[Football] Should the League Cup be axed?

[hans kraay fan club]

Different definitions of taking it seriously then. Whatever, no point in us trying to win this cup this season, and it bores me every year now. The win over Leicester back in 94 was such a good night, its just a completely different competition now. Focus on the league, the FA Cup and the European trophies

In last season's competition, Manchester City faced Burton. Pep Guardiola picked a team that he considered would be good enough to beat them. He left out his two best attackers, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling, fielded a third choice keeper in Muric, and rested both John Stones and Vincent Kompany.

By your reckoning the City line up, which still included De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sane, Jesus and David Silva, was representation of them NOT 'taking it seriously'.

Luckily for Pep, his risk paid off, and his less than full strength team managed to scrape their way to a 9-0 win.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

In last season's competition, Manchester City faced Burton. Pep Guardiola picked a team that he considered would be good enough to beat them. He left out his two best attackers, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling, fielded a third choice keeper in Muric, and rested both John Stones and Vincent Kompany.

By your reckoning the City line up, which still included De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sane, Jesus and David Silva, was representation of them NOT 'taking it seriously'.

Luckily for Pep, his risk paid off, and his less than full strength team managed to scrape their way to a 9-0 win.

If we'd have played our first team, and comfortably beaten Villa's reserves, would you still be saying Smith was taking thei game seriously? No. Fact is, Smith could play his reserves because he knew Potter would play his reserves. That's what this competition has become, a reserve cup

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

I would make a rule that you cannot be admitted to the League Cup if you qualify for the Champions League. That could be extended to any European football for that matter.

League Cup already clashes with Champions League fixtures, so why not relieve the strain on the Champions League clubs so they have their best chance of success in Europe, and in turn their removal gives the other teams their best chance of a trophy.

It's already devalued, I don't see why having say no ManCity, Liverpool, Spurs or Chelsea would change that really.

Colchester miss out on a great night if you do that.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

If we'd have played our first team, and comfortably beaten Villa's reserves, would you still be saying Smith was taking thei game seriously? No. Fact is, Smith could play his reserves because he knew Potter would play his reserves. That's what this competition has become, a reserve cup

Your continued efforts to portray the two team selections as representative of the same degree of desire to win the tie, are ridiculous.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Your continued efforts to portray the two team selections as representative of the same degree of desire to win the tie, are ridiculous.

Neither side picked their first teams, but we had way more injuries amongst our reserves, and refused to replace them with first teamers. That's the difference

 

[Pavilionaire]

League Cup:

Plusses: Final at Wembley.
Minuses: Third rate competition, poor attendances, devalued by weakened Prem sides, clogs up fixture list.

Football - yet again - is behind every other major sport when it comes to innovation, in particular offering a distilled, shorter, more intense version of the sport. Rugby has Sevens, cricket has 20/20, Golf has the Par 3 Challenge, tennis has Tie Break Tens, snooker has Super 6.

So why not a Football15 Divisional Cup concept to replace the League Cup where instead of watching a glorified friendly the fan gets to see 6 x 15 minute matches contested by 4 teams in a round robin format? You could have 5 groups in 5 venues for the Premier League, 6 groups in 6 venues for the Football League, group winners and best losers progress to the second stage, then eight teams become 4 and then have a finals day on the third and final stage.

All done and dusted in 3 days. Shorter games improves chances of upsets. More matches means more chance for managers to look at different players. The knock-on effect of a T20-style football tournament might also be more attacking football generally.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Colchester miss out on a great night if you do that.

Yeah, there is a price to pay perhaps, but there are 16 other top flight teams including say a ManUtd or Arsenal to give the chance of an upset.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Yeah, there is a price to pay perhaps, but there are 16 other top flight teams including say a ManUtd or Arsenal to give the chance of an upset.

Less big teams for them to draw, less chances and less chances of a money spinning tie.

 

[Wozza]

Neither side picked their first teams, but we had way more injuries amongst our reserves, and refused to replace them with first teamers. That's the difference

Or: Villa put out a team to win. We didn't.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Less big teams for them to draw, less chances and less chances of a money spinning tie.

