Who really wants to win the Carling Cup?

The third round of the Carling Cup will take place over the next couple night of nights and some big teams may be taking it more seriously than in past years.

In past years the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool probably wouldn’t have cared much for the Carling Cup. This year could well be different.

Trophy

It seems its becoming harder and harder to win a trophy for Arsenal’s hapless boss Arsene Wenger. The club thought they had secured their first trophy in five years as they lined-up to face Birmingham in last years Carling Cup final.

However a late defensive mix-up cost the Gunners a goal and the trophy. Some might say that was the start of the clubs downfall. Their season then fell apart. With all his problems in the Premier League Wenger can’t afford to lose at home to League Two Shrewsbury.

Wenger may field his reserves tonight but the Carling Cup is probably the clubs best chance of a trophy this season. They are not good enough to win the Champions League or the Premier League. So the Carling Cup and the FA Cup are their best chance of winning silverware this season.

Nightmare

Liverpool endured a nightmare at Tottenham, having two players dismissed and losing 4-0. Their defeat at Tottenham showed that they are not quite ready to challenge for the Premier League title and they are not in Europe, so the domestic cup competitions will be their only chance of silverware as well.

Win

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has admitted that he wants to win the Carling Cup, but will change his side around slightly for his teams visit to Stoke. However he has stated that he will include the likes of Sebastien Bassong, William Gallas and Roman Pavlyuchenko in his starting eleven.

Unlike the Europa League then, Redknapp is not going to play his kids in this competition. He seems to really want to win the competition, despite it not being his priority.

Middle

Then you have the teams who have started the season in decent fashion, the likes of Everton, Aston Villa and Newcastle. All three have very winnable ties against clubs that are currently struggling.

Everton host West Brom at Goodison Park and are probably going to field a relatively strong team. West Brom boss Roy Hodgson is likely to field a weakened side with his team currently bottom of the Premier League table. The Carling Cup is definitely not Hodgson’s priority right now.

For Everton though a good cup run could do wonders for morale and I’m sure Everton boss David Moyes wouldn’t turn his nose up at the European place that winning the trophy would bring.

Aston Villa also host a Premier League struggler in Bolton at Villa Park. The Trotters are just one place better off than West Brom in the table and struggling to find any sort of form. Villa boss Alex McLeish will see this as a good opportunity to progress into the next round.

Newcastle visit Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest in the third round. Forest have made a nightmare start under new boss Steve McClaren.

They are currently third from bottom in the Championship and couldn’t win a raffle with the winning ticket at the moment. This has a Newcastle win written all over it but you never know.

Reserves

Premier League title challengers Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are likely to field their reserves in the Carling Cup. However some of the players that those clubs have in reserve is frightening.

A lot of the players that would be considered Manchester City reserves would get into the majority of  Premier League teams. And Manchester United are set to field the likes of Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs when they visit Leeds. Not bad reserves I have to admit. So the big clubs aren’t completely writing the Carling Cup off.

Serious

The majority of Premier League teams should take the Carling Cup seriously, as it may be their only hope for silverware this season. It also carries the added bonus of European football. A fact which seems to annoy Premier League bosses rather than attract them.

However the fans love European football and the crazy excursions it sometimes takes them on. I certainly wouldn’t mind my club winning the trophy and I’m sure there’s a whole host of fans from other clubs hoping their club can bring the trophy home as well.

Does the Carling Cup matter to Premier League clubs?