The movement to preserve the heroic League Cup starts now

Matt Stead

Who’s this week’s hero, Johnny?
This week’s hero is a competition that will be 60 years old next year, one that once again provided a lot of great entertainment this week. It has been devalued of late but once had an extended period when it was a high-status competition that clubs wanted to win. A cup that was, rather wonderfully, once sponsored by the Milk Marketing Board. Less wonderfully it is now sponsored by a company whose name some struggle to pronounce, some think is a breed of moose, or a new model of Kia, but which is actually an energy drink, though not one which gives you as much energy as milk. To others it will forever be the Littlewoods Cup or the Rumbelows Cup.

It has a long history of throwing up shock results and of producing unusual winners like Luton, Swindon, Oxford, QPR and Middlesbrough. In 1975 it produced the first and still only English cup final played between two sides, Aston Villa and Norwich City, that didn’t play in the top flight.

But, as it has been for a long time, some clubs prefer to prioritise hanging on in the Premier League to harvest money to overpay for everything ad infinitum in a circle of ever-growing existential angst, rather than actually try to win something.

For a while this annoyed the heck out of those of us who thought trying to win a cup was a primary part of football fun, but now having resigned ourselves to the reality of the situation, it’s become a great competition once again, albeit in a different way, and one in which we can take pleasure in watching big clubs get a right good kicking from teams with a tiny percentage of the turnover. In that, it shows us just how interesting and unpredictable football might be if there was a more far more even financial playing field. That’ll be the League Cup, then.

 

What have they done to deserve this then?
This week it was a typically entertaining and unpredictable set of League Cup fixtures. Some Premier League clubs won easily, some struggled to win, only managing to do so on penalties, and some got handed their fat, lardy asses on a plate – especially West Ham United who were put to the sword by a mid-table, third-tier club in Oxford United. The Hammers put out what in these circumstances is referred to as “a much-changed side” (as opposed to that most modern of mea culpas, ‘a strong team’) and were dreadful.

Manchester United did likewise and were hapless against 17th in the third tier Rochdale, only winning on penalties. Bournemouth were hopeless against Burton, losing 2-0. Sheffield United lost by a single goal at home to Sunderland. Wolves just squeezed past Reading on penalties. And then there was the glory of Spurs’ inability to beat Colchester United, even on penalties. But then, why should the players really care? They all get their massive money regardless of if they play well, play terribly or don’t play at all. I do sometimes wonder what lack of real jeopardy does to players’ attitudes.

There has always been an obvious underdog joy in a lower-league team beating a top-flight side, even one that has put out a far weaker team than is possible, and it also provides an important financial boost to overstretched lower-league teams. But in 2019 it has never been more needed, nor more celebrated, because the financial and, perhaps just as important, cultural gulf between the leagues is cavernous and the feeling that top-flight clubs operate in an entirely different universe to the likes of Rochdale is profound.

The excuse for teams fielding reserve sides has long been to “give the kids a chance” and there is always a pleasure in seeing your club’s academy players get a competitive runout. But many are suspicious that this isn’t really the motive. The real motive is to lose the tie, preferably without looking too rubbish.

However, what the League Cup shows us time and again is that although Premier League clubs have all the money and plenty of players on the books, it’s not so unusual to find below the cream is often very watery milk. Oxford’s first team (actually it wasn’t even that) is obviously better than the side that West Ham put out, which is remarkable given that financial disparity. This is the brilliance of the League Cup and of cup football more broadly.

Manuel Pellegrini offered up the usual excuse. “I think in England if you want to play in all the competitions you need to use your whole squad. You cannot just continue with the same players that play on Saturday.” This was just their eighth game in six weeks. The idea that the first team couldn’t possibly play is nonsense. If they need a rest, rest them in the league; you’re never, ever, ever going to win that and can afford to lose a few games. But you could win the League Cup and I’d wager most of your fans would rather like you to try. Why not stop this ludicrous obfuscation and just speak the truth, and that truth is you didn’t care much if you got beaten. Let’s be clear, it is a huge failure of management, coaching, use of resources and motivation to lose 4-0 to a side with less than 5% of your resources who didn’t even field their strongest side. Without the League Cup, would we see these fundamental flaws so clearly revealed? I don’t think so.

