Carling Cup Thread

Hey, today is round 1 of the League Cup -- open to all members of the Football League and the EPL. The earliest iteration of this competition was the Milk Cup, if I remember correctly, and now it's the Carling Cup. I guess this means that it's matured.

The best thing about having a first round tie in this competition is that you're still in the league [Luton open at home to Plymouth in what may be their last year in the competition they won back in the '80s]. The WORST thing about having a first round tie is that it means you're not in the EPL.

A lot of the top clubs don't bother fielding a full-strength squad until the quarterfinals at the least. Some managers prefer to leave starters off the squad regardless of the round -- Arsene Wenger and Steve Coppel, I'm looking at you.

I care about this competition for two reasons:

1. The winner usually goes into the UEFA Cup.
2. I think it's our best chance for silverware.

Anyhow, as the competition matures, this thread can be the home for comments pro and con.

 

and Luton beat Plymouth to stay on until the 2nd round. An away tie with ManU could keep them alive for another month!

Several CCC sides got the chop. And I must apologize to Coppell who put out a full-strength side for Reading today. Aidy Boothroyd, on the other hand, put out a lot of anonymous canaries. Bouazza got a rave writeup in Charlton's loss, and The Invisible Man played another 90 minutes for QPHa. I guess there must just be something about black and white that makes him injured.

 

Well, here comes the second round. Fulham are drawn at home to Leicester City, newly relegated to League 1.

Here's the rest of the draw:

Ipswich v Colchester
Coventry v Newcastle
Hartlepool v West Brom
West Ham v Macclesfield
Huddersfield v Sheff Utd
Cardiff v MK Dons
Swansea v Hull
Rotherham v Wolverhampton
Brighton v Man City
Reading v Luton
Blackburn v Grimsby
Wigan v Notts County
Leeds v Crystal Palace
Crewe v Bristol City
Middlesbrough v Yeovil
QPR v Carlisle
Nottm Forest v Sunderland
Burnley v Oldham
Southampton v Birmingham
Bolton v Northampton
Watford v Darlington
Preston v Derby
Cheltenham v Stoke

Matches are the week beginning August 25

 

The Philistines! 8)

 

in Tuesday's matches, so far:

Northhampton at 0-2 up AT Bolton after 28 minutes.
In the Johnson v. Johnson matchup, Eddie's Cardiff are 1-0 up on Jemal's MKD thanks to a 45th minute penalty.
Luton are losing 2-0 to the Hunt non-brothers at Reading. Hope there's a huge crowd. The Hatters need the money.

HatterDon; watching the CC round 2 matches that DON'T involve Fulham -- so that you don't have to!

 

nope. Wow; that's a lot!

 

Luton are down 4-0 after 55 minutes. That is NOT their first choice defense or goalie.

Northhampton holding on against a 10-man Bolton side. Da-da-da-da-daaaaaaaaaaaaa; I'm lovin' it.

Note: even in the CC, Queudrue can't get on the pitch. Tee friggin hee!

 

Evidently, the three Cardiff subs in the first half was the result of three injured defenders. I'll be interested to see what the Cardiff fans thought of EJ.

Bolton were hammered at home by Northhampton. That has to be the best match so far.