in that sort central, sort center forward position.
00:13:43
Dan Tanner
Cause he plays very similarly to Mateta. He's big, he's strong. And he basically gets his head down and he runs forward. So that would probably be my choice. If I was a gaffer, if Mateta wasn't like, I wasn't a hundred percent on him or the,
00:13:57
Dan Tanner
ah medical staff would just sort of hand me a note saying he's probably not 100 so sar would probably be my choice and any ketia probably in the 70th minute or something like that when the team's starting to get a bit tired and you can add in a extra bit of flair or creativity but yeah he's not somebody i rely on he hasn't really gone hasn't earned it yet he's got a couple of goals but they are like
00:13:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:14:24
Dan Tanner
Point blank range and against but essentially lesser opponents in the League Cup and Millwall. So, yeah, he's not somebody I'd rely on as a a alternative to Mateta at this point.
00:14:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, um we're going to take a short break there, and when we come back, we'll do some score predictions and talk about some of the other matches that are happening in the FA Cup this weekend. But first, it's time to hear from our sponsor, Bionic, and also find out what we use to record our podcasts here at the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:16:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, so let's look at the track record of these two teams then as we go into this match. Fulham higher in the table, but in less good form, I think it's fair to say.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Winning three and losing two in their last five Premier League matches against Fulham. Well, last five Premier League matches. ah One of those was a 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest, however. So that's a big win that in its own right. said Last one being a 2-0 win against Spurs.
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, is currently sitting at 12th in the table with a game in hand, ah winning four of their last five. And one of those...
00:16:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
four matches was a 2-0 win at Craven Cottage. So that's the interesting one, but also an interesting fact, no draws for either of those two teams in their last five respective matches. Dan, is that an advantage go going to Fulham recently, picking up the three points there and also being in the better form overall? Surely it has to be.
00:17:18
Dan Tanner
I think it's got to be an advantage or at the very least it's a good omen anyway that we it was only in the within the last month I think because the crossover i think me and Gav so it was yeah a little over a month ago so yeah um definitely some kind of omen ah and yeah we've had some of the
00:17:29
Gavin
oh
00:17:36
Dan Tanner
best form i think just before christmas we turned it around i think we did four uh four wins in a row away from home which was a club record and i think we've also got um one of the best uh away forms in the country at the minute so i think it's like number two or number three last time i checked you may have gone down since i last had a look so uh
00:17:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:18:01
Dan Tanner
The odds are in our favour, let's say that much. is I think most people, if you looked at both teams, would probably put Palace as fractional favourites. They are so close together, sort of like on paper, it's going to come down to what any kind of little odds or advantage.
00:18:17
Dan Tanner
And I think Palace having that away form probably will give them the slight edge. But yeah, but this is the FA Cup. Anything can happen. So we'll have to see you on the weekend.
00:18:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Gavin, is that fair? Do you think Palace do have the advantage or are you going to back yourselves in this one?
00:18:36
Gavin
I genuinely think it's a 50-50 game. As I said before, I think both sides will go into this game generally fancying their chances. And in that game recently, as said, Crystal Palace were worthy winners, but also Fulham did beat Crystal Palace at Salah's Park early on in the season. Granted, Crystal Palace were at a slightly different stage there. The confidence wasn't quite there.
00:18:53
Gavin
um A lot of players weren't finding their feet. John Fittempo, I know, had a slow start of the season, as did others. um But I think for Marco Silva, he's got to look at what his team didn't do so well on that occasion and try to be better rather than maybe focus so much on what Crystal Palace did to nullify them. Because I feel like in that game, Fulham just...
00:19:12
Gavin
They didn't put their own stamp on it. They weren't as good on the ball as they normally are. ah Hopefully we get a good atmosphere because sometimes in recent games, the atmosphere has been a little bit flat. I know there's been some criticism about ah the price price of tickets, but that's been a bit more of a a reasonable, affordable price. So if the atmosphere is up, then hopefully Fulham can run with that and get ah get the positive result. I do feel like it is an evenly matched game and potentially the first goal could be ah could be the all-important one.
00:19:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
So just looking at the other matches coming up in the FA Cup. um Also, to well, tomorrow, ah Brighton will host Nottingham Forest. That's the later kickoff, 5.15.
00:19:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
That will be a great one. um Preston versus Villa. Who would have thought Preston would be in the final eight ah before a ball was kicked in the FA Cup this season? So that's the lunchtime kickoff on Sunday.
00:20:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then Manchester City have a long trip. all the way down to the south coast. They face Bournemouth at 4.30. For thirty um for both of you, this question goes for both of you.
00:20:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gavin, I'll come to you first. Out of those ones, who are you hoping to see in the semifinals if you go through?
00:20:29
Gavin
Well, Preston would be the ideal one, wouldn't it, being Championship pro opposition?
