BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

Cup weekend has got my juices flowing

It’s a wonderful long weekend of cup football starting with Watford versus Tottenham in the FA Cup and all building up to the showcase Monday night event – the second leg of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Northern final.

I know most of the country will be nervously counting down the hours till Oldham battle Chesterfield for the right to face either Swindon or Barnet in the JPT nationwide final but at least there are a few good games to keep us distracted until then.

I’m kicking off the long weekend with a lumpy bet on Tottenham to win at Watford. I know Spurs used to be as flaky as a cream puff when it came to games like this but they’re a much tougher bunch these days.

They showed great spirit to come back from 2-0 down at Manchester City last weekend before Super Mario suddenly turned into Street Fighter.

Watford have had an alright season but they’ve lost their last three in the Championship, which isn’t great preparation for the visit of the third-best team in the Premier League. Even playing at the most holy ground in British football, Vicarage Road, won’t be enough to stop the hot Spurs.

The other Friday-night cup game is an interesting clash between Everton, who are useless at home, and Fulham, who are dreadful away.

The only way this match could possibly be any good is if David Moyes and Martin Jol blindfold their squads, drive them around for ages and convince them that the game is taking place at Craven Cottage.

As people have often said, I’m the best manager England never had.