Carabao Cup First Round Draw on Friday, who do you dream of getting?

[1973Blade]

Only one football event worthy of note this week, the draw for the first round of the Carabao Cup live from Vietnam. Personally I have fond memories of a day in Morecambe a few years ago, topped off with a late Neill Collins winner. A repeat would be good for me!

 

[SotonBlade]

I just wish we could go out before it starts. Waste of time.

 

[Harrisblade]

Only one football ever worthy of note this week, the draw for the first round of the Carabao Cup live from Vietnam. Personally I have fond memories of a day in Morecambe a few years ago, topped off with a late Neill Collins winner. A repeat would be good for me!

Let's play WALSALL!
And this time we'll teach 'em a footballing lesson.


Won't we?

 

[Worksop II]

Ho Chi Minh City away would be a laugh

 

[spongebobblade]

Let's play WALSALL!
And this time we'll teach 'em a footballing lesson.


Won't we?

Didn’t we do that last season?

 

[BerksBlade]

Vietnam, you say?

 

[1973Blade]

Vietnam, you say?

As long as we aren't number n-n-n-n-n nineteen in the draw.

 

[BerksBlade]

Odds on a Sheffield derby to spice up a bit of interest?

 

[1973Blade]

Odds on a Sheffield derby to spice up a bit of interest?

Yes, no seedings for this draw. Only the bizarre north/south divide, which doesn't seem to take account of whether a team is actually further north.

 

[KoppedOff]

They may as well just accept and embrace what this thing has become. Nobody cares a toss about it. We all know its where teams give run outs to fringe players and kids. So why not capitalise and make it mandatory that 9 of the 18 in the squad must be under 20? Market it as the “stars of tomorrow” cup or something. It cant get anymore soiled than hosting the draw in the middle of the night in Timbuktoo.

Or just sack it off all together.

 

[SB_90]

Wednesday at home. Start the season as we mean to go on.

 

[1973Blade]

They may as well just accept and embrace what this thing has become. Nobody cares a toss about it. We all know its where teams give run outs to fringe players and kids. So why not capitalise and make it mandatory that 9 of the 18 in the squad must be under 20? Market it as the “stars of tomorrow” cup or something. It cant get anymore soiled than hosting the draw in the middle of the night in Timbuktoo.

Or just sack it off all together.

I think it is a pity that both cup competitions have lost prestige in recent years. Premier League teams are more concerned about whether they finish 12th or 11th. If we won it, it would be my best Blades moment without a shadow of doubt.

 

[KoppedOff]

I think it is a pity that both cup competitions have lost prestige in recent years. Premier League teams are more concerned about whether they finish 12th or 11th. If we won it, it would be my best Blades moment without a shadow of doubt.

For me, I dont like how early it starts. I understand WHY it starts so early, but its like we kick the season off, which we’re all looking forward to and then bang; pointless, distracting cup game. It was worse in L1 what with the 2 pointless early season cups.

Agree with you on the 2 cups being devalued- maybe just having one would give it more prestige? I also think the fact the FA Cup starts half way through the season for 44 teams helps it; a lot of teams are pretty much playing for nothing much league-wise by that point- a nice distraction from week-week league drudgery. An FA Cup run can turn a boring mid table season into a memorable one- has done for us a few times.

 

[DifferentClass]

Pigs or L**ds at home.

We'll probably end up facing Tranmere away though...

 

[8lade]

Didn’t we do that last season?

Is this a good point to say 'Ched Evans'?

 

[spongebobblade]

Is this a good point to say 'Ched Evans'?

 

[SB_90]

For me, I dont like how early it starts. I understand WHY it starts so early, but its like we kick the season off, which we’re all looking forward to and then bang; pointless, distracting cup game.

