With the FA Cup Final taking centre stage and the battle for Champions League qualification nearing its conclusion, Paul Coyte and Clive Allen return with predictions across a pivotal weekend of football. From potential farewells to surprise scorelines, here’s how they see it all unfolding.
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00:00So, time for Premier League predictions and FA Cup final as well,
00:04which is coming up this weekend.
00:05Clive Allen is here as always.
00:07Clive, we've only got a couple more goes.
00:10Then we'll start cricket predictions, of course.
00:13Absolutely.
00:15Okay, now, this is going to be the interesting one.
00:18Friday night, both Manchester United and Spurs are playing
00:20because of the Europa League final.
00:23It started off that Manchester United had the game on the Friday
00:26and Villa and Spurs was going to be on the Sunday
00:30and then Spurs asked for it to be changed
00:33and Villa weren't happy about it, which, can you understand that?
00:38Does it really make any difference to them?
00:41Because, I mean, they'll be playing a full Spurs team
00:44trying their best, though, are they, Clive? Surely.
00:47No, I think Villa's argument was that they maybe asked
00:51for some fixture adjustments with their Champions League run
00:54and that wasn't forthcoming from the Premier League.
00:57So they felt a little bit aggrieved that, obviously, Spurs in their
01:02Europa League final have asked to move it back a couple of nights
01:06so that, basically, the two finalists have exactly the same amount
01:10of time to prepare, which I think is fair.
01:14I think Villa have to accept that, although I'm sure both of the sides
01:19on the Friday night, the European Cup finalists,
01:24will be understrength, let's put it that way.
01:26I cannot imagine that they're going to go with their full-strength sides
01:30even on Friday.
01:32So what you're saying is that they're both going to do well
01:34to score nil in this game?
01:36It could be one of those.
01:38I think what you've got, you're going to have a set of players
01:41who, the ones who feel they've got a chance of making maybe an appearance
01:45or playing some sort of part in that final, will turn in a performance.
01:51For others who probably feel they're not going to be involved,
01:55it really will be a little bit of a run-out on Friday evening.
01:58See, personally, I've got to say, I don't get that.
02:03If you have the feeling that you're not going to be involved,
02:06I mean, would they know now whether they're playing next Wednesday or not?
02:11It's probably all the places up for grabs, aren't they?
02:13Yeah, I think, obviously, from Tottenham's point of view,
02:18we could have Zesky having an operation.
02:20I think he would have started had he been fit.
02:22So the midfield area for Spurs will be very interesting.
02:27Who plays Friday will give you a very, very good indication
02:31as to who will be playing Wednesday night.
02:34Now, Aston Villa, it's not...
02:36So Spurs, it's not like Aston Villa are on the beach
02:38because they're sixth and they're going for that Champions League place
02:41and 63 points, they are going out to win this game without a doubt
02:46and they're going to give everything to try and win it.
02:48Bournemouth, they've beaten Fulham.
02:50Spurs have just been dreadful.
02:53It's...
02:54Is it a matter of how many?
02:56Because you don't want to go out there and get embarrassed, do you?
02:59I mean, even if you're thinking about the game next week,
03:01the last thing you'll want to do is embarrass yourself.
03:05And I can't believe I'm even saying this.
03:07So what's your prediction and what do you think is going to happen in this game?
03:12Paul, I think it'll be an incredible atmosphere at Villa Park on Friday night.
03:16Villa, as you rightly say, 63 points alongside Chelsea are in fifth.
03:20They're going for day one Champions League football.
03:22So it's like a cup final for them.
03:26And I think that Villa will run out winners.
03:29I've got to say, Spurs was so poor against Crystal Palace last weekend
03:34and I can't see it changing dramatically.
03:38So I'm going to go for a Villa 2-0 victory.
03:41Okay.
03:42I was...
03:44I'm toying with a Villa 3-0 victory,
03:46but I don't think I've ever made that prediction against my team before.
03:48But if we just keep it between us, I'll say 3-0.
03:52And, you know, we'll see how we go.
03:56I won't say it anymore.
03:57Oh, please.
03:59Chelsea versus Manchester United.
04:00So this is the same thing.
