Every season there are always punters who are ready to splash their cash on the bets that one of the top clubs will win all the trophies on offer.
I am always surprised that every time people are tempted in by the odds offered on it happening because, even with everything in their favour, it is pretty much impossible to achieve.
Even with big squad, the perfect physio and medical back-up, the best in nutrition, it really is something that is not going to happen.
To keep going through the season and stay mentally on top week-in and week-out is too much to expect even from the best players.
Chelsea were the club who looked most likely this time round, but losing to Bradford City is perhaps in the end a blessing in disguise for Jose Mourinho and his squad.
The Champions League and the Premier League will be the big targets, but in just a short time Chelsea face Tottenham in the Capital One Cup final – so the last thing the squad at Stamford Bridge needed was the potential for more FA Cup games and replays.
As the second half of the season unfolds the one team who it will be fascinating to see where their priorities lie is Liverpool.
With players returning from injury and finding their form, they will be in the running for that prized fourth place in the Premier League.
Manchester United are still not that convincing and, with Southampton beginning to look as though they might fade, Liverpool could well be in the battle along with the other serious contenders Arsenal and Tottenham.
However, the Europa League is now back up and running and it is hard to quantify just how much disruption this can cause to a squad’s routine.
As you will all know from going away on holiday, sorting out flights and passports, etc., can take it out of you and when you get back home all you want to do is rest.
While the players travel first class and are well looked after, it is still a quick turnaround on travelling some quite long distances and it is always after European weeks that you get some surprise results in the Premier League.
However, in Liverpool’s case you can throw in another factor that the FA Cup could also be a real priority.
With Arsenal playing Manchester United in the quarter-finals the way would seem open for Liverpool to get to Wembley and they will want to send off Steven Gerrard by seeing him lift the trophy.