 

Media reaction?
The world ‘flops’ was dragged out by tabloids who do love kicking expensive footballers, especially if they’re called Paul Pogba.

Jonathan Northcroft made a very salient observation on the Manchester United v Rochdale game. ‘Watching multi-millionaire Andreas Pereira (new contract: 4 years, achievements to date: zero) half-heartedly track a League One schoolboy, then put his hands on his hips as they score, was very Manchester United post Fergie.’

The Guardian went with ‘Oxford United humiliate West Ham in shock Carabao Cup thrashing’.

The Independent said ‘United problems laid bare by League One opponents’.

All the usual tabloid guff merchants obsessed over Paul Pogba to generate click numbers, not for news, information, education or even entertainment reasons. It still shocks me.

TalkSPORT’s Moose, a West Ham fan, was not happy. “Can’t tell you how angry I am about this,” he said. “Who cares about beating Man Utd when you keep losing to League One sides in cup competitions?” He’s got a good point there.

The Sun’s reporting on Spurs troubles was so weird it appeared to have written by someone for whom English was not their first language.

‘ARRY UP Fuming Spurs fans sick of ‘Poch Hotspur’ after Colchester shambles – and call for return of Redknapp.’

That call was, of course, from that infamous source: someone On Twitter. And what the hell is ‘Poch Hotspur’?

 

Anyone grumpy about it?
Not all fans of top flight and even Championship clubs care about the League Cup, indeed some are happy to see them knocked out to better concentrate on whatever it is they think has a superior command on their resources. And yet there are many, many more who would absolutely love a cup run rather than another bloody season finishing anywhere from 17th to 7th in the Premier League and it drives them apeshit that their club doesn’t share this passion, are appalled when their club doesn’t prioritise it by fielding their strongest team, and are also amazed at just how rotten the reserves sometimes are. There are fans of Manchester United who rightly find it hard to comprehend how the richest club on earth hasn’t got a second eleven that can beat Rochdale in 90 minutes. I mean, how has that happened?

This being said, Spurs fielded a decent side but were poor and while managers, players and fans might be happy enough to downplay the importance of such a loss, losing is still losing and playing badly whilst doing it is never a good look on anyone.

In these moments, the lovely League Cup shows us how the much-craved resources of a top club time and again seem utterly wasted, possibly on overpaying big-name players leaving little to invest elsewhere, or possibly by not having good enough coaching staff to turn academy and reserve-team players into a cohesive footballing unit. Could it be there is no depth of quality at clubs like United and West Ham because all the money has gone to pay massive wages and transfer fees?

Interestingly, the League Cup also reveals when a top-flight side has actually got real strength in depth. Chelsea’s seven-goal thrashing of Grimsby was impressive. Their changed side from the weekend showed just how strong their squad is. The contrast to some other Premier League teams was notable. Manchester City always put out strong sides too and take the cup seriously, But then, they have more resources than anyone else. But at least they know how to get a win away at a Championship club.

 

What the people say
While those who can’t bear to let their eyes rest on anything other than whatever it is they think is elite football, many more simply love the League Cup. It has given us all so many happy memories over the years and provide great stories such as Rochdale’s 16-year-old goalscorer, Luke Matheson. All of this is a different flavour of football for everyone. It refreshes the palette.

‘One of the few cups my team should actually take seriously as we have a realistic chance of doing ‘well’ and potentially winning a cup. I always remember 2008/09, getting to the semis under Owen Coyle. But sadly Dyche doesn’t take cups seriously and we end up being knocked out by L1 opposition. It’s a shame as essentially these bigger clubs play second-string line-ups and barring Citeh, we actually have a chance of beating them with our strongest, alas our second string is junk. But reality is the League Cup is just seen as an inconvenience by virtually all Prem clubs and treated as a joke until semis/final.’

‘It always rains at League cup games. And there’s something endearing about it.’

‘I was too young to see Sunderland win the FA Cup in ’73, so the best cup moments of my lifetime – perhaps, the best moments of any as a fan – have been in the League Cup. Two moments stand out to me especially – a throbbing Roker Park in 1985 and Colin West’s 2nd pen.’

‘The FA Cup’s cheeky younger brother. I’m a Manchester United fan so I’ve seen us win a lot but one of my all-time favourite memories is Ibrahimovic’s winner in the 2017 League Cup final.’

