Running before you can walk...

It's been labelled the 'Mickey Mouse' Cup but it holds no more prizes than the FA Cup has to offer, its been seen by many clubs as a chance to blood players two years before their time (or move to lower league clubs) and it has been viewed by Spurs as a real opportunity for silverware and Europe. The Carling Cup is, undoubtedly, the lowest of the lows of competitions for clubs not even involved in a European tour, but while it is there, it should be played with the same attitude as any league game. Football fans are football fans because they want their side to win, not to have the manager put out the reserves just to give them a run out in the cold. No Manchester United fan who went to the Hawthorns enjoyed the performance and would much rather have seen Keane, Van Nistelrooy and Ferdinand out there ahead of Pugh, Eagles and Fletcher who sound more like television detectives.

When Bernt Haas volleyed the Baggies into the lead, one United fan could be seen to hang his head in his hands, these are the people that need to be thought about when picking a side in the Carling Cup. The ticket offices at these clubs should announce the game as a reserve team or youth team game before suckering the die hard fans to purchase seats

At White Hart Lane last night, both Spurs and Manchester City fielded strong sides and the game was top class, a 'hum-dinger'. The ground was not full to capacity but close enough and the atmosphere was one of a top cup-tie. The Riverside stadium was not even half full and we all know that Arsenal have bigger fish to fry and waltzed pass Wolves but the attitude is wrong. A minority of fans will say they enjoy seeing the youth team players, but deep down they would rather spend their hard earned cash on watching the stars. It is almost as if managers hope that their side lose, so they don't have to 'go through all this again.' If Spurs do make into Europe via the Carling Cup they will no doubt be ridiculed by their big-time neighbours who have their eyes on Champions League glory. Arsenal have a real chance this year of winning the Premier League, progressing in the Champions League and regaining the FA Cup, but to them the Carling Cup is just not football.

Too many managers are running before they can walk, they need to realise that winning breeds winning and sides that have gone out of the cup playing weakened teams will not be brimming with confidence. If Pleat had put out a second string side yesterday and been defeated the confidence around the club would be low going into Saturday's clash with Wolevs, but now, nobody expects anything else than a comfortable home win.