00:20:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:32
Gavin
ah sir you know i fought I follow a Championship side, actually. I mean, Aston Villa beat them in the last round. so But normally Preston and Bristol City are kind of intertwined because it's mid-table mediocrity every season. So the fact that Bristol City fighting for the playoffs and Preston, one game away from Wembley, is is quite interesting, isn't it? And also, Fulham played Preston in the Carabao Cup earlier on in the season, lost like on penalties.
00:20:55
Gavin
Yeah.
00:20:57
Gavin
um So it'd be a nice wouldd be nice story if Preston were to get through, but you feel like Aston Villa will have too much for them. And then I think the other time i'm looking forward to is is the Bournemouth-Manchester City one. I think Bournemouth beat them earlier in the season, didn't they? And know Bournemouth have just had a little bit of a ah dodgy run lately when a lot of talk about Champions League football, but I still don't think Manchester City are firing at all cylinders. And I feel that's a genuine opportunity for Bournemouth to progress there.
00:20:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I remember that
00:21:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, how huge would it be if Manchester City were to go out at this stage, Gavin?
00:21:26
Gavin
Oh, it'd be absolutely massive. And I think that just generally gives everyone a chance because normally at this stage, you see all of the big hitters in there, don't you? The teams that dominate the trophies, the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, the winners we see season after the season. So I but just feel like it's generally opened it up. And yeah, I think it's an exciting court final lineup for the neutral point point of view because you genuinely don't know who's going to win it.
00:21:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Dan, same question to you. ah
00:21:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who would you like if you go through against Fulham at this stage?
00:21:56
Dan Tanner
look at it
00:21:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And obviously Preston are playing against Villa, so it would be a miracle if they were to beat them. But who would you want to play?
00:22:04
Dan Tanner
very much in the same vein my head says I want ah Preston but I want to take on City I want to take down the big dog i want him to I'd love that just the chaos of one of the major teams, like no major teams in the FA Cup, and so but it's a free-for-all.
00:22:24
Dan Tanner
I'd love to have City in the in the next round. that's ah You've got to take down the big guys.
00:22:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
at Wembley as well.
00:22:29
Dan Tanner
Come on. Exactly.
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, at Wembley. So the winner of this match goes to Wembley. That's what we have to remember.
00:22:35
Dan Tanner
Exactly.
00:22:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Semi-final is played at Wembley at the FA Cup. Whether that's a good thing or not, many people will have their own opinions on that. I don't mind it. I think going to Wembley at all for the team that goes out in the ah semi-finals is always a huge thing.
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But... You know, I say that goes out in the semifinals. One of you two could be in the final. You're at that stage now where you have every right to be believing.
00:22:56
Dan Tanner
Exactly.
00:22:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's so evenly contested. I think Nottingham Forest are probably the favourites now because of the where they are in the Premier League and how dominant they've been, ah how perfect their defence has been all season.
00:23:11
Gavin
That's interesting you say to cut in there.
00:23:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But...
00:23:12
Gavin
That's interesting you say that because I actually strongly fancy Brighton to win that one because I just feel like Nottingham Forest, the season they're having, their focus is so much on qualifying for the Champions League, which, by the way, I think they'll get now. I think the last three results in the league, they just had a little bit of a wobble and the last three results have put them back in in the shake-up and I think they'll do enough to solidify their position there.
00:23:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:31
Gavin
So I just think... That's the priority for them. Whereas for Brighton, yes, they are an outside chance of finishing in the Champions League. But i think, again, like Crystal Palace, like Fulham, those teams in mid-table, maybe looking at Europe, they genuinely feel that they can lift silverware because they haven't lifted a ah major trophy either.
00:23:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and to be fair, looking at Brighton's recent form, they haven't lost in the last five in the Premier League. Four wins and one draw. Their last draw coming against Manchester City, two all at the Etihad.
00:24:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
So ah that's understandable that you think that completely. And also it is at the Amex. But I just look at that Forest defence, you know, and the way they play on the counter-attack.
00:24:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, surely that's so hard for any team to break down, Gavin.
00:24:18
Gavin
yeah Yeah, quite possibly. It's one that can go either way. But as I said, I just feel like the Brighton, the momentum, if you believe in momentum, is with them given those results. They were very unlucky not to beat Manchester City. I think ah can't remember who it was. They had the golden opportunity to win it when it was at 2-2 and they beat Fulham recently. And also, let's not forget, the last last time these two sides met, Nottingham Forest absolutely routed them 7-0.
00:24:40
Gavin
So they want to get that one back, won't they?
00:24:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's true. They absolutely will. ah and It's such a good quarterfinal. i that I know Liverpool aren't in it, but I love being able to watch this from a neutral point of view because I just i just don't want Manchester City to win it. I just want another team to grab the FA Cup
Predictions and Final Thoughts
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
this season. And...
