Carling > The FA.
The Carling Cup is easy to dismiss. Big clubs field their youth teams. Arsenal field their youth team. Neil Warnock praised his team for losing their second round tie. On Wednesday Football365′s article on Six Ways to Save The Carling Cup…And One to Put it Out of its Misery summed up the commonly accepted idea that the Carling Cup is universally despised.
But is the League Cup any less inspiring nowadays than the FA Cup? In the last few years, I have begun to warm towards the competition named after the world’s worst lager. I have found the energetic and exciting players often deployed in the competition far more enjoyable to watch than the uninspired veterans that often fill out the FA Cup teams. Chelsea’s squad last night was a perfect example. Players like McEachran, Lukaku and Romeau are much vaunted talents, who I have been eager to see in action. These players are exciting, full of potential and hunger. Far more interesting than the players we have seen line up over, and over again before.
In fact, the Carling Cup for me now pretty much matches the FA Cup in all areas. Admittedly, the early stages of the Carling Cup draw such poor attendances, the atmosphere suffers. Once teams reach the quarter finals, crowds often swell. Still playing their matches under floodlights, the atmosphere is undoubtedly better than an afternoon kick off. Proof of this can be seen in the ties between City and Utd in both competitions over the last two years. Both of the Carling Cup semi final ties were pulsating and thrilling. The atmosphere in the Old Trafford leg was so infectious you could feel it on your sofa. The tie at Wembley last year however, was a drab affair in contrast.
Furthermore, the Carling Cup matches are genuine knockout games, there will be a winner and loser decided on the night. The prospect of penalties adds excitement to any occasion. The FA Cup’s replay system is antiquated, the high-intensity of the modern game and the congested fixture list means that the competition can be a huge drain on players and managers, let alone fans for whom a replay is the most unsatisfying of outcomes.
I’m not saying the Carling Cup is everyone’s favourite competition. And, admittedly, I chose Valencia and Barca over Liverpool and Brighton last night. But if I had to choose between it and the FA Cup, I’d take Mickey Mouse every time. Besides, that would mean less ITV coverage of football. That is something we can all agree would be a good thing.
- Joe