The League Cup

We’ve done well out of this competition in recent years – Liverpool, Everton and Southampton have all had the pleasure of facing the Imps, and we’ve made a few quid from those games. The problem is that unless you do well, almost by accident, nobody cares. Who was in the League cup final last season? I’ve literally no idea. What about 2006? I can recall up to the early nineties, with Luton and Arsenal in 1988 and Luton and Forest in 1989 both standing out, but other than that, it has no relevance.

It’s not even good for lower-league clubs to get a look at big players anymore. How many first-team players did Liverpool bring to our 7-2 defeat the other year? It’s often the kids and a few reserves, and I seem to think Man City have won it by fielding what is essentially their B-team. If I recall correctly, there are even some top-flight managers who don’t even go to the matches these days. Seriously, if we’re looking at trimming the fat from the fixture list, this is it. I know Pete might not agree having seen his side win it, but that’s the way it is.

I think the only other way you could make it better would be to put a Europa Conference League spot on it, exclude any top-flight team involved in Europe from the competition and play it that way. Have the first round featuring only League One and League Two, and then seed the next round so you are guaranteed a decent draw. Have that first round match as two legs, home and away, to make it worth progressing through the first round, and maybe add a bit of prize money for clubs in the early stages to make it worth a League One promotion chaser fielding a proper side. It might also drive Championship clubs to try a little harder in it, as there’s a spot in Europe up for grabs, even if it is the third European competition. At present, they don’t really go for it, do they? Only three clubs from the second tier made it to the third round this season, whereas ten from lower down, including us, reached that level.

For me, this competition died the year we went to Blackburn and put out a weakened side because League Two was more important. However, it was originally dreamed up by Stanley Rous, who believed clubs eliminated from the FA Cup needed additional competition. Perhaps, if it is to survive, clubs not in Europe should be the highest focus.