FA Cup talking points: Dimitri Payet impresses again, Guus Hiddink's FA Cup magic
Sunday 21 February 2016 22:34, UK
A busy day of FA Cup fifth-round action yielded plenty of goals and an intriguing line-up of quarter-final fixtures.
A pair of 5-1 victories for Chelsea and West Ham secured sixth-round ties against Everton and the winner of Monday's Shrewsbury v Manchester United tie respectively, while Crystal Palace slipped past Spurs to book a meeting with Reading.
There were a number of talking points across Sunday as Dimitri Payet continued his fine form for the Hammers, and Emmanuel Adebayor enjoyed his return to White Hart Lane, even if his former employers didn't...
Payet continues to impress
The Frenchman was in inspirational form as West Ham swept Blackburn aside. The playmaker scored two - the first a curling 25-yard free-kick and the second after a fantastic solo run - and created another at Ewood Park, meaning he has now been involved in 17 goals (nine goals, eight assists) for Slaven Bilic's side this season. His latest display led his manager to compare him to Real Madrid star Luka Modric.
"I haven't seen better players than that. He is also doing the dirty work and on the ball, he is up there with Modric from the players I have trained so far," Bilic said. "I have to get some poetry lessons to describe his importance to us."
And, if that wasn't enough, Payet also looks to have quickly struck up an understanding with new boy Emmanuel Emenike, setting the striker up for the second of his two goals to give Hammers fans further cause for optimism.
City's young guns
Manuel Pellegrini caused a stir with his Man City team selection as five teenagers made their full debuts for the club, and it proved a difficult afternoon as they went down 5-1 away to Chelsea's first-teamers.
But there was plenty of promise on display, with David Faupala even marking the occasion with a goal, and despite the scoreline, Pellegrini was pleased with his academy stars.
"I think it's important for young players to play," he said. "They took their chance. I was very happy. Unfortunately, it's never good to lose 5-1, that's why I was not happy about the score, but I think there were many positive things for our young players."
With a Champions League tie in Kiev next week and only 13 first-team players available, the City manager felt he had "no choice" but to make changes, and if they can reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history, he'll have every right to feel vindicated.
Hiddink's FA Cup magic
Guus Hiddink's imperious FA Cup record continued against Manchester City - the Dutchman has not lost a game in the competition as interim Chelsea boss, and Sunday's 5-1 thrashing was impressive despite City's youthful line-up.
Eden Hazard, involved in three goals, was sharp throughout, while substitute Bertrand Traore scored for the second successive FA Cup match and Chelsea have now hit five in back-to-back games at Stamford Bridge. Hiddink ended his previous stint in charge with an FA Cup, and in an otherwise disappointing campaign, the same again would be the perfect send-off.
"The target is to win this FA Cup, we did very well and we deserved to win." said the Belgian playmaker, who is clearly on the same page as his boss.
"I'm a foreigner but we must not forget the traditions of English football," Hiddink said after the game. "The FA Cup is beautiful worldwide so we must be careful not to devalue it.
"There's not much left in the league for Chelsea, to be honest. It's about a very good reaction from the team and to focus on the games in the other two leagues - the FA Cup and the Champions [League]."
Adebayor makes winning return
Emmanuel Adebayor is a player who splits opinion wherever he goes, nowhere more so than at Tottenham. So when the gods of football served up a meeting against his former club, just five months after an acrimonious exit, it was understandably a major talking point.
Stewards inside the ground were instructed to be vigilant in case the former Spurs man scored on his return and subsequently riled the crowed with a well-orchestrated celebration. After all, he has previous. Subjected to jeers with every step, he made an understated, yet mature, return as Palace reached the last eight.
"Adebayor was terrific on the out ball," Palace boss Alan Pardew glowingly remarked after the game. "He's brought an experience and calmness to some of our offensive play. The lads are learning off him, there is no doubt about that. He has been a real credit to the football profession in everything he has done so far."
Spurs switch focus
Tottenham saw their challenge for silverware reduced to two fronts as Martin Kelly's first-half strike edged an entertaining encounter at White Hart Lane, but could it be a blessing in disguise?
Mauricio Pochettino's side now have the Premier League and Europa League, with the prospect of a first league title since 1961 a real possibility.
The Spurs manager immediately switched his focus to the European competition after the game, with Thursday's second-leg against Fiorentina, poised at 1-1, described as a "cup final".
"We were a little bit unlucky and we need to accept that. We need to be ready for Thursday," Pochettino said. "This was a competition that would have been exciting for us if we had gone far, but every team we play has tough players and every game is like a cup final for us.
"In one month, we have 10 games and that is very difficult for the team. But that is no excuse."
Their title rivals all face busy periods too, but Spurs have avoided the fate of Arsenal, who face the prospect of a fifth-round replay in Hull after their home draw on Saturday. Of course, they can say at least they are still in the competition, but with games coming thick and fast, the Gunners may find themselves thinly stretched.
