One Man’s Junk is Another Man’s Treasure: The Capital One Cup

Tonight sees the return of the Capital One Cup, with the remaining teams licking their lips in anticipation at a lengthy and hopefully successful cup run.

But there remains an attitude amongst many observers that the League Cup (as it used to be known) is an unwanted distraction for many, and that the plus sides of progressing or even winning it are outweighed by the negative impacts upon the club’s league fortunes.

As we know, the winner of the Capital One Cup will qualify for a spot in next season’s Europa League, so of course there is something worthwhile to be achieved at the end of the day. But the toil of getting through seven rounds to eventually lift the trophy can have a gruelling effect on a squad of players, as injuries and fitness problems can be an unfortunate side-effect.

Who can forget Birmingham City’s soiree into Europe for example. They beat Arsenal in the League Cup final back in 2011, thanks to goals from Obafemi Martins (remember him?) and Nikola Zigic. The only unfortunate upshot of that is that they would also be relegated from the Premier League that very campaign.

Now, playing in Europe affords players, management and fans the opportunity to experience the thrill of playing some massive sides from across the continent, a luxury usually confined to the best – say – seven clubs.

So the question remains: would Birmingham fans swap their trips to Braga, Maribor and Club Brugge to be playing top flight football every week?

This is perhaps why the bigger clubs take the opportunity to field fringe players and young prospects in the competition. It gives these guys a chance to get some game-time in their legs, and an opportunity to impress their manager. Perhaps this makes them hungrier for success? 

At the time of writing, Chelsea, Man United, Tottenham, Arsenal et al all remain in the mix. What kind of team they play in their respective games remains to be seen, but for Spurs and the Gunners, perhaps this remains their most likely path for silverware.

And let’s not forget the ‘magic’ of the cup: League Two Bradford City travel to Premiership Wigan, whilst League One side Swindon host Aston Villa. Perhaps two giant-killings in the offing? Either way, nights like these are few and far between for the lower league sides.

So the jury remains out on the importance (or not) of the Capital One Cup. Still, it means more football to watch on telly in midweek – and that can’t be a bad thing, can it?

Route One's Daily Football News Round-Up - 28/9/2012

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Picture Courtesy of Never Captain Nicky Butt

Chelsea captain John Terry has been fined £220,000 and suspended for four matches after being found guilty of racially abusing QPR man Anton Ferdinand. 

The FA reached their verdict following a four day hearing. Terry was said to be "disappointed" with the verdict, with many observers questioning why the FA’s decision was different to that of the criminal proceedings back in July.

The former England man will wait for the written judgment before deciding whether to lodge an appeal.

In his own imitable style, Joey Barton hit out at the FA’s level of punishment.

“Twelve games!!! By the FA's perverse reckoning, I'd of got less of a ban for racially abusing the Man City players, than tickling them as I did,” the Marseille man wrote on Twitter.

Match of the Day’s Gary Lineker was also incredulous. “The FA find John Terry guilty and give him a 4 match ban and 220K fine. Just one game more than a regular red card?” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Alan Pardew has signed an incredible EIGHT YEAR contract extension.

The Newcastle boss will now be at the club until 2020, and has been joined by his coaching staff John Carver, Steve Stone and Andy Woodman in signing the longer term deals.

Chief Scout Graham Carr – famed for unearthing the talents of Yohann Cabaye, Cheick Tiote and for being comedian Alan Carr’s father - has also penned a deal that will keep him in the North East until he is 75 (he’s 68 now by the way).

Jermaine Jenas will be looking to resurrect his career at his hometown club, after joining Nottingham Forest on a one month loan deal.

The Spurs midfielder’s career has been plagued by injury, and he has only made a handful of appearances in the last few seasons. 

Tipped as an England regular when he first broke onto the scene, Jenas will be hoping for more first-team football at the Championship club.

