Carabao cup

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I think the EFL Cup was formed in the 60s somebody maybe to confirm on that one. From my point of view I personally think its time to get rid of it, it adds at least one unnecessary fixture to the calendar. Keep the FA Cup and the league.
 
Stu_Blade said:
I think the EFL Cup was formed in the 60s somebody maybe to confirm on that one. From my point of view I personally think its time to get rid of it, it adds at least one unnecessary fixture to the calendar. Keep the FA Cup and the league.
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Fair comment, but personally I would keep the EFL Cup. When we get knocked out early on its easy to think it's a pointless competition, but I remember fondly our cup runs in 2003 and 2015 when we came close to knocking out Liverpool and Spurs.
 
I think the format of this cup needs changing somehow. Yeah it’s exciting when you get to the quarters and beyond, but otherwise it’s a hindrance for all clubs until that point. I don’t see what benefit it really brings by having it. A lot of other countries just have one cup competition for the higher leagues (Italy for example).
 



S64 Blade said:
I think the format of this cup needs changing somehow. Yeah it’s exciting when you get to the quarters and beyond, but otherwise it’s a hindrance for all clubs until that point. I don’t see what benefit it really brings by having it. A lot of other countries just have one cup competition for the higher leagues (Italy for example).
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Totally agree.

Split the teams into 2 pots, right down the middle, based on the previous year's league position.

Draw the 'lower' pot as the home team and the 'higher' pot as the away team.

This would minimise the number of ties between teams in the same division, give smaller teams a much higher chance of drawing a higher team and gives the higher teams a chance to visit a team/ground they'd otherwise never see.

The cream always rises to the top anyway but at least it would add interest to the earlier rounds.

A point about Italy - even their one cup isn't a proper 'open' competition. The top 2 divisions enter automatically, at different stages based on league position, whether in the second tier or first, in Europe or not, etc etc. From the 3rd division down, the only way to get into the top cup is by winning a regional cup. Germany works in a similar way, but is more open when the draws are made as the biggest teams are in from Round 1. A 3rd tier team meeting a Serie A team is rare, whereas in Germany it's the norm.
 
Panini said:
Totally agree.

Split the teams into 2 pots, right down the middle, based on the previous year's league position.

Draw the 'lower' pot as the home team and the 'higher' pot as the away team.

This would minimise the number of ties between teams in the same division, give smaller teams a much higher chance of drawing a higher team and gives the higher teams a chance to visit a team/ground they'd otherwise never see.

The cream always rises to the top anyway but at least it would add interest to the earlier rounds.

A point about Italy - even their one cup isn't a proper 'open' competition. The top 2 divisions enter automatically, at different stages based on league position, whether in the second tier or first, in Europe or not, etc etc. From the 3rd division down, the only way to get into the top cup is by winning a regional cup. Germany works in a similar way, but is more open when the draws are made as the biggest teams are in from Round 1. A 3rd tier team meeting a Serie A team is rare, whereas in Germany it's the norm.
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Another option could be to change the League Cup to the Football League Cup and just have it for the 72 teams; scrapping the Papa John’s (or whatever it’s called) in the process. It’d either need to be a league format to begin with, or possibly inviting a few Conference teams (poss based on league position), or some teams join in round 2, to make the maths work, but it’d be more competitive than the League Cup where Man City/Liverpool just dominate with their squad depth. It’d still give lower league clubs the chance of a Wembley final too.
 
S64 Blade said:
Another option could be to change the League Cup to the Football League Cup and just have it for the 72 teams; scrapping the Papa John’s (or whatever it’s called) in the process. It’d either need to be a league format to begin with, or possibly inviting a few Conference teams (poss based on league position), or some teams join in round 2, to make the maths work, but it’d be more competitive than the League Cup where Man City/Liverpool just dominate with their squad depth. It’d still give lower league clubs the chance of a Wembley final too.
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Exactly what I've been saying for years. Nobody cares about the Auto Windscreens Shield, PL teams (well, in reality, all teams) don't care about the League Cup. Invite top 8 of the Conference and have them and L2 play off in the first round, straight 64 team KO from there.
 
