Carling Cup Quarter Finals

mike65 · 18-12-2007 01:10PM #1

3 CC ties to be decided tonight and tomorrow (West Ham 1-2 Everton last week)

Man City v Tottenham
Blackburn v Arsenal

Chelsea v Liverpool

Citeh and Spurs will surely put out thier best availible 11 as will Blackburn, the other 3 harder to tell, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all with some important players either missing or not 100%. I expect a mix of fringe players/bench warmers and a scattering of first 11s to start for them.

I'll go with City, Arsenal and Liverpool (if Rafa cares) to join Everton.

Mike.

_blank_ · 18-12-2007 01:14PM

Who cares about this tinpot, really?

gosplan · 18-12-2007 01:19PM

expect a seriously weakened Arsenal squad.

big game this weekend and wouldn't be surprised if none of Sunday's outfield players start.

Song Gilberto Traore Hoyte Diarra Denlison Diaby Walcott Eduardo Bendtner

PHB · 18-12-2007 01:23PM

I think you'll see a very very weakened squad. Wenger is the only manager left in the competition who sees it as an utterly irrelevant trophy, and only good for the kids. Everybody else still wants to win it, indeed the only other team who might put out a weakened team is Liverpool.

oobydooby · 18-12-2007 01:58PM

I'd expect weakened teams from Liverpool and Arsenal. Chelsea don't seem to have a weaker team. I think the attraction with the trophy in recent years has been that it's relatively easy to win but that doesn't look the case now. Not sure Liverpool (or Arsenal) really fancy a 2 legger against another top 6 side. Great chance to blood some youngsters though.

Xavi6 · 18-12-2007 02:22PM

DesF wrote: »

Who cares about this tinpot, really?

Me. We haven't won a trophy in quite a long time so I'll take anything. A day out at Wembley would be fantastic whether it's the league or FA cup

jank · 18-12-2007 02:25PM

I was going to say the opening Poster...:)

_blank_ · 18-12-2007 02:25PM

Would you prefer if ManCity

a. Won the Carling Cup
b. Maintained fourth spot in the premierleague.

?

Xavi6 · 18-12-2007 02:29PM

DesF wrote: »

Would you prefer if ManCity

a. Won the Carling Cup
b. Maintained fourth spot in the premierleague.

?

No contest there considering the prize for both is different. However I would rather win the league cup than finish fifth or sixth.

PHB · 18-12-2007 02:32PM

It's not that choice realistically though (bar some interesting happenings in January).
It's would you prefer,

A. Won the Carling Cup
B. Came 7th instead of 5th in the league.

purple'n'gold · 18-12-2007 02:32PM

DesF wrote: »

Who cares about this tinpot, really?

EVERTON

_blank_ · 18-12-2007 02:34PM

PHB wrote: »

It's not that choice realistically though

Why not?

Are Man City not in fourth spot on merit. Does the league table lie?

Have Man City shown any reason why they cannot maintain their current form?

Will UEFA Change the rules of CL Qualification if Liverpool finish fifth

mike65 · 18-12-2007 02:49PM

No need for that as Liverpool to beat Milan in Moscow!

As for who cares well in the last 15 years the Big 4 have won it practically every year.

Mike.

astrofool · 18-12-2007 02:59PM

mike65 wrote: »

No need for that as Liverpool to beat Milan in Moscow!

As for who cares well in the last 15 years the Big 4 have won it practically every year.

Mike.

So Man City are a shoe in then

Xavi6 · 18-12-2007 03:03PM

astrofool wrote: »

So Man City are a shoe in then

So much can change in a year

PHB · 18-12-2007 03:11PM

DesF wrote: »

Why not?

Are Man City not in fourth spot on merit. Does the league table lie?

Have Man City shown any reason why they cannot maintain their current form?

Will UEFA Change the rules of CL Qualification if Liverpool finish fifth

The league table doesn't lie, but it can lie at various points

At the end of thes eason, if City are there, then they defo deserve to be, it's not fluke. Personally I can't see them challenging the top 4.Their away form is gona see them slipping away. Also they haven't got a huge amount of depth (althoug that may be fixed in January). Personally I think Everton are more likely to put in a challenge for the top 4 this year.

Necronomicon · 18-12-2007 03:23PM

Why was West Ham vs Everton played last week? I assumed it was because of UEFA Cup, but wouldn't that mean Spurs should've played as well?

_blank_ · 18-12-2007 03:28PM

I think Spurs UEFA Cup group campaign is over.

Necronomicon · 18-12-2007 03:37PM

Oh right, thanks.

Think I'll go for Blackburn, Chelsea and Spurs wins.

Xavi6 · 18-12-2007 03:52PM

PHB wrote: »

The league table doesn't lie, but it can lie at various points At the end of thes eason, if City are there, then they defo deserve to be, it's not fluke. Personally I can't see them challenging the top 4.Their away form is gona see them slipping away. Also they haven't got a huge amount of depth (althoug that may be fixed in January). Personally I think Everton are more likely to put in a challenge for the top 4 this year.

How have Everton got more strength in depth than us?

Melion · 18-12-2007 04:25PM

Spurs - Arsenal
Liverpool - Everton

They'd be some interesting semi-final matches.

oobydooby · 18-12-2007 05:08PM

Melion wrote: »

Spurs - Arsenal
Liverpool - Everton

They'd be some interesting semi-final matches.

It would be like the good old days (pre SuperSlamSoporificSunday) when these were the fixtures to look for. And when it was the Milk Cup...

cson · 18-12-2007 05:20PM

Arsenal-Spurs was a semi-final tie last season :rolleyes:

Don't expect the kids to win tonight though. Blackburn away is a toughie for them but you never know, who would have expected them to beat Pool away last year? Julio Baptista maybe

Galvasean · 18-12-2007 06:18PM

PHB wrote: »

I think you'll see a very very weakened squad. Wenger is the only manager left in the competition who sees it as an utterly irrelevant trophy, and only good for the kids. Everybody else still wants to win it, indeed the only other team who might put out a weakened team is Liverpool.

Ferguson has started doing that too. Unfortunately his current crop of youths arent exactly Scholes, Giggs and Beckham.

machiavellianme · 18-12-2007 08:55PM

Kids it is for the Arsenal:

Fabianski
Hoyte
Senderos
Song Billong
Traore
Randall
Diaby
Denilson
Diarra
Eduardo
Bendtner

No genuine first teamers on the bench either:
Substitutes
Mannone, Gibbs, Hoyte, Perez, Barazite

You'd have to fancy Blackburn

machiavellianme · 18-12-2007 08:57PM

C'mon Spurs. 1 nil. Defoe

Jonny Arson · 18-12-2007 09:09PM

Blackburn 0 Arsenal 1 - Diaby 6'

Jonny Arson · 18-12-2007 09:09PM

Spurs down to 10 men, Zokora sent off - professional foul

herbieflowers · 18-12-2007 09:10PM

the defending was Diaby-olical...not that I saw the goal or anything....

Mossy Monk · 18-12-2007 09:10PM

That was a great goal by Diaby. Excellent passing which ripped open the Blackburn defence.

machiavellianme · 18-12-2007 09:10PM

Spurs down to 10 for Zokora's challenge on Elano. Have zero faith in them holding out now.
Pretty poor decision imho, yellow at most

Carling Cup Quarter Finals

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