The Carling Cup should be scrapped. This is not an original argument or a Who Ate All The Pies exclusive, but it seems common sense nonetheless. Three of the four Premier League teams in action last night were knocked out by lower league opposition. Manchester City, Fulham and Middlesbrough all crashed out, with only City fielding anything like a full-strength side.

Why the FA should call time on the Carling Cup continued

If Premier League managers feel they cannot commit to the competition because of fixture congestion then let’s get rid of it. It might have been a prestigious trophy at one time, but it has never been a patch on the FA Cup.

You don’t need a crystal ball to see how this season’s competition will play out. Either Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea‘s reserves will cruise past the semi-final. The club – half-wishing they had already been knocked out – will roll out the big guns for the final and win the trophy.

If the FA did decide to end the League Cup, extra prize money could be awarded in the earlier rounds of the FA Cup instead so that smaller clubs would not miss out. Alternatively, the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy (the artist formerly known as the LDV Vans Trophy) could be revamped with extra prize money and the inclusion of Championship clubs.

The Premiership teams have already made this season’s competition a farce and Arsene Wenger has not even had time to make a point with his line-up yet!

[Rob Parker]

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