The first batch of third round Carling Cup ties take place on Tuesday and once again football fans will prepare themselves for wholesale changes and big names being taken out of the firing line (without any off field antics to prompt their exclusion).
The former Milk, Coca Cola and Worthington Cup has taken on many guises over the years while its popularity and importance has slowly diminished. There once was a time when smaller teams saw it as an opportunity to grab some silverware like Oxford in 1986, and Middlesbrough and Leicester in more recent times. Now sides not even challenging for the title, or overburdened with regular football, give much regard to the competition, a scenario firmly emphasised by Chris Hughton’s decision to make 11 changes to his Newcastle side for their second round clash with Accrington Stanley. Tongue not in cheek, supporters of the North West minnows had their opportunity to heartily yell the immortal “who are ya?” at the majority of the Magpies starters.
So what can be done to restore some pride to this ailing beast of a competition? How can the Football League stir up interest once more? Slashing ticket prices does not seem to have worked; perhaps a free hot dog for each spectator would do the trick, although it seems unlikely.
So after six years away from the Premier League (and it feels like about 4 of those were speculation he was joining Villa – can you believe its been less than a month?) Gérard Houllier has officially been confirmed as manager of Aston Villa.
