The season’s end is in sight - but there's no shortage of drama. As Premier League sides chase Europe, survival, and respect, Paul Coyte and Clive Allen sat down to share their predictions for a massive weekend of football - plus two tasty FA Cup semi-finals.Here’s how they see it playing out.
00:00So quite the weekend of sport, and as far as football's concerned, well, as always, we've got Clive Allen.
00:05How are you, Clive?
00:07I'm good, Paul. Looking forward to the next week.
00:10Oh, absolutely. Well, it's a huge, huge week, isn't it, with European games coming up.
00:15But also, we should mention, start with the FA Cup semi-finals.
00:18So I thought we'd begin with that today.
00:21Crystal Palace against Aston Villa. Crystal Palace have never won it.
00:242016 final against Manchester United, they lost.
00:27Villa, yeah, they got relegated, wasn't it?
00:30I remember them playing in the final. It was 10 years ago.
00:33Yeah, under Tim Sherwood.
00:35Yeah.
00:36Under Tim Sherwood, that's right.
00:37I'm going to go straight in, and I'm going to say Villa 2-0 at Wembley Saturday.
00:42What do you reckon?
00:44Well, I do agree that Villa have been in good form.
00:46I think they've shown their strength.
00:50But I just think this might be a semi-final, a little surprise.
00:54And I'm going to go for my old club, Crystal Palace.
00:56Ah.
00:57To win 2-1.
00:58Interesting.
00:59What about the other one, Forest versus Manchester City?
01:02Now, you have predicted Man City all along, haven't you?
01:06Right the way back from the third round, you had that funny Alan feeling there.
01:10I know you did.
01:11So I know you're going to stick with it.
01:12And Forest last won it back in 1959.
01:16So they're well overdue.
01:18Man City aren't.
01:19So what do you reckon?
01:21Yeah, I'm going to stick with Man City.
01:22I did see Man City beat Notts Forest last month, and that was an impressive performance.
01:29A virtuoso performance from Kevin De Bruyne.
01:32I just think City, I'm not saying they've turned the corner, Paul, but I think they've found that way to win games, as they always do at the end of the season.
01:41So I'm going to go a close run theme, but I'm going to go Notts Forest 1, Man City 2.
01:47Okay.
01:47Well, I'm going to go 2-0, Man City.
01:50Let's look at the Premier League, shall we?
01:53Things not looking so good for Spurs, so I'm not looking forward to talking about Liverpool away, but we'll get to it.
01:58Right.
01:58First one, then, is the 12-30 kickoff.
02:00Chelsea against Everton, they've beaten Fulham.
02:02Last win, though, for Chelsea was against Tottenham, April 3rd.
02:06Everton, though, lost to Man City, beat Forest, and they've only won one in six.
02:11So although it seemed like Everton are looking good, I mean, they've drawn three of those games.
02:17It's not quite as great, but Chelsea are in sixth, Everton in 13th, completely safe, going to the new stadium, so they'll be in the Premier League next year.
02:26I'm going to leave it to you first.
02:28What do you reckon?
02:29Yeah, I think this is a fascinating game because I think it's an Everton team that have done well under David Moyes.
02:35I'm saying it every week.
02:37Yeah.
02:37Since he's a rival, an upturn in form, they're now safe.
02:42Their season's probably coming to a close.
02:45So much to play for for Chelsea.
02:47They're sixth at the moment going into this game.
02:50It's a must-win game for Chelsea.
02:52I think it's going to be a really close, tight game, but I'm going to go for Chelsea to edge it 1-0.
02:57Right.
02:57I've got 2-1.
02:58I can't believe we're disagreeing on everything today, but we're not far off.
03:002-1.
03:01I think Chelsea.
03:02You reckon Chelsea 1-0.
03:04Let me ask you this.
03:05When you get to the phrase about players being on the beach, you know, if there's nothing to play for, if you're in the middle of the table, you know, you're just going to see the season out.
03:12There's nothing actually that you can win.
03:14Is there such a thing?
03:15Do players actually think, well, it's all over, or is it just a myth?
03:21I think it's subconsciously that the players feel it.
03:24I'm not sure you approach the game in any different way to you do week in, week out.
03:29As professionals, you're looking to, and as a professional, you want to win every game.
03:33Yeah.