04:02So Chelsea, this is the weird thing.
04:04You said that Chelsea are on the same points as Villa.
04:07They're fifth though on goal difference.
04:09So they're looking good.
04:11Lost to Newcastle and they beat Liverpool and Everton and Fulham.
04:14Manchester United then are also, let's face it, they're terrible.
04:18Back in 16th, one place above Spurs on 39.
04:24And they've got their eyes on Wednesday because the most important...
04:28Interesting, Rupert Amorim, what he said.
04:31He said that the most important thing to him is Champions League football.
04:35I guess he's thinking of his career and thinking of possible signings
04:39and money coming into the club, etc.
04:41Whereas fans, it's not, is it?
04:44It's always going to be the trophy, don't you think?
04:46Especially if you're a Spurs fan, you're going to want a trophy more.
04:48I mean, they come together, but it's the trophy which is the most important thing for them.
04:52It will be for the fans.
04:54Undoubtedly, both sets of fans want to lift the trophy, want to win something.
04:58For both, I think for both clubs, the finances is just incredible qualifying for the Champions League.
05:05So, I think this is a fascinating game because I just wonder how United are going to perform for Amorim in this game.
05:14Just solely this game.
05:15And I'm going to go Chelsea 1, Manchester United 1.
05:19Really?
05:20Yeah.
05:21Do you think United are going to, so why do you think United are going to do well against Chelsea there?
05:25I mean, I...
05:26Because I think there's so many players that probably think that they could play in that final come next Wednesday.
05:34Okay.
05:35Well, I'm just going to go 2-0.
05:36So, I'm going to go 2-0 Chelsea on that.
05:39So, these games are Friday nights.
05:41It's rare that there's two Friday nights, but that's the reason.
05:43Now, Saturday, there's good and bad about the FA Cup final, I think, Clive, for me.
05:48And that's the bad is the fact that the season is not over.
05:51But the good thing is at least the Cup final is on its own.
05:56There's no Premier League games at the same time, don't you think?
05:59Absolutely.
06:00A magical competition always will be.
06:04And I think that, yeah, it stands alone.
06:06It is one of the biggest games in world football, not just, obviously, domestically.
06:13Prestigious, everything that's good about the FA Cup, for me, will never change.
06:18And I think it's two teams.
06:21I saw both teams last weekend.
06:23So, I saw City draw at Southampton struggle to break down Southampton.
06:28And then I saw a very impressive Crystal Palace, a very strong Crystal Palace side.
06:33So, probably, apart from Wharton, that Crystal Palace side will start against Manchester City in the Cup final.
06:39And I honestly believe that Crystal Palace are going to give Man City a run for their money.
06:44Yeah, me too.
06:45Yeah, me too.
06:47745 teams start the FA Cup.
06:49So, these are the final two.
06:51And we should make a point that you play for both of them as well.
06:54Yep.
06:54Third time in history, Crystal Palace, 1919-2016.
06:59Other times, finally.
07:00So, they've never won it.
07:01Manchester City, well, we know that they go to Wembley a fair bit.
07:06So, it was Stockport, Doncaster, Millwall.
07:09And, of course, there was the Mateta injury.
07:11You remember that from Crystal Palace.
07:13Full in the beat 3-0.
07:14Villa 3-0.
07:15So, they've done really well in the Cup.
07:16Man City, Salford, Lake Norient, where there was a little of a worry.
07:20And same with Plymouth.
07:21Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.
07:22It should be.
07:25Let's hope it's an occasion.
07:26I don't think there's enough made of this over the past week.
07:31I don't know whether it's just me looking back with rose-tinted spectacles.
07:35But, there hasn't been a lot, has there, Clive, in the past week?
07:39No, no.
07:40Not like, as you said, in years gone by.
07:43The FA Cup was always the last game of the season.
07:45The one after the league campaign had finished.
07:48And it was a weak build-up.
07:49A weak build-up to the Cup final.
07:51You knew everything about every player, what they'd been doing, what they'd been eating.
07:55And, you know, it was always so, so very special.
07:59And then, the day of the game, from 8 o'clock in the morning, the TV cameras were there,
08:04following every move of every player that was participating.
08:08So, always, always very, very special.