So you're happy with it as it is? The FA cup deals with all the romance stuff.

Last 6 winners, Man City x4, Man Utd and Chelsea. In that time there's only been 2 teams outside the top 6 even contesting the final.

I think it could be a much better competition excluding the teams that already play far more games than the rest of us.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

So you're happy with it as it is? The FA cup deals with all the romance stuff.

Last 6 winners, Man City x4, Man Utd and Chelsea. In that time there's only been 2 teams outside the top 6 even contesting the final.

I think it could be a much better competition excluding the teams that already play far more games than the rest of us.

Yeah, I don’t have an issue with it.

If clubs choose to pick the stiffs that’s up to them.

Do you think taking out 4 teams would stop potter playing the kids? Unlikely.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Or: Villa put out a team to win. We didn't.

Poppycock. If we had put out our full first team then Smith clearly wouldn't have put out a team to win. He doesn't know our team selection in advance

Potter took the tie less seriously than Smith, but no Premier league manager does anything other than play a reserve side at this stage. That was the best reserve side Potter could pick

 

[Bold Seagull]

Yeah, I don’t have an issue with it.

If clubs choose to pick the stiffs that’s up to them.

Do you think taking out 4 teams would stop potter playing the kids? Unlikely.

A top 6 side has won 17 of the last 22 League Cups. Take the Champions League teams out of it, yeah I think it would transform the competition. I think almost certainly the other 16 PL teams will see it as a great chance for a trophy and not just an inconvenience to the league. I think clubs from lower divisions will also see it as a better chance of success, because as you say PL teams will still use their squads.

Man City played 61 games last season, Liverpool 53. Despite us getting to the FA Cup semi final including a replay, we played 45. Got to even it out a bit. Is it any wonder our top players are shattered when it gets to an international tournament? Take the league cup out of it for them. City would still have played 55 and Liverpool 52 games. No brainer for me.

 

[Weststander]

I would make a rule that you cannot be admitted to the League Cup if you qualify for the Champions League. That could be extended to any European football for that matter.

League Cup already clashes with Champions League fixtures, so why not relieve the strain on the Champions League clubs so they have their best chance of success in Europe, and in turn their removal gives the other teams their best chance of a trophy.

It's already devalued, I don't see why having say no ManCity, Liverpool, Spurs or Chelsea would change that really.

That would hand the trophy to Everton or Leicester, each season.

 

[cheshunt seagull]

I reluctantly voted to axe it. I loved it when I was younger and have fond memories of the 76 cup run but it means nothing now. Giant killings are massively devalued due to weakened top teams. The only purpose it seems to serve is to give people that can't normally afford to visit places like the Emirates the chance to sit in the stadium and maybe see a player they have heard of sitting near the touchline in a tracksuit.

 

[Albion Prem]

it has a use, it should probably go back to the rule limiting the number of changes from the league game.

Its useful for the young players but not for viewing

 

[Wozza]

Poppycock. If we had put out our full first team then Smith clearly wouldn't have put out a team to win. He doesn't know our team selection in advance

Potter took the tie less seriously than Smith, but no Premier league manager does anything other than play a reserve side at this stage. That was the best reserve side Potter could pick

WTF?

Villa's starting line-up was full of experience. Their best players were on the bench, if needed. They brought on (arguably) their star player when already leading. That's trying to win a cup match!

Potter didn't think it was even worth putting Mooy on the bench, FFS!

But enough of this. If you think it was a reasonable, respectful line-up, that's your opinion.

Doesn't change the fact that many fans on here - and, I see, on social media - thought we basically 'threw' the game and will be thinking twice before going to future cup matches.

 

[Southern Scouse]

I would be extremely happy if BHA or LFC won the trophy.

 

[French Seagull]

Good place to use some fringe players, gives non Premier league teams a chance to have some 'glory' also good for their fans. Perhaps a chance to try out new tactics

 

[PWA]

Yeah, keep it.