Carling Cup

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I'd love a cup run. Let's go all the way. Final. Win it. Add another trophy to the cabinet.
 
Strange isn't it..? I feel the same about the Cups, FA or League, as a few others, at the moment. They are a distraction I would merely use to experiment with line-ups. Of course, I'd want to win the matches in order to experiment more, but I'd be keeping my best players in check, and just wnat them to go out to express themselves, and no over-taxing it. If we lost, well it would be a lost opportunity to experiment. I do wonder how Saints themselves see the Cups. If we weren't in such a headlong pursuit of promotion to the top, then I'm sure Saints would give them the utmost effort and importance. In fact, I'm betting we'll begin to take both competitions more seriously when the Premiership goal is reached and made secure. Until then, they are a remote second place, if I reason Saints goals correctly.

If Saints were a smaller club, with smaller and vaguer ambitions, I would expect to see them place equal importance with the league. But really, we can't be deflected from the main purpose, at present. It must be 100% for promotion and good exercise for the squad in the Cups.
 
The cups are quite important for us this year. It allows us to keep players that aren't getting first team action happier. People like Holmes, Forte and of course Bart are useful, so giving them a run in the cup is good for the whole squad. With a limited subs bench in the league now not really helpful for a club of our size. Plus the cups allow 7 subs (well the league cup does at least) so gives the youngsters a spot here and there. Adkins said himself that keeping the whole squad happy this season will be more difficult than last due to the subs reduction.
 
Back then yes. But now the Cup is used to give squad players a game for most clubs and its not really taken that seriously.

Until it gets upto the sharp end. Note, the names of the winners on the League Cup. They were invariably in the Elite League when they won it. They still are. So it gains importance. Even the FA Cup starts off modestly.

Hey, even the League itself starts off modestly for some, which I always find astonishing. You've heard them. They say things like, oh it's only early in the season..! As if the first few games don't have equal importance, towards the league position at the end of the season, as the last few games.