So, round 1 of the Carling Cup has taken place and as we aren't in Europe this year, we now enter at round 2. What's everyones views on the Cup in general? Normally it's seen as a competition to use the yougnesters and fringe players as Europe, FA Cup and the league is far more important but without Europe this year would you like to see us take this far more seriously, or still use it to try the fringe/young players? It's been a few years without a trophy and as a lot of the teams don't take it too seriously I think it would be an excellent chance to get a peice of silverware. I'd still like us to try a few youngers players like Coady, Robinson, Shelvey possible Sterling if we are playing a weaker team, but not all at once and certainly have a few senior players in there with them to help them along.
I think we should take this cup more seriously this season. Build a team with a mix of younger players and the more experienced players. It's a cup we can win and I want to win it.
Id like us to go all out to win it and like you say play the youngsters, mixed with a bit of experience. Been some shocks tonight - Hull out, Ipswich out, Portsmouth out, Derby out.
Would like to see us play strong sides maybe one or two kids but no more. Ok so it's not the most important trophy but it is a damn sight more important than the trophy we won last season.
I would like us to take seriously every competition we play in- I always have. CC is a good place to bring on young players but not at the expense of a good run, IMO. Absence of European competition gives us the opportunity to put more effort into the domestic cups and I think we should try to win them both. Besides, I'll go spare with only one match a week to look forward to.
I'd like us to win it, it could be the catalyst that carries the squad over the finish line to the title or into the top 4, depending where we are at that moment in time. When we won it in 2001 I reckon it gave us that winning mentality that most teams usually lack and that the Man Utd's and Chelsea's of this world have. Also how many of our current squad has actually won anything with us? Reina, Carra and Gerrard are the only ones I think? We really need to get our players into the habit of winning trophies, and this is the perfect cup to kickstart our revival.
we should look to win this, this season. We need a trophy (I don't care which one). Every game is a bonus this season
I think we're in desperate need of a trophy, whichever trophy it is. I'd like to see a mix of youngsters and first team players.. perhaps something like this for example: -------------------Reina-------------------- --Flanagan----Skrtel---Wisdom-----Insua---- --------------Lucas----Coady--------------- ---Hendo--------Meireles--------Sterling----- -----------------Ngog?---------------------- And an obvious bench of first team players just in case. Ngog up front is obviously the weakest link, Morgan could perhaps be used.
Seeing Arsenal lose the Carling Cup last year I think it is important to take this competition seriously. Especially when we haven't won any silverware in 6 years by then.
beleive me other teams take this seriously!!! man utd last year wanted to break our 4 in a row reocrd, such is the obsession ferguson has with us. they were all out for the past years for it and arsenal will be too. we better not play kids cos those kids have their own tournament to play in europe this year, only one or two max should play... please god no cobbled together sides that never play together regulalry please.... just one or two coming in to rest vital players who will be on the bench ready just in case.
We've just been drawn away to Exeter. Interesting tie, would have prefered a game at home but should still be able to overcome them with a few youngester thrown in for the experience.
I would pick the best 11 players available minus the 11 guys that didnt figure in the league match a few days before For example, If Johnson and Enrique play in the league, I would play Aurelio and Kelly in the League Cup, not Robinson and Flanagan say The like of Robbo and Flano have the youth champions league and reserves to play in. And we need to keep the better guys match fit , who are closer to the 1st 11, just in case they are needed , because one of our League/Best 11 is unavailable
Agreed. That way also, you keep them happier. They may not be extremely happy playing in the Carling Cup, but at least they know they're close to the starting XI and will fight hard to bridge that gap even more.
I'm a red that lives in Exeter, so this is a dream draw for me. Get to see my heroes without the usual 500 odd mile round trip. Which is nice!
We have to take all competitions seriously including this. A real opportunity to land some silverware, Exeter away not easy, but it could have been worse.
Success breeds success. Don't mind what hypocritical Man United fans say, Its only a mickey mouse cup when they don't win it. I reckon we should go all out in the domestic cups.
