The format of the League Cup

[FCFAN]

I should start by saying that this is not a criticism of the League in any way, shape or form. It is, however, a serious question about how best the League Cup is structured going forward. The League Cup knockout atages produced some excellent games, superb football and a very good final last season. However, the group stage in the early rounds is, in my view not working.

 

I understand that traditionally it has existed to provide clubs with games, and I can see the intention behind that with traditionally a small league. A couple of years back when we had a 16 team league and 4 groups of 4 I think it even produced some excitement and good football, but the groups of 3 format the last two season has not really worked in my view and the group of 2 with Barking and Mauritius is a bit silly really.

 

Barking rotated last night and the night before in the Eton Manor v Witham game, looking at their web sites, Eton Manor's made EIGHT changes for Monday night and looking at the Witham line ups from the weekend they changed 5 as well. Witham I can kind of understand as they could realistically win the league, but Manor, whilst a decent side aren't a side that can win the league and yet choose to make so many changes for the league cup. I suspect that this wouldn't still be the case if it was just a two legged knock-out basis and that is one of my suggestions for improving the competition. My other suggestion is timing. Could the league cup not start later? Clubs have FA Cup and FA Vase commitments at this stage of the season (Barking suggesting it was a consideration in their decision to rest people last night) . Give it 3-4 weeks and (hopefully not but realistically) most ESL clubs won't have those same concerns and therefore would be less likely to rest players.

 

So my two proposals are:

 

i) Scrap the group stage. Play a one game qualifier between the previous season's bottom two clubs and then once you're down to 16 teams have a free and open draw and play an extra round of two legged ties, giving you a last 8, when you could then play two legged ties in the quarters and semis as normal.

 

ii) Retain the group stage but start the competition later, beginning after FA Cup and Vase commitments are out of the way.... ie. play during midweeks in October, November and early December, when generally there aren't many midweek games scheduled as it stands. You would then play the last 8 in two legged ties in Jan / Feb, the Semi finals in two legged ties in March and the Final as usual at the end of the season.

 

I'm interested in what other people think? Do others think there is a problem currently? Or are there practical problems with my two possible solutions that I've not factored in? As I say I don't want this to appear to be a criticism, I'm just interested in whether something can be done to improve the product or else if gates fall due to teams playing reserve players then clubs are going to end up making big losses in League Cup Group games and in the current economic climate that is something that we should be desperately trying to avoid.

[Football Man]

I should start by saying that this is not a criticism of the League in any way, shape or form. It is, however, a serious question about how best the League Cup is structured going forward. The League Cup knockout atages produced some excellent games, superb football and a very good final last season. However, the group stage in the early rounds is, in my view not working.

 

I understand that traditionally it has existed to provide clubs with games, and I can see the intention behind that with traditionally a small league. A couple of years back when we had a 16 team league and 4 groups of 4 I think it even produced some excitement and good football, but the groups of 3 format the last two season has not really worked in my view and the group of 2 with Barking and Mauritius is a bit silly really.

 

Barking rotated last night and the night before in the Eton Manor v Witham game, looking at their web sites, Eton Manor's made EIGHT changes for Monday night and looking at the Witham line ups from the weekend they changed 5 as well. Witham I can kind of understand as they could realistically win the league, but Manor, whilst a decent side aren't a side that can win the league and yet choose to make so many changes for the league cup. I suspect that this wouldn't still be the case if it was just a two legged knock-out basis and that is one of my suggestions for improving the competition. My other suggestion is timing. Could the league cup not start later? Clubs have FA Cup and FA Vase commitments at this stage of the season (Barking suggesting it was a consideration in their decision to rest people last night) . Give it 3-4 weeks and (hopefully not but realistically) most ESL clubs won't have those same concerns and therefore would be less likely to rest players.

 

So my two proposals are:

 

i) Scrap the group stage. Play a one game qualifier between the previous season's bottom two clubs and then once you're down to 16 teams have a free and open draw and play an extra round of two legged ties, giving you a last 8, when you could then play two legged ties in the quarters and semis as normal.

 

ii) Retain the group stage but start the competition later, beginning after FA Cup and Vase commitments are out of the way.... ie. play during midweeks in October, November and early December, when generally there aren't many midweek games scheduled as it stands. You would then play the last 8 in two legged ties in Jan / Feb, the Semi finals in two legged ties in March and the Final as usual at the end of the season.

 

I'm interested in what other people think? Do others think there is a problem currently? Or are there practical problems with my two possible solutions that I've not factored in? As I say I don't want this to appear to be a criticism, I'm just interested in whether something can be done to improve the product or else if gates fall due to teams playing reserve players then clubs are going to end up making big losses in League Cup Group games and in the current economic climate that is something that we should be desperately trying to avoid.

 

FCFan - proposal 1 will happen as and when the League has enough clubs (probably 20-22). At that point, the League Cup will revert to a two-legged knockout with the sides knocked out in the early rounds taking part in the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy (as used to happen with its predecessor, the Harry Fisher Memorial Trophy). Proposal 2 is fraught with difficulties should clubs have good cup runs in the FA Vase or County Cup or should we have a bad winter weather-wise. The League's priority is to get the group stages played as soon as possible to allow for any rearrangements needed in the later knockout rounds whilst still allowing the finalists (and the League) as much time as possible to prepare for the Final.

 

The League will always listen to any ideas for the improvement of its Cup Competitions and any such ideas should be raised through the Clubs via official channels.

[FCFAN]

Football Man, many thanks for your reply. A 20 team ESL..... now that will be a glorious day!!