Football

[Darandio]

I don't think the runner-up takes the place in this case, not like the FA Cup.

The last case would have been Aston Villa in 2010, but they took 6th place in the Premier anyway to take the place.

The one before that was Wigan in 2006, and they were beaten by Man Utd who then went to qualify for the Champions League. Wigan were not in the Uefa Cup (later Europa) the next season.

 

[SS4]

god sake villa. 3-1.

work is going to be a barrel of laughs tomorrow.

Plus having to cope with Small Heath fans who forget they're nowhere near the semi final :roll:

 

[richw]

I don't think the runner-up takes the place in this case, not like the FA Cup.

The last case would have been Aston Villa in 2010, but they took 6th place in the Premier anyway to take the place.

The one before that was Wigan in 2006, and they were beaten by Man Utd who then went to qualify for the Champions League. Wigan were not in the Uefa Cup (later Europa) the next season.

Found this

UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round

League Cup winners

If the League Cup winners have already qualified for Europe by a high Premier League finish, then the next highest-finishing Premier League club gets this place

 

[SS4]

Forget the league position, teams reach the semi finals on their own merit. It'll be hard to break them down at home with 11 men behind the ball.

 

[richw]

FT Bradford 3 Villa 1. Really, Bradford to win the league cup anyone?

 

[balne-wonderer]

Plus having to cope with Small Heath fans who forget they're nowhere near the semi final :roll:

should be a great 2nd leg though. when is it?

 

[Darandio]

FT Bradford 3 Villa 1. Really, Bradford to win the league cup anyone?

I don't think so to be honest. Villa Park will be a different game altogether.

Even if they did get past Villa, I fully expect Chelsea to beat Swansea and would expect a hiding for Bradford in a Chelsea - Bradford final. If not only for the reason that Benitez seems to give his side a strong cup mentality.

 

[SS4]

should be a great 2nd leg though. when is it?

22nd Jan

 

[balne-wonderer]

22nd Jan

will it sell out? might see about getting a ticket.

 

[richw]

Bradford almost certainly gonna park the bus at Villa Park in a fortnight. I expect a 10-0-0 formation.

 

[Darandio]

will it sell out? might see about getting a ticket.

Very good question, they haven't sold out at all this season. I don't see why it is sold out at this point, I presume tickets will be on general sale.

Edit*

Tickets go on general sale in the morning.

 

[Ivo]

Teams from the third tier have won the League Cup before; however, I can find no evidence of a fourth-tier side ever reaching the Final. Chester reached the semis in the 70s as a fourth level side, so Bradford's feat this time around isn't a first.

Random other fact: Reading vs Arsenal was the highest scoring game in the competition's history.

Plus having to cope with Small Heath fans who forget they're nowhere near the semi final :roll:

*cough* 2011 *cough*

Bradford almost certainly gonna park the bus at Villa Park in a fortnight. I expect a 10-0-0 formation.

No chance. 6-4-0 at best

(I know, your post was in jest.)

 

[SS4]

*cough* 2011 *cough*

Present tense lad

 

[Ivo]

We all know that Daniel Sturridge is over-rated. On this evidence, he is not only over-rated, but also deluded (explaining why he thinks he's so good )...

Source = BBC

Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge says there is no bigger club than Liverpool in the Premier League, ahead of Sunday's game against Manchester United.

The 23-year-old striker signed for the Reds on 2 January from Chelsea and has also played for current champions Manchester City.

"It is the biggest club I have ever played for," Sturridge told Liverpool's official website.

"In the Premier League, there is no bigger club than Liverpool."

Liverpool and United are the two most decorated clubs in the top flight.

In terms of league titles, United have 19 compared to Liverpool's 18, while the Merseysiders have five European Cup wins to the Old Trafford side's three.

Sturridge scored on his Liverpool debut as his new side beat Mansfield in the FA Cup and is grateful to Reds boss Brendan Rodgers for signing him.

...one therefore assumes that Mansfield must be right up there if Liverpool needed a handball goal (no more debate please) to beat them

And speaking of which, relating to a recent post from David:

I think they have made a mistake in signing Sturridge. Chelseas have certainly got the better of their transfer dealings so far, after getting rid of a not very good striker (IMO) for £12m and replacing him with Demba Ba for a reported £7.5m.

You and the rest of us

...and from the same post:

Is that a bit of Stanley Park rivalry I detect?

Nope. It's looking down on them, because everyone knows we're better at the minute!

