Crouchy’s Shouts: Man City knock out Spurs in 30/1 FA Cup Bet Builder

Crouchy’s Spurs v Man City Bet Builder

Match Odds: Man City to Win
Anytime Goalscorer: Julian Alvarez
Phil Foden to Have 1+ Shots on Target
Richarlison to Have 1+ Shots on Target
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Spurs v Man City

FA Cup, Friday, 8pm
TV: ITV (UK), Premier Sports 1 (Ireland) 

Spurs are long overdue a trophy and the FA Cup this season looks a great chance to put that right – so it’s unfortunate that they’ve drawn Man City in the fourth round.

If they could make it through, winning the Cup should be Tottenham’s priority for the rest of the season. From a club point of view, they might want the Champions League. That’s where the money is, after all. But if you spoke to a lot of supporters they’d probably take a trophy over a fourth place finish.

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They haven’t been in the final for a long time and it’s a great day out for fans. It’d also put to bed talk about them not winning anything for so long. That’s obviously been a source of fun for plenty of others, chiefly Arsenal fans, for years. It’s about time to stop it.

And I think Ange Postecoglou would take a cup win over a top four spot if you gave him the choice. He’s been a winner at his previous clubs and it’d be a good start to get Tottenham trophy in his first season

They are missing some key players though for this game.

Son Heung-Min is still at the Asian Cup, James Maddison’s working his way back from injury, Yves Bissouma’s away at the AFCON, and they’ve been without Micky Van de Ven for a long stretch, though he is at least back now.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 6: James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur during the pre-season friendly match between Tottenham Hotspur and Shakhtar Donetsk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 6, 2023 in England. (Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)

That’s why they’ve dropped off the pace in the league after looking like potential title-contenders, and you would worry a bit for them with those absences because City are so formidable.

A player like Kevin De Bruyne coming back too really galvanises them too.

Even in a team full of great players, he’s the one everyone looks to and wonders “how are we going to do this now?” when he’s out – it reminds me of Steven Gerrard at Liverpool when I was there.

We saw the impact De Bruyne has at Newcastle as soon as he came on the pitch.

The cup might not be City’s biggest priority this season and this tie could hinge on what kind of side City play. With Erling Haaland and Ederson likely to miss the game, they are two mainstays of the team, and De Bruyne still won’t be fully fit either despite the Newcastle return.

Spurs can take some encouragement from that, though I’d expect them to go all in regardless of what kind of team they’re facing. The manager won’t rein in his approach because it’s against Man City. It’s “you attack, we attack,” and they won’t pack men behind the ball against anyone. It should make for a great game.

Match Odds: Man City to Win

I just think the missing players for Spurs will be too much to overcome in the end though, and City are starting to look like they are clicking back into that groove we’ve seen before. They’ve won their four games since returning as World Club Champions.

Pep Guardiola might rest one or two players, but this will still be a very strong side. I can see goals being shared but in the end Man City will probably end up with their noses ahead.

Anytime Goalscore: Julian Alvarez

With Erling Haaland, you’re looking at other possible goalscorers in City’s side. Bernardo Silva’s on fire and a big threat both to score and create something, but I think Julian Alvarez is likeliest to get on the end of something here.