The latest reincarnation of the League Cup is under way with the second round ties being played today and tomorrow. With 21 games tonight and the remaining four matches played tomorrow. Currently in contention in the early stages are:
Tuesday 23/8/16
Crystal Palace V Blackpool
Northampton V West Brom
Newcastle V Cheltenham
Preston V Oldham
Stevenage V Stoke City
Derby County V Carlisle
Exeter City V Hull City
Wolves V Cambridge United
Burton Albion V Liverpool
Peterborough V Swansea
Norwich City V Coventry City
Watford V Gillingham
QPR V Rochdale
Chelsea V Bristol Rovers
Blackburn V Crewe
Scunthorpe V Bristol City
Millwall V Nottingham Forest
Everton V Yeovil Town
Oxford V Brighton
Luton Town V Leeds United
Reading V MK Dons
Wednesday 24/8/16:
Morecambe V Bournemouth
Sunderland V Shrewsbury
Fulham V Middlesborough
Accrington Stanley V Burnley
The draw for the Third Round will take place after the Accrington Stanley V Burnley game tomorrow night, where the remaining Premier League teams will go into the draw.
What is usually the competition that's first written off and used to rest for the majority of top teams I think it will be more interesting and more competitive this year than it has been for a while. I think the recent influx of top managers and the latest burst of inflated transfers will have the pressure of instant success on many clubs. Gone are the days of the traditional Top Four and if and when they felt like it could pick this up with minimal fuss, and when they're second or third string did get beat there was always an unlikely underdog there to win it.
This year however, in the Premier League you have potentially 9 teams that will feel they are ready and able to qualify for European football, with a maximum of 7 places, potentially just the 6 up for grabs. So that could potentially leave 2 or 3 high profile appointments under serious pressure. Whilst it is looking like it will be Man City, Man United and Chelsea competing for the title, fourth and the remaining european places are very much up for grabs Arsenal, Spurs, Everton, West Ham, Leicester and of course ourselves will all feel quietly confident of taking those spots, and whoever falls short will look at it as a failure. But for most clubs a trophy in the cabinet is a success, it takes pressure off, failure to do so only intensifies it. Jürgen isn't here a year and people still call last season a failure, but win either of those finals and it's a different narrative. This will undoubtedly be the thought process of the likes of Bilic, Koeman and Pochettino. And I wouldn't be surprised to see Wenger go hard after this to either take the pressure off himself, or go out with silverware if the end is coming for him. I also think Guardiola, although he will be primarily focused on the League and the Champions League, will appreciate the importance of an early trophy in his tenure.
I think there are too many big name, big ego managers going around at the moment to let this one slide by. Mourinho, Guardiola, Conti, Klopp, Wenger, Koeman, Bilic, Ranieri, Pochettino and a dark horse in my opinion being one Rafa Benitez (With a squad better than it's current position may be capable of competing on both fronts). These are all men who are geared to win, and not all of them can, or will, so expect them to look to get on the board early with this competition.
Add to that, that the winners automatically qualify for the Europa League Qualifiers next season, this could be European qualification for those that are going to fall short in the league this season. It's success for those can't compete at the very top for various reasons, and I feel that this year, more than ever, that will be huge.
Logged
