I was just chuckling over this with my other half:- Does anyone find the advanced notice of numbers allocated to teams a bit pointless? She's just told me that Ipswich are number 21 and I decided the only benefit of this knowledge is a time saving of a second between the words "number 21" and "Ipswich Town." Was this always the case? Certainly, I don't remember knowing ball numbers in the 90s. For all the failings of the FA, the incorruptibilty of the ball numbers can be relied on?
They have to make it public so they cant be accused of fixing the draw. Id rather they do that than go through an excruciating FIFA draw where they take a bit of paper out of every ball.
I'd prefer United to Crewe - at least we'd have a ready-made excuse for crashing out!!! Now, if anyone can remember a number we had, from the last millennium, when we troubled the latter stages (past round 4) then we could get superstitious about it....
Surely this year we would rather plough all our resources and energy into the league...so a big fun away day to Villa, or Old Trafford or the Etihad would be nice. Go knowing we will lose, enjoy the experience, then focus back on the league.
The third and fourth rounds are in the NPC calendar so I will hope for a bit of a run. History's against us (recent history at least) but I can't hope for an exit when it might have a knock-on effect in the league especially if we get humiliated by one of the big teams. No injuries or suspensions though!
What a shocking set of draws so far, man u on TV yet again. Let's see if we get a northern team away. Edit, yes we did as always. Citeh on TV too. Spurs arsenal too. Surely ITV can't have man u on ahead of the north London derby.
Everton away - tasty draw that will show us where we are at with our squad development. Hopefully a good game against good opposition.
At least not Port Vale away and the usual ignominious exit - could be an entertaining match for us to look forward to.
We've only drawn northern teams away in the 3rd round 3 times in last 9 years (Before that we were in 1st round) so it doesn't happen that often. Looking forward to this game actually.