SMALL HOPE

matches are played in midweek, it will soon fall in importance behind the League Cup.

What will be the FA Cup’s unique selling point? There won’t be one. The competition will be even more of an irrelevance. Even more of an irritant, particularly towards the back end of the season.

Eventually, the fans will shrug their shoulders too.

For if the powers-that-be cannot recognise and protect what remains special about the competition, why should anyone else? IN Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has two English players who could fill places at the heart of his defence.

Within 12 months, he has spent £60million on Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof.

As well as lampooning Smalling this week about his ability on the ball during the leaked tactical plan ahead of last month’s Europa League victory. These are two of our brighter talents. And we are expecting to challenge for the World Cup with these two and the error-prone John Stones?

Mourinho’s actions speak volumes for our chances.