Play the Carling Cup during the international break

[Coledinho]

Why isnt this blatantly obvious idea not put into use. Its a good fit for everyone because

1. Most international players dont play in the Carling Cup anyway

2. Extra gate revenue from the more friendly timeslots. Timeslots could be arranged as to not interfer with any England matches (ie. no games on the same day as England)

3. Extra night games could be played which are always funner/better for the spectator

4. Gives the lower teams a better chance at winning the cup too

FIFA might not be happy but throw them a bit of extra cash you would get from TV rights etc and im sure they will shut up. These games are nothing but filler anyway so why not play them during a time that needs some filler?

I know they play the lower league FA Cup games and all that but for me the Carling Cup is a nuisance. It creates fixture pileup, injuries and little revenue for the teams that participate in it. If FA didnt force teams to play im sure most would withdrawal from it I think a move like this would be the only thing to save it

 

[Godzke]

An even better idea would be to get rid of it altogether. Expand the FA Cup to include two legs if you may, but why bother with the league cup I don't know.

 

[moomba]

Only change I'd look at is maybe making it an under 23 competition.

Don't know why you'd play during international weekends, you'll not only lose a lot of your fringe players, but also your kids that are playing in underage internationals.

 

[jd2006]

One of the better ideas I've heard to save the Carling Cup. I always thought it should be an U-23 cup for top division sides, and this sort of idea almost makes it become that for the top clubs. Only problem is for instance when there is youth internationals at the same time as senior internationals (not sure if this is always the case). Clubs would struggle to field a side if they have say 8 senior internationals, and another 8 u-19&21 internationals. I know not every side in the premier league is blessed to have a squad like ours but it could still be a stumbling block

 

[jd2006]

Only change I'd look at is maybe making it an under 23 competition.

Don't know why you'd play during international weekends, you'll not only lose a lot of your fringe players, but also your kids that are playing in underage internationals.

And just when I thought I'd never see eye-to-eye with you!!

 

[Coledinho]

Only change I'd look at is maybe making it an under 23 competition.

Don't know why you'd play during international weekends, you'll not only lose a lot of your fringe players, but also your kids that are playing in underage internationals.

Would turn the competition into a glorified Youth Cup which would either work really well or turn it into a bit of a reserves competiton with little interest. A good but risky idea really

I think most if not all teams could field a pretty competitive 11 if it was played on the international weekend. Liverpool and Chelsea would be the only two worries id say

 

[Godzke]

One of the better ideas I've heard to save the Carling Cup. I always thought it should be an U-23 cup for top division sides, and this sort of idea almost makes it become that for the top clubs. Only problem is for instance when there is youth internationals at the same time as senior internationals (not sure if this is always the case). Clubs would struggle to field a side if they have say 8 senior internationals, and another 8 u-19&21 internationals. I know not every side in the premier league is blessed to have a squad like ours but it could still be a stumbling block

bingo

Just get rid of it

 

[jd2006]

Would turn the competition into a glorified Youth Cup which would either work really well or turn it into a bit of a reserves competiton with little interest. A good but risky idea really

I think most if not all teams could field a pretty competitive 11 if it was played on the international weekend. Liverpool and Chelsea would be the only two worries id say

Fully fit we would have 14-17 senior players away on national duty. 2 in the England U-19 squad, 2-3 in the U-21 squad. Plus we send most our youth players out on short term loans, would be an interesting XI to say the very least

 

[Coledinho]

Fully fit we would have 14-17 senior players away on national duty. 2 in the England U-19 squad, 2-3 in the U-21 squad. Plus we send most our youth players out on short term loans, would be an interesting XI to say the very least

West Ham however would be at full strength . In all honesty I prefer moombas idea to mine. More or less im thinking of ways to actually improve the Carling Cup and this weekend at the same time. Felt like a good idea for a second there

 

[ShearMagic9]

Or we could just leave it as it is and if the big clubs dont want to win it that's fine.

 

[Benno_900]

Or we could just leave it as it is and if the big clubs dont want to win it that's fine.

Not even Liverpool want to win it.

Already suggested this but scrap the Carling Cup and introduce an actual 'League' Cup where only the EPL teams participate. Lower divisions also have their own 'league cup'.

 

[ShearMagic9]

Not even Liverpool want to win it.

Already suggested this but scrap the Carling Cup and introduce an actual 'League' Cup where only the EPL teams participate. Lower divisions also have their own 'league cup'.

But then who would Northampton beat?

