DebSchiff

I guess the Carling Cup is to the top two leagues as the ****ing Johnstones Paint Trophy is to Leagues 1 and 2. I pretty much always want us to get knocked out of that pointless abomination.

Carling and FA Cups are great though. City v Forest in a few weeks should be a great occasion, for instance. And there's always the chance of reaching the third round and drawing someone glamorous away.

retired_kpr

I think I probably would as well, but it's not as simple as that, is it? I don't think resting players in the West Ham game is going to make any significant difference at all to our chances of promotion this season.

retired_jshendel

Jonhstone paint you have to field 6 first team regulars. Big punishment if you dont. a 5k fine

retired_kpr

Good point. The thing is, resting players in the West Ham game will make a huge difference to our chances of progressing in the cup, whereas it will make a very small difference to our league position. The cup would be have to be a hell of a lot less important than the league financially for it to make sense, I really find it difficult to imagine that.

Having said that you're right, I don't know the exact financial implications of success and failure in the cup and league, but what confuses me is when the fans, who are supposed to provide the romance and get away from the percentages side of the game, are also going on about resting players and focussing on the league.

retired_breakbred101

how are they defined?

retired_lina2212

i love it when arsenal play their b side, such nice players

retired_kpr

how are they defined? </BLOCKQUOTE>

regulars in the first team

retired_stesska

Carling Cup was a good chance for us to give some players a go, but Pardew completely changed the team around which was probably a bit too much. Can understand why he did it though.

retired_kpr

I'm talking specifically about lower league teams in this thread really. Can understand how the top four teams don't try as hard in it, it's their fourth biggest priority. Coventry winning the League Cup would be huge for us, but it's not much of a big deal for Arsenal and Chelsea. Which is why it's odd that sides like Coventry seem to treat it the same way as the big teams.

retired_barbara45

Another point is that for the past two seasons, when we've been knocked out of the cup our league form has completely nosedived.