Can't wait for Wembley

Wary of City"The worry is that the Blues were so poor against Liverpool in their last match that maybe they need a big game like this to shake the multi-million pound cast-list into action."

It's been just another average week at United. The first team tighten their grip on the league championship, march into the last four in Europe and prepare for an FA Cup semi, the Reserves edge closer to winning their league, with a cup semi-final and final on the horizon, and the Academy produce a brave comeback to keep alive their silverware hopes in the FA Youth Cup final four.

With a busy seven days or so behind us, the pace of the fixture calendar shows no sign of slowing up, and it's not helped by the bizarre trip to Wembley for Saturday's Manchester derby. Don't get me wrong, I love commentating at the home of English football. I consider it an honour and an absolute pleasure to do what I do, especially to get the chance to do it there.
But to have every football fan in Manchester traipsing down the M6 is unnecessary. The two clubs are split by five miles of road and fans, players and coaches will have to trundle 150 miles south to lock horns. Personally, I don't think you should walk out under the arch unless you're in the final. Besides, as semi-final venues go, I've heard Villa Park is nice this time of year.
Travel gripes aside, it's fabulous to be in an FA Cup semi-final. For me, the competition should always have a very special place in the hearts of fans of the English game. The fixture Manchester United versus Crawley says everything you need to know about the FA Cup. It contrasts beautifully with
the colossal financial might of the Champions League.
Of course, you tend to see the Uniteds of this world making it through to this stage, but not so Stoke or Bolton and their presence is a fitting tribute to the jobs Messers Pulis and Coyle have done with their respective squads.
Arguably City against United is the final that won't be the final. Two arch-rivals who always - bar this season's early bore draw - serve up a treat. It was interesting to see how the two sides warmed up for Saturday's game. United produced some typically flowing yet robust football to burst Chelsea's European bubble and to ensure that their season ends trophyless. City, by contrast, squabbled and hobbled and ultimately stuttered against Liverpool.
The worry is that the Blues were so poor at Anfield that maybe they need a big game like this to shake the multi-million pound cast-list into action. Both sides will be without their talismanic frontline figures; there will be no Tevez and no Rooney, but there's no doubt which side should handle that blow better. While any side would miss Wazza, United have goals and matchwinners a-plenty. Carlitos is a massive miss for Roberto Mancini.
That said, I think City can be as good as they want to be at Wembley. If they switch on their brains, stop the sulks and engage their feet, it could be one heck of a game. I think United's semi-final experience and superior team spirit will be crucial. For the losers of this game, the trip home will even more irritating than the journey there.