03:34But the pressure's off in respect of having to get a result because you know the position you're in, certainly for a lot of clubs, their season, as I say, is coming to a close.
03:45And players are looking forward to the break.
03:47So, yeah, I think just the edge of your game comes off slightly.
03:52So there is such a thing.
03:53OK, well, Brighton versus West Ham.
03:56I guess we can say it's one of those.
03:58But West Ham, I guess it's like they're very close to Tottenham.
04:04They're fourth bottom at the moment, West Ham.
04:06So it looks, you know, they're fine because we know who's going to go down.
04:10We know it's Southampton.
04:11We know Leicester.
04:11And it looks like Ipswich as well, which is just a matter of time.
04:14And West Ham are going to be OK, but it's been bad for them.
04:18But although they are technically safe, you still really do want to put in a performance.
04:25Because Nicholas Falkroup, now, what did you think about that?
04:28Now, he was having a go at other players.
04:31German wearing his heart on his sleeve and having a go at players and they weren't listening to the manager.
04:36And then Graham Potter saying, well, I kind of get some of what he says, but also disagree.
04:40So he's trying to keep the peace.
04:41It doesn't sound like he's very happy over there.
04:44No, and to be honest, I think it's quite refreshing that Falkroup had the voice to come out and say what he did.
04:51Yeah.
04:51And he was making it perfectly clear to his teammates that they need to do better.
04:58And they do.
04:58The position they find themselves in.
05:01You know, their run of results in the league has been lost, drawn, lost, drawn, lost, drawn.
05:06So, you know, no wins.
05:08The manager's saying they're not playing too badly.
05:11But I just think it's been a very poor end to the season for West Ham and Graham Potter.
05:19So I'm going to go Brighton just to win this 2-1.
05:21Brighton still have a hope of European football.
05:24They're still alive.
05:25They're still playing for prizes.
05:27So I'm going to go Brighton 2, West Ham 1.
05:30See, Brighton haven't won since the 8th of March.
05:32But the way West Ham are, and I'm going to use this for a hate to use a cliche, but Clive, it's a results business, isn't it?
05:39That's what it's all about.
05:40So we're really well saying, you know, people playing well, but it's a results business.
05:43I'm going to go with the draw.
05:44I'm going to go 1-1.
05:45What we mustn't forget, Paul, as well, is every place is prize money in the Premier League.
05:51Does it matter, though?
05:52I mean, does that mean anything?
05:53No, but from a club's point of view, it certainly does.
05:56You know, you win a game, you jump one or two places, that's millions of pounds.
06:00So, you know, it is important to, still important to every club to finish as high as they can.
06:07See, it sounds funny, doesn't it?
06:08I'm saying, you know, does it really matter?
06:10But even just a million quid.
06:12In football terms, a million pounds, it's like, you know, it's when you talk about players.
06:17A hundred million pounds, it's a hundred million pound player.
06:19And any other walk of life, it's just the most ridiculous amount of money, isn't it?
06:25Absolutely, yeah.
06:26But I think we clearly know now that so many clubs are running, you know, on such fine margins
06:32that it's, you know, a place or two jumping at the end of the season with a victory
06:37or a couple of victories going into the end of the season can be very valuable.
06:41Yeah, of course.
06:43Okay, well, we'll go for Newcastle.
06:45So, they lost a 4-1 to Villa, but before that, you know, they were looking terrific.
06:49Eddie Howell, which is going to be a boost for them.
06:52The fact that Eddie, you know, and he was unwell with pneumonia and he's going to be,
06:55he's back now in the fold, which is great.
06:58Ipswich, though, they're playing.
07:01Ipswich are done.
07:02They're fifth, Newcastle.
07:03They've got to get that fifth because it's five places for the Champions League.
07:08They're desperate for that.
07:09What a great, wait a second, it's going to be an amazing season.
07:12Win trophy and also to go into the Champions League as well.
07:15Ipswich down in 21st.
07:16So, I'm going to go straight in and I think they're going to cruise it and they're going
07:19to score four.
07:20And I'm going to say Newcastle, four, Ipswich, nil.
07:23Yeah, I go along with you, but I see it as a 3-0 victory, Newcastle.
07:26So, Eddie Howe back on the touchline after his illness, which is good to see.
07:30I think that will boost everybody at the club.