‘1974-5 season. The mighty Chester reached the semi with home wins over Walsall, Blackpool, Preston (w/Bobby Charlton), league champs Leeds (who got to the European Cup final) and Newcastle after a replay. Lost 5-4 to Villa over two legs and hooked this 11-year-old for life.’

‘Went to the League Cup final in 1994, I was 10. Villa beat Man Utd 3-1 – I can still see Dalian Atkinson rounding Schmeichel, Saunders nipping in at the near post and Kanchelskis handling on the line. These are the moments that turn it into a love affair.’

‘Increasingly the anti champions league. Pretty much a one-game format, done by February and a feeling anyone can win or go far. Also welcome it a lot more than the international break. On the drama side, always to offer good reasons to get rid of players/managers.’

‘I frankly wouldn’t mind seeing the back of it (or continuing it without Premier League teams).’

‘It’s much more fun when the little guys are the ones in the semis (Swansea, Bradford, Wycombe etc).’

‘Arsenal v Newcastle, League Cup, January 10 1996: One of the best games we had under Bruce Rioch. Boiled over with himself and Terry McDermott after David Ginola was sent off. Ian Wright grabbing both goals. Keown was like a rash on Les Ferdinand all night. Atmosphere was amazing.’

‘One of (if not the) best days of my life when we won the League Cup in 2011, 30,000+ Blues fans at Wembley, Arsenal already telling everyone how they’d celebrate winning, we played fantastically, got a bit of luck at the end and then the celebrations were incredible!’

‘2002 – Went to Cardiff to watch Spurs lose the Worthington Cup final. For years I thought Robbie Savage had played in that game for Blackburn. Andrew Cole scored and Matt Jansen had a good game, so it gave them both some medals.’

‘It’ll ALWAYS be the Littlewoods Cup to me.’

‘My first memory of it was Luton beating Arsenal in the ’88 final, aged 8. Watched it at my grandad’s and still get goosebumps remembering Brian Moore’s commentary at the winner: “And Luton are ahead! In the very last minute!” Rushed straight into the garden to recreate the goal, and my Dad took me to Luton to watch them parade the trophy through the town. Can pinpoint that game as when I fell in love with football. He was a copper working in the town and really not a football fan. I sat on his shoulders singing and it was brilliant.’

’24th April 1988: Luton 3-2 Arsenal. Probably the greatest domestic cup final I’ve seen. A game of ridiculous momentum swings, a crucial missed penalty, a dramatic late winner and Gus Caesar falling over after taking an air shot. A magnificent game of football.’

‘Turning up at Wembley and a Carabao van launching free cans of their energy drink at fans.’

‘A bit niche, but Swindon v Bolton in the 3rd round, 1989…won by Swindon at the FOURTH time of asking. How great is that, a 3rd round tie going to a 3rd replay? Went to the home games, listened to the aways on the radio. High scoring games, late equalisers, magnificent stuff.’

‘The only major trophy my club has ever won and we cherish it. It remains the greatest day in our history.’

 

What does the future hold?
The League Cup is always under threat and is the first trophy that is talked about to be jettisoned. Most of Europe has got rid of their version. And it’s not hard to see why some top-flight clubs want to kick it into touch. They’re probably fed up with it revealing how poor their reserve teams are.

But ask any unfashionable club who has done well in it and it is held in such high regard and offered great memories. I speak as a Boro fan. Our 2004 win is a very bright light that has illuminated many years of darkness and we should not be denied these experiences simply to allow rich clubs to more easily prat around in meaningless mid-table battles to finish 14th instead of 16th, 9th and not 11th. I think most of us love to see their hubris pricked.

While Manchester City have won four of the last six competitions, and over the years clubs like Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Chelsea have all had periods of dominance, the games en-route to the final remain some of the least predictable of the season.

Going straight to penalties is a good move but the two-legged ties in latter stages is flabby and can go. But let’s hope it has a future because without it, the season would lack texture and variety and opportunity. I and many others love seeing a Premier League club getting an absolute caning from one whose turnover is less than the annual wage bill for one of their almost inevitably rested players.

Long live the League Cup!

John Nicholson

 

Johnny Nic League Cup