The General Football Thread

Exactly. The only reason we've got to the final two years running is because I don't think any club takes it as seriously as we do, which is incredibly cringe. The priority has got to be promotion, so why are we wasting time with the b team Cup? Even if we ignore how insulting the b team Cup is. FA Cup I can understand, but this is a joke

 

I think it's sweet how much it seems to mean to you lot considering how **** it was a decade ago

 

I think it shows how tinpot we are. Or at least we're acting like we are tinpot.

 

At least it was worth winning when we won it


In all seriouness though, and keeping aside my general dislike of the format, I'm surprised that you've gone all out for it again after winning it last season.

Another day out of Wembley though, and looking at the potential opposition you should get a chance of equalling our record too!

 

I don't think either Salford or Newport Will view it as a joke. Nor will the 40,000 PFC fans who go. This competition is no more a joke than the Caribou Cup, a knock-out cup that, imo, has exceeded its sell-by date.

 

Ouch!!

 

It's been a joke since they allowed bigger clubs academy sides to play in it (and then fixed the draws to avoid rivals playing each other).

Worth remembering that plenty of teams have set all time/post war record low attendances in this competition recently, including your beloved Pompey.

 

Should never look down on a day at Wembley or a chance for a trophy, no matter the competition, particularly as a smaller lower league club in my opinion.

 

I feel the Leasing and Caribou competitions should be merged minus the PL sides.

 

**** that, it's our best chance of winning something!

 

Well all the years the competitions has been running, two finals!!! So much for that. FA Cup is the best chance as the draw is open. Pompey proved it in 2008. Not sure that an underdog has won it since, though but how many sides outside the elite have won the Caribou over the past 20 years or so?

 

4 have won league cup and 2 FA Cup I think.

Blackburn
Boro
Brum
Swansea

Wigan
Skates



Off the top of my head. Happy to be corrected.

 

Exactly. If not for the academies, I'd be a bit like, we're going for it again? Really? Well I hope it does not come back to bite us. Academies totally change my attitudes towards the cup.

 

Leicester might be missing from your list. On that basis alone, then an underling in the PL has a better chance of winning silverware than in the other domestic competitions. However, taking Southampton's track récord since the League Cup was created, Saints have a better one in the FA Cup.

1963 - Semi
1976 - Winners
1984 - Semi
1986 - Semi
2003 - Finalists
2017 - Semi

 

It isn't the existence or the format of the League Cup that is the problem, it's the attitude of the managers towards it. If any Premier League team puts out their strongest eleven each round, they're virtually guaranteed a quarter final spot, and very probably a semi-final spot. Total joke when you see teams like Everton and Newcastle resting their entire first team.

 

Talking of Everton and Newcastle - their success in the League matches Saints. For me, the Caribou Cup is cluttering up the midweek calender along with the internacional breaks, something that we never saw back in the day when the top división had 22 and 42 games. If I recall, everything was done and dusted by the middle of May. I don't think the Internacional breaks will go, so in order to have a better spread of matches, then the Caribou has had its day in its current format.

 

Four months to go until football comes home.

England line-up (if everyone's fit)?

Pickford

Alexander-Arnold
Maguire
Gomez
Chilwell

Henderson
Oxlade-Chamberlain
Grealish (or Maddison)

Sterling
Kane
Sancho

If Maguire and Gomez can form a decent partnership then we have a good chance. First knock-out stage game looks like being against France/Germany though, which is annoying (presuming we get through etc).

 

This is another tournament cluttering up the calender. And for what purpose?

 

Well I like cup competitions and international football. They are my only likely chance of ever celebrating something.

 

What do you want? To just w@nk over the Champions League?