The League cup only includes the 'league' sides. Whereas the FA Cup includes every side in England pretty much.

 

[Ray Nolan]

Or we could just leave it as it is and if the big clubs dont want to win it that's fine.

This.

It is a "major" and if bigger clubs think they're above winning it then it just confirms these clubs are a bunch of conceited tossers.

 

[belfast_bomber]

Or we could just leave it as it is and if the big clubs dont want to win it that's fine.

Belfast Bomber likes this post.

And before any smartarse pulls me up on this because I'm a Manchester United supporter - I might support one of these clubs that doesn't like it, but that doesn't mean I have to stand by my club's decisions right or wrong.

 

[Coledinho]

Or we could just leave it as it is and if the big clubs dont want to win it that's fine.

Small clubs dont even want to win it anymore. Thats the problem.

 

[ShearMagic9]

Small clubs dont even want to win it anymore. Thats the problem.

Rubbish.

 

[Coledinho]

Rubbish.

Well thought out and rational post. How many teams try 100% to win this cup. Tottenham and Villa are the only two that stick out.

 

[ShearMagic9]

Well thought out and rational post. How many teams try 100% to win this cup. Tottenham and Villa are the only two that stick out.

Your post didn't deserve any more of a reply.

Everyone that plays tries to win it - it's just the lesser priority for most of the bigger clubs that are in multiple competitions.

You trying to say that teams lose on purpose?

 

[Coledinho]

Your post didn't deserve any more of a reply.

Everyone that plays tries to win it - it's just the lesser priority for most of the bigger clubs that are in multiple competitions.

You trying to say that teams lose on purpose?

Do you remember Bolton sending over 13 reserve players to play a UEFA Cup tie in order to focus on there relegation battle. If teams lose on purpose like the way Bolton did in the UEFA Cup why the hell wouldnt they do it in a much crapper competition like the Carling Cup

 

[SebastianVettel]

Rubbish.

I'm not so sure it is.

Financially, smaller clubs are better off concentrating on their league position.

 

[Godzke]

Not to derail the thread, but on the topic of prioritising between league and cup, where would Liverpool stand in relation to the UEFA Cup given it's highly unlikely they'll finish top 4 this season?

Do they attempt to win it and milk it financially for what it's worth or do they try to focus on their league position, which would most likely see them win Europa qualification again anyway?

Exactly how lucrative are the domestic and european cups (beside the CL)?

 

[moomba]

None of the cups are worth much financially.

Liverpool will prioritize the league until (if) they get to the latter stages of the Europa League.

Then it will be a chance to salvage something out of the season so the cup would start to take precedence.

 

[Boro]

Basically everyone is only looking at this from an EPL perspective but the reality is that the League Cup provides League 1 and 2 clubs (along with many in the Championship) some much needed extra funds. Cup runs keep these clubs afloat.

Many say that the big clubs don't take it seriously, but that is not the case imo. Since 2004 when Boro won it I believe the winners have been Man United, Chelsea and Tottenham. Hardly small clubs not wanting to win it.

I'll also add that although all you Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona? supporters couldn't give a rats about winning it, being at the Carling Cup win of Boro's was the best sporting moment of my life as a supporter. Better than seeing Australia make the World Cup, better than seeing North Melbourne win a Grand Final etc etc, so despite you not caring I think if a Newcastle/Sunderland/Blackburn/Boro/Birmingham supporter won it they'd be ecstatic.

So, just leave it as it is thanks.

 

[ShearMagic9]

Do you remember Bolton sending over 13 reserve players to play a UEFA Cup tie in order to focus on there relegation battle. If teams lose on purpose like the way Bolton did in the UEFA Cup why the hell wouldnt they do it in a much crapper competition like the Carling Cup

So based on that logic, teams that make the Semi-finals of the Champions League and in the week leading up to it play a reserve side in the EPL, are trying to lose on purpose and don't want to win the league?

I'm not so sure it is.

Financially, smaller clubs are better off concentrating on their league position.

Are you kidding me? So if a Northampton Town gets to go to Anfield and get the money from TV revenue (as well as of the revenue from tickets), it's not worth much financially?

 

[Boro]

Are you kidding me? So if a Northampton Town gets to go to Anfield and get the money from TV revenue (as well as of the revenue from tickets), it's not worth much financially?

Most people in this thread seem to think there are no football clubs below the EPL, so a smaller club is actually Birmingham/West Ham rather than Leyton Orient or Northampton