Do we still need the League Cup?

The Carling Cup sees the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool enter the competition this week. The big clubs don’t generally take a big interest in English football’s third trophy behind the Premier League and FA Cup. Yet I heard Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez saying on my local radio station that he wants to win the trophy but will still rotate his squad for the Reds clash at Leeds tonight.

Squad Rotation

Rotation has been the name of the game for big clubs in League Cup in its many guises. However last season Manchester United won the trophy with a still strong squad. Their penalty victory over Tottenham may not have been very convincing yet they still had enough to clinch yet another trophy. Even the top four’s reserve squads have been stronger than most sides in recent years.

Only the clubs who know they have very little chance of winning any other competition seem to take it seriously. The competition does carry a passport to European football, but even that is not as glamorous as it used to be. Take Fulham for example they decided to field a weakened team in their first Europa League game at CSKA Sofia. Not even European football can convince teams to field their strongest teams.

Competition never taken seriously

I don’t think the competition has ever been taken seriously. It’s had more name changes than a Mafia informant in the witness protection programme, including the Coca-Cola Cup, the Milk Cup and the Worthington Cup. The latter was dubbed by one cynical press member as ‘The Worthless Cup’.

I think that was going over the top a bit as its silverware at the end of the day and I won’t turn my nose up at it if Everton were to win it. It’s also a good competition for young players to gain valuable experience. I remember a young Arsenal team making it all the way to the final in 2007. The likes of Abou Diaby, Denilson and Theo Walcott were all part of that team and are now all first team regulars for the Gunners. Although the Gunners did play it safe by playing some seasoned stars.

Should the League Cup go?

Would it really be that bad to get rid of the League Cup and the extra games? I think a lot of the top sides would be glad to get rid of the much maligned competition, but just like the FA Cup it’s a chance for small clubs from lower league clubs to come to Premier League grounds and cause big shocks. As a neutral it’s great to watch one of the so called Goliaths slayed by David of League One. Coventry, Doncaster and Burnley have been just a few clubs who have caused upsets in the Carling Cup in recent years.

Burnley even went to Stamford Bridge and beat Chelsea last season in the Carling Cup and also dispatched Premier League Arsenal, before bowing out to Premier League Tottenham in the semi-finals. We would lose the spectacle of seeing those upsets and would only have the FA Cup left to watch these fantastic moments of triumphs. I for one would miss the giant killing stories such as Burnley’s last season and I hope we don’t lose those stories forever.