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After yet again seeing a second-string Arsenal team get thoroughly dumped out of the League (Worthington) Cup this week, and not really giving a damn about it, I'm again left wondering - should the competition be scrapped, or the format changed?
While it was clear that Blackburn were taking it seriously and that their players were delighted, I can't say the same for their fans - the stadium was half empty.
None of the "big" clubs really give a damn about it, and so consequently nor do their fans. At best, the top 4 clubs seem to view it as an extra-competitive 'friendly' match - just a chance for the manager to view those in the squad, who don't play every week, in a truly competitive match. Even when Arsenal were drawn against Manchester United, neither team was remotely interested in fielding a full-strength squad, and on the form of recent years, that would usually be considered the biggest tie possible.
Sure, the League Cup gives you passage into Europe - but only the UEFA Cup. For me, the UEFA cup is the European equivalent of the League Cup. Why? UEFA themselves have devalued it. If you get knocked out of the Champion's League in the first round, you automatically go into the UEFA Cup. So it can already be considered a runners-up/booby prize. And I *know* that I'm not alone in thinking that - Barcelona's fans were distraught at having to play in the UEFA Cup after being knocked out of the Champion's League.
Fair enough, you can only beat the team that your opponents put out - but surely if you win, the knowledge that you haven't actually beaten the best of the top teams must leave a sour taste. After all, to be 'the best' you have to beat 'the best'.
I think the League Cup should be made optional for any teams getting into the Champion's League. Fewer and fewer teams are taking it seriously - even Liverpool fielded a weakened squad this season for the first time, as did Bolton - possibly Leeds too, but I can't honestly remember.
If they were to make it optional for the Champion's League teams, they might salvage some respectability for it - otherwise they may as well scrap it. I don't see any of the top teams fielding full squads again until the format of the Champion's League changes. Even then, due to many top clubs wanting fewer matches in a season, they may still not field full squads in the League Cup, with the reduced Champion's League games being simply an added benefit - more opportunity to rest their squads.
While it was clear that Blackburn were taking it seriously and that their players were delighted, I can't say the same for their fans - the stadium was half empty.
None of the "big" clubs really give a damn about it, and so consequently nor do their fans. At best, the top 4 clubs seem to view it as an extra-competitive 'friendly' match - just a chance for the manager to view those in the squad, who don't play every week, in a truly competitive match. Even when Arsenal were drawn against Manchester United, neither team was remotely interested in fielding a full-strength squad, and on the form of recent years, that would usually be considered the biggest tie possible.
Sure, the League Cup gives you passage into Europe - but only the UEFA Cup. For me, the UEFA cup is the European equivalent of the League Cup. Why? UEFA themselves have devalued it. If you get knocked out of the Champion's League in the first round, you automatically go into the UEFA Cup. So it can already be considered a runners-up/booby prize. And I *know* that I'm not alone in thinking that - Barcelona's fans were distraught at having to play in the UEFA Cup after being knocked out of the Champion's League.
Fair enough, you can only beat the team that your opponents put out - but surely if you win, the knowledge that you haven't actually beaten the best of the top teams must leave a sour taste. After all, to be 'the best' you have to beat 'the best'.
I think the League Cup should be made optional for any teams getting into the Champion's League. Fewer and fewer teams are taking it seriously - even Liverpool fielded a weakened squad this season for the first time, as did Bolton - possibly Leeds too, but I can't honestly remember.
If they were to make it optional for the Champion's League teams, they might salvage some respectability for it - otherwise they may as well scrap it. I don't see any of the top teams fielding full squads again until the format of the Champion's League changes. Even then, due to many top clubs wanting fewer matches in a season, they may still not field full squads in the League Cup, with the reduced Champion's League games being simply an added benefit - more opportunity to rest their squads.
I agree with Dr. Duck, I still laugh at Liverpool's 'treble' too!! UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup is NOTHING compared to: Premiership, FA Cup and CHAMPION'S LEAGUE!!!!
I don't think they should remove ALL Premiership teams, just the teams that qualify for Europe the season before. That way the top teams won't feel tired or have to field weakened teams in the league cup. And they can concentrate more in Europe, the league and the FA Cup.
I don't think they should remove ALL Premiership teams, just the teams that qualify for Europe the season before. That way the top teams won't feel tired or have to field weakened teams in the league cup. And they can concentrate more in Europe, the league and the FA Cup.
Or†ega wrote:
Hows about Premiership clubs just dont play in it all?
Exactly what i was going to suggest.
Although it would edge towards the credibility of whatever the autowindscreens is called these days, it has to be better than the game being a youth squad match for some teams.
There would be less of those non-league - premiership david vs goliath fixtures we all love, but they're always more special in the fa cup anyhow, and there would be more games featuring non-leaguers and 1st/2nd div teams.
No offence to liverpool fans, but i still laugh when they talk about their 'treble'.
Hows about Premiership clubs just dont play in it all?
Exactly what i was going to suggest.
Although it would edge towards the credibility of whatever the autowindscreens is called these days, it has to be better than the game being a youth squad match for some teams.
There would be less of those non-league - premiership david vs goliath fixtures we all love, but they're always more special in the fa cup anyhow, and there would be more games featuring non-leaguers and 1st/2nd div teams.
No offence to liverpool fans, but i still laugh when they talk about their 'treble'.
I think the fact that the Arsenal-Man utd game was played the day after they both played Premiership games ulitmately de-valued the tropgy even more. It was as if the FA have resigned to the fact of the top clubs not taking it serouisly.
