Does anyone in football really care about a cup that has no history attached to it and just seems to be another set of meaningless fixtures?

Apart from the history point, you could almost say the same about the F.A.Cup, certainly as far as Premier League and Championship clubs are concerned.

I'd be happy if we had a decent run in it next season.

There's got to be something to play for, only one team can win the league.

You tell me you wouldn't care if we were trooping off down to Wembley for a league cup final next February and I'll tell you you're fibbing.

Thought we had a new poster starting this one - Mr S Dyche.

I enjoyed the League cup last year apart from us.

dushanbe wrote:There's got to be something to play for, only one team can win the league.

You tell me you wouldn't care if we were trooping off down to Wembley for a league cup final next February and I'll tell you you're fibbing.

Totally agree with the last point, but in general terms it does seem that if the League got rid of it there wouldn't be much of an outcry.

Spijed wrote:Does anyone in football really care about a cup that has no history attached to it and just seems to be another set of meaningless fixtures?

I'll answer that: 2008/09

See what happens to some people after just a few seasons in the Premier League.

ClaretTony wrote:I'll answ er that: 2008/09

And 1960/61, the first season we entered the competition I think, we came within a whisker of making the Final losing in a semi-final play off to Aston Villa.

So, plenty of history in the League Cup from a Burnley perspective.

Also the tragedy against Swindon. That Don Rogers was some player.

Erasmus wrote:Also the tragedy against Swindon. That Don Rogers was some player.

Absolutely, that was a heartbreaking night in another play-off semi-final at the Hawthorns.

Ironically I think it was Peter Noble, playing for Swindon, who did for us that night.

I'd love us to have a real go at the cups this year.

Finishing lower mid-table in the league every year is great for the club financially and I am very chuffed at the investment into the infrastructure and youth development side don't get me wrong, but we aren't ever going to win this league and even now you are starting to see fans getting a little bored by it. The cups are a far more realistic chance of silverware. In both competitions you only have to beat 6 other sides (and the bigger teams tend to play weakened XIs in the earlier rounds, sometimes opening it up for a smaller club to go all the way) to win it.

Come on Sean, treat the cups with some respect this year and GO FOR IT!

Do we class anytime we have caused an upset merely down to the opposition not treating the cup with respect ?

Royboyclaret wrote:And 1960/61, the first season we entered the competition I think, we came within a whisker of making the Final losing in a semi-final play off to Aston Villa.

So, plenty of history in the League Cup from a Burnley perspective.

You can’t really include 60/61 in this argument which is about the competition in recent years and, in truth, it wasn’t very good given most of the top sides didn’t enter. We didn’t either for the next four seasons after that.

There were also semi finals in 68/69 & 82/83 and I’d say the last of those was probably the pick of the lot given where we were in the league.

ClaretTony wrote:You can’t really include 60/61 in this argument which is about the competition in recent years and, in truth, it wasn’t very good given most of the top sides didn’t enter. We didn’t either for the next four seasons after that.

There were also semi finals in 68/69 & 82/83 and I’d say the last of those was probably the pick of the lot given where we were in the league.

Of course you can include 60/61 in the argument, the first point the OP made was about the lack of history in the competition. For any Burnley fan present at Old Trafford that night the game had just as much relevance and heartbreak as the exits against Swindon and Liverpool in later semi-finals.

Spijed wrote:Does anyone in football really care about a cup that has no history attached to it and just seems to be another set of meaningless fixtures?

I do !

would love to win it!

also its another chance to watch the team I love

Wasn't a certain Bob Lord the main driver for starting the League Cup?

It also gives automatic entry to the Europa League Group Stage - so no July entry into the competition.

Erasmus wrote:Also the tragedy against Swindon. That Don Rogers was some player.

Not as good as Peter Noble.

Enjoy it far more than the FA Cup.

Big teams in town under the lights. There is really nowt better. Any big games under lights are far far better.

Technically it's a better cup than the FA cup in that the talent is way more concentrated but obviously doesn't have the same prestige or the type of upsets you can see from non league teams besting league teams.

Oh that Derek Scott miss at Anfield !
We could have beaten the best team in Europe.

And that Spurs home game under Coyle is still one of my favourite ever games at the Turf with the Chelsea away win on pens up there with my favourite away games in 40 plus years.

bfcmik wrote:It also gives automatic entry to the Europa League Group Stage - so no July entry into the competition.

That's not true, the League Cup winners go into the second qualifying round. We took the League Cup slot in 17/18 by virtue of Man City qualifying for the Champions League.

virtually everyone hated the fa cup final with city and watford, and that was once THE domestic comp, the league cup doesn't genuinley excite fans, and probably has a bit to do with its zany ever changing sponsorship deals over the years.
its been diluted with milk, coca cola,and bloody worthingtons, to name but a few.
A nothing competition.

It is a far better way of qualifying for Europa League than finishing 7th

Straight to the group stage, so worth it for better money

Down_Rover wrote:It is a far better way of qualifying for Europa League than finishing 7th

Straight to the group stage, so worth it for better money

Not true unfortunately.

5th place and FA cup winner goes into the group stages

The league cup winners have to enter in 2nd qualifying round.

The year we qualified in 7th was because the FA and League cup winners had already qualified for Europe via their league position so the slots moved down the league.

It would be nice to any kind of trophy really whatever it is, it would be good to get to any final FA cup or League cup, and a trip to Wembley for the weekend, i myself like cup competitions as they often throw up some strange results and gives the chance for the smaller clubs [like Blackburn Rovers]to have a bit of limelight and earn a few quid, i hope we have a decent run in either of the domestic cup games, but obviously the PL takes priority.

Falcon wrote:Not true unfortunately.

5th place and FA cup winner goes into the group stages

The league cup winners have to enter in 2nd qualifying round.

The year we qualified in 7th was because the FA and League cup winners had already qualified for Europe via their league position so the slots moved down the league.

If only somebody had posted this earlier...

Tall Paul wrote:If only somebody had posted this earlier...

cup run ? we'll probably lose away at Crewe in our first fixture

Pep doesn't think it's a pointless competition,hence why City have won it 2 seasons running,we should at least try and get through a couple of rounds and see what the draw throws our way.

Surely the players when they hang up their boots would like some memories and maybe even silverware.Birmingham and Swansea have won this cup in recent years,and i wouldn't say their squads where much better than our current crop.

No reason why we can't have a real go in the Cups this year. Being in the Prem will get dull very quickly if all we have to look forward to is a relegation battle every year.

Spijed wrote:Does anyone in football really care about a cup that has no history attached to it and just seems to be another set of meaningless fixtures?

no points mate it's a cup game

The early rounds are a bit painful (even when we win) with the poor crowds etc. Later rounds though bring about some great games.

I’d much rather a Champions League place went firstly to the league winners and the FA cup winners, with the league cup winners receiving a UEFA cup place. The remaining CL / UEFA places then going to league positions.

I’d love it if we managed to pull off a win in any cup competition. Bring back the Watney Cup, the Hospital Cup, the Captain Grey Shield. Nice.

I think it lost any magic, if it ever had any, when they started taking on sponsorship and renaming it every couple of years

How many clubs have been in 4 SF of the League cup and lost all 4?