Match Thursday 11 August so surely some knock on effect to Boro fixture etc
 
Interesting this season. Very realistic chance that it could be won by a "non-regular"

Semi Finals are

Newcastle v Southampton
Forest v Man Utd

I want Newcastle to win it. Failing that Southampton. Be funny if they're in Europa League and Championship 🤣

Newcastle need to take this very seriously from here. Fantastic chance for them
 
mattbianco1 said:
Interesting this season. Very realistic chance that it could be won by a "non-regular"

Semi Finals are

Newcastle v Southampton
Forest v Man Utd

I want Newcastle to win it. Failing that Southampton. Be funny if they're in Europa League and Championship 🤣

Newcastle need to take this very seriously from here. Fantastic chance for them
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Out of that lot I want Southampton to win it and then Man Utd. Forest winning the league cup would give them something to harp on about for another 40 years.
 
blade too long said:
newcastle winning it would show money can buy you anything

how come we get the only Saudi with no money
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I agree that Newcastle are where they are because of being the richest club in the world, but I'd also say that there's more to it than that. They are one of the best supported clubs in the country with a very passionate and loyal fanbase, they're well known globally or have potential to be. They were bought by rich owners for that reason.

But yeah ultimately, if your pockets are deep enough you win cups.
 
blade too long said:
newcastle winning it would show money can buy you anything
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Have they really spent massively? Certainly not as much as i expected them to have done by now.

Last season:
Bruno - £37m
Wood - £26m
Willock - £25m
Burn - £13m
Trippier - £12m

This season:
Pope - £10m
Targett - £15m
Botman - £32m
Isak - £62m

I'd say they've spent fairly wisely. Isak obviously the anomaly in all that list, costing a considerable amount more than the rest.

When you consider that Newcastle were already an established Premier League club (i.e. rich), it's easy to see how they can spend that money, even without the owners pumping it in.

Compare that with United. We spent ~£65m in our first PL season, then another £55m the season after. Newcastle have only spent in 2 seasons £112m more than we did in 2 seasons. More than half of that has gone on Isak alone.

Forest have spent £144m this season alone.

For me, Eddie Howe has spent very well. He's picked up players that he knew were experienced in the division; Trippier, Wood, Willock, Burn, Pope, Targett. Then added some flair players on top for bigger pricing - Bruno & Isak.

If they finish in the CLeague spots, we'll see them really flex their muscles though
 
Obviously I want forest to win it. But being realistic I'd be happy if we didn't get pumped over 2 legs and Newcastle won it.

I'm not fully convinced on Eddie Howe( he has that brendan Rodgers feel to me) but he is doing a really good job and this would be a good reward for the above mentioned good business and turn around at newcastle. He has turned almiron and joelinton into decent assets Which seemed an impossibility.
 
mattbianco1 said:
Interesting this season. Very realistic chance that it could be won by a "non-regular"

Semi Finals are

Newcastle v Southampton
Forest v Man Utd

I want Newcastle to win it. Failing that Southampton. Be funny if they're in Europa League and Championship 🤣

Newcastle need to take this very seriously from here. Fantastic chance for them
Click to expand...
I think the Europa league and Championship have happened before. Was it an East Anglian club ?
 



sheffieldred said:
Obviously I want forest to win it. But being realistic I'd be happy if we didn't get pumped over 2 legs and Newcastle won it.

I'm not fully convinced on Eddie Howe( he has that brendan Rodgers feel to me) but he is doing a really good job and this would be a good reward for the above mentioned good business and turn around at newcastle. He has turned almiron and joelinton into decent assets Which seemed an impossibility.
Click to expand...
Any idea when your club is going to be punished for the sickening and cowardly attack on Billy Sharp and other players at your ground during a Mob incursion onto the pitch?
 
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