08:13I don't know whether it was for Paul or whether it was for you.
08:17I think it might have been for you, Clive, back in 82.
08:21And I kind of remember something on Grandstand or one of those things with the whole family there.
08:26Is that right?
08:26Yeah, yeah.
08:28Actually, Paul, that was, I have to say, I had no idea that that was going to happen.
08:32And as we came on to the pitch to have a look around, take the atmosphere in, TV pulled me to one side and linked me to my father,
08:40who was in the stand in the BBC studio.
08:43And then they linked to the bus, the family bus that was on its way to Wembley.
08:49And I had no idea that that was going to happen.
08:51It was, I remember I got a little bit emotional and I came into the dressing room.
08:56Terry Vendel said to me, are you okay?
08:58I said, yeah, yeah, I'm fine.
08:59I'm absolutely fine.
09:00But it was just such a momentous occasion.
09:04I'd just turned 21 on the Thursday.
09:07And obviously, this was my first FA Cup final appearance.
09:09So, yeah, I'll never remember, I'll never forget it.
09:13But I do remember that it was just a little bit off point because it was so unusual.
09:18I'd never, never been in that situation before.
09:21See, these days, can you imagine that you'd get a TV company would do that?
09:26Like, they'd have to go through hoops.
09:27They'd have to speak to people.
09:28Is this going to be okay?
09:29Is this going to be allowed?
09:30So you think that affected your performance then?
09:32Not my performance because I was, once we, you know, once you walked out Wembley,
09:38up the tunnel at Wembley, out onto the, you, you, you were in the zone.
09:42There was no doubt about it.
09:43But just, just for, I would have said for five, 10 minutes before I'm going back into
09:48the dressing room, I was just a little bit, you know, what, what, basically what's going
09:52on here.
09:53It's just incredible.
09:54Absolutely incredible.
09:55And what was, what was it like walking through the old tunnel at the old Wembley?
10:00Because it always makes me, you're in there and the dressing room, it's quiet.
10:04And then you hit this wall of noise.
10:06Is it like nothing you've experienced or have since?
10:08Yeah.
10:09Because, because it's a long walk up, Paul, it was probably at least a hundred yards from
10:13coming out the dressing room doors at the bottom of the tunnel, lining up in the tunnel,
10:18a concrete tunnel.
10:19So I always remember that the, the noise of the studs on the concrete as well, as you
10:24marched, as you marched up.
10:26You could hear the fancy ball on the TV as well.
10:28Yes, you could hear it.
10:29Yeah, that's right.
10:30And then you get three quarters of the way up and obviously the other end of the stadium
10:35see that you're emerging and then the whole place lights up.
10:38You see, it's very, very special.
10:41See, that's the difference I think with the new Wembley.
10:43I don't think they took those little things into account because they were just part of
10:48those things that made FA Cup special.
10:50That walkthrough, it's much shorter than it used to be.
10:53The steps, everything.
10:54I don't know whether it was just because I was a kid and it seems magical.
10:57And again, when we look back, always things seem better than they actually were, but it
11:02did seem almost more special than now, do you think?
11:06Yeah, it was, it was just, just so unique.
11:08It was iconic in, in, you never did that in, in obviously your, your, your domestic games.
11:15And when Wembley was Wembley, there was no other, there's no other stadium and there was
11:19no other environment like that.
11:21Um, and obviously with the FA Cup final being, being the pinnacle, it really was.
11:27Wasn't there sand behind the goal?
11:28I sort of remember like a semi-circle of sand that you'd walk across before you got to
11:33the pitch.
11:33You, you walked across the dog track and then the sound and then out onto the pitch and
11:39across to the side of the goal, right the way across one half of the pitch before.
11:45And, and on that occasion, before we met Princess Diana.
11:48Yeah.
11:48Well, can you imagine, though, them racing greyhounds at Wembley stays a couple of weeks
11:53from the Cup final.
11:55But they can go for it.
11:56Anyways, um, Crystal Palace, Manchester City then, FA Cup final, um, is Saturday afternoon.
12:02I am going to go straight in, Clive, and I'm going to go 2-1 Manchester City because I
12:09think Crystal Palace are going to score, but I think City will win it.
