Topic: 2017/18 League Cup

[riismeister]

It's perhaps a bit early to speculate in starting lineup, but we'll be playing twice a week throughout September and October (excluding the International break). I think playing mostly kids and fringe players is a very likely scenario. Give Karius/Ward a chance, two out of Solanke/Origi/Sturridge up front, Grujic and Milner in midfield, Klavan and Gomez at center back. Fill the rest with whoever needs to build match fitness (Coutinho? Clyne? Robertson?) and one or two kids (Trent/Ejaria/Woodburn/Kent).

[-Willo-]

Chelsea get an easy home fixture against a team not in the Premier League? Damn thats a first..

[sms1986]

Chelsea get an easy home fixture against a team not in the Premier League? Damn thats a first..

So did Man United, Arsenal and Spurs, not that a smaller club is "easy" in the cups just because they're smaller.

[HumanRed]

Horrible draw. Leicester have no UEFA competition and they will be under pressure to bring in silverware this season. They will put out their first team. We won't be able to.

I think we just need to write this one off and send the youngsters out to get the experience so they have some game time in case we need them later on in the season. Would have been great if we had a couple of lower league sides in the first couple of rounds to give the fringe players experience and then met the big boys but alas we picked the short straw.

The good news is we have a great group in the CL, we could give the youngsters opportunities in the CL if we can qualify with 2 or 3 games to spare. And of course, the FA cup is not too far away so hopefully we will get a really good run of lower league sides.

[Fromola]

Be better off going out of it. We haven't got the squad to compete on 4 fronts. Send the kids out, if we win then great for them, but rest the first XI.

Two League Cup semis in January after a ridiculous Christmas schedule we could do without. Especially if we end up with United or someone.

If we lose to Leicester it frees up 6 midweeks.

[HumanRed]

Maybe for another thread but surely it's time to revamp this club!   Include the Scottish teams in it and make it a Uk cup?

.

Yeah longer discussion but that will never happen as the Scots would lose out on a place in Europe and the concern on the party of the SFA would be it being a precursor to a breakaway of some sort.

I think to revamp it we need to throw money at it. Same with the FA Cup, to ensure it doesn't lose its prestige any further there should be a massive increase in prize money for the winners. Say a cool 30m to the winners and to help fund this play the final in Asia - the Asia Cup is a success and that was only a preseason tournament.

[RayPhilAlan]

Again, I repeat my hope that we jib off this stupid competition that is way more hassle than it's worth, especially given the ridiculous fixture list in November and December.  Rest is way way more important.

Play the U23s. Put some U18's on the bench. Give Danny Ings a game to check if one of his knees falls off. Everybody else takes the night off. Rinse and repeat for every other game in this pointless thing.

I bet you've been against this competition ever since Ronnie Whelan took Ray Kennedy's place in the team and went on to be the star of two finals.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

It is going to be near impossible for us to field our strongest line up in this competition. We don't have a squad big enough for this. Perfect opportunity for the younger lads.

[Redcap]

           Karius

TAA-Gomez-Klavan-Robertson

     Coutinho-Grujic-Can
           
         Sturridge
      Origi - Solanke

Should be enough to get the job done, I reckon.

Alternatively Woodburn can play behind two of Sturridge + another.;

[deFacto please, you bastards]

           Karius

TAA-Gomez-Klavan-Robertson

     Coutinho-Grujic-Can
           
         Sturridge
      Origi - Solanke

Should be enough to get the job done, I reckon.

Alternatively Woodburn can play behind two of Sturridge + another.;

Coutinho and can won't be playing, not when we have Leicester in the league that same weekend and then the CL match in midweek right after.

[AmanShah21]

Thats not a great draw for us. Funnily enough though, now we play them twice at their home within 4 days.

I'd love to see the League Cup run being made mostly by the kids. See the likes of Kent, Solanke, Origi, Grujic, Gomez, Ward etc. start a game.

We play 6 games within 18 days from 9-Sept to 26-Sept so we'll get a taste of how much real depth we have early in the season.

[Redcap]

Coutinho and can won't be playing, not when we have Leicester in the league that same weekend and then the CL match in midweek right after.

I'd be surprised if one of Henderson/Can at least wasn't playing. I see Can as being the primary backup to Henderson in the deep midfield role, so one of them will play.

Coutinho I'm not sure about. Maybe Ejaria instead?

[AmanShah21]

The above got me thinking a bit though. If we stay in the league cup, we'll be playing in every single midweek until 16th December. 

Check this out -

12 Aug - 27 Aug = 5 games in 16 days

----International Break----

9 Sept - 1 Oct = 7 games in 23 days

----International Break----

14 Oct - 4 Nov = 7 games in 22 days

----International Break----

18 Nov - 16 Dec = 9 games in 29 days

I really hope some of our youngsters are up for it, cause given the current state of the squad, they'll definitely get a go.

[oojason]

Craig Pawson will ref the League Cup Final... with VAR...

https://www.efl.com/news/2018/february/match-officials-confirmed-for-carabao-cup-final/


 

Craig meet VAR - VAR meet Craig...