Route One's Daily Football News Round-Up - 27/9/2012

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Picture courtesy of Sporting Life

The returning Wayne Rooney and Darren Fletcher provided the spark for Manchester United in their 2-1 Capital One Cup victory over Newcastle United.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson was full of praise for the duo, who have been suffering with injury and illness. This was Fletcher’s first start in nearly a year after he was struck down with a bowel condition, whilst Rooney hasn’t featured since August.

"Darren Fletcher has had a great 90 minutes,” he said. “Wayne Rooney had a terrific performance, he tired understandably, but I'm really pleased.”

In the fourth round of the cup, Chelsea will host United in the pick of the ties, while elsewhere Swindon welcome Aston Villa, and Bradford travel to Wigan. Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers faces his former club Swansea for the first time. The rest of the draw is:

Leeds v Southampton

Reading v Arsenal

Norwich v Tottenham

Sunderland v Middlesborough

There’s good news for Gooners fans today with the revelation that Jack Wilshere will make his return to action in Monday’s Under-21 game at WBA.

The 20-year-old has been out with an ankle injury since July 2011, and his return will further bolster Arsenal’s midfield armoury.

"It is fantastic for him," Arsene Wenger said. "When you are out for so long, it's massive to take. It's massive for him to come back, and for us as well."

The takeover bid at Leeds United looks to have gathered pace, as Middle-Eastern investment firm Gulf Finance House have confirmed they have an agreement in principle in place.

The future of the club has been shrouded in mystery since current owner Ken Bates stated he was selling his share back in the Summer.

Bates’ seven-year reign has been marred with supporter unrest and upheaval.

Meanwhile, geriatric former England goalkeeper David James is training with League One Bournemouth.

The 42-year-old has been a free agent since leaving Bristol City in the summer. 

A couple of managerial appointments now: Colchester have announced Joe Dunne as their new man, while Bury have employed Kevin Blackwell as their head honcho.

The 39-year-old Dunne was former manager John Ward’s assistant, and has been at the club for over a decade. He has signed a one year rolling contract.

Blackwell has been out of a job since leaving Sheffield United in 2010. He had a spell as goalkeeping coach and assistant manager at the Shakers under Neil Warnock’s tenureship.

 

Route One's Daily Football News Round-Up - 24/9/2012

We find the latest football news stories making the headlines, so you don’t have to. 

Picture courtesy of Mobbly.com

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was left “bitterly disappointed” by referee Mark Halsey’s performance in his side’s 2-1 loss against rivals Manchester United.

Jonjo Shelvey was sent off for a naughty lunge at Jonny Evans, and this misery was compounded by the decision to award a penalty to the Red Devils late in the game, following a trip from Glen Johnson on Antonio Valencia.

"We could control our players' performance but what we can't control is decisions by the referee," Rodgers later said.

Defeat leaves Liverpool in the bottom three, and without a win to their name in this campaign. The Red Devils meanwhile climb ominously up to second.

Jonjo Shelvey has publicly apologised for his sending off, and also for the confrontation with Sir Alex Ferguson as he left the field of play.

The England Under-21 international was seen pointing his finger and mouthing angrily at the United boss, and had to be led down the tunnel by a police officer.

“I have apologised to Sir Alex...where I come from people don’t grass people up to get someone sent off,” Shelvey was quoted as saying.

Elsewhere yesterday, Laurent Koscielny’s late equaliser secured Arsenal a point in a classy encounter at Manchester City, Demba Ba continued his hot streak with Newcastle’s winner against old boy Chris Hughton’s Norwich, and Tottenham came from behind to beat a tidy QPR outfit at White Hart Lane.

The FA’s investigation into John Terry’s alleged racially-motivated abusing of Anton Ferdinand begins today.

Back in July the Chelsea skipper was cleared in court of a criminal inquiry into the matter, but he was charged by the FA a fortnight later.

On a seemingly related note, Terry has recently announced he is to retire from international football. He believes the FA’s decision to seek further action has made his position with the national side ‘untenable’.