BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

Forget old guard and focus on crying Paolo 

SO that's Fergie's vision for a prosperous future established.

Forget the famous youth set-up that brought us the likes of superstars Giggs, Beckham and, er, Nicky Butt.

Now it's time to raid the local care homes and bring in the old guard.

‘Ah, remember that Scholesy character,' whispered someone to Fergie. ‘You know, the one whoused to chalk up bookings galore and lose possession in danger areas. Maybe now's the time to bring him back. We'll give him a nice cup of soup and a digestive and you watch; it'll be like the old days.'

Alright, he didn't get the card though he still managed to gift City a goal in that Sunday afternoon humdinger in the cup, and was it a coincidence that Becks was also in the stands watching? As indeed was Sir Bobby Charlton? You read it here first. Be honest, you'd give either of them a chance ahead of Anderson.

From the FA Cup to the Carling Cup and Palace against Cardiff which brings us two more Scots in the dug outs.

No wonder the standard of Scottish football is so poor; maybe if the young kids on the Glasgow estates spent more time with a ball at their feet rather than a chalkboard in their hands, and dreamed of being the next Lionel Messi rather than the next Craig Brown they'd start qualifying for a World Cup or two.

Anyway, Cardiff are on a massive up at the moment - I'll forgive them the defeat at West Brom - and I'll take them to earn a lead to take down the M4 for the second leg.

Bet of the week, however, has to be the 11-10 that Swindon win atBarnet in the Paint Pot. Like Paolo di Canio, I'll be crying like a baby if the League Two high-fliers dot up at Underhill.