12:12And I'm going to go 2-1 Crystal Palace.
12:14Are you?
12:16I am.
12:17I think, I think...
12:18The fans will love that.
12:20Yeah, they won't love me, but I have to squish your properties like...
12:23But, God, I do have to say, I was very impressed with them.
12:27I think they're in form.
12:28They're very, very confident.
12:30I saw them play Manchester City a month ago and take a 2-0 lead at the Etihad.
12:36Yeah.
12:36Before Kevin De Bruyne had an incredible game.
12:39I think it's going to be a cracking Cup final, but I just feel that Crystal Palace
12:44athleticism, physicality, and the speed in which they break is going to cause City's
12:49defence all sorts of problems.
12:51You know...
12:51Soon won Crystal Palace.
12:52You predicted Man City from the third round, right the way through to the final.
12:58It's only at the final you've changed your mind.
13:01Yeah, yeah.
13:02I thought City, obviously, they were sort of, in their own way, were getting things right.
13:08Things were coming together.
13:10But just on their performance last weekend against Southampton and Palace's performance
13:16against Spurs, it's just tipped me in favour of Palace.
13:20Amazing.
13:20Well, let's hope it's a good Cup final anyway, Saturday.
13:22So once that's out of the way, Premier League is back on Sunday.
13:26We'll rattle through some of these because there's a lot of games that don't really resonate
13:31that much with many people.
13:33But we should mention certainly Everton versus Southampton, and this is the final game at
13:38Goodison before they move to the new stadium.
13:41It's the perfect opponent for them to play, isn't it?
13:45Because you want to get...
13:45It is.
13:46...to out and get a really good win.
13:48Yeah, I can't see Southampton spoiling the party.
13:52I really can't.
13:53Although they defended resolutely against City last weekend.
13:58I saw something, Paul, that I've never seen in a football match in the start of that game
14:03against Man City.
14:04Kick-off was taken.
14:05The ball went backwards.
14:07City took kick-off.
14:08The ball went backward to Edison.
14:11And Southampton went backwards to their 18-yard box.
14:14And they said, right, can you beat us?
14:17City completely dominated the ball but couldn't break them down.
14:21I expect them to play exactly the same way against Everton.
14:24But I expect Everton to score a goal.
14:27So I'm going to go Everton 1, Southampton 0.
14:29Well, look, Southampton have got their 12 points.
14:31So they've beaten Derby.
14:32So they're OK there.
14:33It was almost a celebration when they got that with that draw at Man City.
14:36It's funny, they found their groove with two games to go now.
14:41So maybe that will go over.
14:42So you're going to say, what, 2-0 did you say, Everton?
14:451-0.
14:451-0 Everton.
14:46I think Southampton will take that.
14:48I'm going to go too.
14:49Now, the last day, we don't know what's planned for the last day of Goodison,
14:53but we have, between the two of us, experience of the closing of a ground,
14:57don't we, with White Hart Lane, which was eight years ago now,
15:01almost to the day, which was almost the perfect goodbye.
15:05I mean, where does that rate in your career?
15:08Because, obviously, you weren't playing, but it was something you were certainly involved in.
15:12In the first name, you were the first person to walk out on the pitch.
15:16And I remember calling you out and off you went.
15:19And then your dad and your cousin were the second and third.
15:21What was it like for you?
15:22It was extremely emotional, it really was, to think that, you know,
15:27I probably played the best part of my career on that ground, held so many memories for me.
15:34My dad followed me out.
15:36And, obviously, I always remember standing there alongside him, Paul.
15:39I didn't know what to say to him.
15:41It was really weird.
15:43And in the end, I said, Dad, I bet you'd have loved to have played on this pitch.
15:47Obviously, the pitch was absolutely perfect.
15:49And he just looked at me, and I think we were both welling up.
15:53And he just went, yeah, definitely.
15:56It was like, you just didn't know what to say.
15:58It was incredible.
15:59And then, when you turned, there's a rainbow over the East Down,
16:04which was quite something.
16:05It really was.
16:06And, as you say, it was the perfect send-off.
16:08It was amazing.
16:10It was an incredible emotional day.