00:25:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
what better competition to win in football than the oldest one. ah So but last little segment of this, let's get some score predictions from both of you. um I want you to talk me through it as well. Dan, I'll come to you first. ah Score predictions for this one, please.
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you back Crystal Palace to go to Craven Cottage and grab that FA Cup semifinal at Wembley?
00:25:22
Dan Tanner
I'm back in palace because I did my one yesterday and we had exactly the same conversation. um, i'm my result is my predictions could be the same. i am going for a two nil win palace and probably the goals are going to come some point in the second half.
00:25:38
Dan Tanner
Cause Palace don't come out of the blocks, all guns blazing. You look at the game against Fulham at Sellers Park. We didn't do anything for a long time.
00:25:49
Dan Tanner
It was all, all Fulham. So all the momentum was with Fulham. They just didn't really get a chance to do anything with it. We made it very difficult for them, but our goals come sort of back end of the second half.
00:26:03
Dan Tanner
We'll just get a nice sort counter play. something from Eze or even Wharton will just play it through and Mateta will get on the end of it and just so generally sort it away or be a Munoz run down the right wing something like that that would be my sort of kind of predictions for it a 2-0 and it's going to come definitely in the second half it's going be classic boring Palace for about 40 odd minutes and then it will suddenly just wake up Glasner will just like electrocute them in the second half or something he'll just sort plug them in and then off they go
00:26:35
Dan Tanner
sorry
00:26:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, so 2-0, says Dan. ah Gavin, it's ah going to be an early kickoff at Craven Cottage, so ah maybe the home advantage isn't quite the same in this one. who gets who's Who's going through, in your opinion?
00:26:55
Gavin
Well, I am wary of Crystal Palace's away record and in particular their defensive solidity and the fact that they have kept clean sheets. I think, is it the last five away games? And they've only lost one game on the road since October and that was in the League Cup tie against Arsenal in the court finals there. So maybe that's an omen, isn't it? The fact that they went out in the court finals of a cup competition against London opposition.
00:27:15
Gavin
Yeah. Having said that, I do wonder how they would react if a team went in front against them, of because because they've not had to deal with that recently, have they? Because they've always scored the first goal in that game, so that changes things, doesn't it?
00:27:26
Gavin
I do think this is going to be a bit of a cagey game. There's a lot on the line for both clubs here, and so I can see it being a bit cagey and maybe not being the entertaining spectacle that everyone wants to see.
00:27:37
Gavin
But also ah would be slightly concerned from a Crystal Palace perspective that they haven't played a competitive game three weeks. I know there's been the international break. Players have been weighing the international due. They've had competitive minutes there.
00:27:49
Gavin
But they had that friendly. But it's not that same intensity. It's not that same competitive edge, is it? So the fact that they haven't played a game for three weeks, a lot of these players, I wonder if that might have an impact. so I feel the longer the game goes on, it probably suits Fulham. And what Fulham have done well this season is um had an impact from guys coming off the bench to score. I think they've scored 13 goals in the Premier League from substitutes, which is more than any other side. So I think it could go long. I'm going extra time, but I'm going for Raul Jimenez to come off the bench and score the win of Fulham to progress 1-0 after extra time.
00:28:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
wow okay so contrasting views there um but uh gavin making out to be a lot closer than dan uh dan do you think you're underestimating phillip or are you just that confident that crystal palace will go there and get the job done
00:28:38
Dan Tanner
um i'm just that confident we've been on a run for quite a while now so at the beginning of the season i would have said no way we're not even going to be any chance of this but because we've been on such a run and i'm sort confident that we can do this in the especially with the last game uh that we had against a full and was a two nil um i'm just expecting it to be sort of a grind out so close to close two nil victory so uh It's not going to be sort of one-way traffic or anything. I'd be very surprised if it is.
00:29:09
Dan Tanner
But yeah, just sort of... Fulham aren't going to make it easy. They're going to say that much. So I'm just confident in my team, really, that with the form that we're in... and it's of And maybe it's sort the slight benefit of having the two or three week break. But i do also take it to the point that, yeah, we haven't had a competitive game for three weeks and it has been a friendly.
00:29:30
Dan Tanner
And even that friendly didn't like look like they were pushing it at all. Very much just relaxing in the and the Spanish sun, just trying to get finished off the week, basically.
00:29:41
Dan Tanner
So I'm just confident in my team, really.
00:29:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, let's just hope they didn't have too many Estrella dams on the sunny beaches of Marbella while they were away. We are going to end the podcast there. It's been a very enjoyable one. Football is finally back and it kicks off at Craven Cottage, quarter past 12, midday ah in the FA Cup, Saturday afternoon.
00:30:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah It's been an honour to have both of you, Dan Tanner from Crystal Palace and Gavin Ruffell from Daily Liverpool. ah Best of luck to both teams. Can't wait to watch the match.
00:30:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've been listening to the Daily English Premier League podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. Take care and enjoy all of the football coming back this weekend.