Really hope city get a hard team in the 3rd round of the FA Cup because or first leg is just after it, an easy team probably means they rest their players for the 3rd round and play their strongest 11 vs us.
Their fixtures;
1st - sunderland away
3rd - liverpool home
7th - fa cup
10th - first leg
16th - wigan away
22nd - spurs home
25th - 2nd leg
Hmmm.
They're hanging on by the skin of their teeth in the CL, and have a tough draw in the Carling Cup. They're leading the league by a 5-spot and defending the FA Cup. They have to figure their best chances of silverware, and their priority, must be the league and the FA Cup over the Champions league (where it's likely that they'll be out by the time January rolls around).
When faced with 4 league matches, 2 league cup legs and and an FA Cup tie in the space of a calendar month, it must be depressing for them to draw us in at least 3 of those fixtures.
Our schedule gives us 2 days extra rest, after a home match against Newcastle, before we lock swords. Would be nice if we got a home tie in the FA Cup and they got an away one. Otherwise, they're playing 3 games on the trot at home (including 2 against us), and we're playing 3 away (twice at their place).
Dec 30 v Newcastle United
Jan 3 @ Manchester City
Jan 7 FA Cup
Jan 10 First Leg @ City
Jan 14 v Stoke
Jan 21 @ Bolton Wanderers
Jan 25 Second Leg v City
The two matches we have between the two league cup ties are Stoke at home, and Bolton away. They have Wigan away and Spurs at home.