The ESPN FC crew react to Louis van Gaal's comments about his squad after their 1-1 draw against Stoke City.
With a programme full of FA Cup ties, Miguel Delaney outlines four stories football fans should be watching.
United go to Yeovil... and down the beanstalk?
If Yeovil Town's hosting of Manchester United does not represent the biggest gap between sides in this draw in terms of league position, it is one of the closest to a classic third-round tie. A genuine giant, who haven't been all that sure of their footing lately, must travel to an awkward lower-league ground.
Yeovil Town
Manchester United
3:30 PM GMT
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Yeovil manager Gary Johnson couldn't contain his delight at the draw, admitting that when he was watching it with his wife, they "both jumped up in the air and high-fived each other". An actual giant-killing -- or perhaps even a result that ensures a replay at Old Trafford -- would bring an even more intense reaction than a high-five, but the chances look even slimmer than with usual cup ties of this type.
Yeovil have endured a dismal campaign so far, tumbling from the Championship last season to the bottom of League One in this. The flip side is it makes any upset all the more uproarious. The Old Trafford club jointly hold the record for FA Cup wins along with Arsenal -- both are on 11 -- but have not lifted the trophy since 2004, nor even reached the final since 2007.
There's also the fact that the FA Cup probably represents United's only chance of silverware this season, and the opportunity for manager Louis van Gaal to lay down that tangible marker in his opening campaign beyond Champions League qualification. If this is to be the road to return to Wembley, it starts by stepping out at Huish Park.
A little bit of history repeating itself?
Liverpool's trip to AFC Wimbledon has many of the same dimensions as Yeovil-United, but obviously so much more history. The build-up has already started in earnest as this clash represents a repeat of the famous 1988 final. Then, Wimbledon in their old guise brought to culmination one of the most remarkable rises in English history, as their industrious approach shocked a sophisticated Liverpool side and denied them a double. That victory crowned a period in which Wimbledon went from non-league to the top flight in the space of nine seasons, and from the Fourth Division to that FA Cup final in the space of four.
AFC Wimbledon
Liverpool
7:55 PM GMT
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While this in not quite the beginning of the journey given how the club has had to rebuild itself for a similar rise through the divisions after the old Wimbledon was moved to Milton Keynes in 2002, it is the start of a new chapter. This is the new AFC Wimbledon's third-round debut since being founded 12 years ago, and the restaging of that famous final is not the only throwback.
Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool again fancy themselves among the most sophisticated sides in England, but aren't presently the most secure in defence. Wimbledon meanwhile may be a long way from the abrasive "Crazy Gang" days of old, but they do have a spirit and a certain physicality, not least in the hulking Bayo Akinfenwa. In principle, this may present itself as an easy Premier League club win. In spirit, it feels so much more.
Final flourishes
The game between AFC Wimbledon and Liverpool at the Cherry Red Record Stadium isn't the only repeat of a previous final. There's also one from the very recent past, and another from the old days when the competition's magic was really created.
Arsenal host Hull City just months after defeating them 3-2 in extra time of the 2014 showpiece, while Leeds United travel to Sunderland, hoping to overturn the famous result of 1973. Then, it was second-tier Sunderland who pulled off one of the great upsets by beating Don Revie's dominant side. Now, it is Leeds looking to defy expectations, especially as they endure such dismal days at present with so much controversy surrounding the ownership and such poor results in the Championship.
In that sense, a great club enduring such an undignified low point could really do with something uplifting, but they aren't the only ones needing something like that in these final repeats. Sunderland actually stand apart as the only side of these four with some semblance of normality right now.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger placed the blame squarely on his own side following their 2-0 defeat at Southampton.
Ending a nine-year trophy drought last season has not ended the questioning of manager Arsene Wenger, as Arsenal's campaign has lurched from underwhelming result to underwhelming result. Hull have at least seen some upturn in form of late, but sources indicate manager Steve Bruce remains under pressure, and at odds with parts of his squad. Rectifying last season's final would go some way to helping.
Conference contrasts
Four Conference sides remain in the competition and three of them had the fortune of being drawn against a Premier League side. Dover Athletic host Crystal Palace in Alan Pardew's first game as Selhurst Park boss, while Tony Pulis debuts as West Brom coach in a home draw against Gateshead. Wrexham meanwhile travel to Stoke City.
Smaller clubs all getting big days. They're certainly bigger days than that set up for the lowest-placed side in the draw, Blyth Spartans, according to midfielder Stephen Turnbull. He described the Northern Premier League side's home draw against Birmingham City as an "anti-climax." Words like that will make the Championship side try and ensure it feels even more like one. Otherwise, these are the games the round is about: the grandeur meets the grit.
There are also three other all-Premier League clashes along with Arsenal-Hull City, and the pick of them is perhaps Everton-West Ham United. These clubs are experiencing total reversals from last season. Sam Allardyce's West Ham team is currently flying high and close to Europe, while Roberto Martinez attempts to explain away form that has left Everton in the bottom half of the table. There's also the fact both are clubs that have gone far too long without silverware. The FA Cup should genuinely mean so much to them.
They are not the only ones. Newcastle United supporters will at least hope the timing of Pardew's departure at least sees the team try and deviate from so many drab recent cup runs, as they go to Leicester City. Tottenham Hotspur travel to Burnley fresh off their 5-3 win vs. Chelsea, and it would be refreshing if this third round rekindled ambitions of actual trophy glory for so many such sides.
Miguel Delaney
Miguel Delaney is a London-based correspondent for ESPN and also writes for the Irish Examiner, the Independent, Blizzard and assorted others. He is the author of an award-nominated book on the Irish national team called "Stuttgart to Saipan" (Mentor) and was nominated for Irish sports journalist of the year in 2011. Follow him on Twitter @MiguelDelaney.