League Cup

[vcmazz]

What a farce of a competition this has become. How can Liverpool have two games in (supposedly) two senior tournaments in different parts of the world in the same 22 hours? How can people take it seriously when Liverpool send some children to Aston Villa to get stuffed 5-0? Time to put an end to this nonsense now surely?

The FA Cup ain't much better. Cup football used to be great. I used to love it. Proper first teams, always the chance of a giant killing, crowds on a par (if not better) than league games. Now, I don't even bother checking the score. Since Arsenalgate, I really couldn't give a monkey's. Unless you're playing someone like Manchester United (Reserves) you're lucky if a third of the usual crowd turn up. Even the 'giant killings' are meaningless now because Blyth Spartans are never going to play a real league team.

Clubs just moan about there being too many fixtures and play 'strong ' teams instead of real teams because apparently, finely tuned mega-fit professional footballers on 50k a week can't actually play football for three hours during that week or they will burn out. So why bother anymore? Time to scrap cup football? There are reserve teams (sorry, development squads) for the reserve players to get match time. Cup football is just shocking these days.

 

[ruislip bee]

What a farce of a competition this has become. How can Liverpool have two games in (supposedly) two senior tournaments in different parts of the world in the same 22 hours? How can people take it seriously when Liverpool send some children to Aston Villa to get stuffed 5-0? Time to put an end to this nonsense now surely?

The FA Cup ain't much better. Cup football used to be great. I used to love it. Proper first teams, always the chance of a giant killing, crowds on a par (if not better) than league games. Now, I don't even bother checking the score. Since Arsenalgate, I really couldn't give a monkey's. Unless you're playing someone like Manchester United (Reserves) you're lucky if a third of the usual crowd turn up. Even the 'giant killings' are meaningless now because Blyth Spartans are never going to play a real league team.

Clubs just moan about there being too many fixtures and play 'strong ' teams instead of real teams because apparently, finely tuned mega-fit professional footballers on 50k a week can't actually play football for three hours during that week or they will burn out. So why bother anymore? Time to scrap cup football? There are reserve teams (sorry, development squads) for the reserve players to get match time. Cup football is just shocking these days.

Can't agree more Mazz. I don't want us to risk our stars against Stoke. First time ever I've felt like that about the FA Cup.

 

[Hampshire Bee 2018]

I don’t think Oxford or Colchester fans would agree that cup football is dead tonight. Everton and Leicester are also playing tonight and both have started extremely strong sides.

 

[liverbee]

Ok. Why not scrap the WCC then? Even though Liverpool took a late lead. It’s bullshit. I think there was a genuine competitive game yesterday between two sets of players. One was better than the other. What’s the difference? The supporters enjoyed it, including the Liverpool supporters who attended , even though they wouldn’t have enjoyed the score line. Some times sport throws things up. A football match is not a meritocracy. It’s a game.

 

[liverbee]

By the way, that was not even Liverpool’s strongest starting lineup tonight. Not far off it and some useful squad players. I accept players need to be rested against Stoke. I would suggest that we are not under quite as much pressure as Liverpool though.

 

[vcmazz]

Can't agree more Mazz. I don't want us to risk our stars against Stoke. First time ever I've felt like that about the FA Cup.

I'd completely forgotten we were playing Stoke. I'd just put a programme seller's eleven out myself. :shrug:

 

[vcmazz]

I don’t think Oxford or Colchester fans would agree that cup football is dead tonight. Everton and Leicester are also playing tonight and both have started extremely strong sides.

Strong. But not real. Which means if Oxford or Colchester win, they haven't really beaten either of the Manchesters, but a 'strong' representation. If their fans want to pretend they have then fine, let them enjoy it. But they haven't. That for me makes it pointless.

 

[kevalutonbee]

Said this elsewhere but the competition is called the Football League Cup.

Six of the teams aren't in the Football League.

BTW yes I do realise without the EPL teams in it the sponsorship it attracts would make it like the Checkatrade Trophy on steroids.

 

[RoyBee]

Both cups completely devalued- couldn’t care less about either.

 

['Ayes B]

Its cupslike the FA Cup and the league cup that keep lower league (and even non league football alive.

The question is... what competition has the most benefit to the country.

Personally I feel that the FA should stick up for tradition and the good of our domestic game by stating the that our teams can not enter.

IF the powers that be deam the new competition to be really beneficial then they should create their own schedule by cutting international breaks (friendlies) and the amount of teams qualifying for the Champions leagie

 

[The Pipe]

I believe discussions are ongoing about expanding the Champions League and Europa Cup which will necessitate additional fixtures and therefore cause further fixture congestion.

It follows, as night follows day, that over time there will be further erosion of the importance of firstly the League cup and then the FA cup.

Ultimately I would imagine they will have similar impacts as most of the European internal cups within the next 5 years.

Once again the face of football is changing the excitement of the FA cup has largely vanished, nobody really gives a toss about the League Cup and if you listen to the various radio programmes it seems football didn’t exist prior to the Premier League

I have loved my 60 plus years of watching Brentford and am very envious of supporters who have started their journey in recent years and are watching some of the best football ever to graced Griffin Park. Having made the decision, following my Mums death, to no longer go to watch football I have to say that I don’t actually miss it and put it down to the gradual disillusionment caused by the Premier League and the obscene amount of money swishing around in the game

I also have some sympathy for the generations of fans who have never experienced the true excitement of the cups and who also demand success as a god given right, listen to the phone ins, or at times on here, with fans making demands with no real conception of any financial implications because that is the message force fed by the likes of Talk Sport

Probably because I am old, and less tolerant, but the football of today is so different to my youth. Technically much better but without any natural interaction between players and fans and as such in my opinion is far less enjoyable.

I would imagine that whilst my overall disillusionment with football might be a minority viewpoint it will strike a chord with a few of a similar vintage

 

[Hullbee]

I'd completely forgotten we were playing Stoke. I'd just put a programme seller's eleven out myself. :shrug:

Agree with Tidy protecting the back four

 

[nick logan]

I'll enjoy the 2 legged Manc derby semi final whilst you all watch corrie instead

 

[Herbert]

What a farce of a competition this has become. How can Liverpool have two games in (supposedly) two senior tournaments in different parts of the world in the same 22 hours? How can people take it seriously when Liverpool send some children to Aston Villa to get stuffed 5-0? Time to put an end to this nonsense now surely?

The FA Cup ain't much better. Cup football used to be great. I used to love it. Proper first teams, always the chance of a giant killing, crowds on a par (if not better) than league games. Now, I don't even bother checking the score. Since Arsenalgate, I really couldn't give a monkey's. Unless you're playing someone like Manchester United (Reserves) you're lucky if a third of the usual crowd turn up. Even the 'giant killings' are meaningless now because Blyth Spartans are never going to play a real league team.

Clubs just moan about there being too many fixtures and play 'strong ' teams instead of real teams because apparently, finely tuned mega-fit professional footballers on 50k a week can't actually play football for three hours during that week or they will burn out. So why bother anymore? Time to scrap cup football? There are reserve teams (sorry, development squads) for the reserve players to get match time. Cup football is just shocking these days.

League cup went out the window years ago.

Doesn't, didn't, and never will hold a candle to the fa cup, of which the fa seem intent on destroying