Great reasons for the Capital One Cup’s existence.
I don’t think that there have ever been two games that have shown off the unpredictability of English football, and the value of the Capital One Cup in the English game.
Thankyou very much Reading, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.
There are many, myself included, who have branded the competition as a ‘Mickey Mouse’ cup, and would sometimes even taunt fans for winning it, which is ridiculous for a major trophy in the home of Football. With weakened teams played, and often smaller crowds, it sometimes looked like even the players didn’t really care when it came to the League Cup (changes of sponsors, although necessary may not help fans believe it is completely serious.)
Tuesday and Wednesday night were reasons for its existence though. A breath of fresh air from a stressful league campaign, and European campaigns for several teams, and with managers such as Arsene Wenger claiming “it is not a top priority”, this has led to two unbelieveably open games of Football.
While I wouldn’t go as far to say as Managers, players and fans alike don’t ‘care’, I would say that all three of these groups don’t see the League Cup as being as important. This leads to open games of football from the Managers and players point of view (nothing to lose attitude as they may think that going out of the Cup is not exactly a loss), and allowing fans to enjoy the game more as there are no points on offer, and it’s usually not their first team on show (although the topsy-turvy nature of both games probably didn’t do fans’ hearts the best of good).
The top dogs at Sky will certainly be happy with their match choices, 21 goals from two televised games is simply remarkable (as was some of the defending on show – felt sorry for Scott Wooton). There were some other examples of the Capital One Cup showing its class though. Two teams made history of their own in the competition by reaching quarter finals for the first time. Swansea going to Liverpool, managed by former boss Brendan Rodgers, and seemingly giving them a ‘footballing lesson’, dominating possession and deserving a 3-1 win at Anfield. Norwich came from a goal down against high fliers Tottenham and scored two in the last five minutes to claim a famous victory at Carroll Road.
Would all these results, and the way they happened especially, have happened in the Premier League? I doubt it.
Elsewhere there was a great win for Bradford at Wigan, an entertaining end to the game at County Ground resulting in a narrow 3-2 win over Swindon for visitors Aston Villa, and a struggling Southampton unable to turn around League form, losing 3-0 to Championship side Leeds at Elland Road.
I said yesterday in a post after the Arsenal game that I loved the Capital One Cup, and while I don’t wish to repeat myself…screw it.
I LOVE IT.
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