16:11And I'm sure you won't be annoyed at me.
16:13It's the only time I've seen you in tears.
16:15And I remember seeing you walk off the pitch with those tears in your eyes.
16:17I'll never forget that.
16:18And the rain ever.
16:20And it was raining that day.
16:21And people thought, oh, this is awful, the fact that it's raining.
16:25And it's going to really put literally a dampener on the whole celebrations.
16:29But when the sun came out, and then that rainbow appeared,
16:32which was almost on cue, it was perfect.
16:35So, I hope it goes well for Everton.
16:36I hope they've got...
16:37I'm sure that they'll do the same with ex-players, don't you think?
16:41Yeah.
16:41But, Paul, we must also remind people and Spurs supporters,
16:44we went unbeaten that season quite incredibly.
16:48Yeah.
16:48Last season at White Hart Lane, and we went unbeaten at home,
16:51which was just unreal.
16:53It really was.
16:54That's going to have me in tears.
16:56Out those days.
16:58Right, next one, West Ham.
17:01I have a turn.
17:02So, you're going to say 1-0, I'll say 2.
17:041-0.
17:05Right, this one then.
17:06And this is a really important game as well.
17:09Not so much for West Ham, but certainly for Nottingham Forest,
17:12because they drew with Leicester, they drew with Palace,
17:15they've lost to Man City and Brentford.
17:17And we talked about Forest all the way through the season,
17:21how they've managed to keep it going.
17:22And finally, the blip is coming at absolutely the wrong time.
17:26So, they're in seventh.
17:27They're playing West Ham away.
17:29That win at Old Trafford.
17:31Do we count that?
17:33I mean, it's just that Man United are so bad at the moment.
17:38And I don't know whether they were thinking about Europe,
17:40but West Ham, well, they turned them over anyway, 2-0.
17:43How do you see this going here?
17:45I'm going to say that the Old Trafford result for West Ham,
17:50they'll finish the season strong.
17:52I did say last week on the show, Paul,
17:54that Nottingham Forest had to win this game against Leicester.
17:58Even the draw wasn't good enough.
18:00Obviously, there was the drama at the end.
18:02Thankfully, Owen Innes is okay.
18:04It looks as if he's recovering.
18:07And it's just gone wrong for Notts Forest at the wrong time of the season.
18:11So, I'm going to go West Ham 2, Notts Forest 1.
18:15West Ham 2, Forest 1.
18:18I'm going to go 1-2.
18:19I think Forest will win.
18:21I do think they'll manage to do something there.
18:24I'll go 2-1.
18:26I was talking to insiders and people I know around Forest
18:30that were saying that Maranakis,
18:32there's a very good chance that he,
18:34I mean, as crazy as this will sound,
18:36will get rid of Nuno at the end of the season.
18:40Now, what do you think?
18:41It seems ridiculous,
18:43but it's almost like this man with this power
18:45and there was the, you know,
18:47what happened?
18:48And then, okay, now this is not good enough.
18:51The way we're ending the season,
18:52we can do better.
18:53And I think it would be the biggest mistake, though.
18:55And do you think it is a possibility that M.A.
18:58happen?
18:58Yeah, I would say purely because of his history,
19:04the way that he has hired and fired managers.
19:07Obviously, if they were to make European football,
19:10there is a conflict with his main team,
19:13which is Olympiacos,
19:14that were in the Champions League.
19:16So if Forest were to be in the Champions League,
19:18he has to relinquish some sort of power at Forest.
19:20I think he's done it already.
19:21I think he's already relinquished a certain amount of share
19:25or ownership,
19:26which means that it will be okay.
19:28Yeah, but I think he will still be making the decisions.
19:31And I've got to say,
19:33what Nuno's done this season
19:35has been nothing short of miraculous.
19:37I would say that, you know,
19:39could almost be considered
19:40one of the coaches of the season.
19:43Magnificent job.
19:44And it would be very, very unjust
19:46if he was to lose his position.
19:48Yeah, and it wouldn't go down well with the fans, would it?
19:51I mean, it would be crazy.
19:52But anyway, stranger things have happened.
19:55Right, next game is Brentford versus Fulham.