07:33They'll be looking for a big finish.
07:35They're playing for a big prize, Champions League football.
07:37So, yeah, Ipswich, I think.
07:39Ipswich have been in all their games they've played in.
07:41I think that has done a great job.
07:44They've given their best, but it's just not been quite good enough for the Premier League.
07:48So, Newcastle, three, Ipswich, nil.
07:51Okay, next one is Southampton against Fulham.
07:55I mean, how do you feel if you're a Southampton player?
07:57What are you doing?
07:58Are you just there?
07:58You're just playing for maybe your future?
08:01Is it the future that maybe someone in the Premier League is going to pick you up?
08:04Are you playing for your future at Southampton?
08:06I suppose it's different players, horses for courses, but they're playing Fulham, who are ninth.
08:12Lost to Chelsea, then they beat Bournemouth.
08:14They've lost to Liverpool.
08:15They've drawn with Arsenal Palace.
08:16It's a mixed bag with Fulham.
08:18I mean, they're a good side.
08:19You don't really know what you're going to get, do you?
08:21No, exactly.
08:22I think Southampton players playing for their professional pride, no doubt about that.
08:26It's been a dreadful, dreadful season.
08:29Fulham, I think, are just going to miss out now.
08:32And I just see it being, I think, just a bit of a stalemate.
08:36So, I'm going to go Southampton one, Fulham one.
08:39Okay, let's go for the final one for Saturday.
08:41Wolves against Leicester City.
08:43Vardy, you know, we don't know whether he's going to stick around.
08:46I mean, he's knocking on a bit.
08:49Is he going to play in the Premier League again?
08:51I mean, I know he's probably interested and wants to do that.
08:54Leicester's gone.
08:55Or do you reckon this is going to be off to the States, off to Saudi or something?
08:59Yeah, quite possibly a move abroad for Vardy, who's been unbelievable in the 13 years he's
09:05been at Leicester.
09:05To think they've won the Premier League, he's won the FA Cup.
09:10Obviously, he's put himself into it or moved himself into the England squad on a number
09:15of occasions.
09:16It's been an incredible career.
09:18And difficult to replace for Leicester going into the Championship next year.
09:23But I just see this.
09:25Wolves, five straight Premier League injuries.
09:28Great form.
09:30I think there's just a real good feeling around the football club as they finish their season.
09:35So, I'm going to go Wolves 2, Leicester 0.
09:37Not how you start, how you finish.
09:39And that's really it for Wolves.
09:40So, you're saying 2-0, I'm going to go 3-1.
09:42So, 15th Wolves with 38 points.
09:45Leicester are gone.
09:45So, I'm going to say 3-1.
09:47Right, let's look at Sunday.
09:48So, Clive, Bournemouth against Manchester United.
09:50I'm going to go straight in with 2-0 to Bournemouth.
09:53They've beaten Philly and Drew to Palace.
09:55And we know what Manchester United are like.
09:56Apart from that crazy win against Lyon, I don't see anything there.
10:00So, I'm going to say Bournemouth 2, Man United 0.
10:02What about yourself?
10:03Yeah, so much to play for for Bournemouth.
10:04I think they've come out of that little dip.
10:06I'm going to go Bournemouth 2, Manchester United 1.
10:09Another defeat for Manchester United in what has been a dreadful season.
10:14And we could say that about Spurs.
10:16Man United going for the Europa League.
10:18Spurs going for the Europa League.
10:19Finding themselves in a terrible league position.
10:22But there's still things to play for.
10:24But I think Man U's attentions will be on the Europa League.
10:28And the same thing is for Spurs.
10:30So, playing Bodo Glimt at the Tottenham Oldspur Stadium on Thursday.
10:35But a trip to Anfield is not what you want at any time when you're playing badly.
10:40Not when Liverpool need a point.
10:43Are they going to be waiting for a point in Liverpool?
10:45That's what they're going to do.
10:45They're just going to play defensive.
10:47They're going to try and go for a nil-nil to try and get the trophy.
10:50So, Liverpool, you know what I hate?
10:53You know what I hate?
10:54Going against Spurs.
10:55But I think there'll be changes for Tottenham.
10:58I don't think they're going to be going full out.
11:00Why would they?
11:01Liverpool have got to put on a show for their fans.
