So the draw is today.
left in it are
Brentford (Only hope is a draw against Northampton. would want Asenaal away for the payday)
Leicester (No hopers. going from bad to worse after 6-0 thrashing last night at Pompey. Will need home draw against non EPL)
Stoke (will be hoping for a home draw. Have a chance against anyone but will want to avoid Man U or Villa)
Newcastle (After the last round, will be happy with anyone anywhere.)
Aston Villa (Houllier will want league success, but a trophy at the end of his 1st season would be nice. will play strong side)
Arsenal (Wenger sees the Carling cup as a means to blood juniors. It works ok in the early rounds but as Burnley proved, not good enough in the later stages)
Ipswich (home, anyone, away anyone outside the EPL and they are a chance of a final
Wolves (McCarthy would see the two cup s as his only real chance of any silverware. Didn't he play a weakened side against Utd in the league to save his player so for the cup last year?)
Burnley (Good solid win against Bolton, and will not fear anyone at Turf Moor. Have a good pedigree in Cup comps in recent years)
Birmingham (Another fringe side who will be fighting for a Europa place this year. Cups maybe not high on the priority list)
Northampton (Away please, EPL side please, kerching)
Man Utd (Sir Alex has no respect for the cup comps, but has the cattle to keep winning them. Expect the same this year)
West Brom (Depends on how they perform in the EPL. Best ever start so far, but it is early day. Might be one of those teams that wins a cup in the same year as relegation)
West Ham (Far too busy worrying about EPL survival.)
Swansea (Would like to emulate neighbours Cardiff's success, but sadly no.)
Wigan (Who cares. Even the lower league clubs will not want an awayday at ghost town Wigan.)
Depending on the draw still a chance for lower league clubs to make it through to the qtr or even seimi finals.
My tips
Winners; Man Utd
Finalists: Newcastle
Outside bet: West Brom
Best chance from the lower league : Burnley (possible semi finalists again)