19:58Eighth against 11th.
19:59So Brentford have had a good season.
20:0255 points.
20:03Fulham, four points behind them.
20:06Won the last four, though, Brentford.
20:08Whereas Fulham have lost the last two.
20:10Yeah, I think that the home form has not been,
20:13they've been better away from home,
20:14I should say, Brentford,
20:15than they have been at home.
20:16West London, Derby.
20:17I see Brentford continuing their good form,
20:20finishing strong.
20:21I think the manager there
20:23has done a magnificent job once again.
20:26They've established themselves
20:28as a constant Premier League side,
20:31I think, Brentford.
20:32So I'm going to go Brentford,
20:36two, Fulham, one.
20:37Right, I'm going to go 2-0.
20:39So I think Brentford will win it as well,
20:40but I think 2-0.
20:41Right, last two.
20:42We've got Leicester City versus Ipswich.
20:44Oh, dear.
20:45So it's the battle of who comes 18th,
20:47I suppose, is what we're looking at here.
20:49So 19th, Leicester on 22 points.
20:52Ipswich on the same points.
20:53It's just a goal difference thing.
20:55Leicester versus Ipswich.
20:56So it's at the King power.
21:00Are they going to be going out?
21:01Is there anything they've got to prove?
21:03I suppose it's just proving as players
21:05that they're worthy to play in the Premier League
21:07and I hope someone else picks them up.
21:08I don't know.
21:08What do you think?
21:09Yeah, I think they've still got things to play for.
21:12I think Jamie Vardy's the story,
21:15you know, his last game at home for Leicester.
21:18Yeah.
21:19199 goals, which is absolutely unbelievable.
21:23He's been, you know,
21:25he's been the talisman for the football club
21:27for so many years.
21:28And you just know with Jamie Vardy,
21:31you wouldn't put it past him scoring his 200th goal.
21:34I just think it would be fitting.
21:36It would be right.
21:37But I can't see anything between the two teams.
21:40I'm going to go Leicester 1, Ipswich 1.
21:43Okay.
21:43I'm going to go Leicester 1, Ipswich 0.
21:46Listen, have we agreed on one today?
21:49We usually...
21:49No, I don't think we have.
21:51I don't think we have.
21:53I'm going to go Leicester 1, Ipswich 0.
21:55Final game then.
21:56Arsenal against Newcastle.
21:58What a game this is.
21:59And this is still...
22:00It's still important because Arsenal will be desperate,
22:04I would think, to finish second.
22:07They haven't been first at all throughout the whole season
22:09because, of course, Liverpool have won that.
22:11We know.
22:12But being knocked out of Europe,
22:14the last thing they want is anybody throwing the,
22:17you know, third in a two-horse race and all that stuff.
22:20But Newcastle are breathing down their neck.
22:23If Newcastle win this game at the Emirates,
22:26they will leapfrog Arsenal.
22:28They go into second.
22:29So, Arsenal 68, Newcastle 66.
22:32It should be quite a ding-dong.
22:35Definitely.
22:37Neither.
22:38I think it's going to be a draw.
22:40I think Newcastle are in form.
22:42They are chasing down Arsenal.
22:44Arsenal will be desperate not to get beaten.
22:47That has to be the priority.
22:48Arteta will want them finishing second.
22:50They'll want them winning the game, obviously.
22:52But I just think, you know,
22:53I just think it's going to be a really,
22:56really tough Premier League encounter.
22:59Both teams going for it.
23:00I'm going to go 2-0.
23:02Arsenal 2, not Newcastle 2.
23:04I'm with you.
23:05We actually agree on the last one.
23:06I was going to say the same.
23:07I think 2-2 is out.
23:08I think there's going to be goals.
23:10And I think it will be a good game.
23:11And I think that would just keep Arsenal ahead
23:15with one game to go.
23:17Clive, we've got a big week ahead of us.
23:19So, if we can have a chat when we're in Bilbao,
23:22and then we'll do a preview of that in the week.
23:25Definitely.
23:26Fingers crossed.
23:27Fingers crossed.
23:29Have a good weekend.
23:30And you.
23:31Cheers, Paul.
23:41Cheers, Paul.