The Carling Cup has become the tournament everybody loves to hate.
The third round, which kicks off this week as Leeds United takes on Manchester United (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX Soccer Plus and FOXSoccer.tv) this Tuesday, is sure to re-ignite the Cup’s critics. They have a point. It is a series of games the top Premiership teams not only don't need but may be paying a price for each May when they seem to wilt in the European competitions.
Is the Carling Cup irrelevant? Should it be ditched to cut down on fixture congestion in England? That depends on whom you ask.
Let’s ask Birmingham City. They're in Europe because they won the whole shebang a year ago, in a victory that remains the high point of the club’s history. (It also signaled the end of Arsenal's reign as a "big" club, something that even Arsene Wnger was forced to admit, albeit through gritted teeth.) In fact, the Carling Cup is the lone trophy within reach of outsiders because few of the big boys take it seriously.
For example: Tuesday, when United visits Leeds, we'll get the first indication of how interested Alex Ferguson is in chasing this piece of silverware. If Dimitar Berbatov starts you'll have a fair idea that Ferguson is using this competition just to get some of his over-stuffed roster a match.
Leeds United, however, is the flip side of the Carling Cup coin. A home victory over United won't bring them any closer to the Premier League, but it would allow Elland Road’s residents the chance to bask in a glow long gone. Leeds, in case you weren’t born four decades ago, were once the Manchester United of the old First Division. They were unbeatable under Don Revie and the great stars of the game wore their famous white strip. (You might know this team from David Peace’s excellent book, The Damned Utd, or the film of almost the same name. If you don’t, go read it.)
Leeds is not alone. There are a number of former greats in action, including Crystal Palace (which knocked off Wigan last week,) Milwall, Middlesbrough and Southampton.
But in what is perhaps the match of the round is an all Premier League affair, Fulham visit Stamford Bridge Wednesday, where Chelsea will be attempting to recover from their loss at Old Trafford against a side that played Manchester City off the field in the second half Sunday.
Fulham has, in fact, turned into a very good Cup side. They reached the Europa League final two years ago and take these knockout affairs quite seriously. Chelsea, on the other hand, has European ambitions (however misplaced those might be) and probably need to rest some of its aging cast. Advantage Fulham?
There are three other all-EPL pairings: Aston Villa is at home to Bolton; Everton hosts West Bromwich Albion; and Stoke City will be home against Tottenham Hotspur.
You'd suspect that full strength sides will turn out for every one of those six, although Spurs and Stoke both had Sunday matches and may need to evaluate some their fitness before making their choices.
The other EPL sides face opponents from lower divisions: Blackburn is home against Leyton Orient, Liverpool goes to Brighton (Wednesday, 2:40 p.m., FOX Soccer Plus), Manchester City receives the defenders, Birmingham City, Newcastle United goes to Nottingham Forest and Wolves will be at home to Millwall.
And then, there’s Arsenal against Shrewsbury. Sitting third in League Two (the fourth division), the Shrews head to the Emirates for a shot at Arsenal. As recently as last fall nobody would have given them a chance. That was before the wheels fell off of Wenger's team.
Having conceded 12 goals in their last two EPL road matches, and having won just once in the league this season, Arsenal is experiencing more than just a crisis in confidence. They've turned into a bad team almost overnight, one that might be ripe for the taking, even against a team as unfancied as their Carling Cup visitors.
Wenger once used this Cup to blood his youngsters. No more. This is must-win game now for a manger that has spent two weeks denying he will step down. A loss here is not acceptable for the Gunners — no matter who they field.
There is also a lot on the line for Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool after their disastrous performance on Sunday in London against Tottenham. After a bright start, "King Kenny’s" magic seems to have evaporated. They had two sent off against Spurs in a turgid 4-0 loss and some of us who picked them to challenge — I raise my hand — are now wondering if they are the most over-rated team of the new season. Brighton currently sits third in the Championship; the Seagulls won't be an easy bunch to rebound against.
There will be pressure on another boss, as well. Nottingham Forest has started almost as badly as Arsenal, with new manager Steve McClaren's side looking up from 22nd place in the Championship. Newcastle began the season unfancied, but they are fourth in the Prem against all odds. That makes them the favorites to continue Mr. McClaren's misery.