 

[richw]

Teams from the third tier have won the League Cup before; however, I can find no evidence of a fourth-tier side ever reaching the Final. Chester reached the semis in the 70s as a fourth level side, so Bradford's feat this time around isn't a first.

Random other fact: Reading vs Arsenal was the highest scoring game in the competition's history.



*cough* 2011 *cough*



No chance. 6-4-0 at best

(I know, your post was in jest.)

Rochdale reached the final in 1962 I which they lost to Norwich. They were playing in the old 4th division at the time.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Rochdale reached the final in 1962 I which they lost to Norwich. They were playing in the old 4th division at the time.

Indeed you are correct and this final was a 2-legged affair played on the home ground of both the clubs, with Norwich City winning 4-0 on aggregate.

Rochdale 0...Norwich City 3 (Match played at Spotland)

Norwich City 1...Rochdale 0 (Match played at Carrow Road)

I was the ripe old age of 17 when this final was played.....

 

[Ivo]

Rochdale reached the final in 1962 I which they lost to Norwich. They were playing in the old 4th division at the time.

Not bad at all. I really should have known about this...

At the time though, many of the top clubs didn't bother with the League Cup at all, by which I mean they didn't even participate. And some people say that (until recently anyway) Man U and others belittled the competition by fielding weakened teams...

 

[bb21]

(until recently anyway)

Recently? I thought it was still the case this year judged by the teams some of them put out. :roll:

 

[balne-wonderer]

Are you going to the second leg SS4?

Looks like I might be, in the Doug Ellis wing or something.

 

[Butts]

Are you going to the second leg SS4?

Looks like I might be, in the Doug Ellis wing or something.

It may be his last ever visit to Villa Park before he commits "hari kari" in the Centre Circle at Full Time

 

[richw]

Not bad at all. I really should have known about this...

The Sun newspaper didnt know of it neither, they reported today that a 4 tier team have never reached the final.


(I dont normally buy The Sun, but am collecting their £9.50 holiday tokens this week and next week)

 

[12CSVT]

Not bad at all. I really should have known about this...

At the time though, many of the top clubs didn't bother with the League Cup at all, by which I mean they didn't even participate. And some people say that (until recently anyway) Man U and others belittled the competition by fielding weakened teams...

It's provided a lot of good fun over the years when so-called big teams have been dumped out of the cup by lower division sides.
1995 was it, when York City won 3 - 0 at Old Trafford ?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Unbelievable Jeff!

Swansea 2-0 Chelsea, Michu and Graham for the Welsh team. Despite Graham's goal being in the ninetieth minute, there was still time for Chelsea to have a Demba Ba goal ruled out for offside.

 

[richw]

Swansea have won 2-0 at stamford bridge in the league cup semi final first leg. Michu and Torres were both taken off by their manager at the same time, 2 Spanish number 9s, one was booed off, the other given an eruptious cheer. One cost 2m the other 50m, on tonights performances if you didn't know who cost how much other than values and that the value was the 2 of them, you'd assume muchu was the 50m striker.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Apparently just before Graham's goal, Chelsea thought they should have had a penalty - Ba and Swansea's 'keeper Tremmels had a confrontation over it leaving the pitch.

Either way, it'd be great for football if we had a Bradford v Swansea final.

 

[Darandio]

Apparently just before Graham's goal, Chelsea thought they should have had a penalty - Ba and Swansea's 'keeper Tremmels had a confrontation over it leaving the pitch.

Either way, it'd be great for football if we had a Bradford v Swansea final.

I'm not sure it was a penalty, but it certainly wasn't a booking for Ba for diving, very harsh.

Ba also had a goal disallowed moments later, he would have been inches off side, at best. In days gone by, the offside rule would give the benefit of the doubt to the striker, not now. Again, possibly harsh.

 

[Phil6219]

Either way, it'd be great for football if we had a Bradford v Swansea final.

It sure would, that's what I'm hoping for. Though to be honest I wouldn't minded Villa getting through as long as it wasn't Chelsea that went on to win.

Phil

 

[Oswyntail]

....Either way, it'd be great for football if we had a Bradford v Swansea final.

With the media ignoring it and the FA scheduling "major" games at the same time?

 

[Butts]

Either way, it'd be great for football if we had a Bradford v Swansea final.

Don't think SS4 will concur

 

[richw]

BBC have an extra match of the day at 2305 with the two semi finals highlights