Was it 2012 when they had the 1st rd of league cup the saturday before the season. I thought that was a brilliant idea because good crowd because it was preferable time & took advantage of early season exictement. Id even go as far to start the season a saturday later. & have the 1st 2 rounds on 2 Saturdays before as will would help with fatigue as your 1 match a week until last week of august unless your knocked out

 

[KoppedOff]

Was it 2012 when they had the 1st rd of league cup the saturday before the season. I thought that was a brilliant idea because good crowd because it was preferable time & took advantage of early season exictement. Id even go as far to start the season a saturday later. & have the 1st 2 rounds on 2 Saturdays before as will would help with fatigue as your 1 match a week until last week of august unless your knocked out

Not sure of the year but I do remember it. Yeah- can see why that could work in theory, as a curtain raiser. But it comes down to the same problems; 1) will a manager play his new signings that the fans want to see, and 2) its great if we draw the pigs, or Leeds or even Barnsley, Rotherham etc. But what if we draw Accrington or Grimsby or Port Vale away? Even at home, its hardly enticing. We’d probably get a bigger crowd playing some mid table Prem team in a friendly. All eyes will still be on the REAL first game.

The other idea would be to exclude Premier League sides- scrap the Paintpot Trophy and turn the League Cup into the proper League Cup; Champ, L1 and L2. Would give sides a chance at winning something theyd never have a chance to, and a game at Wembley. Would be interesting, but will never happen, because take Liverpool, Man U, etc out and theres no TV deal and no sponsorship money.

 

[SB_90]

I agree with that i would take premier league out of league cup as they arent bothered. I would invite scottish teams as well to make up the shortfall

But i think regardless who you get any preseason match on Saturday afternoon would always get more tuesday night. Might be wrong but i thought we got as many as 2012?? As Leicester H last season

 

[TJB.]

I just wish we could go out before it starts. Waste of time.

Disagree. So'ton at home under the lights was a great night to be a Blade. Spurs at home was pretty good n'all besides the result.

 

[DazBlade88]

Accrington, Grimsby, Lincoln, Macclesfield or Mansfield away please...

 

[S64 Blade]

It'll be either Walsall, Scunthorpe or Burton.

 

[SotonBlade]

Disagree. So'ton at home under the lights was a great night to be a Blade. Spurs at home was pretty good n'all besides the result.

Not denying we've had some good runs in it. But when we're looking to improve on last year, it's just another thing to worry about that we're never going to win.

Before anyone raises the FA Cup, thats a bit different

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Let's play WALSALL!
And this time we'll teach 'em a footballing lesson.


Won't we?

Masochist!

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Not denying we've had some good runs in it. But when we're looking to improve on last year, it's just another thing to worry about that we're never going to win.

Before anyone raises the FA Cup, thats a bit different

Oh we could win it though! We really could! But the prize is £100k, compared to £2m for the FA Cup, and £50m for getting relegated from the Prem. That’s the problem!

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Bolton away or home,just so Oztumer can take the piss again.

 

[blade too long]

tranmere

 

[Blade82]

Surely nobody dreams of 1st round opponents!?

I dream of getting nobody until round 3 because we’re in Europe.

But for now I wouldn’t mind ticking off a new ground so Accrington or Lincoln away. Failing that Pigs at home will do.

 

[1973Blade]

Oh we could win it though! We really could! But the prize is £100k, compared to £2m for the FA Cup, and £50m for getting relegated from the Prem. That’s the problem!

I get your point, but when I am 95 sat in my nursing home, when I look back at my years of supporting the Blades it won't be how much money we earnt in a season that I will think of.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I get your point, but when I am 95 sat in my nursing home, when I look back at my years of supporting the Blades it won't be how much money we earnt in a season that I will think of.

And me neither! Totally agree with you.

You’ve missed my point entirely!

What I am saying is that big money changes the focus of a club’s ambitions , wrongly, in my view.

I’d like us to win the League Cup.

I also think it’s even more possible now than ever before in history. Because it’s become less important.

You seem to have got that wonderful Sheffield pessimistic quality that dismisses most things as unlikely or impossible. In life, never mind football, if you believe in that it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.