Carling Cup: What's the Point?

Since the competition began in 1960, the League Cup has been at the centre of a massive debate. While Aston Villa fans could celebrate their 3-2 aggregate win over Rotherham United, the fact that six other First Division clubs had refused to enter was conveniently overlooked on the streets of Birmingham.

Today the competition, which has had more names than anyone can remember, introduces the 'big' clubs with Arsenal playing Sheffield United and Liverpool hosting Crewe. 

As I am writing this, my own team Liverpool are drawing 1-1. I can imagine some of you smirking already, thinking that you are reading the views of a moaning, groaning armchair (though I don't like that term) fan who 'loves' his team so much!

I actually have a season ticket in the Kop and am part of the auto-cup scheme which means I had a ticket for tonight's match but I gave it to a friend. My issue with the League Cup is different from most I have heard.

I don't believe it is an unimportant, overvalued tournament... I believe it could be one of the most important runs in the season.

Still the argument has raged since it's inception to the present day: What's the point?

At Liverpool, we have recently won the Youth Cup and the players involved in that graduated to the Reserve team and, after merging with some foreign imports, won the Reserve Premier League last season. The sad thing is that, for almost all of these players, the heights of their Liverpool careers are already over.

Few will ever get close to an opportunity to play in the first team. Of those that do some will fail and most others will be forgotten.

I firmly believe that to use the Carling Cup as a chance to keep squad players fit is  a waste and an insult to young footballers everywhere. Arsenal have the best Carling Cup policy, not even reintroducing the stars in the later rounds. In 2007, though the final was lost, the youngsters learnt many lessons which will stand both them and Arsenal in good stead over the next years.

To give a specific example of my League Cup policy, I will use Liverpool to show how they could have exploited the competition to it's full potential this year.

Firstly, Rafa Benitez should have held a press conference announcing his intent to win the Carling Cup this year, but to do so with a squad almost entirely consisting of young players.

I say 'almost' as I would choose Sami Hyypia and would also give him the captaincy in the competition. I have a few reasons for this. One is that he was a great captain for Liverpool and would lead the team as he always did; with pride, effort and the performance of a leader.

It would also give Carragher and Skrtel definite dates when they have a week off which would mean Rafa could play his strongest team in more Premier League games. More importantly than all this is the fact that Liverpool have a deluge of young defensive talent. Mikel San Jose, Emiliano Insua and Stephen Darby could all fit in the defense around Hyypia.

With the captaincy assured, Sami could lead these young men both on and off the pitch, modeling lifestyle, attitude and ability to them. This defensive unit could be used together in training allowing the coaching staff to see how they perform consistently together. This would give them the best chance possible of progressing and playing for Liverpool which is beneficial to everyone.

I would also play Kristian Nemeth and David Ngog as strikers and Jay Spearing and Nabil El Zhar in midfield. Other spaces could be left open for those recovering either form or from an injury.

This set up gives consistency to the team and keeps the pride of the team, as the players all know each other and will be trying as hard as possible to play well for both themselves and their teammates. Win or lose, lessons will be learnt.

Hopefully that team, developed properly and under good management and leadership, both of which I believe are catered for, would be able to progress in the competition. If they won, the players would be boosted in ever way, but if they lost in later rounds their mentalities would be tested more.

For me, an ideal situation would be the one that Arsenal ended up with two seasons ago. A loss in the final for these young players would give them the confidence that they had the faith of their manager, but also show them the reality of the work ahead.

Hopefully they would resolve to never be on the losing side again.

In all this, the club itself cannot lose. They either realise that the current crop of young talent is good enough or they end up with a group of experienced, resolute players who want to achieve success.

The point of the Carling Cup? Surely that's it.