Hows about Premiership clubs just dont play in it all?
Give the lower division boys somthin extra to shout about? It was also give a passage into Europe for one of them. As the gap gets wider and wider between the Premiership and the Nationwide, woudnt it even things out if one the lower division teams was given a place in the Uefa cup? Its not as if the Uefa cup is anything special anymore anyway...but heh, it probably never happen.
Hows about Premiership clubs just dont play in it all?
Give the lower division boys somthin extra to shout about? It was also give a passage into Europe for one of them. As the gap gets wider and wider between the Premiership and the Nationwide, woudnt it even things out if one the lower division teams was given a place in the Uefa cup? Its not as if the Uefa cup is anything special anymore anyway...but heh, it probably never happen.
I think it's good though, because it gives teams lower in the league (and in lower leagues) the chance to get some good coverage.
They get some TV momeny coming in, and the chance to play against some big name teams and (possibly) get into Europe through it.
So what if the bigger teams don't take it seriously? That's their fault.
They get some TV momeny coming in, and the chance to play against some big name teams and (possibly) get into Europe through it.
So what if the bigger teams don't take it seriously? That's their fault.
If Rangers and Celtic did enter, the place in Europe would just move to the league. It would just be about money then.
Rangers and Celtic will never be in it, and I don't think they should be either.
Besides, FIFA have already said that they would prevent such a move if the FA considered it.
Besides, FIFA have already said that they would prevent such a move if the FA considered it.
I like the League Cup. Sure, it has not been taken seriously but you still get a fairly good club winning it like Liverpool, Chelsea and Leicester.
I don't want to see it change much, maybe put Rangers and Celtic in it. I would still give a place in Europe for winning the cup.
I don't want to see it change much, maybe put Rangers and Celtic in it. I would still give a place in Europe for winning the cup.
After yet again seeing a second-string Arsenal team get thoroughly dumped out of the League (Worthington) Cup this week, and not really giving a damn about it, I'm again left wondering - should the competition be scrapped, or the format changed?
While it was clear that Blackburn were taking it seriously and that their players were delighted, I can't say the same for their fans - the stadium was half empty.
None of the "big" clubs really give a damn about it, and so consequently nor do their fans. At best, the top 4 clubs seem to view it as an extra-competitive 'friendly' match - just a chance for the manager to view those in the squad, who don't play every week, in a truly competitive match. Even when Arsenal were drawn against Manchester United, neither team was remotely interested in fielding a full-strength squad, and on the form of recent years, that would usually be considered the biggest tie possible.
Sure, the League Cup gives you passage into Europe - but only the UEFA Cup. For me, the UEFA cup is the European equivalent of the League Cup. Why? UEFA themselves have devalued it. If you get knocked out of the Champion's League in the first round, you automatically go into the UEFA Cup. So it can already be considered a runners-up/booby prize. And I *know* that I'm not alone in thinking that - Barcelona's fans were distraught at having to play in the UEFA Cup after being knocked out of the Champion's League.
Fair enough, you can only beat the team that your opponents put out - but surely if you win, the knowledge that you haven't actually beaten the best of the top teams must leave a sour taste. After all, to be 'the best' you have to beat 'the best'.
I think the League Cup should be made optional for any teams getting into the Champion's League. Fewer and fewer teams are taking it seriously - even Liverpool fielded a weakened squad this season for the first time, as did Bolton - possibly Leeds too, but I can't honestly remember.
If they were to make it optional for the Champion's League teams, they might salvage some respectability for it - otherwise they may as well scrap it. I don't see any of the top teams fielding full squads again until the format of the Champion's League changes. Even then, due to many top clubs wanting fewer matches in a season, they may still not field full squads in the League Cup, with the reduced Champion's League games being simply an added benefit - more opportunity to rest their squads.
While it was clear that Blackburn were taking it seriously and that their players were delighted, I can't say the same for their fans - the stadium was half empty.
None of the "big" clubs really give a damn about it, and so consequently nor do their fans. At best, the top 4 clubs seem to view it as an extra-competitive 'friendly' match - just a chance for the manager to view those in the squad, who don't play every week, in a truly competitive match. Even when Arsenal were drawn against Manchester United, neither team was remotely interested in fielding a full-strength squad, and on the form of recent years, that would usually be considered the biggest tie possible.
Sure, the League Cup gives you passage into Europe - but only the UEFA Cup. For me, the UEFA cup is the European equivalent of the League Cup. Why? UEFA themselves have devalued it. If you get knocked out of the Champion's League in the first round, you automatically go into the UEFA Cup. So it can already be considered a runners-up/booby prize. And I *know* that I'm not alone in thinking that - Barcelona's fans were distraught at having to play in the UEFA Cup after being knocked out of the Champion's League.
Fair enough, you can only beat the team that your opponents put out - but surely if you win, the knowledge that you haven't actually beaten the best of the top teams must leave a sour taste. After all, to be 'the best' you have to beat 'the best'.
I think the League Cup should be made optional for any teams getting into the Champion's League. Fewer and fewer teams are taking it seriously - even Liverpool fielded a weakened squad this season for the first time, as did Bolton - possibly Leeds too, but I can't honestly remember.
If they were to make it optional for the Champion's League teams, they might salvage some respectability for it - otherwise they may as well scrap it. I don't see any of the top teams fielding full squads again until the format of the Champion's League changes. Even then, due to many top clubs wanting fewer matches in a season, they may still not field full squads in the League Cup, with the reduced Champion's League games being simply an added benefit - more opportunity to rest their squads.